A Maiden Gamble
by Sydney Michelle    © Omphale Press, 2001

Chapter Eleven

 

Maria lay against the back wall, leg up, working on her stretches. Already her leg could rise above her waist, a long way from KiKi's goal of a high kick above her head, but still progress. She pushed back against the wall while rolling her shoulder, intent on making enough progress to please Mistress Rania.

Today had been a good day. Miz Costello had awarded her permanent spoon privileges, she had been cleaned when her hair was done, KiKi had brought her some new, warmer exercise outfits and leg warmers. For someone wearing a collar and chain, her body responding to unfamiliar hormones, it had been a very good day. And Maria wanted them to continue until she could get out of there.

The tape clicked, hissed a while, before a drum banged and sharp reeds started her dance music. Mercedes, Mistress Rania, had insisted that Zonia would know the songs by heart so she would be free to dance, portray the music, not just shimmy and shake at random. As the music played, she shut her eyes, rolling first one shoulder, the another, trying a belly roll. She tried to imagine moving to the music, what did it say? A maiden longing for her lover? A wife pleasing her mate? She tried to see herself, veiled face, cymbeled fingers waving as she portrayed the private longings of a woman. Who am I kidding? I wouldn't know what a woman felt, and I certainly don't want to know! But it is intriguing to be on the inside. Now how would I want a woman to dance for me?

Just as the image became clear, long blonde hair flowing behind diaphanous azure silks, breasts spilling over a gold coin bra, long toes pointing from delicate ankles, Maria heard bumping at the door. Startled, she rolled to her knees, just sitting back as Mistress Costello came through the door. Maria quickly prostrated herself, hands outstretched, head on her elbows.

"Very good, Maria. You may have potential after all."

Maria held position since her Mistress had not given her permission to move. She could only listen to the click of heels crossing the floor, hoping not to feel the bite of the crop as a reminder of who owned whom. At last the they stopped, a few feet in front of her.

"Raise your head. You must move to the center leash."

Maria sat back, raised her chin to give easy access to her collar ring. Marilyn snapped on a short lead before unlocking the ceiling leash. "You get a new home today. Maria. A bit more comfortable than that cold pallet. But not too much."

"Thank you, Mistress." Maria had learned that expressing gratitude for any small favor had beneficial results. Where is she moving me? Maybe I can escape form there.

Maria knelt in the middle of the room while Marilyn fastened her to the training lead. She followed meekly to the training bar and allowed her wrists to be lashed and hitched without protest. The crop bite had taught that futile protest was painful. She knelt, quietly awaiting events. Maria already learned the virtue of patience when faced with things she could not avoid.

"Alright, bring it in. Against the back wall there."

Maria moved her head just enough to glimpse two workmen pushing something on a flat dolly, the whatever covered by moving blankets. It was about four feet high, maybe three wide, possibly five feet long. The men paid no attention to anything in the shadows, giving full attention to Miz Costello.

"Turn it around, the door goes out. That's right. Leave a little room out from the wall. Now slide it off carefully. You, hold up the end while he pulls out the dolly. Now let it down. Don't mash your fingers. Good. Thank you. Boys. Take this exercise pad and the blankets to laundry as you go."

Maria watched the men leave, pads and blankets piled on the dolly. They walked out silently, looking neither left nor right, obviously not wanting to know what they did not need to know. Maria looked up as Marilyn approached.

"Ver-ry good, very, very good, Missy. You're learning to hold your tongue. Well, let's introduce you to your new home." Marilyn unlocked the training lead, untied the hitch and led Maria to the back of the room.

Maria's heart sank. A cage sat on stubby legs by the back wall, bars every three inches welded to a solid top and bottom. Her chances of escape would be even less than they were now.

"Mistress, please, no!"

"Why, Maria! I thought you'd be grateful. After all, a place of your own, up away from any rats or roaches? A nice pallet, new blankets, and water and food available any time you want them. There's even a mirror and tray so you can work on your makeup. And it's just for when you aren't being worked. Now what do you say?"

Maria fell to her knees, balled her fists on Marilyn's feet, put her head on top of the ball. "Please, Mistress, I am undeserving. Please just let me stay on a palette under a blanket. Please, Mistress, don't cage me like, like a . . ."

