1"Come on, Sam," Ella pleaded, "This is fun!".
"You and I clearly have a different definition of fun, Miss Lopez".
Detective Samael Morningstar sat at the bar of the club, sipping whiskey and wishing he could go home. Ella had finally convinced him to go out after a particularly brutal case had worn them all down. But, as much as he loved his best friend, he still preferred to spend a quiet evening at home with his daughter.
That was another reason he wanted to go home. Beatrice had never been left with a babysitter overnight unless he was on a stake-out. It's just been the two of them since her mother was killed, and quite frankly Sam wanted to keep it that way.
"I really think I should get going," Sam said, "Beatrice will be expecting her bedtime story, soon".
"Dude, Trixie will be fine," Ella said before she realized her slip-up.
Trixie is what Chloe used to call their daughter (even though Sam insisted that sounded like a hooker's name). That was a long time ago, back before that bastard Malcolm took everything away from him.
If only he'd discovered the man was corrupt sooner, then maybe Chloe wouldn't have tailed him to that warehouse on Palmetto street. Maybe he could have arrested Malcolm before he shot his wife and left her to bleed out on the floor while he disappeared into the wind. If only….
"Yoohoo, Earth to Samael" Ella shouted.
"I'm sorry, Miss Lopez, you were saying?". She must have been trying to get his attention whilst his mind wondered.
"I said," she repeated, "at least stay until the owner comes out. I hear he's easy on the eyes".
He raised a brow at her. "Just what makes you so certain I need something easy on the eyes".
"You might not, but I do," she snorted, "Besides I figured you'd want to hear his piano playing".
Before Sam could formulate a reply, the DJ cut the background music as an exotic, dark-skinned woman approached the center spotlight.
"Greetings sinners, "she purred, "I present to you, the Lord of Darkness and gracious host of this den of debauchery…LUCIFER!"
The spotlight shifted to the piano and the man walking up to it. He was definitely easy on the eyes like Ella said, with short, artfully styled brown hair and ocean colored eyes. He sat down at the piano and began to play and sing a familiar tune.
Yellow diamonds in the light
And we're standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
What it takes to come alive
It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny
But I've gotta let it go
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
Shine a light through an open door
Love and life, I will divide
Turn away cause I need you more
Feel the heartbeat in my mind
It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny
But I've gotta let it go
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
Yellow diamonds in the light
And we're standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
We fell in love in a hopeless place
As the song finished, the entire club erupted with thunderous applause. As the man called Lucifer walked away from the piano, Sam couldn't help but stare after him. There was something about him, and not just the fact that he sang a song that Sam had sung for his wife once. There was something beautiful, almost ethereal about this club owner that calls himself the devil.
Before he could ponder further, another glass of whiskey was sat in front of him. When Sam looked up, it was that same woman that had introduced Lucifer to the crowd.
"Oh, I didn't order this, Miss".
"No," she purred, "he did". She tilted her head in the direction of the devilish owner who was now approaching them.
"Well, I don't think I've ever seen you in my club before".
"You haven't, "Sam retorted, "I don't normally frequent places run by someone who thinks they're the devil".
"No thinking to it, "the man chuckled, "I'm Daniel".
"Daniel? I thought it was Lucifer?"
Daniel laughed again. "Lucifer is just a title I have, a God-given one mind you, but a title nonetheless"
"I have a title myself," Sam replied, "Detective Samael Morningstar, LAPD".
"Ooh, not here to bust me on anything are you, Detective?".
"Not yet. I'm only here because my friend thought I could stand to get out more. Now if you'll excuse me, I really must be going". With that, he grabbed his jacket, kissed Ella on the cheek, and headed towards the exit.
Daniel watched him go with increasing interest. He snapped his fingers and the mysterious woman appeared at his side".
"Mazikeen," he said, "I want you to follow that Detective. Learn what you can about him".
"Any particular reason why?" she purred.
"Do I need one?"
"Nope," she replied and went out the door to follow her Lord's latest command.
