In a dimly lit cabin, dark magic wove its wicked thread.

The little hovel had long since been abandoned, mostly on account of the devil worshippers, cultists and demonologists that had been stalking the area for some while now. All the chairs, tables and furniture, Old and dusty with how long they'd been left, had been pushed and forced to the corners of the room, so that space could be made in the centre for a sprawling chalk circle. It was perfectly crafted, with clear Cthonian runes-- anyone familiar with dark magic would know all too well what was about to transpire.

On the right hand side of the room, a slim-figured fox with big, wide ears and a sour expression stood hunched over a handful of ingredients and magical reagents on the table in front of them. They were clad in dark robes that swept around them with each movement and adjustment, and as they turned on a blood red heart in hand, the robes dragged, covering their entire body save for their hands and snout, that poked out from his hood. For a brief moments, the illumination of the slowly dwindling candles littered around the summoning circle in the middle flashed their visage; canine in shape, with dark eyes and a distinctly shorter snout than an adult.

"[Slot A], fetch me the ritual knife." The figure snapped their fingers towards the person next to them, a [Cub/Adult] [Gender], who had been under the Demonologist's employ for around 8 or 9 months. They were sure their master was quite competent, but they didn't exactly trust them...not when it came to matters like this. Their master was planning on summoning a demon, with the intention of contracting them for the gain of the both of them. At the master's request, [Slot A] reached over towards the table and plucked a short, wavy blade from atop it, passing it over into the canine's awaiting hand.

With a stern stare down at the circle in front of them, the Demonologist brought the blade upwards, hovering it before the heart, before he plunged the blade down. He didn't stop at just the reagent, but pressed the blade all the way through, until it's blooded tip stuck out from the back of his hand. He hovered his injured hand over the circle and watched with a wide-eyed glee as the blood dripped down, splattering onto the circle below; in an instant, the chalk circle absorbed the blood and it spread around, covering every inch of the circle. When the last of the chalk was soaked in the offering, the circle began to slow-- it was at that moment that the magician retreated, withdrawing the blade and dropping the heart into the circle. He passed the blade over to [Slot A], who awkwardly dropped it onto the table.

"It's working." The Demonologist grinned wide, eyes twinkling with malice and determination as, with a wave of his hand, he easily mended the wound on his hand, flexing his clawed fingers to work the muscles. The glowing of the circle before them grew brighter and brighter, to the point where [Slot A] had to shield their eyes, squinting in the light. A buffeting wave of power came from the circle, pushing them back slightly and causing wind to whip and billow around them. The Demonologist's hood flung backwards in the ensuing chaos to reveal something more akin to a teenager than an adult-- the demon worshipper had contracted with demons before to retain his youth at a young age, and anyone who saw him knew this almost instantly in the way he walked and presented himself...even [Slot A] knew this, though he didn't know the specifics.

Suddenly, the chaos of billowing winds and the crackle of demonic power reached a sudden and almost inevitable peak, where the power of the summoning spat out unholy fire that spread across the room and threatened to set the walls ablaze. The master shielded both of them from the flames with raised hands, creating a forcefield that blocked the fire from reaching them. A cloud of fog and smoke spew outwards, obscuring their vision.

"Well, well, what's this?"

The master covered his muzzle for a moment to that he didn't breathe in too much smoke, before he withdrew his hand and cough, squinting through the smoke. Hovering in the air above the circle was a figure, the silhouette of them shrouded in mystery. But there wasn't just one; another was more grounded and stood within the circle, standing more imposing than the first. The Demonologist didn't seem too concerned with their presence, nor was he worried about the dangers ouf being in close proximity towards them-- the circle was made with protection magic built within, so they couldn't leave the circle unless he broke the seal.

That's what should have happened, anyway...were it not for his clumsy apprentice. [Slot A] could barely see what they were doing; they tried to move a little closer to see better, but the summoning had thrown things around the room. They stumbled on god knows what, presumably some kind of utensil, and they staggered forwards towards the circle. The master sucked in a breath and reached out to pull him back, but it was too late-- one of their feet pressed directly onto the circle, and as they tried to keep their balance, they smudged the circle at the edge.

Both of them winced, and within the circle, the demons giggled, both of them amused. [Slot A] withdrew their paw, inspecting the damage as the smoke began to clear, but the damage was done; the glowing circle, which should have acted as their protection, lost its luster and brightness, dimming and flickering out. Nothing could protect them now.

"I'm surprised; we didn't even have to convince you," One of the demons remarked. "Such clumsy mortals, summoning us into this world and immediately giving us all the control."

One of them flicked their wrist, and the cabin door swung shut-- it had opened in the chaos, but there was no chance of escape now. The master muttered darkly under their breath, but knew there was nothing they could do.

For however long those unholy beasts deemed, both the Demonologist and his apprentice were at the mercy of two terrifying demons, and whatever they wanted to do to them.