Then

“Bye, Mum!” Lizzie called over her shoulder as she reached the bottom of the stairs, making quickly for the front door.

“Hold it, little miss,” Jordan shouted back. “Come here, say bye to me properly.”

Scowling, the eighteen-year-old demon slouched her way to the kitchen, where her mother was chopping vegetables. Jordan burst out in incredulous laughter at the sight of her. “You’ve got to be joking,” she spluttered. “There is no way you’re going out dressed like that!”

“What’s wrong with it?” Lizzie protested fatuously. Her attire could be charitably described as ‘minimalist’ - she wore a black latex bra and a leather harness in lieu of an actual top, while her bottom half was clad in diaphanous leggings that clearly showed her lacy panties, which barely covered her butt.

“‘What’s wrong with it?’” her mother snorted. “Are you high?”

“Oh, come on, Mum,” the demoness complained. “It’s not like I’m naked. And everyone else at the party’s gonna be wearing the same kind of thing...”

“I seriously doubt that, but it’s irrelevant anyway. Look, in a few months you’ll be at uni and then you can do whatever you like, but while you’re under my roof you’ve gotta do what I say. And we’ve got to make at least a bit of an effort not to draw attention to ourselves.” Her tone softened. “You’ve done such a good job flying under the radar since we moved - don’t blow it now. We can’t have anyone figuring out -”

“That we’re a demon-fucker and her hellspawn?” Lizzie snapped.

“Hey! That is very rude,” Jordan shouted, pointing an outraged finger at her. Then her incensed expression cracked a little as she added, “If accurate.”

Her furious façade dissolved. Jordan wasn’t good at staying angry, and she didn’t take herself seriously at all. She could handle a joke or a rude comment from her brat of a daughter, but she knew she had to try to keep Lizzie from going out in public dressed so scantily. In spite of her powers, and her talent for manipulating people, Lizzie was actually fairly naïve. Jordan didn’t want her to get hurt, or taken advantage of.

“Look, I know I’m never gonna win any ‘Mother of the Year’ awards,” she sighed, “no matter how hard I try. But I’d be a really shite mum if I didn’t make you get changed. You don’t have to be a good Catholic girl in a prim little frock - you can rock your usual punk look. Just, y’know... more clothes, please.”

Lizzie chewed her lip. She did feel bad about insulting her mother - but her selfish side was insisting Mum was just guilt-tripping her. Since yelling and strong discipline weren’t really weapons in Jordan’s arsenal, she had to resort to emotional vulnerability and making her feel bad. It was a tactic. At least, that was what Lizzie told herself.

Besides, she felt sexy in this outfit. And if someone tried something with her... well, that was exactly what she was after. Or, if they were someone she wasn’t interested in, she could just send them away. So her mum was worrying for absolutely nothing. And she wasn’t interested in arguing about it any longer.

She locked eyes with Jordan, and both pairs of irises began to glow red as she said, “You don’t have any problem with me going out like this. I don’t need to get changed.”

There was a pause as her mother absorbed this, and then she nodded slowly, a drowsy smile spreading across her face. “Yeah, it’s absolutely fine. Have a great night, love.”

Grinning triumphantly, Lizzie turned away. She’d made sure to use the ‘subtle’ variation of her power, so Mum wouldn’t realise she’d been controlled. She’d simply believe she’d always been OK with her daughter’s outfit, her memories adjusting to fit...

Behind her, Jordan blinked hard, screwing up her face. “Hey,” she exclaimed, “get your arse back here!”

Stopping in her tracks, Lizzie turned slowly, staring back at her mother in astonishment. “But - how -”

“You think I can date a demon for eighteen years - let alone raise one - without learning a thing or two to protect myself?” Jordan shook her head sadly. “This is disappointing. I really didn’t think you’d ever resort to using your powers on me...”

Lizzie lost her temper. “You didn’t give me a choice!” she bellowed. “And I’m the one person in all the world who shouldn’t have to do as she’s told! I should be able to do whatever I want! I’m a demon! I’m the spawn of Satan, descended from the Devil himself!”

“Yeah?” Jordan replied, unimpressed. “Well, I’m an Irish mother. Bring it on, kid.”

Letting out a roar of frustration, Lizzie stormed back upstairs to get changed.

This was just ridiculous. She was a legal adult, and a monster from the pits of Hell. But even she had to do what her mummy said. She resisted the urge to punch a hole in the wall, if only because she almost brought it down the last time she did that.

Jordan’s objections were ridiculous, anyway. What, did she think Lizzie was gonna get assaulted, or something? She was a demon. She had powers the likes of which mortals couldn’t comprehend, or overcome. Quite apart from telekinesis, invulnerability, and being able to breathe fire, she could control the minds of any human (except, apparently, her mother).

What was there to fear?

***

Now

“This isn’t like her.” Jordan paced back and forth through the kitchen, her phone pressed to her ear.

She heard a snort from the other end of the line. “Our daughter, making rash impulsive decisions to chase her desires? Nah, that doesn’t sound like her at all.”

“Alright, good point. But she was really enjoying uni! She’d rave about it to us any time we spoke to her, about how much fun she’s been having partying and whoring around - her words, not mine. Honestly, I was sick of hearing about it. She wouldn’t just suddenly drop out - not without any warning at all...”

“When did you last speak to her? Was she alright then?”

“Two days ago. And yes, she was fine, she was just about to hit the club with her friends as usual. Seemed to be on top of the world, by all accounts.”

“Well, OK. But didn’t she say she’d met someone? That might’ve changed her perspective, even within two days.”

Jordan slammed her hand down on the nearby countertop. “She tried to mind control me, Thomas! She wouldn’t do that. And it’s not because she wouldn’t want to - we both know she would. But she knows it’s pointless! You’re the only demon who can control me.”

