"She made me do it," he whispered.
I leaned forward. "Who?"
"The Head Maid." His voice cracked. "Elara. She... she has seduction magic. She's been controlling me for months. I tried to resist at first, but..." He shook his head. "Her magic is too strong. Your father never knew."
I studied his face.
"And the maps?"
"She took them this morning. Said she had a buyer in the capital. Someone willing to pay a fortune for information about the ruin."
So Elara's acting alone. Not working for Viktor, just bleeding the estate for herself.
One less enemy. For now.
"What else?" I asked.
"That's all, my lord. I swear it."
I turned toward the door.
"My lord," Theron called. "I'm sorry. I can do better"
I didn't respond.
You were weak. And you betrayed my father.
I needed to deal with Elena. Now.
***
I headed for the cells.
The holding cells were beneath the main manor—cold stone, iron bars, the smell of damp and rust.
Only one cell was occupied.
Elara sat on the stone bench, legs crossed, posture perfect. She looked up when I approached and smiled.
"Lord Angelo," she said smoothly. "Come to grovel already?"
I stopped in front of the bars. "Where are the maps?"
She laughed. "Right to business. How refreshing."
"Answer the question."
"Or what?" She stood, walking toward the bars with slow, deliberate steps. "You'll have me executed? Go ahead. See how far that gets you without those maps."
I stared at her.
She was right. I needed information at least enough to know her intentions.
I glanced back at the two guards standing at attention near the corridor entrance.
"Leave us," I said.
They exchanged glances, then bowed and retreated down the corridor until their footsteps faded completely.
We were alone.
I pulled the key from my belt and unlocked the cell door.
Elara's smile widened. "Bold. Coming in here alone with me."
"You're unarmed and locked in a cell," I said, stepping inside. "I think I'll manage."
She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. "Will you?"
Her hand shot out, pressing against my chest.
I felt it immediately—warmth flooding through me, spreading from where she touched. A pleasant haze tried to settle over my thoughts.
The seduction magic.
[ALERT: HOSTILE ABILITY DETECTED]
[SEDUCTION MAGIC - RANK B]
[ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE TARGET]
[RESISTANCE CHECK...]
[SUCCESS: LUST VESSEL IMMUNITY ACTIVE]
The warmth was there, but it didn't control me.
I could feel the magic trying to burrow into my mind, whispering suggestions, making me want to comply, to obey.
I let my expression go slack.
Elara's smile turned predatory. "There we go. Much better."
She stepped closer, both hands on my chest now, magic pulsing stronger through her touch.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+5 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 5/100]
A small trickle of energy flowed from her into me.
"You're going to be a good boy for me, aren't you, Cade?" she purred.
I nodded slowly. "Yes..."
"Good." Her fingers slid down my chest, nails scraping lightly. "You've been so *difficult* lately. Acting like you're in charge. But deep down, this is what you want, isn't it?"
I didn't answer. Just kept my expression blank, compliant.
She seemed satisfied.
Her hand moved lower, fingers trailing down my stomach.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+5 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 10/100]
"That's better," she murmured. "Now listen carefully. You're going to forget about those maps. You're going to release me from this cell. And you're going to give me enough gold to leave this place and never come back."
I nodded again, getting tired of the pretense.. "Yes..."
She leaned in close, her lips brushing my ear. "And if you're *very* good... maybe I'll let you touch me before I go."
Her breath was warm against my skin. Her body pressed against mine.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+5 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 15/100]
"Get on your knees," she whispered.
I hesitated—just enough to make it look like I was fighting the compulsion—then slowly sank down onto the cold stone floor.
She smiled down at me, running her fingers through my hair almost affectionately.
"That's it. See? Isn't this easier than fighting?"
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+5 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 20/100]
She still didn't notice.
"You're going to be such a good, obedient lord," she continued, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "So much easier to manage than your father was."
My jaw tightened, but I kept my face neutral.
Her hand slid down the side of my face, thumb brushing my lips.
"Open your mouth."
I obeyed. She slipped her thumb between my lips, pressing down on my tongue.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+10 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 30/100]
"Good boy," she purred. "Now—"
I moved.
My hands shot up, gripping her thighs, and I pulled her forward hard.
