Neko approached the luxury dresser, still feeling Lilith's aura lingering on his back even as she headed into the bathroom.
His gaze rested on the familiar black cushion where his white stilettos lay proudly, shimmering like jewels in the candlelight. Only now, up close, did he notice something he had missed in his earlier haze of desire - right beside it lay a second, snow-white cushion that hadn't been there before.
He let out a quiet sigh, feeling a sharp prick of guilt.
I should have noticed this earlier... it was so obvious, he thought, looking at the dark pumps in his hands.
With the utmost care, he placed the shoes on the white cushion, aligning them perfectly parallel, exactly like the white stilettos. He remembered the ritual Lilith had forced upon him last time. He knew that the Queen, despite her absence from the room, could see his every move through her power.
Grimacing slightly at the thought of his own humiliation, he leaned over the pumps. He kissed first one, then the other, feeling the cool leather of the gift against his lips.
"Thank you, Mistress Lilith, for this wonderful gift," he recited in a sweet, trembling voice, before immediately - red as a beet - bolting toward the bathroom.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, the light suddenly went out. It wasn't a simple extinguishing of candles, however; an absolute, dense blackness fell over Neko's eyes, seemingly suffocating his senses.
At that same moment, a crimson notification flared before his inner sight:
[WARNING!]
[High-level effect applied: Curse of the Shadow Queen ]
[Type: Sensory Restriction ]
[Effect: Your sense of sight has been completely sealed. ]
[Duration: Until cancelled by the caster.]
This time, however, Neko didn't feel the paralyzing fear that had accompanied him the first time. His heart beat fast, but it was a rhythm of excitement mixed with the acceptance of his fate.
He felt a hot whisper against his ear, so close he could almost feel Lilith's lips on his skin.
"Good job, kitten," she murmured, her voice ringing with authentic approval.
Neko exhaled in relief, mentally congratulating himself for guessing his Mistress's intentions. He felt Lilith's deft hands begin to unbutton his damp shirt, then remove it with a swift motion.
"We can rest a little now," she whispered, as Neko stood before her completely naked, defenseless in his blindness.
Suddenly, he felt Lilith grab him under the arms. She lifted him effortlessly, and a moment later, he felt them both sink into the steaming, hot water. Neko jolted as the warmth enveloped his exhausted body, but the real wave of bliss came a second later.
He felt Lilith's bare breasts against his back; they were soft and soothing. Between his shoulder blades, he could feel the steady thrum of her heartbeat. Neko involuntarily purred - a pure, feline sound of contentment. He leaned his head back, resting it against her chest and letting the water wash away the remnants of his tension.
Lilith, seeing this rare moment of peace in her kitten, began to stroke his head with a slow, calming motion, her fingers combing through the pink hair between his ears.
"Rest, little one..." she murmured, and the aura of desire in the bathroom was replaced by a heavy, sleepy intimacy.
***
In Elizabeth's chamber, time seemed to flow more slowly, measured only by successive glasses and quiet tales of ancient battles. Over an hour had passed since the two women had immersed themselves in memories.
Elizabeth raised her crystal glass to her lips, taking a slow, deep draught of the thick, crimson fluid. Suddenly, her eyes flared with an unnatural, blood-red light, and she froze with the vessel at her lips. She set the glass down with a loud clack and looked at Elene with clear disbelief and mounting excitement.
"Elene... did you just treat me to the blood of Elves?!" she choked out, licking her lips where a sweet, metallic drop remained. "How on earth did you manage to get a whole bottle of this nectar?"
Elene squared her shoulders proudly, a triumphant smile blooming on her face.
"I knew that vampire nose of yours would sniff it out immediately," she replied, toying with a lock of hair.
"A month ago at the House of Curiosities auction, a Rank C elf was sold. As soon as I found out, I sent a letter to the new owner with a polite 'request' for half a liter of fresh essence. I paid accordingly, of course."
Elizabeth shook her head, still feeling that specific, forest-like and magical aftertaste on her tongue.
"It must have cost a fortune. The Elven race is almost unheard of on our continent, and Rank C blood is a rarity even in royal treasuries."
"I don't have time to spend my salary anyway," Elene shrugged lightly, as if she were talking about buying a loaf of bread. "Since I spend all day maintaining order in this castle and have no time to enjoy luxury, I thought I'd spend the money on something concrete for you, for once."
