Vicky led Kim out of the dungeon and into another part of Nemesisland. She was naked except for a leather metal-studded collar and lead, which Vicky was holding onto, and also leather wrist and ankle cuffs linked by chains, which were just about long enough to enable her to walk albeit with some care and effort. They passed along a dark narrow corridor through another door onto a landing. It was an area she had not seen yet; this must have been the staircase I'd been led up earlier when I was blindfolded, thought Kim. Facing her was a set of wooden shutters and Kim could see through the intricate carved gaps in the door into the room beyond. Framed in the dark mahogany she caught a glimpse of the imperious figure of Mistress Nemesis, now dressed in pure white, sat on an ornate carved wooden throne. Kim sensed immediately this was a special place, which she was privileged to look into it. She felt like she was in an Arabian palace and she was a servant granted a furtive glance into a secret place, like a harem, waiting to be called to attend an exotic and powerful sultan.
Vicky pulled the wooden shutters to one side and invited Kim to enter pulling her on by her leather lead. Her bare feet stepped onto soft fibres. Kim looked down; there was no stone floor, like other parts of Nemesisland, but a black carpet and as she cast her eyes across the floor she could see this chamber was divided into two parts separated by a low wooden partition beyond which the floor was covered in black and white tiles in a chequer board pattern. Kim smiled to herself, how apt; a chess board. How fitting that this private domain should be arraigned to represent the games the Red Queen plays with her slaves and to symbolise how they are manipulated as part of an elaborate chess game controlled by this awesome figure. And, yes, I feel like a pawn, reflected Kim. I have been led on, square by square, inexorably to this place. What purpose have I been brought here for? Have I got to end of the board and am about to be elevated to a queen in my own right to sit alongside my mistress or am I still a pawn, destined to move from square to square for ever more at the behest of the Red Queen?
Kim's initial impressions from the furtive glance through the spaces in the wooden door were confirmed. There were links set into the ceiling and floor for suspending slaves, a line of floggers on the walls and opposite the Red Queen's throne a fearsome iron bondage chair but despite these trappings of bondage and sadism this was no dark and forbidding dungeon; It was a private and personal domain. It was well lit, with light flooding through some stained glass windows and its walls were white but decorated sumptuously in black and purple wall hangings and curtains. It was full of precious objects all of which must have had great personal meaning to their owner. It was a special place exuding an atmosphere of mystery and imagination.
On the low wooden partition was an incense burner in the shape of a winged Goddess Isis figure, which sent the exotic and intoxicating scent of frankincense across the chamber. The fumes spread out from the glass bowl mounted on the burner were almost opaque in their density. By some trick of her imagination Kim could see wisps of thick air form into the shape of a hand beckoning her further into Mistress Nemesis's mystical domain.
The piercing blue eyes looked up at her. The black raven, which Kim recognised from the massage parlour an age ago, was perched on the carved scroll that formed the arm rest of the throne. Its dark eyes flicked from its mistress to Kim and back again. Kim sensed the raven knew some reckoning was about to take place and she felt it herself. She had not been brought into this special place for nothing.
"Come forward Kim and kneel before me," the voice commanded.
Kim obeyed instinctively and stepped forward off the carpet onto the cold black and white tiles and walked across to the wooden throne to take her position on her knees in front of the imposing presence she had submitted herself up to. She looked up adoringly. In her heart Kim knew this was where she wanted to be, serving her.
She sat imperiously on her throne dressed in tight tunic made of the finest white Egyptian cotton and embellished with a belt of pure gold and golden bangles around her arm. The cool white material clung to her pale skin accentuating every curve of her body and her full rounded breasts which squeezed out of the dress like two pale half-moons. The impression conveyed was both cool and detached but extremely sensuous. Kim felt her heart pounding as she tried to control the feelings of attraction, even lust, for this magnificent figure. Goddess Nemesis had a flicker of a smile on her lips, almost as if she knew what Kim was thinking. On her sleek ebony hair was perched a diadem of gold decorated with winged figures depicting Nike the goddess of victory. In her right hand she held a golden goblet decorated with beautiful engravings of deer. Behind her throne there was a mirror in which Kim could see herself and the long straight hair of her mistress reflected. To one side of the mirror was a beautiful gilded wheel, which must have once belonged to a magnificent ceremonial chariot. Kim was awe struck.
"Servant Vicky, you may bring my celebration feast in now."
She gestured for Vicky to leave them before turning her attention back to Kim.
"You see me now transformed into another guise," she pronounced, her voice clear and formal. "I appear before you as the Greek Goddess Nemesis, my name-sake, whose mantle I have assumed. You have passed through many trials in your journey through Nemesisland and now the time for revelation and judgement is nearly here. Have you heard of the Greek word 'tyche' Kim?"
Kim nodded her head. She hadn't.
"'Tyche' is the ancient concept of fate of which I am the personification. It is my place to administer fate and judgement. I am a goddess of divine indignation and retribution against evil deeds and also of undeserved good fortune. Happiness and unhappiness are measured out by me so I can restore the balance of the fates. For my male slaves I am the wielder of fairness and I bring balance by correcting them and disciplining them. For you Kim, this is more subtle; for you, I restore the balance of the fates for one who has been wronged, but to do that I must have your complete subservience. Do you understand this Kim?"
"Yes mistress." Kim was not a little bemused by this speech, "I don't know much about 'tyche' or fate but I get this; I do know that in my heart I want to serve you. I've gone through a lot and understand your power and want to submit to you more than anything else."
Kim felt that with all her heart and soul. It was hard to explain despite all the strange things that had happened to her and psychological games played on her, but she really meant it.
Goddess Nemesis nodded quietly, acknowledging Kim's expression of subservience, "that is good Kim; your declaration is sufficient for me to proceed with my purpose."
"You want to be my slave girl, my special servant."
"Yes mistress, I do."
"You want to give yourself up totally to me."
"Yes, with all my heart."
"Yes, I believe you Kim. I see you have committed yourself to me. This is a cause for celebration. Ah, look, here's Vicky with a little feast for us. Will you join me in partaking of some offerings," she said with sly smile spreading across her lips.
"Yes, of course, I'd love to," enthused Kim. She was thrilled at being invited to join Goddess Nemesis in a celebration; how nice of her to ask her to eat with her.
"Don't move Kim, you must stay kneeling at my feet Kim."
Vicky had quietly returned to the chamber carrying a silver platter arraigned with food. Kim could see a flagon of wine, grapes, nuts, a bowl of yoghurt, honey, bread; simple but tasty morsels fit for presentation to a goddess and her acolyte Kim thought. Goddess Nemesis held out her curiously engraved golden goblet and Vicky poured some wine into it. The aroma of the wine with its hint of fruitiness wafted into Kim's nose. It smelt wonderful; what I'd do for a glass of chilled wine she thought expectantly, hoping that Vicky would produce another glass so she could join in this ritual celebration.
Goddess Nemesis put the gold goblet to her lips and sipped the golden fluid. Kim looked up at her as she swallowed. Her gaze fixed meaningfully onto Kim's and she stared straight at her as if she was looking into her very soul. She put the goblet to her lips and took another mouthful. She leant forward from her wooden throne so their noses were nearly touching and their eyes gazed intently into each other. Kim felt the intensity of the moment. Then, she turned to one side and spat the fluid out of her mouth onto the tiled floor. She said nothing. She kept Kim's gaze and merely lifted a finger and pointed at it. Kim knew what she had to do.