I smoothed down my charcoal pencil skirt as I approached the familiar glass and steel building. The tailored blazer hugged my curves perfectly - this body made everything look good, even conservative business attire.

The sliding doors parted with a soft hiss. My heels clicked against the polished floor as I strode through the lobby, projecting an air of belonging. Inside, my heart raced. Would anyone recognize something

I'd chosen my outfit carefully - expensive enough to command respect, but not flashy enough to draw undue attention. The black stilettos added just the right amount of authority to my step.

Sarah sat at her usual spot behind the reception desk, phone pressed to her ear. Her free hand tapped away at her keyboard as I walked past. She barely glanced up, giving me the same cursory nod she offered all the regulars.

My confidence wavered as I reached the security gates. Without an access card, I couldn't get through to the elevators. I needed someone to tailgate behind.

Movement caught my eye - sandy dishevelled hair, wrinkled shirt partially untucked. Mark from accounting shuffled toward the gates, coffee in one hand and phone in the other.

Perfect. Mark had always been scatter-brained and unobservant. If anyone wouldn't question a stranger following them through security, it would be him.

I hung back, pretending to check my phone while watching him approach from the corner of my eye.

I quickened my pace as Mark swiped his card, falling into step right behind him. My shoulder brushed against his as we passed through the gate together.

"Oh, sorry!" His coffee sloshed dangerously close to the rim of his cup.

"No problem, Mark. How's the accounting department treating you?" I kept my voice casual, like we'd passed each other in halls dozens of times before.

He blinked at me, forehead creasing. "I'm sorry, have we...?"

"We've crossed paths in meetings." I waved my hand dismissively. "You know how it is with big companies - so many faces."

"Right, right." He nodded, clearly uncomfortable about not remembering me. "Which department are you with?"

"Engineering." I pressed the elevator button. "Actually, I worked with Liam on a few projects before... well, you know."

Mark's expression darkened. "Yeah, weird situation that. No calls, no emails. Just vanished one day."

"They haven't filled his position yet?" I pressed the button for my old floor.

"Nah, still interviewing. Been a nightmare covering his projects." Mark ran a hand through his already messy hair. "Though between you and me, I think they're keeping it open in case he comes back. Guy was brilliant with the technical stuff."

My chest tightened at his words. They were holding out hope. Which meant my desk might still be untouched.

"For now. They've distributed his projects among the team, but it's not sustainable long-term."

The elevator dinged at the fifth floor. I gestured for Mark to exit first, noticing how his gaze lingered on my legs as I followed. Two months ago, such attention would have made me uncomfortable. Now it felt natural, even satisfying. Just another tool in my growing arsenal of supernatural advantages.

"Well, this is me," I said, turning toward the opposite corridor. "Thanks for the chat, Mark."

His eyes snapped up from where they'd been fixed on my swaying hips. A flush crept across his cheeks as he realized he'd been caught staring. "Right, yes. Have a good day..."

I navigated the familiar maze of cubicles, my heels muffled by the thin carpet. The open office layout hadn't changed - monitors glowed with CAD designs and spreadsheets while engineers hunched over their keyboards.

Jenny's headphones blocked out the world as her fingers flew across her keyboard. Two desks over, Robert muttered calculations under his breath, surrounded by empty coffee cups. No one looked up as I passed.

My old desk sat untouched in the corner by the window. A fine layer of dust coated the monitor and keyboard. Post-it notes with technical specifications still clung to the edges of the screen, written in my precise engineering hand.

I slid into the chair, muscle memory taking over as I pulled open the bottom drawer. Buried beneath project folders and old manuals, my fingers found the frame. I withdrew the photo, brushing dust from the glass.

Faith and I smiled back at me, her arm around my shoulders as we posed in front of the London Eye. The photo was taken six months ago, before everything changed. Before she ended things, before I woke up in this body.

I slipped the frame into Lilith's ring, the magic accepting it without resistance. The weight of the photo vanished, but the image lingered in my mind.

Now I had what I needed for the scrying spell. Whatever happened to my original body - whether Lily inhabited it or something else happened - I would finally get answers.

I turned away from my old desk, my heels clicking against the floor as I headed for the elevator. The doors slid open before I reached them, revealing Trevor's familiar face.

My breath caught. His grey eyes locked onto mine, a flash of confusion crossing his features before settling into a professional smile.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Ah, you must be Rachel - here for the four o'clock interview?" Trevor stepped out, extending his hand.

My instincts kicked in before I could panic, smoothing my expression into a pleasant smile as I shook his hand. "Yes, the receptionist let me in early. I hope that's alright?"

"Of course, of course. Always good to see initiative." He glanced at his watch. "Though you're quite early. Why don't you join me in my office? We can start the interview ahead of schedule."

My mind raced. Mark had mentioned they were looking for someone to fill my old position. This Rachel must be interviewing for it.

I weighed my options. The real Rachel would show up eventually, but that gave me nearly half an hour. More than enough time to extract myself from the situation. If things went south, my demon abilities could get me out of the building before anyone realized something was amiss.

"That would be wonderful," I said, following Trevor as he led the way to his office. "Thank you for accommodating me."

"Not at all." He held the door open, gesturing me inside. "Please, have a seat."

I settled into the chair across from his desk, crossing my legs subconsciously. Trevor's gaze lingered for a moment before he sat down, straightening his tie.

"So," he said, pulling out a folder. "Tell me about your experience in engineering..."

I glimpsed Rachel's CV on Trevor's desk - a Masters in Engineering from Imperial College London, internships at top firms, and published papers in technical journals. The credentials matched my own educational background closely enough.

