Chapter Text
Red strings of fate: A concept from Chinese mythology believing that every person has a little red string tied to their pinky finger that will eventually lead them to the person they will share a forever love with. It was as cute a concept as any, but you didn’t quite buy into it.
By which I mean, it could be as real or as fake as any other god or story of creation in your eyes. Oh, who is the you I’m talking about? Well, I’m talking about you as in Shahar. A future student of the Royal Academy of Diavolo, or RAD for short. You were out in Tel Aviv, visiting an old friend, when your train finally arrived.
It was uncharacteristically quiet, with no visible passengers. Upon looking around some, you notice that the only person getting up to get on the train was still you. No one looked at you strangely for getting on the train, so you didn’t mind it that much. It was just a bit odd, that’s all.
So you got on the train. No point in waiting around another hour for another train to come, right? You took your seat in the cabin, and waited for the signature ‘ding!’ of the doors closing.
There was none. The doors stayed open, and the train began moving. Now, of course, you were in the cabin proper, so the doors staying open wasn’t too much of a danger to you... You hoped. It definitely was startling. So you got up to close the doors manually, or to check if the next cabin over’s doors were closed, but the second you took that step, you fell through the floor, like the world was a Bethesda game.
Now, it may be because of how often you played those games, but you never really stopped to consider how utterly terrifying it must be to be an NPC whose world just falls apart like it was made of cardboard. For everything you know as true to be ripped away from you. Now sadly, this wouldn’t be the last time in that day that this will happen.
Red strings of fate. A fact of life that, thankfully, Lucifer did not need to deal with. Of course, as a fallen Angel, he could see them. He could see the red one connecting him to Diavolo for example which was a fact that, back when he was still an angel, enraged him.
He tried not to let it get to him, now. But something in him hurt all over again when another string tied itself neatly onto his little finger. A string that was tied to the human that was staring at them from her position on the ground. A human with a little finger that was covered in red strings of fate, tying her to each of the brothers present, to Lord Diavolo himself, and four more strings leading outside of the room.
Lucifer couldn’t help but hope that none of them was tied to who he thought they might be.
“Welcome to the Devildom, Shahar.” Diavolo began, which was an opportunity to look at the human and examin her closely, while he still could. Before he would have to see his brothers descend upon her like wolves.
Her eyes were blue. Not just the iris, but the sclera, too. Her hair was oily, clearly not washed too often, and chopped short. Clearly a woman of convenience more than looks. Her file said the strongest sin in her was sloth and in a way that showed. He felt pity raise in his chest. She was going to be swallowed alive by Asmodeus.
“Oh, pardon me. Feeling a bit shocked, are we?” Diavolo continued, either not noticing or not acknowledging the strangeness that came upon the rest of the student council, except for Satan.
Asmodeus was watching her with a predatory look in his eyes. Beel was looking between his finger and her like he couldn’t believe it. Satan simply looked at her with an uninterested air about him, completely oblivious to the small piece of fabric tied to his finger.
“Well, that’s understandable. You’ve only just arrived, after all.” Diavolo smiled at her, which didn’t seem to ease her confusion or fear. “As a human, it will probably take a little while for you to adjust to things here in the Devildom.”
She took a small breath, swallowing down her fear before she spoke. “As a human? The Devildom? Why are you talking like I’m not on Earth anymore, and why you’re not human? You look human to me…”
He laughed at her. “Oh, you’re a curious one, aren’t you? And you catch on quickly. Excellent.”
Her voice was a bit deeper than he’d expect, just from looking at her. Between her developed body and the pink dress she was wearing, he’d have expected a lighter voice, but this felt comfortable. As though he could listen to her speak for a while without getting agitated or straining to hear her.
Her eyes got wide, and her eyebrow rose. She looked almost as if she was challenging Diavolo for laughing at her.
“I suppose I should start by introducing myself.” He smiled at her, clearly catching on to the fact that she did not appreciate being laughed at and hoping to dull the sting. “My name is Diavolo. I am the ruler of all demons, and all here know of me. And someday soon, I will be crowned king of the Devildom.”
Her lip quirked up from the frown she was wearing. Not quite a smile, but a memory of a song that cheered her up. ‘Just can’t wait to be king’, indeed.
“This is the Royal Acadamy of Diavolo, though we just call it RAD. You’re standing inside the assembly hall, the very heart of RAD. This is where we officers of the student council hold our meetings and conduct our business. I’m the president of said council.”
Clearly seeing the opportunity given to her to ask any question, she took a second longer to process everything before asking.
“Why am I here?” She asked, eyes flittering to and from each of the brothers present, and to Diavolo again. Clearly, still uncertain of them all. Good, that will serve her well in the future. Though it did hurt him in the present to know that she wouldn’t trust him, it would be for the best if he kept her at arm’s length and encouraged the rest of his brothers to do the same.
