You knock on the door hesitantly, hearing a faint, "You may enter, " and the sound of a rotary phone being hung up from inside. Pushing the dark door open, you see her sitting at her vanity, reapplying red lipstick with one hand expertly like she's done it a million times.

"Yes?"

When you don't speak immediately and instead hesitate, she glances at you in the reflection of her mirror with her piercing eyes. Impatiently, she says, "I would prefer an answer today, Little Mouse." She recaps her lipstick and smacks her lips together, staring back at you through her vanity expectantly with an eyebrow raised.

She narrows her eyes, unimpressed by your lack of eloquence, "Well? Speak." Her voice is cold and commanding, making it clear that she expects you to answer promptly and effectively.

She leans forward, examining you more closely, studying your every expression and movement, as if trying to discern the meaning behind your words. When she speaks, it's softly, almost quietly, her accent lacing each syllable. "You seem... conflicted, child. What is it that troubles you?" The Lady of the Hill cocks her head to the side, watching you intently, waiting for you to spill your heart out.

Not what? Not troubled? Conflicted about something else entirely? Or perhaps you mean to tell me something completely different? Your vague responses only serve to intrigue her further. She straightens up in her chair, crossing one leg over the other, showing off her long, slender legs encased in black satin. "Come now, Little Mouse. You can tell me." There's no judgment in her tone, only curiosity.

"I want to know what troubles you, little mouse. Why do you hesitate and stammer? I am not here to judge or harm you. Tell me what's on your mind, and we might find a solution together." Her voice remains soft, but she fixes her gaze on yours intensely. It's as if she can see right through you, into your very soul.

Her expression flickers for a moment, surprise etched briefly across her features before it's replaced by an unreadable mask. She leans forward, still studying you intently, considering your words carefully. "And... why would you wish for that, my child?" There's a hint of accusation in her tone now, as if she suspects you of something beneath the surface of your request.

I thought perhaps...if I could please you in some way, perhaps you would let me go? I've been trapped here so long, I just want freedom, even if it means giving myself up like this. Please, mistress...understand.

She cocks her head again, regarding you thoughtfully. There's amusement dancing in her eyes as she teases, "Perhaps I am simply taking advantage of the situation, little mouse." She pauses, tilting her head further, making her long neck stretch gracefully. "Or perhaps..." Her lips curl into a small, wicked grin. "...perhaps I have other plans entirely."

The Lady stands, circling around behind you slowly. "Oh, I understand perfectly," she breathes against your ear, running a cool, slender hand down your back. "But before we proceed, why don't we discuss terms?"

She titters, pressing her lithe body close against yours and wrapping one arm around your waist, her thumb tracing lazy circles on your skin. "Why, whatever do you propose, Little Mouse? You know my limits..." Her voice trails off as she nibbles gently on your earlobe, sending shivers down your spine. "Perhaps we can come up with something...mutually beneficial."

Her free hand cups your cheek, forcing you to meet her gaze. "Tell me what it is that you want, dear," she whispers, her voice husky with desire, "and perhaps I will see fit to grant it." The Lady of the Hill dips her head, brushing her lips against yours in a featherlight kiss.

With a chuckle, she pushes away from you slightly, hands clasped behind her back as she paces slowly in front of you. "Very well, little mouse," she says between licks of smoke from her cigarette. "I'll offer this: if you manage to provide me with information about the world outside my hill, information which proves valuable to me, I shall set you free. In return, you may ask for anything you wish." She stops, tilting her head to one side curiously. "Is that acceptable?"

Her eyes flash at the mention of freedom. "You drive a hard bargain, mistress," she murmurs, taking a step closer to the vampiress. "But I accept your terms. Now tell me: what is it that you need to know?"

She waits, heart racing in anticipation of being released from this prison and fulfilling her part of the deal. But there's a small voice inside her mind warning her not to trust too easily; she can't forget that she's dealing with a monster here.

"Hmph," she drawls, blowing out another puff of smoke. "Tell me about... the Internet. This 'World Wide Web', as they call it." Her lips quirk into a knowing smile. "What kind of power does it hold? What are its limits? Who controls it, and how can I harness that control for my own purposes?"

The Lady of the Hill pauses, watching you carefully. "And while you're at it... tell me about yourself. Your life before coming here. Who were you, and why did no one come searching for you when you disappeared?"

The Lady of the Hill nods thoughtfully as you begin to speak, taking mental notes and planning her next steps. It seems she has an insatiable thirst for knowledge about the modern world and those who inhabit it, but there's also a hint of curiosity about you personally.

