Page 54 of The Wonder of You
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, Phoenix.”
“Yes, I’ve been rather busy with the circus stuff.”
“You like all that circus business?”
“Yeah, I’m the ringmaster. Henry here has helped me from the beginning. He does a lot of work with the stalls and general amusement.”
Lucifer smiles, but Henry recognises the distaste in his expression. He’s seen it plenty of times before when the circus is mentioned.
“So, what brings you here?”
Phoenix sighs.
“Renée, my partner…she died.” Phoenix gulps as tears threaten to spill from his eyes. Henry places a hand on his back to comfort him. The words startle him, almost like an electric shock, much worse than anything Lucifer’s safety barrier could send out. “It was the witches.”
Henry is surprised to see sympathy in Lucifer’s eyes, and even more surprised when Lucifer offers his apologies.
“Thank you. The thing is…” He struggles for words. He takes a deep breath, but Henry recognises the struggle all too well. He places his hand on Phoenix’s shoulder.
“These witches cursed at us. They said Renée would live again, but she wouldn’t remember us. We havereason to believe that if she comes back, it’ll be the mortal world.”
At this statement, Lucifer locks eyes with Henry who quickly reverts to looking down into his coffee mug.
“What makes you believe that?”
Henry’s heart drops as Lucifer continues to stare at him awaiting what seems like a much-desired answer.
“It was something they said,” Phoenix declares, saving the moment. “That she would return as a mortal, in the mortal world. I can’t remember it all specifically. They attacked my staff, even tried hurting a little girl. It was all… a lot.”
“I wouldn’t have thought the witches would have had any power over the mortal world.” Lucifer remarks. His eyes visibly darken.
Henry tightens his hand on Phoenix’s shoulder to make sure he doesn’t say too much. Access to the mortal world is a privilege granted to them by Gabriel. A privilege not many, if at all, have. If Lucifer doesn’t have that power, he’d want it. He’d likely kill for it. The brief silence in the room feels too heavy. Losing access to the mortal world without Renée home is something Henry cannot comprehend thinking about.
“But… if they did and they have cursed her to return there, you’ll have to be quick. I can’t help you with that, I’m afraid. I’d appreciate it if you let me know more, though. Anything regarding the mortal world is of interest to me.”
Lucifer doesn’t know they have access to the mortal world and as long as they keep reverting their gaze, heshouldn’t be any wiser. Most speculation says that Lucifer can read minds. It’s unlikely to be true, but Henry refuses to take risks. Lucifer has been watchful of them. Perhaps sizing them up. But the fact he hasn’t bothered to force his eyes onto theirs clearly states he thinks they are beneath him, that staring into their eyes and through to their minds is a waste of time and energy. Why would the circus freaks have what he didn’t?
“Why would we need to be quick?” Henry asks, quickly changing the conversation from them giving Lucifer desired information.
“It’s the mortal world,” Lucifer speaks as if Henry is a child. He doesn’t like it, but it might help the ideology that they are not intelligent enough to gain anything worth knowing. “They’re not like us. They don’t live forever. If she’s there, there is a chance she’ll live and die. I imagine the witches’ curse only works one time around. You may think you have enough time, but time runs away quickly, especially for the mortals.”
At this, panic takes Phoenix’s features. Had he acknowledged that fact before? Henry grips his shoulder tighter, in hope to hold his friend together.
“How do we find the witches? They were led by Claudia. We should demand answers. I am sure there is something we can offer them.”
“They’re dead. The core of the group, anyway. Killed them not too long ago, actually. I am sure there is some lingering here and there, and I suspect Claudia is in hiding if she knows I am involved. It would be useless approaching them, anyway. You will be focusing on thewrong thing.” Lucifer sips on his coffee as if the details are not worthy enough to elaborate on.
“Fuck.” Henry grunts.
“It doesn’t matter, nothing you’d have done would have worked. They’re sneaky little things.” Lucifer sighs again. “Look, the chances are Renée will be in the mortal world. It’s the only way for the curse to work. She’ll likely have a second life with the same family with similar experiences. It wouldn’t be possible to work here because there is a chance some of those family members are still alive, or would be recognised if they re-surfaced again.”
Phoenix puts his head in his hands.
“We’ll figure it out.” Henry reassures, but even with access to the mortal world, he can’t be so confident.
***
Henry would be lying if he said he wasn’t relieved when he finally got out of Lucifer’s safety barrier around the estate. They walk back slowly and Phoenix looks even more deflated than before. When they arrive back at the circus, he doesn’t even mutter a goodnight as he enters his cabin.
