This fic was inspired by NerdQueen228. Specifically, it was inspired by her fic: "Iruma, Mom's a Teacher Now!" It's a solid read and one I highly recommend.

Starting Over

Chapter One: "Everything"

Her life was over.

Technically, it was over ten years ago. No one expected her to live this long. Save for her late husband, of course. She, who he called the most beautiful star. She, who he took care of and encouraged her to go after the life she wanted, up until the day he died. Her health got worse because of this, not helped by the fact that she was pregnant at the time.

Nothing would have helped. No one would have helped. Her parents didn't care, her older sister didn't care, and worst of all, her little boy didn't care.

The woman let out a sigh, her breath fogging up her oxygen mask as she closed her eyes. It's not like he had any reason to care. Her bitch-ass sister never brought him to see her once, despite all of her promises. She wasn't the responsible type. Whatever she did, it was only to ensure she got the life she wanted. Why, if the younger sister weren't desperate, she would have never considered letting her have him.

Iruma, she thought, tears welling up. My dear boy, I hope you're all right.

She had been told that she only had a few months to live. This didn't make her panic, even in the sorry state she was in. After all, she had been told that twelve other times throughout her life. She always beat the odds. However, thirteen was turning out to be her unlucky number. Her blue hair was falling out in clumps, she couldn't move, she could barely speak, and she couldn't keep weight on her body, making her appear as nothing more than skin and bones. Yes, Death was itching to claim her this time.

And it seemed like today was that day.

Everything stopped in the hospital room. The heart monitor stopped beeping, the announcement in the hallway was cut off, and the world turned dimmer.

So, this is the end, she thought, waiting to meet her maker.

Suddenly, there was nothing. The room, her bed, everything was gone. She felt weightless, and her surroundings were shadowy and crimson. Before her stood a man that was definitely not human. He was bald, with a curled, puffy mustache, small, circular glasses that covered his eyes, and two horns on the sides of his head. He was tall and lean, wearing a purple suit with a white undershirt. The collar to his purple jacket had fur, and was adorned with a silver clasp in the shape of a bird skull.

The man spoke in a deep, echoing voice, but she couldn't understand a word of it. After a moment, he snapped his fingers, and she felt her head get fuzzy and her body tightly bound. "Ai Maruma, I have come for you," he said, his deep voice no longer echoing.

The woman flinched at the man. "Don't call me that! I hate that name," she said, pouting. Then a look of shock appeared on her face. "What the...how am I talking? I couldn't breathe before. Is...is this what happens when you die?" She wondered, not expecting an answer.

The man chuckled and snapped his fingers again. The woman found him placing a "sold" tag on her. Then he replied: "No. It's not. You are very much alive, and you're coming with me."

The woman found herself in a sphere of light, floating in the center of it, and her eyes wide with shock. Both with what was transpiring and what this man told her.

"What's going on?" She asked, starting to panic. There was so much to process. She was alive. She could breathe and speak normally. The man was dragging her in a magic ball through the sky, and said man had wings now. It now appeared to be night when it was just morning, and there were dark-colored trees below them in place of all the city buildings. "Where are you taking me? What even are you?"

The man didn't look back at her, but he did respond. "My name is Sullivan and I am a demon. I'm taking you to my mansion here in the Netherworld: the realm of demons," he said.

"What? You gotta be kidding me!" She said. "If you're a demon, how can I understand you? And why would you take me?" She asked, trying to think of what else could fit what was going on. She couldn't seriously be talking to a demon. Demons didn't exist. And even if they did, why would a demon take her?

"No, Madam, I am not joking you. Your parents sold you to me, so now you're mine," he said.

She winced at that. "They just hate that I keep living," she said, anger seething from her being. She managed to respond with a level voice with only mild annoyance, starting to fear for her safety.

"Indeed," Sullivan said. "Also, I used a spell on you so you can understand my language. It's part of being a demon."

The woman stopped for a moment, looking back at the demon. "But...how could those bastsrds do that and have it stick? I mean, I'm not a kid anymore. Isn't it my choice as an adult in this?" She asked, trying to think of some way to get out of this.

"An adult whose health is frail at best belongs to those loved ones who are responsible for their care," he said.

The woman froze for a second. "But I'm dying, or I was dying. Why would you want me?" She asked him, her voice shaking.

Again, Sullivan chuckled, a large mansion coming into view. "Oh, I have something special planned for you, Madam," he said in a menacing tone.

Sullivan flapped his wings once, soaring to his destination with greater speed. It happened so fast that the woman started screaming. Only stopping when she was popped out of her light bubble and plopped onto a large and rather comfortable chair. The room was brightly lit, and was warm and inviting, with drinks and treats on a nearby table. Off to the side was a person with red eyes and hair, and what looked to be cat ears on their head. But right in front of her was the most surprising sight.

The demon Sullivan, holding her hands while on his knees, with tears in his eyes. "Please, won't you become my daughter?" He asked her, his voice now warm and sweet.

The woman blinked at him. "Huh?"

