LUCIFER'S MANY CONNECTIONS were to thank when the afterparty had been moved to Lux — or maybe it had something to do with the open bar, but either way, they didn't get to enjoy it for very long. Having the celebration on their turf made it that much easier to corner Carver, especially when the foolish man pulled out a gun and encouraged most of the crowd to flee screaming. In a turn of events, however, it seemed that the man wasn't to blame for the missing girl's disappearance, but instead, he was trying to get her back.

    "I bet it's going to be a blast explaining to the media why some nutjob pulled out a damn gun in your club", Annika muttered to Lucifer once he had led the two of them, as well as Chloe and Carver upstairs to his glamorous home. With a soft laugh, Lucifer glanced at her before returning to pouring a drink for himself and then grabbing a second glass for Annika. Before he could fill it up with alcohol, though, she was lifting her hand to decline the offer — she had done enough stepping out of her comfort-zone for one night. Or, more accurately, she had leaped right over the edge with no idea what awaited on the other side.

    "Ah, I'll handle it. Much like I'm going to handle this", Lucifer reassured with a convincing smile after picking up his drink and taking Annika's hand with his free one. Albeit shaken by the warm touch, she let him walk her over to the couches where he immediately rushed to question Carver's interest in dating the same woman after several months. In the meanwhile, she leaned back into the cushions and began to wonder why she had turned down the drink, after all.

    "I'm sorry, who is she?" Carver questioned with confusion, and without even looking, Annika knew she was on the other end of his puzzled stare. And even so, she turned to him with a suppressed smile, the kind that didn't really have an answer for him — it was a good question, one that she hoped to solve, as well.

    Before she could chime in by insisting that she was moral support and a reliable friend, Lucifer was interjecting with an extravagant gesture at Annika. "Well, don't tell me you mind this!" he barked out an amused laugh at the idea that the Hayden's presence was unwanted, and already mustering a weak chuckle at his antics, Annika was placing a hand on Lucifer's arm to calm him down.

    "I'm Annika. I'm here to help", she insisted, at the very least optimistic that she'd be seen as more of an asset than a liability. "And I promise, if anyone can find Lindsay, it's Detective Decker", she added with a soft nod given to Carver, who eased visibly at those words, no longer so rigid around Annika. Maybe moral support was her task to do, after all.

    As Chloe proceeded to present more questions, Lucifer was unexpectedly standing up from the leather cushions and striding over to the balcony with his phone in hand. Undeniably curious, Annika followed suit and joined him in the chilly, dark night with the nip of the wind coaxing a shiver from her. The view from the penthouse was something else, truly — she had never seen her home city like that, but the endless sea of lights and the twinkling stars above warmed her heart. She had lived in L.A all her life, and these kinds of moments convinced her that she had been right to not budge.

    When Lucifer's casual tone caught her focus again, she was footing herself in front of the significantly taller man and knitting her eyebrows together. "Is that—", she began with a gentle whisper, but before she could finish, he had already nodded.

    "Yes, it's the kidnappers", he confirmed without a care in the world, and while Annika's eyes flew wide open with shock, he returned to the call. As soon as the brunette's bewildered gaze was spotted by Chloe, the detective was joining them on the balcony with Carver in tow, none of them really knowing what to do about Lucifer who carried on. "Just give me a time and a location. I promise you, no police, alright?" he continued, his smooth accent ringing in the air. "Okay, then, see you shortly! Bye-bye!"

    Lowering the phone, Lucifer opened his mouth to brag about his talents, only for Chloe to intervene by demanding he ask for proof of life — unsurprisingly, the call had already ended.

    "What are you doing?" Carver spoke up with evident fear lacing his words, and once Lucifer had shortly and simply explained that he was going to exchange Lindsay for some cash this very same evening, he had yet another question. "Why would you do this for me?" the Cruz wondered with understandable difficulty to grasp Lucifer's intentions, and he wasn't wrong to do so. Who ever knew what was driving him to do the things he did, really.

