Noah had finally stumbled upon the library after two hours of aimless wandering. The entrance loomed before him, flanked by tall, ornately carved doors. Relief washed over him, but he didn't dare step inside. There was still the matter of his meeting with Mistress Elena, which was supposed to take place in just under an hour. It would be enough time to get back if only he knew where "back" was.
He was hopelessly lost.
"Damn this place!" he growled, clenching his fists. The layout of the estate was as maddeningly confusing as the building where he had woken up as an Incubus. Endless hallways, identical doors, and a labyrinthine design that seemed to lead him in circles—it was like the mansion itself was conspiring to keep him from his destination.
Noah tried retracing his steps, pausing at every corner to see if something looked familiar. But no matter which path he took, everything blurred together, and he quickly realized that even if he had found the right route, he probably wouldn't recognize it. Worse yet, all the maids seemed to have disappeared. Their absence only added to his frustration. What was the point of having staff if they were never around when you needed them?
After some time, Noah found himself slumped against the wall in a quiet corner, ranting aloud to no one in particular. "Great. I'm probably going to be late, and then what? Get punished for being lost in a damn maze?"
As if on cue, the sound of a door creaking open reached his ears. He snapped his head toward the source and froze as he saw Mistress Elena step out from the very library he had discovered. Her elegant figure was wrapped in a purple robe that clung to her body, revealing tantalizing glimpses of her pale skin and accentuating her curves in a way that left little to the imagination. She glided out with her usual grace, a knowing smile already forming on her lips as her eyes settled on him.
"There you are, Zeph," she said, amusement coloring her tone as she approached him. "Fancy finding you here, of all places."
Noah quickly rose to his feet, bowing deeply. "Mistress," he said, doing his best to hide his relief. "Forgive me. I seem to have gotten lost."
Elena's laugh was soft and melodic, though it carried a trace of disbelief. "Lost, you say? That's quite the excuse," she remarked. "I find it hard to believe that you, of all people, could get lost in my estate. You knew nearly every nook and cranny before." Her words were probing, as if testing the validity of his claim.
Before she could press the matter further, Noah added hastily, "Since I woke up from that near-death experience, some of my memories have been… missing. Some parts are blurry, and others are just completely gone." He kept his expression earnest, trying to appear both apologetic and helpless.
Mistress Elena's smile faded into a contemplative frown. *Missing memories?* she thought. That was certainly inconvenient. She wondered if she would have to start grooming him from scratch, teaching him everything once more. That thought alone was tiresome. But then, she reassured herself that even if he had forgotten certain details, the important thing was that he was still loyal, still her Zeph. That hadn't changed.
With a sigh, she stepped closer, reaching out to pat his head. "There, there," she said gently. "You may have lost your way, but it seems I've found you." She pulled him toward her, pressing his face against her chest. Noah felt the familiar softness, the warmth of her body against him. For a moment, he almost allowed himself to relax into it.
His skill, *Self Control*, was active as always, keeping his desires in check, but a sudden thought crossed his mind—what if she noticed? The skill had always been passive, subtly dampening his urges. He deactivated it, just in case.
As soon as the skill was disabled, heat surged through his lower body, and he felt a reaction stir. It was unmistakable. Her closeness, her scent, and the very nature of his Incubus instincts had taken hold. Elena's gaze flicked down, her lips curling into a smirk.
*There it is,* she thought. *He still responds to me, even if his memories are scattered. That's the Zeph I know.*
She released him, her touch lingering for just a second longer than necessary. "It's good to see that some things haven't changed," she said with a playful wink. "Perhaps you've lost a few memories, but it seems your instincts remain intact."
Noah swallowed hard and managed a smile. "It seems they do, Mistress. Thank you for… reminding me."
She patted his cheek lightly. "Since I've found you," she began, "I suppose there's no point in waiting for our appointment. You're here now, and I'm free. We may as well continue." Her tone held a suggestion that left little room for refusal.
He gave a respectful nod. "Of course, Mistress. I'm ready whenever you are."
"Good." Elena turned on her heel and gestured for him to follow. "Come along, then," she said, leading him through the winding hallways with an effortless grace that made it clear she knew the estate like the back of her hand.
As they walked, Noah couldn't help but marvel at her ease in navigating the labyrinthine corridors. It was as though the mansion bent to her will, as if every twist and turn was laid out just for her. He followed a few paces behind, his gaze occasionally drifting to the elegant sway of her robes. Though he was determined to keep his thoughts clear, the lingering effects of *Self Control* being deactivated hadn't fully worn off, and he found himself wrestling with his own reactions.
Eventually, they reached her private chambers, a pair of double doors that seemed more imposing than any others in the estate. She pushed them open and stepped inside, beckoning him to follow. The room beyond was grand, with dark velvet drapes, soft lighting, and a large canopy bed at the far end. Lavish furnishings were scattered throughout, giving the space an air of decadence and luxury. The scent of incense hung lightly in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of something sweet and intoxicating.
Elena turned to face him, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and something darker. "You know, Zeph," she said, her voice as smooth as silk, "if you've truly lost parts of your memory, then we'll simply have to create new ones."
Noah felt a shiver run down his spine, not from fear, but from the anticipation of what she might mean. There was no denying the power she held over him, nor the allure of her presence. He took a slow breath and met her gaze. "I look forward to it," he replied, allowing a small smile to touch his lips.
She grinned in response, clearly pleased. "That's what I like to hear," she said softly, stepping closer. "Now, let's begin, shall we?"