Under the spotlight, upon the stage and before the worship of the crowd was where Eliza had always known she belonged. From the beginnings of her long life to the present day she had been a figure who basked in the love and praise of her audience. Certainly there had been conquests and pitfalls through those ages, in particular one very dramatic calamity that took some time to recover from. However by the end of trials she was once again on the climb to stardom. Though those that didn't share in her vision of what a shining future Eliza could bring the world were a troublesome lot that continued to pester her still.

Eliza had been enjoying a night of applause and cheers not that long ago within the performance hall of her own night club. It was different from the citizens of the old civilizations that looked upon her as a being of power meant to rule over their pitiful lives. But the admiration of the city's powerful and wealthy, along with the blood they donated for her charities, kept her sated for now. The only complaint would be the vile creatures that still sought to use her own blessed power for their own gain. In particular the Medici crime family had proven to be among the most vocal and pestering. True she owed them a debt for helping set herself up within New Meridian city but the fools still continued to come to her door for help. Especially for that which they were so clearly unequipped to handle. Word was that the Skullheart had chosen another poor girl as a victim for its curse. Promises of wishes fulfilled in exchange for power it granted until her very soul would likely be ground to dust. This was where Eliza was called in.

Her reputation for using, mastering and enjoying blood preceded her as the Crimson Scourge. A name that only hinted at how fearsome her power could be. As such she was requested to help hunt down the Skullgirl and a peculiar Feral burglar that had stolen something of value from the Medicis. It was a curious request and even though they used both the carrot and the stick to try and get her to cooperate, it was more Eliza's own curiosity that got her to finally agree to this hunt. A wise decision in the end as she found not just proof of the Skullgirl being up and about in New Meridian but that some of her old acquaintances happened to be on a similar search. All the more reason to keep herself in the game in this new age before someone could leverage themselves against her further. Leviathan and Samson were a pair of "parasites" as they'd come to be known over the years that could imbue their hosts with great power. Though the girls they'd joined forces with were hardly the warriors of ages past. Eliza on the other hand was a different story.

The "parasite" Sekhmet and host Eliza had long since joined forces to become one and the same being. A feat these others hadn't managed to conquer, still clinging to their individuality. She needed to help guide not only these lost family members of hers back to the spotlight but to put them in their rightful place above the foolish beings they attached themselves to. For too long the public had acted thoughtless and free like sheep. A reminder was necessary for who the superior creatures were on this planet. Certainly the praise of these cattle had been enjoyable for Eliza, but admiration was easy enough to discard in favor of true love and fear that earned the deepest loyalty. Something that could be taught and learned with enough reinforcement. Or else you may become as brutish and misbehaved as the partner Eliza was thrust upon with before she had started her Skullgirl hunt.

Cerebella wasn't that different from Eliza when you compared the two of them on a surface level. The girl was a performer that was beloved by many fans of New Meridian city and had a devoted following of her own that marveled at her feats of daring and strength. A top billing performer of the Cirque des Cartes circus, she also held a connection to the Medici crime family that they had made sure was kept unknown to the public. The similarities stopped there however. While Eliza was an active partner with the devils in suits and could press her own leverage and power, this deluded girl was little more than a lap dog to the son of their patriarch. All too willing and foolish to do whatever her master commanded of her. A sad sight to see for such a promising young talent. Even if Eliza preferred cats, she could appreciate a well trained hound when it was presented to her. Especially those that were loyal to their masters above all else. But that tolerance was tested when the dogs teeth were bared at her.

Lorenzo Medici was the current patriarch of their little crime empire, but it had been his eldest son Vitale that had sent Cerebella to accompany Eliza. He'd offered her as an assistant to her hunt but Eliza knew a spy when she was handed one. After a short detour that resulted in Eliza collecting their unusual and delicious cat burglar prize, it didn't take long for Cerebella to challenge Eliza for ownership of the Feral girl. A challenge that left the circus performer soundly defeated and entangled in the supernatural strands of blood Eliza had conjured from the flesh of her own body. Just one of many feats her powers granted her.

