The conspiracy

The next day, everything seemed to be falling into place. The LAPD had finally reviewed the CCTV footage in Lucifer's office and, to everyone's relief, the evidence had started to lean in his favor. It seemed that the murder had been a random act, one that Lucifer was nowhere near. Everyone in the company had started to breathe easier, thinking the case would wrap up without further drama.

But that wasn't to be the end of it.

Lucifer sat in the CCTV room with several of the company's security team, watching the footage play over and over again. He was exhausted from the questioning, from the accusations, and from the frustration of being caught in something he hadn't done. All his life, Lucifer had never feared anything. He had been the ruler of Hell, a force of nature, but sitting here now in front of these cold, emotionless monitors, he realized something: for the first time in years, he felt powerless.

The footage flickered on screen, showing a grainy view of the office floor at the time of the murder. Lucifer leaned forward, gripping the edge of his seat. He was so focused that he didn't notice the murmurs among the team behind him until one of the workers said, "Hey, what's that?"

Everyone turned toward the monitor, and Lucifer's eyes narrowed.

A silver cufflink, gleaming under the fluorescent lights, appeared on the floor near the victim's desk.

"No…" Lucifer whispered under his breath.

He knew exactly what that cufflink meant.

"That's one of his," a voice said from behind him. It was Sarah, the head of security, who had worked with Lucifer for years. Her face turned pale as she pointed to the screen. "That's Lucifer's cufflink. I've seen him wear it a hundred times."

The room fell silent.

Lucifer felt the blood drain from his face as he looked down at the screen. The logo embossed on the cufflink was unmistakable: an elegant "M," the symbol of the Morningstar family. His family. His mark.

"No," Lucifer muttered again, more to himself than anyone else in the room. "That can't be…"

But the evidence was undeniable.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. They were going to think he did it. Again.

Sarah immediately turned to the officer standing nearby. "Call the detectives. Now."

Lucifer's stomach twisted in knots as the world around him seemed to close in. He'd been accused of the murder, cleared by the footage, but now, this cufflink... They had to detain him again. He wasn't just a suspect anymore; he was the prime suspect.

"I didn't do this!" Lucifer's voice grew cold, a mixture of rage and disbelief. "I didn't kill anyone. I didn't do this."

But it didn't matter what he said. The evidence, to them, was conclusive. His own cufflink—how could he explain that?

---

Hours later, Lucifer stood in front of the LAPD precinct, a grim look on his face as he was processed and officially detained. His wrists were bound by cold metal cuffs, his pride all but shattered. He had never been in this position before. Never.

After being questioned for hours, he finally wrote his statement, but the damage had already been done. The suspicion was there. The cufflink couldn't be dismissed, and the weight of it pressed down on him like a boulder. He knew what people would think. The killer had used his cufflink to frame him. But who would do that to him? He was beyond angry; he was humiliated. But none of this made any sense. Lucifer had never killed anyone in all his years—he didn't even know how to pull off a murder. This was something else. Someone was toying with him.

---

Arriving home, Lucifer stepped into his apartment, his mind reeling from the day's events. His thoughts were chaotic. He hadn't felt this vulnerable in centuries. As he opened the door, he felt something—a presence in the room that made the hairs on his neck stand on end.

He didn't flinch when he saw her sitting in the corner of the room, her back to the door. She was sitting in one of his armchairs, her legs crossed casually, as though she had all the time in the world.

Selene.

"Selene," Lucifer said dryly, his voice carrying the weariness of the day. He dropped his coat on the couch and began to loosen his tie. "You know, I've had a very bad day, and I don't have the patience for your little games right now."

"Bad day?" Selene's voice was as smooth as ever, but there was something different about it today, something almost… amused. "I wouldn't say it's a bad day, Lucifer. You've been through worse, haven't you?"

Lucifer turned toward her, irritated. "Not today. Today has been a nightmare. First, the investigation—then the cufflink—now they're trying to lock me up for something I didn't do. Don't tell me you came here to make fun of me."

Selene tilted her head, studying him with those piercing eyes. "I didn't come to make fun of you. I came to talk."

Lucifer scoffed. "Talk? About what? I have nothing to say to you. You're the reason I'm in this mess."

Selene smiled, a predatory grin that made Lucifer's stomach churn. "Am I? You think I'm the one who framed you for the murder?"

Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "I know you're behind this. You planted my cufflink. You made sure the footage would work in your favor. Why would you do this to me, Selene? Why are you framing me?"

She stood up from the chair, moving toward him with her usual grace, her voice dropping to a lower, almost soothing tone. "Oh Lucifer, you're so naïve sometimes. You still don't understand, do you? I did all of this because I wanted to teach you a lesson."

"A lesson?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow, confusion mixing with his anger. "A lesson about what? What could you possibly teach me?"

"About how much control you've lost," Selene replied coolly. "About how helpless you are. You're not the mighty Lucifer Morningstar anymore. You're just a man—someone vulnerable. Someone who can be caught. Someone who can be framed." She paused, letting her words sink in. "And that's exactly what I wanted. To see you squirm. To make you realize that you're not in control of everything anymore."

Lucifer's fists clenched at his sides. He could feel the rage rising within him, but he knew better than to let it consume him now. He needed answers, not more chaos. "So, you framed me for murder just to make a point?"

Selene's smirk deepened. "Not just any murder, Lucifer. I wanted to see how far you'd go to prove your innocence. I wanted to see how much you would struggle."

Lucifer's heart hammered in his chest, but he kept his voice steady. "You've crossed a line, Selene. You can't just go around framing people, killing innocent workers, just to get to me. This is sick."

She didn't flinch at his words, instead, her expression softened for a moment, almost as if she were pitying him. "You don't understand, Lucifer. You were always meant to be more. But now you're weak. And that weakness makes you easier to manipulate."

Lucifer was silent, his eyes locked with hers. He was seething with anger, but also stunned by the audacity of her actions. She wasn't just a demon; she was a master manipulator, and she had orchestrated everything from the start.

"You killed that man," Lucifer said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I did," Selene admitted without hesitation. "But I also gave you the chance to prove your worth. To show that you're still capable of standing tall. That's why I planted the cufflink. To make sure you'd get the chance to clear your name."

Lucifer was left in shock. He had been caught in the web of a game he never agreed to play. The betrayal burned through him like wildfire.

Before he could say another word, Selene's voice stopped him. "But here's the thing, Lucifer. You still have the chance to prove me wrong. You can still be the man you once were. If you want it."

Lucifer's jaw tightened, and he stepped forward, staring her down. "I'll stop you, Selene. I'll make sure everyone knows the truth. You've gone too far this time."

Selene chuckled softly, her eyes flashing with amusement. "I'm counting on it."

With that, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Lucifer standing alone in his apartment. The room felt colder now, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders.

And as the door slammed shut behind him, Lucifer couldn't help but wonder what Selene would do next.