Kael’s hands trembled. He turned the first dial—the box grew hot. Second—the room filled with the smell of burning paper. Third—the lock clicked.
A bank vault door, wide open. Inside, instead of money, a single puzzle box made of human metacarpals and gold filigree. The demon’s voice slithered from the air ducts: “Three turns. One for price. One for pride. One for poison.”
The puzzle was solved. The demon was gone. But Kael knew: in a city like this, another gold coin would always find its mark.