It had taken eighteen years, but Thomas had conditioned her mind to respond only to his influence - at her suggestion. She actually found being enthralled very arousing, but she didn’t want anyone but Thomas to have that much power of her, and wanted a way to protect herself from any passing hellbeast that took a fancy to her.

“She might’ve thought it was worth a shot,” Thomas suggested. “Y’know, this whole immunity conditioning thing, it’s not an exact science. It could be affected by your state of mind - you just woke up, maybe she figured you’d be too tired to resist.”

“OK, sure, but why would she do it anyway?”

“Maybe she just didn’t want her mum prying into her love life.”

“Yeah, or maybe she knew it wouldn’t work, and she did it to send me a message that something’s wrong.”

There was a long pause. Sighing with exasperation, Jordan covered her face with one hand. “Look, I know I might be panicking about nothing, Tom. But something’s not right. I’m sure of it - my instincts are screaming at me that my daughter is in trouble.”

There was a long pause. “Alright,” Thomas said at last. “I’ll reach out to someone I know in the area, get them to check in on her - discreetly. Whatever it takes to set your mind at ease... and if Lizzie is in trouble, we’d better fucking know about it as soon as possible.”

Jordan let out a relieved breath, though her body was still flooded with anxiety. “Thank you. I know it’s a lot to ask that you just blindly have faith in my intuition -”

“It’s no more crazy than asking you to believe in demons and mind control,” he remarked wryly. “Besides, I trust your judgement. And even if you’re wrong and she’s fine, better safe than sorry, eh?”

“Well, yeah, true.”

“OK. I’ll call my guy.”

“Please do, yeah - and keep me posted. Speak to you soon, Tom. Thank you.”

They hung up. Jordan stared down at her phone, her agitated expression reflected back at her in the black screen. She knew she was probably worrying about nothing. Yes, Lizzie’s sudden departure from uni with a new girlfriend was a shock, but it wasn’t especially out of character. Besides, she was a powerful, manipulative demoness. She could take care of herself in almost any dangerous situation Jordan could think of.

But what if she’d encountered a threat they hadn’t anticipated?

What if there was a force even more powerful than Lizzie - and she’d found it?

Jordan couldn’t imagine what kind of monstrosity could get the better of a demon...

***

“I’ll have the banana waffles, with a whole lake of chocolate sauce,” Aislinn declared, licking her lips.

“Certainly,” the waiter said with a pleasant smile, before turning to Lizzie. “And for you?”

“The caramel apple pie, please,” she told him.

“Very good! That’ll be eight euros, whenever you’re ready.”

“Oh, we’ll have that with our food, thanks,” Aislinn quipped, shooting a mischievous glance at the demon.

Taking the hint, Lizzie told the waiter to do as her companion had asked, and bring them eight euros - each - with their respective breakfasts. Under the influence of her subtle magic, he considered that a fair request, and strolled away to put their orders through.

Aislinn absent-mindedly reached across the table and took Lizzie’s hand, fingertips stroking her wrist. The demoness shivered and bit her lip, enjoying the casual display of affection. She hadn’t known Miss Gold for very long - only a few weeks, none of which she could remember very clearly - but such tenderness seemed rare for her. Not that she planned to object, or question it.

“So, just a few things to get sorted before we start our adventure, pet,” the hypnotist mused. “You’ll need to officially drop out, and cut any ties you have at the uni - say goodbye to your friends, convince them not to worry about you...” Her lips twisted with indecision. “Although, those girls are awfully cute - it’d be a shame to burn those bridges completely. Still, we’ve got time to figure out what to do with them.”

Lizzie nodded eagerly, not sure if Aislinn, who was staring into space thoughtfully, was even paying attention to her. It didn’t matter - she felt compelled to show her agreement with, and submission to, her Mistress every chance she got. She vaguely hoped they could find some way to bring her friends with them - she’d grown quite attached to them, after all, and spent a lot of time cultivating them into her playthings - but that seemed impractical. She’d hate to leave them behind, but she would obey whatever Miss Gold decided. She was the only person who truly mattered to her.

“It’d be good if we could get some more money before we get going,” the centre of Lizzie’s universe continued. “Not that we’ll need it, with your powers working for us - but it’d be nice to just have it, y’know? Not just to have it, but to take it - to make people willingly hand over all their money to us, just give up all their cash to a girl they don’t even know...”

Aislinn’s sparkling eyes widened, a rapturous look spreading over her face. Lizzie recognised the expression - she’d seen it in the mirror often enough. Miss Gold was feeling the ecstasy of omnipotent power, and it was getting her hot as all hell. The young demon knew that power used to be hers, and that it had been taken from her by Aislinn. She didn’t begrudge her that at all. She was so happy for her new owner, getting to claim the throne from the previous Queen Bitch and rule supreme over all she surveyed.

“And there’s something else,” Aislinn added, her expression changing to something quite different - and unfamiliar, on her face. She looked almost nervous, all of a sudden. “There’s something I need to get, before we leave. Once we have that, we’ll be all set.” She made eye contact with Lizzie for the first time. “Will you help me?”

“Of - of course, Miss,” Lizzie stammered, startled that she even had to ask. Aislinn’s frown relaxed back into an easy, confident smile. Lizzie had no idea what had troubled her - what she was so desperate to acquire, yet so anxious at the mere thought of it - but she knew she’d get it for her. She’d do anything for her Mistress, give her anything. She was a perfect, beautiful Shining Vision who filled her mind and body with warm golden light and slickened her cunt with her hypnotic eyes and her commanding voice, and Lizzie would make sure she always had anything and everything she wanted, forever and ev-

“Hey, aren’t you that hypnotist?”

