The sky above New York tore open like fabric as a portal bloomed in midair, swirling with hellfire. Out of it stepped Mona, her black boots crunching against the rooftop of the Baxter Building. Her horns gleamed faintly in the evening light, and the flames of the portal hissed behind her.
But she was not alone.
Two figures emerged at her side—humanoid, yet unmistakably demonic.
Azazel, a tall, lean figure with skin the color of molten bronze, eyes burning like twin coals. He wore ragged robes that shifted like smoke, and his grin was sharp enough to cut. His voice, when he spoke, was a velvet rasp: "So this is the mortal realm. Hmph. Noisy."
Lilith, smaller but no less striking, her emerald skin glowing faintly beneath black tattoos etched across her arms. She carried herself like a blade, calm, focused, her gaze watchful. Unlike Azazel, she said nothing—only studied everything with eyes that gleamed gold.
The portal slammed shut behind them, the sound like thunder.
Inside the Baxter Building, alarms went off instantly. The Fantastic Four gathered in the observation deck as the intruders touched down. Reed's face tightened, his voice low.
"Not good. Not good at all."
When Candy spotted Mona through the glass, she didn't hesitate. She sprinted to the rooftop exit, Louis right behind her.
"Mona!" Candy cried, her voice breaking with relief. She tackled her friend in a hug. "Finally—you made it!"
Louis followed, grinning wide. "Took you long enough, Mona. We thought you ditched us."
Mona smirked faintly, returning Candy's embrace. "Work got… complicated." She glanced back at the demons. "And Father made sure of it."
Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben stepped forward, their faces grim. Sue put herself slightly in front of the others, her force fields at the ready.
"Candy… Louis… you didn't mention your friend would bring demons into our home."
Johnny crossed his arms, flames licking his shoulders. "Yeah, newsflash—demons don't exactly get a welcome mat here."
Ben growled low, fists tightening. "No way this ends well. I don't like the smell of this, Stretch."
Candy turned, almost pleading.
"They're not enemies. They're Mona's allies—her choice. If she trusts them, I trust them. And you should too."
Reed's eyes narrowed, calculating. "Trust doesn't come that easily, Candy. Not when Hell has its own agenda. If those two demons so much as blink the wrong way, this entire building—and perhaps this city—will be in danger."
Azazel chuckled, stepping forward slightly, his movements lazy but unsettling.
"Danger? You mortals are amusing. If I wanted to destroy your little tower, I would have done it already."
Lilith placed a firm hand on his arm, pulling him back. She met Reed's eyes, her voice calm, almost soothing.
"We are here because Mona commands it. That is all. We seek no fight… unless one is brought to us."
The rooftop went silent for a moment, tension crackling like static.
Finally, Sue exhaled, though her force field stayed shimmering faintly around her.
"Then we'll see if that's true. But Mona… understand this. If they step out of line, even once… we won't hesitate."
Mona squared her shoulders, her eyes glowing faintly red.
"They won't. They answer to me—not to my father. Not to Hell. Only me."
Candy squeezed Mona's hand, her smile unwavering.
"Then that's good enough for me."
For the first time since stepping through the portal, Mona felt a flicker of warmth in her chest. Between Candy's faith, Louis's grin, and the cold suspicion of the Fantastic Four, she knew the days ahead would be anything but simple.
But at least she wasn't alone anymore.