CHAPTER 14

Lucifer made his rounds throughout Lux, ensuring his patrons were kept satisfied and that everything was running smoothly. Several of the ladies flirted with him, attempting to get an invite to his penthouse, as they would've gotten several months ago, but not only was that no longer possible, he found he wasn't all that interested anymore.

Lucifer walked to the bar to get himself a drink. He immediately got the bartender's attention. "Pour me a Scotch."

"Sure thing, Lucifer," he said.

"Hey, Luce."

Lucifer turned to see Eve approach the bar. "Ah, Eve, you're back again."

"Yeah. I love your club. I hope it's okay," Eve said with a coy smile.

"Yes, of course. All are welcome," Lucifer said before receiving his drink and taking a sip.

"Did things go okay with your sister?" Eve asked.

"Hmm. Yes, I forgot you were present for that. She has been properly dealt with. She will stay away. If she doesn't, I will deal with her," Lucifer swore. No one was taking his child away, and certainly not to Heaven.

"So, you're having a baby?" Eva asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yes," Lucifer said.

"I wouldn't have thought that was something you'd want. You're usually just about having fun," Eve said.

Lucifer laughed. "I still enjoy fun."

"Yeah, but it's not like it was before."

"Well, that was eons ago. Everyone changes with time," Lucifer said.

"But not the Devil, at least I wouldn't have thought so. I figured you'd be the same as you always were, but now you have a girlfriend and a child coming," Eve said with disappointment in her voice.

Lucifer frowned, hearing the tone of voice. "Did you come here for me, Eve?"

"I…I told you. I came to have some fun," Eve said.

Lucifer was about to say something when his phone rang. He took it out and saw that Daniel's name was displayed on the screen. He immediately answered it. He had no interest in talking to the douche, but the child was with him for the weekend. "Yes, Daniel?"

"Lucifer, it's me. Can you come get me?" Trixie's shaky voice asked.

"Child, what's wrong? Where's your father?" Lucifer asked as fear took effect. The child was obviously frightened. His first thought was that Kinley had gotten to her, deciding to target her to get to him.

"He's sleeping. I took his phone when he fell asleep. I called Mommy, but she didn't answer," Trixie cried.

Lucifer wasn't surprised to hear that. The Detective had gone to Linda's for a few hours, undoubtedly, to discuss impending motherhood. She'd forgotten her phone at the penthouse. "What's the matter, Spawn?"

"Daddy was weird when the babysitter dropped me off. He forgot I was coming today. He was talking weird when I got there and he was drinking alcohol," Trixie said.

Lucifer glowered a bit as he listened to the child. Clearly, Daniel had gotten drunk and done something to frighten the girl. "Keep going. What did he do?"

"He got mad when I was talking about the baby and then about you. He started yelling and saying really mean things about you," Trixie said.

"Did he lay his hands on you?" Lucifer asked, trying very hard to remain calm for the child's sake. If he found out that Daniel struck her, he was going to send him right to Hell tonight.

"You mean did he hit me? No, but he was being really mean. I wanna come home," Trixie cried.

"Very well. Where are you in the apartment? Your bedroom?" Lucifer asked.

"Uh huh."

"Good. Get ready to leave, but remain in your bedroom until I call for you. Even if you hear my voice in the apartment, you aren't to come out until I tell you to. Do you understand?" Lucifer asked. He had a few things to say to Daniel and he did not want the child present for it.

"Yes, Lucifer," she said.

"I will be there soon. Goodbye," Lucifer said.

"Bye," she said.

Lucifer disconnected the call and stood up.

"Is everything okay?" Eve asked.

"I have to go," Lucifer said.

"Why?" Eve asked.

Lucifer didn't answer, he just left. The child was his priority.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

It didn't even take Lucifer ten minutes to arrive at Daniel's. He didn't bother knocking. He let himself inside and loudly slammed the door, not that it did any good at all. Daniel was passed out on the couch and didn't stir at his entrance. Well, he would need to fix that.

Lucifer went up to the man and roughly grabbed him by the front of shirt, lifting him off the couch with ease.

Dan groaned and blinked in disorientation. "What?"

