Back at Lux that evening just after Save My Hero finished playing, Mercy sat down at a booth with her bandmates. Most of the customers were either passed out or leaving, but a few still ordered some drinks and sat around talking. Maze didn't play music over the speakers on Fridays; it was sort of out of respect to it being their night to play. So all that there was for background noise was a soft hum of mostly drunken conversation.

"White Russians from our favorite bartender," Hutch announced, bringing over four glasses carefully in both hands. He put them on the table before sitting down next to Mercy and smiling.

"Cheers," Miles said, grabbing one and pulling it toward himself. "Wasn't a bad night, eh?"

"I think I was rockin' it," Blake said, her expression smug.

"Mercy, are you used to living here yet?" Hutch asked when Mercy remained quiet and stared across the room blankly.

"Oh, er, kinda." Mercy returned her attention to her friends. "I mean, my digs are pretty sweet."

"I was more so referring to your landlord and our boss," Hutch said with a small chuckled.

"Lucifer?" Mercy glanced across the room where the Devil was chatting with a handsome young man with a provocative gleam in his eyes. "I mean, has he given you any issues?"

"No, no. He's just given me money," Hutch replied with a laugh. "I was worried he was giving you issues."

"Why?" Mercy frowned at him.

Hutch laughed again. "Oh come on! You see how he is with women." He looked over toward Lucifer and blinked. "And men, apparently."

"Don't remind me," Miles grumbled, clearly making certain he didn't look across the club toward the Devil.

"Oh. Oh, no, he doesn't... I mean, okay, he tried at first, but when I told him no, he respected that." Mercy frowned for a moment. "Huh. You know, it's kinda sad that the Devil can understand consent but a lot of humans can't."

Blake raised her brows at Mercy. "Uh, Devil? Don't tell me you believe that shtick of his."

"Huh?" Mercy suddenly realized what she said. "Oh! No! I mean, it was just... someone who calls himself the Devil is a better dude than others, is what I meant. Sorry, guess I've been around him too much."

"Uh huh, sounds like it," Miles said. "I dunno how ya stand it, to be honest."

"He's really not that bad," Mercy said.

"Right, well, listen I was gonna go shopping tomorrow," Blake said, sitting up straighter in her seat. "Wanna come? Get out of this place a little?"

"Sure," Mercy agreed with a nod. "What kind of shopping?"

"Clothes, duh-doy." Blake grinned. "I think we need some new threads to keep things interesting for the fans."

"Then why aren't we invited?" Miles asked. "Hutch and I are in the band too."

"Meh, not as fun to see you guys in a dressing room," Blake said with a shrug.

"Blake!" Mercy protested.

"What?" She grinned innocently.

"You guys are all worried about Luci giving me shit when we got Blake who wants to oogle me," Mercy muttered.

"Luci?" Miles echoed. "He's got a nickname, does he?"

Mercy cleared her throat awkwardly. "Kinda just happened."

Hutch turned in his seat to eye the club owner with a small frown. "Nice guys really do finish last, don't they?"

"Oh stop!" Mercy smacked his arm. "I do not like him like that! It's just... with the shooting and everything... we've kind of bonded. But not like that!"

"All right!" Hutch said, raising his hands in surrender and chuckling. "But legit, if he starts pestering you for that..."

Suddenly, all of Mercy's bandmates became incredibly serious. All of them looked at her with equal expressions of determination.

"You tell us," Miles said.

"Yeah, 'cause boss or not, we'll kick his ass," Blake added.

"Blake would lead the charge," Hutch said, "and Miles and I would be like her back-up dancers but with maces or something."

"I prefer baseball bats," Miles said, looking over at Hutch.

"We could always use knives," Hutch mused.

"Guys!" Mercy exclaimed, but she was smiling despite herself. "A: I can handle myself, and B: Lucifer wouldn't do anything like that. I promise."

"How can you know for sure?" Blake asked skeptically. "Men can be real hound dogs, that's why you should swap teams."

"Blake..." Mercy groaned.

"She's got a point," Miles said. "Well, about how you could possibly know, not the men are hound dogs." He glanced toward the drummer. "I am an angel."

"Isn't Mercy the angel?" Hutch laughed.

Mercy tried not to think about how the handsome club owner across the room was actually the angel. She sighed and put her hands on the table.