    "Isn't it obvious? Number two on your list — be a protector", Lucifer smiled, causing Annika to turn red while Chloe shook her head in disbelief. "Is it working?" he then turned to Annika and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and unable to deliver an answer that would have been both appropriate and honest, she pursed her lips together awkwardly and poked his chest defiantly. She couldn't deny that despite the questionable source of his benevolence, the lengths he was going to just to impress her were more than effective.

    Cutting in once more, Chloe was slicing the tension between them in half. "You're not doing this alone", she decided sternly, only for Lucifer to have other thoughts.

    "Afraid so. I promised, no police. A deal's a deal, especially one with the Devil", he reminded, coaxing a laugh from Annika who couldn't help but laugh at his lame jokes.

    Little did she know, it wasn't a joke at all, and soon enough, she was going to discover that.

—————

    "COOL RANCH PUFF?"

    Whereas Chloe declined Lucifer's offer, Annika was already reaching out with open hands from the backseat of the Decker's patrol car, her stomach instinctively coming to life at the mention of snacks. They had succeeded on forcing Lucifer to take them with him to the location determined by Lindsay's kidnappers, but he had been very adamant about them staying in the car — Annika was more than happy to oblige, even if she wasn't part of the police and technically allowed to come along.

    While munching on the salty snacks, Annika was happy to take part in what had to be one of the most interesting conversations of her life, with Lucifer explaining how the whole Devil thing truly worked. As a teacher, she had heard and seen plenty, but none of the graphic stories her students had shared came even close to him mentioning that he was practically immortal. If he were to be shot, the bullets would barely harm him, and the blade of a knife wouldn't be able to make him bleed. It was all beyond fascinating, and Annika could have listened to his stories for the rest of the night if it wasn't for something — or someone — interrupting.

    "Oh, no", she sighed while pointing a finger at an approaching figure sneaking towards the building, "is that Carver?" And unfortunately, the teacher was correct. It was, indeed, Carver trying to be subtle in impatiently slinking indoors, and the sight of him pulled a groan from Chloe who grabbed her gun and kicked the car door open. Following her lead, Lucifer and Annika did the same, even if only one of them intended to actually go inside.

    "This is not good, this is not good", Annika repeated to herself quietly, happy that she had switched from her dress and heels to her favorite overalls and sneakers while tiptoeing through the muddy ground. She had sought out more excitement to her life, but she was convinced that if she'd make it out alive tonight, she was retiring from Lucifer's nightly activities for the time being.

    Before either she or Chloe could say or do anything, Lucifer had snuck into the building and locked the door behind him, shutting the two women out with the attempt of an apology on his lips — in reality, he seemed hardly regretful for his decision, and so, it didn't take him long to wander off. "Stay safe, my darling!" he called out far too loudly, but before he could be reprimanded, he was gone.

    "I miss my cat", Annika whispered to herself as she paced back and forth on the small stairs leading up to the entrance Lucifer had locked, all the while Chloe was calling SWAT to the scene. That was a true sign of something serious going down, and it was tying Annie's stomach in knots as she channeled her nerves into ridiculous hops and kicks. The only thing stopping her from fully freaking out was remembering Lucifer's promise that as the Devil, he was untouchable — and for now, she chose to believe in him telling the truth.

    "Come on", Chloe beckoned with a nod of her head, and somehow neglecting to wonder if she should have returned to the car, Annika did as told and trailed behind the detective as she ran around to find another door.

    "How do you resist him?" the Hayden couldn't help but inquire while Chloe led her around, gun hoisted and ready to fire a shot at anyone who'd cross paths with them. That did offer a sense of safety to Annika, and so, she didn't argue when Chloe spotted another entrance and held the door open for her, as well. At the very least, she could grab Carver and encourage him to join her in the car while the professionals would take care of the criminals.