Both women looked up. The question had come from a young man, whom Lizzie recognised as a fellow student, though not one she’d directly met before. He was standing a few feet away from their table, a quizzical smile on his face, his arm around the waist of a short blonde girl.

“You are,” he said slowly, answering his own question, nodding eagerly at Aislinn. “I knew it! I saw you at the SU last night, it was a really great show. Very entertaining. Wasn’t it, babe?”

“Oh yeah, it was so funny,” the blonde giggled.

“And super hot,” her boyfriend added with a smirk.

Aislinn smiled at the couple, while raising an eyebrow at Lizzie. “Well, thank you. That’s very nice of you to say...”

“I really liked the way you turned that one girl into a cat,” the guy continued, blithely talking over the very person he was supposedly complimenting. Then he shot a look of mock astonishment at Lizzie. “Hey, wasn’t that you? That’s kind of funny, that you guys are out together the day after the show where you met for the first time.” The emphasis he put on those words indicated his scepticism pretty clearly.

The hypnotist still wore her polite smile, but her pet demon could see a little tension in her jawline now. “What exactly are you trying to imply?”

“I’m just saying, it’s a little surprising, since you guys only met that one time” - again that emphasis, subtle as a wrecking ball - “that you’d go out for a meal the next day. I guess people might think maybe you were friends already... that maybe that whole act was a set-up. That maybe you can’t hypnotise people after all...”

He was smiling like he’d caught her out. His girlfriend was giggling again - Lizzie was starting to wonder if she ever stopped. Aislinn was still perfectly composed, giving all outward appearances of civility, but the demoness knew she was incensed. Some arsehole had come up out of nowhere and accused her of fraudulence. Though she hid it well, Miss Gold was clearly furious - as was Lizzie, on her behalf.

Drawing from her well of dark power, the demon opened her mouth to speak, but Aislinn drew her attention with a firm tap on her wrist, and gave a fractional shake of the head. Frowning with confusion, Lizzie nonetheless shut her mouth, as her Mistress swiftly returned her attention to the man who had insulted her.

“Why don’t you join us for breakfast?” she suggested, her eyes narrowing slyly. “On us.”

Taken aback, the guy exchanged a glance with his girlfriend. Shrugging, they both moved to sit down on opposite ends of the table from each other, each of them between Aislinn and Lizzie. “Yeah, OK! Thanks, that’s generous of you.” The idiot didn’t look remotely embarrassed or confused that he’d insulted the hypnotist only to be offered a free meal in return.

“I did think the show was really sexy,” the blonde girl said abruptly, as if continuing a conversation in her own head. “Especially the lap dance part. That was so hot, I don’t even care if it was fake. Could you give us that girl Orla’s number? Maybe she’d be up for some fun with me and Derek. She seemed pretty, like, adventurous...”

Locking eyes with Lizzie, Aislinn tapped a finger against her lips, and then subtly nodded her head at their two interlopers.

“That’s a great idea, babe,” Derek sniggered. “Hey, we could even do our own little hypnosis act with her, get her to pretend to be hypnotised again. She did such a good job of it in your show, it’d be pretty fun to do it again in the bedroo-”

“Shut up, and sit still,” Lizzie interrupted tersely, her eyes and voice laced with willpower-crushing force. “Both of you.” The imbecile fell silent and exchanged a horrified glance with his girlfriend, who looked similarly bewildered and frightened.

“Oh, that’s much better,” Aislinn exclaimed, sighing a little overdramatically. She gave Lizzie’s hand a squeeze. “Good pet, thank you.” The demon smiled and wriggled, pleasure spreading through her in response to the praise.

Derek’s muted girlfriend waved an arm at a passing waitress, attracting her attention. “Everything OK over here?”

“We’re all fine,” Lizzie replied. “Don’t pay any attention to her, or her boyfriend.” Instantly and unknowingly enchanted, the waitress nodded placidly and went about her business. “Stop trying to get help,” the demon warned the panicking blonde girl, who slumped in her chair, defeated.

Lizzie turned back to Aislinn, who had been watching her quick-witted use of her power appreciatively. “Please let me punish them, Miss,” she whispered, grinning wickedly. “I want to make them suffer for insulting you...”

“Oh, they’re going to,” her Mistress assured her. “But I know exactly what I want you to do with them...”

It had occurred to Aislinn that she didn’t have to take too firm a hand directing Lizzie when she was controlling other people. Her ingenious cruelty paired with her newfound eagerness to please her Mistress would likely continue to produce entertaining, satisfying results if she were left to improvise. In this case, however, Aislinn had very specific ideas for what to do with this couple.

She quickly outlined her wishes, which Lizzie translated into commands that Derek and his airhead girlfriend would obey helplessly, and suggestions that would rewrite their memories and reshape their reality. With that done, Aislinn handed Derek the roll of duct tape she’d bought that morning, and Lizzie sent the terrified, powerless couple on their way. Less than a minute later, Aislinn and Lizzie’s food was served, along with sixteen euros on a side plate.

Spooning a chunk of chocolate-coated banana into her mouth, Aislinn ruminated as she chewed. “Y’know, it’s a little exhausting passing on all those instructions through you, getting you to repeat everything I say. Is there any way you could, I don’t know - command people to respond to me the same way they respond to you? That way I only need to give them their instructions once, and we cut our time in half...”

Lizzie frowned. “I honestly have no idea if that’d work, Miss. I’ve never tried it before.”

“Of course not. Why would you? Until you met me, you were the one in charge.” Smiling, she took the teen demon’s hand and started stroking her wrist again, the gesture obviously deliberate this time. Lizzie quivered at her touch, held by her golden gaze, her apple pie temporarily forgotten. “But now - after our weeks of hypnotic training - you know how much better it feels to serve and obey. To be the pet, the plaything, the slave. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, Miss,” she murmured dazedly.