Lucifer glared at him. "Have you had a good nap, Daniel?"

It took Dan a couple minutes, but he soon came to. Well, as much as he could in his inebriated state. "What the hell are you doing here? Get out of my house!"

"Oh, I will soon enough! After you and I get something straight. I don't care what you think of me. I don't care that you blame me for Charlotte's death. Your opinion is nothing to me! But you have taken it out on innocents! On your own child! I will not stand for that!" Lucifer growled angrily.

Realization dawned on Dan. He wasn't quite as drunk as he had been, so he was able to realize, at least to an extent, that he messed up. "Trixie called you. Trixie, come out here!"

"She isn't going to answer to you. You frightened her to the point that she was crying and begging me to come get her!" Lucifer said angrily.

"I didn't mean…"

"I don't give a bloody damn what you meant to do! You got drunk with your child present and took your anger out on her!" Lucifer snarled. He kept his voice as low as possible, so he didn't alert Trixie, but he made his anger very clear.

Dan tried to push Lucifer off of him, but it didn't so much as budge the other man. "Stop trying to lecture me. You know nothing about being a parent! Your kid isn't even here yet, and when it is, you will be lousy at it!"

Lucifer laughed, but it was far from a funny one. "If I don't frighten my child to the point where he or she has to call someone else to come to their aid, I will be doing much better than you. Now, I'm taking this child home with me now."

"No, you're not! Trixie is my daughter, not yours. I'll have you arrested if you try to take her!" Dan yelled.

"Will you?" Lucifer asked before letting him go. "By all means, call for assistance. Let our colleagues see you in this glorious fashion, drunk out of your mind and terrorizing children. Not to mention that it will just traumatize your daughter even further. Is that what you want? Either way, by the time it's over, she will come home with me.

Dan opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it. He hated it, but Lucifer was right. Trying to stop Lucifer would backfire on him. If he accused Lucifer of kidnapping his child, his colleagues would see the state he was in. At best, he would be the laughing stock of the department, again. He was sober enough to realize it would be bad for him.

Lucifer turned in the direction of the child's bedroom. "Trixie, come out! We're going home!"

Trixie came out a minute later and ran to Lucifer, latching onto his middle.

"Trixie, I'm sorry," Dan said.

Trixie only buried her head into Lucifer's arms more.

"Get your bloody life together," Lucifer said to Dan before gently dislodging the child from his body and leading her out of the apartment by the hand. As they were walking to his car, Lucifer noticed Father Kinley standing just a few feet away. "Are you kidding me?"

"Is everything okay, Lucifer?" Trixie asked as she wiped her tears away.

"Yes, it's fine. Go wait in the car," Lucifer said. The car was close enough that he could watch her, but far enough away that she wouldn't hear what he had to say to Kinley.

Trixie nodded before running to the car.

Lucifer approached the priest with a sour look on his face. "I've already dealt with one douche tonight. Whatever you want, make it quick. Then I advise you to stop following me."

"Hello, Mr. Morningstar. I only wanted to offer my congratulations. I hear you're going to be a father," Father Kinley said.

Lucifer offered no reaction. He knew that was what Kinley wanted. He wanted to make him afraid, and while Lucifer couldn't deny some worry, he refused to let the man see it. "Noted. Now, I'll be on my way."

"I knew you'd bring evil into the world. I hoped it wouldn't be in this form," Kinley said.

Lucifer laughed. "I'd bring evil into the world? Evil is already in the bloody world. I offer proof with every soul that enters, which yours will surely join soon enough."

"I am God's soldier. I will never see Hell. And whose fault is it that evil exists in Hell? It is the Devil that tempts those souls," Kinley said.

"You people give me too much credit. Why would I even need to tempt you when so many of you are all too willing to earn yourselves spots in Hell all on your own?" Lucifer asked.

"So, you admit you're the Devil?" he asked.

"I've never denied it. Now, if we're done, I really must be going," Lucifer said.

"We won't be done until you and your spawn are where you belong," he said.

"Come after my family, and not only will you go to Hell, I will personally send you there," Lucifer said in a lethal tone before heading to his car. He got in and drove away.