PROLOGUE — THE DEVIL'S VACATION

"Oh, far worse." — lucifer morningstar 

EVEN IN THE DARKEST PITS OF HELL, YOU COULDN'T ESCAPE THE SCREAMS OF THE DAMNED. Lucifer had tried practically everything to block out the continuous song of suffering. Sure, it was nice to know evil souls were getting their comeuppance, but once you've heard the same track one hundred times, you begin to grow bored of it. And Lucifer had been in Hell so long, he wasn't sure how much time had passed.

Time in Hell was much different to time in the world of the living. A few weeks up amongst the Universe could be the same as years and decades in Hell. So considering how old the Universe and life was, Lucifer was unsure how long he had been stuck in his underworld. It seemed like an entire lifespan of a Universe had played out. Honestly, he wasn't sure.

Ever since Lucifer rebelled, he had lived down in the shadowy corners of Hell. It was his punishment, his penance for his sins. At first his anger allowed him to thrive, but once that wore off Hell truly became his prison.

So, Lucifer spent his days watching over his domain from his coal-black throne. He ensured the great celestial clock of damnation kept ticking and that his demons were kept under control. But it wasn't as exciting as it sounded and most of the time Lucifer was bored. 

Now that wasn't something you expected to hear about the ruler of Hell. But it was true.

Lucifer Morningstar was bored out of his damned mind.

He rhythmically tapped his nails against the arm rest of his throne, the faint sounds echoing throughout the otherwise silent throne room. Screams tried to burst through the strong doors and only their muffled versions managed to pierce their way through. They were quiet — it was why Lucifer made his throne here, as far as he could from the punishing — but they were still there.  So the Devil did his best to ignore the pained screams and focus on something else. He hadn't known true peace since... well, since he was cast out of Heaven.

That was when Lucifer decided: he needed a vacation.

He had been to Earth multiple times over the eons, but he never stayed long. After all, just going a day was leaving his kingdom without leadership for too long — time differences and all that. So, he had never really considered staying on the mortal plane for an extended period of time. But, if he played his cards right, that was exactly what he could do. He could leave. And he could be free. 

A genuine smile etched onto his face for the first time in a long time as Lucifer thought about what he would do when he was free. He hadn't been up to the surface in a while, but not much could have changed, right? The last he heard, the humans had just figured out something called 'colour television' so what else could they have discovered during that time? But if Lucifer thought that he would return to a similar Earth from the last time he visited, he was sorely mistaken.

Anyway, the excited Prince of Darkness decided that he needed to implement this plan. And if he was to leave Hell behind him, for a small time period at least, he had to ensure his Kingdom was looked after. So, Lucifer called in the troops.

Well, he didn't call in all his demons, because there in fact an untold number, he just summoned his top four.

It took a while for all four of the demons to reach the throne room from the far ends of Hell. But Lucifer was patient. What was an hour compared to weeks of freedom he would have on the surface? He just hoped that they would agree with his plan. Because if not, chaos would ensue. Lucifer was getting out of Hell one way or another, he just didn't want his domain to be in ruins when he got back. And these four were loyal to him so Lucifer was sure that they would listen to whatever he would have to say. Especially if it meant promotion.

When they entered together, they all stopped before his throne and bowed in respect before their Hellish leader.

"You summoned us, your dark majesty." Crowley piped up.

Eligor exhaled a plume of smoke as he lifted the pipe from his lips. Then Mazikeen looked up at the fallen angel. "Yeah, boss, what's up?"

A timid Vepar shyed away. "Did we do something wrong?" They inquired. Vepar may have been small and quiet, but they were scary when they wanted to be. They were smart and had potential which was why Lucifer liked them.

"Quite the contrary." Grinned the devil. "I have a proposition for you four."

They all frowned. "A proposition?"

"How would you like to run Hell?"

The four demons stared at Lucifer as if he was crazy. Which, to be fair, he probably was. "Sir, what the actual fuck are you saying?" Eligor put down his pipe to look at his boss in disbelief.

"I want you four to run Hell whilst I'm gone." Lucifer clarified as he looked at his bewildered demons.

"You're going up to the surface." Mazikeen realised as she crossed her arms over her chest, unimpressed by his decision. "How long?"

Lucifer shrugged casually. "Oh, I don't know, Mazikeen. I just want some time away from this place." She was about to protest, but then he continued. "And I'm sure you'll appreciate being made head of torturing." He was delegating his roles to his demons.
Now that perked up the female demon.

"Seriously? Me? Head torturer?" She seemed to completely forget she was angry at him for leaving.

An amused smile spread across Satan's lips at her enthusiasm. "You've earnt it, Maze." Then he glanced to the other three demons. "Now, for you three. Crowley." He directed his sights to the demon in the suit. "You'll be head of organisation. The demons will be under your command."

"Thank you, your dark majesty." He nodded gratefully.

"Eligor," He cast his eyes to the demon clad in leather who had a hand twirling a strand of his beard. "I entrust you with maintenance of the loops."

The demon scoffed. "Maintenance? Really?"

"It's an important job, Eligor." Insisted Vepar.

"If it's so important, then you do it." Snapped Eligor as he waved his smoking pipe in the air.

Shaking his head, Lucifer dismissed Eligor's suggestion before he turned his focus to the demon who looked the youngest - although they were probably the same age as the rest of them - and offered them a hint of a smile. "They can't. Because I have another job in mind for Vepar." The demon looked up eagerly. "Vepar is on admittance. Ushering the evil departed into their hell loops."

"That's pretty cool."

