Page 27 of Be Careful What You Wish For

With a flourish he signalled to Shadow, who pulled apart the surrounding curtains to reveal walls of mirrors. It was strange standing there with other selves moving as she did, with the same mannerisms, the same look of confusion on their face.

In an anteroom Shadow prepared mugs of steaming tea, which he carried to place on a tray on the table. It was as if she’d stepped into the shoes of Alice in Wonderland; a fantasy wrapped in a surreal world.

‘You will kneel on the mat, back on your heels, and wait for tea to be given to you.’

She accepted the words as a reprimand, already in the act of reaching for a mug and settling herself on the stool. She stopped, feeling for a comfortable position on the floor. It was Dream Catcher who finally handed her a mug of tea before sitting, and Shadow waited before joining him in the adjacent chair.

‘Do you still wish to serve us as a slave?’

She was surprised at the question, believing it already answered. ‘Why, yes, I do. Yes...’ How else would she answer? They smiled back at the child she had become.

‘To serve a Master is a Calling. It’s not for everyone. You must be very sure before accepting, as we must be sure of you.’ Dream Catcher raised a finger as a warning against interruption as she opened her mouth to reply.

‘Up until the point of the Calling Ritual you are free to say at any point that you no longer wish to become a slave. You can walk back into the life you had. Equally, up until the ceremony we have been free to let you know you are not The One we seek. As has been explained before the ceremony is a serious occasion, when we each commit to the other through a series of vows and rituals. That commitment is absolute and is not easily broken on any side. Do you understand?’

Abi nodded, her head teaming with unspoken thoughts.

‘You have fulfilled our dream, and we are happy to have you share our life, to become one with us. To that end we have planned the ceremony to take place on the first day of Spring, and in the weeks leading up to it there are things you must learn, tasks you must undertake for this to be possible.’

They watched the smile creep across her face, pleased in the joy shining from her eyes, knowing she was ready for the next part of the journey to fulfil her destiny.

‘But listen carefully and take note. This is a conditioned life. Obedience and loyalty must be at all times, whether you are here or away. If it is not, then you will be punished, and punishment, when it comes, will be because you deserve it. We will always tell you the reason for it, answer questions you may have, and when it is done it is finished and specialness will follow. Just as an adult continues to love an errant child, punishing for the deed but still loving the child, so it is that punishment takes nothing away from our guiding love for you. It is a necessary part of the learning, the obedience, the respect, and...’ Dream Catcher paused a moment, ‘...you will find there can also be pleasure in the pain. Have you not already found this to be the case?’

Abi let out a tiny gasp, but was careful to allow her Master to continue.

‘While you were away it was too easy to go the way of others, to follow those around you. To become the way you were, and you failed your Calling in a number of ways. You did not keep to the strict diet set by Shadow. You did not continue the regime that has become a necessary part of your training. You have forgotten, it seems, how to greet your Masters, and in conducting yourself as a slave. You have played with yourself at night. You have clothed yourself, and since your return, it seems your nakedness brings shame. You are therefore going to be punished, here and now.’

His final words were emphasised more in the body language which accompanied them than the words. She shivered in anticipation. She had finished her tea, and as Dream Catcher and Shadow stood she prepared herself as best she could, knowing something would follow that wasn’t about to go in her favour. They each took an arm and led her to a point between two beams, manacling both wrists to a chain. Her legs were spread wide, each foot strapped firmly to the floor. She looked towards the mirror opposite and saw herself as a big

white cross emphasised by the darkness of the beams, stretched and secure, waiting for the punishment to begin.

‘You have not yet felt the true keenness of the whip, the cut of the crop. Feel the pain. Know the experience. Remember why.’

She focused on Shadow, who moved to sit in one of the winged chairs directly in her line of vision, as if to see more clearly the affect on her. She had expected him to do the dastardly deed, and for Dream Catcher to be there for her with soothing hands and words, and in her confusion she completely failed to see Dream Catcher slip behind her, so the first crack of the whip caught her completely unawares as it slashed around her bottom. The smallest cry escaped her lips before she could prevent it, bringing with it tears and a stinging burn to both buttocks. The break between the first and second blow only made the pain keener. As it came a gasp and scream rose in her throat, tears flowing freely.

‘Please, please not again,’ she sobbed. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’

She was sure saying sorry would work. Sorry always made everything better... didn’t it? Kiss and make up, just as she’d always done as a child? But her words fell on deaf ears. Her reflection awaited the next bite of the crop to burn again her tender flesh.

A third and fourth slash followed mercilessly. Her screams were loud, uncaring. She no longer held back, accepting it would only end when he had finished with her. She was breaking every taboo, letting go with her emotions as they rode her, dragging from her all the pain and frustration and shame built up through the years. And yet at the same time, somewhere deep within, she touched on a kind of pleasure, and a pride in surviving the ultimate test of submission. She could end this at any time by shouting ‘stop’, and walking away, back into the life that was. She had no doubt at all in her mind they would release her and let her go.

Home.

But then, this was Home. Here she was allowed to be the person she really was instead of having to pretend, to wear a mask, to fit into someone else’s mould. Always she had been made to bear her submissive nature with shame, while others tried to change her, telling her she needed to be strong, independent, decisive, sure, when she was none of these things... not really. Always her submission had been seen as a weakness, not a strength. She was by nature a pleaser, a giver, strong for others but not herself, passionate and compassionate, with an ability to feel intensely, and without the ability to say no, needing someone else to take control.

It was only here she could develop her submissive nature, and through it know the strength to fly free. They would give her wings and teach her to fly. They were her companions, her soulmates, her lovers, her Masters. And she would obey, because of everything they shared together. Now she desperately yearned to live as One, and together, embrace the Dream. The change taking place in her was obvious, as was her complete submission to them. It was time. The Ceremony of Commitment needed to take place.

Six strokes of the crop lashed her bottom, then Abi held her head high as, with tears flowing freely down her face and her buttocks smarting, the manacles were removed.

‘Now, stand facing the wall, on tiptoes. Closer, so the tip of your nose touches it. And don’t move.’

She’d expected the punishment to be over, the sixth strike of the crop to be the last. She had learned her lesson, after all, but she followed the instruction for fear of making her situation worse.

‘Hands behind your back.’

She obeyed immediately and felt them being bound.

‘This button is being placed here, between your nose and the wall. You will keep on tiptoe, and you will hold it there until you are told otherwise.’

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