She was sure the Medici family knew she was powerful in some way but when it came to the details she'd been careful not to let too much slip. If they had known that the supply of fresh blood they assisted in feeding to her gave her such strength they would probably have done something to stop her from gathering her powers, no matter how slowly it went. Her entire gorgeous figure was a limitless weapon; stretching, extending, growing, slashing and entrapping foes all to her own vicious delight. For example, the rope-like limbs extending from her own body were more than enough to hold Cerebella against the wall of the bath chambers where the circus performer had attempted to assault her. The battle had been an interesting aside but offered her little in challenge. With her enemy restrained Eliza used one of her tentacles to remove Cerebella's own unique living weapon from her head and encased it in a small sarcophagus-like container. At this time there wasn't much Eliza could do with it separated from Cerebella but like all things it was another tool to be used for her ambitions in the future. Though the girl before her was an issue of the present as Eliza considered what to do with her struggling captive.

"You might have beaten me, but you can't beat the entire Medici family!" Battered, beaten and bound yet still barking. The dog was more loyal than Eliza had expected her to be. No groveling from her, even in defeat.

"Sadly they don't talk about me in the history books. But if you knew my resume, you'd know I was more than overqualified for that little job." Eliza remarked, Cerebella's clothing had been torn in several places during their scuffle and was just clinging to her shapely figure. Even though she was completely restrained by all four limbs and her head she didn't show any signs of surrender or forgiveness.

"Just try it. You're nobody, just some nut job with a parasite!" The barking was getting on her nerves, Eliza reeling her arm back with the sharp points of her bony fingers ready to strike.

"That lack of perspective is something I'll have to fix about the world." Lunging forward Eliza's hand aimed at Cerebella's heart. With no way to defend herself Cerebella tensed her muscles and prepared for the killing blow to strike her.

Though it didn't come as swiftly as she expected.

"Although now that I think about it, killing one girl is hardly going to make my reputation grow in any meaningful way. It's not as if the Medici will notice if you don't come back." Eliza considered aloud and pulled her clawed hand back to rub her chin thoughtfully. While she pondered her two hulking assistants Albus and Horace watched on in surprise.

"My lady..." Horace began with hesitation. "We're not killing her?" The large man with the bird-like head questioned her cautiously. He'd made it no secret he found Cerebella's disrespect towards his mistress quite annoying. But he certainly knew better than to argue with her if she had made a decision.

"We're not." Eliza stated plainly as if she had come to a decision. While there was a bit of relief in hearing she wouldn't die, Cerebella could hardly relax in the state she was in. No more free than she had been before. "Albus, be a dear and find a place to put this until we're ready to let it out." One of Eliza's long, tendril arms picked up the casing that held Cerebella's living weapon Vice-Versa inside and dropped it in the hands of the man with the Jackal-like head.

"Sure boss, whatever you say." The man agreed, no more sure of what his employer wanted but knowing better than to argue. Leaving the bath house to fulfill his task without delay.

"Wonderful, thank you Albus. Now Horace, could you prepare a guest room for me? The kind with the locks and restraints to keep the guest from leaving until I've said so. You know the ones."

"Understood, my lady." Horace agreed, both men leaving the bathing chamber to the women. While it was large enough to host all sorts of individuals the waters were rarely filled with anyone but Eliza herself. Rarely she invited guests she deemed fit to join her in the waters, though not without providing her with some worthwhile entertainment. This guest Elzia didn't intend to be any different than any of the past ones she'd welcomed, pondering how they would spend some private time together. Pulling back some of the blood she'd used to make her tendril-like arms she reconstructed some flesh back onto her hands.

"If you're gonna torture me then I'll let you know now it won't do you any good. I won't reveal any secrets to you no matter what you do!" Cerebella shouted, though that didn't seem to concern her captor.

