In early February they dropped Ffion off at the station for the trip to Amy's. Neat in her skirt and jacket Ffion tried to concentrate on her laptop, reading the brief from Amy and delving into research publications to acquaint herself with the current state of the art. It was a trip into another world, a familiar world from a past life. A world of data, information and knowledge.
Ffion was in a position of trust. She had a laptop and access to the world. As Ffion stared out on the grey rain streaked landscape she toyed with the idea of breaching that trust, testing the bonds that had been placed on her, breaking away. Should she reach for freedom, reject the madness of the previous months and rejoin life in the real world? But could she? Could she walk away from a situation that a rational mind would reject as a nightmare? She thought about the practical issues, no home, no money, no one she could trust to turn to. She went to the toilet and looked at herself in the mirror; she liked being Ffion. She returned to her seat and thought about the cottage that was the centre of her life and sighed contentedly. She thought about C; how could she walk away from C?
Occasionally, when she looked up from her housework Ffion was aware of C watching her with a look of contentment, following Ffion with her eyes. And how those eyes glowed; C would glance across to Jenny and the two of them would smile. They weren't looking at Ffion with lust and desire. Shared thoughts sparked between them. They were looking at their creation, a work in progress, a project that united them. Ffion knew it wasn't her place to ask, but she always felt special when she spotted her two owners thinking in that way. Ffion knew from experience that her owners thoughts could have consequences for her, potentially painful or humiliating consequences, but knowing she was on their minds was enough.
As the train rattled through the landscape Ffion thought about C and Jenny. She thought about how they fell in love, the way they were together and their plans for a loving future. And she was deeply grateful that they included her in those plans. It was a strange joy that pulsed through Ffion's heart; the joy of being owned, belonging to others, heart and soul. To have handed them her being, to do with as they please. Looking out of the train window Ffion fretted that she wasn't where she belonged, how would her Mistresses be without her. Ffion was missing their control, feeling a need for their firm discipline. And she'd only been gone for half a morning.
In the cottage C and Jenny were in deep discussion with Alice and Lydia setting out their plans for the builders.
"So you want a small cell built in one end of your barn, with a toilet and tap, heavily insulated to make it sound proof, lights and a sound system controlled from the outside," asked Lydia.
"Yes, that's right. Big enough for a mattress on the floor and the pillory with a number of attachment points built into the wall," said Jenny.
"Are we going to give her a mattress?" questioned C.
"Mmm," mused Jenny, "good point."
"And what colour would you like your torture chamber," asked Alice.
"Something washable that won't show the stains," replied C. "Not that we're expecting much violence. Its her psychology we're targeting."
Lydia and Alice made sad faces.
"OK, OK. There'll be plenty of opportunities for you to be horrid," laughed Jenny.
Lydia and Alice grinned.
Amy met Ffion's train and the two of them went directly to the office where Amy and H had been colleagues. They were subjected to a series of interminable meetings that added nothing to the sum of human progress then Amy took Ffion back to her home and showed Ffion to the little box room that would be her home and office. Ffion asked about the rules and expectations she should meet. She was to work a ten hour day, cook and clean for Amy and Rosie and in her 'free time' help Amy to discover her 'inner bitch' through the medium of sado-masochistic practices. As an opening gambit Amy told Ffion to strip off her top and lacy bra while she fetched a pair of nipple clamps. The evening was spent with Ffion waiting on Amy and Rosie while having her nipples tweaked at every passing opportunity.
The next morning Amy briefed Ffion on what was really going on. A project was going nowhere and no one understood why.
"Has anyone spoken with the project leader?" asked Ffion.
Amy shook her head, "I think the team are too embarrassed to admit they don't really understand what they're supposed to be doing."
Ffion picked up a phone and asked for contact details. Ffion arranged a face to face meeting for the next day and within twenty four hours Ffion had understood the issues and put matters back on track.
Within the same twenty four hours Amy began to learn to love pain, Ffion's pain. She acquainted Ffion with an electric sheep prod on loan from Alice. Now Ffion had three weeks in Amy's home office to cover the bones of the agreement with the project leader with the flesh of detail. Ffion also had to survive Amy's efforts with the electric prod. Amy was determined to be methodical and she disciplined Ffion at the same time every morning whether she needed it or not.
By the first weekend, the builders were progressing on schedule. C and Jenny flew off the to enjoy a romantic Valentines break on the Amalfi Coast
Amy had left work early and gone to play five-a- side with Rosie. Ffion was expected to prepare a meal then carry on working while the food cooked on the stove. Just after eight Amy messaged Ffion to finish work and meet in the pub. Ffion showered quickly and got herself ready, determined to be demurely feminine. She arrived in the pub in a ditsy thigh length dress and a short cardie over glossy sheer tights and kitten heels. Amy was at a table with the rest of her team, all of them dressed in trackies and trainers or skinny jeans and boots. Ffion's careful makeup was in contrast to the 'just showered after the game' look around the table.
Ffion announced her arrival, "Hi Amy, can i get anyone a drink?"
Ffion teetered back to the table with a tray full of drinks and sat, sipping her cider while Amy, Rosie and their friends discussed their performance at their game. They had beaten their rivals comprehensively and qualified for a quarter final and were in high spirits. The empty glasses on the table told is own story. Ffion was largely ignored, sitting quietly on the periphery of the group. The party started to break up and Rosie, who's been drinking lime and soda, was to drive the rest of the team to their homes.
As her friends departed, Amy declared, "Everyone back to ours after next week's game, Ffion's promised to cook for us all."
The team thanked Ffion and left Amy and Ffion at the table. Amy slipped away to the loo and returned with more drinks. She was tipsy and in an expansive mood. She sat close to Ffion and gave her a hug.
"You're looking really cute tonight and I think the rest of the team liked you," she told Ffion.
"Thanks," replied Ffion, who'd felt out of place among the younger sporty women, "they seem like a nice fun group."
"They're not always so loud and I'm sure you'll get to know them better next week," said Amy. "I'm so glad you agreed to come and stay. The work is going really well and...."
Amy lowered her voice.
".... and I'm really enjoying having you around and Rosie is too. You know, the slave thing."
Ffion wasn't sure how to respond so she smiled and said, "Thank you Amy."
Amy grinned and gave Ffion a little dig with her finger, "That's Miss Amy to you!"
Amy smiled at Ffion and held her gaze, "How is it? I mean, has slavery been as you expected? Are you enjoying it?"
"I'm not sure if enjoy is the right word. It's been harder than I expected. But it feels right, I feel they had to be hard on me at the start. Its been really nice coming to work on this project and being with you and Rosie. So maybe it's getting easier. I'm sure it can't get much worse"
Amy laughed, "You don't have any idea, do you?"
Ffion looked anxious, "You think it's going to get worse?"
