"Damn it," Chloe said as she untangled herself from the sheets and moved grabbed her phone.

"Oddly enough, despite my position, I was never able to do that," Lucifer said with a chuckle.

She rolled her eyes at that. "Its work… I recognize that chirp."

They were lying in Lucifer's bed, having spent yet another night getting reacquainted with each other. Technically Chloe knew that Lucifer should have gone back to Hell, seeing as they had determined that Edwin wasn't a threat. He was a Good Chaos and it was very unlikely he'd be able to do anything to mess up their lives, considering he was entering without future knowledge. But her partner was making excuses, arguing that they still had a case to solve and that Edwin was still in LA. Chloe hadn't argued at all with that, as to be honest she wanted to be selfish and spend more time with him, knowing that once this was all over with she wouldn't see him again until she passed away. Decades for her, thousands of years for him. Utterly unfair but it was the choice they had made and thus she wanted to make as many memories as she could with him.

Trixie had been invited to a sleepover with Mokuba so she was just a few floors down, not knowing her mother was in the penthouse. Chloe would have to take the elevator down to the garage and then back up to Lux to meet up with her as they were going to the event Salvadore was throwing at his estate. Normally she wouldn't have accepted the tickets, as it could have been seen as a bribe, but some research had shown it was a free event that he put on and tickets were insanely easy to come by; one could just go onto a website and print them off. It was mostly for keeping track of how many kids would be there so they had enough goodie bags.

And honestly it would be a nice thing for Trixie to do.

Her daughter deserved nice things after the rough year she'd had.

But looking at her phone Chloe's stomach dropped to her toes. "Damn it," she muttered.

"Again, can't do that," Lucifer said.

"They found Doug Logan," she replied. "Carol says they're bringing him in… should be in 2 hours."

"Well that's rather wonderful. We'll have our murderer in a cell before dinner. Be able to celebrate-"

"Lucifer, I need to be there," she said. "We have to interrogate him, see if he'll confess. The party though… oh, this will break Trixie's heart."

"Detective-"

"She wasn't happy I didn't go trick or treating with her but she understood and this was to make up for it but now I have to ruin that too."

"Detective-"

"And I know what you are going to say and no, we can't just sit on him until its done because we don't have enough to hold him and I don't want to risk him lawyering up. So we need to talk to him as soon as he comes in and I need to be at the precinct and-"

Lucifer grabbed onto her and forced her to look at him.

"Why do you need to talk to this man?"

"…I just told you," she said.

"No, you didn't. Why do you need to talk to him. Simplest, most basic reason."

"Because he's a murder suspect in my case."

"Except, my dear, it isn't actually YOUR case."

Chloe blinked at that.

"It is," Lucifer continued, "Carol's case. You were forced to take part thanks to Seto Kaiba. And he is going to be busy in meetings today, is he not?"

Chloe remembered that. Kaiba had mentioned he had to finalize some things, which was why he didn't mind Mokuba going with Mai Valentine to the party.

She flopped back down on the bed. "I'm the Lieutenant."

"You are the Lieutenant," Lucifer repeated. "So you don't need to be there. Edwin can wear the pin and comm so I can observe. His bodyguard Yuri is an officer so she can stand in for you. And Carol will handle this case just fine. So you…" he smiled and kissed her shoulder, "…can be with the urchin."

"Thank you Lucifer," Chloe murmured. "Thank you."

"Any time," he said before rolling out of bed. "Well, I best get breakfast made and you must decide what horrid Wal-Mart purchased clothing you are going to wear to this event!" He waved and headed out of the bedroom, leaving Chloe lying on the bed.

But she didn't move to get dressed.

'Except… it won't be any time,' she thought. 'Soon it will be 'never'. Because you'll be gone again.'

~MC~MC~MC~

"So, is there any deck you'd like to try out, if you could?" Ella asked as she licked some orange frosting off her fingers.

We were seated at Carol's desk, waiting for them to process Doug so we could talk with him. Something the movies and TV shows never showed you was how long it took for the police to get all the paperwork done so you could talk to someone for an interrogation. Because Doug had gotten a BOLO on him there was all sorts of paperwork they needed to finalize before we were allowed to actually speak with him, which meant waiting around.

As such I'd ordered several dozen donuts for the precinct, all in Halloween colors, and had joined Ella, Carol, Yuri, and Renard in sitting around detective's desk, enjoying our treats and talking about everything and anything other than the case.

"Some kind of Fire Deck," Renard stated. "I have a few different ones in mind."

"Really," I said, surprised. "I didn't know that."

He shrugged. "Fur Hire will always be my love but it doesn't hurt to have a wandering eye."

Yuri chuckled at that. "Lightsworn."

"Oh, that's a cool one!" Ella said. "I've seen a few of those cards. What made you interested in them?"

"I got my deck… well, through a less than ideal moment in my life."

I winced at that. 'I'd forgotten that Yuri, Tea, and Tristan got their decks thanks to Aiden Order. What must it be like for them to play those decks and remember every time they draw a card the horrible things he was ready to make them do in the name of his 'glory'? It would be like forcing a rape victim to only wear the clothing she wore the night she was assaulted.'

