Before the burning parchment, heat and pungent sulfur coalesced into Beludona's alluring figure.
"You finally remembered you have a human friend up here?" Annan teased Beludona, who hadn't contacted him in ages.
Beludona still wasn't used to such familiarity. She got straight to the point. "I have something to show you... Come out."
A portion of the smoke broke away and formed an indescribable monstrosity—like a dog swollen from bee stings.
"What is that?"
"A demon imp. We also call it a hellbug."
Annan said tactfully, "Beludona, you know I haven't studied Hell..."
"A hint: you know him."
Annan couldn't remember knowing anyone in Hell...
He studied the demon imp again. Hatred radiated from it almost tangibly...
Who hated him with such ferocity?
"Mad Dog Duke?"
Annan had a suspicion and ventured a guess.
"How laughable. The one who should be dead is still alive..." The demon imp split open a mouth at its front, turning from a bee-stung dog into a loaf of bread Martin had torn apart.
"It can talk!?" Annan feigned surprise, then said mockingly, "You know, there's only one person here without a sister."
"I'm still here..."
Claire's voice suddenly came from behind Beludona.
The smoke coalesced again, forming Claire's familiar face beneath a pair of devil horns.
"You've become a devil?" Annan exclaimed in delight.
"How do you like my surprise?" Beludona smiled.
"I thought you'd bring me mountains of gold coins..." Annan smiled. "But this turned out pretty well. I like it."
Then his expression soured as he glanced at Mad Dog Duke in disgust.
"It would be even better without that eyesore."
At Claire's appearance, Mad Dog Duke, once nothing but hatred, suddenly showed a more complicated expression. Yet he still spoke defiantly. "Just wait... One day I'll return from Hell..."
"Then I'll