Alexander knew that what would be said next would break Lucifer's heart. However, it was imperative that it be done now, his brain and emotions had to be returned to normal as fast as possible. There was no time to lose, so there was nothing left but shock therapy. He only hoped that it would not break him completely, that this would not be the straw. That he would become worthless for the sequel that was planned. Lucifer, the Lightbringer, was a crucial part in the plan to give humanity a chance to continue to survive. His own hope was that this night of misery would lay the foundation for Lucifer's recovery. That it would finally give him that which he craved so much, unconditional love.
Fortunately, he was given a moment's respite when Daniel cleared his throat. He turned to see the detective wiggling nervously in his seat. With a smile, he asked:
"Anything you want to add to this Daniel?"
Uncomfortably, this one said:
"To put it mildly, I have not always been decent to Lucifer either. Maybe if I had known about this possible autism I would have behaved differently or not said things or said them differently. I really feel like an incredible jerk right now."
He looked Lucifer straight in the eye and said sincerely but softly:
"I'm really sorry Lucifer, I really didn't know man."
Lucifer didn't really understand what was happening. Millennia people had despised him. There had been a few in that time who took him for what he was. Who blamed him for nothing, who saw him as he was at the core of himself. But three in one evening threw him off guard. He didn't know how to react so he did it his own way:
"No problem, I, too, knew nothing about this until Miss Lopez explained everything. In the little time I've had to process this I think she could be right. So no bad feelings, I promise Detective Douche."
A smile appeared around the mouths of both men. They had been having some sort of bromance for some time that they both would deny at all costs and of course hopelessly failed at it. Before Alexander could continue his story, Ella intervened:
"Lucifer, look into my eyes!"
She said in an authoritarian voice. After he did what he was asked with some difficulty, Ella said softly:
"First lesson the Bedside Lamp. Yes, I saw a few still frames of your eyes on a video from the flash drive that Dan has. If you see someone every day and you enjoy being around that person you should not wait for their invitation like in the eighteenth century to address them by their first names. I am Ella your friend and he is Daniel your friend. So feel free to use our first names."
Lucifer thought about that for a moment and said:
"Of course Ella and Daniel. I'm sorry I didn't understand this before. However, I can't promise never to use Detective Douche or Miss Lopez again. It has something special to me."
Lucifer's response made Ella light up and Alexander imperceptibly let out the breath he had been holding softly. Things seemed to be going the way he hoped they would:
"Whatever bro, whatever you need."
Let Daniel escape. Alexander jumped into the conversation, pulling the lead of it all back to himself:
"Daniel, can I ask you if you have ever received a course, training or a simple lecture in the Police Department about autism and how to deal with it?"
Confused, Daniel shook his head.
"Most people including police officers see in their minds, when they think of autism, children rocking in a corner completely cut off from the world. Recognizing a socially functioning autistic person is sometimes difficult even for professionals, impossible for a layman in some cases. Any idea how often a confrontation between such people and the police ends fatally? And how many of those innocent souls as well as cops end up in Hell? And why? Only because one soul feels guilty of having provoked the confrontation in the case of the autistic person. And vice versa the soul of the policemen who killed them because they felt guilty once they found out that the person they killed was autistic. Not to mention that God-fucking commandment that Godfry instituted with the Goddess. Thou shalt not kill, no exception possible. So all agents who have killed while on duty, even if it is to save innocents go straight to Hell. That is one of the reasons why Godfry must disappear and those stupid commandments must be changed! No Daniel, you are not to blame. And if you seek forgiveness then it is given to you."
Alexander made the great sign of the cross as a priest would do toward Daniel.
" But that's not quite where the shoe pinches, is it?"
Daniel shook his head no:
"No I don't know what came over me. From the moment I saw him I thoroughly disliked him. That's not like I'm supposed to be with strangers. Okay a suspect in a gruesome case that's a whole different story. But someone who would basically become a colleague of sorts? Never no."
"No Daniel you're not usually like this. Do you remember when this started?"
