The skies over the forest blackened.
Winds howled. Trees bowed.
And the air began to burn.
A crimson rift tore open above the camp, and from it descended a throne made of bone and obsidian, floating on molten chains.
And seated atop it—
Malriva.
Queen of the Second Hell.
Mother of fire.
Lucius's former lover.
Current problem.
She wore a crown of horns and a dress of flickering flame, one leg crossed over the other, sipping wine that screamed when it touched the air.
She looked down at Lucius like a goddess revisiting her favorite mistake.
"Lucius Nachtveil," she purred. "Still brooding. Still beautiful."
---
> [World Event Triggered: Reunion With the Demon Queen]
Threat Level: Cataclysmic
Emotional Volatility: 94%
Reason for Arrival: You.
---
Lucius stood calm.
Zara wasn't.
"She's checking him out in front of all of us."
Lilith whispered, "If she touches him I'm casting twenty curses."
Claire clung to her staff like a weapon.
Velda was just eating popcorn. "This is better than theater."
---
Lucius stepped forward.
"You didn't die."
Malriva smirked. "You didn't check."
Their eyes locked. The tension? Enough to melt mountains.
"I thought you'd hate me," Lucius said.
"Oh, I do," she replied sweetly. "So much that I dreamed of kissing you while your world burns."
She stood. Walked toward him across the air. Each step left sparks behind.
"Did you come to finish what you started, my Tyrant?"
Lucius didn't flinch.
"No," he said. "I came to ask why you didn't finish me."
---
Silence.
Then Malriva cupped his face, leaned in close.
And whispered—
"Because you were my favorite sin."
---
> [Bond Path Unlocked: Malriva – "Lover, Liar, Lord"]
Warning: This relationship is deeply unstable.
Bonus: +30% resistance to divine flames while she's thinking about you.
---
Zara stepped forward. "Enough."
"Careful, puppy," Malriva said. "You're cute, but you wouldn't last a round."
"I'd last long enough to cut that smirk off your face."
"Girls," Lucius said calmly. "Focus."
Malriva turned to him again.
"I'm not here to fight you. Not unless you want me to."
"Then why are you here?"
She leaned closer. Her voice dropped.
"To warn you."
Lucius's expression changed.
Malriva's smile vanished.
"The Slumbering Court has awakened. And they want your soul."
---
> [System Alert: Greater Threat Confirmed – The Slumbering Court]
Target: Lucius Nachtveil
Status: Moving
Timeline: Unknown
---
"I ran from them once," Malriva said, quieter now. "But you…? You're what they dream about."
Lucius met her gaze.
"Then let them come."
Malriva blinked. And for the first time… smiled softly.
"You really haven't changed," she whispered. "I loved that."
She turned, walked back toward her throne.
"But I didn't come alone."
Behind her, the rift pulsed.
And something darker began to crawl out.