-Dr Isabella Pacetti's Notes:
To recap: Now that Katy is utterly and ecstatically under Sophie's control, Sophie has turned her attention to understanding Mrs Alderney's strange sadness. A little thought and research have brought her to a conclusion she should have reached weeks before, and she resolves to take dramatic action.
Once again you will read scenes of women being dominated, punished and humiliated, but once again I remind you that all are willing participants.
-Sophie's Statement:
I found Katy in her attic room, freshly bathed and anxiously nibbling her finger. Her back was to the door and I had a moment to watch her beautiful naked form before she turned with a nervous grin. She stood so straight and moved so naturally, I knew she was much happier naked. She pointed to the bed, where four large black-and-white prints were laid out.
"I've chosen, if that's okay. I mean, I don't know if they're okay, but they are my favourites. I like your clothes."
I had stopped off at my own room to change. I had put on a dark brown skirt which hugged my thighs but stopped above my knee. I had a pair of brown leather ankle boots with square toes and two inch heels. My white fitted blouse had an open collar and was pulled tight to my torso by a waistcoat which matched the skirt. I smiled at the compliment. The look I was going for was a sort of kinky Victorian governess, but I think I had just managed kinky. I looked over at the prints.
"Thank you Katy. They're all pictures where the subject is crawling or cowering."
"Yes, Miss Sophie. I like those best. I like the submission. I like the fact she's in someone's power."
I stepped closer, smiling.
"You like that? You can relate to that?"
Her lips parted and she grinned.
"Yes Miss Sophie. I know how she feels. I know how she wants to feel. I understand her completely."
I began to toy with her hair.
"That's good. That's very important. Katy, what did I say you would be today?"
"Obedient, strong and honest, Miss Sophie."
"Good. I'm not going to ask you to promise. And I'm not going to threaten you with the consequences of failure. We are beyond that. You will meet my expectations. You just will."
"That's all I want, Miss Sophie." This felt like some sort of ritual chant.
"I know. We're going downstairs now, and you're going to meet someone..."
-
The cellar felt unusually warm and was somehow darker, perhaps because of my own sombre outfit or because Mrs Alderney was sitting on the upholstered bench at the centre of the room, dressed in her most severe office clothes. Since I left her she had re-styled her hair, re-applied her make-up and selected a darker, more joyless suit with new stockings. She perched on the furthest edge of the bench, facing the Throne. She didn't look at us as we entered.
I led Katy to the Throne and indicated she should sit on the floor next to it. I didn't let go of her hand until she was settled.
Now we could see Mrs Alderney's face and it was clear she was sunk in misery. Katy saw this, and shifted uncomfortably on the floor, her eyes flitting between the us. I turned to Mrs Alderney and spoke softly.
"Did you bring those things for me?"
She nodded, but even this slight movement was awkward and stilted. She pushed a small leather make-up bag across the bench.
I jumped with surprise as Katy leapt to her feet and clutched Mrs Alderney's sleeve.
"Madame! What's wrong? Oh please! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you feel bad! You were so kind to play with me, I didn't—"
Mrs Alderney laid her hand over Katy's and made gentle soothing noises.
"No Katy... no... I'm very proud of you and I love you and playing with you was lovely. You've done nothing wrong."
Katy frowned and continued to look concerned, but I gently pulled her away and made her kneel beside the Throne again.
"Katy what did we talk about? I need you to be patient and pay close attention. I need my perfect supplicant. Stay down there and only speak when spoken to."
She looked no less anxious, but the familiar instructions gave her something to focus on. Her natural concern for the woman she adored was in conflict with her instinct to obey me. For now I was winning. I returned to Mrs Alderney and spoke quietly.
"She's scared. It will help if you try to look more confident and relaxed."
"I'm scared," came the whispered reply, and I smiled and laid a hand on her shoulder. She hesitated, cast a barely perceptible glance at Katy, and then raised her chin, staring with her intelligent green eyes into the middle-distance, setting her jaw and letting her face become peaceful.
"I'm ready," she said in a clear, bold voice.
