Mazikeen stalks down the corridor, barbed whip in hand and the click of her boot heels echoing off the stone floor and walls. She reaches her destination and throws open the door without knocking. "We need to go," she states flatly to the room's large occupant. Her eyes flash as blood-red lips curl back from white teeth, "He's driving me crazy," she snarls.

A black eyebrow arches at the female demon, and its large owner remains silent, his brilliant green eyes closing again as he turns back to the soul he's questioning. Mazikeen huffs in frustration and crosses her arms over her chest impatiently but she knows her sibling's work should not be rushed if this individual is to be of future use.

"You know how long it's taken for me to find someone with this information, yes? I need more time," he replies silently.

"We're out of time, Niall," she answers. "Lucifer says we go now."

Niall hangs his head for a moment and exhales softly. "Fine," he replies aloud as his tail twitches in agitation. "This one won't be on me, then," he growls. Closing his eyes more tightly, he sharpens his focus on the soul in front of him, slicing like a scalpel into its psyche to pull as many details of their destination as possible. While alive, Ricky Donato was a well-heeled criminal. He held various real estate interests, ran a club that was a front for various illegal activities including drugs and prostitution, and he was well-connected politically.

Niall wades through and snatches all the information they will need: directions, names, cultural habits, resources...everything. Once he's done, he withdraws and sags for a moment in exhaustion. "I hate doing that," he harrumphs. He rakes a hand through his dark, curly hair, pausing to scratch absently at the base of one of his short, black horns.

After a long moment, Niall rises slowly to loom over his sibling, "We're leaving via The Hall, yes?"

Maze looks up and nods curtly, "Yes. We are to establish a safe location before summoning him to join us."

The larger demon nods, a rueful grin on his face exposing elongated canines, "A good plan. Not his, I take it?"

"No,"' she replies with an answering smile. "He wants to come right out with us but I won't let him. He finally listened, but he pouted about it."

Niall chuckles as he steps into the hallway, "He would. I'll meet you in The Hall. Let me grab my gear."

Maze gives his tail a tug before leaping out of reach, "Hurry up before he changes his mind. Again."

Lucifer Morningstar paces excitedly in front of his throne, glancing at the gleaming obsidian door to his Hall every time a stray sound catches his ear. "Where are they?" he mutters to himself as he adjusts the cuff of his shirt.

He absently brushes dust from his suit, taking a moment to once again appreciate Sy Devore's work. Ever since that man came to Hell, The Devil's look has been seriously upgraded. No more dresses for me, thank you very much. He smiles to himself, I should speed up his recycle date so he can join me topside sooner rather than later.

The Devil redirects his pacing to touring along the perimeter of his Hall, absently stroking his long, elegant fingers over the tomes lining the shelved walls. Leather-bound volumes, cloth, vellum and parchment scrolls line the room, each one read more than a few times by their owner. Eternity is a long time.

I wonder what we'll find there, he muses. Certainly the souls who have come here have provided a modicum of updates over the past several thousand years, but actually experiencing it will be...

The door opens and he looks up sharply, an expectant smile on his face. Lucifer's wings, ever a barometer of his mood, flap behind him for a moment. Their quick movement ruffles his hair and their soft glow is brighter than the candles lighting the space. "Well? Are you ready?" he asks, fairly bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Maze strides into the center of the room, a rough leather bag slung over her shoulder, "Yes. Niall is on his way, then we can get this started."

Lucifer claps his hands together, "Marvelous!"

The demon looks up at him, concern etched on her face, "I'll say this one more time, Lucifer. I don't like this idea you have for a...what is it you call it? Vacation? There are too many variables. Threats I'm unfamiliar with. How can I keep you safe when humans are so unpredictable?"

He smiles gently as he steps forward, a large hand strokes the exposed bone of her cheek, "It will be fine, Mazie. WE will be fine." He pauses when he sees she is unswayed. "They're only humans, darling. They can't really harm us. And don't forget Niall and I are also quite capable of taking care of ourselves."

She snorts dismissively as her hands absently travel to rest on the curved daggers on her hips, "Sure you can."

The door opens again and they look up to see Niall enter, his own pack hanging off his shoulder and a pair of long swords crossed over his back. He nods respectfully at Lucifer, "Sire." The demon drops his pack to the floor and steps closer, "Maze reports you've agreed to allow us to scout ahead and prepare for your arrival."