"Gerbil? Inside you'll be safe from anyone I haven't given permission to handle you." Marilyn laughed. "Well, my little card shark, just because you aren't in prison doesn't mean you get to move about freely. No testing the door knob for you. No, when you are resting, you'll rest in here. And I would say you are very deserving."

"But my exercises, my stretching?"

"True, there's no exercise wheel. But you'll have enough room to do your lifts, to do your upper body work on your knees. Men like that, you know. A girl dancing on her knees. Make them feel superior. Now let me show you the features."

Maria sat stunned. Marilyn was particularly proud of the door. It could swing out, or down, and had a little trap for Maria to pass her head through. "You won't be let out until your on leash, so no hesitation. You wouldn't want us to have to prod you out, now would you?"

Maria blanched. How could a day go so wrong, so fast? "Please Mistress, have I not been pleasing? Haven't I tried hard enough? Please tell me what you want and I will do it."

"What I want is you in this cage. That way whatever your buyer gives you will be a step up. Right? Of course, right. Now pay attention."

The mattress looked comfortable enough, there were two Army surplus blankets, and even a small pillow. But then it went from bad to worse. Marilyn held up new feeding devices that hooked to the bars. The bottles clamped to the outside top and fed two thick tubes. "See, nice and thick to respond well when you suck. Don't be disturbed, Missy, just because they look like phalluses. Just a little Pavlovian conditioning in case you are called on for service later."

Maria began to cry, anything to escape this fate. "Please, Mistress, please don't do this. Not on your immortal soul, please not this."

"Little late for you to get religion, isn't it Anton? But you have to. You see we need to moderate your diet so you get that girlish figure. You'll still get some solid food, have to keep you regular, but this gives us better control over your calories. And nutrients. And avoids those nasty pill checks to make sure you really swallowed. A quart a day, that's what you have to suck down. And a gallon of water. Gotta stay hydrated. Now in you go."

Maria got on all fours, crept into the cage, shivering as the door clanged behind her.

'Now let's try out your little door. Head out."

Maria looked around desperately. Even with the openings between the bars, the cage seemed incredibly cramped. "How, how do I turn around? There's not enough room."

"Of course there is. Sit and turn on your bottom. Then put your head through the trap."

Maria knelt to one side, drew her knees around, turned back toward the door. She slid forward toward the opening that came about half way down the cage door, pushing her head through until her shoulders touched the bars. Her eye screwed up, barely holding back tears.

"No crying, my dear. Now reach back and hand me that chain."

"Chain?"

"Yes, Dear. The one hanging from your roof."

Maria retracted her head, swiveling to see what in the world Marilyn was talking about. In the middle of the cage, from a two foot slit, hung a bundled brass chain and snap, still in plastic wrap. Maria reached out a hand, touched it, looked back through the bars. "This, Mistress?"

"Yes, Maria. There's nothing else, is there? Unwrap it now, quickly."

Maria unwrapped the glittering chain, hearing a plate scrape on the cage roof as it moved. Five feet of chain unraveled when she unwound the tie. Reluctantly she moved back to the cage door, inserted her head, handed the clip through the bars to Marilyn.

"No, dear, the chain has to come through the door too. Can't have you getting tangled up on the bars. Now stay still."

Maria remained on all fours as Marilyn passed the chain back through the bars and out the cage trap. She raised her head when Marilyn's fingers touched her cheek, barely choking back a sob as the swivel hook clipped to her collar.

"Now, sit back and let me point out the features of your new home."

Maria sat on her haunches, feeling more alone and helpless than even the first day. She turned her head as Marilyn walked around the cage, pointing to one thing after another like the proud owner of a new car.

"Notice this plate slides back and forth allowing you to move freely anywhere in the cage. Be careful turning over at night so you don't wrap yourself in the chain. A nice mattress doubles as an exercise mat. I expect your blankets and sheet neatly folded to one side during the day. With the pillow on top. A tray to hold your makeup and brush and even a metal mirror for you to preen in. A box for your hair things, rollers, clips and pins. Even an alarm to help you wake up every morning at six. Press this button here to turn it off. And of course your feeding and watering bottles. Unbreakable plastic, with tube nipples that open to the right amount of pressure. Just put your lips around them and suck."

