The air inside Lisa's house was thick with the quiet hum of tension. She stood in the middle of the room, her mind calculating every move, every word that needed to be said. Around her, Corvus's men were gathered, their faces expressionless, waiting for her instructions. The plan she had concocted was simple but effective—lure Lucifer into the open and draw him into Corvus's trap. She had known it wouldn't be easy, but the stakes were too high, and there was no turning back now.
Lisa paced, her thoughts racing as she checked the phone again, making sure the timing was right. A message from Corvus confirmed they were ready to move. She quickly turned to the men and gave them final instructions, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps outside caught her attention. The doorbell rang, its sharp chime piercing the air like a warning. Lisa's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly signaled for everyone to hide. She went to the door, adjusting her demeanor to make sure everything looked normal. When she opened it, there stood Debbie, a troubled look on her face.
"Debbie," Lisa said, trying to sound as casual as possible, though she could feel the knot tightening in her stomach.
Debbie hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering to the inside of the house before she finally spoke. "I need to talk to you, Lisa. I—" She cut herself off, glancing over her shoulder. "I think I've made a huge mistake. I misunderstood things about Lucifer, and I need to explain—"
Lisa interrupted her, not wanting to get sidetracked. "Come inside. I'm really not in the mood for—"
But before she could finish, Debbie's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the shadowed figures in the room. Lisa could feel the shift in the air, the realization dawning on Debbie. Debbie's eyes locked with Lisa's, suspicion clouding her expression. Without a word, Debbie took a step back, her face pale as she slowly began to turn toward the door.
Lisa's mind raced. If Debbie realized what was happening, it could ruin everything. She needed to act fast. "Wait, Debbie," Lisa called, but it was too late. Debbie was already backing away, her footsteps quickening as she turned and bolted for the street.
Lisa cursed under her breath. One of Corvus's men, standing by the window, had seen the movement and was already on the move, his footsteps silent on the floor as he rushed to intercept Debbie.
Outside, Debbie had just made it a few yards down the street when she heard the footsteps behind her. She turned, panic rising in her chest, but it was too late. One of Corvus's men had caught up to her. His grip was firm as he grabbed her, pulling her back toward the house with surprising strength. Debbie struggled, her heart pounding in her chest.
"What do you think you're doing?" she hissed, her voice trembling with fear. "I don't know anything!"
The man didn't respond. He just tightened his grip, dragging her back into the house.
Inside, Lisa paced back and forth, her mind spinning. She couldn't let Debbie get away, especially now that she knew too much. She needed to keep control. The men had taken care of everything—Debbie wouldn't be a problem anymore. She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Outside, Debbie had been dragged back into the house. She was thrown into a chair, her hands bound tightly. "I didn't hear anything!" she pleaded, her voice rising in desperation. "I don't know what's going on—please, you have to believe me."
One of Corvus's men stepped forward, eyeing her with disdain. "You're a liability now," he said, his voice cold. "We can't have that."
Debbie's breath hitched in fear as she realized the full scope of what was happening. She had been so close to getting out and warning Lucifer, but now it was too late.
The plan to draw Lucifer out was well underway, and there was no turning back.
---
The Shattered Warning
The elevator in Lucifer's penthouse hummed softly as it ascended, its smooth motion belying the tension hanging in the air. Lucifer stood at the penthouse door, hands clasped behind his back, deep in thought. The day had been a blur of cases, and while he wasn't particularly bothered by them, something was gnawing at him. A feeling he couldn't shake—an unease he couldn't explain.
The doorbell rang, and he stepped forward, his sharp instincts telling him something was off. He opened the door to find Debbie standing in front of him. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with an intensity that immediately put him on alert.
"Debbie?" Lucifer said, his voice steady, though the concern was creeping in. "What is it?"
Debbie's lips trembled as she opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, she collapsed, crumpling to the ground in a heap. Lucifer rushed to her side, kneeling beside her and lifting her head gently. "Debbie! What happened?"
She muttered words that barely made sense, her voice weak, but one phrase stood out clearly above the rest.
"Lisa... Corvus…" she whispered, her body limp in his arms.
Lucifer's heart stopped. A cold chill ran down his spine. "What?" he asked urgently, his voice tight with fear and disbelief. "What do you mean?"
Debbie's eyes fluttered, her face pale as she weakly lifted a hand, as if trying to point toward something far beyond him. But before she could finish, her eyes closed for the final time. Her body went still.
Lucifer stood up abruptly, his mind racing. He knew, deep down, that this wasn't a coincidence. Everything was connected. Corvus had to be involved, and Lisa… Lisa had been at the center of it all. The one person he trusted, the one person who had seemingly been so close to him, had been playing him all along.
But he wasn't going to let this go. Not now. Not after everything.
He looked down at Debbie's lifeless body, the weight of what had just happened settling in his chest. There was no time for grief, no time for hesitation. He had to find Lisa. And he had to stop Corvus before it was too late.
