When the Countess entered, Adam did not know at first who she was. He would not have imagined she could be so young.
"Countess!" blurted Zana. She climbed off Adam and knelt before her mistress. "I did not expect you back so soon."
"That is self-evident," seethed the Countess with the Mediary now by her side. "I arrived early and was eager to greet the new arrival. We trusted you to train him. Is this how you repay our trust? By molesting him before he's even been initiated?"
"I'm sorry, Countess," said Zana. "I-I don't know what came over me."
"Enthusiasm I can forgive," said the Countess, approaching Adam where he lay on the mattress. "It's harder to forgive a subordinate who samples one of my toys before I've had a chance to unwrap him." She leaned over Adam—who had rolled onto his side to release the pressure on his bound arms. She rolled him back so she could admire his erection.
"But Countess," pleaded Zana. "After you've had him, he won't be able—"
"Silence!" shouted the Countess, standing and glowering over her slaves. "I will tolerate none of your lies." She turned to the Mediary. "Gag Zana. Release the bootlicker and chain Zana in her place."
"It shall be done, Countess," said the Mediary.
The Mediary put a gag on Zana and ordered her to release Chrissy, the naked woman chained to the wall. The "bootlicker" stuck out her tongue at Zana.
"Help him to his feet," the Countess ordered Chrissy.
She complied. Adam thanked her, but it was the Countess who said, "You're welcome," as though Chrissy were not there.
Adam was embarrassed by their stares and turned away. The Countess—with an insistent hand—forced him to face her, being fascinated by his rigid member.
"Chrissy," said the Countess, "help the Mediary in the kitchens. I will take the man-slave back to my room to greet him properly."
The Countess gestured for Adam to lead them out of the room.
He stepped into the hall, nearly bumping into a chesty woman in a tight v-neck sweater. The woman's businesslike attire was an odd match for the rifle slung around her neck.
"Countess," said the armed woman. "The castle is nearly secure."
"Only nearly?" asked the Countess.
"I have inspected each new acquisition in the castle," explained the woman, "except
that
one." She nodded to Adam. "I shall conduct a cavity search at once."
The Countess turned to Adam. "As you can see, my bodyguard is very efficient," she explained. "Thank you, Sara, but I will take care of that myself."
"As you wish, Countess." The gun-toting woman looked a little disappointed as the Countess led Adam away.
"Don't worry, sweet slave," assured the Countess. "Her weapon is loaded with tranquilizer darts—usually."
With restraints on his knees, he needed assistance from the Countess to make his way back up the stairs.
Once in her room, the she reached for an intercom which he hadn't noticed was there. "Mediary, inform me when we hear from our guests."
"Yes, Countess," the voice answered.
Adam was afraid of what would happen next, so the Countess's next words surprised him.
"I must apologize for how they've treated you. They've behaved shamefully."
That's all right,
he almost said, but stopped himself. It wasn't all right, and why was she being nice to him?
"I'm getting accustomed to that kind of attention," he said at last.
"My poor, dear slave," said the Countess. "You must be terribly confused about what's happening to you."
Adam considered his next words carefully. "I suppose I am. I have no idea where I am. I didn't know places like this existed."
"They do," she said sadly, "though they are rare, and always remote. They exist where the affluent have such influence that no one can make them feel shame. They exist where people like myself can act on any whim without question. In such places, terribly wicked things can happen for ages without notice."
She walked to the French doors and pulled aside the gauze curtains, revealing a menacing view of jagged mountains.
"This castle was once an outpost to defend our land, but it has long ago been repurposed to hold my family's dark secrets. It has become a playground for our most indolent and depraved fantasies—hidden from the view of common folk."
"If I may say so, Countess, you're not what I was expecting."
"Why, what do you mean?"
"Well, I've been hearing . . . ," Adam hazarded, and floundered. He realized he should choose his next words with more care. "I've heard that you have a certain grudge against . . ."
"Men?" she asked. "Is that my reputation? That I hate men?"
"Mistress Kathy said—"
"You would believe that slut over me?"
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, mistress, madam—
Countess
." He sensed he could be very close to losing a limb, but continued on. "There was some discussion about you renting slaves and returning them," he ventured, afraid that it was too late to stop, "broken."
"Yes," she said, "because of my cruel and insubordinate servants! You've seen how they are! Vicious and deceitful! All of them! When I'm away, they practice their cruelty on each other—especially upon the men! What terrible things you must think about me! I've begun to think this castle should be torn down and this whole dreadful practice ended."
Adam thought he saw a tear in her eye.
"But it's not as easy as that," she continued. "My family is powerful and set in their ways. They would never allow it to happen. And the Assembly! They have members in more countries than you know. This castle is their favorite haven for their debauchery! I would have to answer to them as well."
"If you feel
that
way," asked Adam, "why do you rent slaves at all?"
"Because the Royal Dominance Assembly demands it! They say I must be indoctrinated in all of their perverted ways. But when I saw your image on my device, you reminded me of a man I once fancied—a nobleman whom I once hoped to spend my life with. It was not to be. A woman in my position may not marry whom she wants, but must put affairs of the state above her own desires.
"Oh my poor slave, if you only knew what
my
life was like. Meetings and diplomatic functions and a loveless marriage that I can have no say in! This castle is the only place I have any real power! This is the only place I can escape the awful reality of
my
life!"
In any other circumstance, with any other woman, Adam would have felt compelled to put his arm around her. Instead, he found himself wondering if it would be polite to mention his armbinder.