The address Lilith sent led Chase to a discrete, unmarked elevator located in the basement of a skyscraper miles away from OmniCorp. After flashing his temporary employee ID to a hulking, silent gargoyle statue that somehow recognized the signal, he was whisked up to a penthouse floor.The elevator doors opened directly into a vast, opulent lounge.
The lighting was low, the furniture was minimalist and expensive, and the only other person in the room was Lilith. She stood by the panoramic window, the city lights reflecting off her smooth brown skin and the curves of a stunning, floor-length dress that was charcoal-grey and split daringly high on one thigh.
She turned, a bottle of dark, viscous liquid and two crystal glasses resting on a nearby side table. Her red eyes immediately fixed on Chase, her expression a mix of approval and hunger.
"Good, you came," Lilith purred, gesturing to a seat on a low, plush leather sofa. "I told you this was intimate. Just us."
"Sit."
Chase sat down, maintaining a posture that was relaxed enough not to seem intimidated, but rigid enough to maintain distance. He needed to extract the necessary information before this "strategy meeting" descended into pure predator-prey dynamics.
Lilith poured two glasses of the dark liquid—it smelled heavily of oak, spice, and something faintly metallic, like blood—and carried them over. She sat down opposite him, crossing one long, powerful leg over the other.
"A toast," she said, raising her glass. "To a profitable and deeply satisfying partnership."
Chase raised his glass in return. "To OmniCorp's success."
Lilith chuckled, and took a sip. Chase wasted no time. "Thank you for including me in this 'immersion' experience. I was reviewing the Essence Regulations today, and the terminology is dense. Specifically, the mechanisms of transfer. As my immediate supervisor, perhaps you can clarify the technical definitions of 'Accumulation' and 'Transfer,' as they relate to my unique value." Lilith smiled, an expression of sheer delight that Chase was being so direct. "Always the scientist, Chase. Very well. Let's talk about the harvest. You see, an Awakened human like you is a naturally occurring, high-grade spiritual battery. And my kind—Alpha predators—we are designed to siphon that energy."
She leaned closer, placing her glass down. The air instantly intensified with her Alpha scent.
"There are four primary, and most effective, methods for Accumulation—the process of drawing Essence from a host. The most primitive, of course, is eating the person entirely, ensuring full spiritual integration. Messy, but effective."
Chase kept his expression blank, but his internal warrior was cataloging this vital intelligence.
"Then you have, drinking the blood," Lilith continued, her gaze dropping to his neck. "The Essence is rich in the arterial flow, especially when the host is frightened or aroused. Highly effective, but temporary."
"The third method is prolonged physical contact," she said, shifting on the couch so her knee brushed lightly against his. The contact was electric, and Chase felt a subtle, draining coldness where their skin almost met. "Friction, heat, intense proximity—it causes the spiritual boundary to degrade, allowing for a slow, pleasurable bleed. Think of it as a constant, low-level infusion."
Lilith then paused, her eyes locking onto his. "And the fourth, the most potent, and the most dangerous: sex. The spiritual and biological entanglement during that act creates an unparalleled conduit for total Essence exchange. It's consuming and being consumed simultaneously. It offers the most power, but it's addicting, and risky for both parties."
Chase cleared his throat, pulling his knee away slightly under the pretense of adjusting his posture. "And OmniCorp regulations permit the third and fourth methods, provided they are 'consensual or contractual'?"
"OmniCorp regulations reflect reality, Chase," Lilith corrected, a wicked glint in her eyes. "They simply require paperwork. A formality to prevent messy lawsuits. But those methods are why my kind—vampires, demons, wolves—are so drawn to your department, and specifically, to you."
She picked up her glass again, her tone becoming oddly informational, almost tender. "This brings us to a specific detail your incompetent little Goddess shared with me—a detail crucial for managing your performance and, shall we say, my appetite."
Lilith leaned forward, lowering her voice. "The Goddess revealed that your unique conditioning creates a severe build-up of unexpended Essence due to the fact that such a powerful soul will stay dense even if it's in a weaker body. This leads to a dangerous overflow once a week. Every Friday, once the sun sets."
Chase felt a knot of dread tighten in his stomach. He hadn't noticed this side effect of his new body.
"When this overflow happens," Lilith continued, her eyes searching, "she said your body vents the excess energy rapidly. It sends you into a temporary comatose state for several hours. And immediately preceding that state, the build-up drastically affects your brain chemistry, causing a fundamental shift in your personality."
"A shift?" Chase asked, suspicion heavy in his voice.
"Yes. The cautious, analytical, professional Chase vanishes. You become unguarded, bold, and incredibly flirtatious. Almost recklessly so. The Goddess called it a 'spiritual pressure release valve'—a window where the ancient warrior surfaces, stripped of his centuries of discipline, seeking release."
Lilith smiled slowly, her dark skin luminous in the low light. "I'm told the aggressive flirting is usually directed at the nearest Alpha. Which, conveniently, would be me."
Chase stared at her, the blood draining from his face. A weekly window of complete vulnerability and impulsive, reckless behavior, all centered around his greatest threat.
"And you expect me to work here, knowing this?" Chase demanded, his professionalism cracking.
"I expect you to work here because your reports are excellent, and because this vulnerability is precisely what makes you manageable," Lilith responded coolly. "I will use that information to ensure my investment is protected, and that only I decide how and when that Essence is released. Consider it part of your long-term employment contract, Chase. I own the schedule now. And Friday is coming."
She rose, towering over him, her expression shifting back to the Alpha CEO. "The meeting was adjourned. You have your assignment. I expect you to be in the office early tomorrow. And remember, Chase, in this world, consumption is simply the ultimate form of devotion."
Chase stood, his mind reeling. He had to figure out how to shield himself on Fridays—or he'd find himself consumed in his own apartment, or worse, in his boss's bed. He was not just dealing with a corporate ladder; he was climbing an Essence pyramid, and he was dangerously close to the top.
"Just grate all of this could have been avoided if that useless goddess had told me about this earlier but instead she gives me nothing but problems. I need to find a solution and fast or this will get messy"
With that Chase went home trying to come up with a solution to his problem, he needed a way to vent his energy so Lilith could only absorb a small amount which would not leave him vulnerable to her.