Not all demons were born demons. No, some were born human, born of flesh and blood and bone. Some humans sold their souls for greed, power, love, desire. Some humans dabbled and toyed with the dark arts and trapped themselves into a body of rot, decay, death. Some humans – poor, unlucky, innocent souls – died and simply slipped through the cracks of Heaven, only to have their good deeds no longer matter as the cold, dark hand of Hell gripped them and reshaped them.

Some of those unfortunate ones give in to the darkness, some fight until their soul can no longer take it and fade away, and some… some learn of second chances.

Of those some, this is the story of just one.

Xxx New York, New York – January 16, 1999 xxX

It was pouring and storming that night as Alfred dangled his feet over the edge of the building. Leathery, battered wings shielded his body from the rain, allowing his observations to go unhindered. A light from a window shone from the next building over, illuminating the horrific sight of a young blond child being beaten by his father. The boy did not cry out, nor struggle – just glared at the older and stronger man in defiance. The demon grinned.

Oh yes, these were his favorite ones to deal with. When they would learn that their actions in life ultimately had very little to do with how their souls were handled in death, that fire in their eyes would burn out. Alfred imagined that how his eyes looked so long ago, and he relished it. It proved to him more and more that he wasn't the only one in this world or the next that was and will be wronged.

The demon couldn't wait for the child's time to come. Shivers went down his spine as he imagined the boy screaming, pleading, asking that infernal man upstairs why, why him? Alfred grinned more, fixing his glasses upon his nose, a relic from his human days that he could not part with. He watched as the blond boy took another solid hit and busted out with a gruesome laugh as the child kept doing nothing but glare. Yes, yes, he was going to have fun with his newest toy…

Xxx New York – January19, 1999 xxX

He couldn't believe it, he really couldn't. The boy knew, saw right through his disguise. He slammed his fist against the wall, teeth barred and grinding. The boy was Gifted, and no one had warned him! The boy was now becoming more trouble than his undying soul was worth…

Alfred grinned to himself, knowing his disguise was prefect – ladies and men alike swooned at the sight of the tall, good-looking blond and blue-eyed male. He just knew the boy was going to gobble up the sight of him.

He noticed the young child sitting on the steps of his apartment building, surrounded by fairies and the like. Those small gnats flocked to children, pretending to be what people called 'guardian angels', but never communicating to them. However, it seemed like the boy was talking to them, and laughing. No, thought Alfred, he was just seeing things.

Before he could fully reach the boy, the child whipped his head around and stared at Alfred with deep, intense green eyes. A scowl set into his baby features, making him look like an unpleasant child. The demon tried to fight off the feeling of uneasiness as the child looked him once over, the scowl deepening.

"Leave now, you are not welcomed here." The child spoke softly, the demon noting the thick accent to be British.

"Aw, c'mon, kiddo. Don't be so damn rude!" He flashed his sweetest smile at the boy, hoping to fool him. "What's your name, lil fella?"

"No! I know what you are, and I know what you'll do with my name!" That defiance from the night before was on his face again, the boy standing up and challenging him. "I know what you are, and what you want."

The demon was taken back, blinking and unsure of what to do. "Now, I'm not sure what you mean, kiddo…"

"I KNOW, DEMON! BEGONE WITH YOU!" Alfred could only stare as the boy then stormed in his house, unable to follow him…

Since then, he hadn't been able to get close to the boy. But… he HAD been able to get close to the people from other apartments and around town, so at least he now had something to work with.

"Arthur Kirkland, interesting name, kid…"

He looked up at the window he knew looked into the boy's room. He grinned sweetly and waved as he saw the boy's head peek through the curtains. "I'm going to make your life hell, Arthur Kirkland, and I'm going to enjoy it…"

A/N: This is the beginning for a request fic by pikachucrazy23, so I figured I'd post the beginning and see if it's alright so far. Reviews keep me going ~