Deborah
It was some two hours after his first, inconclusive attempt to bejewel his sister that Martin was ready to try again. In the intervening time, parents and dinner had come and gone. Mum and Dad were out on the town till late, leaving Martin and Deborah alone in the house once more.
Martin spent a tense time in his room, tapping out words into a manipulative whole on his phone, rethinking and revising, until the script reached an acceptable form.
He taped the jewel to the lens of a small flashlight with a rheostat, so that he could brighten and dim the light as required. This, he thought, should allow him to adjust the depth of the trance. Taking pains to avoid being caught by the jewel himself, he tested this arrangement, looking away, switching on the flashlight, then slowly turning his gaze toward it until he could just catch the light streaming through the jewel onto the wall. He adjusted the brightness, then nodded, satisfied.
Having assured himself that all necessary preparations were complete, he drew a deep breath, departed his room, padded along the upstairs passage and tapped on Deborah's bedroom door.
No response.
Martin waited impatiently, then knocked again, more loudly this time.
"Just a minute," his sister called, her tone detectably testy.
Martin switched on the flashlight and took a step back. The door swung open. Deborah was revealed, her face displaying nothing more sisterly than annoyance. She was wearing a shapeless pyjama top and matching pants, both full length. He took no note of any colour or pattern they might have possessed. Soft music was streaming out through the doorway. He took no note of that, either.
For a split second, Martin simply stared at his sibling's face... then lifted the flashlight and directed its beam into her eyes.
As before, the result was immediate. Her face and body relaxed deeply. The innocence and vulnerability this brought to her expression fanned Martin's excitement tremendously.
"Can you hear me?" Martin tested.
There was a long pause. Then...
"... yes..."
A clear response! Now, a compliance test.
"Your nose is itchy, Deb."
Deborah's hand drifted up and scratched the commanded itch.
Martin was elated. He squared his shoulders. It was time. Time to find out how hard and fast the accepted limits of hypnotic influence really were.
Taking care to keep the light directed toward her eyes, Martin lifted his nasty little script, cleared his throat, and began to read to his entranced, entrancing sister.
***
Only minutes later, he was back in his room, sitting tensely on the edge of his bed, awaiting a result.
Time dripped past like the final dregs of oil from an emptied sump.
At last, there came a soft knocking at his door, causing him a start and a lurch of the heart.
"Yeah," he responded, trying to keep his voice casual.
Silence for a moment, then...
"Hey, Martin."
"Yeah?"
"It's me, Deborah."
"I know that. Who else would it be?"
Martin was surprised at his own answer. He had intended to open the door for her immediately.
He shrugged.
Now that he seemed to have attained a measure of influence over her, he realised that he was inclined to extract a little cold vengeance for previous slights.
Deborah didn't respond.
"So... what do you want?" he asked at last.
Silence.
"Can I come in?"
"What for? It's not like you ever want to spend time with me or anything."
Silence again. Then, "I'm sorry for being unfriendly all the time."
"Okay, you're sorry. What do you want?"
"Please let me in. I... I want to make it up to you. You... you won't be sorry. I... I promise."
Martin decided that he had tormented her enough.
"The door's not locked," he said shortly.
Nothing.
Then, the handle turned, and the door swung slowly inward. There stood Deborah, looking as shy as he had ever seen her. The long pyjamas had been replaced by a short-sleeved, cream terry bathrobe that hung to mid-thigh. No other item of clothing was visible. She was barefoot. Despite her request to enter, she hovered at the threshold.
"Come in, if you want," he prompted.
Deborah hesitated, then stepped into the room. Turning her back on Martin, she closed the door. A moment longer she hesitated, then Martin heard a distinct click. His heart gave a sudden lurch as he realised that she had locked the door.
For a long moment, she stood still, with her back turned. At last, she turned, eyes downcast.
"What can I do for you?" he asked, trying to sound innocent.
Deborah's eyes flicked toward him, then away, roaming nervously around the room.
"I... I..." she stammered. " Ah... you have a nice room... I don't think I've been in here for years... I..."
Her hands were moving restlessly, fiddling with her hair, adjusting her robe.
Her eyes kept flicking towards him, then away. Was her face flushed? Was she breathing faster than normal? Martin wasn't sure.
The idea that she might be about to follow his instructions made him feverish with lust. Was she going to do it... or not?
"Why did you change out of your pyjamas?" he tested.
Hesitation. Then, "I... I... I wanted to show you my outfit... I..."
"You wanted to show me your bathrobe?"
"I... no, I... I wanted..."