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beelzebuddy-catan · 6 months

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The Not Entirely Human-Human Exchange Student pt.9

Summary: After asking Mammon for help with Satan and Lucifer, they end up in the game Doji Maji. After telling Diavolo to just be honest with her, Cass finally gets some much needed answers about the brothers and Lilith. Warnings: Swearing, mentions of death and violence (specifically direct threats from Satan) Spoilers: Through Lesson 12, Lilith's status Characters: Cass (OC), Lucifer, Mammon, Levi, Satan, Asmo, Beel, Barbatos, and Diavolo. Previous Part • Next Part

“Never pegged you as a delinquent.” Cass leaned over Lucifer as she spoke.

Lucifer dropped his arm, cracking an eye open to see who was speaking. He hummed before swinging his leg off the bench and sitting up. He stretched and fluffed his hair with a yawn. His eyes lazily trailed over Cass, letting himself wake up slowly.

The top buttons of his shirt were still undone and his tie loose. No matter how they tried to change the uniforms from the game, they always reset. At first it was odd seeing him in a state of dishabille, but it suited him, especially when he was also doing things outside the norm.

“There’s no Diavolo here and this is the perfect place to take a nap. I can relax and do whatever I want without worrying about disgracing him. Are you all that surprised though? I am a demon after all.”

“Not really, it’s nice seeing this side of you. I kind of wish you’d let yourself just be yourself once and a while.”

“Are you certain you’d like that?” Lucifer smirked, pulling her closer by the waist until she was standing between his legs. “I can be quite tenacious when pursing the things I desire and I’m not one to give up.”

Cass couldn’t help but smile at his actions. There didn’t seem to be any hidden message or threat in his words. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying a break from all the pressure of his daily life. Cass reached out, pushing the bangs that had fallen in front of his eyes out of the way before resting her hands on his shoulders. He watched in silent curiosity.

“You seem happy, at peace,” Cass whispered. “I’m sorry if I’ve done anything that led you to believe I wish for you to have anything but that.”

Lucifer tilted his head in consideration before asking. “You think I’m unhappy?”

“I think you don’t let yourself be happy.” Lucifer’s lips parted and closed a few times, trying to find the words to speak. “Even though you deserve it.”

“You have a habit of making it more and more difficult to find reasons not to like you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll find a reason to threaten me again soon,” Cass laughed, stepping out of his reach and turning towards the exit.

Lucifer rolled his eyes and stood up. He quickly closed the distance between them, grabbing the strap of her bag. He spun Cass around, sliding the bag off her shoulder before pulling her in for a kiss. Just as quickly, he took her bag and continued towards the exit. She lifted her hand to her mouth for a second in shock, only realizing what happened when Lucifer called her name.

The demon was waiting next to the door, a cocky look on his face. Cass dipped her head, hoping she wasn’t blushing as much as she felt. When she grabbed the door handle, his hand landed on top of hers. Lucifer leaned down to whisper in her ear, his voice low.

Cass shivered as his breath ghosted over her ear, knowing damn well his intimacy score shot up even without looking at her watch. “Don’t forget, this is a game that I very much intend to win.”

“Well? What do you say? We make a pact and can make a certain someone’s life difficult.”

“That’s enough,” Lucifer snapped.

Everyone fell silent at the table. Satan glanced at Lucifer, contempt clearly etched into his face. They hadn’t even been back for a full day before Satan proposed making a pact with her. At this time, Cass didn’t want to make a pact with Satan because he only wanted to do it in spite of Lucifer. She did wish they’d developed a deeper connection than that, but he seemed to distrust most people.

“I didn’t say you, now did I? Though, you do seem awfully concerned about Cass and the pacts she’s making.”

“How is it that you dislike me so much that you would make a pact simply out of spite?”

Satan barked out a cold and mocking laugh. “Were you honestly under the impression that I liked you?”

“If you want to act like some petulant child, fine, but you’re not going to do that here. You can pact up your things and leave.”

“Woah,” Mammon interrupted. “Lucifer, don’t ya think that’s a bit extreme? He’s just havin’ a morning.”

“Don’t worry, Mammon. This is actually one order I’m happy to follow.” Satan stood up, pushing in his chair with so much force it sounded like it could break.

Before Cass even had time to say anything that might help with the tension, Lucifer interjected. “Cass, this is family business. I believe I’ve asked time and time again to stay out of our business. And Mammon, don’t bother, just let your hopelessly ungrateful brother do as he pleases.”

Satan, who had been about to exit the dining room, spun on his heels. Cass could feel the anger rolling off him in waves. “Ungrateful? Did you just call me ungrateful? What is it I should be grateful for? Do you think I owe you a debt of gratitude? After you threw out the part of yourself you hated so much you couldn’t live with it, and I was saddled with that for eternity, you really think I’m the one that should be grateful?”

With that, Satan stormed out of the dining room. His steps could be heard as he stomped up the stairs and ended with his door slamming shut. Lucifer looked at them, as if daring them to say anything about what had transpired. Only after he finished his coffee and left the room did everyone relax.

“Well, I, for one, am not surprised Satan wants to make a pact. He’d do anything to upset Lucifer,” Asmo said, breaking the silence.

“Why does Satan hate Lucifer so much? And what did he mean about Lucifer throwing out a piece of himself?”

“You know how the more alike people are, they more they hate each other?”

“I think it’s more like an Oedipus thing,” Levi said.

“Ya gotta start at the beginnin’,” Mammon groaned. “Listen up, you know how we came here because of a family fight between dad and Lucifer? And how Satan was created from Lucifer? Well, when we got down here, Lucifer was so angry, he ripped his wings out. Satan was created from that anger.”

“At first that’s all Satan was, Lucifer’s wrath.”

“Until we taught him things, like the amazing brothers we are.”

“Basically, Satan feels like he wouldn’t exist without Lucifer. Because of that, he feels bound to him and hates that.”

“Lucifer acts like an overbearing father figure with all of us, not just Satan.” Asmo rolled his eyes, pulling out a nail file. “He suffocates all of us at times.”

