"Yes, in the reasonable expectation that the women present would comport themselves in a fashion that would not entice them into vice."

"I don't want to argue but he's the worst and I love you and I don't like it when you blame yourself for him being the worst."

"Sorry I... should probably not dwell too much on this while it's still possible I'll need to marry him."

Shiver, nod.

The night of what will hopefully be Lucette's only wedding is here long before she could possibly be ready for it, but that's not so different from normal hauntings.

Annie is right there holding her and loving her with all her heart.

... what if they kissed a bit before the sunsets.

Of course. Anytime Lucette wants her.

She's not entirely sure why, but it helps. Somehow.

It has fourteen arms this evening, and stands higher than Lucette's ceiling went just a minute ago, stretching space to fit its proportion. It has eyes that look like they've been freshly scooped from a corpse, and teeth that are sharp and sickly. The tome it carries is dripping with some strange yellow liquid that sizzles when it hits the ground.

Annie can't see the eyes, but the sizzling is not lost on her textural sense of the world around them; she jumps and clings harder.

It tilts its torso over, bending until its head is level with the two of them. The book opens, and it begins to read.

Lucette freezes, her body unmoving while the vision holds her.

Annie's not even sure if Lucette can still feel that she's there, but she holds her and strokes her arm and glares in the approximate direction of the demon.

The demon speaks a memory at the interloper.

It pulls a second book out of the air and tries again.

Is it supposed to have two books? Lucette doesn't really seem in a condition to answer if she asks...

It will have to settle for growling ineffectually, slipping the second book back from whence it came.

And then Lucette is back, gasping for air.

"Lucette?" whispers Annie. "I'm here, I've got you..."

Lucette clings to Annie and sobs. 

"It-it was longer. So many..."

Annie kisses her forehead. "It's... still here... is it not done...?"

"It's multiple times. Usually."

Annie shivers and pets her.