[Location: Morningstar Manor, New York]
I sighed. "It was a high-grade relic chest. Named Ancient Treasure Chest of the Vampire King. Exact words. The chest was massive, ornate, covered in dragon-blood metal and wrapped in cursed chains."
Zeraphira didn't blink.
That was worse than blinking.
"Cursed," she repeated mildly. "Chains."
"Decorative curse," I said quickly. "Very vintage. Antique evil. Collector's item."
Selene leaned across the couch toward me. "Did it at least have dramatic, glowing runes? Please tell me it had dramatic glowing runes."
"It had dramatic glowing runes."
"Yes!" She pumped a fist. "Worth it."
Gabriel raised her hand politely. "Um… excuse me… was the chest… crying?"
Everyone looked at her.
She shrank a little under the attention. "S-Sorry! I mean sometimes magical items cry when they're lonely…"
"That is… oddly specific," Valeria said.
Gabriel nodded earnestly. "I read it in a book!"
