Chapter One: A Stranger in the Dark

Drip.

The faucet was leaking again. Dellyn had had it fixed right before he was whisked away to Devildom, and after only three weeks being back home it was broken again. Nothing ever stayed fixed for long.

Drip.

It was a painful reminder that he indeed was back in the human world. Everything had lost its color - life had lost its color. He laid there in the pitch black of his room staring at the dormant, quiet, D.D.D on his nightstand. He couldn't count the number of times he had checked it that day hoping someone would message him. Did they forget he had it? Had Lucifer forgotten?

Drip.

At least Belphie hadn't. They had a weekly call scheduled and tomorrow was one of those days. It was part of the reason he couldn't sleep. Dellyn was overrun with excitement. His weekly calls with Belphie were the only thing on his schedule that gave him any joy.

Schedules. It was one of his few saving graces during his time in Devildom. A strict schedule was what gave him the time to accomplish all of his tasks while simultaneously tending to the attentions of all seven demon brothers. His schedule had plenty of empty slots now. Maybe he could reconnect with some friends, hit up the club, join a sports team - anything to fill up the empty void he now felt.

Drip.

Okay. Enough was enough of that. With an irritated groan he shoved his covers off and walked to his kitchen. He dug through the drawers and cupboards for something to fix the stupid faucet with. The lights from a passing car outside made him look to his kitchen window. It was then he caught something in the corner of his eye in the reflection of the glass.

A shadowy figure was sitting at his table facing his direction. Dellyn's heart leapt. Could it be? Quickly he flipped on the switch to illuminate the stranger. It wasn't him or any of them for that matter, it was someone new. Dellyn knew immediately that he wasn't human. Sure, the man looked human, but Dellyn just knew otherwise. The man had silvery long white hair and sapphire deep eyes. His fair skin was flawless and Dellyn could have sworn that he detected a hint of light radiating from it. He was wearing a white neatly pressed suit with a blue tie and diamond cufflinks. The man smiled and leaned over the table to pat the space in front of him.

"Hello Dellyn, I'm so glad to finally meet you. Please sit." His voice was soft, but cold.

Being told to "sit" in his own house rubbed him the wrong way, but that wasn't all that put Dellyn on edge. It was the man's smile. Something about it was wrong, fake, - sinister. Dellyn glanced to the nearest exit.

"Oh, I can assure you that running would be futile human. I'd crush that beautiful skull of yours before you took a single step."

Dell could feel his heart thudding in his chest. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The creature smiled again. Dellyn's stomach twisted into a knot.

"My apologies, that came off as rude didn't it? My name is Aloysious. But please," he patted the spot again, "sit."

The young human's feet felt like lead as he forced himself to sit. Aloysious seemed pleased with himself as he folded his arms over the table. His gaze became intense looking Dellyn over. Dellyn leaned back in his chair crossing his arms over his chest. It was a trick he had picked up to look as calm as possible whenever Lucifer was interrogating him over some shenanigan he and the others tried to pull. It never worked, and it wouldn't work this time either.

Aloysious's smile turned into a grin. It was at this moment Dell wished he was being interrogated, maybe even tortured by Lucifer. Physical pain would have been preferable to the harrowing sensation this being shot through his soul.

Aloysious shook his head slowly, "I see now, I see everything so clearly. You know, I wondered why a mundane human had been chosen for that blasphemous exchange program, but you're not mundane at all, are you?"

He must've been referring to his heritage.

The stranger continued, now drumming his fingers on the table, "I can see it in your eyes." He leaned forward. Dellyn leaned back.

"You are a sight to behold, even for a human. I can see why that traitor Lucifer has taken such a liking to you."

Dellyn didn't think he was in danger now, he knew he was.

"You're an angel," he managed to get out.

Aloysious laughed, "What gave it away my dear? Can you see auras?"

Dellyn shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "You called Lucifer a traitor. The only people I can think that would have a reason to say that are angels."

Aloysious grew serious, "So you know the story then? You know what he and his bastard family did?"

Dellyn's face grew hot with rage. He tried his best to keep calm digging his fingernails into his flesh.

"I can see from your expression that I've struck a nerve," Aloysious said coolly.

The human grit his teeth to keep his mouth shut. One wrong word could spell the end of him.

"Do you care about them? The demons? The traitors? The blasphemers?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Dellyn blurted out.

The angel stood up glaring down at him icily, "I was there human. I was there when Lucifer gave me this-" He undid his tie and pulled down his collar revealing a nasty scar across his neck. "I was THERE human when that brute Beelzebub gave me THIS." He then ripped open his shirt sending buttons flying in every direction to reveal a puncture scar over his heart.

Before Dell knew what was happening the angel's hand was around his throat. "Who are you to say what I know, and don't know?"

Dellyn tried to pry the angel's hand away. It merely tightened. The angel shook him like a rag doll, "and for what? So that their spoiled brat of a sister could have her little human?"

He threw Dellyn into a wall knocking the air out of him. Dell scrambled to his hands and knees trying to get his breath back.

