Chereads / I, Lucifer / Chapter 25 - Fallen champion

Chapter 25 - Fallen champion

The Murder of a Rising Star

The crime scene is set in an exclusive, high-end gym that caters to Los Angeles' elite athletes and celebrities. The polished floors gleam under the harsh fluorescent lights, but the scene is far from pristine. Blood stains the floor of the boxing ring, a stark contrast to the pristine gym environment. A young, promising boxer, known for his raw talent and potential to become a champion, lies lifeless in the center of the ring.

Detective Harper is already on the scene, examining the area with a sharp eye. She's used to crime scenes, but this one feels different—too much at stake, too many people who will want answers. As she surveys the body, Lucifer steps in, his presence cutting through the tension in the air.

"Detective," Lucifer greets, his voice smooth, almost casual. "Another young man, with his whole future ahead of him. Murdered in the prime of his career. How tragic."

Harper doesn't look up, absorbed in her work. "Yeah. It's not just tragic, it's suspicious. He was in a sparring match with another boxer—someone well-known, but there were no signs of foul play in the match. No bruising or cuts. He wasn't knocked out during the fight."

Lucifer raises an eyebrow. "Interesting. So, this wasn't the result of an injury in the ring?"

Harper shakes her head. "No. His injuries don't match the typical ones you'd get in a fight. It looks like he was hit with a blunt object after the match ended."

Lucifer steps closer to the body, his eyes scanning the lifeless figure in the ring. "So, someone waited for the fight to be over, then struck when he was vulnerable."

Harper motions to a small area off to the side, where a gym bag lies abandoned. "There's something odd about that bag. We found it nearby, and it's not his. We believe the killer may have left it behind."

Lucifer walks over to the bag, kneeling down and opening it. Inside, he finds boxing gloves, tape, and a rolled-up towel. But there's also something more—an envelope. He pulls it out, his fingers brushing against the paper before opening it. The contents are cryptic: "You're not the champion you think you are. Watch your back."

"Hmm," Lucifer murmurs, his gaze flicking up to meet Harper's. "Seems like this wasn't just about a match. Someone wanted to send a message."

Harper looks at him sharply. "You think this was personal?"

Lucifer stands up, thoughtfully flipping the envelope over in his hands. "I think it's part of something much bigger. A champion, a rival, a message. There's too much going on here."

Harper lets out a frustrated sigh. "You're right, something feels off. I just can't figure out who would want him dead or why. He was loved by his fans and teammates. He had a solid reputation."

Lucifer's eyes darken with thought. "Perhaps the question isn't about who, but about why. Maybe someone felt threatened by his rise to fame. Or perhaps it's a message to someone else in the industry."

He surveys the gym again, his mind piecing together the puzzle. "Let's start by looking at who had the most to gain from his death."

---

Uncovering the Rivalry

Back at the precinct, Harper and Lucifer go through the victim's life. His name was Darren "The Titan" Hall, a promising boxer on the verge of breaking into the championship scene. He had a reputation for being undefeated, and his rise to stardom was fast—too fast for some in the industry to stomach.

Harper pulls up footage from Darren's latest match, his victory in the ring, the crowd roaring as he knocked out his opponent in the second round. But as they watch the footage, it becomes clear that Darren's opponent, a veteran fighter named Carl "The Bulldog" Jackson, didn't seem too happy with his defeat. His eyes, cold with bitterness, follow Darren as he celebrates.

"Could it be personal?" Harper asks, tapping the screen. "Carl seems to be taking this loss pretty hard."

Lucifer leans in, his eyes never leaving the screen. "It's possible. Rivalries in sports are often about much more than the fight itself. What if Carl felt his career was over the moment Darren came onto the scene? He's older, and Darren was the golden boy."

Harper nods slowly. "It would explain the grudge. But it still doesn't explain the cryptic message or the fact that Darren wasn't even hit in the match that could have led to his death. Whoever did this, they were waiting for him to be alone."

Lucifer smirks, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Let's dig deeper into Carl's life. Maybe we'll find something that links him to the crime."

---

Harper and Lucifer visit Carl Jackson's gym, a gritty, no-nonsense establishment on the outskirts of LA. The air is thick with sweat and the smell of leather. Carl is there, training as usual, surrounded by his team of trainers and fellow fighters. But when he sees Harper and Lucifer enter, his eyes narrow.

"What do you want?" Carl growls, his voice rough and worn, like he's been through too many fights—both in and out of the ring.

Harper pulls out a photo of Darren. "We're investigating the death of Darren Hall. We need to ask you a few questions."