A thought flickered through her mind - weeks? Didn’t that guy say... he said ‘the day after the show’... The day after...? But the thought vanished as Aislinn’s fingernail grazed her wrist, scratching it so deliciously, sending shudders through her.

“Well then, why don’t you give it a try, pet? See if you can get everyone obeying me the way they obey you - the way you obey me.” Aislinn smirked. “Although, they’ll only get a taste of what you feel. I only take the best as my pets.”

Lizzie sighed, deliriously happy. She was so lucky Miss Gold had chosen her.

Getting up, she clambered onto her chair and stood on it, towering over the rest of the American-themed diner she and Aislinn were patronising. “May I have your attention, everyone?” she proclaimed, projecting her voice so it carried throughout the room without her needing to shout. For a moment, she was every inch the dominant demoness she’d been before she met Miss Gold - but it was a façade, only for the purposes of making herself seen and heard.

As the magic from her voice spread, the noise in the diner died down. Every single person in the building switched their attention to her - every customer stopped mid-conversation and turned in their seats; every waiter paused as they carried plates between the tables. They all stared and waited silently, helpless to resist Lizzie’s power, unaware that anything was even amiss.

She inhaled deeply, feeling her nipples harden and her pussy pulsate. Even in her hypnotised, submissive state, she still found her power over others utterly intoxicating. She’d enthralled dozens of people, and now she could make them say, do or think whatever she wished.

Once, she wouldn’t have even considered giving up such omnipotence. Now, she thought nothing of handing it to her Mistress.

“This is Miss Gold.” She gestured towards the hypnotist, who stood, leering triumphantly at the attentive crowd. “Her words have absolute power over you. She speaks, and you listen. She commands, and you obey. She describes, and you believe. Her words can reshape your thoughts, your memories, your desires - your very reality. Your minds are hers, to meld and change as she pleases.”

Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of resistance or confusion. All she saw were pleasant smiles and nods, everyone behaving as if this was all perfectly reasonable. So far, so good.

As Lizzie climbed back down to ground level, a sudden wave of dizziness overtook her, and she sank back onto her seat, head spinning. She realised she’d never compelled so many people at once - she might have expended all her energy, magical or otherwise, for the first time that she could remember. She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, letting the nausea subside.

“Are you alright, pet?” Aislinn asked, a note of genuine concern in her voice. Lizzie’s eyes blinked open, and as soon as they fell on her owner’s glittering irises, she was blissfully content once more. She still felt tired and faint, but it was worth it to serve and satisfy Miss Gold.

“Yes, Miss,” she sighed. “Or at least I will be, if this has worked the way we want it to.”

“Come here.” Her golden-haired Goddess stepped around the table towards her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, cuddling her close. Mewling gratefully, Lizzie buried her face in Aislinn’s hip. “You’ve done such a good job - you just take a moment and get your energy back, my good little demon.”

As she lifted her hand and began scratching the back of Lizzie’s head and neck, making her writhe and whimper, Aislinn turned her attention to the enchanted crowd. “Good afternoon,” she said smoothly, naturally adopting her ‘stage voice’. “If you work for this fine establishment, please, go about your business. I wouldn’t want to delay you any further.”

At once, the waiters began moving again, making their way between tables and depositing food, and heading back to the kitchen to collect more. They only avoided taking new orders, seemingly accepting that the diner’s patrons couldn’t give any orders while their attention was still held by Aislinn.

“Very good. Now, if you are customers, then you came here intending to pay for a meal, of course. But I’m afraid you’re also going to have to pay tribute to your new Goddess.” She licked her lips. “I think... ten euros each will be sufficient.”

Even amidst the ecstasy of the scritches, Lizzie tensed, paying close attention to what happened next.

At least a dozen people rose from their seats, wallets and purses in their hands. Everyone else seemed to be either getting up more slowly, or getting the cash ready first.

Lizzie could feel Aislinn’s heavy breathing, and looked up to see a look of euphoric arousal and predatory malice on her face. “Form an orderly queue, please,” she commanded huskily, smiling open-mouthed. As the customers lined up, she sent Lizzie to the door of the diner, to put any newcomers under her influence and have them pay tribute too.

The hypnotist had asked for a low sum specifically to avoid drawing suspicion, her instinct to fly under the radar while experimenting with Lizzie’s powers still strong, but given how busy the diner was, she was still given more money in one lunchtime than she’d made in her last five stage shows combined. Once the ‘tributes’ had been paid, the customers returned to their seats and awaited her next commands. “You will not remember giving me this money,” Aislinn told them. “If you realise you’re missing ten euros, you won’t worry about it - and in fact, you’ll forget about it as soon as you notice it. As soon as I leave, you will forget meeting me here today. As far as you’re concerned, you had a perfectly normal dining experience.”

Aislinn drew herself up to her full height, looking so smug, so cruel... so radiantly beautiful, Lizzie’s knees were knocking together. “But if we ever meet again, you will know, without remembering why, that you serve and obey me without question, and that I can change your thoughts, your feelings, and your memories. My word is law. I am your Goddess, your Shining Vision. You’ll only know that for as long as you’re in my company, and you’ll forget it again afterwards. If you understand, say, ‘Yes, Goddess’.”

“Yes, Goddess,” came a cacophonous echo in response.

Letting out an unabashed moan, Aislinn clutched at one of her breasts through her shirt, clearly very turned on by the sight of so many people yielding to her will. Lizzie could empathise. She was so happy to have been able to give her Mistress, her Goddess, the power she craved - the power she deserved.

Aislinn beckoned Lizzie back over to their table, and they finished their breakfast. The rest of the customers returned to their own meals as soon as their Goddess permitted them. Whatever they’d been talking about before, that topic of discussion had been abandoned, in favour of hushed whispers praising the woman who had become the centre of their universe. Whatever their moods had been, they were now all lit from within by worshipful euphoria.

