The food tasted amazing and she couldn’t have enough cheesy grits and fresh shrimp. Sara ate in the dining room in a gleeful tone as she wondered if Lucifer was gay. She wondered what his type would be.

A voice cut off her thoughts: “Ah, I see. Invite people he hates and makes a feast of it. A feast can be so opening, so much happens, talk, laughter, gossip, so forth.” He breathed down Sara’s neck and she felt herself become cold and stiff, “But so much here is behind closed doors.”

Sara closed her eyes and tried to ignore the voice and the man standing behind her. She had been trying for a year now. Actually, for a few years now. She desperately wanted him to leave. It was a condition she had and she would have to suffer for the rest of her life—that is what the angels said.

She had her doubts. It wasn’t a condition hallucinating about this man who she could physically feel as he touched her and see every single damn day. Sara stopped her eating for a second. She couldn’t have anyone notice the strange look on her face, she continued, telling herself that he wasn’t real.

The worse thing about this whole person in her mind—he could hear her thoughts.

He dragged his finger down her shoulder to her arm, “I am real and you know it.”

Sara slammed up, trying not to scream. Don’t fucking touch me. “I need to use the bathroom.” She said as calmly as she could muster. She saw Michael’s face question her frantic ask, and she repeated what she said.

Elena escorted her out of the dining room, and Sara thanked her. As they walked to the bathroom, Sara tried not to look over her shoulder if he was following her. She could never hear his footsteps and he could appear any minute when he pleased.

She gratefully went to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She whirled around and he faced her, his face hovering over her and she jumped back, slamming against the door.

“Leave me alone. You could’ve waited until later? This isn’t a good time!” she whispered angrily, staring mad eyes at him.

The thing was, she could talk to him in her thoughts, but she could get easily sidetracked by her other thoughts and the conversation could get confusing fast. It was easier for her to understand her imaginary friend when she talked to the person.

The man smirked, “Anytime to see you is a good time.”

Sara huffed, “I need to piss, so can you just...go?” She waved her hands out to dismiss him.

He thought about it for a few seconds and disappeared without another word. Sara let out a breath of relief.

As she washed her hands, she looked at the mirror, a face looking more gaunt than usual. She saw bags under her eyes and she felt and looked tired.

She wished this person would just leave her alone. She would give almost anything to just have herself.

A knock came on the door, “Sara, you’re okay?”

It was Michael’s voice. Sara took a deep breath. She was going to be okay. She looked back at herself but saw in the reflection the man standing behind her, his eyes glaring red and a grin across his face.

Sara shoved open the door, muttering to him but winced at the hard tone.

“Sara, should be nicer to your worried father, Might give him a heart attack,” he sighed, shaking his head, “But, not like he’s your father anyway.”

Sara tightened her hands and wanted to throw a punch at him. He is my father you piece of shit!

“My name is Sal, not shit,” said the guy, following her into the dining room. “Remember, you named me?”

Then stop acting like one...Sal. Sara spat his name in her mind like venomous poison. She watched as her father and his brother gave each other eyes. They walked in silence, but the voice next to her breathed, Sal’s gaze to Lucifer, “I despise this man. He is like me, but just...uglier and stupider.”

Sara didn’t comment, her focus trying not to be on him, but failing with much certainty,

“I want him to die. I want that fucking Lucifer to die!” Sal heaved heavily, “I hate him. I am the truly best Devil.”

Sara glanced at Sal’s black horns that circled pointedly on his head. Sara wanted to make him mad: You aren’t as hot as him.

Sal stopped walking next to her and grimaced. He took some steps toward her and grabbed her shoulder as they entertained the spacious, dark living room, “Hurt him. Put a deep long cut down his stupid face!” he snared.

Sara ignored him yet again and sat down at the puzzle table. Leave me alone.

There was some blissful silence as Sara worked the puzzle and overheard her father’s conversation. Sal cooed, “Why don’t you go put a mark on Lucifer’s face? Look how passive he is to Michael. You don’t want your father hurt do you know? He might not be hurt on the outside, but inside...mentally...”

Sara mentally rolled her eyes as she snapped a piece into the picture kitties puzzle.

