The Greatest Comedy on Earth

Lyura bit her fingertip, trying to hold in giggles as she watched the scene in the mirror. Who could blame her? This had to put every comedy program to shame.

Oliver Enson was curled like a grub in his mother's arms, face buried in her ample bosom. Even with all that insulation, his sobs and shrieks still managed to echo around the entire sitting room.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I did my best, honest, but I couldn't stop them! I'm soooorry!"

"There, there, Oliver." Mrs. Enson patted his head, stroking the golden curls he'd inherited from her. "It's okay, you're safe now. Mom and Dad are here. It must have been so scary all on your own, darling. If only we hadn't left you!"

Oliver wailed even louder. "It was – it was so scary! But I wanted to show you I could do it on my own. I wanted to, but, but – "

"It's all right, son." Mr. Enson, who looked significantly older than his wife, shook his head. He was standing back, arms folded and a deep furrow cutting into his brow. "You did your best. We'll take care of everything from now on. Rest assured, Margaret Wetherill's actions against the Enson family will not go unpunished."

Oliver collapsed into another flurry of disconsolate weeping. Cooing, his mother rocked him in her arms like he was an overgrown baby. Lyura had never seen anything so gross in her life.

Yeah, she was definitely in a better place now. Not only did she get a spiffy new uniform, but Greisen had a weaponsmith among his troops, who had made her a shiny new pair of razor-edged chakrams. Way better than anything Oliver had ever offered her.

She hadn't expected to ever have to think about him again, let alone look at him, but apparently this was all part of Greisen's plan. And Lyura wouldn't object to the show she got to enjoy as a result.

Watching Mr. Enson clench his hand into a determined fist nearly made the giggles burst out again. Look at him, acting all gung-ho. More than putting on an act for his brat's benefit, he really believed it. But what could he even do without his precious crystal?

"It's time," Greisen rumbled from behind. Lyura jumped, startled, while the two sword-wielding troops spun smartly and saluted.

Lyura hurried to imitate them, but Greisen had already waved his hand in a clear dismissal. "Let's go."

He held his hand out and awe swept through Lyura when a network of spidery black lines spread across the mirror. She'd only gotten to see this a couple of times and still couldn't get used to it. Wizardry performed by demons.

Even though she'd yet to see his face, Lyura couldn't deny that the Infernal Lord's power was the real thing.

Upon its completion, the portal spell flooded the mirror in pure blackness. Which wiped out the amusing scene, but something even better awaited.

Greisen marched forward, his massive back blocking Lyura's vision. She felt the cold, dark Levia of the lair deepen, and that was all the warning she got before Greisen vanished, leaving behind only a ripple on the mirror surface.

The sword wielders – names of Jackal and Caracal – followed without a glance back. Lyura took a breath before steeling herself. Come on, this was no different from using a portal back in the Enson prison.

So she jumped into that black void without hesitation. The Infernal Lord's Levia engulfed her on all sides, smotheringly deep, but it released her just as quickly as it had come and she went tumbling forward.

A new Levia greeted her senses then, blazing like fire. An obnoxiously familiar Levia. Sure enough, her feet hit the soft carpet of the sitting room and she found herself staring down the Enson family.

Or rather, their familiars, lined up in a tense row in front of their wizards. Gratiano in full dog form, fur bristling. The werefox lady that belonged to Mrs. Enson, with a body that put even her master's to shame. And Mr. Enson's demon, who had four horns and a long, whip-like tail. But beneath Greisen's sheer bulk, he might as well have been an ant.

Gratiano turned his beady eyes upon Lyura, hackles rising. "Lyura?"

"What?" Oliver yanked his head out of his mom's chest, only for her to grab him tighter and smother him again. He writhed and whined, but she didn't let go.

Damn, this show just got better and better. But Lyura couldn't lose focus. Greisen, Jackal, and Caracal stared down Mr. Enson, who stared back with bugging eyes and a twitching mustache. His face had turned the exact color of spoiled milk.

"Who are you? How did you get here? Leave this instant!"

The silly man, acting like he could order Infernal Legion soldiers around. So what if he was a wizard. Right now, he didn't have an ounce of power.

"What if I had something to offer you, Mr. Enson?" Greisen said, almost pleasant. "Is there not something you want back?"

Mr. Enson flinched like he'd been punched between the eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about. Either explain what you are doing here and who you serve, or leave."

"W-wait!" Oliver finally succeeded at ripping himself out of his mom's grasp. His entire face was red and puffy, like he'd had an unfortunate run-in with a beehive. "That's Lyura! She's my demon!"

"No, I'm not," Lyura said coldly, flicking her braids. "Didn't I tell you already? No contract, no obligations."

"Why have you come back?" Mr. Enson maneuvered in front of his son. "Who do you serve now?"

Seemed he thought they'd been sent by a rival wizard family. Which was probably the best guess his tiny little head could manage.

"I told you, we are here to help you," Greisen said. "You want your heirloom crystal back, do you not? We offer our aid with no conditions. Even if you cannot form a contract with us, we pledge ourselves to your cause."

Mr. Enson's face flooded red. "Silence, demon. Get them!"

Bellowing, he swiped his arm out. An orange diagram flared beneath his feet, followed seconds later by one from his wife. Then Oliver, after he pushed himself fully out of her arms.

Glowing with strengthening spells, all three familiars charged. Lyura grinned, readying her chakrams.

But Greisen moved before she could. A massive fist flew and the fox lady crumpled to the floor like a used tissue. Gratiano jumped onto his bicep, snapping and snarling, but Greisen easily shook him off and kicked him aside with a loud crunching noise. Gratiano whimpered and fell silent.

Leaving only the four-horned demon. His tail lashed out, crackling with orange Levia. But Greisen caught it with ease, the Levia dissolving into sparks upon his stony hide, and reeled in the demon like a fish.

Sputtering, Mr. Enson cast another strengthening spell. Too late. One punch to the head and the demon went down just as fast as his companions.

Jackal and Caracal fanned out, standing guard over the Enson parents' demons. Lyura decided to do the same for Gratiano.

Sucking in shuddering breaths, Mr. Enson stumbled backward. His wife and son cowered behind him, hugging each other.

"Stay – stay back," Mr. Enson burst out, shrill and breathless. "Do you hear me? That's an order, you filthy demons!"

Damn was this guy pathetic. Bloviating like he thought he could actually make them stop, though he had no means of enforcing any of it. Lyura couldn't believe she'd ever considered the Ensons the best she could do.

"We do not obey humans," Greisen declared, extending a gigantic hand. With his palm alone, he could probably squish Mr. Enson's head like a grape.

Which he unfortunately didn't do. Instead, a familiar icy power deepened in the air, pressing down on Lyura's chest like a steel weight. But it sparked through her veins like electricity, invigorating her as if she'd breathed fresh air for the first time in her life.

She couldn't help it; a mad grin twisted her face.

Greisen's hand reached closer and closer. By now, all three Ensons had practically mashed themselves into the wall, but nothing could save them from this power. No human stood a chance against it.

The diagram erupted beneath Greisen, swallowing the room in darkness. Greisen's voice rumbled like thunder.

"Accept your fate. Be enthralled."