Generally, it was just before a session that Fadia wished she'd never taken this work. It sounded good on paper, but the reality sometimes left her dissipated and forlorn.
For several years, she was the initiator on Tristo Island. That wasn't it's real name, of course; originally, it was called something in Spanish much more beautiful in that language when spoken aloud. It became Tristo when it was established as an independent republic and banking center in the Caribbean. Then came the broadcasts.
Every week, for several days, international television coverage from Tristo Island featured live gladitorial contests. Men, and sometimes women, fought to the death it what had become the most-watched program in the world. Advertising revenue during the games was astronomical. Even still, the figurehead Governor-General of the island was paid chickenfeed compared to what Fadia earned, such was the importance of her work.
Fadia readied girls as sexual prizes for winning gladiators, those competitors who'd killed their opponents by gun, blade, whip. Any weapon would do. Once, a contest even featured men with one hand tied behind their backs battling to the death with kitchen brooms.
But by far the most popular match was bare-hand combat. And in that, Duro was the best. He was famed - 12 fights already - for pinning his opponent in a wrestling hold, then slowly pushing an arm down the unfortunate competitor's throat, strangling him from the inside.
Live crowds at ringside became hysterical with delight at that.
Duro got the best women to enjoy as his prize. This, too, was televised, and hungrily watched during the dinner-hour. These bloodsports were illegal everywhere but Tristo, although the United Nations had long allowed global broadcasts of the gory thrillers. Weekly, each day of the games would become more blood-drenched, the sex more perverse, until finally, Sunday night in primetime, the main match would take place in a fever-pitch of excitement.
It was packaged and sold as family entertainment; in these dire financial times, anything to keep hearth and home together was welcome.
Fadia checked her watch. Time was at hand. She worried about the poor girl fed to Duro; she wondered if he would tear something loose this time, such was the enormity of his dick.
She pushed back her hair and tried to shake off her doldrums. Then her two attendants brought in the girl. She was willowy, a fragile beauty just at the cusp of adolescence into adulthood. Fadia could see she tried to look brave as the two women gently guided her to Fadia's too-ornate chair.
Fadia rose and took the girl's chin in her hands. The girl looked at her with eyes like pools of still water. With fingers just under her jawbone, Fadia could feel her slight tremble.
"What is your name, child."
"Can't we just do this?"
One of the attendants loudly shushed her and gripped her bare arm more tightly. The girl gave a little start and pulled away. Fadia waited a moment; this was routine. She reached out to the girl's shoulders and pulled her close.
"This will be a lot easier if you trust us. We'll get you ready. It's not like you're going to die." She smiled gently, peering into the girl's eyes. "No one will ever see this part."
That last part was a lie. The executive banking council had exclusive viewer's rights to the initiations. From what Fadia heard, it was the only time during session when all members were present.
Fadia ran her eyes up and down the girl. She was dressed in the simple white skirt, blouse and cap of the Women's Naval Duty Service, one of the ad hoc "defense" forces for the island. Each prize had to join this organization, and her service was written off in the line of duty. Always well-compensated, some stayed on to become initiators themselves, as Fadia had done.
The girl looked at Fadia. "Sue. For... Susan"
Fadia nodded. "And you're from Michigan..."
"Kansas," Sue corrected her.
"Heartland," Fadia said simply. The girl smiled a little, her lips only slightly pink from blush applied hours ago. Gently rubbing Sue's neck just under her jawline, at her ears, Fadia leaned forward very slowly and planted a kiss on the girl's forehead. The attendants began running their hands up and down Sue's tawny arms, left bare by the short sleeves of the uniform blouse. Occasionally, a fingertip lolled to circle in the hollow of an elbow, and the girl started in nervous arousal.
Fadia reached back to the small table beside her gauche chair and retrieved the glass of absynthe. One of the attendants placed a hash pipe in the girl's mouth and the other woman put a lighter to the bowl. The girl tried to inhale with worldly aplomb, but choked on the strong tar of the smoke. Quickly, Fadia put the glass to her lips, and, holding the back of Sue's head, paused to allow the coughing to stop before pouring some of the liquid down her throat.
The girl gasped and twisted away her head as she involuntarily swallowed with more strangling. Fadia stepped back. The girl's eyes flashed a moment in anger and the attendants moved closer to hold her in viselock. Sue's body bowed out and she strained to break free, then her body slowly went rigid and she looked at Fadia in desperate fear. Fadia moved closer.
"What are you doing here, Sue?"
The girl's eyes welled with tears. Her taut body shook, and then gave way. She seemed to sink within.
"My family lost everything in the last crash. Their pensions were wiped out in the federal fraud. I... I..."
Again cupping her chin gently, Fadia said, "You're here because you have to be."
The girl nodded.
"You can still back out. Once we begin, we finish. But right now, you can stop."
"And leave with nothing..." Sue said simply, then shook her head. The older woman felt a tinge of maternal affection as she noted the girl's jaw set, almost imperceptably, in decision.
Fadia leaned forward and kissed her, very tenderly, on the lips. The girl was vibrating in fear. Fadia kept her lips on Sue's, letting the warmth of her skin pass to the girl. Gradually, all the tension ran out of the girl's flesh and her mouth became soft and warmer. She sighed a little through her nose, and her body shook in relief as scared rigidity bled from her.