Inner Circle (23 page)

“Do you know who I am?” the older woman asked.

“Yes, of course,” Kathy answered, without looking up. “You’re Mrs. Foster.” She wondered how she had come to know the woman’s name.

“And what are you called, and why are you here?” Mrs. Foster questioned.

“I’m Kathy Ryan, Mrs. Kathy Ryan.” Kathy paused, confused. After a moment, the words popped into her head, “I’m here because this is where I belong.”

Mrs. Foster allowed herself a thin smile. “Yes, this is the place where you belong, but there must be someone, some person you belong to. A husband perhaps?”

The tune Kathy had been humming still sounded in her head, “I did have a husband but he died.” She glanced up at Mrs. Foster, then bowed her head again. “I belong to…to…the masters,” she said.

“What masters?’

Kathy felt her breathing quicken, “To Master Gruber and Master Frederick.”

Mrs. Foster nodded, “I see. In that case you will be quick to obey them in all matters. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Mrs. Foster, that’s why I am here. To obey them in all matters.”

“And me? You are to follow my orders as well.”

“Yes, Mrs. Foster, I’m to obey you.”

“Do you remember what happens when you annoy me?”

Kathy winced as the memory came back to her, “You will whip me, whip me severely.”

“What about Negra? Do you wish to belong to him also?”

Kathy shuddered and half turned away, “I…I…don’t know any Negra,” she whispered.

“Then you will need to make his acquaintance.” Nora had entered with an armload of clothes on hangers. She began placing them on the rack in the closet. She also placed several shoeboxes on the closet floor.

Mrs. Foster took two steps toward Kathy who backed away trembling, “In an hour Nora will bring you your breakfast. After you’ve eaten, you’re to shower and apply cosmetics. Nora will place the things you’re to wear on the bed. After you are dressed, I will come for you. Is that clear?”

Kathy’s voice shook and her face had gone pale, “Am I to see Doctor Gruber and Frederick…or…or…” she couldn’t finish.

Mrs. Foster turned on her heel and left without answering. Nora followed, locking the door behind her. Suddenly the familiar discordant notes sounded through the speakers in the ceiling. Kathy stood still listening intently. The notes played three times. When they ended, Kathy smiled to herself. She felt her pussy moisten and her nipples stiffened. “My Masters,” she whispered to herself.

After showering and rubbing her buffed body with perfumed oil she sat at the make-up table and applied a very light mascara and a bright red lipstick with a coating of gloss. On the bed was a shear nylon dress. Unlike most things she’d been required to wear, it reached to her knees and although it fit well, it was not tight nor was the scooped neck particularly low. It seemed like the kind of dress she would have worn on such a lovely spring afternoon in that other place…the time and place she could not quite remember. Of course, there were no undergarments on the bed. She liked being naked under the thin brightly colored print dress. On the floor was a pair of new white pumps with four-inch heels. She slid her tiny feet into them, feeling very comfortable. To her surprise, on a chair was a handbag that matched her dress and a small rectangular box that contained a lovely strand of pearls. “How thoughtful,” she said aloud as she attached the pearls around her neck. “Perhaps they are taking me somewhere.”

In Gruber’s den the doctor and his nephew were engaged in a serious conversation. Frederick’s voice was a high-pitched whine. “Is it really necessary to have her so heavily drugged? She will appear as simple minded as Jamie.”

Gruber frowned, “The woman is strong willed; much more so than I expected. If I cut back on either the drugs or the hypnotic sessions, she will try to escape again. We certainly don’t want that.”

“But isn’t the whole point of this experiment to condition her to serve us because she wishes to?” Frederick stood up, his face flushed, “Uncle, I want the real Mrs. Ryan as my willing slave. I want a beautiful young woman who can carry on a conversation, a woman who can speak with the intelligent and cultured members of our circle as an equal. I want them all to know she’s chosen to be my pet not out of fear or because we’ve drugged and hypnotized her. The creature upstairs is not Mrs. Ryan. Can’t we have her do our bidding without turning her into a compliant idiot with no will of her own?”

