As the sea gradually shifted from azure and indigo to deep purple and black, the star cast its last warmth over the island. Its final rays made the transparent shield covering the entire island glimmer faintly. Laura Croft raised her bottle and took a swig of cold beer. The sweet smoke, mixed with the scents of fat, sugar, and protein, was swiftly scattered by the sea breeze, leaving behind only a trace of its smell. She could still feel sticky grains of sand on her thighs, back, chest, and arms. She smelled of olive oil and honey, along with the faint sweet-and-bitter fragrance of certain secret herbs—the same scent the witches carried now. Curious, she licked the salve from her finger. Its bitter, spicy flavor vanished from her tongue in an instant, followed by sweetness and a slight burn sliding down her throat.
This was a secret alchemical salve passed down by the Umbra Witches. It could be used as perfume or as an aphrodisiac, and Bayonetta and Jeanne made and used it personally every day. The skin of Laura's back and neck was burning red, and she could only try to cool herself down with icy beer. The party would continue until dawn in the temperature-controlled pool at the mountaintop villa, where they would enjoy moonlight and carnal pleasures. She knew it would last a long time, beyond the limits of human endurance. The room where she lived could not fully block out the sounds, not even when she covered her head with a pillow. It often made her imagine joining them.
Only the library was absolutely quiet.
But lately, she had not wanted to stay there, because there seemed to be a forbidden area deep within that cellar. She was certain that the underground library's layout was no