Lizzie found she empathised with them even more.

***

Sinéad checked her phone. “It’s been almost twenty minutes. What’s keeping her?”

“She’s probably just running late,” Chloe said with a shrug.

“Well, I hope she’s here soon.” Molly leaned back in her seat, yawning. “I’m missing a lecture for this.”

“I think we all are,” Chloe giggled. She didn’t seem bothered. For that matter, neither did Molly, particularly. Sin looked a little irritated, but that could just as easily be because of her ingrained dislike of lateness as it was because she’d had to skip a lecture.

Kelly couldn’t help wondering why they were all so nonchalant about giving up their time for Lizzie’s sake. And she was including herself in that. She’d been on her way to class when the message had come through in their group chat - ‘pls be at my place in 10 xx’ - and she’d turned and walked in the opposite direction, heading straight for Lizzie and Sin’s place, without a moment’s hesitation.

It hadn’t escaped her notice that over the past couple of months her world had shifted and rearranged itself, positioning Lizzie at its centre - even after she’d begun dating Molly. Of course, without Lizzie, the couple might never have met - indeed, their whole friendship group probably wouldn’t have formed. She supposed they unconsciously viewed Lizzie as their leader, and felt an overwhelming loyalty towards her, because she’d brought them all together. She just hadn’t realised this extended to dropping anything and everything, even a uni lecture, at one word from her. Now that she thought about it, she had the sense this wasn’t the first time - although she couldn’t remember the other occasions for the life of her.

She felt she probably should be concerned, or aggrieved, about how much sway Lizzie had over her, but she wasn’t. She was capable of questioning why she was so unbothered, though - if only in a disconnected, almost clinical way. She wondered if the others were aware of how enthralled to Lizzie they were. She wondered if they were as unworried by it as she was. She wondered if they were interrogating their own feelings in the abstract way she was. Even Chloe, who’d known Lizzie (and the rest of them) for less than two weeks, seemed utterly beholden to her wishes - completely loyal, compliant, obedient.

Kelly was sure there must be an explanation, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it could be. There was a thought, perhaps even a theory, forming somewhere on her brain, but every time she tried to put her finger on it, it slipped away. It was like playing hide-and-seek in the dark, her target giggling and darting away into the shadows whenever she got close. She wondered if she’d have a better chance of figuring it out if she cared more. Aye, there’s the rub, she thought with a grin.

Her introspection, and the chatter of the others, was interrupted by the sound of the front door. A second later, Lizzie entered the living room. And following close behind her was Aislinn Gold.

Kelly gasped at the sight of her, instantly feeling smaller and weaker in her very presence. The memories of being talked down into trance by her before she even knew what was happening rushed back into her mind, along with everything that followed. Miss Gold had entranced and manipulated her so easily. She was getting hard at the mere memory of it. The tidal wave of erotic recollections swept through her mind before she even began to consider why the hypnotist was here, in the company of Lizzie. Her friend hadn’t seemed to have enjoyed being hypnotised as much as she had - she’d almost seemed annoyed about it. So her and Aislinn arriving together was a little jarring.

But not as much as the sight of Lizzie herself. She hadn’t even spoken a word yet, but Kelly still noticed significant changes in her body language and facial expressions. She’d always had a level of confidence that bordered on arrogance, although it was hardly unearned - she behaved as if she were the most powerful person in any room she walked into, because she usually was. She stood tall, and walked with purpose, and looked upon those around her as if she were their ruler and they were her subjects.

Now she seemed... unsteady. Unsure of herself. She hesitated, she fidgeted. She didn’t survey her friends as if she were their Queen Bitch (and Kelly didn’t bother wondering how that title had found its way into her brain). Instead, her focus was entirely on Aislinn. Kelly could quite understand that - the hypnotist was dazzlingly beautiful and had a magnetic personality that rivalled Lizzie’s own. But she never expected to see Lizzie so... diminished by someone like Aislinn. In fact, she was more used to the opposite, seeing Lizzie take her rivals down a peg or five. So why did she look so small when standing next to Miss Gold?

It was a little unsettling.

Realising no-one had spoken since the two of them had walked in, presumably because the others had been as stunned as she was, Kelly spoke up. “Lizzie?” she asked warily.

Before she could say anything else, Lizzie grinned and said, “Hey, guys. Sorry I’ve been AWOL, but uh, I think you’ll agree I’ve had a pretty good reason.” She moved closer to Aislinn, gazing at her with a look of pure adoration Kelly had never seen on her face before. “We’ve been in a bit of a bubble! You remember Aislinn Gold, the hypnotist?”

“Kelly sure does,” Molly sniggered, reaching over and poking her girlfriend in the arm. Blushing, she avoided Aislinn’s eyes, which sparkled with amusement.

“Yeah, so, after the stage show I, um - I actually went over to her motel.” Lizzie was blushing too, which was just weird. Kelly couldn’t remember ever seeing her look flustered. “I had so much fun being hypnotised, I wanted to do it again, and I was hoping to get kind of a, a private session...”

Aislinn spoke at last. “Normally I don’t indulge such requests,” she assured them all, “especially not for someone who follows me after a show - but I just couldn’t help myself. She was so cute and embarrassed, she was just adorable!” She put a hand on Lizzie’s shoulder, and the taller girl turned an even brighter shade of red, grinning and staring at the floor.

Kelly exchanged a bewildered glance with the others. ‘Cute and embarrassed’? ‘Adorable’? Lizzie?!