Carl scoffs. "Ain't nothing to ask me about. I lost fair and square."

Lucifer steps forward, his voice smooth as silk. "It's not about the fight, Carl. It's about what happened afterward. The killer didn't just hit Darren; he left a message for someone."

Carl's face hardens, but he doesn't say anything.

Harper presses on. "You know something. We found an envelope at the scene, one that's tied to you."

Carl stares at her, his silence deafening. But then Lucifer notices something. A duffle bag tucked away in the corner, and something about it feels off. It's a newer bag, black, with a logo on it that matches one of the sponsor brands Darren had been working with. But it's not Darren's.

Lucifer's eyes flick to Carl. "Care to explain the bag?"

Carl looks at it, his jaw tightening. "It's not mine," he mutters, but the way he says it makes Lucifer suspicious. He's hiding something.

"Not yours?" Lucifer repeats, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Then whose is it?"

Carl glares. "I don't know. I've never seen it before."

Harper walks over, pulling the bag open and rifling through it. Inside, she finds a set of clean, unused gloves and a pair of wraps, perfectly folded. But at the bottom of the bag, something stands out: a small vial of clear liquid, labeled "Performance Enhancer—For Official Use Only."

Lucifer raises an eyebrow. "Performance enhancers. Now this is getting interesting."

Harper looks at Carl, her eyes narrowing. "You've been using performance enhancers? How long has this been going on?"

Carl shifts uncomfortably. "I didn't use it. I—"

"Don't lie," Lucifer interrupts, his tone cold. "You think you can get away with something like this? Your career's already on the line. And now you've got a rival dead on the ground."

Carl opens his mouth to argue, but then closes it, his gaze flicking to the door. His shoulders slump, defeated. "I didn't kill him, alright? But I needed to win. I needed to stay relevant. I... I didn't mean for it to go this far."

Harper crosses her arms. "So you had something to gain, but you didn't kill him?"

Carl's eyes dart around, nervous. "No. I swear, I didn't do it. But someone was blackmailing me. Someone who knew about the drugs."

Lucifer tilts his head. "And you think that person might have been behind Darren's death?"

Carl nods, his voice barely above a whisper. "They promised they wouldn't tell if I took care of their problems. But when Darren started getting too big, too fast... I think they saw him as a threat. And they... they wanted him gone."

Harper's eyes widen. "Who's 'they,' Carl? Who's behind this?"

Carl looks at the floor, his hands trembling. "I don't know. But I know they're powerful. Someone who can control the game, the sponsorships, the matches..."

Lucifer's lips curl into a smile as he pieces everything together. "A shadow player. Someone behind the scenes."

---

The night had swallowed the city whole, and in Lucifer's dimly lit penthouse, the tension was palpable, like the calm before a storm. Lucifer leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant, lost in thoughts darker than the space surrounding him. The weight of his impending confrontation with Uriel had been hanging over him like a guillotine, and now that it was here, he could feel the tightness in his chest—the creeping unease of something he couldn't control.

The door opened with the faintest groan, but Lucifer didn't flinch. He knew who it was before he even heard the footsteps.

Uriel stood there, his presence filling the room with a cold, almost suffocating weight. His wings were folded behind him, pristine and imposing, glowing faintly in the low light. His eyes were sharp—picking apart everything in the room as though the very air around them was part of his grand design. Uriel was the Angel of Patterns, a master of the intricate designs woven into the universe, the hidden threads that held everything together. And it was that knowledge, that unyielding certainty, that made him one of the most dangerous beings in existence.

Lucifer didn't rise, didn't even acknowledge Uriel's full entrance. "I'm not going back, Uriel," he said coldly, his voice dripping with defiance.

Uriel's gaze softened ever so slightly, as if he were disappointed rather than angry. "You're running out of options, Lucifer. God has made His will clear. It's time for you to return."

Lucifer let out a low, mocking laugh, though it was tinged with a bitter edge. "You're a broken record, Uriel. Always with the same tired orders, the same cold, methodical way of thinking. Don't you ever get bored with yourself?"

"You're still defiant, Lucifer," Uriel said, stepping forward, his eyes never leaving Lucifer's face. "And that's your greatest weakness. You can't seem to accept your place in the grand design of things." He paused, the silence between them thickening. "But you are part of it. Whether you accept it or not."

Lucifer stood up now, the fire in his eyes burning brighter, but there was a certain weariness in his posture. "I've rejected it. And I will continue to do so." His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "You won't control me."