"I'm fine," Yuri said; something must have shown on my face. "I mean it. The deck is fine too. And it fits me well. But I would love to try Lightsworn…" She smirked. "Considering you aren't the Guardian Devil anymore maybe its time for your demons to step into the light."

"Guardian Devil?" Ella asked, surprised. "Man, I haven't heard Devil Talk since Lucifer."

I quickly spoke before she could get too down about her missing friend. "It came from Duelist Kingdom. When I got there I discovered this whole plot to kidnap Mokuba and force him to sign over control of KaibaCorp. It wasn't right, ripping him out of his home, so I stepped in. I had to tell a lot of lies, scam a lot of people… so I wasn't a Guardian Angel. I was a Guardian Devil."

"Which isn't like Lucifer at all," Ella said. "He doesn't lie." She grabbed another donut; I had brought over two boxes, leaving the other 15 or so for the rest of the police to gorge on. It had green frosting with little black 'stitches' on it and she grinned as she held it up. "God, these are creative."

"They are," Amenadiel said in my ear and I looked about wildly. "The comm, Edwin."

I shook my head. "Sorry just… startled myself." Last thing I needed was for people to think God was talking to me… though he was… it was confusing.

"Well, I love my Dogmatic deck," Ella said. "But I wouldn't mind trying something completely different Maybe Fabled? I've heard fun things about that." She glanced at me. "What about you, Dueling Man?"

"I already have too many decks," I stated, ticking them off. "Endymion is my main. I rotate in Lair of Darkness and to a lesser extent Starry Night. My Kaiju Deck-" which I was holding on to for when I got back to Battle City; it would be my God Slayer, "-and for the holidays I have Ghostrick and Mythical Beast."

Carol frowned. "Shouldn't Starry Knight be for holidays?"

"You'd think so but no," I admitted. "But if I had to pick just a fun deck? I don't know… something with Dinosaurs. That would be fun." I grabbed a donut that had a ghost ring in it and wiggled it at Renard, who merely smirked at me.

"Detective?" an officer said, coming up to us. "Mr. Logan is ready."

Carol nodded and stood up. "Let me take the lead, okay?"

I held out my hands. "I can shut up when asked."

He considered me for a moment before holding out his hand. "1 finger means you can ask basic questions. Regular facts. 2 fingers means you can press him. 3 means to shut up and let me take back over."

"Right," I said.

"And then, Edwin," Lucifer said in my ear, "I am thinking that we should have our own communication system. Perhaps beeps and chirps?"

"Or you can just talk to him, Luci."

"That isn't fun at all, brother."

"A man was murdered."

"So he won't care either way!"

I let out a huff, wondering if I would be able to get through the interrogation without looking like a crazy man.

"Well… I'm certainly getting a lot of people to talk to me," Doug Logan said as we entered the interrogation room. I hadn't really noticed it when I'd been watching the videos of him but he had a Shaggy from Scooby Doo vibe to him. Lanky, with a thin neck and a patch of fuzz on his chin. But his hair was darker and his attitude was far more sarcastic and biting than Shaggy's had ever been. He was wearing a puffy yellow jacket and baggy jeans that, on his already tall and lean frame, made him look like he was swimming in the outfit.

"I say… he looks just like Fisher from Bones!" Lucifer complained and I blinked as I realized he was right. "This is uncanny."

Amenadiel chimed in. "I think he looks more like the guy from Forever."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Mr. Logan," Carol said, taking a seat. "My Detective Corbett. This is Edwin Chaos, Yuri Gardner, and Renard Volpe."

"I know who Edwin Chaos is," Doug stated. "Anyone into Duel Monsters knows who he is."

"Good or bad?" I commented with a smile, Carol subtly flashing three fingers.

"You know, for someone whose brother just died you sure didn't wait around to attend the funeral."

Doug scoffed. "Paul used to say that he wanted me to hire some guy to wear the same clothing he was going to be buried in to burst into his funeral with a sonic screwdriver. Tell them to hold off with the burial."

"Forever," Amenadiel said. "It was a show… only lasted a season, tragically. Immortal medical examiner who helps the NYPD."

"Preposterous!"

"And yet," Carol said, "you weren't there to do any like that. You were pretty far away from LA."

"I wanted to travel, to get my head on straight," Doug said even as Carol flashed a 1.

"Any particular place?" I asked. "DisneyLand? No, not there, pretty crowded this time of year. Hmmm… What could be waiting for you down south?"

"Yeah, I was headed to Mexico, okay?" Doug shook his head. "I know what you people would think."

"And what's that?" Carol said.

But Doug glowered at him. "Don't play dumb. Don't. I know in our videos I'm the idiot that my brother tortures but that was a role I chose for myself, okay? I graduated from Ohio State-"

"So you are evil," I muttered, Doug glaring at me. "Sorry… sorry… " I fought the urge to hum Hail to the Victors.