“And yeah, she hypnotised me again, and it was... yeah, it was pretty great,” Lizzie giggled. “So great, we haven’t really stopped since then, doing hypnosis and... other stuff.” Finally raising her head to look her friends in the eye again, she smirked, a hint of her old self returning. She’d never been shy bragging about her conquests in the past. “This is the first time we’ve come up for air since we met.”

Aislinn hooked her arm around Lizzie’s, pulling her in close. Kelly smiled weakly, trying to put aside her unease for the sake of her friend. Lizzie was clearly happy, and she didn’t want to spoil it - she had some misgivings, but it was possible she was worrying for nothing. Besides, Miss Gold was trustworthy, wasn’t she? Kelly felt that on some deep level, even if she couldn’t explain why. The hypnotist would certainly play with Lizzie’s mind (just as she had done with Kelly herself), and she clearly had been already - which could explain Lizzie’s unusual demeanour - but she wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. Yes, Kelly knew she could trust Miss Gold.

“So that’s where you went last night,” Sinéad commented. “Good for you, Liz! Bit of a surprise, though - I didn’t think you enjoyed the show all that much. Actually, I thought you were kinda pissed off about it!”

“Last night?” Lizzie shot Sin a look of confusion. “I don’t underssuhh...” She trailed off with a breathy sigh as Aislinn suddenly reached up and started scratching the back of her head. Kelly blinked, startled to see the hypnotist treating Lizzie like she was still the docile kitten she’d turned her into last night - and to see Lizzie responding to it so keenly, leaning into the scritches without any resistance.

Sin’s reaction was more vocal. “Whaaat,” she exclaimed, staring at her roommate as she squirmed and purred at Aislinn’s touch. “Is - is she still...”

“Hypnotised?” The blonde enchantress grinned wickedly. “Well, not right now, and not for quite a few hours - but I have left her with a few little suggestions to make her feel all nice and subby, like this one.” She made an apologetic face. “You’ll have to forgive her for her confusion. We’ve been doing quite a lot of intense play, and she’s rather lost track of exactly how long we’ve been together - but it’s nothing to be concerned about. Once her brain fog clears, she’ll be perfectly cognisant again - and in the meantime I don’t think we should confuse or disturb her unnecessarily.”

That all seemed fair and plausible to Kelly. Miss Gold clearly had Lizzie’s best interests at heart. They could trust her... couldn’t they? The others still looked uncertain, and as long as they were, Kelly couldn’t feel completely at ease.

Aislinn leaned towards Lizzie. “Tell them the rest, pet.”

After a moment’s hesitation - perhaps distracted by the continuing scritches - Lizzie spoke. “Actually, I - aah - I’m having such a g-good time with Mi- with Aislinn - nngh - that I’ve decided to go with her when she leaves. Leaves Dublin, that is. So, yeah, that’s what I - ohh - wanted to tell you guys - I’m dropping out.”

The response was explosive, to say the least, as all four of her friends made their displeasure known loudly and simultaneously. “What the fuck do you mean, you’re dropping out?!” Molly demanded.

“I only just met you,” Chloe said sadly.

“What am I supposed to do now? Where am I gonna find another roommate at such short notice?” Sin protested.

“What are we gonna do without you?” Kelly pleaded. “You’re the reason we all met, you’re our leader...” She knew she was risking potential discord by making the unspoken spoken, but she would try anything to keep Lizzie around.

“You barely know each other! You can’t drop out for a girl you just met,” Molly insisted. She glared at Aislinn. “I don’t know what she’s been doing to you, but you need to snap ou-”

“Shhh,” Lizzie interrupted, and they all fell silent. “Calm down, guys. Everything’s fine.”

Kelly nodded slowly, her distress evaporating like condensation on a windshield. Everything was fine. Yes, her best friend of almost two months was suddenly deserting her for a girl she just met, but that was no reason to get agitated. In fact, Kelly could quite understand - fuck, Miss Gold was gorgeous. Also, Lizzie’s eyes appeared to be glowing red, but Kelly didn’t see anything wrong with that either - and a very persuasive inner voice was telling her not to even notice or remember it.

“You’ll all be fine without me,” Lizzie assured them, “as long as you stay close, and support each other. And you don’t need to worry about where I am, or what I’m doing, or think about me at all, unless I get in touch with you. I’m out of sight, out of mind. But if you do think about me, or someone asks about me, you know I’m travelling with someone I trust, and I’m safe and happy and having fun. OK, girls?”

They all nodded placidly, crimson-tinted eyes gazing adoringly at their friend.

“Sin, I’ve already found you a new roommate, and you can both help yourselves to anything I leave behind,” she concluded. “And no matter where I go, one thing’s never gonna change...” She exchanged a sneaky smile with Aislinn, and then asked, “What are you?”

“Your obedient sluts,” Kelly found herself saying, in perfect sync with Chloe, Molly and Sinéad. Then she leaned over the side of her armchair towards her girlfriend on the sofa, and they locked lips, tongues wrestling forcefully. Sin and Chloe started making out on the other end of the couch, which was a little surprising - they’d known each other for less than a fortnight, and as far as Kelly knew they were both straight. But in the moment, it seemed just as normal and natural as her and her girlfriend kissing. A moment later, as the four girls parted and leaned back in their respective seats, the kisses were forgotten, leaving them smiling obliviously up at Lizzie.

“That’s so fucking cool,” Aislinn muttered, licking her lips.

Kelly stared at her blankly. “What is?”

“Exactly,” she crowed, hugging Lizzie tightly. “I think it’s time we got this party properly started, don’t you, pet?”

“Yes, Miss,” she grinned, and practically skipped out of the living room, heading for the front door.

Her friends stared after her in bemusement, waiting for her to reappear. “Where’s she going?” Chloe asked.

“You’ll see,” was Aislinn’s only reply, other than a sly smile.