Elizabeth gave a crooked smile. She knew perfectly well that Elene, as a Great Matron of Sin, was one of the busiest people in the entire castle.
With a swift, decisive motion, she finished the rest of the glass, feeling the elf's power begin to pleasantly warm her veins. Then, to Elene's surprise, she grabbed the bottle and tucked it into her magic ring.
"Wait..." Elene frowned, her eyes growing wider. "You don't like it? Don't tell me that idiot dared to sell me a fake... If so, I'll personally rip his heart out."
"Easy, Elene," Elizabeth waved a hand, calming her friend.
"It's delicious. Granted, it still lacks a little compared to... my Lilith's juices, but it's truly close to perfect. I simply prefer to save the rest for the journey. Such a dose of energy will be useful on the road."
Elene exhaled with visible relief. As a Succubus and not a Vampire, she didn't possess such a refined palate for blood - to her, most types tasted nearly identical, which always made her worry that someone might cheat her on such purchases.
However, the atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted.
The high-quality elven blood acted on Elizabeth like the most powerful aphrodisiac. The vampiress felt her desire, already piqued by her earlier play with Lilith, now strike with double the force.
Her smile suddenly became very "persuasive" - predatory, hazy, and full of hidden intent. She looked at Elene in a way that left no illusions about her sudden appetite for something more than just blood.
Elene felt cold shivers race down her back. She knew that look all too well.
"Eli..." Elene whispered, instinctively adjusting her collar. "You said 'enough for today'..."
"I did," Elizabeth murmured, slowly rising from the bed, her latex outfit squeaking softly. "But that was before you treated me to this blood. Now I feel I have far too much energy in me to simply go to sleep."
Elene felt her stomach do a somersault. She had known Elizabeth a long time and knew that the vampiress became an insatiable beast after a dose of fresh, high-level blood.
Elene, though a succubus herself, usually preferred to dominate in her relationship with Elizabeth - being "on the bottom" and trying to keep pace with vampire endurance always ended in total exhaustion for her.
"Eli, please, look at me!" Elene began to slowly back away toward the door, waving her hands in a defensive gesture. "I am the Overseer; I have a briefing with a hundred girls in the morning! Your endurance after that blood... that is not a level for an ordinary succubus. Maybe we should just finish the wine and..."
Elizabeth cut her off with a quiet, predatory laugh. She set her glass on the nightstand and slowly moved toward her, every step of her high heels sounding like a sentence.
"Are you actually trying to refuse me, Elene?" Elizabeth smiled, her fangs glinting provocatively. "I promised you earlier that I'd punish you for your irresponsibility. Now is the perfect opportunity."
"That's not fair play!" Elene huffed, feeling her back hit the cold wall. "You're taking advantage of the situation!"
"Who said Queens play fair?" Elizabeth stood right before her, towering over her friend. "Strip. Lie in the middle of the bed, face down, and present yourself as hard as you can."
Elene swallowed hard, seeing the glint in Elizabeth's eyes. The vampiress remembered her recent position with Lilith - the moment the Queen dominated her in a second, bringing her to the peak without warning. She gave a light snort, feeling a rising lust for power.
"I feel like finally railing someone doggy-style," Elizabeth added in a low, husky voice.
"Eli, wait, we can talk about this! Maybe you'd prefer if I..." Elene didn't get to finish.
A sudden, warm, and sticky movement around her wrist made her squeak in surprise. She looked down and saw a thin, pulsing thread of red blood coiling around her hand. Before she could react, Elizabeth made a swift, nearly imperceptible flick of her wrist.
"Agh!" Elene felt a sharp yank.
In a fraction of a second, both her hands were behind her back, joined by a tight, bloody bond that pulsed with Elizabeth's magical energy. The vampiress pulled her close, holding the blood-leash short, right against Elene's skin.
"After all, we both love reminiscing about the old times, don't we?" Elizabeth whispered, smiling triumphantly directly into the face of the immobilized succubus.
Those are exactly the memories I'd rather avoid today... flashed through Elene's mind as she felt her resistance finally shatter under the influence of Elizabeth's aura.
Before she could utter another protest, Elizabeth hugged her violently, and in the next second, thanks to vampire speed, both were in the center of the massive latex bed.