The Life of Anna, Part 1: Enslaved (26 page)

“Anna, Baby, for your protection, I’m going to remove your ability to speak. I don’t want the men to think poorly of you for speaking or making noise. Women must be absolutely silent during the proceedings.” He smiled. “You’ll be able to speak in the morning though, don’t worry. Anything you want to say before I do so?”

My heart overflowed with love for him. He was so considerate. “I love you,” I said with a small smile, his face becoming blurry. I squinted as I looked at him. I couldn’t bring his face into focus.

“I love you too, Baby. I’m so proud of you.”

He trailed his fingers up to my neck and across my throat, murmuring something softly. I felt a tingling in my throat. I knew I would not be able to make a sound now and I had no desire to do so. Peace settled over me and I smiled. He kissed my forehead.

“Finish your dinner, Baby. Maggie will be back soon.”

I nodded and smiled lazily at him. He smiled, and then left the room.

I finished eating and Maggie and Sarah returned to prepare me for the evening. My head cleared and I was impatient for the Gathering to begin. I would be
Devin’s. Completely. I bet even Jack couldn’t separate us.

“Mistress, this is a ritual night. You will be unclothed,” Maggie explained as they began putting my jewelry on me.

I nodded. Whatever Devin wants.

They wrapped my wrists and ankles in my diamonds. My hair hung loose down my and over my shoulders.

Maggie and Sarah wrapped me in the white velvet cloak and we waited for Ian. He knocked and entered a few minutes later wearing a black belted robe that reminded me of something the pope would wear. Maggie and Sarah greeted him, and then left.

“Hello, Anna. How are you doing?”

I nodded and smiled.

“Did he Silence you?”

I nodded.

I noticed a sadness in his eyes that I didn
’t understand. It was the first hint of emotion I’d seen from him. He hugged me and petted my hair; an unexpected move for him. I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t.

He straightened and his face became inscrutable.
“Shall we? We don’t want to make Devin wait.”

Ian adjusted my cloak, pulled the hood up over my head and we left the room. His hand on my arm was comforting as we walked through the maze of
dimly-lit hallways and stairs. My stomach churned with nerves. I didn’t want to disappoint Devin.

Soon the familiar double doors appeared in front of me. Ian opened one of the doors and he guided me inside and into the back corner. Standing in the dark corner, I could lift my head enough to see the full scope of the room without
being seen.

Soft golden light filled the center of the Hall with slightly brighter lighting in the corner where the golden eagle gleamed towered over the room, the majestic head almost reaching the ceiling. The talons were high above the main floor and it appeared to be sitting in a curved moat of fire. In front of the fire, a wide platform extended out with a raised dais in the back.

Devin’s throne sat on the dais with three slightly smaller thrones on either side of it. In the middle of the main platform was a waist-high rectangular stone table about half the length of a twin-size bed.

Two thrones waited on the left end of the platform. On the other end was a smaller stone square table with various items resting on top, one of which looked like a bowl. Steps led down to the main floor several feet in front of the table.

The room was full of wooden benches in rows, with a single, wide center aisle. The benches were being filled by men in dark blue belted robes, the same style as the one Ian wore, though with a short cape over the shoulders and a hood over their heads.

The low hum of men talking with one another filled the room and I could see the girls
above in the balconies. They didn’t move, though, and it didn’t sound as if they were talking either. They wore hooded cloaks. Mostly blue with a few red scattered throughout.

A sharp rapping sound shot through the room and it became quiet. I looked up and saw a man in a green robe with gold edging
standing in the middle of the platform with a long wooden stick. The men on the floor quickly sat on the benches, turning the space ahead of me into a sea of blue.

Two men in green robes appeared at the end of the aisle of benches near me. Their hoods were up and they each held out a smoking silver ball suspended on a chain in front of them. Two additional green
-robed men appeared, one on each outer side of the benches, carrying a similar object. Another man in a green robe came out from behind the eagle and began chanting in an unknown language.

As one, the men with the balls began slowly walking towards the platform, swinging the balls back and forth in front of them, dispersing the smoke up the aisle. The smoke reached me and it smelled sweet. I began to feel a little dizzy and very relaxed.

As the green-robed men walked towards the platform, three men in white robes emerged from behind the eagle. Two of the men’s robes had gold edging, and all three wore their hoods low over their face. The man without the gold trimming on his robe had very broad shoulders.

The men in blue all stood when the three white
-robbed men appeared. One white-robed man walked to the middle of the platform and stopped, while the other two walked to the left side of the platform and stopped by the empty thrones.

The men in the green robes reached the platform. The chanting ended and the room fell silent. Then the man in the white robe on the platform raised his arms up in the air, and the men in blue sat back down on the benches. The green
-robed men climbed the steps to the upper platform and sat on the smaller thrones.

“My Brothers,” came Devin’s voice from the shadow of the hood. He spoke in a deep, commanding voice that sent delicious shivers up and down my spine. “I give you good greetings. Tonight we welcome into our fold two new brothers and several new slaves.” He motioned to the side where the other men in white robes sat. “I would also like to extend a special greeting to our visiting German Brothers.” He turned his head toward them and bowed slightly.

The two men bowed slightly in return.

German Brothers?
Does that mean Wilhelm? And...Alex? Kurt? What were they doing here?

Devin pulled his hood back and the other men in the room did the same. Devin continued to speak, but his voice faded in my ears as I watched the other men in white pull their hoods back. It was indeed Wilhelm and
...Alex.