---
Lucifer's hands trembled as he checked Debbie's pulse. Her breathing was shallow, and her skin was already cold to the touch. He felt the weight of time pressing against him, knowing every second was crucial. His mind raced—there had to be something he could do.
"Come on, come on," he muttered under his breath, trying desperately to revive her. He pressed his fingers harder against her neck, but the pulse was barely there. Her eyes flickered open for a moment, but they didn't focus on him.
"Debbie... don't..." Lucifer whispered, his voice barely audible, almost as if he feared the words would seal her fate.
The apartment felt smaller now. The air thickened with the sense of impending loss, and Lucifer's heart began to pound in his chest. He couldn't—he wouldn't—let her die. Not after everything.
But the world around him felt like it was slipping through his fingers. With her life slipping away, there was no time left. And that was when the thought hit him like a bolt of lightning.
"Time," Lucifer breathed, his mind already working furiously. He stood up abruptly, his eyes searching the room. He turned toward the penthouse's large windows, staring out into the cityscape.
He had one option.
---
Lucifer took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The air around him seemed to grow heavier, charged with energy. It was almost a pull, a magnetic force, as if the universe itself was bending to his will.
"Amenadiel," Lucifer said softly, his voice a mix of hope and desperation. "I need you."
The space in front of him seemed to ripple as Amenadiel materialized. His towering form was surrounded by a halo of light, and his usual stoic expression softened when he saw Lucifer.
"Lucifer," Amenadiel began, his voice calm but laced with concern. "What's going on? You look—"
"Debbie," Lucifer interrupted, his voice tight with urgency. "She's... she's dying. I need you to slow time. Please, I can't lose her."
Amenadiel studied Lucifer for a long moment, sensing the desperation in his brother's words. He glanced down at Debbie's fragile form, then back at Lucifer.
"I can slow time for you. But you must understand, this will only give you precious moments. You need to get her help immediately," Amenadiel warned, his tone firm but not without compassion.
Lucifer nodded without hesitation. "I'll do whatever it takes."
The air around them shimmered as Amenadiel raised his hand. Time began to slow, the world stretching as everything in the penthouse seemed to move in slow motion. Amenadiel's wings unfurled, and with a final glance at Lucifer, he nodded.
"Be careful, Lucifer. This fight you're facing... it's yours alone," Amenadiel said, before taking off into the air, vanishing in an instant.
Lucifer didn't waste another moment. With the world around him slowed, he scooped Debbie into his arms, ignoring the weight of the situation. He had to act fast. He rushed through the penthouse, out into the elevator, and straight into the night. There was no time to waste. Not for her. Not now.
The Hospital
Minutes stretched into eternity. The world around him seemed like a blur, but all that mattered was getting Debbie to the hospital in time.
He burst through the hospital doors, calling for help. Doctors and nurses swarmed to him, and within seconds, they rushed her into the emergency room. Lucifer stood in the hallway, waiting, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts, a thousand fears. He couldn't lose her. Not like this.
He didn't know how long he stood there, but finally, a doctor approached. His face was grim.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Morningstar. We did everything we could, but... she's gone."
Lucifer's heart stopped. For a moment, he couldn't breathe. The thought of losing another person he cared about was too much to bear. But he couldn't let it overwhelm him. Not now.
---
Lucifer's hands gripped the steering wheel as he drove through the dark streets. The neon lights reflected off the windows, casting an eerie glow on his face. His mind was focused, sharp, and filled with a singular thought: Corvus.
Every decision, every manipulation Corvus had orchestrated, had led them to this point. It was no longer about games or power—this was personal. Corvus had crossed a line.
Lucifer parked in front of a massive warehouse, its silhouette looming like a shadow against the night sky. He took a breath and stepped out of the car. His steps were measured, purposeful. Tonight, it all ended.
As he entered the warehouse, the emptiness of the space swallowed him. In the center of the room, surrounded by shadows, sat Corvus. The man looked almost at peace, a calm smile on his lips as Lisa stood behind him.
Lucifer's gaze hardened as he walked toward the center of the room, his eyes never leaving Corvus.
"You wanted me, Corvus," Lucifer said, his voice low and dangerous. "Well, here I am."
Corvus' smile widened. "Ah, Lucifer. It's been too long. I'm glad you've come. I've been waiting."
Lisa stepped forward, her gaze steady, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "Lucifer... you have no idea what you're up against."
Corvus ignored her, his eyes never leaving Lucifer. "It's time for you to meet your end, Lucifer. The prophecy will be fulfilled, and nothing will stop me from taking you down."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "You've been playing with fire, Corvus. You think you can take me down with your tricks? It won't happen."
Corvus stood, his smile fading as the air around him seemed to change, charged with a dangerous energy. "We'll see, Lucifer. We'll see."
And with that, the stage was set. Two forces, one driven by vengeance, the other by power, face-to-face once again.