Chapter 39: Midnight Tea With the Demon Queen

It was past midnight, the mansion was quiet (suspiciously not burning), and for once, Rei thought he might survive till sunrise.

Naturally, that's when the portal opened on his floor. A circle of glowing demonic runes spiraled into existence under his feet, and before he could scream "NOT AGAIN," he was already falling—gently—through a void that smelled like cinnamon and brimstone. He landed in a silk-upholstered velvet chair with a muffled thud.

"Welcome, my darling," cooed a honeyed voice from across the obsidian table.

Lucivella, the Demon Queen of Desire, dressed in a scandalously tasteful black and gold gown, reclined gracefully across from him with a porcelain teacup held between clawed fingers. Steam curled upward in the shape of hearts, skulls, and occasionally contractual obligations.

Rei blinked. "Lucivella?" he croaked. "Where—why—how?"