Lucifer sat in his study, ignoring anything that could be happening in the house around him. He frowned as he skimmed over the report he had just finished reading. It wasn't that he doubted Sitri's findings, but something was not adding up for him.

According to Sitri, the human, Kimberly, was a model employee- with a strong work ethic, and a cheerful demeanor that kept both clients and fellow employees happy. Everyday she would go from work, to their home, and take on most of the household duties as well.

From the application, they knew that Kimberly and her spouse were both providers- that is, until Sitri arrived. The spouse had stopped going to his job, and instead used the stipend that Diavolo gave for her absence in place of the money he would bring in from working- which to Lucifer, proved that he would prefer to be provided for.

It is interesting, Lucifer mused, setting the report down. He sat with his chin on his hands, his elbows on the desk, as he went over what he knew. Perhaps the human male is the dominant one in the relationship, and works only as a means of escaping boredom?

He set that idea aside. While it did have merit, he thought it not likely. Kimberly didn't act like she had a submissive bone in her body. Timid at times, and possibly shy, certainly… but submissive? He huffed a laugh at the thought. It could be possible with the right partner and the proper… incentive, but that is neither here, nor there, he thought.

If he were speculating, he would conclude that she was a giver- one that put other's needs before their own. Noble really, but ultimately naive when it came to relationships. Manipulation of such people was easy if one knew what they needed to feel and hear.

Lucifer glanced down at the report again, amused. It was obvious, seeing it from the outside as he was. Sitri noted that the human man hardly ever spoke of or asked about his wife, and in fact seemed more fascinated with the demoness, and the Devildom in general- curious as to what such knowledge could gain him.

He found it telling of the human's nature that Sitri claimed if she had not been ordered to leave the man be, she would have already formed a pact, and claimed the man's soul- most likely without trouble, and at very little cost.

Diavolo had expressed concern that the human's contact with her spouse may be detrimental to her ability to acclimate to her newfound role in the Devildom, so Lucifer had taken steps to discover the validity of such. He would be able to put that issue to rest now, and yet… he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Kimberly than she had shown them thus far.

Or is it that she defended Mammon, that is giving me pause? he asked himself. That particular brand of loyalty still baffled him. His brother had done nothing to ingratiate himself to the human, and yet she covered for his failings, and even spoke out against the rest of them on his behalf. So why then?

He eventually determined that he would not be able to simply work out the meaning of the human's behavior. He would have to be more observant, and even put such loyalty to the test. The idea brought a smirk to his face, and he picked up his glass of demonus, finally able to enjoy it.

"And of course, we welcome an officer of the RAD student council once again," Orcus, the professor of the introductory poisons class spoke gently, but Kim could feel the animosity from his words.

He sneered, and turned away, as Satan pointedly ignored him, reading his own book as he sat next to her table in the class. Kim looked down at her notebook as several of the students gave her disgusted looks.

I know it's because of me that he's here, but it's not like I have a choice! she thought. That morning, some students had moved even further away from her and Satan, the aura of anger coming from him stronger than the day before.

She ignored it all as best as she could, taking notes as Orcus demonstrated the poison that they were learning of that day. They way he spoke of it, it was more difficult to make correctly than others, but also more useful when right.

The toxicant was slow in its effects, which made it all the more difficult to place when the victim may have been affected. And its differing ingredients caused symptoms that were so varied, that humans had a hard time diagnosing what the actual problem was, much less treating it.

Kim was uneasy at this knowledge, but got some measure of relief at knowing that the demons wanted souls, not just to randomly kill people. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if it were truly wise to share all of these "tricks of the trade" with her, a human.

After the demonstration, the students were tasked with choosing a partner and recreating the poison. She looked over to Satan hopefully, but he just said, "no," without even looking up from his book.

Surprisingly, one of the other demons came over and grunted, "Let's get this over with, human," at her. She looked up, seeing a young demon who looked like a teenager in a rebellious stage, though she thought his piercings tame to what she had seen back home.

She recognized him of course, he had striking good looks, with dark blue hair, and bright amethyst eyes. She found it hard to believe that no one else chose to partner with him, as he was always surrounded by others. His name was Caim, and he was the top student in the class.

"Well?!" he demanded as he looked down his nose at her.

"Uh, right! Sorry…" she replied, getting up from her table next to Satan, and following him to the front of the room where he sat. He elegantly sat while gesturing to a nearby chair, and Kim flopped down across from him, feeling somewhat out of her league.

"Um… I took notes?" she offered, and he rolled his eyes at her.

"This is one of the easiest potions ever, even a child could make it," he replied. "I've been making it for years at home."

"Oh, okay," she murmured.