Something stirred in my heart as I looked at Alex. Memories of his kind blue eyes from my dreams floated to the front of my consciousness, eroding the peace I
’d received from Devin and had enjoyed only moments before. He turned his head in my direction and I felt his gaze burning me, even though I knew it was impossible for him to know I was there. He couldn’t see me; I was in a dark corner.

My breath caught in my throat and I blinked, tearing my eyes away from him. I pushed aside the traitorous thoughts and returned my attention to my beloved Devin.

Devin was looking to the side of the room where a door was opening. Five young women, about my age, chained together at the wrists emerged from the doorway being led by a man in a black robe like Ian’s. Three blondes and two brunettes. Completely naked. They were led to the platform and stopped in front of the table. They stood facing the back of the room, heads up, eyes focused on the back of the room.

Devin walked up behind one of the blondes and reached in front to cup her breasts. He caressed them for a moment then pulled at her nipples. It looked like he pulled hard, but she only closed her eyes in reaction. A twinge of jealousy poked at my heart.

“Freshly trained slaves, my Brothers,” he smiled. “Take a good look. We will mark them and then you may sample them after the ceremony.”

Appreciative murmurs and chuckles came from the men in blue. Devin grinned and motioned to two of the men in green robes. Devin sat down in his throne, resting his chin on his fist as the other men walked in front of the blonde on the end.

One man stood behind her and rolled her nipples between his fingers until they were erect, then the other man put a gun-type device against her breast and I saw her jump and bite her lip, but she didn’t make a sound. He pulled the gun away and a silver ring now hung from her nipple.

That
’s how they pierce them? It didn’t look too bad.

The other nipple was pierced and then her belly button. I could see tears forming in her eyes as he progressed. He knelt in front of her and the other man held her hips. The one in front pulled at her left outer pussy lip and put the gun to it and a moment later she cried out in pain and he pulled away, revealing a silver ring where the gun had been.

Tears filled her eyes and she clenched her jaw. My stomach churned as I saw her pain.
That will be me soon.

The men repeated the process with the other girls. Their nipples and pussies became red and swollen. It looked very painful. When the men were done, silver collars
were placed around their necks. One blonde had the collar of a Red Girl. The girls were led to the edge of the platform and sat on their heels with their knees spread and hands on their thighs.

Ian touched my arm and motioned me forward.
“Bow when we get to the edge of the platform.”

I swallowed nervously and we walked down the aisle together. I kept my head down, wishing I could look at Devin for courage. I concentrated my thoughts on Devin and could feel his love surrounding me.

My pain brings him pleasure. I want to give him pleasure. My piercings will give him pleasure. I will be his completely.

The last thought brought Alex
’s eyes to my mind again, which made me doubt my desire to be bound to Devin.

I tried to concentrate on the peace that Devin gave me, but Alex
’s presence was making it difficult. What made it worse was that I didn’t know why Alex had such an effect on me. I hardly knew him. He certainly didn’t know anything about me. He didn’t even like me.

I arrived at the bottom of the steps and saw the bottom of Devin
’s robe move down the stairs. I sank to my knees and bowed down to him as he approached.

“My brothers.
I have a special treat tonight. As those of you who were here last week know, I’ve taken a mistress. What I didn’t share is that she is not just an ordinary mistress.” He pulled me to my feet led me up to the platform.

He pushed my hood back and gave me a tender smile while he stroked my cheek. I felt warmed from his touch and relaxed.
I am Devin’s.

He kissed me gently on the mouth, his lips caressing mine. I felt all his love and adoration flow into me.
He is my Master. I love him.
I gave him a loving smile and he looked pleased.

He turned me to face the other men and undid my cloak, letting it fall to the ground.
“She is an Elder-Mistress and I claim her now for myself.”

His announcement brought a rush of low murmurs and soft exclamations. He kissed my neck and caressed my breasts in front of the men, but I didn
’t care. I closed my eyes and lost myself in his touch.
I am his. I want to please him.

“Are you ready to show my Brothers you submit yourself to me?” he whispered into my ear as he tugged gently at my nipples.

I nodded dreamily.

He turned me so that my side was to the main room and pushed me gently down on to my knees. He knelt in front of me. I trembled, partially with excitement and partially with fear. He caressed my cheek with his hand and I relaxed.

“Good girl,” he whispered. My heart warmed at his praise.

As a green
-robed man handed him the piercing gun, I happened to glance behind Devin to where Wilhelm and Alex were sitting. Alex’s eyes were narrowed and Wilhelm was frowning. Alex saw me looking at him and his eyes became full of tenderness and concern. They looked as they did the night he first talked to me in my dreams.

My connection to Devin faltered and terror began to rise in me. I couldn
’t look away from Alex. Why did he look so worried? So...scared? My breathing became short and my heart raced in my chest. The concern and tenderness that Alex emanated made Devin’s love look counterfeit.

No, that can
’t be right. Devin loves me. He will protect me and care for me. Alex is a stranger. He’s dangerous.

I forced my eyes away from Alex
’s and looked into Devin’s black eyes. He was frowning slightly.

“Keep your eyes on me, Anna,” he murmured in a low voice. “I will give you the strength to walk through tonight. Anyone else will take it away from you, leaving you vulnerable.”

I willed myself to stay looking into Devin’s eyes as he brought the piercing gun to my right breast. He had to look away from my eyes as he positioned the gun properly, but I didn’t look away from him.

Alex will make me vulnerable. I never want to be vulnerable again.

Devin looked back at me. “Give me your pain, Anna,” he whispered and I felt a sharp stab in my nipple. Tears filled my eyes and I gasped and blinked, but didn’t look away from Devin.