Title: Phoning Faust

Author: Sophie Mutiara Nova

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 06/02/2026

Heat Level: 1 – No Sex

Pairing: F/NB

Length: 208

Genre: Paranormal, Genre/lit, paranormal, urban fantasy, lesbian, demisexual, bisexual, genderfluid, trans, devil, pandemic

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Description

Queer mixed Indonesian college student Dian Faust attempts to call the suicide hotline only to dial the wrong number, her finger slipping and typing in six three times (the mark of the Devil). The mysterious voice on the other end of the line is revealed to be a charming scam caller named Memphis with a penchant for chattiness, trapped in a dingy bus stop bathroom, wanting to learn a concerning amount about the lonely Dian’s life.

But this scam caller is more than just a Mr. Robot hacker wannabe—a sinister presence lurks in the pixels on Dian’s laptop screen in the shadows of her apartment. The Devil themself has come to collect Dian’s soul, and “Memphis” is actually Mephistopheles—Hell’s foremost golden-tongued agent and notorious liar.

In this loose retelling of Goethe’s Faust, will Dian save her soul before time runs out—or will she fall prey to the renowned storytelling deception of the infamous Mephistopheles?

Phoning Faust
Sophie Mutiara Nova © 2026
All Rights Reserved

Memphis lowers her hands in shock as I rush her, meant more to turn the blade away from my charging body. I grab the handle, sliding on my knees against the uneven floor, scraping up my skin. With bloody knees, clutching onto an armament in metamorphosis en medias res, with Memphis’s skilled fingers alighting upon my knuckle bones like piano keys, the threat releases—a lion into a lamb. I close my fingers around the handle the same time that Memphis does—and her touch is electrifying.

For more than one reason.

As soon as I grip the axe, the entire contraption sputters and shrieks bloody murder. It lights with a blue flame that travels the length of my skin but refuses to burn. I look upward and see the flame is being emitted from her mouth as the mask burns away. And as it burns away, it reveals a row of ungodly, sharpened teeth that her mask hid from me.

“What are you?” I screech.

“Hell-born,” she replies.

The handle of her axe lengthens to a smooth, polished finish. Wires extending in musical harmony down the body of the weapon, with the metal blade morphing into a fully finished bass—specifically, a Modulus Flea Bass in ruby red. Dorothy would’ve slayed more witches and fashion contests if she carried this instead of slippers.

“Did the axe just turn into a fucking bass guitar?”

Memphis grins at my slack-jawed amazement, clicking that damned forked tongue against teeth clearer than a bottle of Absolut vodka. “You’ve found out my secret.”

“I’m being tormented by Vegas musicians.”

“Now, darling,” Memphis teases once more, “we both know I’m a bit of a showgirl, but the Boss is no rabbit in a hat.” And she gets close, gripping the bass by enclosing her hand over mine. She lifts the instrument with ease and sets it down gently into her coffin case. “The Boss gave me six hours to deliver your soul before they run down and grab it themself.” Memphis glances at the clock, grimacing. “Four hours now.”

When she turns to check the window, skin gleaming in the flickering streetlights coming through the curtains, I spy it. Like a barcode on the nape of a plastic doll’s neck, she has the brand of triple six—the Devil’s Number, burned into her skin.

“The mark…” I whisper.

“…of the Beast,” she intones, as though ending a prayer, rote, and ritual.

It’s really happening.

The Devil collects its dues.

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Queer Midwest emo turned Scream-Queen-Lover (in real life and onscreen) Sophie Mutiara Nova/Whittemore is a half-Indonesian, SLE-diagnosed Writer-Director. They are the Writing Fellow of the ACEX TV Initiative and Finalist of the Emmy’s TV Academy Foundation Directing Program. Their TV series have been selected at the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, ScreenCraft and more. They’ve screened in festivals internationally and across the US and won the Los Angeles Asian Film Awards. Their monster book CATCH LILI TOO was spotlighted by GCLS (known for honoring Allison Bechdel). Originally from Chicago, Sophie’s now based in Los Angeles ( Dartmouth College BFA & MFA Film Directing CalArts). When not writing or rocking out, they perform Indonesian traditional dance with Burat Wangi.

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