Hold back for a moment

You blink, breaking your eye contact with Charlotte.

"What?"

Charlotte sways in the direction of your gaze, as though trying to follow your eyes, rocking into Tasha dazedly. Tasha gives her a light shove, not taking her eyes off you.

"'The Company' is run by demons from hell. Literal demons. Charlotte says you went up to meet your new boss with the rest."

You smile pleasantly at the memory, remembering Vespa's cool lips on yours.

Tasha's voice hardens, "Did your mistress send you?"

Your smile almost splits into a grin, a thrumming eagerness filling you at the words. But... mistress? That doesn't seem right. You frown instead, trying to get your mental bearings. You want to please your mistress. Badly.

But why? She was your boss, sure, but you'd met her like five minutes ago and you felt like you would do anything for her. Your desire for career development wasn't that strong. This was something... else.

"See Tasha? She's fine! Linda, come on we have to get out of here!"

Charlotte rushes down to you and grabs your hand, pulling you up after her with some difficulty. She and Tasha continue arguing as the three of you ascend. You aren't really paying attention, distracted as you are by gaps in your logic and memory. You'd been frightened for a few moments in Vespa's office, but of what? She'd kissed you...

"-inish the mission! I can't leave before the hellgate is shut down!"

"We're lawyers though, we can't help you **** a hellgate! You said yourself that you weren't happy to be on your own, why don't you just call it quits and we'll follow you? I'm sure your friends fell back or whatever when they lost you."

Tasha ignored her, taking the lead up the seemingly never-ending stairway. Charlotte huffed and puffed, still hauling you along like a child with an overlarge teddybear, "At least-"

A door opened in front of you and a handsome security guard stepped through. Tasha and Charlotte froze, an intoxicating wave of fear coming off both of them, but the guard's eyes went directly to you. He sized up your unbuttoned shirt appreciatively and you instinctually arched your back, giving him a sultry smile.

"Can I help you officer?"

He seemed about to respond to the obvious flirtation but his face grew solemn, "Have you seen anyone else in here? We're looking for a girl, human, blonde. Plain looking." Weird. It was like he couldn't see them.

Tasha purses her lips but doesn't move, fearful eyes on you. You reeeeally wanted a taste of that fear...