After hearing Saltana's explanation, Roy was at a loss for words.
"Why keep these old-world remnants around? Why not just take them out?"
Saltana shook her head helplessly.
"It's not that simple. Vampires have a history almost as long as humanity's. They're deeply entangled with European powers—pull one thread, and you drag up a mess. Plus, these vampires are filthy rich. Money solves most problems."
Fair point. Vampires, being immortal, had plenty of time to amass wealth. Even a third-generation vampire could leave behind trinkets that'd be priceless antiques today.
"What about here in America? No vampires?" Roy asked.
"There are some, but for historical reasons, they're pretty low-key. Most don't belong to the 13 Clans."
At this, Saltana turned to Clary.
"Miss, you're in serious danger right now. Would you like FEA protection?"
Clary hesitated. She'd never heard of the FEA, some government agency she didn't trust. Roy, on the other hand, seemed far more reliable.
"Can I stay under Blake's protection? He's with the FEA too, right?"
Saltana gave a knowing look.
"That's fine, but you'll need to be ready for an FEA summons at any time."
Clary nodded, then remembered something else.
"One more thing—my mom, Jocelyn, might be in danger too. Can you help find her?"
"Where does your mom live?" Saltana asked.
Clary gave an address. She wasn't a local; her home was in Oregon.
Saltana could only call the Oregon FEA branch to check on Jocelyn's situation.
"Alright, work's mostly done. How about we grab a drink at a bar?" Roy suggested, noticing Saltana's recent stress and wanting to help her unwind while also calming Clary's nerves.
"Is that a good idea? What about those vampires?" Saltana asked.
"Let your team take them back to FEA. They won't wake up anytime soon, so you can't interrogate them yet."
Roy knew his punches well—those vampires would be out cold for at least a dozen hours.
"Fine, where should we go? Sangiovese?" Saltana asked.
"No need for Sangiovese. There's a great bar right behind this wall, and I know the owner."
Roy had promised Lucifer he'd stop by his bar for a drink, so this was a perfect chance to introduce Saltana.
---
Marian was in a foul mood today. After popping some painkillers at home, she didn't even feel like eating dinner.
Feeling suffocated, she decided to go out for a drink.
"Huh, when did this place open?" she muttered, spotting the sign for Timeless Bar. The decor inside looked classy, not the usual dive-bar vibe, so she decided to give it a try.
"What can I get you, ma'am?" asked a handsome middle-aged man behind the counter, exuding a mysterious aura.
For some reason, seeing him reminded Marian of Roy, the guy who'd been a thorn in her side all day. Her mood soured further.
"Something strong! The higher the proof, the better!"
The man gave her a knowing smile.
"Ma'am, higher proof doesn't always mean better taste."
Marian slapped her credit card on the counter.
"I don't care! I'm paying, aren't I?"
The man shook his head, clearly seeing she knew nothing about liquor beyond its alcohol content.
"Alright, I'll mix you something strong. Hope you like it."
He pulled out a metallic cocktail shaker with strange patterns, then added various liquids Marian had never heard of. Some smelled so odd she wondered if they were even alcohol.
But when he poured the golden liquid into a glass, a rich, fragrant aroma hit her. For a fleeting moment, it stirred memories of her past.
"What's this drink called?" she asked.
"It's called Pride."
Marian frowned, sensing he was hinting at something.
She'd been a golden child her whole life—top of her class, stunning looks, the kind of kid everyone envied. That upbringing made her fiercely competitive; she had to be the best, whether in school or work, and she couldn't stand anyone outshining her.
This attitude made her come off as bossy, which was why her relationships at the TV station were so strained. Only Mike, her cousin, and Franklin, her longtime neighbor, bothered to talk to her.
Even they sometimes got fed up with her, like with her obsession over Roy's story.
Marian knew some of her choices were wrong, but as the saying goes, old habits die hard. She had no intention of changing.
"Have we met before?" she asked, feeling like this stranger somehow knew her.
The man smiled.
"Nope, first time meeting you. But the moment I saw you, I knew this drink was perfect for you."
Marian's brow furrowed. With her experience as a reporter, she could tell he wasn't lying. Was it really just a coincidence?
"Go on, try it. It's at its best right now. Wait too long, and the flavor changes," he urged.
After hesitating, Marian reached for the glass, ready to down it in one go. But an arm reached from behind and snatched it away.
"Mr. Lucifer, didn't expect you to moonlight as a bartender. This smells pretty good!" Roy said.
Lucifer crossed his arms, eyeing the newcomer.
"Mr. Blake, you wrapped things up that fast?"
"Yeah, I've got connections at FEA. Let me introduce you—Saltana Rivera, senior agent at FEA's LA branch. If you ever run into trouble here, she's your go-to. And this is my friend, Clary Fray."
"Hi!" Saltana greeted, noting Roy's polite tone and realizing this bar owner was no ordinary guy. With a name like Lucifer, could he be that Lucifer?