"-with a degree in English. I know that the best duos need conflicting roles. The straight man and the jokester is common but another is the bully and the victim. I play the victim… I'm good at it. I mess things up and my brother punishes me for it… punished me for it." He shook his head. "And I also know that you guys think I killed Paul. That would be the first thing you'd think… or maybe not, considering how far I got. See me as someone to target because you decided that I must hate my brother for everything he did to me. But we wrote those skits together. I'm the one that pressed for them."

"It's a great show, Luci!" Amenadiel complained. "Dr. Morgan is over 200 years old, has a ton of knowledge about the world, and uses it to help solve crimes while hiding who he is!"

"And no one bothers to question it?" Lucifer pressed. "No one ever looked for his Social Security Number? Birth certificate? Come now, there are a thousand flaws in that premise."

"That's actually not what we're thinking," Carol stated to Doug. "See… we already knew you were the one that pressed for the more gross out and cruel humor on your guys' channel. And we know that Paul wasn't a fan of it at all."

"What happened?" I said, leaning foward. "You have an idea for a Youtube series but realized that Paul was far better looking and that would bring the ladies in? I mean sure, there are plenty of chicks that would dg you; into that lean look and the bed head and all that. But Paul had the movie star looks, right? He would have women gushing all over him. So you convince him to do your prank videos and such but he realizes they are juvenile?" Carol flashed a 2 but I was already on a roll and didn't need to be prompted at all. "He came to you and said he wanted out, didn't he?"

"He expressed concerns, yeah. Didn't like how things had changed."

"Didn't like YOU, you mean. After all, you had come up with the whole thing… him rejected it was basically him rejecting you, right?" I caught his eye and I could see that I was zeroing in on the problem. "I'm a writer too. I know what its like to create something only for some you know and respect to reject it. I've come up with plotpoints and jokes that I thought were amazing only to have friends dismiss them. It makes you angry… it feels like a person attacked. Never mind that if it were someone else's work you wouldn't even blink but the idea that it is YOURS and they are just blowing it off? That eats at you.

"That's what happened with your brother, isn't it? You said it yourself that you're smart. You used all those talents to come up with those skits and make you both insanely rich and then he thinks he knows better? That he can tell you was you should do?"

"It wasn't like that," Doug said.

Carol flashed 2 again.

"He was mocking what you had created! You had put in so much work and he tossed it away because he decided he knew better? That must have pissed you off something royal."

"You aren't listening."

But I pressed on. "You were doing your live stream and what… you had an idea for a prank? A joke? Something funny? Did you agree to it before hand and he got cold feet or was it something that suddenly hit you and you knew you had limited time so you demanded he listen to you but he just refused."

"We didn't-"

"You got him in that private room and let it all out!" I jabbed a finger at him. "Told him how you were sick and tired of him getting all the glory and doing none of the work! How you wrote those skits, how you came up with everything, and all he did was show off his pretty boy face!"

Carol at once stepped in. "Did you laugh at you? Dismiss you? Or did he not even want to hear a word you said? What else was he focused on?"

"That isn't what happened!"

"Then what happened?" Carol demanded. "What are we missing here because its looking to me like you grabbed a knife and slit your brother's god damn throat-"

"He wanted out of the fucking contract!" Doug roared.

He panted.

We sat there.

"Let me guess," Lucifer said quietly, "in this show the immortal loves the detective but can't admit it? And neither can see? I must say, how trite is that? And utterly unbelievable."

"It builds drama, Luci."

Doug glowered at us. "The stream was going fine. No issues whatsoever. No skits because I knew that you'd be there and you wouldn't put up with that garbage. I've heard what you did to the Domino Mall." Carol glanced at me but I didn't feel like explaining. "But then he spotted someone or something… I don't know. It just began to bug him, I could tell. We passed the phone to Big Timmy-" I had no idea who that was but Carol wrote down the name, "-and we went to the private room to chat. I asked him what was up and he said he wasn't happy with the channel. He'd made Team Raigeki to make fun videos with his friends. Do crossovers and brawls and goofy things like that. He missed the shitty apartment he had done his first stuff in and just being able to edit it himself. Now everything was done by a crew and there had to be lights and mics and contracts… and he missed his friends."

"So he… wanted out of the contract?" Carol pressed. "What contract?"

"The one Sal had him sign a few years back."

"When he came on to produce?" I asked.

"No, the new one, after Team Raigeki broke up. He hated how all that dirty laundry got aired and how one person leaving caused a tidal wave of everyone else abandoning us. So he drew up contracts that said that if we tried to leave we had to pay him a shit ton of money and agree to not make any videos for a year." Doug shook his head. "I told him it was stupid. The videos were making us money hand over fist but he was all mopey and sad. Said he didn't care about the costs and that he'd found a loophole. He couldn't make videos but he could help other people. He said he was in contact with the people that left and he was going to edit… that's all he ever wanted to do. He loved editing. He said that he'd been saving his money and could afford to pay the breakage penalty and go without work for a year and we could help the others. Create a new group. He was apologizing to them… I didn't get it, man. We were doing good, why take that risk? Why destroy everything?

