Post by Bene Elohim on Feb 8, 2024 13:50:34 GMT -8
By the time Lucifer walked into the upper floor study in the Malibu home of Xaria Linette, the table inside was filled. The small talk happening between the members of the fabled group stopped the instant he crossed the threshold with the duffel bag in his right hand. All eyes turned to watch him as he crossed the room and sank down into a chair at the head of the table, setting the bag down beside him.
His eyes scanned the room, finding that everyone was present and accounted for except Maiko Adachi, and his eyes fell on Ashley Kenyon, lifting a brow inquisitively. Ashley, of course, knew what he was asking before he even asked the question.
Ashley Kenyon: “She’s seeing to some kind of an issue.“
Lucifer: “Issue? What kind of issue?”
Ashley Kenyon: “She didn’t tell me. Just something about what happened at the farm not making sense and then she walked away...“
Lucifer listened with his fingers over his mouth, and when she finished, he opened his fingers with a little indifferent shrug.
Lucifer: “Alright, so be it. We’ll begin without her.”
Lucifer reached down then and opened the zipper on the bag. From it, he withdrew the HYBRID Grand Championship belt. Without much concern to the prestige or history of the table, he tossed it onto the table, letting it come to rest in the center. Xaria didn’t seem bothered by this.
Lucifer: “We walked into Evolutionary War, knowing what we had to do and why we had to do it. Mayhem got their bonus for winning the tag belts, as did my sons, but it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. Now? The bonus owed to me from my contract...”
Lucifer paused in mid-sentence and looked to his left where Xaria sat with her hands folded in her lap. She smiled and inclined her head in homage.
Xaria Linette: “I spoke with Madame Brianna Summers, mon Seigneur. It should clear payroll by the weekend.”
Lucifer: “Good.”
Of all of those seated at the table, it was Zachary Sears who let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair with a hand over his face. Lucifer shifted his gaze to the young man and his cold eyes stared at one of his newest Angels.
Lucifer: “You have a problem?”
Feeling eyes on him, Zachary pressed his lips together for a brief moment. He attempted to proceed with caution.
Zachary Sears: “...Lucifer, look. I get it; ve all get it. Ve needed ze funds to continue to fight this var now that Valdemar has access to the Master File. Zhat ve had to do vhatever vas necessary for our loved ones, for each other...but...”
Aerynn Maguire: “Tim…”
Lucifer let out a deep breath and leaned back in his chair.
Lucifer: “Tim. If he wants to go down this road? Then that is his decision and we will act accordingly. However, what happened to him was necessary, even if he doesn’t understand that. Even if Stacy Jones doesn’t understand that. We were in no position to push back on Apollyon and Sathanas. We simply didn’t have the funds, but now? Between the farmhouse and this? We’re good... for now.”
The truth hung in the air between the group at the table. It had all been about the bonus paid to the Grand Champion. A means to keep fighting to keep Apollyon and Sathanas contained, or as contained as they possibly could. They couldn’t risk Lucifer losing.
Lucifer: “Now that we can focus once again on Apollyon and Sathanas...what are the numbers from the farmhouse?”
Silence hung at the table again as no one wanted to give him a report on the damage done and the true cost of what Sathanas had done. Lucifer looked to every face but every set of eyes was diverted.
Lucifer: “Well?!”
Ramiel: “...It was bad, Lord Lucifer...”
Ananiel: “...Very bad. Half…”
Ramiel: “...Or perhaps as high as…”
Both: “...Two thirds.”
Lucifer: “Two thirds?!”
Lucifer’s voice rose an octave as the words left his mouth and he leaned forward in his chair. Two thirds, possibly dead or seriously injured. As he considered this and the consequences of its actions, a familiar voice resonated as the turquoise-haired Maiko Adachi walked into the room.
She wore a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a shirt that showed off the new ink on her arms and hands, but she held her head up high. Proud and in control. Slowly, day by day, she was recovering from what those men did to her.
Maiko Adachi: “It’s worse than that.”
Xaria Linette: “Worse, Mademoiselle Maiko…?”
Sariel: “Nearly two dozen wounded or lost. How can it get worse?
Maiko raised her right hand, showing the table a rolled up large piece of paper. She moved to her chair and set it on the table, atop the HYBRID Grand Championship belt, and unrolled it. The paper was revealed to be a drawing of the Farmhouse, the barn and the structure built beneath it.
Maiko Adachi: “I’ve looked this over from every possible angle. Every possible way that could have possibly revealed the generator room.”
Ashley leaned forward and watched as Maiko traced her fingers over the beautiful charcoal drawing.
Ashley Kenyon: “Why the generator room?“
Maiko Adachi: “Valdemar was never allowed inside. None of the Demons were. They all thought it was powered by the power lines that provided the house and barn with energy.”
