Explore the room.

You move into the room. A lever sits on the wall past the door. As you pull it down, the stone door shuts behind you.

The room stands before you eerily quiet. The area is dimly lit by interspersed candles that cast a soft glow across the room. The candlelight illuminates several intriguing features.

The décor is surprisingly modest. Dark stone walls ring this oval-shaped room. A towering dresser stands on one end of the room. In the center of the room, across from you, an ornate onyx sarcophagus leans against the wall. The lid is propped to the side. The casket is lined with a velvety, maroon fabric. You remember that vampires always have places like this for resting far from burning sunlight.

Your eye is drawn to a huge chest placed close to the coffin. It is about five feet long, and just under half the width. It sits on the floor against the wall. The chest is constructed of a strong black wood, with ornate scarlet patterns embossed across its surfaces.

To the side of the room, lavish carpet vanishes into a cold stone floor. In this area, a curious sigil is emblazed on the ground. The work is drawn in dark red ink, a deeply intricate piece of art with lines, shapes, and glyphs forming what you can only guess is a summoning circle.

You investigate the chest first. The heavy lid creaks open with considerable exertion. Your eyes widen at the peculiar contents. The container is filled to the brim with an odd assortment of belongings, most of which you recognize as various tools of restraint. Dark rope lies in bundled heaps. Wicked belts and chains, an assortment of whips— you pick up a strange pile of connected leather straps, with a perfectly round, scarlet sphere. Some type of gag? The purpose of this chest must be to store tools of ****. They are of high-quality materials.

“There must be more here to find…” you think.

You examine the rest of the room. The summoning circle lies dormant. A close inspection of the coffin reveals nothing of interest. The cabinets and dressers are filled with beautiful, dark dresses and other garb.

“This is a waste of time.” You think, frustrated.

Your eye is drawn back to the summoning circle. What is its purpose? Knowledge of such things is strictly forbidden in your society. They are used to summon things from other planes of existence… djinn, eldritch beings—demons and devils of wide varieties. Pacts can be formed with such creatures, but they are dangerous and manipulative.

“I’m running out of time. I need to find something of practical use…”

It’s risky, but you decide your best course of action is to activate the circle.

To activate the summoning ring is a straightforward task. A blood offering is necessary.

You take your sword out, resting its edge against a palm.

Here goes nothing.

You wince at the stinging cut. Your hot blood steams on the cold floor, soaking into the stone. With the sanguine rite performed, the inked sigils begin to glow. You step backwards.

The conjuration begins. The stain left by blood begins spreading, enveloping the whole circle. The dark ichor rises out the stone. In a moment, the overflowing liquid ignites, hot flame rising from the ground in a flash. Thick, black smoke pours from the ground.

From the dark fumes, you a shape begin to materialize. Smoke particles coalesce into a skeletal figure. The smoke continues consolidating onto the nightmarish figure, forming a beating heart. Around the pulsating organ a layer of muscle, then skin unwinds across the entire form.

The head of the creature-- silhouetted in the opaque ash-- erupts two winding horns and a mass of long, billowing hair.

The now fully-formed figure stands in the dissipating smoke, facing away from you. You are taken aback by the creatures striking attire. Sturdy high-heeled boots extend well passed her knees, elongating her figure. A long black dress falls down around her hips, belted around her waist by a tight corset. Her imposing demeanor radiates authority, her devilish features setting your nerves on edge. You move a hand reflexively to the hilt of your weapon.

They seem to acknowledge your presence with a slight turn of the head, but have not looked your way.

"Ready for another round so soon, slav---" The seductive voice is suspended suddenly when the devil sees you. She is taken aback by the sight of you.

"Expecting someone else?" you reply. You stand tall, trying to project confidence in front of this new and formidable adversary.

She regains her composure, with a wicked half-smile and a sinful stare.

"What have we here?" She taunts slowly. She paces deliberately around the circumference of the summoning circle. A gloved hand raises tests the boundaries of the circle, pressing flat against an invisible barrier. She's trapped for now.

Her eyes scan the room, assessing the situation. "Are you here to slay me, hunter?" She jeers. "The way your looking at me... perhaps you'd rather fuck?"

You try to stifle your reaction, but you can feel your cheeks running hot. I need to play this right.

You clear your throat. "I summoned you here for information. Tell me everything you know about the occupant of this room, and I may let you live, hellspawn." You insert as much confidence as you can into the command. She looks unimpressed.

"Fascinating... fascinating... a dog after the scent of its prey... I could help you." She says. "For a price."

You pause to think. Devils and their deals...

"What do you want?" you question hesitantly.

She considers your response carefully. "The knowledge I could share would change your life... here's what I need."

"Your mind, body, and soul will be mine for just one hour. I know your busy." She states matter-of-factly.

"You won't be _permanently _harmed in any way." she adds, with teasing inflection.

The terms give you pause. Your heart races at the prospect. The information could be invaluable, just the advantage you need to end millennia of struggle and turn the tide against the Vampire Queen.

An hour as the plaything of a devil? Its inconceivable...

You know that a devil always obeys its word, but that does not mean they are trustworthy. The terms are quite loose, and you don't have the time or expertise to compose an airtight contract right now. Every instinct warns you of the risks, yet some part of you is almost eager to accept the deal.

The devil smiles at you coldly.

"I'm listening..." You reply. "What exactly would that entail?"

"Well... that depends." She answers. "But if you accept, I'll take you back to my domain, show you around... we'll get comfortable and I'll take a tiny piece of your soul for myself."

The devil is obviously circling around the full truth, but on paper it's not a bad trade. A tiny piece? Your soul won't be worth much soon anyways, since your life's mission is almost at a culmination.

"Alright. I can take anything you can throw at me."

The horned woman considers your reply for a few moments. A smile on her face wipes away a brief moment of surprise that you actually accepted such terms.

She extends a black sleeved arm towards you, "Then we have a deal?"