A few moments later Lizzie returned, and she wasn’t alone. Her companion was another familiar face, especially to Kelly - after all, she’d been giving her a lap dance less than 24 hours ago.

“You all remember Orla, don’t you?” Lizzie put an arm around her waist, and they moved close together, leaning on each other in an intimate semi-embrace. “Since you’re familiar with her - particularly Kelly - Miss Gold and I thought she was the natural choice to take my old room. You’re excited to move in here, aren’t you, Orla?” She reached down and patted the newcomer’s butt.

“Oh, yeah,” Orla giggled. “I can’t wait.” The curvaceous redhead seemed a little dazed, her eyes drifting back and forth from Lizzie to Aislinn, as if they were the only other people in the room. She gave no sign that she’d even noticed the other four girls, including her new roommate.

“What’s with her?” Sinéad frowned. “Is she hypnotised again, or something?”

“Or something,” Aislinn agreed, stepping closer to Lizzie and Orla. Planting a hand on Orla’s shoulder, she pushed down, and her one-time hypnotic subject fell to her knees without a hint of resistance or objection, gazing up at her Mistress devotedly. “She’s so obedient,” Aislinn cooed, stroking the kneeling girl’s long red locks. “She waited outside all that time without complaining, like a good, dutiful servant. I kinda wish I could take her with me, but I’ve only got room for one more. And I wouldn’t give up my pretty kitty for the world.”

Lizzie blushed and wriggled happily. Kelly, Molly, Chloe and Sinéad watched with intrigued smiles. They were perfectly fine with Aislinn’s casual display of dominance towards Lizzie and Orla, of course. Why wouldn’t they be? Lizzie had been quite open about her sexual escapades in the past, although it was unusual to see her in a submissive context. But she was safe and happy, and Miss Gold was completely trustworthy. Everything was fine.

“So,” Aislinn exclaimed, as if beginning some grand announcement. “How do we organise this, pet? Do we pick partners once you’ve said the words, or before?”

“Oh, I just made it so they’d gravitate towards whoever was nearest, Miss,” Lizzie replied.

“Hmm. Well, she was a little hostile towards me earlier.” Aislinn gestured at Molly without even sparing her a glance. “So I’d quite like to address that.”

“Well, I can always direct her towards you,” Lizzie said with a shrug.

The four seated girls exchanged yet another baffled glance. “What are you guys talking about?” Molly asked.

“Show, don’t tell,” Aislinn chuckled. “Enough preamble - let’s get to it. Say the words, pet.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Looming over her friends, Lizzie grinned mischievously. Her wits dulled by magic-induced complacency, Kelly just had time to vaguely wonder what she was planning, before she said, “It’s time for my sluts to do a dance of demons.”

As soon as those words were spoken, Kelly had a higher priority than trying to puzzle out Lizzie’s strange behaviour, or indeed anything else. She swivelled in her seat to face Molly, who was gazing at her open-mouthed, her lustful expression surely reflecting Kelly’s own. Out of nowhere, she felt an all-consuming urge to bury her face in Molly’s heaving tits and decorate them with a tapestry of hickies... to grab her girlfriend’s hand and shove it down the front of her own trousers without even bothering to take them down, and have her delicate fingers stroke her cock until she ruined her own jeans... to lie back on the floor and let her sit on her face, and lick every inch of her hairy pussy as it smothered her... Dozens of lewd images raced through her mind in a split second, flooding her with insatiable desire. She and Molly began scrambling to their feet, ready to pounce on each other...

“Wait,” Lizzie commanded. The girlfriends froze in place, half out of their seats, matching whines of longing escaping their panting mouths.

Though she held her awkward position, Kelly was able to look around, and saw Chloe and Sinéad had similarly stopped in their tracks halfway towards each other. Again, the two single, straight women’s attraction to each other didn’t particularly confuse her. After all, if they felt a fraction of the arousal she was feeling, it was no surprise they were ready to rip each other’s clothes off.

“You will do as Miss Gold directs,” Lizzie proclaimed. “At any time tonight, she can change who pairs off with who. You will obey her whims and please her just as you please each other. Better, in fact.” That all seemed reasonable to Kelly. Just as long as she got to fuck someone. Obviously, she’d prefer to be with Molly, but right now she was pretty sure she’d even shag her own armchair.

“Those two can stay together,” Aislinn said, gesturing carelessly at Chloe and Sin. The golden-haired Goddess loomed in Kelly’s peripheral vision, leering down at Molly. “But she’s mine. How about we let her adorable girlfriend enjoy the rest of Orla’s routine?”

Kelly trembled, vividly remembering the beguiling redhead’s striptease. The way her hands had wandered across her own body, the serpentine movement of her hips, the sight of her scantily-clad butt and her bare boobs waving before her face - God, she needed to fuck -

“You heard Miss Gold, ladies,” Lizzie sniggered. “Orla, go and pick up where you left off with Kelly last time. Molly, come and fulfil Miss Gold’s every desire. Chloe, Sin, do whatever you want with each other. And Kelly - have a seat, and enjoy the show, and use your personal dancer however you choose.”

Breaking the intense eye contact with Molly, Kelly slumped back in her chair, pawing at the front of her jeans, and glanced across the room at Orla, who was already kicking off her own trousers, revealing another thong underneath - dark green this time. As she sashayed across the room towards Kelly, Molly edged past her and approached Aislinn, who had claimed the armchair Chloe had been sitting in. Chloe had dived on top of Sin, and the two were now lying on the sofa making out furiously.

“I want that objectionable mouth put to a better use,” Aislinn hissed, pointing to her crotch. Molly dropped to her knees and crawled between the hypnotist’s wide-open legs.

Kelly’s eyes, darting back and forth between her friends throughout the room, locked onto Orla as she pulled off her blouse, revealing a complete lack of bra underneath. “I think this is where we got up to,” she said with a sultry smile, resuming her erotic swaying despite the lack of music, an outstretched finger tracing a line between her breasts and then underneath one of them...