The demon hugged himself. "You see, I'm all alone here. All I want is a daughter I could love and spoil rotten." Sullivan got back on his knees, grabbing her hands again. "I've been searching for you for so long. I wanted to find a girl with a kind and pure heart, but they're impossible to find in the Netherworld. So I went looking for a human one. I can't tell you how many years it took for me to finally find you," he said, large tears balling out of his eyes.

She recoiled from him. "Okay, that much I understand," she said. "But wouldn't you want a kid and not a full-grown adult?" She couldn't help but ask. "And can I even say no to this? I was sold to you," she added.

Sullivan turned away, looking quite worried. "I want you to become my daughter willingly. How can I say I love you if I force you to be something you had no choice in?" He asked, not giving her a second to let her answer. "Also, your age doesn't matter to me. What mattered to me was finding a girl who deserved love. You, my dear, are just that," he said looking at her, smiling.

Her eyes widened at the demon. "That...makes sense," she admitted, still processing what the demon said to her. Moreover that it was a demon who said it to her.

The tall man was kneeling before her again. "So, please. Please be my daughter!" He begged.

If the demon continued to cry, the woman was sure he was going to flood the room, so she needed to decide quickly. She remained quiet for several minutes, not moving nor breaking eye contact with Sullivan. Until finally: "Is there any risk to me if I do this? I mean, I always thought demons kill humans...at best."

The tall demon resembled an egg for a second, replying with a cheery voice: "They'll eat you if they find out you're human, but don't worry! There are several ways around that, I promise!"

Again, she winced. "You promise?" She repeated back to him. "I've heard that so many times in my life that it's lost its meaning. Not that I'd take the word of a stranger, let alone a demon," she said, causing the old egg cry more. "But, if you're serious about this," she said, making him perk up, "Then I want it to be a contract. A deal between you and me-"

The girl was cut off by the old man bouncing in the air, screaming with joy. "Of course my lovely daughter. Opera!"

"Yes Sir," said the red-headed cat, their tail wagging slowly.

"The Silverberry Pie. Make sure she eats some. I'll get the circle ready."

She blinked at them. "What the heck is a Silverberry, and why should I eat it?" She asked.

Neither answered at first. Opera simply cut into the pie and took out a slice, its filling reflecting the light in the room. They walked over to her and said: "Silverberries are known for their restorative properties. It's used in medicine to restore damaged tissue and muscle. The rope Lord Sullivan tied you up in was covered in a salve meant to help with breathing. However, it's only made into dishes like this to give temporary strength," they said.

"How convenient," she replied in a snide tone.

Opera shook their head at her. "Not at all. Silverberries can be a double-edged sword, which is why they're reserved for extreme cases such as yourself," they said before taking a fork full of pie. "Now, please open wide, My Lady. You will need all the strength you can get to form a contract," they said, bringing the utensil towards her face.

So she ate. The pie filling was heavily sweetened but their was a distinct tartness to the berries that was difficult to ignore. She wasn't sure how, but she managed to finish it. Within minutes, despite her body being so limp and thin, she was able to stand and walk up to the spell circle where Sullivan was waiting for her.

"Okay. First things first," Sullivan said with a snap of his fingers. A purple puff of smoke formed from the snap, and a long, tan piece of paper appeared in the demon's hands.

Sullivan allowed the woman to read what was written so far. "This is just a basic outline. You can ask me for whatever you want, Stellaris," he said, his voice still carrying a happy tone, but without the higher pitched voice he used when he looked like an egg.

The woman blinked, giving him a raised brow. "Stellaris? Where did that come from?" She asked him.

Now he looked like an egg. "Well, you told me not to call you Ai, so I started thinking of a new name for you. On the way here I could clearly see the stars, so I thought of one that reminded me of them. Is that not a good name? Your daddy can change it to whatever you like," he said.

The woman blinked, surprised at the sincere thought. She briefly wondered if this demon knew anything about her life prior, but she shoved the thought aside. There was no way he knew about her husband.

"It's a great name, actually," she said. She wasn't sure how to feel about it in all honesty, but she preferred it to the one her human "family" gave her. "Thank you," she added, giving Sullivan a smile. The old demon started dancing with glee, and the woman read over the contract.

It read as follows:

"This contract shall be bound and upheld by Lord Sullivan and Ai Maruma. Any and all conditions must be upheld to the best of their abilities. If any of the terms are unattainable, the two will determine what action should be taken.

1. Ai Maruma agrees to be adopted as Sullivan's daughter. Sullivan is hereby responsible for any and all of her needs, including food, clothes, shelter, medical care and so on.

2. Sullivan shall be loving to Ai Maruma, and always look out for her well-being. Sullivan is not allowed to manipulate, control, abuse or force his own ideals for a daughter onto her. Breaking this condition will permit Ai Maruma the option to break this contract.

3. In becoming Sullivan's daughter, Ai Maruma shall take the name: Stellaris, and agrees to cut ties with her biological parents.

4. Ai Maruma agrees to spend time with Sullivan and Opera as a family. This includes trips, talking at meals, and other family activities.

