Musings

SFW writing scraps from my Devildom AU.

The Fall Ball was one of the hottest annual events at RAD, and recently the dance was all that the students could talk about. Giggles filled the hallways, as girls and boys alike whispered to each other on who they were planning to ask as their date - or who they were hoping would ask them.

Even Matilda found herself conversing about the dance, when Kathryn arrived at their lockers and immediately stated that she wasn’t sure that her and Nathaniel should attend.

“Mattie, he only came out of his cursed coma, like, two day ago. He needs time to recover,” Kathryn fretted, brushing a curly lock of hair out of her eyes. “The dance is tomorrow night. It’s too soon.”

“I understand how you feel, but Nathaniel is strong," Matilda said matter-of-factly. "He’s already healed a considerable amount of life energy since you’ve been tending to him. I can feel it.”

Kathryn still shook her head, gathering her textbooks and slamming the locker shut. “I don’t know, Mattie. He needs to rest.”

“Well, why don’t we ask him how he’s feeling tonight, over dinner?” Matilda suggested, knowing how stubborn her cousin could be once she made up her mind on something. “He’s old enough to make decisions for himself. Let’s do that, okay?”

“Okay. I guess.” Kathryn leaned in to give her cousin a peck on the cheek. “All right, I’ll see you after class. I can’t wait for this day to be over!”

As if on cue, Mammon appeared to walk Kathryn to her next class. The silver-haired demon greeted the girls with a casual ‘Yo!’ before grabbing Kathryn’s books, mumbling something about how weak humans were, and that she’d be better off if he carried them for her.

For a scummy demon, he sure was attentive, Matilda thought. Her opinions of demons had changed since arriving in the Devildom, and that scared her a little. Even Professor Dirk, who was the most pious of them all, spent all his time with the strikingly beautiful demon law professor, or Lord Diavolo.

Matilda also knew that she was no exception - she did the same with all the time spent with Satan. They were surrounded by demons, and that was the point, wasn’t it? To forge those connections and understand each other – that was why the exchange program existed. Wasn’t it?

Matilda couldn’t be sure. Each day spent in the Devildom was challenging her beliefs. Unraveling the hatred she had for the dark spirits, unraveling the old teachings passed down in her family for generations. She never expected to feel empathy for demons, let alone fall in love with one. 

Love?

She didn’t allow herself to think any further about the intelligent blond man with the perfect demeanor that had infiltrated her heart. There was a class to attend, and she focused her attention once again to her studies.

--

“Who are you asking to the dance?”

A soft voice broke the silence in the planetarium. Matilda looked up from the jewelry box in her hands. She had been working on her latest assignment, which was to enchant the lock to open with a spoken word rather than a key. Belphegor stood by the door, pillow in hand, a tired expression on his face.

She stiffened as he approached, frowning as he chose to sit next to her on the wicker bench instead of the other chairs.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” she replied curtly, shuffling to increase the space between them. 

“Oh, I see. You’re still mad about the hotel incident.” He yawned, rubbing at his eyes. “It really wasn’t a big deal. You all got out of it, and besides, it wasn’t really /my/ fault, was it? I didn’t do anything, really.”

Matilda bit her tongue to stop the harsh words from flowing forth. Lord Diavolo had already addressed the issue with Belphegor personally, and Lucifer had since put him on house arrest. 

“Kathryn already forgave me,” Belphegor continued. “She said something about how having hatred is too taxing. So, why don’t you do the same?”

“We are not the same. Kathryn is too kind for her own good.”

“That may be so. But all humans are… soft, aren’t they?” The youngest brother eyed her curiously. “You look soft. It would be delightful to take a nap on you.”

“As if I’d ever agree to such a ridiculous act. Don’t even think about—” Matilda started to say, when Belphegor tossed his pillow onto her lap, knocking the jewelry box to the ground. He stretched out like a cat, reclining back and resting his head on the pillow.

“We might be compatible. I know your astrological sign.” Belphegor pointed up at the night sky. “Scorpios have such an absolutist view of life. Everything is either golden or tarnished to you, isn’t it? But I could show you that life isn’t always that black and white.”

 

Matilda dug her fingernails into her palms so hard that there were sure to be marks. “Belphegor, you have five seconds to get off of me.”

He ignored her remark, closing his eyes. “You’re missing a crucial spell component for your assignment, aren’t you? In order for the enchantment to work, you’ll need a hair from the jewelry box’s owner placed inside. You can… thank me later…”

With that, he made himself comfortable and proceeded to doze off with his head on Matilda’s lap. The brunette sat there frozen, unsure whether to actually thank him or shove him to the floor and smother him with his own pillow.

