The darkness faded, a throbbing headache starting to pound. Gods, had she been drinking? Memory started to trickle in, of the journey through the tomb, then returning, then the food, then… She managed to open her eyes, body still leaden and heavy. She was still slumped in her chair in the dining room, feeling a trickle of spittle crusting down her cheek. Across the room from her were… two Misutira’s? One was still dressed as she had been in the catacombs, the other was wearing lighter, cooler clothing. The more lightly-dressed one smirked, leering at her twin.

‘Their souls will be my food! Although you have been a good servant, so I will permit you to live a little longer, before I consume you as well.’

The other Misutira, the real one, gave a slight sigh.

‘Oh, don’t fuss so. After all, it isn’t as though you can feel, not without this.’ She reached into a pocket and pulled out a slowly pulsing red crystal; Misutira’s heart, beating with a soft, steady glow. By now, feeling was beginning to return to Stathis’ body, enough that she managed to stumble to her feet, kicking the chair away. She could just about manage to speak.

‘Get away from her!’

The false Misutira looked at her, then cackled. Her form shifted, nails extending into claws, horns spiralling out from beneath her crimson hair. The curved ram’s horns were deep, shiny, black, decorated with spirals of gold, gleaming in the candlelight. Stathis charged and punched at her with as much force as she could muster, as the real Misutira flinched away. Her fist was easily caught, the demon digging claws into her flesh, blood welling up.

‘Ah, your soul burns with power. I’ve hungered so long, and now, I can slake myself on you!’ Maintaining a grip on Stathis, the demon hauled her close with supernatural strength, her other hand slashing forward, razored-fingers poised to rip out Stathis’ heart, Stathis barely managing to block with her other arm, earning more wounds in the process, blood hot on her skin. They grappled, the demon pressing in close, hot breath rasping against Stathis’ face. ‘Soon your heart will be mine. Another toy to play with, until you break!’

There was a yelp from the other side of the table as Semari fell out of her chair, smacking her head on the table on the way down.

‘Ow, that hurt!’ Semari rose back into view, rubbing her forehead, looking at the two Misutira’s. ‘Hey, two of you, that’s how you got around so fast!’

Even when distracted, the demon was still stronger than Stathis, sharp claws shredding and cutting her flesh as her grip tightened. ‘How are you both alive!? That poison would kill any mortal!’

Semari belched. ‘Tasted quite nice to me. So, like, is one of you evil or something? It’s you, right? You’re the evil one?’ The claws, fangs and horns seemed to be enough of a hint even for Semari, who wasted no time in attacking. The creature didn’t even bother to release Stathis, twisting with her spare arm to try and deflect the strike. There was a sickening, crunching sound as Semari’s attack hit, bone splintering, black ichor splattering across the wall, the demon's arm twisting at a horrific angle.

It hissed in pain. ‘This form should be proof against any mundane attack! What are you?!’ With a shove, Stathis was pushed away, scraping against the wall, as Semari and Galondwyn clashed. Stathis dove across the room, picking her sword up and moving to help Semari, as Misutira stood impassively amidst the chaos. While Semari was on the offensive, Galondwyn’s arm was already regenerating, while Semari had several nasty scratches, blood seeping into her clothing.

Even with both Stathis helping Semari, Galondwyn had the upper hand, any wounds they made healing as they fought. Semari struck with a series of punches and kicks, managing to drive Galondwyn off-balance. Stathis struck, golden energy sheathing her sword as she thrust, stabbing through the creature’s chest, more of the black goo oozing out, bubbling and hissing to steam, leaving behind a rancid stench The demon twitched and spasmed, eyes growing dull as its body feel backwards, sword skewered through its chest.

Stathis retrieved Misutira’s heart, the crystal strangely soft and warm to the touch. Not that she had any idea how to restore it. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Thank you, Lady Stathis.’ Despite the demon lying dead on the ground, Misutira was still impassive. ‘It is fortunate you are not dead.’

There was a sickening, grotesque squelching noise from behind Stathis. She spun, in time to see Galondwyn pulling herself up again, pulling the blade from her chest and tossing it aside. Her form was shifting even more now, face becoming more bestial and savage, skin shifting to crimson. ‘A clever little trick – it has been many years since I felt such a wound, but the taste of such a golden soul is all the sweeter. You will scream inside me for years before I allow you to die, begging for your final release!’

She hunched over, any pretence at humanity gone as a long tail ripped through her maid’s uniform, sharp tip stabbing through a chair as Stathis pushed Misutira away, barely dodging herself. It flicked the furniture aside, plucking the cursed sword from the mantlepiece it had been left on, the demon catching it in a hand.

‘Oh, my apologies, I must have nodded off.’ Janaxia was apparently cultured enough to apologise for her manners before noticing the rampaging demon, shaking herself out of slumber.

‘Janaxia! Just blast her!’

Despite the look of confusion on her face, Janaxia followed orders, bolts of arcane energy shooting forth, knocking the demon backwards, keeping it off-balance long enough for Stathis to shove Misutira out of the room. With the three of them, they could at least manage to keep it off-balance, before it spun, and ripped its way out through a window, vaulting high as giant bat-wings grew from its back, flapping them and vanishing into the night sky.

Janaxia covered her mouth as she yawned. ‘That was unexpected. And rather rude. I shall certainly be discussing this with the agency – Misutira came highly recommended, and nothing about demonic imposters was mentioned!’

‘I think we need to hunt Galondwyn down first. She’s probably stolen the hearts of others as well. And do you know how to get this back inside her?’ She held out the heart, throbbing faster now, pulling it back as Semari moved into poking range.

‘Misutira, attend us.’ Janaxia clicked her fingers, ignoring the damage done to the room, the wrecked furniture and gaping hole in the wall, a few strangers now gawping as they passed by in the street.

‘Yes, Mistress Janaxia?’

Janaxia began fiddling with the woman’s blouse, Stathis positioning herself to block the view of any onlookers. Over where Misutira’s heart should be was a vivid black scar, the flesh puckered and warped, fringed by other, smaller scars. Janaxia pressed the crystal heart against it; there was a flash of energy and an unpleasant, squelching sound, as it was absorbed back into Misutira’s flesh. Janaxia withdrew her hand, fingers now flecked with speckles of blood which she tried to flick off, as a touch of colour returned to Misutira’s face. She turned to look at them, bland expression shifting.

‘What the fuck are you doing standing around here? A gods-damned demons been living under the same roof as you, and you never bloody noticed! Get out there and kill the damn bitch!’

As they stared at her in confusion, Parth roused herself to life, stretching and popping her joints with a yawning stretch. ‘Good food.’

‘For the love of… All the other damned adventurers are out of town. That means you lot need to get out there and kill that fucking heart-stealing bitch. Or do I have to go and beat her to death myself?’

From the look on her face, she looked ready to go grab a pan and start smacking things. Returning her heart seemed to have been a cathartic experience, or maybe she was just normally like this. Either way, they scurried for the door, as Misutira glared at them.