Cass excused herself, deciding to go check on Satan. Even before she was up the stairs, she could hear his tantrum. Hopefully, he kept his anger directed away from Cass. As risky as it might be, she felt he might need to talk to someone that wasn’t family.

“What?” Satan bit out when she knocked. The door flew open. His expression softened a bit when he realized it was Cass. “Oh, it’s you. Come in.”

He turned around and crossed over to the other side of his room. Cass closed the door behind her before taking in the destruction. Despite the noises she heard, his room didn’t look much different. Granted, it always looked like a tornado had blown through the place.

Piles of books were haphazardly staked around the room, most of them stacked higher than Cass could reach. Small paths had been made, but other than that the floor was completely covered. Even Satan’s bed was so covered with books, she wasn’t sure where the demon slept.

“Don’t bother trying to stop me, you’re wasting your time.” Satan held two books up, studied them, then set one back on its pile and the other in a bag. “I’m trying to decide which books to take, since I can’t take them all.”

Cass hummed in response, still looking at the different piles. She went to grab one, when Satan’s hand closed around her wrist and pulled her back. She fell backwards into his arms, tilting her head, confused by his reaction.

“First of all, watch your step,” he grumbled. Cass could tell he was trying to keep his anger in check, knowing it would be misdirected. “Second, you shouldn’t go around touching random things, especially in the Devildom. You have no idea what they can do. Third, these are some of my most precious belongings, you should ask before helping yourself. Finally, I have a very specific system for how these are organized, and I don’t want you messing them up.”

He didn’t release her arm, as if he thought she was going to grab the book as soon as he let go. He began gesturing around the room with his other hand as he continued. “This shelf has books about magic. The one you almost touched causes people to switch bodies if they touch it simultaneously. That pile is ancient manuscripts and texts. Up in the corner is astronomy and physics.”

Satan finally lowered his gaze to look at Cass. She blinked up at him, waiting for him to continue. Suddenly he dropped her arm, stepping back. Cass turned around, wondering what led to the sudden shift. Satan cleared his throat, refusing to look at her. For possibly the first time since she’d met him, he was blushing.

“I’m guessing those oafs I call brothers told you everything, right? I learned pretty quickly that it doesn’t matter who you are or the circumstances of your birth, if you’re smart enough, people can’t dismiss you. Knowledge comes from books and that knowledge gives you power.”

“How smart do you have to be to be smart enough though? Seems like a relative condition.”

“Which is why I still learn,” Satan answered, loosening his tie and stepping back towards her. “Anyways, can we just get this over with?”

“Wow, okay, as charming as that was, I’m not making a pact with you.” Almost immediately, Cass could feel his anger starting to build again. “Just to piss Lucifer off is an idiotic reason to do so and you know it.”

With a growl that could only be described as animalistic, Satan’s wrath took over. Before he was even fully transformed, he turned on Cass, picking her up and tossing her. She landed on his bed, bouncing enough that her head slammed against the windowsill.

“I already told you we’re making a pact. Do you fucking think you can reject me? They don’t call me the Avatar of Wrath for nothing.”

Cass’s vision was blurring as she fought the drowsiness taking over. He stalked towards her, the way a predator stalked their prey. She knew she had to do something but couldn’t. Usually Lilith stepped in by now, where had the angel gone?

Satan knelt over her, pinning her to the bed. Cass’s feeble attempts to stop him went unnoticed. “I will make you suffer, and it will be so much more cruel and less humane than anything my brothers could even imagine doing. How much torture do you think you could endure? You’ll be begging to make a pact with me by the time I’m done.”

Cass tried lifting her hands to push him off, but he quickly grabbed them, pinning them next to her head. “If you’ll recall, I said I like to learn. There are so many things I don’t know about humans, so many things I’d like to test. For instance, how long do you think it’d take for Stockholm Syndrome to set in for you? Days? Months? Years?”

It took all of her strength to stay conscious. Unlike Asmo, she’d seen Satan’s sin take over. It would pass, eventually. Just stay awake until it does. Satan was still speaking, but his words faded into background noise as she continued thinking stay awake like an internal mantra.

“That’s enough, Satan.” Lucifer’s voice cut through the room. Cass was certain she heard him say some kind of spell before the pain in her head started to subside. “Cass is here as part of the exchange program whom Diavolo invited, and I won’t permit you to hurt her.”

Any effects from hitting her head were gone with his spell. Cass propped herself up on her elbows to glare at Lucifer, not sure what compelled her to speak at the moment. “Oh, so you can threaten me all you want, but the second he does, it’s inappropriate.” Lucifer clenched his jaw and for a moment, she was certain he was going to just leave her there.

“Every time you open your mouth, it’s Diavolo this, Diavolo that. For fucks sake, you’re even defending a human for him.” Satan finally stood up to address Lucifer directly. “Who’d have thought you were such a sweetheart. So damn charming.”

“Don’t give into your rage, Satan.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? You of all demons, are telling me that?” Satan roared.

Books started flying off the shelves and piles towards Lucifer. Lucifer was able to dodge some of them, but the speed and sheer number of them hurdling in his direction was too much. He caught one that was inches away from hitting him in the face.

“DON’T TOUCH MY BOOKS.”

Satan grabbed the book Lucifer had caught, wrenching it from his grasp. A blinding white light flashed, causing Cass to shield her eyes. The books that had still been airborne came crashing down. Cass lowered her hands when the light finally subsided.

“What the fuck?” Lucifer asked.

“Let me see that book,” Satan demanded, trying to pull the book from Lucifer’s hands.

“I told you not to touch my books,” Lucifer hissed.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t throw them at people. Look at the result of your carelessness.

“EXCUSE ME?”

“Wait a minute,” Cass interrupted. The two demons turned to look at her. “Satan?”

“What?” Lucifer answered.

Cass’s jaw dropped, unable to answer. The book they caught must have been the one Cass almost grabbed earlier. She couldn’t look away. It was uncanny how even in different bodies, they acted like themselves. That’s one way to stop Satan from forcing her into a pact.