"My thesis focused on optimizing structural integrity in high-stress environments," I said, drawing from both Rachel's CV and my own expertise. "The applications for aerospace manufacturing were particularly interesting."

Trevor nodded, making notes. "And what drew you to our company specifically?"

"Your reputation for innovation, particularly in sustainable design." I kept my answers professional and succinct, looking for an opening to excuse myself.

"Impressive background." Trevor leaned back, loosening his tie slightly. "Though I'm curious why someone with your qualifications would leave their current position?"

"I'm looking for new challenges," I said, noticing his posture shift. "Growth opportunities."

"Speaking of growth..." His eyes traveled down my form. "How do you handle... pressure in the workplace?"

The shift in his tone was subtle but clear. His desire radiated toward me, stirring my supernatural hunger. I could taste his growing arousal on the air.

"I maintain professional boundaries," I said firmly, even as my instincts suggested ways to lure him away from the office, somewhere private where I could feed safely.

"Boundaries can be... flexible." Trevor's smile took on a predatory edge. "Especially for candidates willing to show... initiative."

I'd never seen this side of him during my time as Liam. The way he used his position to pressure women made my skin crawl, even as my demon nature whispered how easy it would be to turn his own desires against him.

"What exactly are you suggesting?" I kept my voice neutral while scanning for escape routes.

"Let's discuss your qualifications over dinner," he said, reaching across the desk. "Somewhere more... comfortable."

His lust grew stronger, fueling my hunger. I could lead him out, drain him until he remembered nothing but pleasure...

I pushed down the supernatural urges whispering dark suggestions. The thought of feeding on Trevor made my stomach turn. Even if he deserved it, I couldn't bring myself to do that to someone I'd known as Liam. If I ever managed to return to my original body, I wouldn't be able to face him knowing what I'd done.

"I appreciate the... opportunity," I said, shifting in my seat while watching the clock. "But perhaps we should focus on my technical qualifications?"

Trevor's smile didn't waver. "Of course. Though I find face-to-face meetings over dinner allow for more... thorough evaluations."

"Actually," I stood up, smoothing my skirt. "Could you point me to the ladies' room first?"

"Down the hall to the right," he said, though I already knew the layout by heart. "Don't be too long."

I walked briskly down the corridor, checking my watch. Six minutes until the real Rachel's interview. The elevator doors opened immediately when I pressed the button. I jabbed the ground floor repeatedly until they closed.

The reception area was mostly empty when I emerged. I quickened my pace toward the exit, spotting a woman in a navy suit approaching the building. Her confident stride and portfolio marked her as the real Rachel.

As we passed each other near the door, I caught her arm gently.

"The Engineering lead is a creep," I whispered. "Watch yourself."

I didn't wait for her response, pushing through the sliding doors into the afternoon air. Let her make her own choices about the warning - I'd done more than most would have.

I checked into a modest hotel near King's Cross, paying cash for a single night. The room was basic but clean - all I needed was running water and privacy for the spell.

After drawing the curtains, I filled the bathroom sink with cold water and retrieved the photo from my ring. The glossy surface caught the fluorescent light as I placed it beside the sink.

"Right then," I muttered, reviewing the spell components in my mind. The theory was simple enough - create a connection through the personal item to locate its owner. Professor Morrigan's lessons on mana flow came flooding back as I began weaving the magical energies.

I held my breath, waiting for the world to push back against my magic. But the spell flowed smoothly, the water's surface beginning to ripple and cloud. Perhaps being born here gave me some leeway? Or maybe the spell was too minor to trigger any cosmic backlash?

The cloudy water slowly resolved into an image - my old body, Liam's form, sitting in what looked like a dimly lit basement or bunker. The figure was partially shadowed, but I could make out my former features clearly enough.

My heart pounded as I leaned closer, trying to memorize every detail that might hint at the location. Before I could focus on the background, Liam's head snapped up suddenly. Red eyes stared directly at me, as if he could see through the scrying spell right into my soul.

The water exploded upward, drenching my face as the spell shattered. I stumbled back, wiping my eyes. When I looked again, the sink held nothing but ordinary water.

My hands shook as I tried to cast the spell again. I formed the patterns perfectly, pushed my mana through them just as before, but nothing happened. The water remained stubbornly mundane.

A third attempt yielded the same result. Someone - likely the real Lily - was actively blocking my scrying. What had happened to my body after I'd been displaced?

I gripped the sink's edge, staring at my reflection - Lily's beautiful face twisted with worry. I needed to find out what was happening, but it seemed my current means of tracking were now closed.

I took one final look at the now-useless water in the sink before grabbing a towel to dry my face. Lily clearly had enough power to block my spell. That was concerning, but there wasn't much I could do about it right now.

I gathered my things and headed out of the hotel room, dropping the key at reception without making eye contact. The London streets were growing busier as rush hour approached - perfect cover for slipping away unnoticed.

The alley with the transport gate came into view. After checking no one was watching, I ducked inside and approached the gate concealed within grafitti on the wall. A few moments later, the familiar portal swirled to life.

I stepped through, leaving Earth behind. The heat of Igneus hit me immediately as I emerged on the other side. I dropped my glamour, letting my horns and tail manifest again.

I'd have to be more careful about my next visit to Earth. Maybe bring Aria and Isabella along as cover again, make it seem like just another fun excursion. But that would have to wait a few days - too many trips in quick succession would definitely draw unwanted attention from mo... Lilith.