Aerynn Maguire: ”So how th’ fuck did Anthony know where it was tae tamper wit it?!”
Maiko Adachi: “The only way Sathanas could have known about that generator room to sabotage it was if someone told him where it was. A Fallen Angel.”
Slowly, each of them looked at one another as Lucifer sucked in a deep breath through his teeth. A traitor. Sariel shook her head.
Sariel: “No...It could also be a Watcher.”
Ramiel: “...The Watchers do...”
Ananiel: “...have knowledge and access…”
Ramiel: “...To the room…”
Both: “...Sire.”
For a time, Lucifer sat in silence with his hand over his mouth and his eyes trailing to each of them, and in their faces, he saw the same thing. He saw people with something precious to lose. Their true God, the love of their life, a best friend, family. All of them had something to lose by changing sides.
Lucifer: “That is a big accusation, Daughter. I will not have you all casting sideways glances at one another, only to find out that Sathanas knew because he helped design a lot of these facilities.”
Maiko Adachi: “That's impossible, Sire. You changed your entire structure after the Wedding. I can notice the differences and I was only gone a few months. There is no way Sathanas could know all of this.”
Lucifer: “I said I don’t want you all looking at one another that way.”
Maiko Adachi: “But Sire...”
Lucifer's hand came down and slammed down on the table with a loud thud and he locked Maiko in a fierce gaze.
Lucifer: “ENOUGH!”
Ashley narrowed her eyes on the man at the head of the table when he snapped at Maiko but said nothing. Maiko sank into her chair and folded her hands in front of her in silence, while the other eyes turned to Lucifer.
Lucifer: “We have other matters. You all know I want to strike at Sathanas, but he is impossible to locate. So I took steps...”
Ashley Kenyon: “...‘Took steps’ -- what does that even mean?“
Lucifer: “After what Apollyon did to Sativa Nevaeh’s cousin, the Kingdom wanted to help. So I asked Jasmine if she knew anyone who may be able to help me. She contacted an old friend of hers. Someone who has been a penpal for years. You may have all noticed her? Maya Kennedy?”
Ashley leaned forward in her chair and let out a shrill whistle with a laugh.
Ashley Kenyon: “She’s a god damn fucking Honey Pot!“
The eyes of everyone at the table turned to Ashley, with the exception of Aerynn who burst out laughing and clapped in pure glee.
Zachary Sears: “...Vhat is a ‘Honey Pot’”?
Aerynn Maguire: ”It’s bae a term from spy trillers. It’s a woman tha uses sex tae ensnare an’ confuse a man intae siding wit her o’ makin’ a mistake.”
Xaria’s head whipped around in shock to look at her Lord.
Xaria Linette: “She’s using sex to get him to reveal where he’s staying!?”
Lucifer: “And when he does? We strike and remove Sathanas from the playing field once and for all.”
Ramiel: “...Surely It cannot…”
Ananiel: “...Be that easy? Won’t he…”
Ramiel: “...suspect it’s a trap…”
Both: “...Sire?”
Lucifer: “You’ve all seen it. The girl is playing an overloaded virgin. She’s treating him like he’s the second coming of Father’s son and all of the Kingdom hate it. There’s no reason for him to suspect anything. She has no connection with us.”
The self-acclaimed Demon Knight scoffed. For a woman to be willing to go this far… He didn’t like it, but it was a necessary evil.
Zachary Sears: “So zhen, vhat do ve do?’”
Lucifer: “You do nothing. Pretend it’s not even happening and do nothing to interfere one way or another. If he’s going to fall into this trap? It has to be natural and organic.”
Lucifer glanced at Xaria and gave the faintest little nod. She knew the best step. She turned her head to look back at the group.
Xaria Linette: “Until such time as we are ready, we are all going to go and visit the Demons who choose freedom.”
Zachary Sears: “To vhat end? Return to forced servitude?!’”
The Harbinger rapidly shook her head.
Xaria Linette: “Of course not, Monsieur Zachary! They need to be informed of the landscape. This Lord Apollyon? He knows who they are and he knows what they did. He’s not bound to be as forgiving as Lucifer is and he may attempt to force them into his service, so...”
Maiko Adachi: “We offer a return to ours...”
Xaria Linette: “Oui.”
Maiko Adachi: “They get protection from Sathanas and Apollyon and it bolsters the numbers we lost in the attack on the Farm. Smart.”
Lucifer waited only a moment before extending his hand again.
Lucifer: “Sariel and Xaria have your assignments. Go.”
One by one, they all rose until Lucifer called out.
Lucifer: “Ashley. Aerynn. A moment?”
The two women sank back into their chairs while the others all filed out one by one. Once it was only the pair and Lucifer, he leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table.
Lucifer: “I have something special I want you two to do.”