5. Lord Sullivan is responsible for making sure that Ai Maruma is safe and protected in the Netherworld.

6. Ai Maruma is allowed to ask for anything she wants, in addition to the terms listed above."

She blinked at it, surprised again. "I can ask for whatever I want?" She asked him.

Sullivan nodded, smiling warmly. "Hm-mm! Once you tell me what you want, we add it to the contract, then step into the circle to make it all official!" He said. "The food you ate will wear off in a couple hours, so try not to take too long to decide," he added.

The woman thought for a few moments. She could think of many things she wanted, but whatever she requested, she wanted to be sure she wouldn't regret. She also took a few moments to think over what things she was told about the Netherworld since her arrival. She stood there thinking for a solid fifteen minutes before she finally looked back at the old demon and returned the contract to him.

"To start," she began, still a little uneasy about what she was about to go through with, "I never want to get this sick again. I want my body's immune system to be stronger, and for whatever this disease is to never come back."

Sullivan summoned a pen and began to write. When he was done, he looked at her and said: "Okay then. What else?"

She took a deep breath. "If you're gonna be my father, then I don't want anyone to look at me and question it. I also want to be strong so I'm able to protect and take care of myself, should I need to."

Sullivan nodded at her as he scribbled the condition. "Alright, anything else?"

She nodded. "You've already agreed to be loving and caring, but you also have to give me room to grow. I'd like to make genuine connections while I'm here: friends, coworkers, maybe even a lover, if the opportunity presents itself again," she said.

The final words in her sentence didn't go unnoticed by Sullivan or Opera, but neither of them commented. They simply exchanged glances while the lady wasn't looking at them. Then Sullivan said: "Any other requests? Remember you can have anything you want."

She nodded. "There's one final thing," she said. She grit her teeth and tightened her hands into fists. "I want...my everything back," she said, her voice beginning to waiver.

Sullivan looked at her confused. "Your everything? What's that?"

She looked up at Sullivan, her eyes tearing up. "The only person that matters to me more than anything...my son. If my bitch of a sister didn't change it, his name is Iruma. He's turning eleven this year. If it's possible, I want him back. I can't stand the fact that I couldn't be there for him," she said, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Get my son back for me. That's my greatest desire."

It was silent for several moments, both demons staring at the woman who appeared to be in a different world. They stayed like this for several minutes, but then Sullivan wrote in her last conditions. "All right, and done!" He said, signing the bottom.

The woman looked it over again, just to make sure it was all written in the way she meant. Once done, she signed the contract with her human name. After a moment, the text changed to say: "Stellaris."

"Alright then. Now step inside," Sullivan said, gesturing towards the spell circle.

Stellaris did so. The circle glowed white, and upon entering, a pentagram appeared beneath her feet.

Sullivan walked in after her, their contract still in his hand. He placed a hand on Stellaris' bony shoulder and walked her to the center of the spell circle. Once there, he walked a small ways ahead of her before facing her.

"Now then," he said, his voice deep and haunting, just like when he came to get her. "I can give you what you want, Stellaris, but not only will you have to endure pain for it, you'll also no longer be human as a result," he said to her.

He leaned forward, towering over her. Stellaris stood firm, but her expression began to falter in front of her new parent. "You will become my child by blood. In doing so, you will carry the scent of my kin, and be able form and wield mana. This will turn you into a hellspawn, and you will be tethered to the Netherworld until your final days."

He leaned back, gently grabbing her chin. "Furthermore, changing your appearance permanently will result in the forceful removal of some of your current features. It will take some time to get used to your new body, as well as years of training to master your powers." He added, stroking her cheek with a free finger.

"And my son?" She asked, her resolve solidifying.

Sullivan smiled at her. "I can start tracking him immediately. However, it will take me a few years to find him, and another to get him away from his current guardians. However, I can guarantee that he will be living here before he's meant to start high school."

Stellaris smiled at him. "Then do what needs to be done...Father," she said, bracing for the pain.

Sullivan paused, his cheeks flushing slightly before he cleared his throat. "Very well, my daughter," he said.

The words on the contract oozed off the paper and onto the circle below, the ink pooling on the ground like tar. The paper burst into blue flames and began circling around them. The bright spell circle turned turned dark, the light of the fire providing just enough light to see Sullivan. Then she blinked and he was gone.

Sharp claws dug into the middle of her back. Stellaris barely got a scream out before those same claws gauged her eyes out. They then sunk in the back of her head and raked over her skull until they reached her brow line. Parts of her ears were torn off, some of her teeth were pulled, and all of her fingernails were ripped off. The assault ended with a few quick slices. The first to remove her hospital gown, and the second to put a long cut in the middle of her torso; starting from the waist, and stopping at the clavicle.

For a few moments, all Stellaris could feel was the sharp pain and oozing blood coming from her body. However, this was soon replaced by a burning sensation at each one of her wounds.

She hunched over on all fours, feeling something sharp burst out of her back before she finally lost consciousness.

I don't know where exactly I'm going with this, but I'm enjoying it.