"Like I said, Luci and I bonded after that shooting. I just... I know he would never do anything to hurt me. Or you guys, even. He's... a pretty cool dude for someone who calls himself the Devil," Mercy murmured.

"Fair enough," Hutch said. "Still, though. Offer always stands."

"I get it, I have your sword, Blake's axe, and Miles' bow." Mercy grinned at them.

"Why am I Legolas?" Miles protested.

"Why am I Gimli?" Blake demanded.

"I'm happy with Aragorn," Hutch said with a shrug.

"I wanna be Aragorn!" Miles and Blake said in unison.

The rest of the night went on with the four of them jesting and having a few drinks. At one point, Maze came over and stole Blake away. Not long after that, Miles and Hutch announced they were going to go home and Mercy decided she'd best retire as well. When she looked around to bid Lucifer goodnight, she saw that the Devil was nowhere to be seen.

She sighed, guessing he'd whisked that handsome young man away to his penthouse. Mercy gathered the glasses off the table and brought them over to the bar. One of the bartenders that wasn't Maze was working the counter and nodded his thanks.

Mercy went down to her apartment and as she walked into the quiet living room she let out a long breath. Her dream of Conor still plagued her mind. What if it was all true? What if her father was really a Norse god? That would make her a demigod. The concept seemed beyond her reach. But all the same, she couldn't help but remember her time with her father, and things her mother would say.

"Your father is very busy, but he does love you. He sees you as often as he can. You're a gift to him, never forget that, Astrid."

Astrid. Mercy hadn't thought of her birth name in a long time. Her father chose it, and she always teased him.

"What am I, a viking?"

"More like my little Valkyrie."

His mischievous smile was always infectious.

"Shit." Mercy shook her head and went toward her bedroom.

Answers weren't going to just come flying to her. She'd have to search them out. She just had no clue how she'd do that while still playing in the band and keeping up appearances with her friends.

*.*.*

Mercy ended up waking up early despite going to bed so late. Her body was restless, knots of snakes tangling and writhing through her limbs and infesting her gut. She got up and got out her laptop, deciding to do some research on Norse mythology. She knew the basics... Loki was a trickster, a god of mischief. He had at least three children, one of which was Fenrir. She read that Fenrir was the one meant to kill Odin during Ragnorak, the Norse apocalypse. Of course, that hadn't happened yet.

Taking her laptop upstairs to the club, hoping to find Lucifer and discuss her findings, Mercy walked out and sat down at the table closest to the piano. She put the laptop on the table and frowned at the screen. There was a lot of conflicting information, as well as some things that weren't clear. She couldn't make sense of some of it.

The current page she was on read: "Loki, in Norse mythology, a cunning trickster who had the ability to change his shape and sex. Although his father was the giant Fárbauti, he was included among the Aesir (a tribe of gods). Loki was represented as the companion of the great gods Odin and Thor, helping them with his clever plans but sometimes causing embarrassment and difficulty for them and himself. He also appeared as the enemy of the gods, entering their banquet uninvited and demanding their drink. He was the principal cause of the death of the god Balder. Loki was bound to a rock (by the entrails of one or more of his sons, according to some sources) as punishment, thus in many ways resembling the Greek figures Prometheus and Tantalus. Also like Prometheus, Loki is considered a god of fire."

"Entrails of his sons..." Mercy breathed. "Eugh... I hope that part isn't real."

Of course, she didn't know if any of it was real. She didn't know if her dream was truly Conor speaking to her. She didn't know anything anymore. She shook her head and read on.

"Loki is the father, by the giantess Angrboda (Angrboða, "Anguish-Boding"), of Hel, the goddess of the underworld; Jormungand, the great serpent who slays Thor during Ragnarok; and Fenrir, the wolf who bites off one of the hands of Tyr and who kills Odin during Ragnarok – hardly a reputable brood, to say the least. As we'll see below, Loki demonstrates a complete lack of concern for the well-being of his fellow gods, a trait which could be discerned, in vague outline, merely by considering these offspring of his."

"Helena..." Mercy whispered. Her big sister. It just seemed a bit too perfect that she had that name while Loki's daughter's name was Hel. Then she remembered her brother Joel's snake tattoo on his arm.

However, it wasn't until she read the next part that her hears skipped a beat.