It was several moments before Gruber spoke. “In all honesty, dear boy, I’m not sure. You must be patient. One step at a time. After tonight, I’ll take her off the drugs and stop the sounds so that in a day or two we can have a chat with what you refer to as the real Mrs. Ryan. We must, however guard her closely and see that she is securely restrained during the interview.”

“Will she be half comatose when we take her out this evening?” Frederick asked.

“She’s heavily drugged now, but I’m going to let much of it wear off. I can always call up the bells with a post hypnotic word if she becomes too independent.”

With a sigh of resignation, Frederick sat down again opposite his uncle. “Today, we’re showing her to the Brookmeiers?”

“Yes, they’ve been anxious to see our new acquisition. They also wish their Doberman to see her and experience her scent.” He sat back and smiled. “We will want Mrs. Ryan to fully understand what her new role is to be, yet we don’t want her to object, at least not strenuously.”

“Who is going to explain it to her.”

“The Brookmeiers’ dog-whore. I think her name is Carmelita.”

Frederick nodded, “Yes, that’s a good idea. She’s the small dark skinned girl, isn’t she?”

“Yes, from Columbia, I think. They acquired her when she was in her mid-teens. She must be twenty now. Her parents were professionals. She’s very bright. Do you remember, she was marked at the Brookmeiers’ branding ceremony about a year ago. We’ve seen her several times in a number of homes.”

Frederick nodded, “She’s well trained. She knows her place. Is she going to demonstrate?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve asked Herman Brookmeier to tell this Carmelita person to take her aside for awhile and carefully explain the process. Then all of us will introduce her to the dog.”

“Even with the drugs might not our bitch throw a goddamn fit?” Frederick questioned.

“While she was under hypnoses last night I conditioned her to hear the bells when a certain word is spoken. We can, in future, keep changing the word. For now, it’s the word, ‘army’. If she starts to object I’ll find a way to introduce the word into the conversation. As soon as she hears the word, the bells will ring in her pretty little head.”

“And, like a puppet, she’ll do as we say?”

“Yes, but I’d rather not put her into that state unless it’s absolutely necessary. The Brookmeirs aren’t fools and neither are any of the people in our circle of friends. They will know, or at least strongly suspect, what we’ve done. Ultimately we must break her spirit. I’m in total agreement with you, my boy. She must freely choose to be your beautiful companion. She must want to please us. She must decide without threats or chemicals or hypnoses to service for our amusement.”

Frederick nodded, “Yes, uncle, the real Mrs. Ryan must do that, not the woman upstairs.”

Several hours later the key turned in the lock to Kathy’s door. Mrs. Foster was pleased to see her charge sitting primly on the edge of the bed, her hands folded in her lap, the new purse at her side. Kathy tried to hide her fear of the woman behind a weak smile. Mrs. Foster crossed to the bed and handed Kathy a wide brimmed straw hat and a long silk scarf that matched the print dress. “The Masters want you to wear these,” she said.

“Oh,” Kathy said, frowning. She adjusted the hat and draped the scarf over her shoulders.

“The purse should contain cosmetics.” Mrs. Forster indicated Kathy should open it.

“Yes, there’s a make-up kit inside.”

“Come then.” Mrs. Foster went the length of the hall and down the grand staircase with Kathy following behind. She opened the heavy oak door to the den and stepped back. Kathy entered and the older woman closed the door.

Both Gruber and Frederick sat behind the massive desk. On the other side of it, a single plain wooden chair faced them. Gruber gestured toward the chair, “Please sit, Mrs. Ryan,” he said.

She’d forgotten how terribly thin and deathly pale they were. She glanced at Frederick but quickly turned away. His gaunt face, sunken cheeks, and horribly pockmarked skin frightened and sickened her. “Do you see, Uncle,” he hissed angrily, “she still avoids looking at me. I’d like to have her beaten!”

Kathy grabbed the arms of her chair and leaned forward, “Please Doctor Gruber…I’m sorry.” She turned back to Frederick, “I’m sorry, Master Frederick. I meant no disrespect.”

“It’s all right, my dear,” Gruber smiled across at her. “We know you want to please us. That’s why we’re taking you on a little outing. We’re going to visit our friends, the Brookmeirs, at their estate. I’ve told them that you are quite fond of Frederick. I would like you to demonstrate your affection for him before our friends. Will you do that?”

