AN: This is the first chapter of a revised version of a fanfic I wrote a LONG time ago for LJ and an old account that I no longer use (but unfortunately can't delete because the email address I linked to that account no longer exists). Because I was very young when I wrote the original story, there will be some changes, but the general story beats will remain the same. This is designed to be a frame story, so the prologue and epilogue will take place shortly after AJ, whereas the main chunk of the story will take place during Kristoph and Klavier's childhood.

"M-Mr. Gavin, you have a visitor!"

The blonde man seated in the large violet chair sighed as he gently placed the book he was reading on the mahogany stand in front of him.

"Mr. DeLite," Kristoph began, watching the red-haired security guard from the corner of his eye. "I believe I have mentioned countless times that I do not wish to speak to any minister attempting to 'save my soul'. I'm not terribly fond of religion, you see."

"This man isn't a priest. At least, I don't think he is. Then again, maybe not all priests look the same. I mean after all, times are changing and everything, so..." Ron DeLite began to trail off, tilting his head to the side and biting his lip. Then, as if catching himself in the act, the guard stood up straighter and stopped his train of thought. "But, um, anyway, this person really wants to see you and I don't think he'll take no for an answer…so, could you come with me…please?"

Kristoph sighed as his eyes trailed up towards the small window near the top of his cell. Rays of sunlight escaped through the bars, lightly illuminating the towering bookshelf. Picking up the copy of Paradise Lost he set aside earlier, Kristoph made his way towards the shelf and gently placed the book back in its original position.

"Well, I suppose we shouldn't keep this mysterious guest waiting." Kristoph gave the security guard a tight smile, already knowing full well who this unknown "guest" was.

Taken aback by Kristoph's sudden acquiescence, Ron nodded quickly and fumbled with the keys needed to unlock the metal gate. After that fateful trial, Mr. Gavin was never cooperative when it came to leaving his cell, and Ron wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"This isn't one of those cushy security jobs where you get to sit on your ass all day in an air-conditioned lobby and the biggest problem is a broken coffee machine," Ron remembered one of the old-timers telling him on his first day of the job, guessing correctly that Ron was woefully unprepared to deal with the reality of working at a prison after seeing him vomit when another guard was wheeled away with a pen lodged into his eyeball. "You're going to meet a lot of sickos in here. About half of 'em view their cells as little sanctuaries and they don't take kindly to people interfering with that."

Mr. DeLite looked warily at Kristoph, who was the man responsible for said eyeball mutilation. Why do I always get the short straw?

As he led Kristoph past the cells of various jeering inmates towards the visitor's room, Ron's unease grew with every subsequent step. Kristoph Gavin was officially declared criminally insane, and requiring only a single guard escort him seemed like a massive oversight on the part of the prison warden.

Gulping, Ron turned his head to see—with rising panic—that Kristoph stopped moving. Instead, he was staring in the direction from which they came.

Ron swallowed. "Mr. Gavin, did you have a question?"

"This little visit will not take long, will it? I'd like to get back to my room as quickly as possible." Although Kristoph was speaking in the same melodious, almost hypnotic, tone he always used, there was a slight edge in his voice that was not present before.

Ron gave another gulp as he tried to search for the right words. The absolute last thing Ron wanted was to upset a man confirmed to be mentally insane. Although Mr. Gavin was always polite and courteous towards him (unlike poor Noah Iyes, Ron thought bitterly, remembering the security guard on the stretcher), there was always a possibility that one day he would snap without warning.

And after seeing that video of him in court, Ron thought, giving another glance to the man behind him, I can't really be blamed for feeling uncomfortable around him. Even if Dessie told me there was nothing to worry about…

"It really shouldn't be that long, Mr. Gavin. Unless he has something really important to say, which could go on for a while, but I really don't think that'll happen…hopefully." Ron swallowed again. Luckily for him, the door to the visiting room came in view and Ron let out a small sigh of relief.

Kristoph gave Ron a warm smile, which was more unnerving than relaxing. "Well, I believe this is where we part ways. It was a pleasure speaking to you, Mr. DeLite."

"Um, same here." Not really… "I'll be back in ten minutes I guess, unless it goes longer….then I'm not exactly sure when I'll come back…" Ron mumbled. "There are some guards inside, so if anything goes wrong, they'll, um, they'll stop it."

As he turned to leave, Ron's eyes accidently locked with Kristoph's. The security guard bit his lip to suppress a small gasp before quickly turning around and scurrying down the hallway. As he left, Ron felt Kristoph's piercing gaze watching him until he turned the corner.

Ron stopped momentarily to catch his breath. Ron DeLite, you were a legendary phantom thief. You stole priceless artifacts and were never caught. You can't let some prisoner scare you. You're the one who's supposed to be in charge. Ron could hear Desiree's voice like she was right there with him.

But those eyes…

Ron shuddered. He saw something like that once before, seven years ago, in a man he hated to think about.

Those eyes…they were the eyes of a madman. They had this gleam of insanity in them, I know they did. I can't just be imagining it…

Ron took a deep breath and mentally counted to five. Whatever he saw, it was over now. Until, of course, I have to see him again…why did I even take this job in the first place? So what if the consulting business fell through? There had to be something else, some other security position I could have taken . Ugh…me and my decisions…

With a sigh, Ron DeLite went about his day, pushing thoughts of demons with angelic voices and angels with demonic eyes behind him.

After waiting to make sure the footsteps of the pitiful security guard could not be heard, Kristoph Gavin let out a small chuckle. Every staff member in the whole building was an idiot. Honestly. Couldn't he have waited until after I opened the door to leave?

Shaking his head at the continued incompetence of the prison staff, Kristoph put his smooth hands on the metallic doorknob, but hesitated. This whole thing would probably end up being a complete waste of time, but the sooner he could get this conversation over with, the sooner he could return to his room. If the person waiting for him was who Kristoph thought it was, then Kristoph knew he would be forced to endure the unwelcome sight of Ron DeLite rapping at his door every day until Kristoph agreed to meet with this mysterious guest.

How tedious…

Kristoph Gavin let out a small sigh before turning the knob.