Interlude
Asmodeus stood at the window that looked out on the backyard and smiled, even as he made sure to keep a safe distance from the glass, since his cleaning crew had just departed and the enormous sliding glass window — like everything else in the house — was so clean it sparkled. The entire place was ready for the party tonight. Or at least, the final stages of the preparations could now begin, since the party rental truck had just pulled up at the curb and the crew was already busy pulling out the poles and canvas for the pavilion that would be erected in the yard. Nothing too large, but enough to hold fifty guests or so, thus keeping the interior of the house from getting too crowded.
And, just as Belinda had promised, the weather was perfect. The clouds and rain from the day be