---

Lucifer was grumbling the entire way to school. Satan spent the time impersonating Lucifer. While the other brothers were enjoying the antics, it only served to worsen Lucifer’s mood. Mammon, specifically, seemed to be enjoying the change in dynamics. Ever since switching, Lucifer’s threats didn’t have the same impact. Which was odd, given how formidable Satan could be.

As they were entering the building, Lucifer stopped her. He lowered his voice, so the others didn’t hear. “I don’t trust Mammon and Satan. I’ll need your help to keep an eye on them. They’ll do anything to take advantage of the situation.”

“Have you ever considered that the way you treat Satan spurs on his antics? If you continue to act like you know him and his next action, he’ll continue to act in ways that he thinks disprove that.”

Before Lucifer could answer, or remind her once again it was family business, Diavolo called out for him. His eyes widened as he glanced towards Satan and Mammon. Despite Lucifer’s worries, Satan was able to portray him with ease.

“What happened this morning?” Diavolo asked after stopping in front of the four of them. “You usually come to the assembly hall in the morning before courses. Is everything alright?”

There was a mischievous glint in Satan’s eye as he began to speak, and Cass knew he wasn’t going to take it seriously. “Hello, hello! Diavolo. I am so utterly happy to see you. I dreamed about you again last night and ended up oversleeping. That’s why I wasn’t at the assembly hall. I dare say if you didn’t consume my thoughts, honey, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Mammon tried, and failed, to stifle a laugh before stepping to the side. Satan continued, glad the preform for a captive audience. “You know what, you look a little tense, Diavolo. Would you like a shoulder massage? Perhaps your arms or legs? If you’re tired, let me know, okay? I’d gladly carry you anywhere you need to go.”

“I’m not actually like that, am I, Cass?” Lucifer whispered, clearly horrified.

“Of course, not. You’re much more shameless.”

“I’m not feeling tense at all but thank you for offering, Satan.”

“Damn, he knew right away,” Mammon muttered, echoing the sentiment they were all sharing.

“So, Satan is in Lucifer’s body and Lucifer, you’re in Satan’s?” Diavolo asked, turning to a still surprised Lucifer. “Don’t look so surprised that I figured it out. We have known each other a long time, after all.”

“To be fair, I’ve only known him for a few months, and I could probably tell his pompous ass from another.”

Mammon snickered while Lucifer glared at her. His gaze only broke when Diavolo asked for an explanation. The warning bell rang, causing Lucifer to remind Satan of their situation before he and Mammon disappeared down one of the hallways. Lucifer and Diavolo walked with Cass towards her class.

---

Cass looked around. She was standing in a windowless room with no furniture. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all painted white. There was an artificial feeling to the room. The last thing she remembered was walking with Lucifer back from RAD to find Satan.

Welcome to Dogi Maji Memorium! The game will begin shortly, please take this time to familiarize yourself with the game and ask any questions.

Cass tried to find the source of the voice, but there was nothing. “Um, magic voice?” She finally spoke when musak started playing in the room.

Hello, Cass.

“Oh, hello. What is Dogi Maji Memorium?”

Dogi Maji Memorium, or Dogi Maji, is a new interactive video game. Players are required to increase intimacy with the designated Heroine before graduation day. Any player who meets the minimum required intimacy score will be eligible to confess their love on the Roof of Legend. Players win if they the Heroine accepts their confession.

“How do you raise your intimacy score?”

Intimacy can be increased through everyday interactions or in game scenarios that appear. Bonus points are awarded for completing these scenarios to the Heroine’s expectations.

“Is there a way to track your progress?”

Players are equipped with a watch that allows them to check their profile page, access important information for challenges and other players, and settings. When special scenarios arise, you will be notified through this watch.

Cass looked at the watch skeptically, tapping the screen. A screen resembling one from a video game appeared before her. She was able to scroll through the different features simply by waving her hand or tapping on the image. She tapped on the profile option.

As the designated Heroine, your reaction to other players’ attempts to raise intimacy are monitored automatically. Actions taken by players will raise or lower overall intimacy. As the Heroine, you are able to view each players overall intimacy with you but cannot reveal this to players.

Within a blink of an eye, the white walls vanished, and a long school hallway manifested around her. Her RAD uniform had been replaced with a different school’s. The navy plaid skirt was considerably shorter than most school regulations. The navy blazer was unbuttoned to reveal a white button up and matching plaid tie.

The bell sounded and students started exiting the nearby classrooms. Just as someone was about to run into her, a hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling her into a shallow alcove. Cass’s heart was beating rapidly, as she was pressed against the person’s chest.

Cass looked up to see Lucifer staring out over her head at the passing students. Well, at this point she wasn’t sure if it was Lucifer or Satan in Lucifer’s body. She would have been more embarrassed if it weren’t for the fact that she could hear Lucifer’s heart beating just as fast as her own. Only after the next bell rang and the hallway was clear, did he let her step back.

Just like her, his uniform had been changed. She didn’t know whether to thank or curse the person responsible for the outfits. Usually, Lucifer was wearing layer upon layer, dressed to perfection. Now, he looked less put together. His hair was messier, as if the wind had tousled it. The top few buttons of his white shirt were undone, a loose plaid tie hung around his neck.

She swore he was blushing when he stepped into the hallway and away from her. There was a slight chime from her watch. She glanced down to see Lucifer’s name and meter. A positive number flashed before the meter filled slightly.

“Where are we?”

“I don’t know but I have a feeling Mammon’s behind it.”

The two of them started exploring the hall, trying to find anyone or anything that could be a clue. Towards the end of the hall, there was a nearly empty classroom. Before Cass could even open the door, she could hear Mammon and Levi arguing.

“What the hell, Levi? I can’t believe you gave yourself a cute name and gave me StupidMammon!”

“Lmao, maybe if you weren’t so stupid all the time.”

“I’m gonna kill ya,” Mammon yelled, diving at Levi.

“MAMMON,” Lucifer yelled, the door banging open.

