The courtroom was eerily silent, the tension palpable. Lucifer sat at the defendant's table, his jaw clenched, hands folded in front of him. Every word the prosecutor spoke seemed like a weight crashing down on his shoulders. All the evidence, every shred of proof, pointed to him.
The air felt thick, suffocating even, as the prosecutor read the final statement. "The defendant's fingerprints were found on the murder weapon. The victim's blood was found on his cufflink, a piece of jewelry that only the defendant wears. CCTV footage captured the defendant in the vicinity of the crime scene."
Lucifer could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on him. The murmurs, the whispers, they were like a storm raging just outside his bubble. His mind was racing, desperately trying to make sense of the evidence. How had it come to this? He looked at Lisa, who was sitting by his side, her face pale, her fingers trembling in her lap.
The judge, a stern woman with sharp features, looked over the proceedings, her eyes never leaving Lucifer. "The case is clear," she said in a cold voice. "The defendant, Lucifer Morningstar, stands accused of murder, with all evidence pointing to him."
Lucifer could feel the walls closing in on him. He had no way out—until the thought of the cleaner crossed his mind. She was his last hope. He knew the truth. He knew she had planted the cufflink, and he also knew she was the only one who could clear his name.
As the prosecutor turned to present more evidence, Lucifer's mind drifted. His thoughts wandered to the time he had spent with Lisa, the connection they had built. He had to prove his innocence—for her, for himself. But most importantly, he had to expose the person behind it all.
"Your Honor," Lucifer suddenly interrupted, his voice calm but sharp, "I request a brief recess."
The judge raised an eyebrow. "A recess? At this point in the trial?"
Lucifer stood, his posture confident, but there was an underlying tension in his movements. "Yes, Your Honor. There is one last piece of evidence that could change everything."
A murmur rippled through the courtroom, and the prosecutor's gaze narrowed. "What evidence?" he sneered, clearly skeptical of Lucifer's claim.
Lucifer's smile was small but dangerous. "I have a witness—someone who can testify that I did not commit this crime."
The judge frowned. "And where is this witness now?"
Lucifer's eyes met hers. "I'll bring her here, Your Honor. I have no intention of delaying these proceedings, but I need this to be addressed. A witness who was there—who saw everything."
For a moment, the judge considered this, then nodded curtly. "Very well. We will allow a brief recess while the witness is brought in."
Lucifer turned and walked away, his mind already working. He clasped his hands together, fingers laced. His gaze moved to Lisa, who stood up, looking conflicted. He gave her a reassuring glance, and in that instant, she knew what he was planning.
---
The room fell into a hush as Lucifer sat back down, his expression unreadable. Time seemed to stretch before him. In the back of his mind, he called for Amenadiel.
It was then that Amenadiel appeared before him, his powerful form filling the room with an unspoken energy. Time froze instantly, the motionless stillness hanging in the air.
Lucifer turned to his brother. "Get me the cleaner. Now."
Amenadiel raised an eyebrow. "You want me to do what? Freeze time in the middle of a trial and bring this person here?"
Lucifer's eyes burned with urgency. "Yes, now."
Amenadiel sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know about this, Lucifer. You know how dangerous this is. You're risking everything."
Lucifer's gaze hardened. "We've come this far. I'm not going down for something I didn't do. If you won't help me, then I'll do it myself."
With a reluctant nod, Amenadiel spread his wings. "Fine. But you owe me for this one."
In a blink, Amenadiel was gone, and the frozen world around Lucifer seemed to melt away into nothingness. The courtroom was still, every soul trapped in suspended animation.
Lucifer took a moment to collect his thoughts before the sound of Amenadiel's return filled the room. The cleaner—disoriented, terrified, and completely out of place—appeared, sitting on the second bench. She blinked several times, looking around as though she had just woken up from a nightmare. She was in the middle of a trial, surrounded by witnesses, lawyers, and judges, but she had no idea how she had ended up there.
Lisa turned around slowly, her mouth agape. She rubbed her eyes, convinced she was hallucinating. But no, there she was—the cleaner—sitting innocently, like she had always been part of the trial. She was wide-eyed, looking around with a confused expression.
The silence in the room was deafening. Lucifer allowed the moment to stretch, watching as the cleaner's confusion turned into terror. She had no idea what was happening or why she was suddenly in the spotlight.
The judge was the first to break the silence. "What is this? Who is this woman? Why is she sitting in this courtroom?"
Lucifer stood, his eyes never leaving the cleaner. He walked slowly toward her, each step deliberate, as if savoring the moment. "Your Honor," he said with a deep, steady voice, "I would like to question the witness."
The judge nodded, but her eyes remained suspicious. "Proceed."
Lucifer's gaze bore into the cleaner as he walked closer to her, the power in his eyes undeniable. He stopped just a foot away from her, his voice dropping low, almost a whisper. "What do you truly desire?"
The cleaner blinked, her body shaking with an involuntary chill. Lucifer's presence was overwhelming, his energy magnetic. She couldn't look away. The question, simple as it was, seemed to echo in her mind. The words felt like a pull—an irresistible force that made her spill the truth.
"I didn't want to do it," she stammered, her voice cracking with fear. "I didn't have a choice. They... they made me."
Lucifer tilted his head, his smile faint. "Who made you?"
The cleaner trembled, her eyes darting around the room. "I— I didn't see her face. She told me I had to plant the cufflink. If I didn't... she would kill me... and my family."
Lucifer's heart tightened with anger. He had a feeling he knew exactly who was behind all of this.
"Who hired you?" Lucifer asked again, his voice sharp now, laced with a dangerous edge. "Tell me. Who is the person that orchestrated this entire scheme?"
The cleaner's breath quickened. She shook her head, trying to break free from Lucifer's hold. "I—I don't know. She wore a mask. I couldn't see her face, but she... she threatened me. She said she'd kill my family if I didn't do it. And now I'm here. I didn't want any part of this."
Lucifer stepped back, his eyes never leaving her. "You're free to go—unless you know more."
The cleaner, her voice filled with fear, looked down at the floor. "I don't know anything about the murder. I swear it. I was just following orders. But if I could take it all back..." Her voice trailed off.
The judge slammed her gavel down. "Order! The court will resume. The defendant is cleared of the charge of murder, but the witness is now a suspect in connection with the crime."
---
The case ended in Lucifer's favor. The cleaner was arrested for her involvement in the plot, and with her testimony, the path was now clear to uncover the true mastermind behind the murder.
Lucifer stood in the courtroom, taking in a breath of relief. The weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders, but there was still much to do. As he looked over at Lisa, he saw a flicker of relief in her eyes, but also a lingering concern.
---
Later that evening, Lucifer and Lisa sat in a dimly lit bar, the weight of the trial still hanging in the air. Lucifer leaned back in his chair, swirling his drink absentmindedly.
Lisa broke the silence. "You did it. You proved your innocence."
Lucifer smiled, though there was a darkness in his eyes. "We did it. But this is far from over. The person behind this... we need to find them before they strike again."
Lisa nodded, her expression grim. "You've won this round, Lucifer. But there's a storm brewing. And I'm with you through it all."
Lucifer leaned forward, his eyes intense. "We're just getting started."