"I'm glad you all think so." Lucifer grinned excitedly as he then pushed himself up and to his feet. "Now I'll go and pack for my trip."

And so the Devil left his four favourites in the throne room to discuss their new duties. His demons weren't stupid and certainly had ideas of their own about how Hell should be. Leaving them to their own devices was risky, but it was a risk Lucifer knew he had to take. Besides, he was curious as to how things would end up.

There wasn't much for Lucifer to pack — he wasn't big on possessions in Hell — so it wasn't long before he had a small bag ready for his trip.

He told no other demon about his departure as he gathered the four he left in charge would do that for him. Lucifer was just focused on getting out of the literal hell hole he called home. It wasn't a thing anyone could do. Only angels could travel between the different planes of existence. And sure, he was the Devil, but some forget that the Devil was also an angel.

Unfurling his wings, Lucifer took one last took at his kingdom before he kicked off from the ground. His wings carried him up and up, far above the reaches of the mazes of Hell loops that covered each inch of his home. But Lucifer just looked up, focusing on what was ahead of him. 

There was going to be a new life for him in the mortal world. And Lucifer had no idea what was in store of him.

WHEN LUCIFER ARRIVED IN THE MORTAL WORLD, HE LOOKED UP TO THE NIGHT SKY AND SMILED. For once there was light above him in the form of the blinding moon, it made the Devil smile. He smelled smoke and could hear distant sirens. There were all sorts of things that immediately attacked his senses which led him to one conclusion: he was in Gotham.

Of all the places he had to pop up — he had tried to randomise his exit — it had to be the most damned city on the planet. Basically everyone from Gotham ended up in Hell. Whether it was due to being a criminal, a corrupt person of power or a good person who felt guilty about not making a dent. Because, at the end of the day, Hell loops were run on guilt and not specifically bad deeds. It was unusual, but it was the way it worked and Lucifer couldn't change it.

He looked around the broken city and couldn't help but smile. The death, the deception, the danger around every corner... it reminded Lucifer of home. Gotham City, the Hell away from Hell.

Oh how he was going to make this city his. 

He was going to fit right in.

But before Lucifer could go and find himself somewhere to stay, he heard screaming from a nearby alley.

The Devil's ears perked at the familiar sound and made his way towards it, following the screams like a beacon. He then stopped when he saw a man having pushed a woman against the brick, knife against her throat. A spare hand was grabbing her in places she didn't like as he was taking his time to get to the money in her handbag. 

Lucifer's jaw clenched at the scene. It was one thing to punish souls for the crimes they had committed on Earth, it was another to see those crimes being committed in real time. And he didn't like it.

Taking a deep breath, Lucifer put down his bag and cracked his neck. He then narrowed his eyes at the attacker as the woman cried out for help. Then Lucifer donned his bright red eyes and white wings before he zoomed forwards.

Instantly, his large weight of himself and his wings knocked the man off the woman. Fortunately, the knife hadn't nicked her as he threw the attacker off of her. "Go." He told the woman with a slightly soft tone. She quickly grabbed her things and fearfully dashed away to safety.

Then Lucifer returned his focus to the attacker.

The pathetic excuse of man was attempting to get away. "Oh no, you don't." He growled before he surged forwards and picked up the man by his throat with ease. There was fear in his eyes as Lucifer stared into them. He knew he had messed with the wrong person. "You really think you can just attack someone like that?"

"It's—it's Gotham." Was his excuse and part of Lucifer wanted to accept it. "I—I gotta steal to get money for food."

Now Lucifer was annoyed.

He tightened his grip on the man's throat, pushing him against the wall as he had done with the woman. "You don't have to take your time whilst doing so." He spat.

If there was something Hell had taught him, it was how to spot a damned soul. And this one, this one was going straight down. 

"Normally, I only punish people after." He smirked rather menacingly. "But I think I can make an exception."

The man looked at Lucifer with wide eyes as terror struck him to his core. "'After'?" He echoed. "Are you a cop?"

The Devil chuckled. "Oh, far worse." 

The glow in his eyes brightened as he flashed the life of this man before him. All his wrongdoings, all his guilt, was reflected back at him like a mirror. Lucifer was showing him his fate. His eternal damnation.

And the man didn't like it.

He started to scream from the top of his lungs as the fear of everything took over. Causing pain and torment was what he did best. But... didn't he just leave Hell to get away from it all? That made Lucifer hesitate.

Finally, Lucifer released his grip on the man and he dropped to the floor with a thud. Once an aggressive attacker, he was now but a shell of man who was sobbing onto the alley floor. Lucifer spared once glance at the man curled foetal with tears staining his cheeks before he left him behind like he was nothing. Lucifer had tortured Hitler, Dahmer and all the other evils of the world. This man before him was nothing.

So, Lucifer just abandoned him there and went to pick up the bag he had dropped. Then he folded back his wings, calmed the red glow in his eyes and took off into the Gotham streets. 

And as he strolled into Hell on Earth he couldn't help but think: he may have hurt that man but he had saved that woman. Saving her had felt good, a different kind of feeling to the one you get from hurting the scum of the earth. It made Lucifer pause and bask in it. Helping people was what his Father was meant to do and Lucifer couldn't think of anything else that would stick it to him more than doing his Father's job.

He was going to help people — and Gotham wasn't short of those who needed it — but he was going to do it his way.

Sorry it took so long but here's the prologue!!!

I was so stuck on this, I found it difficult to write. But I FINALLY managed to do it! Woohoo!!!

I hope you enjoy!!! This fic will be very fun and interesting to write, I can just tell.

Thank you for reading!!!

Sincerely Rosie aka Winter326