"Oh please, you're so ignorant of your own employers there's nothing you can tell me that I don't already know. In fact I imagine that I could educate you in some of their nastier business." Eliza traced her fingers over Cerebella's exposed skin through the cuts on her dress. She had to admit even if the circus performer had a less than sweet personality she was very beautiful. Though that nasty temper of hers could be squashed and built anew. Cerebella had already proven to be such a loyal dog that Eliza knew she could teach her a few new tricks. Better than wasting a potential new pet.

"A maniac like you wouldn't know a thing about the Medici family!" Eliza continued to argue, attempting to pull her limbs free of her restraints yet again despite the fruitless results. Beautiful and full of stamina, the positives were starting to stack up for Eliza with this catch. "Well then if you're not going to just kill me, what do you want? You already said there isn't anything I can tell you."

"Hmm, what could I want from you indeed?" Eliza pondered. "The more I observe you the more you remind me of a glittering jewel."

"What the hell?" Cerebella asked sincerely in confusion. After all of their time together the last thing she was expecting was a compliment from this woman.

"You're flashy, colorful, beautiful and so completely dense." Eliza said with a smirk. "I happen to have a taste for jewels, you know? The rarer the better. Sure I could kill you in an instant or just beat you within an inch of your miserable life and send you back to the circus but where's the fun in that? Not when I could have this sparkling jewel all for myself."

"Sorry, I'm not for sale." Cerebella growled.

"That's fine, I wasn't planning on paying for such a roughly cut gem. But with a little work we can make you sparkle like never before." One of Eliza's sharp, skeletal nails poked through her finger. Hooking it through Cerebella's dress she dragged it down and cut through what remained of her clothing. Gripping what fabric hung from her body that was left Eliza tossed it aside on the floor. She wouldn't need that garish costume any longer. "What a figure you're sporting. Is this why that dunce Vitale kept you on a leash for so long? You must be his favorite."

"Don't say his name!" Cerebella shouted in rage, though her anger turned to even greater concern for herself as Eliza's hand gripped her breasts. Fingers squeezing them playfully and her thumbs rubbing against Cerebella's nipples. "Don't touch me with your blood soaked hands!"

"You certainly keep yourself in top shape. How about we have a little taste before the meal proper?" Eliza dipped her head down and licked her tongue across Cerebella's breast. The girl shivered with the sensitive touch on her skin, unused to anyone touching her like that. Letting her thumb continue the teasing where her mouth left off, Eliza moved her head to Cerebella's other breast and sucked gently at her nipple.

"S-Stop, you freak. Get your mouth off of me." Cerebella groaned, attempting to wiggle free of her bonds yet again. As if sensing her growing urge to escape the thick, blood like limbs gripped her arms and legs tighter to restrain her completely. Restricting her most basic movements dow to simply wiggling her torso before Eliza's gaze..

"What's the matter? Isn't this how Vitale rewards you after a good performance?" Eliza asked, gently nibbling at Cerebella's nipple and pulling lightly with her teeth.

"Aah! Don't! No, never. He wouldn't do that to me."

"Never? Not even once? Oh, you poor neglected girl." Eliza cooed, running her tongue along Cerebella's skin, between her breasts and then to the other. "So pent up and frustrated, left alone when you were clearly bursting with desire. You've never let that greasy fat head of his lay upon these soft, warm breasts of yours? What a loss for him."

"I don't want to talk about this." Cerebella complained, the confidence fading from her eyes the more Eliza prodded her on this. She'd been so much more confident when it was a fight to the death. Now there was the smallest hint of shame in her expression with each lurid thought Eliza spoke of and she wanted to seize upon that weakness. "Please stop doing this to me. I'm not a thing you can keep. I don't want to be used like one."

"But we're just getting started on this fun little bonding moment together." Eliza countered, her tongue licking Cerebella's stomach down to her panty line. Biting at the edge of the cloth with her teeth and pulling at her underwear teasingly. "Surely a body this sinful has enjoyed so many of your fans' affections. You're practically dripping with desire."