“I will explain everything to you.” He offered, knowing immediately that if his brothers won’t force his hand, he will take the secret of her being his soulmate into her grave.
“Shahar, this is Lucifer. He is a demon and the Avatar of Pride.” He was also a fallen angel, and he hasn’t felt this connected to that title since the day of creating his pact with Diavolo. “He’s also the vice president of the student council and my right-hand man… And not just in title, I assure you. Beyond that, he’s also my most trusted friend.”
And there was the crushing guilt of knowing something Diavolo was supposed to also know. Of knowing he won’t tell the Prince until he was ordered to. Just like he wouldn’t have revealed his own status as the Prince’s soulmate until he was ordered to do so.
“Flattery will get you nowhere, Diavolo.” He cleared his throat, turning to the human who was watching them all warily. Seems like she was properly impressed, or perhaps intimidated by his titles. “Speaking on behalf of the entire student body at this great and storied school of ours, I offer you a most heartfelt welcome, Shahar.”
He tried his best to soften his voice with that last sentence, just in case she was too intimidated by him, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by Satan who turned to him sharply.
“On behalf of the student council … And on behalf of the students?” She asked, drawing into herself. Sharp, and not too trusting. He could respect that.
“All in due time,” He assured her. “Diavolo believes that we demons should start strengthening our relationship with both the human world and the Celestial Realm. As a first step toward this goal, we’ve decided to institute an exchange program. We’ve sent two of our students to the human world and two to the Celestial Realm.”
She seemed interested in the idea of the Celestial Realm, but didn’t show much more other than the sudden interest flashing in her blue eyes.
“And thus we’re welcoming four students to our school. Two from your world and two from the Celestial Realm. So, I take it you’ve probably put two and two together at this point, right?” She was sharp, he had no doubt she did, but just in case the shock was getting to her…
“You’ve been chosen from among the people of the human world to participate in this program of ours. You are our newest exchange student. Your period of stay is one year. You will have to work on the tasks that you will receive from RAD. After one year, you will write a paper about your exchange here in the Devildom.”
“Write a paper…?” She asked, looking to the world like she had just had the worst news delivered to her and was focusing on the easiest to digest.
“I am not telling you to write a doctoral thesis. You can take it easy. And as for your question regarding your safety, I will assign someone who will look after you. My personal brother Mammon.”
She mouthed the name back, clearly connecting it to the word for wealth in her own language.
“He’s the Avatar of Greed and… Ah, how should I put it…?” He probably shouldn’t bad mouth his younger brother in front of his potential soulmate… “Oh well, you’ll understand soon enough. Here, take this.”
He took a few steps towards her, watching as she took a hesitant half step back before steeling herself. “This device is a D.D.D. It’s a lot like the cell phones of your world. This will be yours to use for as long as you’re here.” He explained patiently.
Satan was glaring a hole into his head while he explained. Clearly, he could also sense the strangeness to some degree.
She slowly lifted the D.D.D to her face, hesitating before swallowing down her nervousness and calling Mammon. Now, he was even more sure of his decision to set Mammon as her bodyguard. If there was one demon he could trust to safeguard his soulmate from all the things around her, and from himself as well, it would be Mammon.
Mammon, as usual, picked up quickly.
“Yoooo.” He drawled.
“...Hi.” She offered awkwardly in return.
“Huh? Who the hell are ya? You ain’t Lucifer.”
She looked up at said demon, eyes begging for help. He refused to aid her in such a simple mission, though. If she were to be spineless, she would learn the consequences of it quickly with Mammon.
“I’m a human.” She offered, finally.
“Whaaa? A human?” Mammon was clearly acting it up, sensing the other’s discomfort. That was another thing that was good with Mammon, he usually didn’t let people stew in their own discomfort for too long. “Geez, I was gettin’ all chilly here thinkin’ it was Lucifer again. Ya should’ve told me right away.”
“So, what business does a human got with THE Mammon?” He asked.
“I…” She swallowed, not even looking at Lucifer this time. “I was told that you’ll be in charge of me from now on, so let’s be friends, alright?”
“Eh? What’re ya even sayin’...? Aah! I get it now, you’re the other human - the new exchange student!”
“Yes, exactly!” She said, her voice matching Mammon’s, clearly entusiastic about something.
“G’luck with that. See ya’!” He shook his head. Clearly, now that she was no longer uncomfortable, Mammon had no interest in her.
“Tell him Lucifer called for him.” He instructed the human.
She moved the D.D.D from one hand to the other, shifting on her feet a bit as she relied the message.
“Pfft, whatever. Ya think THE Mammon would listen to ya just ‘cause you’re trying to scare me with that name?”
The human seemed crestfallen, and Lucifer had enough.
“You have ten seconds.” He stated simply. “Nine… Eight…”
“YESSIR!” The human held the phone away from her ear at that, and the call ended.