William Twining, a proud seventeen-year-old with a deep respect for modern science, is devastated to learn that his family has been bankrupted. Now unable to maintain his accustomed lifestyle or pay his tuition, the haughty noble searches his manor for valuable items. In his quest, he discovers a hidden chamber and unwittingly summons the conceited demon Dantalion, Grand Duke of Hell. It seems that Lucifer, the ruler of Hell, has slipped into a coma, leaving only the human "Elector" with the power to choose an interim leader. This has created a power struggle amongst the demons. William, who is told that he is a direct descendant of King Solomon and possesses unmatched authority in the underworld, chooses not to believe it. Rejecting the existence of magic and the supernatural, the rebellious realist is unaware that he is in the midst of a battle between Heaven and Hell.