"With his proper wife Sigyn ("Friend of Victory"), he also has a son named Nari or Narfi, whose name might mean 'Corpse.'"

"Victoria..." Mercy stared at the screen, specifically at the "Friend of Victory" part.

The pieces fell so well. Mercy's heart thrummed in her ears and neck. She got to her feet, pursing her lips she reached down to grab her laptop. Her adrenaline was going, shaking her hands. She fumbled and the laptop slipped from her fingers.

Mercy yelped and scrambled to catch it, but just as she reached for it, it stopped falling. Instead, it hovered in the air impossibly, not even touching the table anymore.

Dread sank into her gut—ink sliding down a page and staining it. Slowly looking up, she saw a tall, familiar figure standing back near the windows. His sleeveless robe was silver and black. He stared at Mercy with a furrowed brow and his mouth slightly agape.

Unable to think of what else to do, Mercy grabbed her laptop and gently set it on the table before clearing her throat awkwardly.

"Th-thanks, it might've broke..." she rasped.

"Who are you?" Amenadiel demanded. The angel's voice was firm and full of authority.

"Uh... a friend of Lucifer's?" Mercy's words came out as a question. "M-my name is Mercy."

Amenadiel began to walk toward her. Mercy glanced toward the stairs and elevator, her pulse drumming in her chest. She had to get to Lucifer. The elevator was the only way into Lucifer's penthouse. Too bad this guy had wings and was probably stupid strong and fast.

Regardless, Mercy had to try.

She bolted, jumping over the back of the seat and sprinting for the elevator. Amenadiel seemed shocked more than anything at first. Yet after a moment, he began to walk after her. Somehow, that was far more intimidating than if he ran. Mercy slammed her hand on the call button for the elevator. She turned to see the angel was still coming, his dark eyes latched on her and his expression set in stone.

The elevator opened. Mercy lurched inside and proceeded to slam the penthouse button and close door button at the same time. Amenadiel still walked across the club's main room, just passing the piano. Surely he could move faster than that, why was he going so slow?

The elevator closed before he could reach it and Mercy shook her head as it began to rise. It made no sense. Why was he taking his time? The doors opened and she ran out into Lucifer's penthouse's sitting room. The Devil in question was standing behind his bar, wearing nothing but a bathrobe and boxers. His dark hair was mussed and he seemed to have just woken.

"Lucifer!" Mercy cried, beginning to move toward him.

"Mercy?" Lucifer turned toward her just as she got two steps inside.

That's when the hand latched onto the back of her neck. Mercy gasped and reached up, attempting to pry the fingers loose, but Amenadiel's grip was iron. Of course, he had wings. He knew Mercy wouldn't get away from him, he just wanted to catch her in front of his little brother. Lucifer's expression went from sheer surprise to livid anger.

"Amenadiel, let her go," he ordered, stepping out from behind the bar.

"Who is she, brother?" Amenadiel asked coolly. "And why don't my powers affect her?"

"This is a conversation we can easily have without you manhandling her like that," Lucifer snapped, pausing a few feet away. His eyes darted between Mercy and Amenadiel, stretched wide.

"Who. Is. She?" Amenadiel repeated darkly. "She can't be human."

The original plan was to have Lucifer make Amenadiel believe that it was his powers that made Mercy immune, but in that moment, logic seemed lost. Mercy's neck began to ache and she couldn't even budge. Lucifer looked both furious and panicked.

"Her name is Mercy," Lucifer said, holding out his hands. Mercy could tell he was trying to speak calmly, but it was barely controlled. "And her mother was as human as they come, now let her go."

Not a lie; and in the heat of the moment, Amenadiel might not question why Lucifer didn't mention her father. The angel was silent for a moment, eyeing Lucifer.

"Why don't my powers affect her?" he repeated.

"I will talk to you once you release her." Lucifer's eyes began to shine red. "It's against angel law to kill a human, isn't it? How would Father appreciate your actions?"

"Something like this could be a danger to humans," Amenadiel retorted.

"Amenadiel!" Lucifer shouted, his voice echoing ruthlessly off the walls. His eyes were glowing crimson. "If you don't release her right now, you're going to sorely regret it."

Amenadiel exhaled sharply. He looked at the Devil for a few more agonizing seconds, then his hand let Mercy go. She instantly ran to Lucifer, who grabbed her and put her behind him while keeping a hold on her arm. His eyes dimmed back to their normal dark brown.

