Bruce Wernhart sunk his teeth into his hamburger, chomping slowly as his eyes drifted to the other side of the hotel suite’s dining room. Two figures slipped in through golden double doors in the back: Mephistoclessia, followed closely by Averyl.

In the center of the crimson-walled suite, four Zodiacs sat neatly around a white dining table, feasting on a full-course meal. Seated next to Bruce was Rose Quirivane, his ally and lover, clad in a light blue tank top and ...