"I'm not like that." Cerebella's eyes closed tightly. "I don't do things like that! It doesn't matter what people say about me, I'm not some kind of whore. I'm just a performer." That caught Eliza's attention, making her want to tease it out further.

"Oh come now, just look at you." Eliza offered, her palm resting between Cerebella's legs. The girl gasped and hiked her body up to try and escape that touch though she did more than shake herself in the feeble attempt to move. "You're one of Dahlia's little assassin girls, aren't you? I've seen what she has her slutty little bunnies get up to when they're not stabbing and shooting people for fun. You expect me to believe she didn't train you to be skilled in all of the ways she likes to have fun? Like this?" Eliza began to rub her palm up against her panties and Cerebella attempted to pull away harder.

"It's not true! I've never done stuff like that! Stop saying these things! Let me go right now! Stop it!" Cerebella pulled harder at the thick, blood tentacles that gripped her limbs. Eliza found she needed to reinforce her grip as Cerebella was exerting more strength than she had anticipated. Even without her living weapon the woman was a powerful fighter in her own right. It made Eliza want her for herself even more than before. The ends of the blood tentacles formed hands that held her tight, the one on her head gripping it still but always leaving enough room for her to speak freely. So her voice would be clear enough that Eliza could enjoy listening to her cries. "I don't have anything you want so just end this already."

"Oh that's not true at all. You are something I want and I don't intend to give you back now." Eliza said, licking her lips and using the sharp claws on the tips of her fingers to pull Cerebella's panties away. Discarding the cloth Eliza used the tentacle hands to keep her legs spread apart and licked against her pussy.

"Don't touch me there! Stop it! You goddamn monster! You freak! You bitch! Let go of me!" Her shouts were angry and passionate, exactly what Eliza had hoped to hear. Using her hands she spread Cerebella's pussy open and pressed her mouth against it. Tongue creeping inside of her and licking deep. "Not inside me. I can't do this anymore… You can't keep doing this to me!"

"I believe I can keep doing this." Eliza said confidently, pulling her lips back from Cerebella's pussy with a satisfied smile. "In fact I'll give you a special treat so you can enjoy it to the fullest with me. After all, a good dog should be rewarded when she performs well." Opening her mouth and letting her tongue hang out it stretched and changed, similar to the parts of her body that were forming the tentacles that were restraining Cerebella. Eventually her tongue took the shape of a thick snake made out of the same solid, bloody material as her tentacle arms. It wiggled as it extended out of Eliza's smiling lips and she leaned back in between Cerebella's legs.

"Wait, hold on. Don't put that in me! Let's just aaAAH!" Eliza had already pressed her lips against Cerebella's pussy again. Her altered tongue creeped inside of Cerebella as she felt it slide into her body and stroke against her. "It's in me! I can feel it moving around. No, no no no, I can't stop it. Vitale, I'm sorry, I'm sorry I can't stop her! Nngh! T-Too much..." Cerebella's eyes looked down to see the head of her captor continually press against her most precious place. Taking her chastity from her so easily and deriving such pleasure from her twisting against it. While tasting her pussy Eliza looked up and gave Cerebella a wink, then began to rub her clit with her thumb.

Unable to move her body she could only shudder and pull at her restraints as Eliza continued to pleasure her. She didn't want it to happen but was unable to resist what her body was giving in to. Her heart was pounding and it was full of hate towards Eliza for being the one to make her feel this way. As much as she tried to keep her mouth shut the moans were being drawn out of her and she could feel her own hot breath hitting her face from the hand that held her head still. Closing her eyes tightly, Cerebella shamefully let out a cry of pleasure and released her climax onto Eliza's tongue. Eliza nearly giggled as she clearly enjoyed the humiliation Cerebella suffered along with the reward her mouth was given. As if to drag out her suffering, Eliza pulled her head back and let the thick tentacle tongue drag out of Cerebella's pussy. Licking her lips Eliza rose back up to her feet and stroked a hand against Cerebella's cheek.

