"Hello?"
Cortez heaved a sigh of relief. He had been highly skeptical about Lila answering his call the whole morning. He braced himself as he began.
"Good afternoon, Lila. This is Diego Cortez, Henry's partner--"
"Dr. Cortez? What do you want?"
"Listen, there's something you have to know about Henry.
"Like I'll ever sit down up close and listen to you." Lila hissed. "Henry already told me you were behind the explosion. Just because the police let you go doesn't mean you're vindicated."
"That's just the thing, Lila. He's not your Henry."
Lila fell into an awkward silence. Cortez smiled. The bait was set.
"You see it too, don't you?"
He knew Lila was already discomfited. She couldn't muster a reply.
"Listen, we can't talk well on the phone. Just meet me at the Meadows cafe by three o'clock. It's around Allen Avenue."
"Lila, are you there?" Cortez asked when she didn't still say a word.
"I'll be there "
** ** **
He's not your Henry.
Never had Lila imagined anyone saying those words to her. Still, she knew she had to be logical. There was a chance Cortez's words were just speculations. Or maybe he was trying to get back at Lucifer for getting him arrested before. But then she wondered why he would pick a public place if he meant her harm. If his intentions were pure then what he had to say could be the truth, the truth Henry/whoever claiming to be Henry failed to tell her.
Regardless, she braced herself for anything.
She parked her car two streets away and trekked down to the cafe as a precautionary measure to scan the area for herself. First, she walked into the antique store opposite the cafe. Looking through the glass window of an antique shop, the cafe seemed with about five customers. Cortez was sitting at the far end, tapping his coffee mud incessantly and impatiently. He wore a black coat on a round-neck long sleeves shirt and had gelled messy hair. Nothing seemed fishy.
Satisfied with her check, she came out of the store and crossed over to the cafe. She pretended to search for Cortez as she entered.
"Lila, here." Dr. Cortez waved, rising from his seat.
Lila kept her face expressionless even as she sat, her eyes wary as she studied him.
"I didn't think you'd show," Cortez admitted. "Would you like to take something? Coffee? Tea?"
Lila frowned at his stalling.
"Can you please get to the point? You said we had to meet in person."
"Okay then, we'll skip the foreplay," Cortez sniffed. "As I was trying to say on the phone, something is different about Henry: the way he jokes about everything, the way he addresses people like they are insignificant, and how he keeps on mentioning angels and demons and God every time. I'm sure you noticed it too."
A million thoughts and questions raced through Lila's mind even as Cortez spoke. It seemed like her entire world had been shifting under her feet and she was so dazed to notice. Dazed by the new charms, the jokes, the singing. The sex.
"Well, he was acting strange, talking strange, and he didn't seem to recognize anyone up until recently. I thought it was all a side effect from the explosion. I also thought it gave him some indestructibility of sorts. But then yesterday, he bled."
"Oh, the explosion gave much more than a superpower... Wait, you cut him?"
"Yes, with a kitchen knife."
"And he bled?" Cortez gaped.
"What is wrong with Henry?" Lila demanded impatiently.
"The devil is inside him, Lila."
The only thing that kept Lila from laughing was his straight face. She looked around to see if anyone was listening before she face him.
"What? You mean Satan?"
"I mean Lucifer," Cortez replied. "I know it sounds crazy, but doesn't his sudden change of personality seem odd to you?"
"Yes it does but that doesn't mean the Lord of hell is possessed him. I mean, you're a scientist. How could you utter such?" She whispered harshly.
Cortez suddenly had a strong feeling he was losing her.
"Please Lila, you have to listen," he pleaded as she rose to her feet.
"I see you've only called me here to waste my time," she grabbed her purse. "And if I find out this was an elaborate prank from Henry because of yesterday, I'll kill you right after I kill him."
Cortez bowed his head, sighing in defeat. The knocking sound of her heels resounded in his head as she walked away. But then he remembered Modriel's words. She was the key- the key to him having everything he ever wanted. He couldn't fail now. He rushed up and chased after her.
"Lila, wait," He said catching up to her just as she exited the cafe.
Lila chose to ignore him and continued down the sidewalk.
"Lila," He persisted.