"And Sal… Sal wouldn't be happy. He's like old school. You ever see Scarface? That's what he's like. One time he was showing us around his place and pointing out all the guards he had. Said that if he snapped his fingers they would kill us both without even asking what we had done. Would just end us right there. I thought it was badass but Paul was worried. Why worry though, so long as you make Salvadore happy?" He gave a shrug. "I left after that. Told him to get his head in the game. Next thing I know police are all over and I realize Paul's dead and… and you'd think it was fucking me. Even with my alibi."

"Alibi?" Carol said but I could tell his mind was someplace else, Doug no longer mattering.

"Hooked up with two fine ass pussies. Had a fine time in the coat check in. Gave me their numbers… they can verify it. But I know you cops and when you decide someone is guilty you-"

Carol was up and moving towards the door.

"Hey! Hey!" Doug shouted but the four of us were already on the move.

"We need to look into Team Raigeki. See if Doug was right about Paul wanting out. If he's lying then we have him. But if he isn't…"

He moved to his desk and I pressed my finger to my ear. "If you two are done bitching about TV can someone-"

"Luci is already looking now, Edwin," Amenadiel said. "But… you are thinking-"

"Sal saw the golden goose getting ready to go away. Like I said, the videos made money because of Paul's looks. He goes off and Sal has nothing but Kramer's younger brother in there."

"You think he would kill Paul?"

"If he thought he was losing him," I said.

"Captain," Renard said quietly. "The party."

I felt every hair stand up on my body.

"Amenadiel, we're coming back to the loft. Tell Lucifer to call Chloe! You call Linda!" I rushed to a door, the thrum of the Millennium Key filling me as I created the portal and the three of us burst back into Lucifer's place. "If Sal killed Paul-"

"We just sent Chloe, Linda, and the kids into the domain of a killer," Amenadiel said, looking just as terrified as he held his phone to his ear before dropping it and looking at me. I looked too Lucifer whose eyes were wide, the full ramifications crashing down on him.

"Perhaps… perhaps he isn't the guilty party. I'm still trying to look into Team Raigeki…" But even as he said those words he was already grabbing his phone.

"First person we interviewed… its always the first person you interview!" I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.

"I can't reach Linda," Amenadiel said.

"She might have turned off her phone," Yuri commented. "She did that yesterday, remember? And at the boardwalk-"

"Yes… yes, you're right," Amenadiel said quickly, grasping onto that idea with both hands. "And Sal wouldn't have any reason to go after Linda or the kids… he has no idea we're onto him."

"We call her, get her to leave," Renard said.

Lucifer shook his head. "Chloe won't leave. She'll move to get the children out of there but she will still try and arrest him."

"Then don't tell her-" I began.

"Chloe!" Lucifer exclaimed in a panic, pressing the phone to his ear.

~MC~MC~MC~

Chloe stepped away from the kids as her phone rang, smiling sheepishly to the other parents. She had hated to make a scene but as a cop she couldn't just silence her phone, especially when she was involved with a case.

'Please just be nothing,' she thought to herself as she saw Lucifer was the one calling. 'Please let it be he's bored and wants to chat. Don't make me leave…'

The kids were having a wonderful team. Mokuba and Trixie were a terrible twosome in the best possible way and already Chloe knew that it would be hard on her daughter when her new friend left. Yes, there would be email and video chat… she didn't care about the charges as she could afford them with access to Lucifer's bank account and Mokuba was insanely wealthy. The kids could talk to each other and already Trixie had, without as much subtly as she thought, hinted that maybe they could visit Domino at some point. But it wouldn't be the same as having her friend there at any time when the mood struck her.

The Halloween Event was like a carnival, with all sorts of booths with games that were sickeningly sweetly Halloween Themed. The Milk Bottle Game was now a Witch's Potion game with large "eyeballs" to be thrown to try and knock them down. The Jug Toss was a cauldron. The clown targets had been replaced with pumpkins. The cornhole toss was Frankenstein themed. There were all sorts of silly stuffed prizes for the kids to win, as well as goofy costume accessories. Trixie had become utterly delighted to find one game that had Devil Horns Head bands and had nabbed not just a pair for herself, Mokuba, and Charlie (though his were a bit too big) but also a set for Chloe and Maze and Eve. She had made a mental note to get a picture of them all wearing them and get it to Lucifer somehow. Mokuba, for his part, had managed to get a baseball cap that looked like a dragon and even had light up eyes, which had been left with Mai since he couldn't really wear it with his costume. Charlie, for his part, was just enjoying everything.

At the moment they were watching a magician who was purposely doing 'bad' magic that then turned into fun tricks, much to the delight of the kids. Chloe stepped into the hallway and once she was sure she was out of earshot she pressed the phone to her ear.

"Yes Lucifer?"

"Chloe… I need you and the urchin and the rest of your group to return to the penthouse at once."

"What's going on?"

"There has been a development in the case."