"There we are, all better." Eliza said mockingly. "You see, I can give you everything you could possibly desire. It's inevitable anyway so you may as well accept me as your loving mistress from today forward." Even though Cerebella couldn't move her head she averted her eyes from looking into Eliza's. Not wanting to meet her gaze and expose how much her confidence had been eroded but her enjoying her body.

"I'm... sorry. Vitale." Cerebella murmured.

"Oh you poor love sick puppy. We'll just have to fix that obsession of yours so you don't have to feel so guilty anymore. And what better way to do that than by focusing it on someone who is far more deserving of that unwavering love in your heart." Moving closer Eliza pressed her body against Cerebella's, her hands wrapping around her torso. The tentacle holding Cerebella's head pulled it to the side slightly to expose her neck.

"What are you doing now? Didn't you take enough from me?"

"Well I only had a part of my meal today, my little pet. Now I'm going to enjoy the rest of it. Don't worry though, you'll get used to this part in time too." Eliza assured her with a smile. Her voice was soft but it just made Cerebella more afraid of her. That fear grew as her eyes grew black and she smiled with sharp fangs exposed. Her mouth grew wider as she leaned in towards Cerebella's neck.

"Wait, what are you going to do!? Wait wait wait-!" Cerebella called out but it hardly mattered as Eliza sunk her teeth into Cerebella's neck. Puncturing it and drinking the blood that was released. "Ahhh! S-stop! Help! Help me! She's biting me! My neck! You're going to kill me like this!" Eliza was moaning against her throat as she drank, her hands exploring Cerebella's body as she consumed her life essence. Soon Cerebella's limbs began to tire as she struggled, losing the strength to pull against her bonds. Her cries of pain were fading as her voice grew quieter against her will, head becoming dizzy. In fact it was hard to even stay awake anymore as Eliza wrapped her leg and arms tightly around Cerebella's body. Moaning with pleasure as she drank.

"Ahh! Oh my goodness, fresh from the source is always the best. Absolutely delicious, my new little pet. I'm never giving you back to those worthless Medici thugs. You're all mine now! Far too precious to let them waste you. My darling little blood gem." Eliza exclaimed, licking the puncture wounds on Cerebella's neck and forcing them to close and heal instantly. She wanted to preserve her beautiful treasure just as she looked. "Hm? Darling? You're still with me, right?"

"Enng." Cerebella replied, shivering and unable to move.

"Oh good, I was afraid I got carried away there. Now come to me, my new pet.." The tentacles released Cerebella's limbs and returned back to their master's body. Cerebella dropped into Eliza's waiting arms as she caught the girl and stroked her face lovingly. "There we go. We'll get you in bed so you can replenish that delicious blood for later. Afterwards we'll find a new outfit that will suit you better as part of my organization and then we'll decide on your new training. I'm certain you'll grow to love it as much as me. Not that you'll have a choice."

"Nnngh. Nah... no. Vii..." Cerebella muttered but wasn't able to focus in the slightest from the blood loss. Hoisted up in Eliza's arms she huddled against the woman who was a source of warmth for her freezing body. The irony of Cerebella cuddling against Eliza's body for warmth and protection both amused and delighted her.

"Horace?" Eliza called out, leaving her bathing chambers for the halls of her home. As she walked out Eliza used her powers to form some of her blood into a warm, cocoon like blanket around Cerebella's body that resembled the wrappings of an ancient mummy.

"At your service, my lady." The large figure came into the hallway swiftly as he was called, finding his mistress with her guest. "I take it we'll be having this guest for a while?" He asked as Eliza passed Cerebella over to him.

"I think she'll be a wonderful addition to the house." Eliza said proudly. "Surely I already deserve the finest garments, jewelry and entertainment money can buy. Why stop there?" She asked, stroking Cerebella's head as she slept. "I'm starting to think it may be time to begin a new kind of collection worthy of my greatness."