Levi and Mammon jumped at the sudden intrusion. Both of them were in some variation of the new uniform. They had the same dark grey slacks as Lucifer. Levi was wearing a white hoodie sweatshirt under a navy blazer that matched Cass’s.

Not unlike his RAD uniform, Mammon’s shirt was untucked, and the sleeves rolled up. Thankfully, he wasn’t wearing a blazer that was five sizes too small. He had a plaid tie that had been tied incorrectly, the tail longer than the top.

“Wow, um, Cass that uniform looks really good on you.” Her watch chimed and flashed Levi’s profile at the words.

“What did you do?” Lucifer demanded, not letting Cass respond to Levi.

“Why are you assumin’ it was me that did something?” Mammon answered. “It’s Levi’s game.”

“That you demanded to be part of.”

“I don’t care whose game it is.”

“Ah, so this is your doing.”

Satan entered the room, crossing his arms, his annoyance clear. He was wearing an unbuttoned navy sweater with the school crest embroidered on one side. It was odd seeing him in a uniform with a regular tie as Cass had become accustomed to him wearing bowties.

Rather than risk having a teacher or student find them, they moved to the courtyard. Despite the situation, Cass couldn’t help but smile. Game or not, the only other time she could remember being in the sunlight was in Lilith’s room in the House of Lamentation. She jumped on a table, letting the warmth sink in and the light breeze calm her as Levi and Mammon explained how they got here.

"Let me get this straight. Cass asked you to help settle whatever dispute Satan and I were having. Which you decide could be done by forcing us to play a dating simulation role playing game? Now we need to beat the game if we want to return.”

“Right, and Cass is the Heroine, so we have to woo her.”

Levi was too excited to be here. Cass wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen the demon this enthusiastic in a while. Considering they were competing to win her over, she’d have figured he’d be a stuttering mess. Clearly the joy of playing a new game overtaking any nerves he could have.

Cass groaned, falling back on the table she was sitting on. This was going to be a nightmare. They couldn’t leave until the day of graduation, which was two weeks away. It didn’t make any of them feel better that Levi wasn’t sure if time moved the same way in the game as it did in reality.

Satan draped his sweater over her legs. She wasn’t sure if it was due to the temperature or the fact that her skirt had shifted up at her movement. Either way, she was touched by the action. Almost immediately following the thought, her watch chimed and a meter with Satan’s name appeared.

“At least the curse seems to be nullified now that we’re in game.”

“See it’s not all bad! Why don’t you take this time to enjoy being back in your own bodies? Don’t even worry about the game. I’ll raise my favorability score with Cass in no time so when I profess my love, the game will be over.”

“You do realize what this means?” Satan turned to Lucifer, ignoring Mammon. “It’s a competition and only one of us can win.”

“A competition that I’ll win.”

“None of you normies can even come close to beating me.”

“HEY! Listen up, I’m going to tell Cass I love her and she’s gonna pick me, end of story.”

---

The game was surprisingly easy. It didn’t feel much different than life at RAD. Other than the brothers trying to flirt that is. It’d been three days in the game and none of the special scenarios the rules had mentioned had arisen. Levi had told her that he was trying to find them whenever possible.

The worst part of the game was sitting through the lectures. Cass wasn’t particularly motivated to do well in the classes since it didn’t matter or have any impact on the game. Even if doing well unlocked a special scenario, she preferred to just let the game run until graduation. She’d probably just pick whoever had the highest score according to the game so they could leave.

Mammon was muttering under his breath, chest rising and falling evenly in his sleep. He blinked awake at the sound of the teacher calling on him. His eyes were unfocused as he gave Cass a lazy smile, not yet realizing the teacher was waiting for him.

Cass bit back a laugh as she circled the answer written on her notes. Mammon stuttered out the answer, much to the teacher’s chagrin. Mammon stretched, giving her an even bigger grin. Even with the notifications turned off, she knew the intimacy meter was rising.

“Thanks, not sure what I would do without ya, Cass. Feel free to look at me all ya want if it makes you happy.” The bell rang, but neither of them stood right away. “You’re the only person I’d ever say something like that to, understand?”

Mammon jolted back, away from her. She pulled away too, whatever spell they’d been under broken. Both of them refused to look directly at the other. Even turned away, Cass could see the dark blush creeping up Mammon’s neck.

“Don’t go thinkin’ that’s how I’m really feel or anything, got it? I just said that since we’re in the game and the Great Mammon’s gonna win.”

“Obviously,” Cass scoffed.

For some reason, now that they were in the game, each moment she shared with one of the brothers seemed even more charged. While she assumed it was all part of the game as a way to force players to have moments with the Heroine, she couldn’t help but feel it was going to leave some unresolved tension once they returned.

“Cass, I’m glad you’re still here,” the teacher called from the door. “I have a meeting I need to run to, could you take this pile of papers down to the main office?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Cass answered, glad for the excuse to leave the awkward situation her and Mammon had created.

Cass picked up the pile of papers and followed the teacher into the hall. When they had asked, the stack of papers hadn’t been that large. Whatever magic the game had, however, saw it as an opportunity to put her in harm's way. Once she walked into the hall, the weight and number of papers grew, and the teacher disappeared.

Cass tried looking around the papers to make sure she wasn’t going to hit anyone, but it was impossible. She was just going to have to hope for the best. She stayed close to the wall, praying that if someone came down the hall, they would see her and go around.

At the stairs, she missed the top step. Her heart stopped as she prepared herself to go flying down the steps. Instead, an arm slipped around her waist, pulling her back at the last second. Over the top of her stack of papers, she could see blond hair.

“Why are you carrying around so much stuff? Can you even see where you’re going?”

“No, I can’t. A teacher asked me to take this to the office and this stupid game multiplied everything.”

“Here, let me take some.” Without waiting for a response, Satan took over two thirds of the materials in her hands. “You know, there is something called being too nice.”

“I know, but there was a weird game moment earlier and I was just trying to get out of the room.”