"Look, let's get something straight," he said, causing her to look up. "I don't like having a human here, any more than the rest of the Devildom." She hunched down in her seat. "However, what Lord Diavolo wants, he gets- get it?"

She nodded slightly, wondering where he was going with this. "Obviously, they'd like to have you in classes with the council officers, but when it comes to demons, you know less than nothing, so that's not an option.

"And at least with Mammon watching you, we didn't have to be bothered. But now?" he glanced towards the back of the room where Satan was still sitting. "The way I see it, there are two solutions. You can study hard enough to move ahead to other classes, or you can get Mammon back."

"Wha-" she looked up at him like he was crazy, but stopped at the fire in his eyes. She hadn't ever thought of him as scary, but realized she should have. "I… I don't think either of those is an option right now…" she mumbled.

"We'll see," he said, giving her a grin that she supposed was to make her feel better, but only succeeded in giving her the creeps. "You could start by acing this class today. You make the poison, and I'll guide you through it?" he asked. She was hesitant, but decided to go ahead. The way she thought of it, he wasn't acting any worse than the brothers she was living with.

"First you start with the heliotrope," he began and she picked up a pen to make a notation. He snapped that she didn't have time to stop and take notes, so she simply nodded. When he wasn't looking she set her D.D.D. to record.

He might be begrudgingly helping her this once, but she wasn't going to let the chance pass her by. She had promised Diavolo that she would do her best, so she would. She couldn't embarrass any of them by failing.

"It was different than how the professor completed it, but when Orcus came around to check them, he said it was perfectly done," Kim recanted the story of Poisons class to Solomon as they left their Human Cults class at the end of the day.

"Odd, I didn't realize there was more than one way to make that poison," he mused.

"It wasn't too different," she admitted. "Small things, like how Caim had me slice open the heliotrope stems before adding them, or how he had me let it simmer for ten minutes instead of just the five at the last stage." She gave a shrug. "He said he makes it at home, so maybe something his parents taught him?"

"It could be," Solomon agreed. "Experimentation from previous generations perhaps… interesting."

"It really was, but now I have two differing sets of notes to study," she grumbled. "Back home, teachers were straightforward about what material to study, but here?" She gave a large sigh.

Solomon chuckled, and she looked at him darkly. "I'm sorry," he said with a smile. "I don't mean to poke fun."

"How are you so easily acclimated here?" Kim asked. "Have you been in the Devildom before?"

"Here? No," he replied. "But I've heard so much about it, that it feels familiar somehow. It's more that I've had dealings with demons, have gotten used to the way they view things, I suppose."

"Can I ask you something… that might seem a little foolish?" she asked.

He looked intrigued, as he glanced over to her. "Sure," he answered.

"You won't laugh, right?" she asked.

"Now I'm very curious," he said with a chuckle. "Of course I won't laugh at you."

"Do…" she paused, then started again. "Lucifer told me that a demoness is staying in the human realm in my place," she said, and Solomon nodded. "Well, I guess, I've been wondering if she has taken my appearance too? Like, if she's pretending to be me, and that's why no one will notice that I'm gone?"

Solomon started laughing, and Kim turned to glare at him. "Hey, you promised!"

He began coughing, as he tried to stop, and she could hear him apologizing between his hacking. After a few moments, he regained control of himself, and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I really wasn't laughing at you, it just caught me off guard, is all."

"Hmph," she grunted, pouting.

"Honestly," he stressed. "It was just a mental picture of you acting like a demoness. It was not at all like you, and that's what made me laugh, I promise. And, you don't have to worry, most humans just believe whatever they want to believe. The demons say something, and they go along with it, thinking whatever reason that makes sense in their mind."

"Really?" she asked, surprised.

"Really," he answered with a nod. He gestured with his head for them to keep walking, and she shook her head.

"I've got to go meet Satan so I can have an escort home," she explained.

"Come on, I'll walk you back to the House of Lamentation," he said, rolling his eyes. "Those demons aren't the only way you can be safe."

She gave him an inscrutable look, but finally nodded. "We should go tell them at least, so they don't worry that I've been eaten."

He smiled, but gave a nod, and turned to lead the way.

"Before we get back to that, I just have to say, I am so glad you're here too," she said. "Without you to talk to, I'd have been really…" she trailed off.

"Lonely?" he supplied.

"Yeah, that," she answered. "So, just, thank you."

"It's my pleasure," he answered. "Like I said, we humans need to stick together."

"And that's it?" she asked, staring at him.

"How do you know there's more?" he asked, smirking.

"I can feel it, that's all," she replied.

