My Wives are Beautiful Demons

"Hm... who's this?" Viviane arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she looked the figure before her up and down — a woman of exotic beauty, with faintly reptilian traits hidden beneath a flawless human guise. But her vertical pupils still shimmered with a predator's gleam.

"Never seen a spirit before?" Zuri growled, crossing her arms with disdain.

"A spirit? Not like this one," Viviane replied, taking a step to circle around the lamia. "You're... truly interesting." Her voice carried more curiosity than hostility, though the analytical tone was impossible to miss.

Zuri rolled her eyes, clearly losing patience. "Vergil, I'm going to kill this woman."

"You're the one who decided to come out of snake form," he replied from the sofa without even lifting his gaze. "Deal with the consequences."

Vergil leaned forward, elbows on his knees, fingers interlaced. His scarlet eyes glinted with subtle interest. "Now then... how are things looking?"

Viviane sighed lightly, turning toward him, a touch of weariness in her posture. "As your generals reported… it is indeed another fragment of Ex-Calibur."

She walked closer to the fireplace as she spoke, the flames casting reflections in her golden eyes. "Pity it had to be in the one territory where our influence is... nonexistent."

Vergil raised an eyebrow. "Vampires?"

Viviane nodded slowly. "Yes. Much like the werewolves, the vampires were never exactly... welcoming. They prefer distance. Tensions have existed for centuries, and now..." She shot him a sideways glance. "They're aligned with the Fallen Angels."

"Don't worry," Vergil said calmly, leaning back against the sofa. "I'm waiting on a call from Azazel. He'll get me a meeting with Alucard."

Viviane didn't hide her surprise. "Feeling confident, are we?"

"You know me." He gave a crooked smile, just as the sound of light footsteps echoed in the background.

Ada approached down the polished wooden corridor, her bare feet almost silent on the floor. She wore a traditional kimono with soft floral patterns, her hair loose and gently wavy. She looked like she'd walked out of a Japanese autumn painting.

Vergil looked up and smiled. "You just got back from Japan?"

Ada nodded softly. "Mom and I visited grandma's grave." There was a hint of melancholy in her voice, but also serenity — a calm that sometimes worried him. Too calm for someone her age.

"And how do you feel?" he asked gently.

"I was born after she passed. I never met her, but..." Ada smiled sweetly, her eyes shining. "Mom has such a beautiful memory of her. So, in my heart, I'll hold on to that memory. As if it were mine."

She sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder with a loving gesture. Vergil felt her familiar warmth and took a deep breath, allowing himself, for a moment, to forget the weight of the world.

"What's this?" Ada murmured, gently touching his hand. Her delicate fingers brushed over a black chain that wound itself like it was part of Vergil's own arm.

The chain pulsed faintly, made of pure death energy, its form shifting like solid smoke.

"Hm... long story," Vergil said with a crooked smile.

Zuri, still sulking in the corner, scoffed. "Long and stupid."

Viviane was still staring at the chain, her eyes narrowed, arms now crossed tighter over her chest as if something about the energy disturbed her on a primal level.

"That thing doesn't just seem attached to you," she said, her voice lower now. "It seems... alive."

"Death energy has a will of its own," Vergil replied, gazing at the chain like an old companion that still managed to surprise him now and then. "But don't worry—it knows who's in charge here."

Ada let out a soft giggle, though her eyes remained fixed on the black smoke pulsing around the chain. "Still... it's different from anything you've had before."

Zuri stepped forward, her expression settling back into something close to normal—though she was still clearly annoyed. "And it's dangerous. Selene said so, remember? That kind of energy carries a curse. It can consume, distort." She pointed at the chain. "You might be in control now... but for how long?"

Vergil didn't answer immediately. He lifted his arm, watching the ethereal patterns of the chain writhe, as though reacting to his thoughts. A faint smile crept across his lips.

"If it tries to consume me," he finally said, "it'll find I'm a hard meal to swallow."

Viviane laughed dryly, shaking her head. "Still so arrogant..."

Zuri crossed her arms. "Confident, you mean. Even when he's about to do something incredibly stupid."

Vergil winked at her. "You love me."

Zuri blushed instantly and turned her back, muttering something unintelligible as she stomped back to her corner of the room.

Viviane just sighed and sat back down. "So... what now, our dark commander?"

"Waiting for Azazel to get back to me," Vergil said, reclining on the couch. "If he lands the meeting with Alucard, I can negotiate access to the Ex-Calibur fragment. If not... well, I might have to break into an entire vampire city."

Viviane raised an eyebrow. "Charming as ever."

Before he could respond, the air in the room trembled. A faint vibration rippled through the floorboards. A moment later, a crimson summoning circle flared briefly to life above the coffee table—and then, a small crystalline orb materialized, floating in the air.

"Speak of the devil," Vergil said with a crooked smile as a subtle distortion shimmered in the space above the table.

The crystal orb pulsed with scarlet light, spinning slowly, and soon the unmistakable voice of Azazel echoed through the room—smooth, elegant, almost melodic, but laced with an unnerving calm.

"Vergil... Alucard is curious. He will agree to meet you, but he's imposed one condition."