Satan gave her an odd look but didn’t question it. Mammon said stupid things like that all the time. It’s not like it was unusual. So why did it seem even more endearing all of a sudden? Maybe it was the fact that she was constantly being reminded of how it affected her by the watch rather than being able to shake it off.

“Okay, but you really could have been hurt if you fell down the stairs. We don’t have our powers here, so I couldn't have just healed it either.”

Cass hid her smile behind the stack of paper she was still holding. While she had been aware of Satan’s hidden romantic side, he wasn’t able to hide it as easily in the game. Despite having threatened her less than a day before, everything he said and did was laced with concern and care. So much so, there was no denying it wasn’t just an act.

They gave the documents to the receptionist before leaving the office. “If you ever need help, you can call me, you know that right? Whatever the reason, just make sure it’s me and not anyone else, got it?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Cass laughed, hoping to avoid another situation like she’d had with Mammon. She glanced at the clock only to realize lunch was almost over. “Shit, I told Levi I’d meet him for lunch. I’ll see you later, okay, Satan?”

“Sure.” He looked like he wanted to stop her. “If you want to get coffee with me after class, meet me here after the final bell.”

Cass nodded as she took off towards the courtyard. Satan gave her a half-hearted wave. Levi was looking at the player screen when she found him. He closed the screen, smiling at her with a confidence his smiles often lacked.

“I’m so sorry, the teacher asked for help and then,” she trailed off, seeing the small picnic Levi had set up. “You planned me a picnic?”

“Of course! I even made the lunch from scratch.” He showed her the bento box he’d brought. “I can even feed you if you want.”

She blushed when he winked. When he set his mind to it, Levi really could become a completely different person. Cass supposed it was more about wanting to win the game in general than win because she was the Heroine. Regardless, it was fun seeing this side to him.

“I think I can manage it on my own,” she dismissed him, taking seat on the bench next to him.

The food itself wasn’t the best, but Levi was so proud, Cass didn’t have the heart not to eat it. Levi dropped the suave debonair act after a few minutes, excited to talk about his progress in unlocking the special scenarios.

They parted when the first bell rang. Cass glanced around, checking that there wasn’t anyone watching before going entering the stairwell that led to the roof. Having to deal with a teacher or random student usually was more trouble than it was worth, even if she couldn’t get in trouble for skipping.

Since starting the game, she found it was one of the few places that she could be alone. Cass noticed that the background characters seemed to not even see the entrance. It was possible only players could access the roof. Even the brothers avoided the roof.

That is, usually. Cass faltered when she saw Lucifer, thinking he had known about her habit of sneaking up here and was preparing to scold her. She dismissed the thought after taking in the scene more. He hadn’t come here expecting her.

He was lying on the bench, an arm thrown over his eyes to block the sun. One of his legs was hanging from the side and the other bent. His hair moved slightly with the breeze. It was rare to see Lucifer sleeping. It was even rarer to see him look that peaceful.

“Never pegged you as a delinquent.” Cass leaned over Lucifer as she spoke.

“Not really, it’s nice seeing this side of you. I kind of wish you’d let yourself just be yourself once and a while.”

“You seem happy, at peace,” Cass whispered. “I’m sorry if I’ve done anything that led you to believe I wish for you to have anything but that.”

Lucifer tilted his head in consideration before asking. “You think I’m unhappy?”

“I think you don’t let yourself be happy.” Lucifer’s lips parted and closed a few times, trying to find the words to speak. “Even though you deserve it.”

Lucifer’s arms wrapped around her as he pulled her closer for a hug. “You’re a fool to believe that,” he muttered against her stomach. The words so quiet, she knows he hadn’t intended for her to hear.

When he finally let her go, she cupped his cheek, tilting his head up to meet her gaze. “That’s okay, I can afford to be fool until you believe it too.”

Lucifer blushed, realizing that Cass had heard him. “You have a habit of making it more and more difficult to find reasons not to like you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll find a reason to threaten me again soon,” Cass laughed, stepping out of his reach and turning towards the exit.

Cass shivered as his breath ghosted over her ear, knowing damn well his intimacy score shot up even without looking at her watch. “Don’t forget, this is a game that I very much intend to win.”

---

Cass groaned, finally giving in and laying down on the elevator floor. Hopefully it wasn’t actually dirty since it was a video game. Satan and she had been waiting in the broken elevator for over two hours now. How was he being so calm?

Maintenance had told them they were going to be stuck in the elevator for at least four hours. They had just planned on going to get coffee and the game decided to throw a scenario at them. What’s next, going on a Ferris wheel and getting stuck at the top?

“How are you so calm right now? Aren’t you pissed?”

“Unbelievably so, but I can’t afford to let it take over right now.”

“If this is about Lucifer and beating him at the game, then–"

“If I lost control right now, then I could hurt you,” Satan mumbled and looked away, unable to look at Cass.

“You’re worried about me? We’ve come a long way from you trying to torture and murder me.”

Satan chuckled, shaking his head. He leaned back, lying next to Cass. “I’m sorry about that. That, and getting you stuck here.”

“I’m at fault too. I did ask Mammon of all people for help. I was also the reason Lucifer came to your room. If I hadn’t gone to talk to you, you wouldn’t have switched bodies.”

“Why did you?”

Cass sighed, closing her eyes. Because she couldn’t help getting involved. Because at this point, keeping her head down and keeping to herself for the rest of the year was near impossible. Though, that was primarily the brother’s fault.

“I guess I just figured you shouldn’t be alone but didn’t think you’d talk to your brothers.” He nodded, not asking her to clarify. “You know, you’re kind of amazing. I mean, I can’t begin to imagine what you experience when angry, but I do know how hard it is to think or do anything when you’re angry.”

Satan scoffed and Cass knew it was because he was trying to brush her off. “I mean it. Levi said at first all you experienced was wrath. The fact that you managed to fight that and become who you are now, is nothing short of incredible. And you did that, nobody else, you.”

“Is this all part of a ploy to have me make up with Lucifer? You were able to do all that and you can’t just get over your problems with him to be friends? Because you don’t know the half of it.”

