If waking up next to a demon queen wasn't weird enough, having her insist on tagging along to the grocery store definitely broke new records for my personal definition of "unreal."
Lilithra, Queen of the Seventh Abyss, destroyer of kingdoms and devourer of souls… was currently standing in aisle five, squinting at a packet of instant coffee like it was a cursed relic.
"So you mortals consume this black liquid for strength?" she asked, turning it over in her claw-tipped hands.
"Uh, yeah," I said, pushing the cart awkwardly. "It's called caffeine. It's how we survive Mondays."
She hummed thoughtfully. "Strange. In the Nether Abyss, we simply absorbed the life essence of our enemies."
"Yeah," I muttered. "We call that 'corporate work culture.'"
She blinked. "You jest, but your eyes tell me you speak truth."
…I didn't want to admit she was right.
We'd been out for less than an hour, and she'd already caused chaos three separate times—once by hissing at the automatic doors "A mechanical mouth that devours and spits out mortals—fascinating!", once by nearly vaporizing the cashier's barcode scanner "It looked hostile.", and once by trying to "bargain with her aura" to get free milk.
Apparently, demon queens don't believe in debit cards.
When we finally made it back to my apartment, I collapsed on the couch. "I think that's enough public exposure for one day."
Lilithra raised an eyebrow, setting the grocery bags down with an elegance that made even plastic look royal. "You speak as though I were some beast to be hidden."
"I mean… kind of? You have wings. And horns. And, you know, that whole radiating doom energy thing going on."
She frowned slightly, looking away. "I can conceal my true form… but it drains my power. I will need time."
I sighed. "Guess that means I'll be explaining you as my cosplayer girlfriend if the landlord shows up."
Her eyes flickered with amusement. "Girlfriend?"
"Not what I meant."
She smirked. "A shame. I was starting to enjoy that title."
Later that evening, after I'd cooked well, burned dinner and she'd made a face at my culinary skills, the apartment grew quiet. Lilithra stood by the window again, looking out at the city lights.
"Your world is loud," she murmured. "Bright. Yet beneath it all, I sense… hunger."
"Hunger?"
"For power. For purpose. For something more than this endless motion." Her crimson eyes glowed faintly. "Your kind are not so different from demons."
I leaned back against the couch. "You say that like it's a compliment."
"Perhaps it is."
There was something oddly sad about her tone. For all her arrogance, Lilithra seemed… lonely.
Before I could ask anything, the lights flickered. Once. Twice. Then the air grew cold.
Lilithra's expression hardened instantly. "Someone's here."
"What do you mean someone's—?"
The lights went out completely. A low hum filled the air, like static crawling across my skin. Then, a voice—a soft, lilting whisper—echoed from the shadows.
"Found you."
A shape stepped out from the dark.
She was smaller than Lilithra, with silver hair that glowed faintly in the gloom, eyes like liquid sapphire, and a mischievous grin that could've melted glaciers. A pair of delicate bat wings fluttered behind her back, and a spaded tail swayed lazily in the air.
Lilithra's wings flared wide, crimson fire dancing along her fingertips. "Succubus. Speak your purpose before I scatter your ashes."
The newcomer giggled. "Aww, don't be like that, my Queen. I just came to play." Her gaze flicked to me, curious. "So this is the mortal who summoned you? Cute. Clueless. Totally my type."
"Excuse me?" I said, pointing to myself. "How are you people finding me? Is there some kind of demonic GPS app I don't know about?"
The succubus floated closer, ignoring my panic. "The summoning tore a hole between realms, silly. When a soul-bond that strong forms, the ripples attract… attention."
I groaned. "Great. I accidentally opened hell's front door."
She smirked. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle."
"Over my dead body," Lilithra growled, stepping between us. The temperature dropped so fast I could see my breath.
The succubus pouted. "Always so possessive. You never did learn to share, Lilithra."
"That's because you never learned to obey," Lilithra hissed.
Okay, wow. Exes? Frenemies? I couldn't tell, but I really didn't want my living room becoming ground zero for a supernatural catfight.
"Alright, timeout!" I shouted, waving my arms. "No killing each other in my apartment! I just mopped the floor!"
Both of them turned to look at me like I'd grown a second head.
Then, to my utter disbelief, the succubus laughed. "Oh, I like him."
Lilithra looked ready to blast her into another dimension. But the succubus just winked and held up her hands. "Fine, fine. No fighting. I only came to warn you, mortal."
"Warn me?"
Her smile vanished, replaced by something colder. "That spell you used? It didn't just summon Lilithra. It awakened others. Demons sealed long ago are stirring, drawn to your bond. Some won't be as… friendly."
My stomach dropped. "Friendly? You broke into my house!"
She grinned again. "And yet, you're still alive. That's how you know I like you."
Lilithra stepped forward, voice low and dangerous. "Name yourself."
The succubus bowed dramatically, wings fluttering. "Seris. First of Lilithra's vassals. Formerly."
"Formerly," Lilithra repeated. "Because you betrayed me."
Seris shrugged. "Details. Anyway—" she turned to me, eyes glowing faintly—"you might want to start preparing, Riku. You've become quite the beacon in the dark."
Before I could ask what that meant, she vanished in a shimmer of blue light.
The apartment fell silent again, save for my racing heartbeat.
Lilithra stood motionless, her expression unreadable.
"So…" I said finally. "Do I even want to know what she meant by 'others'?"
Her gaze met mine, and for once, there was no teasing—only grim certainty.
"The Rite of Binding was not meant to be cast by mortals. Every demon who feels its echo will come—some to destroy you, others to claim you. You have started a war you do not yet understand."
My knees went weak. "Fantastic."
Lilithra's wings folded back, and she sighed softly. "You truly are a fool, Riku."
"Yeah," I said, slumping onto the couch. "But I guess I'm your fool now."
She blinked, then chuckled softly. "Indeed."
For a moment, the tension faded. She sat beside me, her warmth oddly comforting despite everything.
"Rest," she said quietly. "You'll need strength for what comes next."
I nodded, too exhausted to argue. But as my eyes closed, one thought lingered in my mind.
If two demons had already found me this easily…
How long until the rest of Hell came knocking?
To be continued…