I dipped my fingers into the leather bag and fished out some little round swabs, scented with make-up cleanser. I gently cupped Mrs Alderney's jaw and began wiping away her make-up. There was a lot to remove, and the process was slow, but her expression didn't falter throughout. I ignored Katy for now, scrutinising Mrs Alderney's face as it emerged from beneath the painted layers.
The face which was gradually revealed bore a resemblance to the one I knew, but it was younger, softer and more vulnerable. Her cheekbones were less defined, her lips fuller but less sharp and her eyes were bright, with long thick lashes. The skin around her eyes and at the tip of her nose had a delicate pinkness to match her cheeks. I grinned at the nervous, blinking face, then stepped away to allow Katy a clear view.
"What do you think, Katy?"
Katy looked so baffled it was almost comical, but suddenly she smiled and bit her lip.
"She looks beautiful. You're beautiful, Madame. You don't need to wear make-up. I mean... but I know it's not for me to say..."
I winked at her. "All entirely true."
I turned my full attention back to newly emerged face.
"I'll be honest, it's a stunning face. But I don't like the clothes. I don't think you like the clothes. If you don't like them, you don't have to wear them."
I stepped back to watch as Mrs Alderney rose from the bench and shrugged off her jacket, dropping it on the stone floor. She eased off her shoes and kicked them away, and I risked a sidelong glance at Katy, who was watching intently, her tongue brushing her lip.
Mrs Alderney's face was sombre and pale, and her movements were deliberate as she eased her skirt off her hips and down the floor. She wore stockings with a traditional suspender-belt, which was partially obscured by her crumpled blouse. Her fingers moved with surprising dexterity as she unbuttoned and wriggled out of her final outer garment and dropped this too on the floor.
"Stop for now," I said gently. I took a moment to examine the body that had been revealed. It was a healthy pale pink, lean and toned to the point that soft muscle definition was visible on her belly, arms and thighs. She held herself erect, her tied-up hair making her look alert and controlled, even though she was visibly trembling. Her breasts were coddled by an elegant bra, but they were clearly firm and perky rather than full or heavy. She looked very small altogether.
I fished inside the make-up case once more and found the object I knew would be there. It was a bottle-green leather collar made for a dog, and with a silver disc hanging from it. The inscription read simply:
MARIE
And on the reverse was the address of the house.
Without looking, I knew Katy was crying. I could hear her, and Mrs Alderney cast anxious glances her way. I didn't divert my own attention, but quietly reached up to the woman's throat and carefully buckled the leather band in place, letting the silver disc tickle her collar-bone. I stepped back once more and regarded the result with satisfaction. The collar's recipient smiled weakly and nodded, some tension seeming to leave her lithe body.
Now I turned to Katy and her tears. I hunched down beside her and dabbed at her wet cheeks with careful finger tips. I could see that the tears were involuntary and she was at least attempting to appear composed. She was smiling sadly and nodding her head very slightly. She looked at me and spoke in a whisper.
"She's so beautiful."
"Good girl. Be strong for her," I whispered, then spoke more clearly and addressed the other woman. "Marie, this is Katy. Katy's only purpose is to serve and worship her Goddess, whatever that entails, according to her Goddess's whims. Say 'Hello', Katy."
Katy stared and murmured, "Hello".
"Katy, this is Marie. Marie is a slave by nature and yearns to belong to somebody. She is desperate for punishment and discipline. Say 'Hello', Marie."
Marie turned to face us, still standing erect with her chin raised.
"Hello Katy. I'm sorry..."
"Shh. Marie used to belong to the woman who owned this house. When she died her property was left empty. Do you understand, Katy?"
Katy nodded, and said, sadly, "I didn't know. You're so beautiful. You're so lovely." She gazed at our employer for several seconds and then her hands flew to her mouth in shocked realisation. She scampered forward on her hands and knees and peered intently at Marie's ankle. Through the dark stocking she saw the mark and sat back, stunned, staring up at her.
"The tattoo! That's you in the pictures, with the lock on your ankle! I've dreamed about you!"
A smile lit up Marie's face, despite her nerves, and she blushed. I glanced between them with a smirk.
"Katy's favourite pictures are the ones where you're crawling or cowering."
Marie just nodded.