Marian finally recognized the guy who'd taken her drink—the same Roy who'd been driving her up the wall all day.
"Roy Blake, what are you doing here? Give me back my drink!"
Give it back? No chance. Roy downed the golden liquid in one gulp, feeling a wave of cleansing energy wash through him.
"Damn, that's good! Mr. Lucifer, this is way better than that Original Sin you gave me last time."
Lucifer glanced at a fuming Marian.
"That's because you're not the target audience. Only the prideful can taste its true flavor."
Roy raised an eyebrow. So it was like Original Sin, but milder, probably since it was meant for regular people.
"And you? What do you taste when you drink it?" Roy asked.
Lucifer paused, then gave a faint smile.
"Not many ask me that. I've had it before—it's bitterly regretful."
Roy had been ignoring Marian, which was driving the proud blonde anchor crazy. She stood up, glaring at him.
"Roy Blake, what's your deal? Did you set all this up? This weird bartender and his cryptic drink?"
Her emotions were spiraling after the day's events.
Roy put a hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down, ma'am. What's your name again?"
Marian gritted her teeth, livid that he didn't even know her name.
"Marian Morgan! My name is Marian Morgan!"
"Oh, right, Ms. Morgan. No need to take it personally. I'm not bored enough to orchestrate some scheme to mess with you. This is all just a coincidence."
His explanation only made her angrier.
"What's that supposed to mean? That I'm not worth it? I don't care—you have to do my interview!"
Roy caught a sly glint in her eyes. Was she still thinking about work even while this pissed off? Talk about a workaholic.
Roy rolled his eyes, done with her. But Lucifer spoke up.
"Why don't we all move to a booth and talk? No need to stand around."
"Good idea," Roy said, wrapping an arm around Saltana's waist as they headed to a booth. Clary trailed close behind.
Marian's expression flickered, but she followed them.
"What are you doing tagging along?" Roy asked. She was a total outsider, and her presence would make some topics awkward.
Lucifer smiled.
"It's fine. If Ms. Morgan wants to join the conversation, let her."
Marian nodded eagerly.
"I'm curious about what you're talking about. I swear I won't tell anyone!"
Roy's expression turned odd.
"You sure, Ms. Morgan? You can still back out."
"Why would I? Are you guys talking about something illegal?"
"Not illegal, but it'll definitely shatter your worldview."
Marian thought Roy was just trying to scare her off. She insisted on staying.
"I'm not afraid!"
Fine. If she was determined to dive in, Roy would let her.
"Suit yourself."
They settled into the booth. Lucifer snapped his fingers, and the surrounding noise faded, like an invisible barrier had been placed around them.
Saltana and Clary, aware of Lucifer's likely identity as a legendary figure, weren't too surprised. Marian, clueless, was visibly uneasy.
Lucifer got straight to the point with Roy.
"Mr. Blake, the stuff up north—is that tied to you?"
He was referring to the events in Washington State, where War Rider Ash had caused a massive stir, noticeable even to the King of Pride in LA.
Roy didn't hide it.
"Yeah. War Rider showed up, then Leviathan descended. Uriel, Raphael, and I barely managed to take them down."
Lucifer looked thoughtful, Clary seemed shocked, and Saltana just nodded like it was no big deal.
Marian, however, burst out laughing, then tried to play it cool.
"Hahaha… you guys are joking, right? Lucifer, Uriel, Raphael? What is this, a roleplay?"
Lucifer and Uriel were uncommon names, but Raphael wasn't—there was the famous Renaissance painter, after all.
Lucifer looked at Marian, puzzled.
"What's with this woman? She's completely out of the loop?"
Roy shrugged.
"I barely know her. We've met, what, three times, including tonight? You're the one who let her join the convo."
Marian's unease grew. As a news anchor, she was skilled at reading micro-expressions, and neither Roy nor Lucifer seemed to be joking or acting.
Could this all be real?
Lucifer changed the subject.
"Let's drop the heavy stuff. Since we're all here tonight, we should have a proper drink. What do you all want?"
Roy thought for a moment.
"Last time I tried Hell's Finest. Any chance I could taste Heaven's brew?"
Lucifer grinned.
"I'd love to oblige, but Heaven's a boring place. Their only 'wine' is the Blood of Jesus."
It was a joke, referencing the Christian Mass where wine symbolizes Jesus' blood.
"But when I was in Hell, I got bored and whipped up something that mimics the Blood of Jesus. Want to try it?"
Roy glanced at Saltana and Clary, who both looked eager. Marian seemed hesitant but curious.
"Let's do it," Roy said.
Lucifer snapped his fingers, and a red bottle with several goblets appeared on the table.
Marian's eyes widened. This was beyond her comprehension, and her brain short-circuited for a moment.
Lucifer poured a third of a goblet for each of them.
"The Blood of Jesus. Enjoy."
Jocelyn Fray (Lena Headey)