Sal now was getting frustrated, his breathing had turned more shallow. He bit down on his lips. Somehow he would make Sara do what he wanted one day, “If you don’t put a scratch on Lucifer’s face, I’ll kill your father.”

Sara glanced at his angry face and then back at the puzzle. Please, you’re more stupid than Lucifer.

Sal snapped, “Fine then.”

Sara’s eyes flickered to Sal, his tone frightening her, He walked over to Michael as if he was going to study him. Sara stood up as the lights flickered off. She gasped as she saw him smash his hand hard against Michael’s head. Sara ran to her father as the lights went back on.

She glared at Sal with tearful eyes who gleamed back hatred back at her but meaning to her. Sara felt words slipping from her mouth before she could even register what she said: “Fine, I’ll do it,” she said, tearfully and stared at Lucifer. She screamed for her hands to not move, but they betrayed her as she felt a dagger underneath her dress and pulled one out, never leaving her eyes at Sal, who was behind Lucifer now.

She saw Lucifer’s friends make a move and she knew she would take them all down if she had to. She would stop them. She hated to see her father hurt like that. Just as she was about to move, she heard Michael moan and she launched at her father, “Dad!” She felt like an idiot as she threw herself over him, but didn’t care what others thought of her right this minute. She felt her mouth move but wasn’t coherent with what she said, all she cared was about her father. “I’m sorry!” It wasn’t fair that she had to deal with this...alone. That she carried this burden...alone.

Anger boiled up inside her like lava about to erupt from a volcano. Tears started to emerge again.

Michael pulled Sara in for a hug. Sara let the hug enclose her, “Poor Sara, all alone. I’m here,” Sal grinned and squatted next to her, “I can take your pain away…” he put his finger along her face.

Sara choked and then yelled, standing up in horror, “Leave me alone!” She cupped her head as if her ears were in pain, she was having a massive headache. She tried to erase him from her mind, from her thoughts. From her life.

Michael looked at her concernedly. Kate gave a strange look and Raphael was oddly quiet, with a blank expression. The Archangel stood up, “Lucifer, I think we might go, Sara doesn’t seem well.” He pressed his lips, hoping to God that it wasn’t what he was thinking.

Sara snarled, “I’m fine,” she folded her arms tightly and sat down on the couch. “Can I have some of that whiskey?” She eyed Lucifer’s glass.

Lucifer walked over to the stand where the whiskey bottle and the glasses were, “Sure.” He looked at Michael for approval, who shrugged. He poured halfway and handed it to Sara, who gracefully took it. She did a small sip, giving a sour face, and then swung her head back, ignoring the fact Sal was rolling his eyes and the whiskey tasted like shit to her.

“Don’t give her anymore though,” Michael stated, as he reclined back on the sofa.

Lucifer could feel the roughness of the blade of his dagger on his pelvis. The dagger was tucked into the pant stripe. The sharpness felt welcoming. He could take them all on if he wanted. But, not time yet. After dessert.

His mind trailed off as Michael and Raphael were talking about world-changing climates. Would I be happy after all is said and done? He cast his eyes down to the wooden plan, oak flooring. He remembered there was a picture frame of his sister on top of the mantle, which was covered with a black cloth. He looked up at the covered picture.

His body temperature rose higher everywhere in his body,

He would get revenge for his sister...no matter what.

Lucifer had already gave Michael the benefit of doubt many times. Constantly saying: Michael would never hurt our sister, he didn’t even go near her, she just wanted to say goodbye, Lucifer, stop blaming everyone else for her death when it was your fault. But their sister going to Michael right before she died in his arms...was too much of a coincidence.

The Devil's stomach tightened. Then why she didn’t fucking tell me he killed her? Why she didn’t tell me what happened to her before her last drawing breath as she stared at me with those dying eyes?

Lucifer wanted to punch something, punch the wall, Michael’s face, throwing something would be better. Throw the glass of high-end whiskey and see it crash and scatter with a wonderful mess.

