Elene walked through the castle corridors with an impeccably straight back, though every step felt like treading on broken glass.
Passing maids immediately interrupted their duties to offer her deep bows. Elene, maintaining her professional mask, merely gave them brief, cultured nods, showing no sign that her internals were halfway turned into blue ice.
Soon, she reached a point where the wide corridor narrowed sharply, branching into six separate, tight paths carved into dark stone. Without hesitation, Elene chose the first one on the left.
After a short walk, the path began to widen until a sterile room, illuminated by magical lanterns, emerged. Behind the reception desk sat a girl with raven-black hair tied in a high, smooth ponytail. She was so engrossed in a thick tome that she didn't notice the visitor at first.
Only the clack of Elene's heels snapped her out of her lethargy. As soon as her gaze landed on one of the Great Matrons of Sin, her expression shifted from dreamy to deadly serious. She slammed the book shut and nervously adjusted her collar - she knew all too well how strict Elene was regarding staff appearance.
"W-welcome, Mistress Elene," she greeted respectfully, standing up.
"Hello, Kaelia," Elene replied, struggling to keep her voice from trembling with the cold. "Is the Rank A regeneration chamber vacant?"
Kaelia quickly checked the register on her desk. "Two of the three chambers are currently occupied, Mistress. But one is still waiting."
Elene nodded and produced her silver ID badge. "I'll rent Chamber No. 3 for six hours."
As Kaelia took the badge, her fingers briefly brushed Elene's hand. The girl flinched - the Overseer's skin was unnaturally icy, almost corpse-like to the touch. Kaelia remained professional and didn't comment, though a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
"Which healing function would you like to use, Mistress?" she asked, placing the badge on the reader.
"Internal injuries. Characteristic: condensed frost energy," Elene replied curtly, her hand gripping the edge of the counter.
Kaelia turned even more serious. She approached one of the three strange, levitating orbs behind her. After a few quick gestures and setting the appropriate parameters, the orb's blue glow changed to an intense, warning red.
Kaelia then pressed the badge against the device on her desk. The gargantuan number of merit points displayed on the badge decreased by a noticeable sum.
"Chamber number 3 is ready, Mistress," Kaelia said, returning the badge with a deep bow.
Elene tucked the badge away and, without a word, headed toward the third door on the right. As soon as she vanished across the threshold, Kaelia exhaled the breath she had been holding. She sat heavily in her chair and pulled out her hidden book.
I'm going to have so much gossip for Lira when she comes for her shift... Kaelia thought, biting her lip with excitement. Elene, our icy queen of order, came in this morning with her insides literally frozen to the bone. What the hell did she do to end up like that?
***
Elizabeth walked through the West Wing, the rhythmic clack of her high heels echoing off the empty marble walls.
Her black latex outfit hugged her body so tightly it shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the windows with every slight movement of her hips. A light, almost carefree smile played on her face, but it faded when she stood before the gargantuan double doors of dark oak.
In their center was a symbol forged in silver: a bat with outstretched wings, one wing pierced by a long, ceremonial sword.
Elizabeth stared at the sigil for a long moment. Her expression became complex - sadness lurked in the corners of her eyes, and her pressed lips showed traces of old pain and melancholy. This wasn't just a coat of arms; it was a memento of fall and pride. She took a deep breath, calming her racing heart, and knocked firmly on the door.
"Coming!" a slightly surprised but melodic voice called from inside.
Elizabeth took a step back. She heard quick footsteps behind the door, and a moment later, the heavy wings gave way, revealing a figure that radiated an aura of pure, mature power.
In the doorway stood a woman who looked as if time had ceased to hold any meaning for her. Her beauty was different from Lilith's defiant predation or Elizabeth's latex fetishism - this was elegance of the highest order, seasoned with subtle, refined eroticism.
She wore a fitted, blood-red silk shirt that hugged her ample bust so perfectly that every movement of the fabric suggested the smoothness of the skin beneath. The top buttons were undone just enough to reveal the start of a cleavage adorned with an intricate brooch in the shape of a red rose with gold chains.
Over the shirt, she wore a black jacket with a masculine cut but feminine finish, with cuffs turned back to show a scarlet lining. Her waist was emphasized by black fabric trousers that, despite their formality, hugged her hips dangerously tight.
Her face was framed by a storm of thick, black curls that fell onto her shoulders in controlled chaos. Most hypnotic, however, were her eyes - the color of dark rubies, their gaze simultaneously warm and terrifyingly piercing. Her lips, painted with dark lipstick, were set in a delicate, almost motherly smile.
Seeing her, Elizabeth felt a sudden rush of heat. Her blood boiled, and beneath her latex, her member instantly became hard as rock. The vampiress didn't even try to fight the reaction - in this castle, desire was like breath.
Elizabeth knew that if she could, she would spend eons railing Lilith, but the sight of this particular woman always woke a specific kind of hungry excitement in her.
The woman arched a brow at the sight of Elizabeth, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
"Elizabeth? What a surprise..." she smiled wider, gesturing for her to come in. "Please, enter. I didn't expect guests at such an early hour, especially not one of Lilith's wives."
Elizabeth performed an elegant, slow bow, placing a hand over her heart. Her arrogance and predation, so visible with Elene or Neko, completely vanished here, giving way to authentic respect.
"Forgive the intrusion, Scarlet," Elizabeth said in a low, respectful voice. "I couldn't leave the Castle without seeing you at least once. Your presence in this castle is always a fixed point for me, one I must not ignore."
Scarlet laughed softly, the sound like velvet. "Still the same formal Elizabeth. Come in, we'll drink something good."
***
Under Lilith's desk, time seemed to flow to the rhythm of a pen scratching against parchment. Neko's initial daze, caused by the sight of the completely exposed Queen just centimeters from his face, was slowly beginning to give way to mounting irritation.
Good thirty minutes had passed. During this time, Neko had sat on his luxury pillow, staring as if hypnotized at Lilith's damp, pink femininity, which occasionally trembled slightly whenever the Queen adjusted herself in her chair.
At first, it was the height of erotic torment and bliss for him, but now... now he just felt forgotten.
Lilith treated him like air. She hadn't looked down once. The only sounds reaching him were the rustle of shifting documents and Lilith's quiet grunts as she analyzed reports.
Dammit, how long am I supposed to just watch?! Neko thought, a vein of anger throbbing on his forehead. She brought me here, dressed me in these damn ribbons, and now she's sitting over me like I'm a piece of furniture!
Frustration finally won over the command for silence. Neko opened his mouth, wanting to hurl out all his anger at being treated like an invisible desk accessory.
"Meow? Meowww meow!"
Lilith didn't even flinch. Her hand with the pen moved continuously, tracing complex symbols on the paper. Neko felt a surge of pure, helpless rage.
Damn woman... what's the point of all these jaw reinforcements and stamina boosts if all I'm doing is staring at your pussy in complete silence?! he thundered in his mind. You turned me into a pet, put this necklace on me so I can only meow, told me to act like a cat... and now you're ignoring me?
Suddenly, Neko froze. His ears twitched, and his eyes, still fixed on Lilith's parted legs, lit up with a completely different light.
Wait... a cat, exactly! it dawned on him.
A predatory and cunning smile appeared on his face. He remembered what cats do when their owners are too busy working at a desk. They don't ask for attention by meowing - they force it with their physical presence.
If Lilith wanted a cat in the room, she was going to get a cat in all its glory.
Neko knew exactly what he had to do to make Lilith's pen finally stop writing and turn her attention solely to him. And he didn't intend to use a single word to do it.