Lucifer shrugs, "Yes, darling, I've capitulated for the moment, so you should both get moving before I change my mind again." The Devil stretches his wings toward his creations, "Each of you take a feather. From the middle, if you please."

Maze frowns, "What do we need these for?"

"They will allow you to pass to the other plane," Lucifer responds. "One way only, I'm afraid. You won't be able to return unless I show up and give you another."

He winces as they follow his instructions then shakes his wings again to settle the remaining feathers back into place. The demons look at each other then to their creator. "Collect your belongings and follow me," Lucifer commands as he turns his back and walks toward his throne.

"If you could get out before, Lucifer, why did you wait so long?" Maze asks.

He turns and looks down at her, his jaw clenches and releases several times as he visibly struggles to control his breathing. His sigh is melancholy and she bristles at the sound of it, "Because I had to try, Maze. I hoped for so long this...task set by my father was more than just unending punishment. That there was some point to it all." Lucifer turns his back and sighs heavily as he slides long elegant fingers along the shining surface of his throne, "Redemption, perhaps."

Lucifer glances back over his shoulder, "Seems that chap had it right when he said to abandon hope upon entering this place."

Niall steps forward and rests a hand on his shoulder, "What changed, sire?" He pauses before continuing softly, "Why now?"

Lucifer looks up into Niall's emerald eyes and the demon sees the lines of his face grow tight. Lucifer's mouth turns down as his dark eyes widen to give him an almost crazed look. The shoulder under Niall's hand shivers just a bit. "I changed."

He steps away and looks around, raising his arms and wings together to indicate the great expanse that is the Lord of Hell's Grand Hall. The place where all supplicants bow before him to plead for their release. "This...place...is as much a prison for me as it is for the miserable, cretinous wretches who are sent here. We are all trapped here for eternity."

He sighs as he looks back at his creations, "I've thought long and hard and realize that I did nothing to deserve this. I am not evil - I never was!"

Lucifer juts his chin out defiantly and draws himself up to his full height. The Lord of Hell is tall, but still significantly smaller than Niall if one were to discount the wings, "And if my father expects that I will remain here any longer, he shall have to think again. I am quitting Hell and he will simply have to find another warden." Take THAT, Dad!

Niall nods politely, "Of course, my lord. We are privileged to assist you on this...adventure." He taps his head, "I believe I have the information we need to make the transition as smooth as possible."

Lucifer grins happily, "Excellent news!" He steps to the back of his throne, "Let's begin, shall we?"

Maze and Niall hoist their packs and follow him.

Lucifer removes the key from around his neck and hands it to Maze, "When you are ready, draw the pentagram like I showed you, then rest this key in the center. The key is connected to the ring and I will find you. Call my name and I will come, got it?"

The demon looks up at him and nods as she hangs the necklace around her own neck, "Got it."

He smiles softly and strokes her cheek, "And make sure you gloss over the more frightening aspects of your visage, darling. Don't want to send the humans screaming as soon as you arrive."

She snorts a laugh and her tongue snakes out to lick her teeth, "I don't know. Could be fun."

Lucifer takes Niall's hand and gives it an affectionate squeeze, "And you know where you're going, yes?" He rests his other hand against the side of Niall's head, burying his fingers in the demon's ebony locks, "You have your destination set in here?"

Niall nods and leans his head into his sire's hand, "I do. It shouldn't take us long to get things set for your arrival."

Lucifer releases Niall and steps to the wall behind his throne. His eyes glow with the fires of Hell as his wings fully extend behind him, the appendages also becoming engulfed in flame. The temperature in the immediate area shoots up as he rests his hands on the wall. Maze and Niall step back in surprise as a crack opens and brilliant light comes pouring out. They look at each other, mouths slightly agape as Lucifer fairly vibrates with power.

"Go, darlings," Lucifer growls as he bows his head to focus his energy on holding the portal open.

Clutching her feather in one hand and the strap of her pack on the other, Maze steps into the glowing fissure with Niall right behind her.

As soon as he can no longer feel their presence, Lucifer releases the portal and collapses to the floor of his Hall. After he catches his breath, he sits with his back against the wall and begins to laugh.