Cass propped herself on an elbow so she could look at him. “Personally, I don’t care if you like him or not. You’re not obligated to like anyone. We may be the product of circumstance, but we’re always changing. Instead of fighting the circumstances of the past, change the present circumstances for your benefit. That being said, you do need to get your shit together.”

Satan sat up. Cass could tell he was still processing what she said and trying to figure out if he was angry about it or not. “Care to clarify?”

“You’re not a child. Part of life is being around people you don’t like. You can’t have a hissy fit every time he pisses you off. Or anytime some human doesn’t want to make a pact.” The anger softened and he smiled slightly. “If not for yourself, for the people you do like and care about. It’s hard to live with people fighting all the time. It’s even harder to see the people you love hurting.”

“For just some human, you have surprisingly helpful insights. You know, you’re the first person that’s ever said that I don’t have to like someone. Such a simple thing, but no one’s thought to say it.”

He fell silent, contemplating their conversation. Realizing he likely wasn’t going to say anything for a while, Cass laid back down. She hadn’t thought she was tired, but it was only a few minutes before she fell asleep.

“Cass?” Satan’s voice woke her up. She opened her eyes to see him leaning over her. “Sorry, maintenance said they should have it operating in about a half hour.”

Cass sat up, stretching. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”

“No, that’s alright, it was a good time for self-reflection.”

“Any interesting insights?”

“You were right, about making a pact just to spite Lucifer.” Cass nodded, not sure where he was going. “I still want to make one, but because of you. You’re the first person who hasn’t tried to force me to feel a certain way.”

“Do I have a choice this time or are you going to kill me if I say no?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

---

“WHAT THE FUCK, LEVI?” Mammon gasped, trying to catch his breath.

“This is so exciting! I never would have thought a dating sim would have such a twist.”

They looked at him in disbelief. How was he enjoying this? Better yet, how did he still have energy? Normally, Levi would be the first to give up on anything requiring physical activity. Yet, he didn’t even seem phased by the fact they’d just barely managed to escape the monsters taking over the school.

A loud roar erupted from the other side of the door. The roof was the only place they’d been able to get to in all the chaos. It shouldn’t have been surprising that the final boss ended up being on the roof, given that’s where the confessions would supposedly happen. The creature roared again, its fire visible through the crack in the door.

Levi took a deep breath and opened the door to reveal Cerberus, or at least a hell hound that resembled him. “That’s the final boss?”

“Damn, did we luck out or what? Show ‘em what ya got, Lucifer!”

“I doubt it will be that easy, Mammon. This isn’t the Devildom after all.”

Satan moved in front of Cass, trying to block any of the hellhound’s attacks. Lucifer stepped up, giving the dog a command. The monster roared, disregarding everything Lucifer tried. One of Cerberus’s heads aimed at Cass and Satan, blowing fire close enough to singe the end of Satan’s Bangs.

“I believe I told you to sit,” Lucifer growled, his presence even more intimidating than before. “Try and harm my brother again.”

Lucifer let out a string of expletives that left Mammon and Levi speechless. Satan’s eyes widened, surprised by Lucifer’s reaction. Before Lucifer even finished berating the monster, Cerberus whimpered, laying down in front of him.

All five of their watches beeped simultaneously. Fireworks started going off as a message appeared in the sky. Congratulations! You’ve completed the bonus ending of Dogi Maji Memorium! Moments later the world around them started to disappear, and Levi’s room materialized in its place.

“We did it. We unlocked enough special scenarios to get the bonus ending on the first try,” Levi beamed.

“Who cares, I’m no longer StupidMammon and we’re back in the real world.”

“Unfortunately, it appears the effects of the curse were only lifted while in the game world.”

Even in Satan’s body, Cass could tell it was Lucifer speaking. After spending so much time with them one-on-one in the game world, it was obvious even more how their unique mannerisms still came out in someone else’s body.

“Maybe you could stay in the game world until it wears off? As long as you avoid the special scenarios, you should be fine.”

“Are you kiddin’ me? Do you know how many of them we accidentally discovered? What if there are even more of them? What if Cerberus appears again?”

“That shouldn’t be a problem, since Lucifer will be there.”

Even Lucifer seemed shocked to hear Satan say that. While Cass still didn’t agree with Mammon’s approach, it did seem that his idea was able to defuse some of the tension between the two. Hopefully, they continued moving in that direction.

“What was that?” Lucifer teased.

“I guess even Cerberus turns into a regular dog when facing your icy stare.”

“I’m happy to teach out his commands, if you’d like.” Satan started to open his mouth, ready to waive off Lucifer’s invitation. “Regardless of what you believe, I know you’d be able to handle it.”

“Perhaps, I mean, I was part of you at one point.” The look of shock returned to Lucifer’s face causing Satan to break and laugh. “Do I look that ridiculous when I’m surprised?”

“Did it work?” Mammon whispered to Cass. “Did they make up?”

“Can everyone shut up? I’m trying to review Doji Maji on Akuzon.”

---

Diavolo had been thinking about what Charon had said since the day Solomon had told him. He hadn’t invited Cass to the castle for tea because of it, but now it felt like the simple check-in had much more deceitful intentions. He peered over his teacup, watching her discuss a dessert recipe with Barbatos.

She laughed at something he’d said, lifting her hand up to cover her mouth. Diavolo refused to believe that the person sitting across from him was lying about her memory. Even if she did remember anything and was one of the Fallen, she would have known how dangerous it was to stand before Lucifer. And if she truly were connected to the prophecy, wouldn’t she try to blend in more?

Did she steal the coin from one of the Fallen? Did she come across it by accident, not knowing Charon’s promise? Was it coincidence whoever had used the coin did so on the anniversary of Lucifer and his brothers' falling? Who could be the Maiden of the Three Realms and was she different than the being not bound to any realm?

“Are you okay, Diavolo?” Cass asked. She tilted her head, the concern on her face evident. “If now isn’t the best time, I’m happy to come back another day.”

He shook his head, hoping to dismiss her worry. “I was just lost in thought.”

