אַשְמְדּאָי

[ The ritual, the sigil, the blood— all of it was ultimately unnecessary. All it took was Asmodeus's name being expelled from his lungs into the air and time, it feels, crystallizes around the moment. 99 and Anubis are still there, but they're so much less immediate than the feeling of eyes on your back. Someone watching you, waiting for you to turn around. ]