Maria looked in horror as Marilyn fastened the plastic bottles to the top of the cage. It was bad enough that she was expected to feed like a lab rat, but the feeding tubes resembled . . . Well, there was no other way to put it, a pair of large penises. Even Maria recognized the implication: she was being conditioned to suck a man's cock.

Maria shuddered as she heard Marilyn fill the bottles, the water bottle close to the far end, the food bottle just inside.

"There. All ready. Give them a try."

Maria backed away, the chain rubbing against her shoulder.

"Don't be shy. I need to be sure there are no blockages. Come on, Maria, try them out. They're just plastic. Don't make me lose my patience. Suck them. Now!"

The flat of her hand slapped the top of the cage. Maria scrambled forward, turned her head, closed her eyes. Crying, she swallowed the end of the water bottle, sucking the bitter plastic. Water oozed out, filling her mouth and throat. She gagged, sputtered.

"Good. It works. Now the other."

Tears rolled down Maria's cheeks as she changed to the other phallus. She swallowed, sucked, cheeks hollowing until a creamy mixture flowed into her mouth. She backed off, wincing, her lips cleaning the surface. Vanilla?

"Good isn't it? You'll get used to the procedure soon. You have to swallow a quart a day of the nutrient. You'll get one solid meal in the evening to keep you regular. If it isn't gone at night, you'll get no meal. Understand?"

Maria nodded, wide-eyed, fearful. She looked desperately around the cage. "Mistress, please, Ma'am, there seems to be one thing missing."

"What? Oh, that. No, There's a bucket for you. Small enough to pass the bars when it's not in use so you don't knock it over and make a mess. Here." Marilyn produced a cylinder just under three inches wide, and six inches high. "You shouldn't have to pass anything but liquid when you're in the cage. Behave and I may let you have more time out of it. Understand?"

Maria took the bucket rim, passed it through the bars. If it were full, she would have to handle it carefully, one hand out first, if she weren't to spill it. Maria had no doubt that if she did spill, she would get no clean blankets.

"Now for procedure. When a Mistress comes for you, you are to put your head through the door and wait for her to change your leads before she opens the door. And when you are put up, you will go in, come back with the lead between your teeth and position your head to be leashed for the evening. Understand?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"Repeat it."

""When taken out, I will put my head through the trap until Mistress has me on a lead. When put up, I will bring the cage leash to be buckled."

"Very good. But how do you carry the cage lash?"

"In my mouth, Mistress."

"Excellent. Now let me take you out for some exercise."

Maria crawled forward, putting her head through the trap. She waited, holding position, while Marilyn counted to twenty. Finally she felt Marilyn unsnap her leash, then lock in place another lead. The door lowered, and Maria crawled out onto the floor.

"Very good. You are learning to anticipate an owner's wishes." Marilyn reached down, patting her head and rubbing her cheek.

Maria sat still torn between the shame of being treated like a pet and the relief of having pleased her Mistress who could make her life utterly miserable. How much more miserable can I be? Maria glanced at the stretching bars and knew the answer.

"Now then, let's walk."

Marilyn tugged the leash, stepping forward. Maria rose as the leash pulled on her collar, scrambling to get her feet under her.

"No! Heel!"

Maria's cheeks burned as she dropped to all fours, crawling, crouching behind her Mistress's leg as she was walked to the door and back.

"Sit!"

Maria sat back on her heels, tears trickling down her cheeks. She felt Marilyn's hand pat her cheek.

"Good girl." Marilyn sat in the director's chair, leash in her fingers, legs stretched before her. 'What am I to do with you? Hopefully you will bring a good price and justify all my trouble. But maybe you won't. After all you're not much to work with. Maybe I should get some benefits in the meantime. Why should Mistress Deborah get all the perks? What do you think, slave?"

Maria sniffed, bowed her head. "I thought slaves were not allowed to think, Mistress. Only obey."

Marilyn smiled, a thin, dangerous curl of amusement. "You are certainly learning discretion. Perhaps there's hope for you yet." She reached back to the table, fumbling for the crop. With the flap end, she lifted Maria's chin. "But when you are asked for an opinion, give it. Should Mistress Deborah be the only one to be pleasured during your training?"

Maria blanched, her tears drying up with fear. "I imagine you will have me taught to please in many ways, Mistress."

"Perhaps we can begin your lessons now." Marilyn spread her ankles slightly, the folds of her long skirt falling between her shins. "Come, Maria."