He didn't really have to think long before he finished his answer:
"Shortly after I started a relationship with Chloe. It became more and more that I had to start living by the norms and rules of society whatever that might be according to her idea. So after a while I threw myself into my work and got lost. As a result, our marriage was ruined. Not to mention that whole shit show around the Palmetto case that came on top of that. Only after about two years have I slowly become myself again."
"Daniel!"
Spoke Chloe sharply:
"If you had behaved like what is expected of an officer then this whole misery wouldn't have happened. And you can't blame your behavior during and after our marriage on me!"
A dangerous smile slipped around Alexander's mouth:
"And why can't we do this Detective Decker?"
"I'm not responsible for anyone else's behavior!"
Replied Chloe venomous.
"Are you so absolutely sure about that Miracle? Hmmm? Absolutely don't forget the statement you just made. After all, that one is going to be very important soon. That whole Palmetto case had sidelined you from the police. Nobody wanted to collaborate with you. Yet Daniel continued to do his best to protect you or limit the damage wherever possible. Your grades were dire. In other words, you were headed for the side exit or back toward uniform services and writing parking tickets. That all changed when Lucifer showed up. Did you ever thank Lucifer for saving your career and a few times for saving your life like last time with Pierce. Or Daniel for saving your life?"
Chloe bit her jaws together hard knowing full well that she hadn't done either.
"That's what I thought."
Continued Alexander:
"But about the effect on the people around you? Let's check with whoever caused you to exist, well at least who was the intermediary."
The look Alexander cast toward Amenadiel was downright hostile:
"So God's favorite are you going to let everyone in on the little secret that Godfry and you have? Or would you rather I pluck those wings of yours until you look like a bald chicken. I would really like it very much if you refuse and we could play a little. Right Celine?"
The Demon at the bar growled approvingly and licked her lips at the prospect of running this one particular Angel into the ground. Alexander finished his threat thoroughly:
"Lucifer is not out for revenge. He only wants justice. The only exception to that was when he broke the back of that vile perverted human smuggler. First, I think Lucifer was still very well behaved there, I would have just ripped his spine through his throat but that's me. And secondly that again was not Lucifer himself, it happened yet again by someone who manipulated him to become something he is not. Right Eve?"
He looked into her eyes angrily. She could almost physically feel the hatred. All she could do was nod meekly.
"I'll get back to you later Eve because I'm far from finished. But first this traitor!"
His eyes bore into Amenadiel's again:
"I bet Godfry has never told you the following for the simple reason that he doesn't give a shit what happens to you. So I'm going to use small words when I explain it to you so that chicken brain of yours gets it. Lucifer is above all things the Lightbringer. Part of being the Lightbringer is to shine light on injustice!"
He threw a fast glance at Chloe and said:
"Now you know why he likes it the catch the bad guys and work with the cops, at least the decent ones out there."
Before turning back to Amenadiel:
"This did not change after the fall. The essence with which and for which he came to exist is still there, not a shimmer of that has been lost. If you couple that power of the Lightbringer with the power he extracted from the throne of Hell during the millions of hell-years he spent there, what do you get? That makes him the second oldest being in this universe and so much more powerful than any other Angel or Demon. Without any effort, he could have torn you to pieces at a time of his choosing. But Lucifer is not vengeful so he never unleashed that power on you. Make no mistake Amenadiel! I am NOT Lucifer! Lucifer does not need to be vengeful; he has me for that. Therefore, I would not lose a second of sleep over it or doubt for a second to put an end to that miserable existence of yours. Make no mistake I am so terribly different from Lucifer that I would even enjoy it, a lot. The choice is yours?"
Amenadiel knew he was trapped. His wings did not obey him. He did not understand how it was possible that this young man could have so much power over him. The only thing he had ever felt in his existence that came close to that was his father. That which frightened him most that his father's power might even be less than the power he now felt in the presence of this young man. Nor did he have to rely on his physical strength as an Angel as this Alexander had proven with one blow. His ribs still ached and he still felt the iron grip around his neck. He had already tried praying to God but even this connection had been cut to his utter amazement. The fact that Gabriel sat comfortably at the bar with a new bottle of tequila and watched everything amused did not mean much good. He was clearly working with this unknown but incredibly powerful being. That this one seemed to know everything in advance only made everything worse. He was surrounded by renegade Angels and Demons, without his wings and powers he was prey, an easy target. Amenadiel knew he could only do one thing, stall for time. He had to wait until a moment occurred when he could escape to the Silver City. His father would never want to sacrifice him, his favorite son, like what this Alexander had thrown in his face. He sighed deeply, signaling that he would cooperate. Alexander in turn looked disappointed:
"Ah not even a little bit of resistance so I can pluck a few small feathers."