She stumbled, catching herself against the wall with a gasp. "What—"
I leaned in and pressed my lips against her inner thigh, just above the knee.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+10 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 40/100]
Her eyes went wide with shock. "What the hell are you—"
"Don't worry," I said, looking up at her with a cold smile. "It won't hurt."
Realization dawned on her face.
"You—you were *pretending*—"
"Obviously."
I reached for the waistband of her pants.
She tried to jerk away, hands shoving at my shoulders. "Stop! Listen to me—"
I yanked her pants down in one swift motion.
"You bastard—" she hissed, trying to kick at me.
I caught her leg, pinning it against the wall.
Beneath her pants, thin fabric—already wet.
I hooked my fingers into it and pulled it aside.
"This isn't—you can't—" Her voice cracked with panic now, all her confidence evaporating.
I didn't give her time to finish.
I put my mouth on her.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED - INTIMATE CONTACT]
[+15 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 55/100]
She gasped, "Stop—this isn't—fuck—"
I ignored her protests. Her words said stop, but her body was already arching into my touch. Her hands gripped my hair, not pushing me away, pulling me closer.
She wanted this. She just didn't want to admit it.
My tongue moved against her, and with every touch I felt more essence flowing into me. It was intoxicating—not just the physical sensation, but the power coursing through my veins.
Her legs trembled.
"You... you pathetic maggot," she gasped, but her voice had lost its edge. "You... you pathetic bastard," she gasped, but her voice had lost its edge. "This is all you wanted, wasn't it? To take me like this...""
I pushed two fingers inside her.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+20 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 75/100]
She moaned—a sound caught somewhere between fury and unwilling pleasure.
"Damn you..."
Her hips rocked forward despite herself, body betraying her words.
I could feel her resistance crumbling with each passing second. The magic she'd tried to use against me was backfiring spectacularly—every touch draining her strength and feeding mine.
"Stop... please..." The words came out weak, unconvincing. Her hands tightened in my hair—not pushing me away. Pulling me closer.
I worked her with my tongue and fingers, building a rhythm that had her gasping and trembling against the stone wall.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED - MAXIMUM INTIMACY]
[+20 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 95/100]
"Oh god—I can't—I'm going to—"
Her back arched violently off the wall.
She came hard, a broken cry tearing from her throat as her thighs clamped around my head.
[ESSENCE DRAIN ACTIVATED]
[+50 ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[ESSENCE: 145/100]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL 2 REACHED]
[ESSENCE: 45/200]
I felt the power flood through me—stronger, sharper. My senses heightened. The air felt electric.
I pulled up the status screen.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: STIGMA]
[Cost: 5-50 Essence]
[Summon objects or temporary buffs]
Finally. I could actually use it now.
I pulled back slowly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
Elara collapsed against the wall, legs barely able to support her weight. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, hair disheveled, uniform in complete disarray.
For a long moment, she didn't—couldn't—move.
Then she lifted her head and looked at me.
And I saw pure fear in her eyes.
"How... did you?" she whispered.
I stood, adjusting my clothes and brushing off the dust from my knees.
"Your magic is pathetic," I said. "Now. Where are the maps?"
She didn't answer immediately, just kept staring like she was seeing me for the first time.
I stepped toward her.
She flinched back against the wall.
"The maps, Elara."
Her defiance—all that cocky confidence from minutes ago—was completely gone.
"My quarters," she said quietly, voice small and defeated. "Hidden in the floorboards. Beneath my bed."
I should have searched her room first. But I'd needed to know if she was working with Viktor. And I'd needed the essence.
"Good girl."
I walked to the cell door, pulled it open, then locked it behind me with a heavy clang of iron.
She was still slumped against the wall, looking utterly broken.
"What are you going to do with me?" she asked, and for the first time since I'd met her, she sounded genuinely afraid.
I paused, looking at her through the bars.
She was dangerous. A thief. A manipulator who'd been bleeding my father's estate dry.
But also... potentially useful. She had magic, skills, information.
"For now? Nothing." I looked her over—disheveled, broken, afraid. "But if you're lucky, I might come back."
Her eyes widened. "And if I'm not lucky?"
I turned and walked away, my footsteps echoing down the stone corridor, leaving her alone in the darkness