Maria responded to the tug on her collar, chin up as she scrambled across the floor. Head even with her Mistress's shoes, she waited, sphinx-like for instructions.

Marilyn's fingers stretched out, played with Maria's hair. "Such pretty curls. So soft to the touch. Do you like having curls, Maria?"

Maria nodded. "Yes, Mistress, they look very nice."

"Such a pretty clutch to guide you by." Marilyn's fingers tightened at the crown. "Now under my skirts you go." Marilyn pulled on the hair, pulling Maria's head down toward her hem. "Use your tongue, my girl; make love to my legs."

Maria slipped under the folds, Marilyn's wrist lifting the tent flap as she bent to her task. Her head moved from calf to calf as the hand in her curls directed, kissing and washing the smooth warm skin. Slowly she lapped upwards, reaching Marilyn's knees after what seemed an eternity. Her nostrils filled with the warm musk flowing down from Marilyn's crotch. In spite of herself, her root twitched from the smell.

Marilyn drew her skirt up, bunching it at her waist. The full skirt interfered with her ability to supervise Maria and she enjoyed the sight of her tongue extended from red lips, licking her legs. Her fingers shifted, re-tightened in Maria's curls, before pulling her head back slightly. "The backs of my knees, Maria. Kiss them, caress them, make love to them." She pulled the head forward to her left knee. "Show your devotion to a woman's pleasure, Maria."

Maria licked, kissed, bathed the side of the knee, bent her head for better access. The tip made soft circles over the tender back. She was pleased to feel a tremor ripple through her Mistress's thigh. Her head swivelled under the pressure on her curls to minister to the other knee, then begin the long licks up the trunks. Finally her nose brushed the warm, soft satin of her Mistress's panties and she bumped the tip against the softness, breathing in the damp odor.

Marilyn arched, pressing her sheathed privates forward, squirmed, positioning the slit so the nose could press between the folds. "Good pet. Let Mama help you." Marilyn pulled Maria's head back, slipped thumb and finger under the waist band. A stretch, lift, slide and the material rolled down over her hips. A roll on the tops of her thighs. Marilyn slid forward, her seat perched on the edge of the chair.

Maria reached up, rolled the bunched material down past the knees, moved closer to the hairless slit. Fingers pulled, urging her to attend the eager slit, rippling slowly before her. She bent forward, nose tip running through the velvety folds, then her chin, rubbing, parting, pressing the cherry bump.

"Yes, oh yes, my pet. Come inside me now."

Maria thrust her tongue inside the folds, lapping the full length of her Mistress's sex, swirling over the throbbing bump. Another stroke found the entrance to the tunnel, the tip plowing inside, tasting the trickle of honey beginning to flow. Her face was pressed into the warm wet folds, head clamped by powerful thighs, she could do nothing but bathe the flowing hole.

:Yes, baby, yes. Be good to Mama." Marilyn felt her belly shiver, electric shocks spreading out from her groin. It's been so long, too long.

Maria's tongue slithered up the moist tunnel, her throat gagging from the salty sweet taste. Encouraged by the hand in her hair, her head bobbed, nose stroking the throbbing clit, tongue swirling into the increasingly moist tunnel. Her cheek felt thighs tremble and press, squeezing her lightly. She became aware of the mound heaving lightly to meet her, receive the moist probe. Her own prong swelled, pressing against the binding material.

Marilyn inhaled, arched, held position as her eyes glazed over. She pulled on soft curls, pressing the probes into her mound, quivering inside in response to the swirls. She clasped her breast, squeezed, heaved, quaked, surged, fluid flowing through her. She shivered and shook below, forcing the flood out her tunnel, sucking the probe inside.

"Yes, oh yes, that's it." Marilyn relented, thighs falling slightly apart, fingers relaxing in curls. She arched, sighed, inhaled, shuddered lightly as her back relaxed. She stroked Maria's cheek as she continued lapping lightly at her pussy lips. "That's fine, Maria, I'm done now."

Maria sat back, looked up at her Mistress's flushed face. She became painfully aware of her excitement between her own legs. "Mistress?"

"Yes, Pet?"

"May I?"

"May you what?"

"I, I'm . . ." Maria looked embarrassed. "I'm hard, Mistress."