"Stop following me--"
She only took her eyes off the road for a split second to warn him but was shunned by a bright light that flashed in front of her. She became mesmerized as Modriel came into view. The winds obeyed the majesty of his flapping wings as he slowly descended from mid-air.
"Oh my God! Y-You're," Lila stuttered in awe of his sturdy frame. The sleeveless black tunic he wore might have as well been a rolled-up robe placed around his neck as it left his chest and side abs exposed.
"An angel, yes," Modriel finished her words for her.
"I told you I could handle this," Cortez groaned.
"And quite well, by the looks of it."
He heard Modriel growl at the end of his remark, a subtle warning that he was going to be in trouble if the plan doesn't work out.
"But how?" Lila's eyes scanned around the busy street. "We're on the road. People would have seen you do that."
"Not at all, Lila. You and Cortez are the only ones who can see me."
Lila, turned to Cortez for some explanation to stop knees from quivering.
"Uhm, this is Modriel. He is an... Angel."
"Good, now that introductions are over, I suggest we head back inside."
Lila gulped then nodded.
Their table was still vacant when they got back. Modriel sat beside Cortez. Lila continued to stare sheepishly at Modriel.
"Modriel here is an angel sent to stop Lucifer..." Cortez turned to the angel for support but none came.
Lila cringed. She was quick to dismiss him when Cortez mentioned the name but seeing Modriel brought a lot of unwanted realization she wished weren't true. She had been living with the actual devil for over a month.
"How did this happen?"
"It happened on the night of the explosion," Cortez answered. "Lucifer possessed Henry and he's refused to leave ever since. I don't know if his plans to dominate the world or bring it to an end but two things are clear: his plans are dangerous and he's chosen Henry as his vessel."
"Oh no," Lila gasped with a hand over her mouth as she fought back tears.
"Don't worry, I am here to bring his plans to fruition," Modriel reassured, placing a hand on hers. His touch was soft and yet as strong as his words, offering her comfort and a shield from her fears. "But I'm going to need your help."
"In what way," she sniffled.
"I'm afraid I am not confident of a direct attack on Lucifer, it could end up harming your beloved Henry in the process. That's why don't want him knowing we're coming. Rather, we need you to lure him to us."
"How?"
"I believe he must have established some connection with you seeing as you were the closest person to the life he chose. Am I wrong?"
A wave of unwanted memories washed over her again and this time, she withdrew her hand from Modriel.
"No," she shook her head.
"But it's not going to be easy. Are you willing to do whatever it takes?" Modriel inquired with a sincere face. He and Cortez smiled as she nodded in response.
"Good, Cortez will contact you when it is time."
"What? I have to wait and pretend like the devil isn't living in my fiance?"
"Patience, Lila. We have to be careful there are no mistakes."
"Then for how long?" She demanded.
"It won't be long. I promise you," he answered.
** ** **
"Great, we've got her in," Cortez exclaimed after Lila said her goodbyes and left the cafe. "Although, I am surprised you lied back then about saving Henry. Aren't you supposed to be a symbol of light and truth?"
Modriel watched her until she was out of view. Then he spoke.
"What's a little lie compared to the redemption of the universe?"
"Last I checked, it was revenge but it's okay." Cortez sneered.
Modriel turned to him and growled again.
"Calm down, big guy," Cortez grinned sheepishly. "It's all coming together. But then I wish that meddling assistant and his new girlfriend won't get involved in this."
"Don't worry about them, I'll make sure they don't."
** ** **
Lucifer was already home by the time Lila got back.
"Hey, babe,"
She froze on hearing his voice, not sure what to make of him. He sounded like her Henry, he looked like her Henry, but he wasn't her Henry. She didn't want to believe it was true but the angel seemed too real to ignore.
"How was your day?" Lucifer moved closer and leaned for a kiss but to his surprise, she turned away.
"Fine," she managed to say and walked away.
"Okay," Lucifer said, wondering what was going on but trying not to show it in his expression. "Well, mine was great. I fixed up dinner while you were out. Ordered actually," he grinned. "Why don't we go eat?"
"No, I'm not hungry," she said briskly, her hands trembling as she for the stairs. "I'm going to bed."