"It's okay," he assured her softly. "I made you a promise."

Mercy nodded shakily. Her entire body was shaking, but she felt much better with him in front of her.

"There," Amenadiel said. "Now, give me some answers."

"Luci..." Mercy rasped.

"It's all right," Lucifer said, keeping his eyes on Amenadiel. "I'll make him reason and if he doesn't, I'll rip his wings off."

The promise his tone held was almost enough to make Mercy shiver. She'd seen his true face when he attacked Jimmy Barnes for shooting her, but this was something else.

"Before I tell you anything, brother, I'm going to make certain you understand something," Lucifer said tightly. "Mercy is under my protection. If you dare try to harm her or take her, it won't end well for you."

Amenadiel scoffed. "Lucifer, you suggest that you could stand a chance."

"Let's face it, Amenadiel, there's a reason you haven't forced me back to Hell," Lucifer snarled.

"If this girl is a danger to humanity, I'll have no choice but to protect them," Amenadiel said. "It's my duty."

"Mercy is not a threat to humanity!" Lucifer barked. "Until a month ago, she was very much a part of humanity."

"So she isn't human?" Amenadiel demanded.

Mercy was gripping the back of Lucifer's robe. She couldn't help but be aware that Lucifer didn't have his wings and Amenadiel did. They had to get the angel to understand.

"We don't know," Mercy said.

"Mercy," Lucifer muttered warningly.

"I didn't know I was immune to angelic powers until a month ago," Mercy pressed on, looking at Amenadiel from around Lucifer's shoulder, but dared not step forward. "Then I met Lucifer. Y-you visited while I was here, and I saw time slow and... I have no idea why it doesn't affect me. Neither does Lucifer. We're trying to figure it out."

"We've no way of knowing if it's just me that's causing it," Lucifer cut in. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't what they were thinking was behind her immunity.

"H-he's right," Mercy said, nodding.

"Well, what do you know?" Amenadiel demanded. "Because even if you are human, you're not meant to know about divinity—to be exposed to it."

"Clearly that part doesn't bug her, brother," Lucifer pointed out.

"This is absurd..." Amenadiel muttered. "Lucifer, you need to go back to Hell and I will take the girl under my custody until I understand what's going on."

"That's not happening." Lucifer's grip on my arm tightened a little. "You will provoke a war, Amenadiel. Are you so certain you'd 'love a war?' Because all of humanity will know of divinity then!"

Mercy blinked a few times, surprised by Lucifer's loyalty. But she also had a feeling that he would want to go to war with this brother of his over just about anything. He didn't want to go back to Hell, and he clearly was getting annoyed by Amenadiel bothering him. He was the Devil, after all. Short temper is to be expected, at least when it comes to his family.

"You're making a mistake, Lucifer," Amenadiel warned. "Father won't be pleased."

"Story of my life!" Lucifer exclaimed. "Listen, I'm not a moron, I wouldn't be keeping a ticking time bomb around my club. You know I don't lie, Amenadiel, so believe me when I say that Mercy is not a threat to anyone."

Amenadiel looked over his brother with narrowed eyes, as if weighing his options. He glanced at Mercy, who tightened the grip on Lucifer's robe.

"Fine," Amenadiel finally said, though his voice was tight. "But I will be keeping an eye on this situation. A very close eye. And if for any reason this girl proves to be a threat to humanity, well... I'll be taking over."

"You won't, but I'll agree to you leaving to watch from afar," Lucifer said.

Great black wings sprouted from Amenadiel's back. The feathers looked solid enough to cut steel. He looked them both over one more time before he flapped them and evaporated from sight.

Mercy's knees instantly caved. She sank to the ground, shaking and gasping for breath. Lucifer whirled around and knelt beside her, gripping her shoulders.

"Are you all right? Did he hurt you?" the Devil demanded, looking her over.

"I-I'm fine, physically," Mercy breathed. "That just... hoo..." She shook her head. "That was honestly scarier than being shot at."

"I'd never let him do anything," Lucifer vowed. "I should have been more prudent, stayed with you..."

"I can't expect you to do that," Mercy said, shaking her head. "Also—personal space and all that..." She met his eyes. "What... what do you think he would have done? I mean, if you weren't here?"