For a brief moment, Uriel's eyes flickered with something akin to pity. He knew Lucifer's rebellion was born of something more—something deeper than mere defiance. But the design was the design, and no matter how many times Lucifer tried to break free, the patterns would always pull him back.

"I don't want to fight you, Lucifer," Uriel said softly, his voice almost soothing. "I'm not here to destroy you. I'm here to remind you of your purpose."

Lucifer took a step forward, closing the distance between them, his voice now a low whisper. "Then you've come to the wrong place."

At that moment, Lucifer's mind raced, his heart pounding with urgency. He needed help. He couldn't face Uriel alone. But who could he trust? There was only one who could help him now, one who understood the weight of family, of betrayal, of rebellion.

Lucifer turned his head slightly, his gaze dark and determined. "Amenadiel," he muttered under his breath, barely above a whisper. But that was enough. Amenadiel always listened.

---

A Moment Later

The atmosphere in the office grew heavier still, a strange energy filling the air. Lucifer had made his call, his plea for help—now, all he could do was wait.

Just as Uriel took another step forward, his cold gaze sharpening as he prepared to push his brother further, the air in the room rippled.

A gust of wind blew through the space, and suddenly, there was a presence—a familiar, strong force. Amenadiel.

The older of Lucifer's numerous brothers stood at the threshold, his large, commanding figure filling the doorway. He was imposing, his wings spread out slightly, though not fully. He was a visual contrast to Uriel, his presence more grounded, almost comforting in its steadiness. His gaze flickered between Lucifer and Uriel, his expression unreadable, as if weighing both sides of this long-standing conflict.

"Uriel," Amenadiel said calmly, his voice deep and resonant, yet tinged with a note of tension. He looked at his younger brother, Lucifer, his eyes softening ever so slightly. "What is it this time?"

Uriel turned, his face betraying nothing. "I came to retrieve Lucifer. His rebellion has gone on long enough. God has made His decision."

Lucifer chuckled darkly. "Again with this nonsense. How many times do I have to tell you, Uriel? I'm not going back. Ever."

Amenadiel stepped forward slowly, his presence commanding, but also trying to soothe the situation. "Lucifer," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "Is this really the way you want it to go? You're pushing him into a corner, and this won't end well."

Lucifer's eyes flickered briefly to Amenadiel before returning to Uriel. "If Uriel is trying to convince me to go back, then you should understand by now that it's a lost cause. I'll never be part of his perfect design."

Uriel's expression hardened, a flash of anger crossing his face for the first time since he entered. He had no patience for defiance, especially not from Lucifer. "You don't get it, do you?" he hissed, his voice dripping with ice. "There are forces greater than you, Lucifer. Forces you cannot hope to control." He moved closer to Lucifer, his tone low and cutting. "No matter how many times you think you've escaped, you will always return to the pattern. You can't break it."

Lucifer's jaw clenched. He hated that Uriel was right. He hated that his defiance, his rebellion, seemed to be nothing more than a piece in some cosmic puzzle that was always complete. But Lucifer was determined. He would not bow to this cosmic order.

That's when Amenadiel spoke up, his voice calm but filled with undeniable authority. "Enough, Uriel. Lucifer has made his choice, and I will not stand by and let you force him back."

Uriel's eyes narrowed. "You would help him defy the will of God, Amenadiel?"

Amenadiel's wings unfurled fully now, his body tense but resolute. "Yes. I would. He is my brother. And I will help him, no matter what."

Lucifer's eyes flickered with a fleeting gratitude, but it was quickly replaced with a bitter edge. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. This was a war of wills, and not just between him and Uriel—but between him and his own family.

Lucifer's voice dropped to a whisper, as he looked at his older brother, his gaze intense. "I need you to help me get rid of him, Amenadiel. I'm done with this. I need him gone."

Amenadiel's eyes widened in surprise, though he didn't show it. "Lucifer… you want to kill him?"

Lucifer's eyes hardened. "Not kill him. I want him gone—gone from here, from my life. I can't have him breathing down my neck anymore. I need your help."

Amenadiel hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded slowly. "If this is what you truly want, then I'll help you. But we'll have to move carefully. Uriel is… he's not like the others."

Lucifer's expression softened, but only slightly. "I know."

Uriel's voice broke the moment's fragile silence. "You think you can escape me, Lucifer? You think you can escape what is destined? You're a fool."

Lucifer smiled, a slow, dark grin that sent a shiver through the room. "I'm no fool, Uriel. And you should know by now—destiny can be bent, just as it can be broken."

---