[Lucifer] Ch: 26 [A Demon’s Loyalty] (Patreon)

[Lux] [This is taking place at the same time as the previous chapter.] [1 AM]

Maze walked in wearing her classic black leather dress after checking the inventory. She took out her phone, put on a dark devil song, and placed it on the bar before reaching beneath her dress and slowly pulling out one of her Hell-forged daggers. She'd already sensed the divine energy spreading through Lux, so there was no need to wonder who had decided to visit while Lucifer was away.

A low guitar riff rolled from her phone as a rough male voice joined the music.

♪ Devil keeps dancing where the red lights glow ♪♪ Heaven comes calling, but he tells it no ♪♪ Fire in his blood and a crown in his hand ♪♪ Hell knows the Devil won't follow command ♪

The heavy whoosh of wings suddenly cut through the song.

Maze spun around at lightning speed and threw the Hell knife without hesitation.

Time slowed around the bar as the dagger tore through the air toward Amenadiel's head. He moved his face aside with effortless speed, allowing the blade to pass within inches of his cheek before it buried itself deep inside the wall behind him.

The moment time returned to normal, Amenadiel stood several feet away in his dark coat, looking completely relaxed despite the dagger sticking out of the wall beside his head. “Miss me?”

Maze stared at him without lowering her guard. She'd already guessed why he'd come, and there wasn't a chance in Hell she planned to help him.

“I know why you're here. I won't help you, Amenadiel.”

Amenadiel stepped toward her with the calm confidence of someone who still believed this conversation would eventually end the way he wanted. “One way or another, Maze, I am gonna change your mind,” he said as the distance between them disappeared. “So... You're gonna help me get Lucifer back to Hell. Don't make it painful.”

Maze laughed because threatening her with pain might've been the dumbest possible approach he could've taken.

"You forget. I love pain.”

She lifted one hand and used telekinesis to rip the dagger from the wall. The blade shot across the room, and Maze caught it with ease before rushing Amenadiel.

The Hell dagger flashed toward his throat.

Amenadiel shifted aside before the blade could open his throat, and Maze followed the missed strike with another slash toward his chest. He leaned backward and let the edge pass inches above him before catching her wrist on the return swing.

Maze twisted free before he could hold her and attacked again.

Amenadiel blocked the next strike with his forearm, then stepped backward when Maze nearly drove the knife into his stomach.

The music continued behind them.

♪ Black wings rising while the demons grin ♪♪ Heaven wants obedience, Hell embraces sin ♪♪ One brother follows every word from above ♪♪ One broke his chains for freedom and love ♪

Maze continued to attack.

The dagger flashed toward Amenadiel's ribs before changing direction halfway through the strike. Amenadiel blocked her wrist, stepped inside her guard, and caught her shoulder before she could drive the blade upward beneath his chin.

Maze brought her knee toward his stomach.

Amenadiel turned sideways and avoided most of the impact before grabbing her around the waist.

Maze barely had time to react before he threw her across the room.

She hit the floor hard, rolled across the polished surface, and crashed against the bottom of the bar. Several empty glasses shook above her while one bottle toppled sideways but somehow remained on the shelf.

Maze groaned as she pushed herself upright.

Amenadiel adjusted his clothes while watching her rise, and the faint arrogance in his expression immediately made her want to stab him somewhere unpleasant. 

“I'm an angel. You can't beat me, little demon.”

Maze smirked as she reached beneath her dress and pulled out another Hell-forged dagger.

Both blades began spinning between her fingers as she walked toward Amenadiel, picking up speed.

Amenadiel's expression tightened slightly. “Stop and hear me out.”

Maze continued walking.

Amenadiel laughed when she shifted both daggers into fighting positions. Thousands of years had apparently taught the little demon absolutely nothing about choosing battles she could realistically win.

That was one of the things Lucifer had always liked about her.

Maze gave him an amused look.

“Men... they always want to talk.”

She exploded forward.

This time, Amenadiel barely moved before the first dagger reached him.

He blocked her right arm, but Maze immediately rotated beneath his grip and slashed the second blade across his coat. Amenadiel stepped back while another strike came toward his chest.

He caught her wrist.

Maze kicked his knee.

Amenadiel stumbled half a step, and she used the opening to drive her elbow into his ribs.

"Hmf!" He grunted.

Maze grinned and attacked harder.