"Did Doug Logan confess?"

"No but he has given us a new lead."

"Okay. Carol can track that down though on his own. I know you have some issues trusting anyone but me to handle a case but he has this Lucifer-"

"I would much rather you leave."

"Alright… okay, I'll tell Mai and Linda to watch the kids-"

"No no, I really must insist all of you come at once."

Chloe frowned at that. "Lucifer, what are you- wait." Her mind, which had been startled by the sudden demand from her partner, began to work to piece together just what he was saying and she REALLY didn't like what answer she was getting. "Lucifer… are you saying that Salvadore might have killed Paul Logan?"

"I am trying to not say that because I know you, detective. You aren't going to be able to walk away from this if you think there is a killer near you and I don't want you anywhere near him."

"Lucifer."

"You don't have a gun, you have no backup, from what we've been told Salvadore has a private security force that is willing to doing his killing for him when he isn't in the mood to hold the knife himself, and you are-"

"Pregnant," Chloe said, cutting him off. "Right… right, of course." She shook her head. It was going against every instinct she had but she knew he was right. She couldn't even blame him for dancing around the subject because he was right: her first gut reaction was to go confront Salvadore and arrest him. 'And how many times has that cost me?' she thought darkly, thinking of the many times she'd raced into danger and ended up paying for it. "Okay… okay… I'll get the kids and-"

Chloe froze as she felt what could only be the barrel of a gun press against the back of her neck.

"Hang up the phone," Salvadore said coldly and Chloe slowly let her finger drift to the hang up button. "Actually do it. Because if I find out you lied there are plenty of little hostages I can shoot."

Chloe swallowed hard and did as he said.

"Let the kids go," she whispered. "You have me… you don't need the rest."

"Except I've learned that its always good to have backup plans," Salvadore said. He must have gone for his own phone because she then heard him say, "Tell everyone we have to close up early. Give out as much freebies as we can. But bring those that came with Lt. Decker to my study. Tell them that they just won a big prize."

"You… you have no idea how bad this is going to end for you, Salvadore. If you surrender now you have a chance-"

"I surrender now and I'm rotting in a jailcell thanks to that traitor ruining everything."

"And you think you can make sure that doesn't happen by killing me?"

"I think you buy me a chance to fucking think!" Salvadore suddenly roared in her ear. "Now drop the phone and move."

Chloe did as she was told, hearing the crunch of the phone.

'Lucifer…' she thought, holding out hope.

~MC~MC~MC~

"What do you mean you can't just smite them!?" Lucifer roared, flapping his arms in the air.

Amenadiel sighed. "It's what I mean, brother."

"Chloe is in danger. Linda is in danger. Our children are in danger! It is time for you to take a page out of Dad's book and get biblical on that bastard. Rain toads. Turn water into blood. Kill the first born."

"Luci," Amenadiel said, trying to keep his brother calm. Which was difficult because Amenadiel was nearly as panicked as his brother was. In fact it was only because his brother was freaking out that Amenadiel was managing to remain calm. "You know that I leave my godly powers in Heaven whenever I come down to Earth."

"Then pop back up there, grab them, and return right back down here!" Lucifer exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air. "Then you can smite that bastard and we can move on."

"I can't," Amenadiel stated. "Remember what happened when Father came down here? His powers began to influence things-"

"That was different," Lucifer said firmly. "Michael was making him think that he was getting old but-"

"I don't think so. I think Michael played a part but he wanted us to believe that he did more than he actually did. I think that this world can't handle that much power. It's the same reason our Mother began to lose control of her powers."

"It can be quick!" Lucifer shouted. "One little thunderbolt and then you pop back to Heaven."

"Lucifer."

"My partner and my child are in danger!" Lucifer roared.

"And so are mine!" Amenadiel bellowed. "You think I don't want to wave my hand and turn this man into a paste? Because I do, Lucifer, I do! But I can't!"

"And now that we've settled that…" Edwin said, making his presence known. Amenadiel turned and was surprised to see Maze and Eve there… dressed in their bounty hunter gear and looking ready for battle. Yuri Gardner had a riot shield and a baton while Renard Volpe had at some point gotten a hold of a cutlass, most likely from Lucifer's stash of trophies, and was giving it a few practice swings. "…I think its time we saved our family."

"What are you thinking?" Lucifer said at once.

"Shock and motherfucking awe," Edwin said darkly, the Millennium Key already dangling from his neck and Gleipnir held tightly in his hands. "Troy is pulling up a map of the place… I get us in there and we gang rush the fucking building, scaring the guards so bad they piss themselves. I'd say we're all mad enough to make them think twice about taking us on."

"Been too long since I sieged a building," Maze said. "This is gonna be fun."

Lucifer though glanced at Amenadiel before darting his eyes downward, his intention clear.

And for once Amenadiel agreed.

"Would your plan work with a few extra angels in the mix?"

~MC~MC~MC~

"Can't you just…" Linda said, glancing at Mai. They were in Salvadore's office, the man actually tying them up with rope like they were damsels in a cartoon. The only one not tied up was Charlie, who thankfully was still asleep but Mai doubted that would last long.