But a different voice hushed, this time it was kind and gentle. It’s time for you to let it go, Lucifer. He jerked his head up. His heart pounded in a hard rhythmic tone. That wasn’t his voice, it was way gentler, even when he was trying to be nice to himself. He slowly did a side glance at Raphael.

At any rate, I should’ve known she was sick his thoughts growled.

Lucifer parted his mouth to comment on how done he was with this. It was his fault for just not shutting up about this. About their sister. The past is the past. He needed to focus on the present and look at the future.

Vera stepped into the room and rolled in a tray with strawberry shortcakes, interpreting his barely started sentence. She handed everyone a plate with forks and napkins. The heroes muttered their thanks as they dug in.

Jackson moaned his thanks, “Oh Vera, this is so moist. You need to make more of these.”

“They're my favorite dessert she does,” commented Elena.

Even Kate chimed in with a happy nod, “I am impressed.” She scrapped the remaining of it, already finishing the shortcake before anyone else.

“I’m glad you like it!” Vera said with a kind smile.

Michael smiled, “Even Heaven would beam done on this dessert.”

Vera blushed, “You’re too kind.”

Lucifer said under his breath, “Like I’m a saint.”

Sara laughed, “You are!”

Everyone blinked at her as she giggled and sat up straighter, “This is amazing. You’re amazing Mr. Morning-Star. I love this!”

“Um, thank you?” Mr. Morning-Star raised his eyebrow, seeing some color on Sara’s face.

Michael sighed with a heavy frown, “She’s tipsy already.”

Sara protested as she slumped on the sofa, “I am not! Prove it.” She leaned back and opened her legs as her feet skittered sideways, “I don’t get tipsy.”

The Archangel shook his head, grabbing Sara’s empty plate, Kate’s plate, and Raphael’s. He put the plate on the rolling tray, gratifying his thanks again. He turned his heels to Lucifer and connected his eyes to him, “I want to thank you for tonight.”

Lucifer wanted to comment, “Leaving so soon?”, but if it was the other way, he would want to. He nodded simply, “Thank you for coming.”

Michael turned back to his heroes, “Ready to go back home?”

Sara yawned and stretched her arms out, “I’m ready to party and get laid!”

Michael groaned, “Sara, please.”

Kate nudged her friend with a smile, “I can hook you up with someone.”

“And who exactly?” asked Sara, playfully.

Kate smirked, “A lot of men eye you, I bet if I ask anyone in the cafeteria, I’m pretty sure some will volunteer.”

Sara yawned again, “Men, who need them? All they have is a dick. Boring!”

Michael looked at Lucifer embarrassing, “I promise you she isn’t like this.”

Lucifer answered, “Ah, wouldn’t expect that from your daughter would I now?” He waited for his brother’s reaction.

Michael went a tad pale, remembering the scene when Sara called him Dad as she cried over him. He felt his blood run cold. His pulse quickened and his heart filled with dread. Fucking shit. He glanced at his daughter. He would hate to point a finger but he told her not to say anything like that when they were coming here! He didn’t even really notice it much, only feeling the throbbing pain in his head as if someone smacked him with a bat.

When silence clung in the air like thick soup, Lucifer replied with a bashful hurt in his tone, “You didn’t tell me I had a niece. You had a daughter. That is quite something. I can’t believe you would have the balls to pull it off to be a father, yet here you are.”

Sara cut in before Michael could respond, “He’s the best,” she hugged him.

Lucifer said, “So, who did you fuck, hmm?”

Michael bit down his lips, “Lucifer, that is none of your business.” He said to his fellow friends, “I’ll meet you outside.”

The heroes stood up and Kate grabbed Sara’s arms as they walked out of the room. They didn’t close the door, waiting for Michael to follow suit.

Michael stayed looking at the opened door as he heard their footsteps echoing down the hallway. He swirled around and slammed Lucifer against the wall. His golden eyes blazed like holy fire as he spat out, “You leave my daughter alone. And for your info, I didn’t have sex with anyone. I adopted her.”