"And, I enjoy hearing about the demon brothers," he admitted. "But that's not why I spend time with you-"

"Hey, it's okay," she interrupted. "Don't worry about it! It's only been a couple of days, and pretty soon we'll be friends and only hanging out because we want to see each other. I'm not taking it personally, and you shouldn't either, since I'm relying on you to keep me safe in class."

He glanced at her in amazement. "You're unlike anyone I've met before," he murmured. "Your honesty is refreshing."

"Yeah, I get that a lot around here," she said with a smile, which he returned. "So, back to that other stuff! Humans seriously don't question what demons say?!"

"Well, it depends on the human…" Solomon began, diving in to the differing ways humans are affected by demons, while Kim took it all in like a sponge, the lecture continuing after they stopped to tell Satan she would walk home with Solomon.

"That seems so crazy," she said, once he was done.

"One thing has me puzzled, though," Solomon said, frowning. "Why would that be such a bad thing, if this demoness looked like you? Wouldn't it make it easier, not having to answer questions about where you were and the like?"

Kim opened her mouth to answer, suddenly feeling foolish at the thought she had had. "Promise you won't laugh?" she asked weakly, knowing he may not be able to keep it, even if he agreed.

"I'll try," he agreed.

"Well, I guess I was thinking… that my husband might mistake her for me, and maybe he would be unhappy when we switched back."

There was silence as Solomon's mouth opened, and then shut, and then opened again, but no words came out.

"Uh, yeah, like I said, foolish," Kim mumbled.

"You're… married?" he asked finally.

"Oh… yeah," she said, turning to look up at him with a smile. "Been together since high school."

"I see," he said. "And you are worried that she is a succubi?" he said gingerly.

"Well, no, I just mean… what if she's nicer, as me, then I was?" She scrunched her face as she thought of it. "Now that we're adults, we can't just play games all day like we used to, and I feel bad because we've had to be more responsible…"

Solomon startled, realizing that he had gotten the wrong idea, and flushed, grateful that she didn't seem to notice.

"I'm sure that she is only taking on your tasks, nothing more. She'll be learning about the human world just as you are learning about the Devildom, so she'll be just as busy studying her surroundings as you are."

"You think so?" she asked, smiling widely at him. "Thanks Solomon! That really helped me feel better!"

"Any time, of course!" he replied, grateful that it was over. He never thought that someone could wring such emotions from him with a single conversation, but she did.

They were quiet for a few minutes as they walked, though Solomon could practically read the need to ask something on her face.

"What is it?" he asked gently.

"Huh?" she startled.

"Come on, what do you want to ask?" he asked her again.

"How did you know I want to ask something?" she demanded.

"It's written all over your face," he replied, giving her a good-natured eye roll. "So, what is it?"

It was true, she had been wanting to ask him something, but she worried that she didn't truly want to know the answer. However, Levi was still bugging her about making a pact with Mammon, in order to get his money back from the elder brother.

In truth, making a pact wasn't what was concerning her, it was what it would cost her.

"Okay, but this may take a bit," she said, looking around. "Can we sit?" she asked, pointing over to a large shade tree.

"Sure," he said, curious, as he led the way off the sidewalk towards the small green area. "What's on your mind?" he asked a third time once they had sat down.

"Well, I heard about pacts yesterday, and I remember that you said something about having pacts with like seventy demons? I'm not sure if you were serious about that, and that's not the point. But the person that was telling me about it, said that pacts don't have to be about giving up your soul, and really, my only experience with this is from TV, so I was actually wondering… is that true?"

The corner of his lip tweaked up, as did an eyebrow at her hurried words. He thought it humorous that she would talk so quickly, practically spitting out words when she was nervous about something.

"Well, first off, yes it's true- both parts," he added before she could ask. "I was serious, I have made pacts with seventy two different demons-"

"What?! Any that I know?!" she interrupted.

"Um, yes, actually," he said, amused that that had been her question. "Asmodeus."

"Oh my… seriously?!"

"Why, is that a problem?" he asked, frowning.

"No, of course not… I just didn't expect it I guess," she replied, looking at him curiously. "So obviously, you can't offer your soul to seventy-two different people, so how does that work?"

"Pacts are just that… a contract. But since the demon offers power, and they become subjugated to the human- they won't risk it unless it is worthwhile for them. But in all honesty, there is no set determining factor to make a pact. It just depends on what you and the demon want."

"So you find something the demon wants… and they may decide to make a pact with you," she mused.

"That's one way to look at it," he agreed. "It could be something they want now, like money or power, or even the death of an enemy," she looked up sharply at that, and he shrugged. "Or it could be something promised to them in the future, like a soul."

"I see. And in exchange, they become like, your servant?" she said, her face wrinkling unhappily at the thought.