    Chuckling at Annika's question, Chloe cleared her throat. "I guess... he's my friend and my life is messy as is. I don't want things to be weird between us", she began, but she didn't get further when the sound of a gunshot rang throughout the dark building they were traveling through. Feeling something sickening drop in her chest, Annika gave a worried look at the detective, but when the blonde simply took in a deep breath and headed for where the shot had echoed, she relied on Chloe and her skillset. "So, if you want it enough, if you want to resist him, I guess you just make it happen", the Decker added quietly.

    That got Annika to think about the inevitable. Maybe she didn't want it enough. Maybe she wanted to give in.

    Sticking to the shadows worked for Chloe, but once the two had gotten close to where everything was going down, one of the kidnappers noticed Annika without giving her time to flee. "Hey, get over here!" the man shouted out, and forced to lift her hands in the air while being held at gunpoint, the Hayden took in a shaky breath before stepping forward. Anxiety and fear were piling in the pit of her stomach and the only thing she could hear was the heavy thudding of her heart as she inched out of hiding, but before she could accept her doom, she was pulled away from the armed man and into a firm chest. Her hands landed on cold leather and a familiar aftershave invaded her space, confirming her safety — she was with Lucifer.

    "I recall locking you out and telling you to stay out", he whispered huskily into her ear, keeping her as close to him as possible while Carver and — shockingly — Lindsay argued a few feet away from them. Shrugging, Annika glanced up at Lucifer and felt her racing heart skip a beat when their eyes met and his hands tightened on her waist to protect her from the dangers around them. Well, number two on Carver's list was certainly working.

    "And clearly, I didn't bend", she replied with a low hum, though she couldn't deny that following Chloe inside hadn't been her smartest decision.

    Lifting an eyebrow, Lucifer freed a dark chuckle behind her. "Now, Annie, that one you just threw at me", he taunted with his breath tickling her ear and the grin on his lips evident in his voice. "Well, here you are now, so stay safe, yes?" he added with a more concerned tone, and capable of mustering only a nod, Annika sealed the promise silently.

    With that, Lucifer was parting from her and she failed to hold back a sigh when a gush of chilly air replaced the warmth of his body. Nonetheless, she stayed where she was as promised and watched Lucifer swat the kidnapper in the chest and knock him out while cornering Lindsay. A rage that Annika had only seen once bubbled through the surface of his charm and the anger lacing his blaming words sent a shiver down her spine — truthfully, she was on edge at the memory of the football agent and how Lucifer had sent him flying through the wall. Concluding from the look on Lindsay's face, she was expecting the worst too, and rightfully so.

    Out of nowhere, Lucifer's handsome features were replaced with charred flesh and blood, his teasing smirk long gone along with the beautiful eyes Annika had just stared into a moment ago. The haunting sight that seemed to flash only for a second was enough for Lindsay to fall down screaming, and already feeling her own heart up in her throat, Annika took a stumbling step back.

    The horror movie-like image was burned in her mind, her thoughts growing louder and louder by the second to the point where nothing made sense anymore. Her chest was in an iron grip, suffocating her, and desperate to breathe again, she let her feet guide her away. Shaking, Annika erupted into a run that didn't cease until she found herself at the exit and could shove through into the cool evening air comforting her from the cold sweat on her trembling hands. Was she just imagining things? Was it all a prank?

    Or was Lucifer truly the Devil?

—————

    ANNIKA WAS SCARED. There was no way to turn it into something else, no, it was genuine fear rising in her chest and boiling over the edges until it poured out as salty tears burning her cheeks. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she had been so afraid, but it made sense — this was something beyond her control, something like never before, something that she had considered impossible only to be proven wrong. Although, maybe a part of her had known it since the beginning.

    And here was the part where it got truly scary — it wasn't Lucifer she was afraid of. Of course, him being the Devil himself was a lot to take in, but what truly terrified her was how her feelings still stayed the same. She had hidden under a blanket with Violet in her arms, thought about all the things she had seen and heard, and even then knew that she still wanted to have Lucifer in her life. The alternative, going without him, felt worse than coming to terms with who he was, and if that wasn't scary...

