Chapter 265 Fun.

Chapter 265: 265 Fun.

The heavy black doors swung open without a sound as we climbed the steps, revealing the absolute depths of high-budget depravity on the first floor.

At the far back of the sprawling room, a group of succubi in aggressively minimal clothing danced on an elevated stage. Bulbous glass lanterns lined the ceiling, casting a heavy, suffocating pink and crimson glow over the tables. Hanging iron cages dangled from the rafters, housing more demons gyrating to a thumping, bass-heavy beat that vibrated straight through my teeth.

Roulette wheels spun and poker chips clattered through a thick layer of blue cigar smoke. The crowd was a chaotic, elbow-to-elbow mix of humans, demons, and things I couldn’t even begin to classify.

Massive, heavily scarred bouncers with bone spikes tearing through their tailored suits watched the floor with completely dead eyes.

"Hey there, handsome!"

"Where did you drop in from?"

I looked down. Two slim women with deep purple skin had materialized directly in my path. They wore impeccably tailored black and red pinstripe suits. Polished horns curled up through their stark white hair, but the most jarring detail was the pair of fuzzy cat ears twitching playfully atop their heads.

I glanced between them. "Uh—"

"Looking for a good time?" one purred.

"A short time?" the other asked.

"A long time?"

"A fun time?"

"We got it down."

"We got it here."

"It’s always a premium pleasure with the Amir sisters!" they chimed in perfect unison, giggling and grabbing my arms, trying to pull me toward the depths of the casino.

"Hands off!" Vanessa snapped, grabbing my shoulder to anchor me.

The twins looked at the young heroine. Their mischievous grins immediately sharpened into something predatory.

"Well! If it isn’t a little prude."

"A naughty girl all wrapped up in virtue."

"But not always. I can smell the hexes on her, sister."

"You’re right, sister. We respect a classy dark streak. Maybe she just doesn’t know how to let loose."

"Oh, but we can show her. Yes, we can."

"We know all the parlor tricks to make her a fan."

Vanessa went rigid, all the color draining from her face as her fingers twitched toward a spell. Uh-oh. I stepped directly in front of her to block their line of sight. "Ladies, we aren’t—"

Suddenly, Lilith was standing right behind the twins. She dropped her hands heavily onto their purple shoulders.

"Besties!" Lilith squealed, though her bubbly voice carried the exact warmth of liquid nitrogen. "How incredibly rude! You didn’t even say hello to me!"

The Amir sisters froze completely. The predatory glee melted right off their faces. They turned in terrifying unison, staring in absolute, wide-eyed horror at Lilith’s blindingly bright smile.

"L-Lilith!" one squeaked. "We totally didn’t see you!"

"No! Not at all!"

"Of course you didn’t, you silly little kittens," Lilith cooed. She leaned down between them, peering over the gold rims of her tinted glasses at the first twin, then the other. "Of course you didn’t! And I am sure you would have shown my VIP guests an absolutely spectacular time! Such delights! But we are definitely not here for the floor amusements today, girlies. Oh, no, no, no!"

Lilith’s manicured fingers tightened like industrial vices on their collarbones.

"We are here for something much more specific."

The twins squirmed, looking even more deeply uncomfortable than before. They were actively leaning away from her smile, but Lilith’s grip held them fast.

Note to self: never, ever get on Lilith’s bad side.

"Whatever it is, we’d be thrilled to serve!" the left twin stammered. "Completely, Madame. Just say the word."

"You guys are just the absolute sweetest," Lilith beamed, leaning back and releasing them with a pat on the cheek. "So helpful! We are actually here to see Behemoth. And I would be super delighted if you two little guides escorted us directly to his office."

"O-of course, Madame! We’re happy to say."

"That we, of course, know the exact way."

"Good kittens," Lilith chirped. "Lead on, then! And let’s make it snappy, okay? I am a very busy woman with a very tight schedule!"

Wow. I followed Lilith and our two highly terrified tour guides toward the back of the casino, heading for a spiraling, heavily guarded staircase.

Apparently, Lilith wasn’t just an A-list assistant in the human fashion industry; she held massive weight in the demonic hierarchy, too.

No wonder Edna had her on such a tight leash.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Lilith was the type of entity who would climb to the top of the food chain in any ecosystem she dropped into. You had to admire that kind of raw, unfiltered presence.

It was definitely paying off right now. Lilith blew right past the security checkpoints. Massive bouncers who were three times her height and four times her width literally scrambled out of her path.

They melted into the shadows, letting her overpowering personality and absolute arrogance carve a completely frictionless path through the crowd.

In short order, we reached a pair of massive double doors at the absolute highest floor of the casino. Intricate gold gilt sprawled across the heavy black wood, shaped like stylized curling flames.

But the way the red neon light hit the gold, the flames actually seemed to writhe and flicker. Maybe it wasn’t just a stylistic choice.

"Right this way, Madame," one of the twins stammered, grabbing the heavy brass handle.

"We’ll make sure he knows you’ve come to parlay."

"You girls are the best! Super appreciated!" Lilith cheered.

The twins offered deep, frantic bows before slipping through a crack in the doors to announce us.

I glanced down at Lilith. "Is there anything specific I should know before we walk in there and start negotiating with a demon boss?"

"Just one teeny-tiny rule, Milesy," Lilith whispered, tapping her chin. "Do not, under any circumstances, mention the bowtie."

"The bowtie?"

Before I could ask for context, the heavy doors groaned open. The twins poked their heads back out.

"He is ready to see you, Madame."

"And your friends too, if you demand."

"Oh, I totally demand it, girlies!" Lilith said, firmly looping her arms through mine and Vanessa’s. "Let’s go, besties!"

I let her drag us forward into the glowing room, having absolutely no idea what kind of fresh hell I was walking into.