One dagger flashed past Amenadiel's face while the other sliced toward his stomach. He twisted away and caught her forearm, though Maze reversed her grip and nearly buried the dagger into his shoulder.

Amenadiel knocked the weapon aside.

Maze spun with the momentum and drove her knee straight into his stomach.

The impact forced air from his lungs. 

Maze landed and immediately came at him again, enjoying herself more with every second.

Amenadiel finally stopped playing defense. He caught both of her wrists during the next strike, twisted her arms outward, and slammed her backward against the wall.

"Arg!" Maze grunted when her back hit the surface, though the smile never completely disappeared from her face.

Amenadiel pressed her wrists beside her shoulders and glared down at her.

“Enough!” He said loudly, looking really angry.

Maze struggled against his grip for another second before going still. She knew he was stronger than her, and there was no way she could beat him, but she was happy to know she got a few hits in.

Amenadiel leaned slightly closer, irritation breaking through his usual calm.

“We want the same thing!” He grumbled.

Maze raised one eyebrow.

“Oh, do we?” 

Her gaze moved slowly across his face.

Then something mischievous appeared in her eyes.

“Let's see.”

Before Amenadiel understood what she meant, Maze leaned forward and dragged her tongue slowly across the side of his face.

Amenadiel flinched violently.

His grip loosened as he pulled away, staring at her with genuine confusion.

A strange sensation crawled across his skin where her tongue had touched him. Heat followed it, then a sudden tightness somewhere deeper inside his chest that he couldn't identify. His celestial existence contained countless memories of battle, worship, duty, obedience, and divine purpose, but whatever Maze had just caused didn't belong to any familiar category.

Maze noticed immediately. Her smile became wicked. “Uh-oh. Did I hit a nerve?” She said with a mocking tone.

Amenadiel stared at her, still trying to understand why his body had reacted at all. He forced the distraction aside and straightened his posture before the demon could enjoy it any further.

“Mazikeen, we both know that something has fundamentally changed in Lucifer. Now, aren't you even the least bit concerned?” He asked.

Maze's expression shifted.

Memories surfaced almost immediately.

Lucifer kissing beneath her ear that morning. His hands around her waist when she least expected them. The way he looked at her lately instead of merely looking through her while searching for the next distraction. The nights they'd spent together, the casual kisses whenever he passed her inside the penthouse, and the strange little moments when he actually seemed interested in what she thought.

The old Lucifer had cared about Maze in his own complicated way and never showed any affection of that level... intimate level.

This Lucifer made her feel wanted.

Maze lowered her daggers.

“No. I like him even better now,” She said.

Amenadiel studied her carefully.

He'd watched Lucifer protect humans, show mercy, interfere in mortal problems that once would've bored him, and develop attachments far faster than Amenadiel thought possible. Now Mazikeen, the demon who'd spent years wanting nothing except to drag Lucifer back to Hell, apparently preferred this new version of him.

That made absolutely no sense.

“You're lying to me. You're lying to yourself. Now, we can help each other. We can get him back to where he belongs if you could just provide me with a weak spot. Some insight," Amenadiel tried once again to convince Maze.

Maze looked at him for several seconds before slipping one dagger beneath her dress. Then pulled the other one in her hand and put that away too.

She stepped close enough to make Amenadiel tense again, then gave him a small smile.

“No... means no.” Maze winked and walked past him.

Amenadiel didn't stop her.

The dark blues continued from the phone while Maze moved toward the other end of Lux, already forgetting most of the conversation.

♪ Heaven keeps knocking on a door locked tight ♪♪ Hell keeps laughing underneath moonlight ♪♪ Brother wants answers, but the Devil runs free ♪♪ Ain't no chain in creation gonna bend that knee ♪

Amenadiel remained beside the wall for several seconds after Maze disappeared.

His hand slowly rose toward his cheek.

He touched the exact place she'd licked and frowned when that strange warmth returned beneath his fingers.

His brows pulled together.

He'd expected resistance from Mazikeen. Violence had been practically guaranteed, and her refusal to betray Lucifer wasn't entirely surprising anymore.

Her tongue hadn't been part of his calculations.

Amenadiel lowered his hand, though the unfamiliar sensation lingered beneath his skin as he stared toward the direction Maze had gone.

For the first time that night, getting Lucifer back to Hell wasn't the only thing confusing him.