Well go on like this Amenadiel and you'll still come out more or less unscathed. So tell us about the Miracle for which Godfry sent you to Earth."
Amenadiel did not want to look at Lucifer and Chloe and felt the stares of the rest burning on him. With another sigh, he said:
"Father said the miracle would definitely bring down or break Lucifer. She would be born into a bloodline that Father had blessed for thousands of years. That she was destined to be the catalyst that would end Lucifer's existence."
Everyone, including Lucifer, had been shocked to hear this account.
"Then, then I wasn't responsible for what I did!"
Said Chloe half stuttering. Her hopes of acquitting herself were very quickly dashed.
"No, that doesn't absolve you detective. Remember that one sentence you uttered that I said to remember very well? Well this is the moment why. Do you want to confess to your friends what you were up to after your short vacation in Europe? That thing that Lucifer helped you keep hidden from everyone when he would have been the victim anyway?"
"Alexander please?"
Pleaded Lucifer in a last-ditch effort to protect Chloe.
"I'm sorry Lucifer, but the truth must get out. This has such far-reaching implications and consequences that there is no choice but to inform everyone of everything."
He looked at Chloe and when she made no attempt to say anything Alexander said:
"Then we'll do it my way detective. Almost immediately after all the misery with Cain, Chloe left for Europe with Beatrice. Everyone thought she needed a rest for a while after finding out that the man she almost married was a very serious criminal. You all know by now that Pierce was in fact Cain. In the confrontation in which Cain was killed, Chloe was shown the devilish face of Lucifer. Strikes a panic and goes on a run. Where does she run to? All the way to Rome and the Vatican. Meets a shady priest there who shows her a bunch of old photos, some portraits and what is supposed to be a prophecy. Not much later, Chloe and that priest are back in LA. What was the plan? The detective would just go back to work, lure Lucifer back to her, give him a plausible story, yes she was startled but no she wasn't scared anymore, she just needed some time to get used to it. The lovable idiot that he is Lucifer swallowed the story like sweet candy."
Beatrice had turned to her mother and looked at her. The girl obviously knew about Rome and the priest but had no idea it had anything to do with Lucifer. Although she was only a child, she knew very well that the words priest and Lucifer in one sentence could not be anything good.
"The plan the priest had come up with seemed simple. The detective would slip a vial of anesthetic into a glass of Lucifer and once he was out, the priest would come in to do a so-called exorcism and send Lucifer back to Hell. Is that about right detective?"
The girl was already beginning to get tears in her eyes and crawled a little away from her mother closer to Lucifer.
"The big night is coming, whatever is in the vial is poured into the glass but before Lucifer can drink it the detective knocks the glass over. Why? Because she had realized her mistake and wanted to correct it? Would be nice but alas. No, a very urgent case had come in and she needed Lucifer's help. Let's come back to that vial of anesthetic for a moment. Detective Decker gets that from the priest and even though she knows very well that Lucifer is vulnerable around her she does not ask herself a single question about what is in the vial. It's a drug that gets the Devil out. Give that to a human being and they die almost immediately. Compare it to giving an anesthetic for an elephant to a mouse. But not all is lost as the detective soon comes up with a second plan. It was quickly made and could actually be put into action at any moment. For that she did not need the trinkets from the Vatican that the priest wanted to use. One thing led to another and now here we are, now that the whole Dromos shit is behind us."
Alexander saw the fear in Lucifer's eyes and almost literally thought he heard the first cracks in his heart. He had no knowledge whatsoever of a second plan.
"How exactly would you have done it detective? Let me see if I can get close enough on my own since you apparently don't want to speak anymore. Let's see, you bought a Glock 9 mm that is untraceable and has thirteen rounds in the magazine. You would entice him to come to a secluded spot one evening knowing that he cannot resist any request from you. Lucifer in your immediate vicinity means he is already as vulnerable and mortal as humans so a mere eleven shots in the chest and two in the head would get the job done."