"Poor pet. Just lie back and put your hands under your head."

Maria did as instructed, spreading her legs slightly.

"Close your eyes now."

Maria obeyed, trying not to think of the throbbing mass below, unable to ignore it. Even when she felt fingers tugging at her waist band, she dared not open her eyes. Even when her panties pulled down and her penis rose into the air, she dared not look.

"Oh, nice, you are excited. You like giving head. And it's such a nice stalk." Marilyn bent down beside Maria's prostrate form, sat by her waist, leaned along her legs. She reached over, grasped the throbbing stalk, encased it with her fingers. "Like this?"

Maria nodded, not daring to speak. Prompted again, she whispered, "Yes, Mistress."

"You were very nice. You deserve a treat." Marilyn squeezed the shaft, fingers rippling over the erect mass. "You may come when ready, Maria." She pulled the erect mass, squeezed, fondled, grazed the throbbing head. Nails rippled through damp strands, traced the swollen ball sac, tickled the base. As Maria's hips began to push up, she increased the length and strength of her strokes, drawing the pre-cum through the shaft.

Maria's hips rocked, rolled, pushed up, pulled back, driving the shaft through enfolding digits. Her hips began to lift from the floor, jigging under the pressure. She pumped her loins, belly shivering to drive the jism through her. She gasped arched, thrust up into the air, surrendered to the rapid strokes, exploded. Her thick jism squirted up, cascading down over the entrapping hand, spilling on her pubic bush. She relaxed, whimpered with relief, sighed. She felt warmth stretching beside her.

"Did you like that, Pet?"

"Yes, Mistress, thank you."

"Then clean my hand, like a good pet."

Maria smelled warm bread under her nostrils, reached out a tongue, found salty goo on the back of the hand pressed to her mouth. She licked, gagged, licked more, her first taste of male cum, even though it was her own.

"Lick it all clean, Maria, like the good little whore you are." Marilyn turned her hand so Maria could clean the palm as well as the back. Then she passed each finger through Maria's lips, having her suck clean each warm digit. "That's my good girl. Now on your knees."

Maria reluctantly turned over, got on all fours.

"Back in your cage. You'll be more comfortable there." Marilyn tugged on the leash and Maria crawled forward.

Maria crawled into her cage, placed the cage chain between her teeth, returned to the cage door. She sat on all fours as her lead was changed, then backed into the cage before reaching to spread her blanket.

"I'll leave you alone for now, Maria. Rest some and Mistress Rania will be here soon for you lesson. You want to have a smooth front when she comes. Sleep tight."

Marilyn checked the cage lock, crumpled her discarded panties in her fist before striding for the door.

Maria sighed and snuggled into her blanket. At least she brought me off. She adjusted the pillow under her head. But all I am is property, less than a dog, to be trained, used and sold. I have to get out of here.

 

Chapter Twelve

 

Maria shifted slowly in the bed, felt the slick folds of her nightgown slide over legs. She raised her head, listening for the regular soft breathing of DeeDee beside her. Slipping from under the covers, she padded to bathroom, feeling in the dim light for her clothes. She slid the door to behind her, shedding the negligee as she stepped to the vanity. It took but a few minutes to strap on the bra, step into her panties, slip on the exercise suit. A few flicks of the brush, some picks of the comb before spritzing the head with spray restored her do. She leaned into the mirror, applying a fresh coat of lipstick, pursed her lips, then blotted them on tissue. What am I doing? I'm Anton, not Maria! But not until I get outta here and have a chance to change back.

Maria turned slightly to view the sides in the mirror. Damn this collar. I'll have to get this off first thing. Satisfied with her appearance, she patted her curls, then turned off the light, waiting for her eyes to adjust before sliding back the door. She slid back the door, listened for DeeDee's regular breathing. Slowly she worked across the room, navigating by the dim light. Her toe caught a chair leg.

"Ow-w!" Maria stifled her mouth, paused, cursing her throbbing toe, listening for whether she had awakened DeeDee. When DeeDee stirred, her heart leapt. How will I explain being dressed? But DeeDee merely stirred, rolled over.

Maria slid to the door, fumbling for the handle. She looked back over her shoulder at the dim outline of the bed. Good-bye, bitch. Don't think it's been fun. Usually. Maybe Marilyn will give you a taste of the whip this time.

