Paradox

Chapter 26: Shadows of the Night

Lucifer arrived by the stream but didn't see Chloe. A sad-faced police officer directed him up the stream so he followed the path with the flashlight the officer had handed him. He could see lights up ahead and then got a glimpse of the Detective kneeling near some bushes.

"Detective, I'm here," he announced cheerfully his heart warming at the sight of her.

She glared at him and it was then he realized a young boy was lying at her feet. She swallowed heavily and took a deep breath. "He was found an hour ago by some hikers, cause of death is so far unknown but I suspect suffocation."

Not being one for the feels he studied her and realized she was upset. He remembered her comment that finding dead children was especially hard on her. He couldn't comprehend why she wouldn't just step away and wait for forensics.

"Detective, you should come away now. It's pointless to be hovering over..."

With a flash of fury in her eyes, she cut him off. "I swear if you call this child a heap of rotting flesh I will slug you!" she said hoarsely.

He took a step back and closed his mouth. He hadn't been about to say that he was just going to call it a body. The spirit in it had long since moved on.

"I'm staying here until forensics comes. He needs someone to watch over him. I don't want him to be alone," she informed him quietly. her blue eyes were glassy.

He stepped closer and knelt beside her. "This is making you think of your spawn isn't it?"

She nodded without looking at him. Lucifer looked at the child; curly black hair, and freckles on his nose. His eyes were closed; he appeared to be about Trixie's age.

"You must have looked a little like him as a child," Chloe mused.

"Except that, I was never a child," he reminded her.

She frowned. "So you were created and looked exactly as you do now?"

He smiled wistfully. "More or less, I was a lot more innocent and not as worldly as I am now, plus I had my wings."

Just then forensics and the medical examiner showed up. Lucifer gently put his hand on Chloe's back. "Come on Detective, he won't be alone now." She let him lead her away. "Are you alright, Detective?"

She looked up at him and saw genuine concern in his dark eyes, along with something else that worried her. "I'll be okay, it's just hard when children are involved. They never had a chance to live." She took a shaky breath and blinked quickly.

"Come here," the devil whispered and put his arm around her shoulders and back pulling her towards his chest.

She let him for a moment/ She tucked her head under his chin and wrapped her arms around his waist. She could hear the soothing beat of his heart as his arms closed around her. "I'm sure his spirit will be welcomed into heaven and he'll be safe and taken care of," his whisper sounded a little choked. Puzzled she stepped back and looked at him. His eyes held a haunted look.

She still had her arm around his back and rubbed the spot where it made contact. "What's wrong?"

"Well, you are certainly looking a lot better than last time." A woman commented looking at Lucifer.

He looked at her frowning. "Have we met?"

She grinned. Sort of. You were consciously and temperaturely challenged at the time." She laughed. "I just made up a word."

"Lucifer, this is Rosita Rodriguez she was at the crime scene in the woods where the frat party had occurred. You know when you passed out and ended up in the hospital."