Chapter 510: The Lesson

Myrta — Selena’s Headquarters, Night

Adam stood beside Lilith, his gaze fixed on the bound White Demon. Celine’s body trembled under the tight silk cords, her hand flexing uselessly against the restraints. Pride still burned in her eyes, but the flush on her cheeks and the way her breathing hitched betrayed how exposed she felt.

Lilith’s crimson eyes flicked to Adam, a quiet, expectant smile on her lips. The black gown clung to her as she shifted her weight, the coiled whip resting lightly in her hand.

"Well?" she asked softly. "She’s still talking back. Shall we continue the lesson... or would you like to take a turn?"

Adam didn’t answer immediately. He stepped closer to Celine, circling her slowly. The cords dug into her pale skin, forcing her chest forward and leaving her completely open. He reached out and traced one finger along the edge of a silk binding that crossed her thigh, feeling the slight tremor that ran through her.

Celine flinched, turning her face away with a sharp breath.

"Don’t touch me," she hissed, though her voice lacked its earlier strength.

Adam crouched in front of her so their eyes were level. His expression was calm, almost curious.

"You’re in no position to give orders," he said quietly. "You’re Isolde’s familiar now. And for the time being, that means you answer to Lilith... and to me."

He glanced up at Lilith. She was watching him with open amusement, the tip of the whip trailing slowly against her palm.

Adam stood again and looked at her.

"You said you’re teaching her. How far were you planning to go tonight?"

Lilith’s smile widened. She stepped behind Celine, resting one hand on the demon’s shoulder while the other let the whip uncoil with a soft, leather whisper.

"As far as she needs," Lilith answered. "She’s stubborn. Prideful. The kind that only learns when the body is forced to understand what the mind still refuses."

She leaned down, her lips close to Celine’s ear.

"Isn’t that right?"

Celine’s jaw tightened. She forced the words out through clenched teeth.

"...I still won’t submit."

Lilith’s eyes lit up with genuine delight. She looked at Adam over Celine’s head.

"You heard her. She’s asking for more."

Adam exhaled slowly, the towel still draped over his shoulders. His gaze moved between the two women, the elegant black-gowned Lilith holding the whip, and the bound, trembling Celine kneeling at their feet.

"...Alright," he said at last. "But you must obey my orders, Lilith."

Lilith’s smile turned sharper.

"Of course."

She straightened, the whip swinging lightly at her side, and looked down at the defiant White Demon with quiet, predatory satisfaction.

"Then let’s continue the lesson, Celine."

Lilith’s smile remained calm as she stepped fully behind Celine. The black gown whispered against the floor. She rested the coiled whip against the demon’s bare shoulder for a moment, letting the cool leather rest there before slowly dragging it down across her bound chest.

Celine flinched hard. A sharp breath escaped her, but she kept her jaw locked.

Adam watched in silence, still standing a few steps away. His eyes followed every movement.

Lilith spoke softly, almost gently.

"You still think defiance will protect you." She let the tip of the whip trail lower, sliding along the silk cords that forced Celine’s thighs apart. "It won’t. It only tells me how much further I need to go."

She flicked her wrist once.

Crack!

The thin leather struck the outer side of Celine’s thigh, sharp enough to leave a vivid red line. Celine’s body jerked against the ropes. A stifled sound caught in her throat.

"Ngh!"

Adam’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Lilith tilted her head, studying the mark with mild interest.

"Still quiet? Good. I prefer it when you try to hold it in. It makes the moment you finally break more satisfying."

She walked slowly around to Celine’s front again and crouched so their faces were level. With two fingers she lifted the demon’s chin, forcing her to meet those crimson eyes.

"Look at him," Lilith ordered quietly, nodding toward Adam. "Your new masters are both here. Isolde gave you to us. That means your body, your voice, and whatever pride you still have left belong to us until you learn."

Celine’s eyes burned. She tried to turn her face away, but Lilith’s grip held firm.

Adam stepped closer. He stopped just in front of the kneeling demon and looked down at her.

"You’re only making this longer for yourself," he said. "I’ve seen what happens to people who keep refusing. It never ends well for them."

He reached out and lightly traced the fresh red mark on her thigh with his fingertips. Celine’s muscles tensed under the touch.

Lilith’s smile widened.

"See? Even Adam is starting to take interest." She stood up again, the whip resting against her palm. "Shall we continue, or would you like to try something else with her?"

Adam glanced at Lilith, then back down at the bound White Demon whose breathing had grown visibly uneven.

"...Keep going," he said after a moment. "I want to see how long that pride of hers actually lasts."

Lilith’s crimson eyes gleamed with quiet pleasure.

"As you wish."

Lilith’s wrist snapped forward again.

Crack!

The thin leather struck the soft inner side of Celine’s other thigh this time, leaving a matching red line. The White Demon’s body jerked hard against the silk cords. A sharp, involuntary sound escaped her throat before she could bite it back.

Adam’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched.

Lilith walked a slow circle around the kneeling demon, letting the whip trail lightly across Celine’s skin, over her bound arms, across the curve of her hip, up the line of her spine. Every soft brush of leather made Celine’s muscles tighten.

"You’re shaking," Lilith observed quietly.

She stopped behind Celine again and leaned down, her silver hair brushing the demon’s shoulder.

"You can keep pretending this doesn’t affect you," she whispered. "But your body is already answering for you."

Another sharp flick.

Crack!

This time the strike landed across the upper curve of Celine’s breast, just hard enough to sting and leave a clear mark against her pale skin. Celine’s head snapped back. Her breath came faster now, uneven.

Adam stepped closer, stopping directly in front of her. He crouched so that their eyes were level once more. His gaze moved slowly over the fresh marks, the tight silk bindings, the way Celine’s chest rose and fell with each strained breath.

"Still going to say you won’t submit?" he asked.

Celine forced her eyes open. Pride and fury still burned there, but they were mixed with shame and the first cracks of something more fragile.

"...Go to hell," she managed, though her voice was no longer steady.

Lilith laughed softly behind her, the sound almost affectionate.

"There it is. The last of the fighting words." She rested the coiled whip against Celine’s cheek for a moment, then looked at Adam. "She’s starting to break. Shall we push a little further... or do you want to take over for a while?"

Adam studied the bound demon in silence for a few seconds. Then he reached out and took hold of Celine’s chin, tilting her face up so she had no choice but to look at him.

"I think," he said calmly, "we can still go a little further."