So this is a four or five part prologue Im posting before things get fun. There will be a handful of timeskips as this is Kallsi's story, not Asta's. So the events Im writing about are pertinent to Kal, not Tabata's beloved MC. And, she has a different magic from the Grinberryals that will be obvious when I write about her receiving her grimoire. Also, trigger warning: abuse, gaslighting. Thank you for reading!

"What is it you demand of me, mortal?"

"I…" What do I want..? A family, a home where I didn't have to live in constant fear everyday of Vanica, or Zenon, or Dante? "I...don't know."

"You don't know? Look at me, mortal child."

I tear my gaze from the floor, staring up at the spindly monochrome creature before me. His arms hung down to his knees, his nails claws. He's easily seven or eight feet, towering over me. Long curved horns protruded from his forehead, casting shadows over him as he tilts his head to look down at me. His face was hollow, cheeks sunk in and brilliant yellow eyes bulging out of their sockets. He lifts a hand, using a nail to hold my chin up.

And yet I feel no fear standing before him. He could easily kill me, but there was no fight, no trading of blows that the others warned me of. He appeared and asked what I wanted, after a moment's pause to take in my age.

"What is your name?"

"Kallsi Solanis," I say, my voice devoid of emotion to my ears. He seems to flinch, either at the name or the tone of my words, I'm not sure. He takes his nail away and sits, crossing his clawed feet in front of him. Even sitting, he still towered over me.

"You are an interesting one, Kallsi Solanis. Most people either cheer they subjugated a devil such as me, or demand the world of me. And yet, you do not know what you want. Curious."

"I was told you'd try to kill me."

"Ahh, that's more of my brother's shtick," he says with a chuckle, using his claw to gesture to the floor in front of him. I sit down and fold my hands in my lap. "He's the bloodthirsty one, I just prefer to watch."

"You asked my name. What's yours?"

"Hmm...now that's interesting. But I think we've already established you're not as idiotic as other humans. My name is Belzeb, the younger twin brother of Beelzebub. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kallsi Solanis."

"Just...just Kallsi. I don't want the Solanis name."

"But that is how you introduce yourself, so it is still your name, even if you wish not to claim it. Pray tell, do you have a grimoire yet?"

"No, I don't, Belzeb."

"You are but a child, summoning a devil. Why?"

"Because I was told to. Or else I'd be punished."

"Who would punish you, my dear? Perhaps I could kill them for you, and our deal be completed in exchange for your soul."

"Heh. I wish," I murmur, looking down. "They're the true monsters...true demons in this world. They scare me so much...I can't do anything, I'm weak, and a coward, just like my parents."

"Why do you say that? My dear, you just stared down a high ranking devil as if I were a bug crawling across your floor. You didn't flinch when I touched you. Who are these people you deem demons and why do they frighten you so?"

So I explain what happened that night four years ago, the slaughter of my parents, the king and queen with my baby cousin. The cruel machinations of Dante and his siblings. He listened earnestly, and when I finished, he beckoned me over. I hesitantly stood, walking over to him. He wraps his arms around me, my eyes widening as he places a hand on the back of my head. It's almost enough to make me cry for the first time in years, but I just hug him back.

"The first person to show me kindness since that night, and it's an incarnation of evil," I chuckle weakly, pulling away as a smile tugged at my cheeks. He chuckles in return, standing up and holding a hand out to me.

"What is it you want of me, Kallsi Solanis?" He repeats his question from before. "You may ask anything of me."

"I…" I hesitate again. The words Dante told me that night of my parents, that they never truly loved me, came back. My heart throbbed, my hand going to my chest as I took a breath. "I want someone to love me. Not as a husband or wife, but...just genuine love. I want to know what it feels like."

"Hmm….Well, I cannot truly fulfill that wish of yours," he warns me. "But, I can promise you will never be alone again. Your suffering will not only be yours, but mine as well. No child should have to witness the things you have."

"You don't have to stay, if you don't want to."

"My dear, I am with you until the day you die. That is my vow to you. You shall never be alone again, you shall never suffer alone again, and I will protect that smile. So, here we stand with our contract forged. Not one of master and servant-"

"But, one of equals," I finish with yet another smile pulling at my lips. He nods, a smile pulling his thin lips back over his yellowed sharpened teeth. I gently take his hand, wincing as two black bands brand themselves into my wrists, about an inch in thickness. Thin lines of yellow web through them, pulsing slightly with my heartbeat. I rubbed them gently, looking around as Belzeb had disappeared. My heart sank slightly.