Beatrice had jumped up and shouted at her mother:
"Mama, please say it's not true, please..."
When Chloe made no attempt to answer, she turned toward Lucifer:
"Please Lucifer say it's not true, you never lie."
With tears in his eyes and a voice in which not only his own sorrow but also that for the girl could be heard, Lucifer replied:
"I'm sorry Beatrice, I can't, you know I …"
He could not finish his sentence, she had already turned and ran into her father's arms. Four voices could be heard that were more than angry at Chloe those of Linda, Daniel and Ella but Mazikeen's also included a distorted face as if she wanted to tear Chloe to pieces at any moment. Alexander brought everyone back to attention:
"Okay folks, let's take a breath yes. And you Mazikeen better start to be very quiet or do you think the right to betray your King is exclusively yours? Like I told Eve, wait your turn in silence I'll get to you in a minute and remember your King can't save you this time. You are mine Mazikeen of the Lilim!"
Maze fell silent and for the first time in her existence she trembled with fear. She knew Alexander all too well. With Lucifer she had been able to get away with certain things. Once Alexander said that even the king couldn't save you then you were in very deep shit and your future could be very short lived. She would have wanted to flee but his words were as much law as the King's so she remained seated as if nailed to her spot. Lucifer had gotten to his feet and couldn't help but look at Chloe in deep shock and not understanding. Her ongoing betrayal was impossible for him to place. However, he also could no longer bring himself to sit on the same bench as her and Amenadiel. Uncomfortable and extremely tense, he sat down next to Ella.
Before anyone could say anything, Alexander had already moved on because he wanted this whole shit-storm to be over as soon as possible because he had a lot more bad news to tell:
"Although Amenadiel says you are predestined he overlooks something very important. Something he himself would never, ever consider, unless it benefits himself of course. So devout is he to Godfry, no devout is too simple a word, zealot fits better. For him Godfry's word is law and one can and one should not doubt that. For an Angel like Amenadiel who has his head so far up Godfry's ass, it is totally unthinkable that his God would not turn out to be omnipotent. So blind is his devotion that he cannot see error. No Miss Decker you are not acquitted at all! Can anyone tell me why? The prevailing element that this whole shitshow started all those millennia ago? No, no one? There are two detectives present. How many times have you told a suspect, who was looking for excuses for their behavior, that they themselves were responsible for their behavior? That no one could make them do anything. In other words the famous free will! Responsible for evil, wars, murder, abuse. But also for love, true friendship, mercy."
He turned his focus entirely on Chloe:
"You may be an instrument, a plaything of Godfry, Chloe Jane Decker, but he too has no control over your own free will. And do you know why not? Because you have free will thanks to Lucifer. You, and the whole of humanity, were given free will by Lucifer. Why? Because Lucifer could not bear the fact that mankind were nothing but a new kind of slaves to Godfry. Conveniently, by giving humanity free will, the angels were also given free will up to a certain degree to the absolute hatred of Godfry for Lucifer. And you wanted to use that free will to kill Lucifer. Talk about a travesty. All Godfry could do was try to steer you in a certain direction through his manipulations but in the end it was you yourself who decided that you were going to pull the trigger. The fact that you are still sitting here tonight is a testament to Lucifer's immeasurable ability to forgive. Like a beaten puppy, he came again and again seeking your attention. Negative attention is also attention, hoping one day to gain your approval. Unfortunately, you are incapable of that because that is determined by Godfry in the DNA of your bloodline. He literally died and went to Hell to save you and Beatrice from Malcom Graham."
With an apologetic look he looked at Lucifer:
"Sorry Lucifer, it wasn't that so-called deal you offered Godfry that caused you to be able to come back to save Beatrice and Decker. He never heard that prayer from the moment you appeared I had shut down Hell so nothing could get out. From what I heard later he was already deeply satisfied that you had been sent to Hell in your human form because Decker was too close to you. He was not interested in the fate of Beatrice and Decker. For a moment it seemed to him that he had achieved his goal. No, it was I who sent you back. Unfortunately I did not have the time to talk to you at that moment because at about the same time the next disaster was already unfolding. That's why I gave you a picture of your mother's empty cell."
