Matthew grew up enthralled by the erotic tales recounted by his late grandfather, Edward. Told over tumblers of Bourbon, were stories of a forbidden bordello, the Silk Labyrinth--a pleasure palace nestled within the demonic realm. A place where creatures of ethereal beauty offered pleasures beyond the limits of human imagination.
These stories came to life in his grandfather's study, a discreet hideaway where Edward shared wisdom and sexual exploits that would make even the ardent hedonist blush. Seated across his grandfather's grand circular coffee table of royal oak, hands wrapped around a warm cup of coffee, Matthew would listen for hours, captivated by every salacious detail. Surrounding them were towering bookshelves filled with endless collections of leather-bound grimoires. The room had a rustic interior, adorned with high-grade oak panelling and a natural solid wooden flooring. Wall-mounted Torchère Sconces cast a soft glow over the space, giving it a vintage, early 20thcentury feel--the ideal backdrop for sharing racy adventures in the demonic bordello. Matthew was an up-and-coming sorcerer who spent endless hours in this room, a devoted student of his grandfather, and captivated by his wild and dangerous exploits. He idolized the old man, hung onto his every word, and dreamed of similar escapades.
However, Edward would always warn, "Everything in life comes with a price, "his voice imbued with years of experience. "And in the Labyrinth, these courtesans don't deal in something as trivial as money. Their currency is far more intimate--your lifeforce, your soul." He leaned in, his expression grim. "Every shuddering climax feeds their insatiable appetite. At first, they take just a sip, a taste. But the ecstasy they offer overrides all reason and restraint, making it impossible to resist. And that's the trick: they get you hopelessly addicted, leaving you craving more."
Edward called it the devil's bargain. "In the moments of bliss, humans unwittingly ejaculate their essence--and even their souls to these immortal creatures."
He explained how the demonesses had unparalleled mastery of the erotic arts. "They can read you," his voice laced with warning. "They know exactly when to offer a new experience, a fresh fantasy, or a new level of pleasure--until you're hooked, desperate for another taste. The further you go, and the longer you stay... the greater the risk you'll never return."
Edward recounted tales of powerful men paying the ultimate price, disappearing forever. "His name was Sebastian--one of my closest friends and a formidable sorcerer to boot." Edward said, swirling his bourbon. "We travelled there together on occasions--mesmerized and tempted, but always wary enough to leave. At least, I was. But Sebastian... he was infatuated with them. With all of them. A connoisseur of the flesh, indulging in a new demoness each time, pushing himself further, chasing the next forbidden thrill." Edward's fingers tightened around the glass. "I've lost count of the times he's visited. Fifty? A hundred?" He shook his head. "How he survived for so long is beyond me. Each time, he returned with a different story, about a different woman, a different act--as if he was testing the very limits of his mortality."
Edward took a slow sip, his eyes distant. "And then one night, he didn't come home. There was no body, it was like he'd vanished into thin air. The Silk Labyrinth doesn't need to hunt its victims, Matthew. It has perfected a system where they return willingly, craving their next fix--until they never leave at all. Sebastian wasn't the first, and most definitely won't be the last. The courtesans give them taste of rapture so potent, that it lingers, leaving behind a gnawing ache--an all-consuming thirst for the next intoxicating moment. Until they're back into their arms again, powerless to resist. They don't need to devour their prey; because by then they'll willingly feed themselves to these fiends." Edward sighed; his voice filled with sombre reflection.
"You see this everywhere in the real world," He glanced at Matthew. "Men wasting away behind screens, chasing the illusions of women who will never love them back. They give their time, their energy, their money--until they have nothing left." He exhaled, shaking his head. "The Silk Labyrinth has perfected this formula. It's a predatory system that lets you chase a dream, convinces you it's yours--right up until it devours you. You tell yourself you're in control, until you realize you never were."
Every one of Edwards anecdotes served as an ominous warning. Yet, while his words were meant as cautionary lessons, they only had the opposite effect--fuelling Matthew's growing fascination. What could be so irresistible that men would risk everything? What exquisite temptations lay beyond the doors of the Labyrinth?
Then, Matthew listened intently, engrossed as Edward described the bordello's inhabitants with mesmerising detail. "The Silk Labyrinth houses the most irresistible creatures of human imagination," Edward murmured, as he took a slow sip of bourbon. "The Succubae can seduce you with a single glance, their passionate kisses leave you breathless, longing for more. And to be inside one... it's a heavenly sensation beyond anything a mortal woman could ever offer."
Swirling his glass, his voice took a graver tone. "Then there are vampires. Their bite isn't like the stories they tell you. Once bitten, a short prick quickly gives way to a warm, disarming rush. The moment their fangs pierce your flesh, their venom surges through your veins, igniting a mix of lust and euphoria so potent, you'll beg them to drink from you again. And once you've felt it, you're lost to bliss. Your mind drowns in pleasure, and you won't want them to stop until they've drained you completely."
Edward hesitated for a moment before continuing, his fingers tightening around the tumbler, betraying his unease. "Then there are the Lamias. At first glance, they are breathtaking--their upper halves like the most beautiful young women you've seen. Their luscious breasts sway with each slow, deliberate motion. But it is below their waist.... that's where the danger, and pleasure lies. Their tails are luxuriously soft--long, powerful, and smooth as silk."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "The moment they wrap around you, escape is impossible. Their touch is designed to overwhelm the senses, drowning you in pleasure that becomes inescapable. Each rhythmic squeeze sends waves of ecstasy through your body, sliding, kneading and caressing every nerve ending at once. They are masters of the human body, knowing how to stimulate every erogenous zone. They amplify pleasure to unbearable heights, and when you're too far gone, they siphon your seed."
He trailed off, taking another sip, his voice wavering: "There are other things here--beings so depraved I dare not speak their names. Things that feed on your every weakness, your innermost cravings. They'll transform your desires into chains, binding you to this place forever. You'll lose yourself, and surrender your soul in the process."
A heavy silence settled between them. The tales consumed Matthew's wet dreams: they became an obsession, occupying every corner of his young mind. But Edward frequently warned Matthew not to go. "The Silk Labyrinth," he said, his voice sombre, "is a treasure trove of pleasures unimaginable in the human world. But it is also a trap. The demonesses are insatiable--once they have you, they are reluctant to let you go. If you stay long enough, they will consume every part of you, body and soul. Their unearthly beauty, their youth--it comes from what they take from us. Without our essence, they would wither and die".