"I'm right here!"

I jumped at the small voice, looking to my right shoulder and seeing a smaller version of him sitting there. I wanted to cry again, as I lifted my hands to pick him up and hold him. He was no bigger than a child's plush toy, completely black with pulsing yellow eyes to match the webbing in the black brands.

"You're nowhere as scary like this," I giggle, as he crosses his arms over his chest with a huff. "I guess we need to face them now, huh?"

"We can stay here longer, if you aren't ready, Kallsi. But, you are a lot stronger than you know, and you have me here too now."

"That's right, I'm not alone anymore."

"Never again," he promises as he shrinks down to a small blip before disappearing. I curl my fingers into my palms, stretching them out once before doing it again. Even if he's gone, I can still feel him there. It brings an odd sense of peace to me, so I smile softly as I turn on my heel.

"Oh, Kallsi~" I hear Dante sing as I approach the door. My heart sinks as I push it open, feeling like the same six year old girl in the wardrobe as he leers over me. I feel sick to my stomach seeing his voided smile, the cruel mirth in his eyes. "Do share, what devil did my girl summon and subdue?"

"I…" My words catch in my throat, tears bleeding into my eyes. The webbing in the bands on my wrist flares, a personal light show that draws his attention away from my face. "I-I summoned Belzeb, a high ranking devil, and I-I made a contract of equa-"

I can't even finish my sentence as the back of his hand comes across my face. The force of it sends me shoulder first into the wall, the joint nearly popping out of place against the stone. I can taste blood, and feel my tongue swelling against the roof of my mouth. His smile is gone, replaced with a look of disdain. I brace myself for the next hit, but it doesn't come.

My stomach twists as I dare to look up at him. I want to pray that Zenon would come around the corner; he always managed to lessen the beatings. I would even take Vanica; at least she removes the curses when she's done with me. Anyone but Dante-not even the worse Devil matches him.

"You are much stupider than you lead me to believe at times, aren't you, little girl?" he says, his voice freezing cold and cutting. My legs tremble, nearly giving way underneath me. "A contract of equals. Instead of subduing your devil, like we told you and gave you explicit instructions to do, and yet you go against our simple wishes. Kallsi, Kallsi, my sweet little Kallsi, you've seen what happens to soldiers who can't follow our orders, haven't you?"

"Ye-yes, Lord Dante…"

"And I'd like to believe you still have a decently nice life here, regardless of what we do for you training wise. Do you really want that to change?"

"N-no sir…"

"That's a good little girl. Now, you'll learn how to use that little contract of yours properly, and for my benefit, won't you?"

"I will."

"That's such a good girl. I really don't like hitting you, but you make it so damn hard not to when you misbehave, don't you know that?"

"Yes sir."

"Good girl. Go clean yourself up."

"Yes sir."

With that, I'm dismissed. I walk quietly to the room they designated to be mine, in the wing of the castle away from the siblings. Despite being so far away, it was still heavily guarded by the men and women so devoted to them, their Apostles. Some were nice, asking me about my day. A few of them actually brought me sweets from outside and stories, and helped to fix me up after Vanica's experiments. The others could be just as cruel as everyone else. I guess Dante gave them special permission for it, because some go above and beyond.

"Lady Kallsi, your lip is bleeding," a female apostle says as I walk into the room. She follows me, closing the door behind me. "Did Lord Dante hit you again?"

"It's my fault," I deflect, waving my hand. The black bands catch my eye again as I slowly lower them. "I messed up again. I'm fine."

"Sit down, and let me see," she orders, raising an eyebrow as I obediently sit on the bed with my hands folded in my lap. "Open." She holds my chin as she looks in, her eyes narrowing. "You bit through your tongue. I'll get you a glass of water to help wash the blood out, but it should heal up just fine. What devil did you end up summoning?"

"Hello there!" Belzeb sings, hanging over my shoulder with his arms dangling in front as he kicks his little legs. "My name is Belzeb. I'm the devil Kallsi summoned."

"Oh, he is just adorable," the apostle says, chuckling. "I think you will do just fine."

I hope so...