This story involves non-consensual sexual acts. Characters are over 18.
*
Ellinda let her hand rest on the shop's door ringer a moment longer than she normally would, then pushed it and waited for the lock to click open. Another reluctant moment passed and she turned the handle to enter. The marble floors and plush leather chairs inside weren't what she expected, but then she hadn't really known what to expect. Ladies whose great grandparents had settled this planet didn't come to places like this, but somehow for the last week, she hadn't been able to shake the idea. So at last she'd had her driver drop her in the shopping district five kilometers away on pretenses of checking the flowers for her wedding next month.
The man behind the reception desk looked up. In another life, or at least in another place, she might have found him attractive with his perfectly chiseled cheekbones, blue eyes, and nicely toned shoulders, but here she couldn't imagine anything being attractive. "Good afternoon, Lady. Do come in, and welcome to Galaxy. We cater to all tastes. I'm Delron. How can I help you?"
Confidence was key, no matter the situation, and she forced it into her voice. "I am not in search of your services."
"Ah. I do apologize, Lady, but if it is your husband or fiancé you are inquiring about, you must understand that we keep our client list in the strictest of confidences. I'm sure you understand."
She understood. He didn't. She didn't want to explain it, either. Nevertheless, confidence. She couldn't stand here in the doorway like a dithering schoolgirl, so she strode toward the desk.
Pain seared through her chest. She clutched at her breast as she stumbled back, falling into a chair and gasping for breath.
The man was on his feet and by her side in an instant. "Are you well? What happened?" He yanked a pillow from the next chair and adjusted it under her neck as she collapsed into it. "I'll call a doctor. Just relax."
The pain was gone as suddenly as it had come. She panted, tugging the high necked blue blouse away from her neck. She'd chosen her loosest, most non-revealing blouse and a floor-length skirt for this trip, but they still hugged her body closely. "I'm fine. No need for a doctor. I don't know what happened. I've never felt anything like that before."
"Are you sure? We have doctors whose discretion matches our own."
She shook her head, her breath slowing. "No, thank you. Perhaps a glass of water?"
"Of course." The man hurried away, returning a moment later with a wine glass repurposed for water and handed it to her, watching with the eyes of a hawk.
She collected herself as she sipped, focusing on the confidence again. "Forgive me for that. I hadn't expected to make quite such an entrance."
He took her cue and smiled. "I am glad you are fine, Lady. As I was saying, though, I'm afraid we can't..."
She cut him off with a wave of her hand. "No, no, my fiance doesn't come here. Of that I am certain."
"Ah, no, of course he doesn't. I didn't mean to assume." His expression was carefully neutral. He wasn't convinced, but had the decency to be polite. "How may I help you, then?"
She'd repeated the words that she was considering signing a work contract to herself dozens of times. But now that the moment was on her, she couldn't force them out. Instead, she spoke the lie she'd concocted when she'd first thought of coming here. "I am here on behalf of the Society for the Rights of Service Workers. I would like to tour your facilities."
The man blinked. He'd clearly never heard of any such society. Of course, she hadn't, either. Nevertheless, he held out a hand to steady her as she stood. She took it and rose, releasing it a tad reluctantly. In another life, indeed. "Of course, I'd be happy to show you around," he went on. You'll find our facilities are designed for the utmost comfort of our clients." He gestured towards the interior door and she followed. Comfort of our clients, he'd said.
The pain struck her again. This time, she doubled forward, clutching him as she lurched. He caught her by the arms and supported her as she stepped back to the closest chair, struggling to breathe. Again, the pain ceased as suddenly as the last time. She felt more than saw him standing over her, looking down, the concern still resonating in his voice. "Are you certain you don't want me to call a doctor?"
She was less sure this time, but shook her head anyway. Discretion or no, she couldn't let anyone see her here. "Just give me another minute, but maybe I should go. I can come back another time."
"Of course, Lady. We open every day at 3:00 pm, and we would be glad..." He stopped and a smile spread across his face slowly, broadened upward in a look that made her cringe when he added, "Unless... Just a moment. I think I just might have the answer here."
As she concentrated on breathing, he returned to the desk, opening one drawer and then another. "Yes, I think I might have something of interest to you." Had his tone hardened as well? He opened a third drawer. "Ah, yes. Here it is."