Ashley Kenyon: “What?“
Lucifer: “I want you to visit the PD.”
The shock of that statement was enough that neither of the women could hide it.
Ashley Kenyon: “What for?!“
Lucifer: “There is someone there I want you both to speak to.”
His eyes scanned the room, finding that everyone was present and accounted for except Maiko Adachi, and his eyes fell on Ashley Kenyon, lifting a brow inquisitively. Ashley, of course, knew what he was asking before he even asked the question.
Ashley Kenyon: “She’s seeing to some kind of an issue.“
Lucifer: “Issue? What kind of issue?”
Ashley Kenyon: “She didn’t tell me. Just something about what happened at the farm not making sense and then she walked away...“
Lucifer listened with his fingers over his mouth, and when she finished, he opened his fingers with a little indifferent shrug.
Lucifer: “Alright, so be it. We’ll begin without her.”
Lucifer reached down then and opened the zipper on the bag. From it, he withdrew the HYBRID Grand Championship belt. Without much concern to the prestige or history of the table, he tossed it onto the table, letting it come to rest in the center. Xaria didn’t seem bothered by this.
Lucifer: “We walked into Evolutionary War, knowing what we had to do and why we had to do it. Mayhem got their bonus for winning the tag belts, as did my sons, but it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. Now? The bonus owed to me from my contract...”
Lucifer paused in mid-sentence and looked to his left where Xaria sat with her hands folded in her lap. She smiled and inclined her head in homage.
Xaria Linette: “I spoke with Madame Brianna Summers, mon Seigneur. It should clear payroll by the weekend.”
Lucifer: “Good.”
Of all of those seated at the table, it was Zachary Sears who let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair with a hand over his face. Lucifer shifted his gaze to the young man and his cold eyes stared at one of his newest Angels.
Lucifer: “You have a problem?”
Feeling eyes on him, Zachary pressed his lips together for a brief moment. He attempted to proceed with caution.
Zachary Sears: “...Lucifer, look. I get it; ve all get it. Ve needed ze funds to continue to fight this var now that Valdemar has access to the Master File. Zhat ve had to do vhatever vas necessary for our loved ones, for each other...but...”
Aerynn Maguire: “Tim…”
Lucifer let out a deep breath and leaned back in his chair.
Lucifer: “Tim. If he wants to go down this road? Then that is his decision and we will act accordingly. However, what happened to him was necessary, even if he doesn’t understand that. Even if Stacy Jones doesn’t understand that. We were in no position to push back on Apollyon and Sathanas. We simply didn’t have the funds, but now? Between the farmhouse and this? We’re good... for now.”
The truth hung in the air between the group at the table. It had all been about the bonus paid to the Grand Champion. A means to keep fighting to keep Apollyon and Sathanas contained, or as contained as they possibly could. They couldn’t risk Lucifer losing.
Lucifer: “Now that we can focus once again on Apollyon and Sathanas...what are the numbers from the farmhouse?”
Silence hung at the table again as no one wanted to give him a report on the damage done and the true cost of what Sathanas had done. Lucifer looked to every face but every set of eyes was diverted.
Lucifer: “Well?!”
Ramiel: “...It was bad, Lord Lucifer...”
Ananiel: “...Very bad. Half…”
Ramiel: “...Or perhaps as high as…”
Both: “...Two thirds.”
Lucifer: “Two thirds?!”
Lucifer’s voice rose an octave as the words left his mouth and he leaned forward in his chair. Two thirds, possibly dead or seriously injured. As he considered this and the consequences of its actions, a familiar voice resonated as the turquoise-haired Maiko Adachi walked into the room.
She wore a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a shirt that showed off the new ink on her arms and hands, but she held her head up high. Proud and in control. Slowly, day by day, she was recovering from what those men did to her.
Maiko Adachi: “It’s worse than that.”
Xaria Linette: “Worse, Mademoiselle Maiko…?”
Sariel: “Nearly two dozen wounded or lost. How can it get worse?
Maiko raised her right hand, showing the table a rolled up large piece of paper. She moved to her chair and set it on the table, atop the HYBRID Grand Championship belt, and unrolled it. The paper was revealed to be a drawing of the Farmhouse, the barn and the structure built beneath it.
Maiko Adachi: “I’ve looked this over from every possible angle. Every possible way that could have possibly revealed the generator room.”
Ashley leaned forward and watched as Maiko traced her fingers over the beautiful charcoal drawing.
Ashley Kenyon: “Why the generator room?“
Maiko Adachi: “Valdemar was never allowed inside. None of the Demons were. They all thought it was powered by the power lines that provided the house and barn with energy.”
Aerynn Maguire: ”So how th’ fuck did Anthony know where it was tae tamper wit it?!”
Maiko Adachi: “The only way Sathanas could have known about that generator room to sabotage it was if someone told him where it was. A Fallen Angel.”