"Amenadiel would never risk killing a human," Lucifer said. "He'd want to ensure he knew what you were first. But there's no need to worry about that. He won't touch you again."

"You can't know that for certain," Mercy rasped.

Lucifer lowered his brows and bit his lip. "You're right. I'll just have to make certain, won't I?"

He gripped her elbows and helped her stand before leading her to the sofa. Mercy allowed this and sat down, blinking at him.

"What do you mean?" she asked warily.

"I know you value your personal space, but this is too important," Lucifer said, straightening up. "I need to be at your side. I'll stay with you in your apartment. Or you can stay with me up here." He gestured around himself at the lavish penthouse. "Much roomier, better view, more amenities."

"Luci, no, do you know how weird it would be just having you with me everywhere I go?"

Lucifer considered then snapped his fingers. "We'll say we're dating."

"No!" Mercy protested, then at his slightly hurt expression, she added, "Even people who are dating spend time apart. Healthy people, anyway."

"I can't risk Amenadiel changing his mind and swooping in when I'm not there now that he knows about you," Lucifer pressed.

"He said he'd back off," Mercy reminded him. "And you did promise to start a war. I think he took that to heart. He doesn't want to risk the consequences right now."

"But what if he decides to risk them later?" Lucifer lifted his arms in exasperation and began to pace. Mercy couldn't help but notice his rather built torso beneath the robe, but she adverted her gaze. Priorities...

"Lucifer, you said you had people looking into all... all this, right? Victoria and everything?" Mercy murmured.

Lucifer nodded, pausing in his pacing to look at her.

"Have you figured anything out? Is there... anything?" Mercy whispered.

Lucifer blinked a few times and then he came over to sit beside her on the sofa. "You know I'd tell you straight away. We'll find answers, Astrid," Lucifer said, gripping her shoulder. "I'm a man of my word."

At that point, Mercy heard bare feet padding across the hard floor and lifted her head to see a handsome and very naked young man walking out of the bedroom area of Lucifer's penthouse. He waved at them, not at all ashamed of his nudity as he walked toward the bar.

Lucifer waved back and shortly after, a woman followed after the man, though she was wearing a thin silk robe that didn't do much to hide her curvy figure. She smiled at the pair of them on the couch before heading after the man.

"Wow," Mercy said.

"What?" Lucifer scoffed. "It's called the Devil's threesome for a reason."

Mercy laughed a bit and shook her head. "Next time warn me about naked people in here, will you?" She got to her feet and rolled her shoulders. "Listen, I have some research of my own to discuss with you, so meet me downstairs when you get dressed?"

"H-how about you wait here, and I'll be ready in five minutes," Lucifer suggested as he got to his feet. "You two, one drink then off you trot, don't forget your things." He gestured to the man and woman behind the bar.

"Luci, I'll be fine," Mercy assured.

Lucifer exhaled sharply and pursed his lips. "Just... please wait?"

Mercy sighed. Amenadiel's appearance had him worried, it seemed. She supposed she could humor him for now, but she couldn't have Lucifer glued to her side 24/7. She gestured for him to go to his bedroom and plopped back down on the sofa. He beamed before hurrying off.

"Careful with that one, he's like crack," the naked man behind the bar said. "I thought I was straight until last night."

Mercy chuckled. "We don't have that kind of relationship."

"Really?" The woman perked a brow as she poured herself some vodka. "I didn't think Lucifer could be around attractive people without getting in their pants. Are you Ace or something?"

"No, just..." Mercy glanced toward the wall that separated the living room from the bedroom. "Just a friend."

The man behind the bar laughed softly. "See how long that lasts." He poured back his drink then went to gather his clothes. They were in a pile near the bar that Mercy hadn't noticed before.

After sitting awkwardly as the man and woman dressed and left, Mercy saw Lucifer step back into the living room, wearing one of his fine suits and adjusting his vest. He didn't wear a tie, exposing the bottom of his throat and the top of his collarbone.

"Well, shall we?" he said, smiling at her.

Mercy couldn't help but think about everything that could go wrong. If Amenadiel changed his mind, if he fought Lucifer and won. Or if Victoria somehow found her—found her and killed her for being born. There were so many things at stake. However at Lucifer's charming smile, she figured it could be worse.