Maria opened the door, wincing in the light from the hall. She pulled it to slowly behind her, handle pressed down to keep the latch from banging against the door plate. She eased up the handle, the metallic click sounding to her as loud as a gunshot. Then she made her way rapidly down the hallway, frantically pushing the call button for the elevator. The floor lights did not work, so only the slow creak of the cables told her the elevator was responding. The brakes caught, doors opened and shut, just not on her floor.

Dammit, hurry up. If I can just get to another casino, I can collect call Annie, then get this damn collar off. Maria heard cables creak, judged by the sound the car was coming up to her floor. Damn all night traffic! She anxiously looked back down the hall, punched the call button as she heard the car slip past her floor. This place ain't that tall. Even with one car running, it ought to be back in a minute. Maria almost danced a jig, wanting to hurry the car to her.

The floor bell dinged, she heard the brakes engage, the car slowly settle into position. The doors slid open and Maria almost reached out to pry them apart. Inside, just get inside! The crack widened enough for her to step in sideways. She turned, reached for the buttons, saw movement in the hall. She looked up as she punched "Lobby" and saw DeeDee running down the hall, tying a robe around her. Maria grinned, as the doors began to close, knowing she could outrun the security chief through the lobby, then duck into another casino. Her grin turned to alarm as she saw DeeDee produce the signaler, hold it at arms length.

Maria felt a jolt run through her neck, a crippling, drop to your knees burst. Staggered, she clutched the bar, struggling to stay erect. Feeling the release of the breaks and the car starting to lower. She shook her head, strained to regain her senses, shake out the cobwebs. Thankfully a second jolt did not arrive, the signal blocked by the shaft doors' steel. Even so, she staggered drunkenly off the elevator, dazed. She staggered down a hall, stopped only by the sound of the casino action. Confused, she turned, retraced her steps, tried to focus, thought she recognized the auto lobby.

She stumbled along, determined to be free, seeing only the revolving door, spinning, spinning, slowly spinning an invitation to escape. She bounced against a middle-aged couple, unaware of their contemptuous look as reached shuffled toward the exit. Just as she reached it, reached out for the push bar, another jolt surged through her, cutting off her breath, heaving her stomach, crumpling her knees. She slumped, half leaned against the door without the strength to push it around. Another jolt, less violent, and she fell on her knees on the floor of the doorway.

She barely heard a familiar voice say, "I'll take care of her. Sometimes a patron gets down a few too many at the tables. We have places where they can sober up before they leave as a danger to themselves and others."

A rag doll, she let DeeDee pick her up, nestling against familiar warmth, unaware of where she was carried.

 

§§

 

"Wake her up."

"I'll try, but she's pretty out. She took three hits."

"I don't care, I want her awake."

Maria lay face down on cold bare concrete, aching. She couldn't, wouldn't open her eyes.

The splash of cold water shocked her eyes open. She sputtered, but did not have the strength to yelp. "That did it. She's awake, I think."

"Perhaps, Ma'am. I'll check." DeeDee shook Maria's head by the hair, checking her eyes. "Yes, Ma'am. She's awake. Barely."

"Whip her butt twice. That will finish bringing her around."

Whap! Whap! The crop cut into Maria's left buttock. She couldn't help jumping, feeling her ankle bound legs tremble above her. She moaned.

"Welcome back to the living. Not that you're going to enjoy it. Try to run away, and you start over. Only worse. But first I'm going to give you something to remember tonight by, just in case you take it into your head to try this again. And if you are so stupid as to try a next time, I promise you it will be even worse." Maria tried to turn her head to the voice, felt her scalp strain against her hair.

"You've given me a lot of trouble, Maria, and now I'm going to get some of it back. And I thought the way you gave head the other day, you might be settling into the routine. Just goes to show you can't be too careful." Marilyn pushed on the rope fastened to the ceiling pulley. Maria felt herself arch, head and feet pulled up in response.

"Little ungrateful pig, so we hogtied you. How appropriate. And this rope," Marilyn pushed again, arching Maria some more, "goes up to the ceiling. We can hoist you up, painfully I hope, to administer the first part of your punishment. When that's over, onto the rack with you for some more. And no one will hear your screams. Remember? The room is soundproofed."

