Drained but focused, Doctor Mercurial set to work on decorating a vanishing box. He took a red candle, lit it with the touch of a finger, then applied it to the box’s floor. A quick swipe in a ring, and half the candle melted away, turned into a smooth circle of wax. A second swipe consumed the rest, creating a thicker-lined circle around the first. He’d considered decorating the space between with runes, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. Satan could keep his magic simple.

He lit two brass lamps, candles shielded by glass, and placed them in the back corners, then pushed this up to the door of the north guest bedroom.

Spreading his arms wide and low, he made a raising gesture, knowing the black curtain within would obey him.

Preparations complete, he had nothing left to do for now but wait. Between setting an alarm to wake himself after seven hours, and artificially deepening her sleep, he could be sure she’d sleep at least an hour after he woke. What happened after that depended on Gossamer’s brain.

Swinging an arm toward the next door down the hall, the door opened. He held his palm as if to receive something, and a chair slid out, back first, coming to meet it. He placed it back to back with the box, retrieved the tablet from a glass case displaying a nice, round ass, and took a seat.

The better part of an hour later, heard movement in the bed, but that wasn’t what he was waiting for.

The door beyond the box opened. Understandable curiosity. Next came the opening and closing of drawers in the vanity. The light creak of a chair. A brush running through hair. Then, she started humming. It was a soft, happy melody, that shifted over time. At one point, Merc recognized “Once Upon a Dream”. There was a lot of repetition as she got prepared. Perhaps she didn’t know very many happy songs.

After enough time to do her makeup, Jezebel rose again. A few deep breaths in front of the box to steady herself. Footsteps into the box, then more to turn around. A few seconds as she waited for something to happen, determined it wasn’t going to, then the door closed. Then, all was silent as Merc finished reading.

When he was finished, he tossed the tablet aside, bidding it to vanish to its place in Katie’s desk before it hit the ground. The chair he cast aside and vanished in a similar manner. He clamped his hands around the sides of the box, and drew it back from the door, then slipped around inside it.

He closed the door, mentally prepared himself for an abrupt change in bodily feelings, then snapped his fingers to call Jezebel back.

Instantly and with no movement, Merc’s hand was at the box’s door, barely withdrawn from closing it. Her heart pounded. Her naked body tingled with nervous energy. Her face burned with the heat of a furious blush. Her crotch…

Her shoulders slumped, her head rocked back as she rolled her eyes. “Of course. Of course I have to pee!” So much for the romance and drama of Satanic possession.