I awakened that day to an early morning sun warming my skin and the sounds of birdsong drifting into my cell. A steaming cup of dandelion root and young nettle tea had been placed on the floor near my head and the shade raised, so I lingered a moment in the sunlight stretching slowly, stiffly, before rising. My nipples throbbed dully as I gently sipped the hot tea while trying to ignore a growing discomfort in my bladder and the weighty metal shackle around my right ankle. A chain padlocked to the shackle ran to a heavy stone anchor which prevented me from moving further than three feet, enough to lay down on the mat and sleep each night but little else.
I brushed a hand across one of my nipples and winced slightly at the tenderness, they were still red and slightly swollen from the previous day when I performed all my duties wearing a collection of small silver bells clipped to them. Takano had me running all over delivering messages which only made the sensation they inflicted stronger as I raced along the halls and paths trying not to be late. For every note delivered another small bell was added, each was light and had it's own unique and delicate tinkle but in time the growing weight added up, the cacophony of tiny chimes as they struck one another and sounded with each step was grating not to mention humiliating and set my teeth on edge, the dull throbbing in each nipple bloomed into a flower of pain that spread across my breasts as prickly heat. By day's end I was in such torment that even their removal and the application of a cool salve afterward did little to soothe my tender flesh.
I finished the rest of the tea and tugged absently on the chain wishing it was just a few feet longer or the stone weight a bit lighter, if he didn't show up soon the need to relieve myself would be too strong to ignore.
Just as I was about to be doomed to certain punishment Takano appeared with his jingling ring of keys and smiled broadly at my obvious relief. As I squatted over the basin washing myself afterward, Takano's cheshire cat grin opened and he began to speak...
"Our Lord says; too long you have been ignorant of discipline. Today your lessons begin."
I managed to choke down a cry of protest but couldn't hide the fear that ran along my spine like a spike of frost and caused my skin to twitch with goose flesh.
"Hee, hee. Your eyes will be wider still very soon, little doe. Now, stand up!"
He turned me round and made one last inspection, clucking his tongue in approval before escorting me down the familiar mossy path leading towards the training hall. I tried not to be concerned but Takano's constant giggling and occasional slaps on my ass while we picked our way through the forested valley were unnerving. Still, I reassured myself, haven't I been through the worst of it by now? My nipples throbbed with pain just thinking of those beastly little bells. Yes, it can't be any worse than that.
We reached the training hall gates and waited. Takano rang the great bell and made an offering before the small shrine while I kneeled patiently. Soon a man dressed in blood red robes with a huge vermillion lacquered demonic mask appeared and walked down the large stone steps towards us. His hands held a whip and coiled leather thong which was handed off to Takano who placed it firmly around my neck and with a swift jerk pulled me up and over to the waterfall of the hall shrine. I was roughly pushed under the freezing water and forced to stand and be purified while Takano made another more thorough inspection of my cleanliness and chastity. When the Demon-man was satisfied he grunted and nodded to Takano who jerked the thong and led me to kneel before him dripping and shivering. I stared at the deep red hem of the robe until it moved out of my lowered gaze and waited. Suddenly there was a sharp snap as the whip was cracked just inches from my ear. At the same time the thong about my neck pulled me forward, I could hear Takano laughing behind me as I struggled to maintain my balance and keep up with the ever quickening pace of the man in blood red robes climbing the stone steps to the training hall.
Inside the scent of exotic woods was like an incense as I was led, chilled to the bone and trembling, up more stairs into the main hall. A line of men in black lacquered demonic masks trimmed in horsehair flanked the large stone throne that dominated the room. Each mask was slightly different and some of the men wore nothing but loincloths though most wore heavy black robes. Some held whips, others small boxes but most were empty handed. All stood stiffly at attention, their grotesquely carved faces glowing brightly in the reflected sunlight that flooded the room.
Two men in grimacing fanged masks and red loincloths came forward and held my upper arms while the leather thong was slipped off and tossed aside. They brutally dragged me toward the throne while the man in blood red robes led the way to the base of His throne then joined his place to one side with the others.
I knew He would be seated there and though I ached to see Him I was unable to raise my head. The whisper of silks, the coolness as He moved from His throne and floated silently down two steps. A lulling drone of koto strings He spoke and held my heart,
"No flesh is too soft or beautiful to be spared. You have been spoiled long enough and these lessons will wait no longer."
Spoiled? My mind reeled at the implication. My body struggled to pull away from the sharp nailed fingers digging into my upper arms as I was held fast. No...I'm not...no.....
"NO!" I raised my head, shocked by my own voice and stared at Him.
A slight tilt of the head, a raised eyebrow. I froze and stared deep into a smoldering anger that grew within his dark eyes,
"No?"
"Please..." I somehow managed to break free of the demon-men's grasp and throw myself at His feet. "please....I can't. I'm not really spoiled! Please!"
I looked away, the shame of showing weakness before Him was worse than any fear of pain but I realized this too late. So I buried my face into the thick hem of His robes and waited. There was a supressed growl as He tore the thick hem from my grasp angrily.
"Too long! You are indeed most spoiled and undisciplined to behave so! The first lesson shall begin now!"
He turned away and left the throne room with long powerful strides, pushing up His long silk sleeves with purpose. I watched Him leaving, transfixed, when it suddenly occurred to me that the hands clutching me, dragging me after Him, were shaking.
***
The last room off the main hallway beyond the throne room had been covered with newly made tatami mats, a scent of summer grass drying in the sun released with each step as I was pulled past ornately carved wooden pillars . From first glance the patterns and designs carved into the dark wood appeared to be simple chaotic swirls and forms but as we approached they began to take shape into scenes of writhing figures. Demon masked men, identical to the two whose strong hands gripped me now, were torturing a variety of nude women in a seemingly endless number of ways. I sucked in my breath as my gaze lingered on the images; young maids being chased and whipped, their breasts and buttocks covered in swollen red lines as they ran with wild unbound hair and tears streaming down their cheeks, women held down as needles pierced their most tender portions of flesh and impossibly long tongues lapped up the drops of blood that flowed down their thighs, venerable ladies sat astride angular wooden horses their faces contorted in pain, their breasts and legs pulled down by heavy weights as more were added by leering figures wearing carved demon masks.
The grip on my arms never loosened but the living twins to those frightening torturers on the pillars slowed their steps so that I might take in more of the detailed and lifelike carvings we passed; Women were tied with intricate webs of knots, their breasts forced out and bound, a thick rope cutting deep between their legs, and hung from the branches of trees like victims of some monstrous spider waiting to be devoured. Groups of demon masked men raped a battlefield of widows with those impossibly long tongues. A woman staked in a forest with legs spread wide over a thick shoot of bamboo had been carved repeatedly upon many pillars among the other scenes but in each succeeding picture the shoot was closer and closer to her swollen nether lips until finally it entered her. The last carving bore a face so twisted it was hard to tell if she was in incredible pain or overwhelmed by pleasure. I blushed slightly, my face and neck growing warm and felt myself grow wet as I stared at the last carving trying to decipher her expression. It wasn't until I was roughly pulled away only a few feet and forced to stand before Him that I realized He had been watching all along.
'Did He know how excited I had become looking at such horrible images?' I couldn't help asking to myself as He settled down into yet another imposing looking throne and composed Himself. At that same momment His eyes stared into mine and widened, a faint smile curling on His lips. 'Does He know I was picturing myself in place of those poor women and growing wet at the thought?'
"Yes." The buzzing string again.