Marilyn ground her foot on Maria's buttock. Maria eeked with pain. "You mark nicely. Red, but no cut. It hurts, obviously, and you're going to hurt a lot more. Lift her up, Mistress Deborah."

Maria felt pressure increase on her feet and scalp. Her shoulders bore part of her weight only when the rope between her cross bound wrists and her lapped ankles tightened. As she lifted off the floor, her hips dropped, the bow of her body gleaming naked under the lights. She spun slowly from the torque, dizzy, seeing the tops of DeeDee's boots, the seated knees of Marilyn. Waist high, Marilyn stopped DeeDee.

Maria moaned, hurting too much to be ashamed. DeeDee bent down to check her charge, whisper in her ear. "That was really stupid, Maria. Now I'll have to hurt you. And we could have just had good times together."

Marilyn walked over beside Maria, reaching down to fondle her hanging penis. "Maybe I should have just had this removed." She moved back to the sac. "Or maybe these. But that would have been permanent. And it will be so much more satisfying if a real man is driving his trunk up your tunnel knowing these are still attached. Don't hit them, Mistress Deborah. Lift her higher so you can punish her front, but don't hit these." Marilyn produced a small cloth bag which she slipped over Maria's privates, drawing the string tight and tying it off. She patted Maria's buns once, twice, then slapped them, hard. "Just make her remember she signed a contract, five years of service after her training is complete, and that trying to welch will be extremely painful. Too painful to risk."

Marilyn held out her hand and DeeDee gave her the crop. "Higher, if you please."

DeeDee pulled on the rope, the pulley creaking under the weight. Maria began to whimper as her head pulled back from the strain.

"You have just enough hair to catch firmly in the binding clip, Maria. By the time you're sold, we'll be able to work a binding ring in your braid, But it will do for now."

Whap! The crop whistled and cut, lashing Maria across the soles of her feet. Maria shrieked despite the remaining fog from the shock collar jolts. Whap! Whap! Whap! Maria lost count of the blows, knowing only that Marilyn kept finding new tender places to add to her pain. When the soles of her feet were raised too high, blows landed across her palms. The backs of her legs were not spared, not her shoulders, and when she was raised high enough, the crop began to cut across her front. Maria screamed and screamed, until she could only gasp for air, but the whipping did not stop until she slowly spun at head level.

"Now you, Mistress Deborah. Lay it on well if you value your job."

Maria twirled slowly while DeeDee spanked her body with the crop flap. Blows on her arms and legs caused her to spin, first one way, then the other. Blows across her belly found the end flap biting into her ribs. Blows across her chest found the areolas were already growing tender. Only her crotch was spared, DeeDee carefully laying the crop above her bush or half way down her thighs. Tears flowed like rain, but her sobs were choked by her inhaling gasps. As each lash stung, she jerked helplessly on the rope ends, like a hooked trout in a mountain stream. Finally she hung limply, tears dry, chest heaving with soundless sobs, head up only because of the binding in her hair. Every inch of her skin stung, reddened by the cruel flap of the crop.

"Enough. Let her down."

DeeDee lowered Maria to the cold floor, relaxing the rope so the tie between scalp and ankles went limp. Maria lay on the dusty coolness, wanting to cry, wanting to scream, able to do neither. She was only dimly aware of DeeDee standing over her, fumbling with the rope leading to the pulley block. She knew only her hips and shoulders ached, screaming as if they had been torn from their sockets supporting her weight.

"Give her some water."

DeeDee rolled Maria's prostrate form on her side, stepped away, returned to kneel beside her. "Here. Just sip." DeeDee lifted Maria's head, turned it to the side so she could swallow normally, tipping in a thin trickle of water to the hoarse, dry throat.

Maria's first reaction was to retch, acid rising in her throat, burning her passageway, sputtering through her nose. Now she burned inside and out, choking on her own bile. She coughed, sputtered, tried to vomit and breathe at the same time, gagged.

"Easy, easy." DeeDee wiped Maria's mouth with a damp cloth. "Suck this." Maria bit a corner of the cloth, sucking the dampness from it to soothe her burning membranes. "Now this." Again DeeDee offered the cup, cool water trickled into Maria's mouth. "Hold it. Swish. Swallow." The now warm fluid trickled down her throat washing away the burning fluid.

"Let her rest a bit. Get a full cup down her."

