Alex closed her eyes for a second and just listened to the click, click of Zabi's heels as they walked along the bustling street arm in arm. The noise excited her more than the thought of what they were actually doing. Which was walking along a main street, busy with the evening traffic of people heading somewhere or other, whilst she was wearing nothing but a nearly sheer black dress and a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choo's ankle boots. Whilst the incredibly sexy woman with her arm linked through Alex's, was wearing just a long leather coat, a pair of hand crafted thigh length boots and a chastity belt.
The floor wobbled slightly as a fresh wave of desire welled up inside her. That seemed to be happening a lot tonight.
The 'dirty secret' or 'torment night' as Zabina had called, was that once a week she placed a vibrating egg, controlled remotely by a computer in her apartment, inside her and locked it in place with the chastity belt. Then she would don her boots and coat and leave the apartment. The keys to the belt were left inside and the door was on a time lock. That meant she was at the mercy of the random program for the better part of six hours. Alex couldn't help but wonder just how that would feel and had said as much to Zabina.
"Maybe one day you'll find out." She had replied with a sly smile.
Apparently Zabi had been out on one of her torment nights when Alex had first seen her. Being very conscious about what she was doing, she had noticed that Alex had stared at her all evening. The thought that Alex knew what she was doing had made the night doubly exciting. From that night on, she had always gone to the same place at the same time hoping Alex would be there to watch her.
Maybe it was just coincidence or maybe fate but they had spent nearly six months fantasising about each other until a missed train had led to them meeting face to face.
After her surfing accident and subsequent dumping by her Barbie look alike girlfriend, Alex had lost all her savings on hospital fees as well as her apartment and subsequently her self-confidence. She had stopped surfing due to a fear of a repeat injury and falling further in to self-loathing. Now everything seemed to be changing for the good and she was going to Zabi's favourite night club for what promised to be an interesting evening.
"We're here." Zabina said as they stopped by an ordinary looking door of an ordinary looking building.
"Seriously?" Alex questioned looking around. "It doesn't seem special."
"Don't judge the book Alex. I thought you would have realised everything is not what it seems, especially where I'm concerned."
Silently Alex swore at herself. "Sorry Zabina. That was a stupid thing to say." She apologised downcast.
"I think we need to set out some ground rules before going any further." Zabina said sounding a little irritated.
Alex's heart nearly stopped beating. She couldn't believe how thoughtless she had just been. Now Zabi was angry with her and the rest of the evening was ruined.
A tear ran down her face.
"Stop that right now!" Zabina's voice was commanding. So much so Alex jumped in shock.
She continued in a much softer voice. "You are not to put yourself down like that. It's negative and negativity begets negativity. Yes you made a wrong judgment and I corrected you. It doesn't make you a lesser person. And it certainly doesn't mean I am angry with you. I am not your ex."
A warm soft hand reached out and wiped the tear away. "Forget everything you know about life Alex. It is all pointless. Let me re-educate you, and you will never see the world in the way they do." She gestured at the passers-by.
"Why me?" Alex asked suddenly. Her voice only slightly more than a whisper.
Arms reached out and wrapped themselves around the tearful woman.
"You don't see it yet Alex, but you shine with a beauty far beyond anyone around you. You have a free spirit, it is just bound by chains of your own making."
Sobbing freely Alex returned the embrace. She actually couldn't remember the last time she had cried like this and the release of emotion was liberating.
"What do you want most in life Alex?" Zabi asked gently.
A million things ran through Alex's mind and Zabi featured in most of them, but there was one thing that also swam like a shark around the depths of her fears.
"Apart from you, there is something I really want." She paused not sure if she had the strength to even say it. After a moment she leaned back to look in to Zabina's dark eyes. "Can you help me surf again?"
A genuine warm smile radiated back at her. "Alex by the time I am finished with you, you will be walking on water."
A smile spread across Alex's lips lifting her mood and spirit. For the first time in many years she felt like anything was possible. She lent in and kissed Zabina softly.
"Where have you been all my life?" She asked half serious.
"Let me show you." She said with a wink and opened the door.
They passed through the door in to a small square room, elegantly decorated and carpeted, to their left stood a wooden desk with and a man in a nicely tailored suit seated behind it. The room had four doors, one to the left marked Paradiso one to the right marked Purgatorio and one directly opposite marked Inferno. The ceiling was painted with a black and white image of concentric circles of angles ascending towards a depiction of Heaven at the centre.
Alex gasped at the depicted artwork.
"Beautiful isn't it." Zabi said looking towards the ceiling. "It's a reproduction of a painting depicting the ascension in Dante's Devine Comedy. Hence the doors to different levels."
"It is beautiful." Alex agreed. "And not what I was expecting. I have to confess I know nothing about Dante, other than he was French and lived a long time ago."
"I think I can forgive you that Alex." Zabi said with a short laugh. "And he was Italian. Dominic, the owner of this place is a bit of a fan of the Renaissance and Dante in particular. In his opinion the age of enlightenment would never have happened if it hadn't been for Dante."
"Dominic?" Alex quizzed. "He sounds as though he has been important to you.."
"Is that a tinge of jealousy I detect?" Zabi teased. "Dominic is something very, very different to anyone you have ever known. And actually my half-brother, so you have nothing to fear in that respect."
The heavily muscled man rose from behind a desk and approached the women.
"Hello Tony." She said in greeting to the doorman. "This is my friend Alex, she will be my guest for tonight."
"Hello Miss Vitelli." Tony replied, sounding every bit like an extra from a Sopranos. "Miss Alex." He nodded and returned his attention to Zabina. "Will you be descending tonight?"
Zabi flashed a glance at Alex and pondered for a second or two. "Maybe. Can you give her a guest pass just in case."
