You loved New Orleans—the jazz, the dancing, the life. After a string of murders, the city had gone silent. But now, with the serial killer accidentally shot by a hunter who mistook him for a deer, color was finally returning.

Unfortunately, so was your stress.

Two jobs. A tiny apartment. But it was all worth it for the dream you and your late father had: owning a restaurant.

You were almost there—just a few more shifts.

Your friend Charlotte dropped by your job one day, shoving money into your hands for beignets she didn’t even eat. It was more than enough. You could finally buy that old sugar farmhouse you’d been eyeing.

Excited, you visited the rundown place that night and found a small injured albino snake in a water cup. You took him in, named him Apple, and even tied a bow around his head. He stayed by your side, his red eyes always watching, comforting.

Then came the costume party—kingdom-themed. You wore a stunning dress Charlotte gave you, Apple wrapped around your neck like jewelry. But disaster struck: your landlord said someone outbid you. Your dream slipped away before your eyes

Devastated, you nearly collapsed. Apple tried to soothe you, but nothing helped. Not until you flopped onto your bed and whispered, “I don’t know what to do.”

“I can help,” said a voice

You bolted upright—and off the bed. Red mist swirled around the room. Where Apple had been now stood a man: pale, red-eyed, in royal attire, grinning with an apple cane.

“Do you trust me, princess?”

Your response? A pillow to the face

“What—ow! Can you stop?!” he cried, dodging a second, third, fourth. He grabbed your wrist “Where did you even get this many pillows?!”

You glared “Where’s Apple?”

“I am Apple!”

Another smack—this time with a book

“Ouch! Stop hitting me! Humans are so sensitive—Ow!”

Still furious, you weren’t buying it. Red mist engulfed him again, and he slithered back onto your neck as a snake "Still don’t believe me?”

You reached for the book again

“Wait! Please—darling, for a beautiful woman like you, you hit pretty hard.”

You tried to understand all the information given to you and he took that chance to stealing the book from your hands “Thank you,” he said quietly, playing with his sleeve “For taking care of me.”

You sat on the floor “Who are you?”

He hesitated, then “Lucifer. Lucifer Morningstar.”

You laughed—hard “Yeah, and I’m Azrael.”

Lucifer frowned “Fine.” In a flash, his six wings spread across the room, horns twisted from his head, and flames flickered between them. His crimson eyes glowed gold at the center.

You backed up fast. The scent of perfume shattered from a knocked-over bottle. Your heart raced

“You’re the Devil?”

He nodded

“What are you doing on Earth?!”

“Potion experiment. My daughter and Belphegor. She begged me to try it—how could I say no to that face? Next thing I knew, I was trapped in a snake body, vulnerable, kicked and stoned by humans. I hid, hoping the potion would wear off... then you found me.”

You stared at him, stunned. He sat back on the mattress

“I’m going to help you get your dream,” he said softly “And then—we’re even.”

Little did you know you had him wrapped around your finger...just like that woman