It wasn't known how long Belphegor had been asleep on Matilda's lap when Satan walked into the planetarium. Something about Belphegor made time seem to tick by slower, maybe it was his natural lethargic aura. 

"What am I looking at?" Satan asked, though he hardly waited for an answer, putting down a small tray that had two steaming mugs of liquid and some pastries. He muttered under his breath before he hoisted his sleeping brother into his arms and walking out of the room. 

Satan was gone for a while before coming back, unable to look Matilda in the eye before sitting down next to her, his arms moving around her waist to tug her into his lap. He buried his face into the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath as he held her firmly. 

"No," he finally muttered. "No more of that, please." 

His ears burned red, but the idea of any of his brothers being so close to her made his blood boil in his veins. Wasn't she his? Didn't being with him mean something to her? 

Satan knew rationally that his brother and her being so close just then had probably meant nothing, but he still couldn't help the way he clung tightly to her.

--

Matilda stifled a yawn as she walked up the stone steps leading into the royal library, straightening out her coat in an attempt to look more presentable. She managed to land the position as a library assistant because Satan recommended her, and Professor Amari was kind enough to write her a referral letter due to her exemplary grades. She couldn't afford to disgrace them by doing a poor job, and she was also determined to pay back Kathryn for the restaurant damages (which she found out about thanks to Mammon).

The afternoon was spent helping students check materials out and in, collecting fines and fees, and answering questions over the phone. Matilda was in the middle of putting returned books in their proper places on the shelves when footsteps alerted her to someone approaching from behind.

"Why is it," Matilda began, after seeing a cow print pillow out of the corner of her eye, "that you must insist on bothering me so?"

Belphegor saw her irritation and smiled. "I'm writing a report on a human world book. Professor Dirk's orders. Surely you would be most equipped to lend me a hand?"

Matilda stood, placing her hands on her hips. "You upset Satan the other night with your little show. If I were you, I'd show your older brother more respect."

"Is this really about Satan, or is it about you?" The sleepy demon grinned. "Are you incapable of admitting to yourself that you enjoyed it?"

"Enjoyed it?" Matilda echoed in disbelief. "Enjoyed what? Your inconsiderate attitude towards my personal space and belongings? Or your utter lack of respect for my boundaries?"

Belphegor shrugged. "You weren't exactly eager to shove me off, now were you?"

"Some of us have manners!"

"I'm a demon. That's what we do. Or have you forgotten that, spending so much time with the Lord of Masks?"

"Look, I don't have time for this," Matilda sighed. "If you haven't noticed, I'm working. Just... tell me which book you need, and I'll get it for you."

Belphegor handed her a piece of paper with a book title scribbled on it, adding that he also had quite a few questions regarding the text.

Matilda narrowed her eyes at him, scrunching the paper into a ball as she left to find him the book.

--

“Professor Dirk, do you have a minute?”

Dirk paused from grading papers and saw Matilda shyly peeking into his office.

“Of course.” He motioned for her to come in and she did so, taking a seat in a chair opposite him. “How can I help you, Mattie?”

She fumbled with the hem of her skirt, taking a deep breath before speaking. “I haven’t been feeling good lately. I’m not sure how to describe it, but let’s just say I haven’t been making friends with everyone.”

“That’s completely normal,” Dirk spoke reassuringly. “We /are/ in a realm completely different from our own! Why, we’re not even among other mortals here, are we? It’s normal to feel a bit unbalanced.”

“I understand. But Kathryn and Nate are adjusting well. So I feel a little… Odd, in comparison, you know?”

“You mustn’t compare yourself with others. Nathaniel has experienced his fair share of loss, so he has likely learned to adapt quicker than most. And Kathryn has never had trouble making friends, has she?” Dirk chuckled, sliding off his glasses and placing them neatly onto the desk. “Besides, what about that blond student council member you’re so fond of? What was his name again – Stan? You seem to have made friends with him.”

“Satan, yes. We… could be called friends, I suppose.”

Dirk crinkled his nose at the name, but if Matilda noticed, she didn’t show it.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Mattie. This is supposed to be a cultural exchange. Shall we say a prayer together to calm your nerves?”

With outstretched arms, Dirk took Matilda’s hands in his and the two of them bowed their heads to offer up a prayer, hoping that it would reach the Celestial Realm even from the depths of the Devildom.