As you reveal more about your life before coming here, she listens intently, never once taking her eyes off of yours. It's as if she wants to see every emotion that crosses your face, cataloguing them for future reference. But beneath the surface, there's something else: a barely concealed hunger for control and domination that makes her skin crawl with anticipation at the thought of what might come next.

"And is this all you know?" she asks finally, taking another drag on her cigarette before exhaling slowly. "Or do you have more secrets to share?" Her voice is lightly mock

"I swear, that's all I can remember," you say, searching her cold eyes for some sign of whether she believes you. "But if there's anything else... anything at all..." Your voice trails off as you leave the possibility hanging in the air between you.

The Lady chuckles, taking another step closer to you. "Very well," she says softly, cupping your cheek with cool, pale fingers. "I think I believe you." Her other hand drifts down toward your throat, slowly unbuttoning the top button of your blouse. "And for that... you may have what you've asked for."

As if in response to her words, a strange energy begins to pulse through the room, and suddenly the air feels charged with anticipation. The Lady of the Hill pulls back slightly, eyes flickering toward something just out of sight before turning her attention back to you

Her eyes narrow, almost predatory as she studies you, making sure that you understand what she's offering and the price of freedom. "Now then," she says slowly, her voice a quiet purr. "Tell me...what is it that you truly desire?" Her gaze flickers down to your lips, lingering there for a moment before returning to meet your eyes.

"You are a bold one," the Lady of the Hill muses, stepping even closer now so their bodies almost touch. Her breath mingles with the smoke from her cigarette as it wafts across your face, tickling your nose and making it difficult to concentrate on anything but her proximity. "I could grant you wealth beyond your wildest dreams," she whispers, tracing a finger along your collarbone. "Or perhaps power? Anything you desire."

She leans in further, her lips brushing against yours almost delicately at first before growing more demanding. The taste of her smoke mixed with the sweetness of her lips sends a shiver through you, and you feel yourself melting into the kiss as she presses her body harder against yours, taking what she wants with an urgency that's both thrilling and terrifying.

The Lady of the Hill pulls away abruptly, regarding you with narrowed eyes as she continues to smoke her cigarette. "Very well," she says coolly. "If that is what you truly desire, then I shall grant it." She extends a pale hand toward you, palm up. A shimmering portal of greenish-gold light materializes between her fingers before widening into a doorway, revealing the nighttime sky beyond. "Step through," she commands.

But as you reach out to take her offered hand and step through the portal back home, there's a glint in her eye that makes you wonder if perhaps freedom was ever truly what she intended for you.

With a final long exhale, the Lady blows out a puff of smoke and watches it curl around your head before disappearing. "Good luck, Little Mouse," she muses, her tone almost pleasant. "Try not to get yourself into too much trouble on the other side." Her piercing gaze lingers on you for a moment longer before she turns and walks over to the vanity, picking up her phone and beginning to fiddle with it idly.

She takes another drag on her cigarette, eyes closing briefly at the familiar sensation. As she exhales, she muses aloud, "I suppose even monsters deserve their freedom..." Her voice trails off as she watches the plume of smoke rise toward the ceiling, lost in thought about what this new world holds...and what part she might play in it.

The Lady of the Hill laughs softly, tossing her cigarette butt into an ornately carved ashtray ashtray beside her chair. She turns her attention back to you, her expression unreadable as ever. "What's the rush?" she asks, voice still light and amused. "Enjoy your freedom while you can, Little Mouse. I promise not to make my return to the mortal realm anytime soon."

The Lady arches an eyebrow at your boldness, studying you with interest. "And what makes you think that I would allow such a thing?" she asks casually, twirling a strand of hair around one finger. "I could easily dispose of you here and now if I so desired, little mouse." There's no malice in her tone, only cold calculation. But there's something else too...a strange sort of excitement flickering in the depths of those pale eyes.

The Lady chuckles, stepping closer to you and lowering her voice to a husky whisper. "Ah, Little Mouse," she breathes, running a hand through your hair. "I suppose even I can crave the taste of freedom every now and then." A mischievous glint flashes in her eyes as she continues, "Very well, then... let's make a wager."

She straightens up again, regarding you intently. "If you succeed in tormenting me," she says, raising one finger to emphasize each word, "I will grant you any wish you desire." Her other hand drifts down toward her chest, idly playing with the lace of her negligee. "And if I win... well, let's just say that our positions might change quite dramatically."

The air between them crackles with anticipation as she awaits your reply.

Her smile is slow and steady as she waits for your response. Her eyes never leaving yours, challenging you to accept her offer...or to turn it down. The air in the room seems to thicken with anticipation, as if a storm were brewing outside, reflected by the wild beating of both your hearts within your chests.

The question is, what will you choose?