Kora had scripted the evening very carefully, all scenes with significant symbolism and particular psychological and physical effects.
Now she just needed to buy the last few items herself. Getting an urgent lengthy appointment at the tattoo parlour had been the most difficult thing to organise. It was some work she'd wanted done for some time, but this would take some time and would still be quite sore by Saturday. It was only fair that she too should suffer some pain.
She had avoided writing to Jonathan during the week but had confirmed that she was ready on her part. He had replied instantly.
Nexus: "I will go ahead and email you the guest list as soon as I have it all taken care of. I am looking forward to Saturday, Kora. I have a feeling it is going to be an intense experience for both of us."
Saturday came at last. Kora had got her last props delivered to the manor and was now ringing the doorbell.
Nexus was waiting by the door for Kora to arrive. He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous about the game, but he was also excited.
"I'm so glad to see you here tonight, Kora. I've been looking forward to this all week. Come in, come in."
Kora was feeling a little tense herself. For this to work, everything would have to be orchestrated perfectly. And she would have to set the right tone from the beginning.
"Good evening, Jonathan." She said formally. "I'd like you to go to your bedroom now where you will wait for me. Do not change clothes, don't do anything but wait for your instructions."
Nexus was surprised by her tone, but he followed her instructions and headed to his bedroom as she commanded. He felt his apprehension build as he waited for her instructions, but it was also intermixed with a growing sense of anticipation.
Kora took several deep breaths standing outside of Jonathan's bedroom door, trying to channel calm and collected authority.
As he waited, Jonathan's mind was filled with thoughts and images of what her instructions might be. His reveries were punctuated by the occasional flicker of anticipation when he imagined her opening the door. When she eventually did, he remained still and silent, waiting for her first instruction.
When she opened the door, he was waiting for her. Kora approached him, her voice sombre as she spoke. "You are to spend the time until the scene in quiet meditation. You will be contemplating the concepts of light and shadow. Please kneel."
Jonathan nodded his head in understanding, and he moved to a kneeling position on the floor. Body memory from countless previous meditations took over, as he took several deep breaths and began to move into a place of quiet reflection.
"I will assist your practice by using some sensory deprivation. I will now blindfold you." Kora moved just behind Jonathan's kneeling body, allowing him momentarily to lean back against her while she tied the blindfold around his eyes. She could sense quite how much he didn't want to show his nerves.
The moment of touch sent a surge of electricity through Jonathan' body. He felt her closeness, and a part of him wanted to lean back further against her so that they could be in even more contact. But he refrained from doing so, wanting to remain disciplined for the game. He let her lead and allowed her to blindfold him.
Kora took hold of his shoulders and followed his arms down to his wrists which she brought together behind his back with some soft leather cuffs. She ran her fingers gently over his wrists as she clicked the cuffs shut.
"You are now to wait. I will permit you one question before I go."
Jonathan was very aware of how she was touching him, taking in her warmth and her presence. He was also slightly anxious about the cuffs, but he was determined to follow her instructions as he was waiting. He took a deep breath, having to think about his question for a moment.
"May I ask how long you want me to wait before you return?"
"Your guests will be arriving in 3 hours. You should expect me shortly before that. Time will feel long, I hope you are a good meditator." She answered formally but not unkindly.
Jonathan felt a twinge of nervousness at the thought of waiting so long, but he also understood her reasoning for wanting him to meditate for that amount of time. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgement.
"I think I will manage, Kora. And I should be able to maintain a good meditation practice for this time. Is there anything else I should know before you leave?"
"Do you trust me?" She deliberately asked him the same question he had asked her on the last night she spent in this house.
Jonathan immediately realised the significance of her question, and he considered it for a moment before answering.
"Yes, I trust you. Completely."
Kora left the room in silence, she had much to do before the audience arrived. When they did come she would need them fully briefed. She wondered how Jonathan would deal with the sensory deprivation for 3 hours and hoped it would have the desired effect.
Jonathan began his meditation. At first he was able to focus, but as time progressed, he began to get anxious, questioning what he had let himself in for. The blindfold and the cuffs were a constant reminder of the fact that he was completely at her mercy. But he knew he had to trust in her and her plan for him.
The time had finally come. Kora crossed Jonathan's now dark bedroom in total silence. He was kneeling as she had left him, his body quite still. Kora approached him silently only to put an unexpected finger under his chin.
The sudden touch from Kora took him completely by surprise, and he felt a momentary flicker of fear. But then he realised that it was her finger touching his chin, not anything more alarming, and his body relaxed slightly. He remained still, keeping his chin up lightly against her touch as he allowed her to lead him.
"Stand up."
Jonathan obeyed her command and stood up, doing as he was told. His body felt stiff and shaky, having kneeled for three hours, and he had to fight to keep his balance, but his mind was surprisingly calm.
"Do not move!" Kora started to peel the clothes off his body, her hands gentle but precise, until he was left entirely naked.
Jonathan felt both exposed and vulnerable as Kora slowly undressed him, but at the same time he couldn't help getting aroused by her touch.
Kora attached the leather chaps to his waist. These would leave him almost entirely exposed, on both the front and the rear of his body. She searched the pocket of her cloak for a tiny bell, which she pressed into Jonathan's hand. 'With any luck, Kora thought, 'his senses should be heightened now and he should be feeling at least a little vulnerable.'