“Anything worth sharing?”

Diavolo smiled at the question. She wasn’t asking to be nosy or discover some secret. It was a surprising change of pace from how most demons and even certain humans acted. Cass genuinely cared about the people around her and that made it hard to be cautious around her.

“Have you ever heard of the Maiden of the Three Realms?”

Cass set her cup on the table before leaning back and looking up at the ceiling. “I don’t think so. But it’s certainly a fun title. You know it kind of reminds me of –” she trailed off, not looking back at Diavolo.

He hummed, pulling her gaze back to him. “Of?”

“Oh, um, just a short story I read a little bit ago.”

She continued, but her pacing was slower, as if being careful of her words. It almost seemed like she was being cautious to change certain details to protect someone. Yet, she smiled fondly when she summarized the story.

“It was about an angel who made a deal with the devil to save the love of her life. The devil allowed her to live as a human with her love. After she died, she had to spend eternity as the devil’s right-hand man and couldn’t speak of the events. She never regretted her decision, but never let herself get too close to anyone else for fear of losing them or sharing the secret. Over time, she lost her sanity from the weight of it all.”

There’s no way she could know about what happened between him and Lucifer, right? “Do you know who wrote it? I’d love to read it.”

“No and I haven’t been able to find it. It’s a shame too, it wasn’t finished.” She sighed, a melancholious look overtaking her features. “But that title would suit the angel well, as she had lived a life in all three realms.”

Diavolo froze, his cup half raise. She couldn’t be describing Lilith, the only three who knew about that were Barbatos, Lucifer, and himself. Could Lilith have become a spirit in the Devildom? It would make sense that a ghost couldn’t be impacted by their powers nor be tied to a realm any longer. Could it be that Cass really was unrelated to this?

---

“I'm sorry if this comes across as disrespectful, but whatever it is you’re wondering, I’d prefer if you just asked me,” Cass said.

She set her cup down with enough force that she was afraid it might break. Clearly Diavolo was trying to get some information out of her but was beating around the bush. The only reason she decided to lie about the story was to see his reaction.

When he’d asked her to join him for tea, she figured it was about the recent trip to the human world with Lucifer, Mammon, and Satan. They’d managed to get Lucifer and Satan back into the correct bodies without trouble. Satan was currently preparing to give his speech this afternoon. Cleary, there was more to this meeting than she thought.

Diavolo paused, studying her for a moment before throwing his head back and laughing. It wasn’t an anxious laugh to dispel tension or condescending. It was of genuine amusement that he couldn’t contain. Cass, feeling like she missed the punchline of a joke nobody told, blinked.

“You are truly something else, Cass.”

And yet, she hadn’t done anything. She had only asked because she figured it would be quicker for them to move past whatever game he was playing. She’d been happy to join him for tea, having wanted to get to know him better, but wasn’t in the mood for mental gymnastics.

“Please excuse my laughter. I’m not used to people being so direct. I’m sure you’ve figured it out already, but we’ve been looking into your background trying to find something since you’ve lost your memory. It seems that the more we look, the more questions we have.”

“You think I'm hiding something?”

“We’ve entertained the thought. You must understand why we have to be cautious. I trust that you’ve lost your memory, but you seem to know more than an average human and have accomplished near impossible feats in your time here.”

“Naturally it would raise some concern. But I promise, I'm not hiding anything, at least not intentionally.”

“I believe that you don’t remember anything. I don’t believe that story you told was something you read online. Am I correct?”

Of course, he’d seen right through the story. Cass wasn’t expecting anything different. In fact, she was glad he’d asked her immediately. Hopefully, it was a sign that he’d be candid with her when she asked her next question.

“You are, but I’m sure you’re familiar with the story. What I don’t understand is, how did Lucifer survive the fall, but Lilith had to be turned into a human?”

“How did you?” Diavolo started but was too stunned to continue.

“I didn’t do anything special. I just listened.”

It was like she’d been staring at A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte for so long all she saw was the dots but took a step back and saw the real picture. Lucifer held the brothers at such a distance even after they fell together yet had unwavering support for Diavolo because he saved Lilith.

The brief time Lilith didn’t remember, the prince must have turned her into a human per Lucifer’s request. He couldn’t tell his brothers because there was no knowing how they would react. Overtime, he just became more closed off until the brothers stopped questioning it.

Lilith had said Belphie was different after falling and no longer liked humans. Lucifer was insistent on the success of this program, which meant Diavolo must think failure wasn’t an option. If Belphie condemned the program, would Diavolo have done something to stop him? Was Lucifer keeping him in the attic not because he was worried about what Belphie may do, but what Diavolo would do?

“Let’s make a deal, Cass,” Diavolo said, leaning forward. “I’ll answer your questions to the best of my abilities. There is some information that I can’t disclose, given my position, as I’m sure you understand. This is under two conditions. First, you afford me the same level of transparency and second, you cannot share anything with the brothers.”

Somewhere in the back of her mind, a voice called out, it’s a trap. Cass knew he was going to share just enough to keep her talking, but nothing important. Trap or not, this was the first time anyone had been willing to tell her about this.

“Deal,” Cass answered and Diavolo smiled.

There was a hint of triumph in his eyes, as if he’d successfully tricked her. Fortunately, he couldn’t tell if she was lying as easily as he could others. The same level of transparency was entirely dependent on him. And she’d been trying to help the brothers since she got here while avoiding getting hurt or killed. If it could help achieve her goal, she’d risk the consequences of breaking the second condition.

“Lilith fell before Lucifer, so we were more prepared when he fell. He was still injured, just not as fatally. He asked that I save her, which I agreed to in exchange for his loyalty. Obviously, this was kept secret to stop the others from trying to make contact with Lilith or causing more imbalance between the three realms. I know Lucifer wouldn’t have told you about that event, so how did you know?”

“When Lilith died as a human, she came back as a ghost. She doesn’t remember what happened, but it wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. Why did you pick me as the exchange student if not knowing my past was going to be such a problem?

“I didn’t pick you. Lucifer did.”