He turned to Chloe again:
"Lucifer died a second time by some kind of suicide. All suicides go to Hell, no exception possible thanks again to Godfry. Lucifer had to be in Hell to save you when you were poisoned. Without his wings to get there only suicide remained and yet he did not hesitate for a second to return to Hell as an ordinary soul for your benefit. If he had not been able to complete his task quickly enough before the Demons had realized that he was vulnerable a nightmare would have broken loose in Hell. Fortunately, I have known for some time what idiotic things Lucifer is capable of. Belios and Bearus were warned of such a scenario a long time ago. Their mission, to keep an eye on Lucifer unnoticed, every time he supposedly wanted to enter Hell anonymously and to quickly and effectively change the mind of any demon with the wrong fantasies and, if it really looked like things would go wrong, to take Lucifer's soul straight to the palace so that I could clean up the mess later. So great was our surprise that not only Lucifer had appeared in such a way but also the Goddess made her appearance in the same way, taking Lucifer out of his own hell-loop and thus ensuring that Decker's life could be saved."
Daniel and Ella, who knew nothing of this story sat there pale in the face when they heard that Lucifer would have committed suicide without a second glance to get into Hell to try to save the detective's life. Without realizing it, Ella placed a hand on Lucifer's back and began rubbing it gently and slowly in circles. Like the perfect bartender and waiter, Patrick joined Alexander. Gave him his next ice-cold mix. Took the ashtray that was threatening to get full and left a new one. Alex was a chain smoker but as an immortal that didn't matter much. He took a hearty sip of his new drink and lit another cigarette:
"No Decker, even though you didn't know yet that he was the literal Devil. You knew that not a hair on his head would think of harming Beatrice or you. Oh yes, Lucifer's parties in the penthouse are legendary. But Lux is probably the most secure nightclub in the world, and not to protect Lux. Not to protect the money that comes in every night, that is small change to Lucifer. No, the security is to protect the customers. He has so absurd amounts of security on the payroll just to provide a safe environment for the guests to have fun. You knew Decker that he would do anything for you, Beatrice and everyone else present here. That's how scared you are of the partner who saved your life time and time again, who saved your daughter's life. That is what you are afraid of?"
"He is the Devil, the father of all lies. This must all be a sick game of his. He wants our souls! He must go back to hell!"
She screamed and Alexander laughed out loud:
"Your souls? What does he want with a few souls? Why wait four years? You people are more than capable enough to send yourselves to Hell. At the gate of Hell there is a never-ending traffic jam of thousands of souls and that traffic jam gets a little longer every day. What could make that soul of yours so important Decker that the King of Hell would wait four years for it when he can pick a thousand new ones to play with every day. I think you overestimate your importance a bit here! You are just an ordinary person, compared to the eternity and power of Angels and Demons you are nothing. Now you are here and tomorrow you will be dust and forgotten for centuries."
Alexander tiredly shook his head no:
"Decker you are not a Catholic so you probably have no clue about Dogma. This concept is based on something Jesus supposedly said to his apostles. Simply put it boils down to this that what they hold true on Earth in his name, he himself would hold true in Heaven. Unfortunately, no one thought to ask Godfry what he thought of that deal. What the Church and man see as Dogma means nothing to Godfry. Hell is filled with priests, monks, nuns, bishops, cardinals and popes who felt assured of Heaven strengthened by this Dogma principle and set about killing in the name of Jesus and God. Kinley has a nice cell in Hell In the ninth and deepest circle simply because I am so incredibly pissed at him and the little cell next to him I have reserved for you!"
Chloe looked around the room. Desperately looking for support but she found only furious and hurt faces staring back.
"I'm not staying here any longer. You have all been bewitched by the Devil. Come monkey we are going home!"
Beatrice shouted from her father's lap:
"No, I won't! You're mean! You want to hurt Lucifer..."
Alexander pointed at Chloe, snapped his fingers, and with a thud she fell into the far corner of the couch.