"That depends on you," he said, growing serious again. "Some people treat it that way, I'm sure you've read stories and such. You can order them, yes, if you choose to. But the true benefit, is being able to summon them to you when you need them."

"Oh! Like how I can use their powers on my D.D.D.?" she asked.

"Exactl- wait, what?!" he gaped.

"I guess, uh, I have help, since I don't have magic?" she said vaguely, wondering if she was supposed to keep that a secret.

"We'll have to talk more about that later," he said, eyeing her device. "I meant, sometimes a mark is given and placed on the human, and it can be used with magic to summon the bonded demon to you." He looked her in the eyes. "Magic can summon them alone, but the mark makes it easier. Without magic, you'll likely be unable to summon one, even with a pact."

"I see," she said, thinking over all this new information. "So then… do you choose to have marks on you when you make a pact?" she asked, looking him over as if suddenly able to see them.

He gave her a smirk, and pushed up his right sleeve. Starting just above his wrist, there were circles that looked almost like exquisite tattoos. They weren't overlapping, but were crowded all around his arm, each with a different symbol inside them, some with writing, some without.

She was fascinated, and moved closer for a better look. He gave her the opportunity, but pulled back as he saw her reach out, and pulled his sleeve back into place.

"It's not a good idea for you to touch them, as they are a bond between the pact holders," he explained.

She pulled back as well. "I wouldn't call them here or anything, would I?" she asked in trepidation.

He chuckled, and shook his head. "No, but by touching the mark, they are made more aware of me, probably thinking I was about to summon them."

"I see…"

He looked at her for a moment or two, but found that this time he couldn't interpret the look on her face.

"So, what brought all this on?" he asked. "Are you thinking of trying to make a pact with a demon?"

"No, I don't think so," she replied. "I just had… someone telling me to make one with another someone, so I thought I'd better learn what I could, so I would know what I am talking about the next time it came up."

He nodded. "It's always wise to gain knowledge, it will keep you from rash decisions." He stood up and held out a hand to her. "Come on, I'd better get you home, before the brothers come searching for you."

"Okay," she replied, reaching out and letting him help her to her feet. "So… I was thinking, that maybe you'd be willing to give me some tips some time, on effective studying methods here in the Devildom. You've obviously got a way of having everything making sense, and I need your secrets!"

She turned to plead to him, and found him smiling again.

"I'm sure we could work something out," he answered. "I've been wanting an invitation to the House of Lamentation, after all. A study session seems the perfect opportunity."

"Yes!" she cheered. "I'm so glad I have the opportunity to give you something back for helping me!"

He smiled slightly, as he led her along. They walked in companionable silence, and he too thought it nice, to have someone that he could give to, and ask of. He glanced over, noting that she had a smile on her face.

A friend… the whole sensation was something new and fascinating. He wondered if he would keep the friendship after the exchange program was over.

He glanced down at her, and thought… perhaps. He had plenty of subordinates, but he couldn't truly call anyone a friend, and wondered why that would suddenly bother him.

Solomon didn't worry about keeping a brisk pace, even knowing that demons might show up to claim the two of them. He wasn't lying to Kimberly, he had pacts with a few greater demons that he could call on in a moment's notice to assist them.

Of course, the jewel in his cap- so to speak- would be if he could forge a pact with Lucifer. So far, he had proven slippery, unwilling to even talk with Solomon about anything other than the exchange program. Perhaps, that could change if they were at the House of Lamentation instead of RAD.

Eventually they made it to their destination, and Solomon stopped outside the gates.

"Are you sure you don't want to come in?" Kimberly asked.

"Yes, I am sorry, but it is my turn to cook dinner," he answered. "I'd hate for the angels to go hungry."

Her mouth gaped open. "Whoa, I've heard that the Celestial Realm is part of the exchange program, but there are really angels here?!" she asked incredulously.

He chuckled. "But of course," he replied. "They are staying at Purgatory Hall with me."

She frowned. "So it must be fairly safe there then," she commented. "I wonder why I am staying here?"

"Safe is a relative term," Solomon answered with a smirk, though his tone was gentle. "The demons tend to avoid the angels… too pure and all."

"I see," she said, discontent. "Hopefully I'll prove that I can resist them, and they'll avoid me too."

"I'll help you if I can, but don't get discouraged," he said. "It will take time."

She scrunched her face at the thought, but gave him a nod. "Thanks Solomon, for walking me home," she said cheerfully. "You're welcome anytime, okay?"

"Thank you," he answered, giving her a nod. "We can plan on studying later this week perhaps?" he offered. "That way you'll be prepared for your first test."

"Great!" she called, turning away and moving through the gate. She noticed he was waiting for her to get inside, so when she made it to the door, she turned and gave him a wave. "See you tomorrow!"