He set what looked like a fist-sized oblong orange-red gemstone on the desk. Glass, perhaps, but the light glinted in a way that glass didn't. "This was left here a week ago, oddly without an owner. Perhaps it's yours?"
She didn't know what it was, was sure she'd never seen it before, but yes, yes it was hers. She knew it, felt its warmth. She started to stand when he cut her off. "Don't come any closer. Not unless you want another attack. Can't you see how it glows? Have you ever heard of a heartstone?"
Heartstone? She had heard of them vaguely. They could be used to control, or kill, the owner. They were only made by the most desperate of debtors, or as an alternative to death for those convicted of a crime. Heartstones were very illegal to make without the owner's signed consent, and she most assuredly hadn't given it.
"Good. I see you do know what it is." He tossed it in the air, catching it as he whistled appreciatively. His eyes ran down her body with a hungry look and she shrunk into the chair. "Well, isn't this an interesting twist. If I'd known it belonged to a body like that, I'd have summoned you earlier. And you're a noble no less. Oh, this will be fun."
She wouldn't let the confusion show and raised her voice a command. "I have no idea how such a thing came to be in your possession, but I thank you for assuring it was returned. I'll see that you're properly rewarded for your efforts."
"Now why would I do a silly thing like return it?" His gaze lingered on her chest as he picked up the stone, cupping it one hand and caressing it with the other, slowly, running his fingers in circles around the end.
Keep control of the situation. "You will give it to me at once."
He kept on caressing in some lewd parody of fondling her breast. "And exactly how do you think I'd do that, girl, when you can't get within five meters of it without your heart stopping?"
"I'll send my driver."
He laughed. "You'll send your driver here, will you? That's a conversation I'd like to see. But no, I have some paperwork you need to sign. Why don't we start with that?"
She breathed carefully, not willing to let him see her relief. "Yes, yes, of course. Whatever paperwork you need. I said I'd reward you."
He gave the stone a long last stroke as he set it on the desk, pulling out a set of papers and handing them to her. "I made these up as soon as I found the stone in case it belonged to someone I wanted. You're welcome to look them over, but you're going to sign either way."
It was a contract. The name was blank, but the rest had already been signed and stamped by an official, government-approved witness. She'd seen plenty of stamps on her father's contracts. Even her marriage contract had been properly witnessed and stamped. If this was a forgery, it was a good one.
"Are you mad?" She heard herself say, even though she knew the truth of his statement. "I'm not about to sign."
He shook his head. "You must be the fool. You do know how heartstones work, don't you?"
She didn't. Not really. But ignorance was weakness. "Of course," she snapped.
He must have seen the uncertainty in her face because he explained anyway. "The first time one is used, it's raw. It can take days, sometimes weeks for the effect to kick in. After the first time, though, it attunes gradually every time it's used. You'll obey faster next time. Faster the time after that. Eventually it'll be immediate. After that, it tears down your will. You start to be want to obey. Eventually you can't even think of anything but needing someone to tell you what to do."
She hadn't heard them described quite like that, but it matched the snippets of rumors she'd heard.
"It's already started to attune. You're here and you're not going to be able to tell anyone about this visit, or me, or the heartstone. So, do you want to sign on your own, or you want me make you? It might take a week or two before it works, but it will work. You're choice. I'm happy either way."
She held the pen poised, her eyes shifting to the words, then back to the desk. "How'd you have it made?"
He shook his head in bewilderment. "Oddest thing, that was. It was in a package outside my door. No note. No explanation. Just there. I almost threw it away. Figured the owner must be dead or something, but I finally decided I might as well give it a try. No harm in trying." He looked her over again. "But here you are, prettier than any of the girls I have now, and a noble on top of it. Can't think why anyone would have gone to so much trouble to make a heartstone just to give you up. I'm guessing it's someone who couldn't work out the paperwork and knew I could. Maybe I'll get an offer to buy you in the future."
Her voice rose. "My family would never let me be sold, even with that, that, thing."
"Your family?" He shook his head. "My dear girl, why on earth would I ever let your family know anything is amiss?"
She didn't know if she was relieved or more scared. At least she wouldn't have to face their horrified expressions when they learned the truth.