Slowly, each of them looked at one another as Lucifer sucked in a deep breath through his teeth. A traitor. Sariel shook her head.
Sariel: “No...It could also be a Watcher.”
Ramiel: “...The Watchers do...”
Ananiel: “...have knowledge and access…”
Ramiel: “...To the room…”
Both: “...Sire.”
For a time, Lucifer sat in silence with his hand over his mouth and his eyes trailing to each of them, and in their faces, he saw the same thing. He saw people with something precious to lose. Their true God, the love of their life, a best friend, family. All of them had something to lose by changing sides.
Lucifer: “That is a big accusation, Daughter. I will not have you all casting sideways glances at one another, only to find out that Sathanas knew because he helped design a lot of these facilities.”
Maiko Adachi: “That's impossible, Sire. You changed your entire structure after the Wedding. I can notice the differences and I was only gone a few months. There is no way Sathanas could know all of this.”
Lucifer: “I said I don’t want you all looking at one another that way.”
Maiko Adachi: “But Sire...”
Lucifer's hand came down and slammed down on the table with a loud thud and he locked Maiko in a fierce gaze.
Lucifer: “ENOUGH!”
Ashley narrowed her eyes on the man at the head of the table when he snapped at Maiko but said nothing. Maiko sank into her chair and folded her hands in front of her in silence, while the other eyes turned to Lucifer.
Lucifer: “We have other matters. You all know I want to strike at Sathanas, but he is impossible to locate. So I took steps...”
Ashley Kenyon: “...‘Took steps’ -- what does that even mean?“
Lucifer: “After what Apollyon did to Sativa Nevaeh’s cousin, the Kingdom wanted to help. So I asked Jasmine if she knew anyone who may be able to help me. She contacted an old friend of hers. Someone who has been a penpal for years. You may have all noticed her? Maya Kennedy?”
Ashley leaned forward in her chair and let out a shrill whistle with a laugh.
Ashley Kenyon: “She’s a god damn fucking Honey Pot!“
The eyes of everyone at the table turned to Ashley, with the exception of Aerynn who burst out laughing and clapped in pure glee.
Zachary Sears: “...Vhat is a ‘Honey Pot’”?
Aerynn Maguire: ”It’s bae a term from spy trillers. It’s a woman tha uses sex tae ensnare an’ confuse a man intae siding wit her o’ makin’ a mistake.”
Xaria’s head whipped around in shock to look at her Lord.
Xaria Linette: “She’s using sex to get him to reveal where he’s staying!?”
Lucifer: “And when he does? We strike and remove Sathanas from the playing field once and for all.”
Ramiel: “...Surely It cannot…”
Ananiel: “...Be that easy? Won’t he…”
Ramiel: “...suspect it’s a trap…”
Both: “...Sire?”
Lucifer: “You’ve all seen it. The girl is playing an overloaded virgin. She’s treating him like he’s the second coming of Father’s son and all of the Kingdom hate it. There’s no reason for him to suspect anything. She has no connection with us.”
The self-acclaimed Demon Knight scoffed. For a woman to be willing to go this far… He didn’t like it, but it was a necessary evil.
Zachary Sears: “So zhen, vhat do ve do?’”
Lucifer: “You do nothing. Pretend it’s not even happening and do nothing to interfere one way or another. If he’s going to fall into this trap? It has to be natural and organic.”
Lucifer glanced at Xaria and gave the faintest little nod. She knew the best step. She turned her head to look back at the group.
Xaria Linette: “Until such time as we are ready, we are all going to go and visit the Demons who choose freedom.”
Zachary Sears: “To vhat end? Return to forced servitude?!’”
The Harbinger rapidly shook her head.
Xaria Linette: “Of course not, Monsieur Zachary! They need to be informed of the landscape. This Lord Apollyon? He knows who they are and he knows what they did. He’s not bound to be as forgiving as Lucifer is and he may attempt to force them into his service, so...”
Maiko Adachi: “We offer a return to ours...”
Xaria Linette: “Oui.”
Maiko Adachi: “They get protection from Sathanas and Apollyon and it bolsters the numbers we lost in the attack on the Farm. Smart.”
Lucifer waited only a moment before extending his hand again.
Lucifer: “Sariel and Xaria have your assignments. Go.”
One by one, they all rose until Lucifer called out.
Lucifer: “Ashley. Aerynn. A moment?”
The two women sank back into their chairs while the others all filed out one by one. Once it was only the pair and Lucifer, he leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table.
Lucifer: “I have something special I want you two to do.”
Ashley Kenyon: “What?“
Lucifer: “I want you to visit the PD.”
The shock of that statement was enough that neither of the women could hide it.
Ashley Kenyon: “What for?!“
Lucifer: “There is someone there I want you both to speak to.”
