"Boom!"
Dante didn't even turn his head. He caught the full-force punch like it was nothing, every bit of the shockwave dying against his palm.
"Yo. You're already pulling off partial demonization?" Dante grinned, still lounging on the couch. "Is that how you greet your elders these days?"
Soren yanked his fist back, rubbing his nose with an awkward laugh. "I thought you were another fake."
"Ha. If somebody could fake me that well, their taste ain't half bad. At least they know what real style looks like."
Dante snorted and sat up straight.
Soren dropped onto the couch across from him. "What are you doing here, anyway?"
Dante ignored the question for a second, giving Soren a once-over. "Soon as you walked in, I caught those little witches upstairs stealing looks at you. Not bad, kid."
He leaned back, smirking. "But looks only get you so far with women. You gotta know how to treat 'em. Send a strawberry sundae every once in a while. Works wonders."
Soren rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't get stuck. You're still single at your age and you're giving me dating advice? Lady and Trish are probably ready to strangle you.
"You cursing me in your head again?"
Dante's eyes flicked toward him like he'd heard the thought.
Then he clapped his hands once, all business. "Enough small talk. Your Aunt Trish ran into some trouble. I gotta head over there."
Soren sat up straighter. Trish wasn't some fragile human—she was a demon created by the Demon Emperor himself. If she needed Dante to back her up, something big was waking up.
"What about Patty? Should I head back to Los Santos?"
Dante waved him off. "Relax. Vergil's sticking around for a while. Seems he actually likes that little blonde."
That eased the knot in Soren's chest. If Vergil was watching over things, Patty was safe.
Dante stood, stretching. "If you're looking to get some real weapons made, go see Nico. She's been having problems of her own lately. No idea what that kid Nero's been up to."
He tossed Nico's address onto the coffee table.
"Got it. I'll handle it."
Soren pocketed the paper. Perfect timing. He could get Nico to forge him something proper and throw Zoe into Silent Hill for some real training while he was at it.
Dante walked to the living-room entrance, glanced up at the second floor, and flashed a charming grin.
"Later, ladies. Hope you've got some decent pizza waiting next time I drop by."
He pushed the door open and strolled out like the world owed him a favor.
Soren waited until the door clicked shut, then called Zoe out alone. They slipped away from the villa and into a quiet side alley.
"Soren? What's going on?"
Zoe's eyes darted around the narrow space. She still looked jumpy after what happened at the bar.
Soren didn't sugarcoat it. "You want to be the Supreme Witch?"
Zoe blinked, then shook her head fast. "I can barely control my own power. There's no way—"
"I want it."
The sharp, arrogant voice cut her off.
Madison stepped out of the shadows at the alley mouth, arms crossed, chin high. That aggressive energy of hers made Zoe instinctively shift aside.
Zoe looked between the two of them, voice dropping. "Madison's better for it than me."
Soren studied Zoe's timid posture and sighed inwardly. He'd picked her at first because she was soft—easier to control. But his interference had kept her from the brutal life-or-death moments that would've forced her to grow. In this world, that kind of weakness would get her killed. He needed someone who could actually keep up.
His gaze slid to Madison.
She felt it and straightened, chest out, a knowing little smile curving her lips. Before the academy she'd already been a rising star—until she used her telekinesis to kill a director who tried to force himself on her. She was ambitious, sharp, and used to fighting for what she wanted. From the second they met she'd been pushing, testing, flirting. If she wanted something, she went after it.
Strong desire meant strong drive. With the right pressure, she'd grow faster than Zoe ever could. And if her personality ever turned on him? A contract would fix that.
Soren nodded. "Fine. I can make you the Supreme Witch. But it comes with a price. You sign a contract with me. From this moment on you're loyal to me—completely. Whatever I tell you to do, you do it. No questions. Even if I tell you to die."
He kept his voice ice-cold. No room for jokes.
Most people would've flinched. Madison just shoved Zoe out of the way and stepped in close, pressing her body against his. Her full chest flattened against his chest, one long leg sliding between his.
"Master-servant contract?" she murmured, rising on her toes so her lips brushed his ear. "Anything I'm told, no matter what?"
Her voice dropped lower, warm breath tickling his skin. "I was wondering why you never reacted to any of my hints these last few days. Turns out you just wanted to lock me down like this."
Soren's face stayed blank. He pushed her back a step. "Hope you still feel that way once you're in that world."
"That world—?"
Before she could finish, he handed her the contract he'd already written up.
"Read it. If it's good, press your handprint."
Madison skimmed the page, saw it matched what he'd said, and slapped her palm down without hesitation.
Black mist swirled. Lovkar stepped out of it, one massive eye gleaming.
"Didn't expect to see you again so soon."
The demon gave Soren a respectful nod, then glanced between him and Madison with clear amusement. "Looks like the lord will have another descendant before long."
"Witness it," Soren said flatly.
"As you wish."
Lovkar snapped his fingers. The contract split into two glowing copies.
When the mist cleared, Zoe was already gone—quietly slipped away while no one was looking.
Madison turned back to Soren, eyes bright. "So when does the training start?"
Soren smiled, cold and sharp. "It already has."
The world around them twisted.
The alley walls cracked and peeled. Dead trees punched up through the concrete. Fog rolled in thick and gray. Dilapidated houses rose like tombstones between the trunks. The air turned heavy with the scent of ash and rust.
Madison's confident smirk faltered for the first time as the Silent Hill domain swallowed her whole.