Just from the tone, Vergil's brow furrowed. It already smelled like trouble.

"He wants you to bring someone from your... family. A gesture of trust—or vulnerability, depending on how you look at it."

Silence fell like a black veil—thick, heavy.

Everyone in the room turned to face him.

Zuri, from across the room, widened her eyes and muttered with disdain, "You've got to be kidding me..."

"Family, huh?" Vergil muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple with two fingers. "Great. Now I have to choose which one of my women gets to have tea with a thousand-year-old vampire."

'I'm going to kill him the first chance I get... Yes, who the hell thinks it's okay to summon someone from my family for something like this...'

Ada glanced up at him from his shoulder, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Viviane crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow like she was silently saying, Don't even look at me. And Zuri was already shaking her head, muttering curses under her breath.

On the other end of the call, Azazel let out a heavy sigh. "Just take anyone. Alucard's not setting up an ambush—at least not this time. He just… likes to see who stands beside power."

"Or who's vulnerable," Vergil murmured, thoughtful.

The orb went quiet for a few seconds.

"He's bold, yes. But don't underestimate how much he fears you, even if he'd never admit it," Azazel's voice came through again, firmer now. "Just play the game. Like you always do."

Vergil leaned back into the couch, eyes half-lidded and a cynical smirk tugging at his lips.

"Alucard's too bold. But fine..."

He twirled the black chain around his finger like it was a living bracelet, death energy vibrating in a low hum in response.

"Let's give the vampire a little of what he wants," Vergil said before cutting the connection.

And then… silence.

All of them looked at him—all of them. Like they were waiting.

Waiting for his answer.

Waiting to know who he would bring.

The air grew thicker than compressed magic. The world itself seemed to pause for a heartbeat—the only sound daring to move was the crackling fire in the hearth.

Viviane stood tall, arms crossed and chin raised in that elegant defiance of hers, her expression a perfect mix of challenge and expectation. Selene, quiet as ever, said nothing, but her gaze screamed Don't you dare forget me. Ada's eyes sharpened, no longer playing the sweet child, and Zuri? Zuri stood with her head slightly tilted, a smug, wicked grin dancing on her lips—clearly enjoying how uncomfortable he was.

Even Ada, still resting against him, tilted her head up, eyes glinting with curiosity.

Who would he choose?

"Alright..." Vergil muttered, dragging a hand down his face with an audible sigh. "Could you all... not look at me like that?"

Zuri raised a brow, feigning innocence. "Like what?"

"That 'pick the wrong one and you die in your sleep' look." He gestured vaguely in a circle.

Viviane smiled with her lips—but not her eyes. "Oh, love... we won't kill you. Just break both your arms."

"Such a relief," Vergil grumbled.

He rose slowly, eyes passing over each of them. The black chain around his arm thrummed lightly, as if it too could feel the tension hanging in the air.

"Alright, let's go down the list..." he said, thinking aloud. "I can't take Zuri… she'd try to eat half of Alucard's castle or insult some noble and start a war."

Zuri smiled proudly. "I promise I'll behave… maybe."

"Exactly." He didn't even look at her and turned to the next.

"Ada… you hate enclosed spaces. I'm not dragging you into some gothic hall to have a panic attack."

Ada gave a soft nod with a grateful smile. "Thanks for remembering."

"If it's Katharina…" Vergil hesitated, glancing in her direction. "She'd be a good choice... but I'm not giving Alucard the satisfaction of seeing her pissed. He'd probably fall in love and I'd end up starting a war."

"Viviane… you've got too much spirit-demonic blood. They'd smell you from miles away like a gourmet buffet. And I'm not slaughtering a whole clan before tea."

Viviane pouted and murmured, "I'd be a refined banquet. Just for you…"

"Stella… no. Too sweet." Vergil muttered to himself, eyes unfocused as he ran through his mental list. "Roxanne… also too sweet. Raphaeline… would probably turn the castle into a barter market…" He let out a heavy sigh. "Ah… I definitely can't take Sapphi—"

Clack.

The sharp sound of a high heel echoed down the marble staircase, slicing through his thoughts like a blade. Vergil's eyes snapped up, curiosity instantly replaced by a complete system shutdown of every functional part of his brain.

"Of course you can. And you will take me."

The voice was sweet, but carried an unyielding authority. Every syllable danced with unwavering confidence, like the mere idea of being denied was laughable.

Sapphire descended the steps like a goddess among mortals — dressed in a deep crimson velvet gown that hugged every dangerous curve with immaculate precision. The fabric shimmered subtly under the mansion lights, as if dusted with starlight. Her red hair was swept into an elegant updo, with a few loose strands framing her face, only accentuating the intensity in her eyes and the perfect curve of her scarlet lips.

She didn't need a spell to enchant him — the visual alone was a direct hit.

"What the—" Vergil started, but the words died in his throat.

Choked. Speechless.

She smirked, clearly pleased with the reaction.

"Were you saying something?" Sapphire asked, stepping off the last stair and stopping directly in front of him. A subtle breeze carried her scent — jasmine and mint, elegant and deadly.

"S-s-so much red…" he finally muttered, completely entranced.