Maria lay on the cold concrete, hurting, aching, breathing the damp dust where her tears had fallen. She did not have the energy to moan, the tears to cry. She just hurt as she had never hurt before. She had been beaten in a brawl once as Anton, but after two or three blows to the head, Anton had felt little until afterwards, aching from the pounding of arms and shoulders. But now everything stung, ached, but Maria had been denied blows to reduce her consciousness. She felt every lash cut, every swollen bruise, not alive enough to wonder if she bled.

DeeDee cradled her head in her lap, concerned more that her charge survive her punishment than feeling sympathy for her lover. The twit! Why did she run? If I hadn't caught her, Miz Costello would have hung me in her place. And she was such a good piece of tail tonight. Why did she run? DeeDee undid a couple of wraps of the cord connecting Maria's wrists and ankles, allowing her shoulders to slump forward, Maria to relax slightly. DeeDee looked at Marilyn who nodded, agreeing to undoing Maria's bonds.

Maria felt her limbs stretch back into position, arms still behind her, legs bent slightly. She was grateful for any lessening of the pain. When DeeDee raised her head, she was able to swallow a few gulps of water without gagging, feel her dry tissues start to dehydrate. She cried again, tears trickling down on DeeDee's lap.

"Leave her. Get the rack ready."

DeeDee carefully lay Maria's head on the floor, cool concrete adding its chill to her discomfort. She hurt so, she would have thought the coolness would have been welcome, but it just added its own stiffening ache to her hot, throbbing pain. She closed her eyes, tried to will away the hurt, felt rather than heard the scrape across the floor of the exercise rack.

"Is she ready?"

DeeDee felt Maria's neck, timing the pulse. "She hurts. A lot. Maybe we should wait until later. Just stick her back in her cage."

"No, I want to get this over with. Teach the little snit a lesson he'll never forget." Marilyn pulled up Maria's head by the hair. "It's just begun, Slave. You're going to hurt like you've never hurt. And you'll continue your training as soon as you can move. Move under the lash, that is. But right now you're going to be whipped good."

Through the fog, Maria understood only "whipped." As if she hadn't been whipped already. But she was dragged across the floor, stood up against the rack by DeeDee, wrists and ankles stretched out and bound to the bars. Her head lolled to one side.

"Bind his waist and head to the bars. I want him upright."

"Miz Costello, she might choke."

"Not if you do it right. Quad lash around the throat, short tie to the bars, ties under his shoulders. If he loses consciousness, we'll cut him down."

Maria felt cords bind her tight to the cold bars. She was spread out, unable to move, unable to do anything but take what came.

Marilyn stood before her, pulling the cat through her hands. "Remember your first day, Maria? When we gave you a taste of cat here? Apparently you didn't believe she can sting. And cut. And flay you alive if I choose. So now you get a remedial lesson. And I'm going to enjoy every delicious stroke. I hope you've recovered enough to scream your head off. It will just make me mad if you don't. Now kiss your mistress." Marilyn poked the bent over tails at Maria, pressing the leather straps to her mouth. "Kiss them, Maria, make love to them for soon they will be kissing you."

Marilyn disappeared from view, her footfalls echoing off the hard walls. DeeDee checked Maria's pulse one more time. "Scream, Maria, when she whips you. Scream as if your life depended on it." DeeDee moved away.

"Let's see if you can stand three dozen lashes. Your buttocks aren't nearly pink enough." Maria heard the whoosh of the cat as Marilyn swung it around her head. It rattled and popped once as Marilyn tested its resiliency. Maria jumped in her bonds despite herself. "Good. She's awake, for a little while at least."

Once again the tails whooshed, cutting through the air. This time they landed with a crack across Maria's rear, the high, protruding buttocks extended as if in invitation. Maria screamed.

"One!" The cat whistled and cracked, moving across Maria's back, thighs, arms. Maria screamed in pain, in anguish, the leather straps cutting to her very soul. She never heard the count mount, she was unaware of how many blows she took before she moaned, sagged, collapsed against the bars. She did not feel the cords cut away, the checking of her pulse, being dragged across the floor to her cage. She only knew when she awoke in the darkened room that she was wrapped in her blankets, without collar or chain, but a thoroughly beaten slave who would, could, escape no more.

 

 

 

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© 2001 by Sydney Michelle. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.