Kathy shot another glance at the grotesque nephew then turned back to Gruber, “Yes, Doctor. I’ll show my affection.”

Gruber nodded, “Not only in what you say but in your actions. We want our friends to understand that you are devoted to Frederick. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Doctor. I will do my best to please you.”

Frederick glared at her, “You can start by showing me your cunt. Stand up,” he ordered.

Kathy rose and, setting the purse aside, lifted the hem of her dress until her shaved pussy was exposed to both of them. She bowed her head and felt the color rise to her cheeks. Frederick turned to his uncle, “I think she’ll behave. I believe it’s time to take the bitch to meet Captain Siegfried.”

Kathy sat between the two men in the back of the limousine. No one spoke during the hour long trip. Kathy was beginning to feel more like herself. She hadn’t heard the bells since early that morning. The long black limousine swung into the Brookmeirs’ driveway that, like Gruber’s, wound between huge oaks for at least a mile before they came to an imposing stone house which resembled a castle.

They were ushered inside by a swarthy male servant. It was early evening. Kathy noticed the sky to the west was still light. The thin summery dress felt comfortable. She had become accustomed to being without undergarments. The new four-inch heels had also become comfortable.

Although she felt somewhat apprehensive, it was good to be away from Gruber’s dreary estate and even better to be free of the hated Mrs. Foster. Frederick poked her with his elbow. She quickly remembered to take his arm. As they followed behind the servant, her heels clicked on the marble floor of the spacious entrance hall. Flaming sconces lighted their way and cast lurid shadows on the floor and ceiling. Huge tapestries hung from the stone walls. She noticed most were copies of scenes from various paintings of Dante’s “Inferno”. Others depicted the punishments of the Inquisition. One made her cringe and turn away. It was of a large dog, a Doberman she thought. It was sitting straight up. The animal appeared to be staring straight out at her, its red eyes glowing like hot coals.

They were led into a vast sitting room not unlike Gruber’s. Although it was a warm spring evening, a fire blazed in the open hearth. Their hosts rose to greet them. Mrs. Brookmeir looked like a Teutonic sixty-year old Barbie Doll. She was almost as tall as Doctor Gruber and at least one-hundred pounds heavier. Kathy decided her blonde Barbie style hair was a wig. She wore a short lime green spandex skirt pulled tight across her broad ass. On her fat legs were white silver-flecked pantyhose. An orange peasant blouse with a low cut neckline exposed the upper swell of her huge breasts. She tottered toward them on white leather pumps. Her face was heavily made up: bright red lips, fake eyelashes, dark mascara, and rouged cheeks. She greeted them with a wide-mouthed smile. “Ah, the good Doctor and Frederick!” she exclaimed, as she shook their hands. She stepped back to appraise Kathy. “And this is the woman who performed for us several months ago at one of your entertainments. She was naked then, but I’d recognize her anywhere. She’s stunning. Simply stunning!” She studied Kathy for several more moments. Kathy had almost erased the memory of
that night at Gruber’s estate.

Mr. Brookmeir came forward to stand beside his wife. He was a small man, thin and frail. His hands shook and his voice was little more than a raspy whisper. Kathy couldn’t imagine these two terribly mismatched people ever having sex. Gruber extended his hand to the old man, but addressed his comments to the woman, “Yes, dear Eva, Mrs. Ryan has become quite fond of Frederick and has also agreed to comply with his wish that she continue performing for our select group, but at, ahh, shall we say a more sophisticated level.”

Mrs. Brookmeir responded with a throaty laugh, “So it has been rumored among the members of our inner circle. I must say, if you are successful in training her, you will be the envy of us all.”

“Yes,” her husband rasped, “she is a beauty, a real beauty.” He cleared the phlegm from his throat and continued, “I recall your telling us that she’s quite wealthy and has several degrees from the best universities.”

“Both are true.” Gruber nodded, “Mrs. Ryan is a rare acquisition, a lovely woman of some means who is, indeed, extremely bright and quite cultured.”