Lucifer moved away from the wall, but Michael pushed his hand roughly against Lucifer’s shoulder. The Devil stumbled back and hit his back again against the wall with a loud thump. The Archangel scoffed, his teeth baring at his twin brother. “Remember how much I so badly wanted to bond as together years back?” He wasn’t looking at Lucifer exactly, but he was talking to him, his eyes peeling at his memory. “Then I finally realized I was so concentrated on the past, I couldn’t fathom how stupid and what a dick you had become. One day, I opened my eyes, and I finally could face reality.” Michael glared at Lucifer as if they were at a staring contest, “And when I was walking on a sun-shining day, I was relieved. I thought I needed you for some sick reason, but I was dreaming of a reality that could never be there.”

Lucifer again started to back away from the wall, but this time, Michael shoved him against it and whispered in his ear, a low threatening hiss, “If you ever...I mean, ever touch my daughter...the pain you feel about our sister's death, I will give you more than ten times that pain than you ever felt. So don’t ever think of trying to hurt her.”

Michael pulled away from his brother, his face masked with fury, his thoughts on seeing Sara’s eyes full of terror as she was slowly dying at the hands of Lucifer.

He wanted Lucifer so badly to fight back with him. He wanted to show who was the boss. What kind of a father he could truly be.

Lucifer barked out a burst of laughter which caught Michael's serious mindset, “Are you serious right now?” He saw his sidekicks start pulling out their daggers, but he gestured for them to leave, which they did without any noise, Elena raising a curious eyebrow at them with a smirk on her face.

Once the door closed, Lucifer gazed up at Michael as if he was looking at the worst serial killer in the world who did unthinkable things. Then Lucifer grinned, “Oh dear me.” He chuckled and scuffled his feet, circling his brother. His perfect, angelic brother had never done anything wrong with his life.

Lucifer growled daringly, “I’m like a playful kitten, and you just dangled a wonderful, sparkling toy that is impossible to ignore.” He now stood in the middle of the room and narrowed his eyes with a sparkling grin on his face, “And you know how kittens are, they can wait as long as they need to get their prize.”

Michael swallowed hard, “You wouldn’t dare.”

Lucifer stared dead into his brother’s eyes, his chocolate eyes seeming darker than normal with the shadow catching them, “Try me.”

Kate waited anxiously for a while in front of the castle’s doors. She knew this evening would be tense and was ready to get home and relax. This day was exhausting and getting prepared to see Lucifer was not an easy cake. She had to face her parents’ murder.

She embraced herself as the doors opened to see Lucifer’s red eyes glowing back at them. It was hard to remain silent when Lucifer was obnoxiously getting under her skin during dinner. Everything was tense throughout but when Sara excused herself to the restroom and the thing that happened in the small living room was scary.

She knew Sara wouldn’t hurt Michael, but something bizarre happened. She could feel chills down her spine as if a ghost were in the room unnoticed.

Kate felt her blood rush angrily when Sara cried and saw Michael was hurt. She immediately had her suspicions about Lucifer, but in her gut, she knew it wasn’t him, he even looked more confused than them.

She worried a lot about her friend. She knew she had a condition, hallucinating about someone who harassed her, which Sara had told her, but that was a year ago. Ever since the accident, when Michael forced Sara to stop going to missions, Sara had been strangely quiet with her mind.

But Kate knew, as a best friend, as a sister-like figure, that Sara was still suffering from the condition.

Whatever that may be.

Michael walked out with a slightly pale face and an aggravated look on his complexion. He glanced at Sara and then at Kate, “Let’s go.”

He went over to Raphael as they walked across the lawn to the start of the driveway, “What did you think about how the meeting went?”

Raphael answered in his nonchalant tone, “As expected.”

Michael agreed.

Sara skipped over to him and clashed to his side, hugging his arm tightly, “Home, here we go!”

Michael wanted to smile down on his beloved daughter. He would’ve under different circumstances, but he knew Lucifer was looking down from his office, judging to his fullest extent how Michael and Sara's relationship was.

Michael hoped to God that Lucifer was only threatening. But as he saw Raphael grab a portal port out of his trench coat and walked through it, he knew Lucifer’s threats mainly never continued to become bigger issues. He didn’t think much of what could happen, as his daughter clung to his side and his personal sidekick, Katerina walked next to him.

The Archangel was as content as he could be.