I can’t, I can’t wait any longer! Uncontrollably overstimulated, Kelly frantically unzipped her jeans with one hand, and reached out and grabbed Orla’s wrist with the other, pulling the almost-nude girl to her knees. She held out her hard, throbbing cock, offering it to her. “Do you want this?” she gasped, praying the answer was ‘yes’. Orla said nothing, but grinned wildly at her, and then leaned forwards, opened her mouth wide, and engulfed her dick. “Oh, fuck,” Kelly spluttered, rocking back against the chair cushions as her new friend’s lips and tongue skilfully caressed her shaft.

She cast her eyes around the room, taking in the sights of her friends. Chloe was still lying on top of Sin on the couch, holding her wrists down above her head and kissing her possessively, like she owned her. (Never would’ve taken her for a top, or Sin for a bottom, Kelly thought briefly). At some point, Chloe had torn off her and Sin’s shirts and bras, which lay discarded on the floor. Molly had pulled down Miss Gold’s panties with her teeth and buried her face in her cunt, and judging by the blonde beauty’s ecstatic cries and writhing, Kelly’s girlfriend’s skills in oral sex translated just as well to vaginas as they did to penises.

It didn’t occur to Kelly to feel jealous of her girlfriend eating out another woman, nor did she feel guilty about facefucking another girl herself. Anything goes at one of Lizzie’s sex parties - which, she distantly realised, was what this was. How she knew that, she wasn’t sure, but she also wasn’t all that interested in questioning it right now.

Speaking of Lizzie, their former ringleader was crouched in the corner of the room, watching the orgy around her with an expression of intense longing. She’d pulled down her latex trousers and was teasing her slit, but would clearly have preferred to be an active participant, rather than an audience member forced to get herself off.

Noticing Kelly watching Lizzie, Aislinn chuckled maliciously. “I’ve given her some special instructions for tonight,” she explained breathlessly. “She can’t join in, and she can’t cum. She has to watch, and edge, and know her place...” Then a particularly agile flick of Molly’s tongue sent her reeling back in her chair.

Seeing Lizzie like this, knowing her predicament, Kelly felt another flicker of unease - the first in a while. But it vanished as Orla hummed around her cock, and those vibrations became her whole world.

She was sure Lizzie was OK, anyway. She was safe and happy and having fun, and would soon be departing on a great adventure with the gorgeous, entrancing, mischievous, yet trustworthy Miss Gold.

So everything was fine. More than fine, Kelly corrected herself as Orla’s tongue teased her tip. Everything was fucking brilliant!

***

“Boy, do I have a case for you,” Phoebe announced, as her partner strolled towards the desk they shared.

Tiernan hung up his mobile, looking fleetingly pensive before he grinned at her and took his seat opposite her. “Haven’t heard you this fired up in a while.”

“You’ll be fired up too in a minute, listen to this - while you were out a guy turned himself in, name of Derek O’Shea. Confessed to robbing a corner shop in the small hours of this morning, stealing everything in the register. According to him, there was no-one behind the counter, so he just chanced his arm.”

Tiernan shrugged. “OK. Not sure what’s so exciting about that story.”

“I’m not even halfway done. Turns out, he was in a pretty crazy mood as it was. He was out for a drink with his girlfriend...” She consulted her notepad briefly. “Millie Finch. They had one too many, got in a blazing row... and he tied her up and stuck her in the boot of his car. Like, bound her wrists and ankles with duct tape, gagged her with her own socks and put tape over her mouth. Then he went for a wee drive and decided to rob a shop, because why wouldn’t you at that point?”

“Fuck me.” Her colleague leaned back in his chair and let out a big breath, his eyebrows so far up his head they’d disappeared beneath his fringe. “What a psycho.” He frowned. “But hang on a mo, how the hell did he manage to bind and gag the girl in, I’m guessin’, the middle of the street? Without her managing to call for help, or anyone seeing them? Let alone get her socks off and in her mouth before putting the tape on. And where’d he get the feckin’ tape - did he just have it on him?”

“Y’see, I knew you’d like this one,” Phoebe grinned. “It’s got more holes than a kitchen sponge. But the guy’s adamant he did all this, and the girl’s corroborating the story.” Her expression softened. “She was still in the car boot when he got here - a couple of our officers had to get the tape off as gently as they could. Poor thing’s shaking like a leaf, and she was in there for hours obviously, so she’d pissed herself. We gave her a change of clothes from the lost and found, and now the counsellor’s looking after her ’til her mam comes and picks her up.”

Tiernan sat and contemplated for a minute. “So. Man has fight with girlfriend. Man ties girlfriend up and stuffs her in car boot. Man stops by corner shop in early hours of the morning. Shop is open, but no-one’s on duty. Man robs shop. Man... doesn’t do anythin’ else all day, just leaves his girl in the car boot and, what, counts his money? Man drives to garda station late in the afternoon and turns himself in. Do I have all that straight?”

“Yep.”

“And we’re agreed literally none of it makes any sense?”

“Yep. But we got a full confession, backed by a witness, so chief says it’s officially an open-and-shut case.” She arched a mischievous eyebrow. “Unofficially, there’s still time to poke around. Someone’s gotta go check out this shop, find out if this implausible robbery actually happened, right?”

Tiernan put his hands together in a praying motion. “Phoebe, please tell me you volunteered us.”

“What d’you take me for? Course I feckin’ did.”

“I love you, and I’m prepared to have your babies.” Jumping to his feet, he started heading back out of the Garda Headquarters, accompanied by his partner this time. “Come on, let’s get down there. We can buy some Mars Bars while we’re at it.”