Mistress Denna, still smarting from her BDSM punishment strutted around the platform stage, periodically manually rubbing her buttocks to soothe her distress. Mistress Mercy surreptitiously departed from immediate view. Once she had command of her equilibrium, Mistress Denna announced, "Ladies and gentlemen we are now going to conduct the tests to hopefully admit four new members to der Höllenfeuer Verein. Oh dear, I guess 'hopefully' was a slip of my tongue as it implies failure. None of our candidates are going to fail right candidates?"
The candidates, including Ingrid, shouted a resounding affirmative. Mistress Denna chuckled and exclaimed, "Ah such youthful enthusiasm! It can only portend an exciting endurance test of will power. Now our first candidate chose the name Lucrezia for her alias while in the fantasy world of der Höllenfeuer Verein. Please come up and step forward my dear."
Responding to the command, a beautiful young woman emerged to stand beside the naked Mistress of Pain. Her costume was a shift-style mini dress of a deep purple color. A sleeveless bodice with the neckline tied in the back was all that was holding her garment together. As the audience applauded, Mistress Denna asked, "Now truly everyone isn't Lucrezia a thing of beauty?"
The crowd's applause intensified at that remark. Indeed, Lucrezia's beauty rivaled that of Ingrid's. Mistress Denna added, "I imagine all of you recognize Lucrezia. Yes, she works here at the Café Lola as a server. In that capacity she naturally became aware of the comings and goings of our club and was suitably intrigued. Then last February having struck a friendly regular acquaintanceship with a member got herself invited to our March meeting. She was enthralled, and now here she is prepared to become a full fledge member.
"During the application interview, Lucrezia confirmed that her choice of name was in reference to the Spanish-Italian renaissance noblewoman, Lucrezia Borgia, who was a daughter of a Pope no less! A situation that would not be possible in today's more prudish times."
Everyone duly laughed at Mistress Denna's quip. She continued, "I naturally asked why her? Was it because of this woman's apparent notoriety in history? Our Lucrezia advised that when she was twelve years old, she came across in her history book a contemporary description of the appearance of the historical Lucrezia. To wit: 'She was described as having heavy blonde hair that fell past her knees', which incidentally is a physical attribute that I also personally admire in a woman."
Considering Mistress Denna's own long hair, the audience collectively sniggered at that gratuitous remark. One wag in the audience was heard to shout out, "Who knew?"
When the interruption of laughter died down, Mistress Denna continued, "The historical Lucrezia Borgia in addition was said to have had, 'a beautiful complexion, hazel eyes that changed color, a full, high bosom, and a natural grace that made her appear to 'walk on air'. Her mouth was said to be rather large, the teeth brilliantly white, her neck slender and fair, and the bust was admirably proportioned.'
"For our Lucrezia, that description became seared in her mind as her most desirable physical attributes she could wish for herself. And now here she is all grown up, and as you can see, she has in the main succeeded in attaining such lofty aspirations! True, as you can see, her hair is not quite as long, but it is long enough. And I'm sure the male members of our club would appreciate our Lucrezia's rather large mouth."
Everyone laughed at that ribald implication. Mistress Denna turned to Lucrezia, and asked, "Are you then ready for your test my dear? Are you willing to become a member of der Höllenfeuer Verein?"
"Yes Mistress!"
"OK then. Turn around dear."
Complying to the command, Lucrezia turned around with her back to Mistress Denna, who then undid the knot of the sash of the bodice, and the dress instantly dropped of its own accord onto the ankles. Lucrezia merely stepped out of the puddled dress and was now totally naked save for her high heel stilettos. She then strutted proudly and assumed the acceptance stance at the 'punishment bench', and Mistress Denna secured Lucrezia's hands to the hand cuffs on the arm rests. The crows was cheering wildly interspersed with some wolf whistles.
Everyone in their mind deemed that she did indeed mirror the image of the historical Lucrezia Borgia. As a result, the women of the audience spontaneously shouted out "Looo-Cree-Shee-AAA" and clapped their hands rhythmically. The men in the audience were seemingly compelled to also respond and so shouted out, "Bore-J-EE-y-uh", and likewise clapped their hands. This prompted the audience to repeat the chant several times before they settled down.
The unexpected cheering prompted Lucrezia to smile and put herself at ease. Remembering how Mistress comported herself at the 'punishment bench', she was determined not to wuss out. Her hair did not come down to her knees, but it did drop down to the middle of her derrière. For the evening she had defiantly let her hair down to its full length. Consequently, as she reached the 'punishment bench', she flipped her hair to her front side to clear the way to receive the fifty lashes unobstructed by her hair. Then she replicated Mistress Denna's look of hauteur to complete her preparation.