[28 hours left until Jeanne leaves him.]
In the Elmsworth estate, in the living room was a bizarre scene of domestic luxury. Naturally there were two cups of tea. A tea made from the leaves of a silver-tongue-ent, a tea reserved for nobles, for kings, for cardinals. Yet a slime was sipping the hot drink.
"Ah."
It felt wonderful, the aroma mixing with the earthiness of the leaves made him feel calm. Jack was sitting on Ella's lap. The noblewoman was holding the tea for him like he was her child. Her breath, sweet with hints of rose and honey, fanned over him with each soft, controlled sip she took from her own cup.
"So Jack, what part of hell did you escape from?" Ella asked.
While she was undoubtedly horny, she also had a curiosity for this slime. That curiosity could only be found in rich people who have already seen all the weirdos in the world.
Jack didn't think there was any point in convincing her that he wasn't a demon.
"Oh Ella. The place I escaped from was worse than the 9th floor of hell."
Tilting her head, Ella said, "Hell only has 7 floors as far as I'm aware of."
Her auburn locks spilled over her shoulder.
"You see that's what Lucifer wants you to think."
His squeaky, theatrical demon-lie made Ella laugh. Making up lies was fun for him.
"Lucifer no longer rules over hell, he was cast out long ago," she said with a smile like a teacher trying to correct a child's mistake.
He took another sip of tea. "Right. Sometimes I forget. The 9th floor really messes you up."
Ella rested her boobs on Jack, who was on her lap, making him sink into their warm embrace. She petted him.
"Oh? What despicable things did they do to you?" Ella asked, her tone a seductive blend of sympathy and excitement.
"They forced me to sip lukewarm tea," he shivered, "For eternity."
Again Ella's laughter rang, a genuine melody in the ornate hall.
"I'll have to make sure your tea is scalding from now on."
Charles cleared his throat from the other side of the room.
"Miss if I may. This demonic creature shouldn't be allowed to reside here."
With a sigh, the noble woman swatted her hand in the air like a queen dismissing a pesky fly. She was growing tired of Charles overprotectiveness. Ever since she was a child.
"You didn't care when I was forced into this marriage to that spineless husk of a man."
Ella pointed at the portrait on the wall.
"You see Jackie, my husband collects exotic slaves because he lacks something. That something is a functioning cock. So I am forced to pleasure myself while he gets off on having a full collection of creatures."
Her eyes narrowed at the painting.
"I wanted to marry an adventurer but no my father thought marrying the man who invented Aresta Runes would be a good idea for our family,"
Her left eyebrow twitched with an all too familiar suppressed rage.
"For one Aresta is the most useless form of runecrafting." she said, scoffing.
Jack raised his eyebrows. From his limited knowledge runes seemed quite powerful.
"Now now. I don't care for your husband but runes seems quite a bit important here," he said.
Ella giggled, a soft, dark sound.
"My sweet Jackie. He invented Slaver runes. Sure it can be used on the weak. But no one that truly matters can be affected by them."
This revelation sent a jolt through Jack's gelatinous form. Slaver runes.
"Say is your husband a fanatic for hybrids?" Jack squeaked in faux-innocence. His core pulsed faster; the scent of Aria's terror and defiance was a ghost in his memory, mingled with the chemical perfume of the roses in Ella's garden.
Her gaze, which had been drifting toward the fireplace, sharpened and locked onto him. The theatrical amusement in her eyes congealed into something far more calculating, a predator's focus.
"Exotic creatures, my dear Jackie," she corrected, her fingers tracing the delicate curve of her porcelain teacup. "Do you wish to see his collection? It would make his pathetic existence worthwhile for once."
A shudder ran through him, one he couldn't quite suppress. But he couldn't refuse. Ella practically dragged him down the corridor, passing various maids and butlers, stopping only before a red and gold door with an Aresta rune on it: a stylized birdcage.
"He loves these things, he says they prevent any chance of escape. Useless, of course," Ria whispered into Jack, her hot breath tickling him.
Walking in there were exotic cages everywhere. All kinds of hybrids from lamia's to even chimera's.
Yet one empty cage had a sign that said 'Hybrid 25: Vampire-Ghost'. Jack had to stop. This was it. This was where Aria would end up. The cage had a single feeding straw. With blood in it.
Jack couldn't stomach imagining Aria in this cage. Or even himself.
"He buys the creatures. He breaks them."
Ella leaned against the glass cage. Her hand gestured at the cages with various beings behind them. Some were in a trance, their eyes were empty.
"All his attention towards them leaves me none for myself. But you Jackie are different. You have a spark."
As she turned her body, he saw Charles behind her, glaring at him.
He instinctively stepped back.
"Please forgive Charles. He's old. Too old to change his bad habits," Ella said, waving her hand dismissively.
Then she took him to the dining table. They ate a three-course meal. Jack couldn't digest solids yet he still enjoyed smelling the food. The juicy steak, the salad drenched in creamy vinaigrette. And of course the wine.
"Delicious?" Ella asked.
Slurring his words, he answered, "Wine from Gracian grapes? A fine choice."
Of course he had no idea what Gracian grapes were.
While Ella laughed, he saw an opportunity in her eyes. Her loneliness was an ocean that swallowed any form of validation.
"Ella do you wish to learn a secret?" he whispered.
This piqued the noble woman's interest immediately. She leaned in close enough that he could taste the perfume she had sprayed between her boobs.
"What is it?" she purred, her voice a throaty conspirator's whisper.
"Promise not to tell Charles. The entire secret's worth would be lost if you told him," he warned.
"What does it matter what an old man thinks of my secrets?"
Yet she cast a glance over at the butler.
"Descento Charles."
The butler's eyes widened.
"Miss Ella I must ask you to think carefully. I have never met a demon who could lie when asked about its heritage."
"Descento," she commanded, a rare edge in her voice.
With a nod that was more mechanical than respectful, the butler covered himself in shadows and vanished from the dining hall.
"My father hires the best people. The most loyal," she said as if explaining herself to him, "Even if they are suffocating."
A beat of silence passed.
Then Ella leaned so close her red lipstick was on him. But it wasn't an attempt to kiss him. It was a desperate attempt to see.
Jack found it incredibly arousing for reasons he couldn't quite pinpoint. Also his secret was actually not important more of a joke.
"What is your secret? Don't keep a woman waiting, Jackie." Ella purred.
Double checking to see if there was anyone around, he whispered, "I know where to find the G-spot."