"Just what?"

"You know… grrrr, Selene smash?" She flexed a little.

"…I'm not the Hulk," the blond duelist complained. In an even lower voice she said, "And I've tried. Selene decides when she wants to make an appearance and I'm not good yet tapping into my godhood… I could lose it and end up vulnerable. Or I tap into the wrong power and I crush you all like I'm Alice." She sighed. "Sorry."

"Just a thought."

They grew silent, Linda running her fingers through Charlie's hair. The boy was sleeping, thankfully. Trixie was nervous and kept glancing at her mom and Mai had Mokuba cuddled up next to her though he was rather calm. Most likely, Mai realized, because he was far too used to these kind of things happening.

Salvadore was pacing up and down the room, a gun in his hand and one of his hired goons standing there with an automatic. And there were plenty of others out on the grounds, dressed in costumes still for the event… it would have been laughable, if they didn't have them held hostage.

"Stupid Paul… stupid fucking Paul!" Salvadore ranted. "He ruined all of it! I told him to get his friends under control but they do that stupid campaign against us… bringing up minor things and getting all upset."

'Minor things,' Mai thought darkly, 'that I'm willing to bet are a much bigger deal.' Lucifer had looked into it and only said that the campaign by the former members of Team Raegeki had been vague on details. At the time he had assumed it meant that the issues weren't that big but now, with guns being trained on her, Mai wondered just how utterly serious those crimes had been and how much of their veiled words had been a result of fear of retribution. 'They put it out as a warning… they knew the truth and they could destroy Salvadore if they needed to. But they knew that they couldn't just reveal it all because of the risk… damn it, why didn't we see this?'

She knew it was just hindsight. That there was no way any of them could have seen it coming. But it still was frustrating, especially for the situation she now found herself in.

"-fine. It was fine! We were rolling and we were so close to booking some new talent. Talent that could get on board with what we wanted."

'What YOU wanted, maybe,' Mai thought darkly.

"But then he let that bitch get into his head about the good ol days. Gets missing his friends and wants to fucking quit! He was the golden fucking goose and he thought I was going to be okay with him just tossing me some chump change to let him break the contract?! Two years' worth of pay… but only two years. Nothing is certain in the world… you stick with what is working…"

"He's cracking," Linda whispered to Mai and Chloe.

"I know," Chloe said nervously before speaking up. "Salvadore… no one's gotten hurt yet. You don't have to make this worse."

"Life in prison?" Salvadore said with a laugh. "I'm already headed for that if I let you fucking go. How can it get any worse?"

"It can get worse," Mai said. "Do you realize who these two women are?" He nodded towards Chloe. "This is Lucifer Morningstar's wife." She knew Chloe wasn't but Salvadore didn't need to know that. "You've heard of Lucifer Morningstar, right? You know what he's like. The connections he has. You really think its going to work out for you if you harm a hair on her head? And she's pregnant with his kid. Linda is married to his brother. So you have his wife and his sister-in-law, along with his nephew, step-daughter, and daughter."

"Last I heard Lucifer Morningstar had dumped her and disappeared. They say he's dead."

Mai just plowed on. "Mokuba Kaiba. You know that name too, right? You think Seto Kaiba will be happy that you held his brother captive. He knows people, Salvadore. He can make your stay in prison hell. The kid has a watch on him right now, with a GPS… Kaiba knows he's here. You take the watch off he sends in his forces. You leave it on and he'll know something is wrong when Mokuba is late and come running."

"And you are Mai Valentine, girlfriend of Edwin Chaos, the conman and cheat," Salvadore retorted. "I've heard what he can do too. You think I didn't look you up… man blew up the Domino Mall. So you just ensured all of you fucking stay."

"Edwin will find someone else," Mai lied. "Let the others go. Keep me." She was hopeful that if she was the only one in danger then Selene would decide it was time to interfere. At this point she wouldn't mind her goddess self making her presence known.

"The only way you are leaving is with me!" Salvadore snarled. "I know how this works. The cops come, I make demands… and I'm willing to bet with you important people here I will get what I want."

"And your guards know that?" Chloe pressed, looking at the man still standing there with the assault rifle. "They getting out of this too? Going to be enough seats on that helicopter?"

Salvadore took a step forward and cocked the gun he was holding. "Would you SHUT UP!" His hand was shaking and Mai prepared herself to throw herself in front of the kids.

'Maybe… maybe if I'm shot Selene will intervene. Or maybe I am already bullet proof and never knew it? I-'

Mai started when her phone… Salvadore's phone… EVERYONE'S phone… began to play at once, filling the air with music.

"What is going on?" Linda asked as the violins began to play, strumming along… before heavy drums began to beat, filling the air with so much epic music that it was making them all shake. But the only ones that seemed to be terrified by the music was Salvadore and his guard. Indeed Trixie was just looking about in confusion, Charlie had woken up but was just twisting his head, and Mokuba…

…Mokuba was beaming.