    Of all the people in Los Angeles, she, the sweet little angel, had fallen for the Devil.

    This realization, however, despite its terrifying nature, was what kicked Annika up from her couch and made her wipe her tears. She could either cave in and go buy some ice cream to console herself, or she could face her fears — and since she was on a roll already, she picked the latter.

    Therefore, after fixing her make-up and firmly telling herself to grow up, she had headed out and wound up back in Lucifer's elevator. She could barely stop thinking about his burned skin or the hollow stare he had given Lindsay, but when the twist in her gut got too much, she simply reminded herself of everything else. His protective hold, his tempting smile, his reassuring words. She didn't quite understand how she had the courage to be back in his penthouse so soon, but when the doors finally parted and she saw him playing the piano by his lonesome, she knew it was the right thing to do.

    The quiet notes he was poking into life filled the penthouse while he sipped on a drink, disappointment etched onto his features and Annika couldn't help but feel like the one to blame. The sight of her, however, made him stop playing instantly and after slowly gulping down the rest of his drink, his eyes lit up with hope and his mouth fell open with the attempt to say something. He had certainly put the pieces together and understood that he had scared her away, so to see her coming back was something profoundly amazing.

    And it was weird for her, too. His face was in its usual flawless shape and form again, and she supposed, at that moment, that despite his true appearance, he wasn't evil. He most definitely wasn't a bad person, and with his eyes so full of sadness now, Annika wondered if he was worthy of all the sympathy in the world, after all.

    A careful smile touched her lips, but it faltered as soon as Lucifer was turning uncomfortably and she noticed his bandaged leg. "You got shot? Oh my—are you okay?" she yelled out in shock, and instinctively, she stepped towards him only to decide to stay within a distance, in the end. Still, her hand found its way to her mouth as she watched him struggle to twist and turn on the seat, and yet, his usual smile wiped across his mouth, though without the typical sincerity.

    "I'm peachy, darling. What are you doing here?" he asked, standing up to pour himself another drink while Annika glanced down at her feet and exhaled heavily. She had been so assured just moments ago, but realizing that there remained so much to say and do pushed her heart with insecurity and doubt. Lucifer was, evidently, a special man in so many ways. What if he would reject Annika and she'd make a fool of herself? What if she had truly fallen into the Devil's traps and she was making a huge mistake?

    Hopefully not.

    "I, uh...", she coughed out before giving Lucifer a sheepish look, one that he returned with concern and submission, rather than his characteristic confidence. "I realized that despite everything, I... I really don't want you to be gone. I mean, I want to see you. And... understand. Because when you care about someone, you accept even their worst parts, so—", she stammered, always equally nervous to admit her feelings even when she had done so many times. She had never been this invested, though, and she supposed the same could be said for Lucifer.

    Interjecting her speech, he was putting down his glass and closing the space between them with one hand reaching her waist and the other landing on the back of her head — and then, there was no going back, really. He crashed his lips onto hers in a fiery kiss, catching her by surprise but she voluntarily melted closer until they were body to body and he could take her breath away. He tasted like bitter alcohol but at the same time, so sweet, and similarly, the way he held her was affectionate but rough. He was desperate, and when Annika's hands cupped his cheeks just to pull him in deeper, she guessed she was, too.

    And when they stumbled across the room and Annika's back collided with the mattress of Lucifer's bed only for him to climb on top of her and kiss her once more, she wasn't sure if it was all a dream or not.

    Maybe, a dream come true.

»»»

I THINK WE NEED A SHIP NAME (': Any ideas?

This chapter was over 3000 words whoops, longer than usually but oh well,, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 2K IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME

Update 09/04/2020: This book has now been rewritten, so the face claim for Annika is no longer Scarlett, and Myra's name is now Maeve! Most of the changes are minor but if you're suddenly confused about the subtle differences, that's why! x