It started with the smell of burnt cinnamon and necromancy.

Jo was elbow deep in espresso grounds when Matteo burst into Harmony Café holding a tattered scroll, a suspiciously glowing demitasse cup, and the single worst sentence a barista could hear before noon.

“I think my machine’s trying to resurrect someone.”

Jo blinked. “Matteo, did you try to summon an elder vampire queen through a mocha blend again?”

Matteo looked sheepish. “Okay yes, but listen, it was also supposed to just create a bold and full-bodied brew with an ancestral flavor profile. Maybe a little soul magic. Barely any screaming.”

The espresso machine gurgled ominously and launched a puff of steam shaped like a screaming skull.

According to Clorvex, the ancient scroll was probably stolen and sold on an online auction to the highest bidder. It instructed that for one to awaken the long forgotten Queen of the Hollow Moon, it needed three things: a sacred blend brewed under moonlight, a vessel with a soul connection, which was unfortunately Matteo’s espresso cup, and an incantation recited in the ancient tongue of Vapirosia.

Matteo had the first two and decided to wing the third with bad Latin and jazz hands. Naturally, this caused the espresso machine to develop a pulse and begin demanding tribute in the form of artisanal foam patterns.

Meanwhile, Mira and Sev frantically tried to contain the rising energies using enchanted tea bags and calming mantras.

Clorvex suggested unplugging the espresso machine.

Jo, wielding her mop like a battle staff, screamed, “No one unplugs her, she’s still pulling beautiful crema!”

By 3:00 pm, the café was filled with jittery magical static, ghostly latte art, and one very confused health inspector who spontaneously turned into a bat and flew out the window.

The machine let out one final hiss and ejected a single espresso shot dark as a moonless night and topped with a whisper of silver foam.

From the crema, a voice echoed,  “Not yet…but soon.”

Everyone froze.

Jo downed the shot in one go. “If she’s coming, she better clock in.”