"I know this song," Chloe said in confusion. "Why is it playing?"

"Oh… you are in trouble now," the boy said.

"What is it, Mokuba?" Trixie asked.

Mokuba's smile became sharper, as did Mai's, the two sharing a look and nodding in agreement.

"Edwin."

~MC~MC~MC~

The guards all stopped and looked about as the music began to play. The full booming orchestra was making their bones rattle but they couldn't figure out where the tune was coming from… or why.

And then the gate to their employer's manor opened… revealing that rather than the drive that they KNEW lay beyond it… there was a large club.

And from it came marching Amenadiel, Lucifer, and five of their siblings.

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning, I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

They got over their shock and opened fire, only for the bullets to tear their clothing but leave them perfectly fine. No blood. No cries of pain.

No signs of stopping.

With a dark smirk Lucifer suddenly lunged at one of the guards, ripping his gun from his hand and violently beating him with it, Amenadiel racing forward and clothslining one guard so hard he flipped end over end before he crashed to the ground. That was the signal for their siblings and so Zadkiel, Saraquel, Raziel, Hanjobadiel, and Castiel as one moved against the utterly startled guards, showing off the fighting skills that they had honed in the Silver City.

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead, long live the king

Then Maze and Eve were racing out of the gate, the former sending a throwing knife right into the shoulder of one gunman while Eve fired off her shotgun, sending a beanbag round into another man's face, shattering his nose in a spray of blood. The guards moved to try and confront the two only for Yuri and Renard to charge in, racing into the fray. Renard was a whirlwind of devastation, his coat billowing around him as he slashed at any who got in his way with his cutlass. Yuri meanwhile moved with utter destructive determination, steady and straight.

Seeing that their guns hadn't worked on the angels, and not knowing the new arrivals were vulnerable to such weapons, the guards tossed down their guns and made for their combat knives, the fighting shifting to one on one combat.

One minute, I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

And then a golden cord rocketed through the gate and began to race around trees, statues, and pillars, forming webs that halted the guards but never seemed to affect the invaders.

From the gate Edwin Chaos marched, eyes blazing with golden light, the Millennium Key gleaming around his neck as he cracked Gleipnir's Cord, the latest creation of the great dwarven smiths Brok and Sindri, and the guards found their guns yanked form their hands and their bodies caught up in golden threads, making it impossible to fight back.

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

"Where are they?" Lucifer snarled as he grabbed one man and held him in the air. "Where is your boss and where is my FAMILY!?"

"I… I don't…"

"TELL ME!" Lucifer roared, his eyes burning red. He had no need for his Devil Face… not anymore. He was no longer the Torturer. He was the Redeemer. The Lightbringer reforged.

But in that moment… his light was Hell Fire.

For some reason, I can't explain
Once you'd gone, there was never, never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

"Up… up stairs! The main office!" the man cried out.

Lucifer, for once, didn't have a cunning little quip. No snarky joke. He just threw the man across the lawn, the guard's scream suddenly halted when Raziel caught him and slammed him down to the ground.

"They are up there," Lucifer said to Amenadiel.

"Then let's get up there," he said just as Edwin snapped out Gleipnir, grabbing onto the railing and yanking himself through the air. The brothers shared a look before nodding to their allies, knowing they would finish up with any of Salvadore's reinforcements, before leaping up to join Edwin. "Let me," Amenadiel said before grabbing the door handles. He might have left the powers of God in Heaven but he was still an angel, God's Mightiest Fighter.

And the love of his life and his son were in there.

Amenadiel glanced at Edwin and Lucifer, their eyes burning gold and red, before shutting his own, taking only a moment before he self actualized his eyes to burn a brilliant blue.

Red for Hell.

Gold for Earth.

Blue for Heaven.

He torn the doors from their hinges.

It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

"L-Lucifer?" Trixie whispered in shock but Lucifer didn't pay attention to that, instead rushing forward and clocking Salvadore hard in the jaw while Amenadiel moved on the guard, ripping the gun from his hands and tossing it aside before slamming his head against the wall, knocking him out cold. Edwin, for his part, had moved to the main door and cracked Gleipnir, sending threads all throughout the hallway, creating a tangled web that would ensnare anyone that might try and come to aid Salvadore.

Satisfied that the threat was over Lucifer turned and smiled at Trixie, adjusting the cuffs of his jacket. "Hello urchin."

Trixie stared at him, tears in her eyes, and Lucifer walked over and stroked her cheek. The girl trembled before she broke, breaking down into sobs as she tried to hug him only for the ropes to keep her in place.

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Aw, who would ever wanna be king?

"Lucifer…" Chloe said in relief.

"The messes you get yourself into," Lucifer muttered to her gently. He looked over and saw Amenadiel already moving towards Linda and Charlie while Edwin was looking over Mokuba's restrained from, lips pressed in a frown.

"Well, you know-"

"GUN!" Linda screamed and Lucifer twisted his head to see that Salvadore had grabbed the guard's fallen assault rifle, bringing it up to point right at them all.