Aloysious put a hand over his lips with a look of shock. He then furrowed his brow, "Oh Dellyn, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for things to get violent. But you have to admit that you deserved that right? For talking back like that? You poor child. I suppose it isn't entirely your fault. You don't know any better."

Dell fought the urge to vomit. This angel was off his rocker.

Aloysious knelt down and patted the top of his head, "And I must apologize if I've misled you. I'm not here for revenge against the Morning Star and his family. No, you see, there is something much bigger at stake here."

Dellyn didn't bother to reply. He knew the windbag would tell him on his own.

"It's the exchange program."

Dell's eyes snapped up to meet his.

"It's an abomination."

The human fixed his glasses not sure if he heard that correctly, "What?"

Aloysious crouched down to be face to face with the gasping human, "I intend to put a stop to this iniquity. I can't allow that unclean prince to wrap his claws around everything that is holy and righteous in the universe."

Dell backed away the best he could trying to stand up. His legs shook. "Iniquity? What's so bad about people coming together and becoming friends? The guy's a visionary."

He thought for a moment about the scornful look he'd receive from Lucifer for referring to Lord Diavolo as "the guy". The angel apparently didn't find it amusing either. He shoved Dell against the wall and leaned in close nearly touching noses.

"You've clearly been corrupted beyond measure." He eyed Dellyn up and down condescendingly, "But maybe not beyond redemption."

Swallowing hard Dell looked at the angel as squarely as he could, "What do you want from me? You're not just here to preach."

Aloysious pushed away from the wall, "You're right." He then smiled. It looked like an attempt at a warm one, but it just came off as wrong.

"Rumor has it that you were quite the star child at RAD, the herald of the program's success and an indicator of future exchanges. So it would be a powerful symbol if you were to renounce the program, disown the brothers, and call out the wickedness of the angels involved."

Dellyn glared at him. The demon brothers and Simeon could handle themselves, but how could anyone threaten that precious cinnamon bun Luke?

"Never," he growled resolutely.

A great gush of wind escaped Dell's lungs as his stomach erupted in agony. The angel's fist crashed him against the wall making it crack. Dell thought he heard a rib crack.

"That wasn't a request, human."

His hand quickly moved from Dell's stomach to his throat again, "It's an order. As a lower life form you must comply."

"You're just going to have to kill me," Dellyn grunted, "I'll never say anything like that."

The angel sighed heavily with a frown, "I wish I could release you from your sin, but it's not that simple."

"We could torture him." A familiar voice spoke from behind the corner. The black eyed demon revealed himself. It was Mephistopheles. Dell immediately felt his blood boil.

Mephisto grinned at him, "Hello Dorklyn, it's been a while."

This little hell spawn had been a thorn in Dell's side since day one at Devildom. He pinched, kicked, slapped, and punched him whenever no one was looking. He had gotten Dellyn into trouble, multiple times damaging his relationship with Lucifer on more than one occasion. On his birthday the demon went out of his way to break Dell's glasses, tripping him on his way to his seat.

Despite the abuse Dell never snitched on him. His pride wouldn't allow it. He dealt with the demon in his own way and it just so happened to coincide with helping Mammon pay off a few debts he owed to Mephisto. He challenged Mephisto to a drinking contest, and the stakes had been high. If Dellyn won Mephisto had to forgive Mammon's debt, if the demon won he'd get Dellyn's soul.

Mammon nearly flipped his lid when he found out. "YOU IDIOT!"

Dell had to use his pact powers to keep his friend from blabbing to Lucifer. Normally he'd agree. Silly games with one's soul on the line were idiotic. But Dellyn had a trick up his sleeve. Demonic alcohol had -no- effect on him. The only one who had even an inkling about that was Asmodeus.

It was perfect. Mammon's debt would be paid and Dell would get a chance to embarrass that bitch of a demon into oblivion. And it had been perfect. Not only did he drink Mephisto under the table, but he also made him cry in front of his friends and Leviathan had recorded all of it. It was a glorious day, and after that Mephisto had left him alone.

But now it seemed that things were about to come full circle.

Dell grit his teeth the best he could. The angel's grip was still around his throat. He put on a smile, "Oh hey Mephistopheles, finally got yourself off the floor I see."

Before the demon could get off a rebuttal Aloysious cut in.

"Foul creature! How dare you sully this world with your presence. Be gone!"

Mephisto chortled and rolled his eyes, "Typical light fairy response. No, listen you moron, I'm the one that sent you the letter. I'm the one that told you where to find the human."

The angel looked absolutely horrified. "Summoned by the hands of an unclean one?!" He growled viciously, "No! It can't be. The stationery, the ink, it all originated from the celestial realm."

"That's because I stole it from that little chihuahua Luke."

That was only funny when the guys said it.

The human struggled against Aloysious's grasp, "You take that back you fuck-"

Suddenly Dell felt himself falling backwards into his wall. A strong hand was gripped on his shoulder pulling him away. Blackness.