“You had to approve it.”

“I may not have had I known how difficult finding anything about you would be. Then again, you’ve changed the brothers for the better. I can’t deny that, so maybe you were always the right choice.”

Barbatos’s words came to mind. There are things in this world that are inevitable, no matter how much we try to change time. Maybe it wasn’t a choice in the end, maybe she was always meant to be here at this time.

“Have you ever heard of the Fallen or Nephilim?”

“Possibly? I believe they’re mythology from a monotheistic religion.” Diavolo’s eyes narrowed, as if he thought she was sidestepping the question. “Why is it so important you figure out who I am?”

“Due diligence.” Cass tsked, expressing her discontent. “I promised as much transparency as possible. Even Lucifer doesn’t know the full extent. Apart from Lilith, is there any other beings you’ve come across that no one knows about.”

He couldn’t know about Belphie, right? If he was being hidden from Diavolo, there’s no way he’d let him stay in the attic once he knew. If he wasn’t being hidden from Diavolo, he wouldn’t have phrased the question that way. She couldn’t be the one to tell him about the hidden demon.

“The day I left the castle during the retreat, I ran across a woman or witch or, I don’t know. She said I’m only half here before disappearing. Her name was Kyteler.”

“No first name?” Cass shook her head, better to keep some information secret. “What did she look like?”

“Long, dark grey hair. Amber eyes.” She paused, waiting to see if he had a follow up question. “What’s Barbatos’s power?” Diavolo gave her a pointed look as if to say he couldn’t tell her. “He can control time though? On some level, correct?”

He still didn’t answer, but Cass didn’t need him to. His silence was an answer enough. To what extent could he manipulate time? And why was it that they still couldn’t find any information on her if he could?

“When we were talking about Aeshma, you recognized her, didn’t you? And not because of Preta.”

“I had no idea who she was and still don’t outside of what you’ve shared.” Cass took a deep breath for her last question. “If we do figure out who I am, is there a possibility that I’ll end up dead?”

Another question met with silence. This time, Diavolo looked at her with pity. Not that she didn’t expect that answer, but it was still hard to face. If they were actively looking into her background, that meant any second she was in danger. Well, more danger than normal.

“Pardon the intrusion,” Barbatos called from outside the room after knocking. “It’s time for Satan’s speech.”

Cass had gotten ready prior to joining Diavolo, so she went with them to the assembly. She was curious to know if Diavolo had any more questions but was glad they ended it there. She needed to figure out what her next plan of action was, especially as it related to Belphie.

Not that she or likely anyone was surprised, but Satan did an incredible job. He was also doing an incredible job at not actively making Lucifer’s life miserable. Maybe their conversation in the elevator had a bigger impact than Cass thought. Even Mammon had commented on the shift in behavior.

They were going to Ristorante Six after the speech when Satan had announced he needed to run back to the House of Lamentation for something. Cass ended up joining him as he asked to speak with her in private.

“I didn’t actually need anything,” Satan said, closing the door to his room.

“Are you kidnapping me to force me into a pact?”

“I’m not going to force you into a pact. I wasn’t kidding when I said I still wanted to make one, though. I thought a lot about what you said and what that witch in the human world said about fate. I can’t help the circumstances of my birth, but I can stop making worrying about Lucifer and making decisions based on him.”

“I changed my mind. You’re not kind of amazing.” She saw a flash of anger in his eyes, but he quickly stomped it out. “No, you’re completely amazing. So, if that’s really something you want, I’m in.”

Satan started walking towards her. With each step he took, Cass took one backwards until her back hit one of the bookshelves. “I thought you were in?” Satan smiled, leaning down so they were eye to eye. “Did you already change your mind?”

He had to be joking, right? They were just supposed to be running back to the house for a second before meeting everyone at the restaurant. Not to mention, they were meeting some of the most impatient demons in the Devildom. She glanced towards the door.

He picked her up and her legs and arms wrapped around him instinctually. “Now?” He started pressing kisses down her neck. “You can’t be serious. We’re supposed to be meeting everyone at the restaurant.”

Satan chuckled softly. “So? It’s my celebration. Must I be the only one that learns patience?” He pulled away to look at her again. “Unless you’re against it. I promise, I’m not going to force you.”

The sincerity in his expression made her blush. “I know, I trust you.” He raised an eyebrow and Cass groaned. “Okay, fine.”

Satan grinned, stepping away from the bookcase and towards his bed. His actions were surprisingly gentle, a complete one eighty from the last time she was here. And so, her fourth pact was made.

---

By the time they’d joined the others, they had already gone through several bottles of Demonus. Cass could tell by their reactions everyone except Mammon and Beel knew what had taken so long. While she knew Mammon would probably be the last one to find out, she also wasn’t surprised that Beel was so happy about dinner he didn’t notice.

“What the hell took ya so long? We’re supposed to be celebratin’ Satan after all!”

“We were celebrating in our own way,” Satan answered, taking a sip of the Demonus he’d poured.

“Mhmm, I bet,” Asmo smirked, prompting Cass to glare at him.

Mammon stopped asking about what happened rather quickly, though that was because Lucifer had snapped at him. Cass couldn’t help but smile watching the brothers. Maybe Diavolo was right about her coming here. They certainly seemed happier than when she first arrived.

“How was tea earlier?” Lucifer asked, his voice low so only she could hear.

“Good, we actually talked about quite a lot. There was one thing he couldn’t answer. Why did you pick me for the program?”

Lucifer smiled and shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint, but there’s no deeper meaning. I was looking through applicants and a breeze scattered the papers. I was so sick of looking at them, I just picked up the closest one at my feet, it just happened to be you.”

“Bet you wish you’d spent a little more time looking them over, don’t you?”

He studied her a moment before answering. “On the contrary, I’m grateful that happened. I never would have thought some randomly selected human would be so special. I mean that on a personal level as well. You’re special to me.”

“I knew it. It was my dance moves that won you over, right?”

“They are,” he paused, clearly feeling silly saying the next part, “funky fresh, or so I’ve heard.”

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