"NO!" Lucifer screamed and without thought his wings burst from his back, his gaze catching Amenadiel doing the same as they moved to shield their families. In a cocoon of feathers he drew Chloe and Trixie close, clinging to them as the gun when off.

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

But he never felt the impact of the bullets.

Slowly, Lucifer shifted his wings… and stared in shock.

Edwin had thrown himself in front of them, his duel band having turned into a shield, Gleipnir twisting into a second. Both of these he slammed down in front of him, creating a barrier against the pounding of bullets. He grit his teeth as he braced his legs against the onslaught. People didn't realize the impact a bullet could have, how such a small thing could hit with the power of a truck. People could die from the impact of a bullet, rather than it tearing through them. And Edwin was facing a barrage of them.

Yet… he slowly began to push forward.

For some reason, I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

"Edwin…" Mai whispered… and then Lucifer and Amenadiel watched as the back of his jacket began to glow. He was forcing himself forward, closer to Salvadore, trying to do all he could to keep the man focus on him and no one else. All of them watched as the glow consolidated into the outline of a set of angelic wings…

One step.

Another.

Salvadore screamed at him, cursed at him… and Edwin continued to push forward

And then, as he unleashed a guttural scream, the outline of feathers exploded outward before stretching out wide.

Wings.

Edwin… had wings.

Burning golden wings.

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

And then Edwin shot forward, Gleipnir falling away as he grabbed Salvadore by the throat, lifting him off his feet with one hand while with the other he grabbed his gun, heedless of how hot the barrel was, and threw it in the air for Amenadiel to catch and twist into a pretzel.

Edwin looked up at Salvadore, who in turned stared at him in utter terror. His wings beat and he rose into the air, floating above the stunned humans and angels. Droplets of energy fell from his wings but he wasn't molting; rather it was as if his wings were freshly forged, forever dripping liquid gold as they waited to solidify. The droplets disappeared within seconds, leaving no trace of the burning bits that were coming off the appendages.

"What… what are you?" Salvadore got out.

Edwin stared at him.

"I've been trying to figure that out myself. All my life. I've had so many names… so many titles. Son. Brother. Friend. Lover. Savior. Devil. Angel. I have been all those things. But… I'm more than that. I see that now."

"Edwin…" Mai whispered as golden runic marks began to flare upon his skin, starting just below his eyes and tracing down his face, along his throat, burning away his shirt and revealing them racing down his torso. They were so bright… so pure… it hurt to look at them but they did so all the same. It seemed like he was… greater. Not taller or more muscular or anything like that. No… it was like he had been scrunching himself up, pressing his head to his shoulders and curling his limbs on himself… and now, at long last, he was stretching out and showing them all just how grand he truly was.

"For my entire life I have been afraid of power… afraid of what I might become… how it could corrupt me, twist me into something I hate. Every time I got taste of it I allowed my fear to make me pause. It felt like every force in the universe was trying to tempt me but I fought them every step… denying what they all claimed. I didn't want to be what they said I was. What everyone else knew… I refused to listen."

The lines ran to the Millennium Key and for a brief moment it was as if they had tethered themselves to the relic, drawing it tight to Edwin's bare chest. His Duel Band flashed and Gleipnir flew to his left hand, the coils burning like embers before it suddenly unspooled, then turning black and wrapping around his arm and up his body, forming a branching network of black lines that danced around the golden runic tattoos without ever touching them.

The Light.

The Dark.

In unity.

"But… my mom was right. I see that now. And I am not going to deny what I am anymore… or why I am here. I know what my purpose is… why I was put on this world: to save people. And with this power I can do that. So I'm not going to allow my fear keep me from being what I am destined to be. To stop me from saving those I love. Not anymore. I am going to embrace it. This power… I'm not scared of it anymore. Because it is me. Not from some dark god or ancient relic… this is me. It is who I am. And I'm not going to deny it anymore. I'm not going to deny myself. I finally accept who I am. Who I've always been."

Salvadore's eyes briefly glowed gold but not at all like Edwin's. No… his were wide in terror and he let out a silent scream before his entire body went lax.

Sometimes… when you look into the void… the void looks back.

"Who am I? I am the Chaos Lord."

Edwin dropped Salvadore to the ground and slowly allowed himself to land. He walked over to Mai and smiled weakly, folding his burning wings so there was no risk of her being hurt.

"This… this is new," she whispered and he blushed, suddenly aware of what he must look like, half naked before them. He shifted from one foot and then another, an awkward smile on his lips.

"I meant to tell you…"

Mai slammed herself forward, kissing him.

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

"I knew it," Trixie whispered and Lucifer blinked before realizing he'd just revealed to Trixie and Mokuba his angelic status.

"Well… don't suppose you'll buy this is a dream?"

Trixie merely grinned at him while Chloe pressed her head against his shoulder and laughed. Amenadiel smiled as he pressed a kiss to Linda's head while Mokuba looked at Edwin as Mai embraced him and beamed.

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world