Inner Circle

by Charles Arnold

  “Well, then, at least share a glass of wine with me,” Gruber said. There were two glasses on the silver platter on his desk. He poured from a chilled bottle at his side. Kathy noted that he filled both glasses from the same bottle. He couldn’t be drugging her.

  “Thank you,” she said, reaching for her glass, careful not to touch his cold fingers.

  “Is there something the matter, Mrs. Ryan?” Gruber leaned forward observing her closely.

  “It…it’s that sound,” she said. “I’ve been hearing it off and on since…” She took a deep breath, “Please, Doctor Gruber, tell me the truth. Did you do something to me while I was here…drugs…hypnosis?”

  “No drugs, Mrs. Ryan. Hypnosis…perhaps.”

  Kathy sat up straight, her eyes flashing with anger, “You had no right. That has to be a criminal act. You damn well can’t go around hypnotizing people, making them do whatever you want!”

  “You should know, Mrs. Ryan, that under even the deepest hypnotic state a subject cannot be made to do anything that is strongly against their will. Of course, subjects are open the power of suggestion.” He paused, then continued, although a subject such as yourself, may be released from restrictive moral codes, you cannot be made to do anything that is absolutely abhorrent to you.”

  “Like kill someone?”

  “Exactly unless, of course, the subject subconsciously wished to kill someone and felt she was capable of doing so.” He sat back and folded his long white fingers on the desktop. “I must, in all honesty, confess that I put you in a deep hypnotic state while you were here hoping I could compel you to become one of us…to become another of Frederick’s pets. Obviously, you were strongly opposed. It didn’t work. As I said, under hypnosis you can’t be compelled to do something you’re adamantly opposed to or something that runs counter to your basic nature.”

  “But, the sounds, the bells, the dreams?”

  “Yes, your phone call came as somewhat of a surprise. Although perhaps I should have expected it. You see, Mrs. Ryan, after witnessing on the tapes how easily the Korean woman hypnotized you and the things you were willing to do in that state, I knew you would be an easy subject. As it turned out, you were extremely easy and your hypnotic state was very deep, indeed. I also knew that submissiveness is very much a part of your basic nature. The need for humiliation and the desire for physical pain are hidden, but powerful components of who you are. These things proved to be true. Nonetheless, you did refuse our offer. You were ready to give yourself to others in any number of degrading ways, but you drew the line at my nephew and Negra.” He sighed and shook his head, “I suppose everyone has a threshold they will not or cannot cross.”

  Kathy shuddered at the thought of how close she’d come. “But these clanging noises, these awful bells?”

  “Ah, yes, the bells. While you were here, we did use mild drugs to put you in a light sleep for twenty-four hours. During that time you heard through earphones those same jarring notes. There are five of them: C, B, E, F#, G. I call them my petit-sonata.

  “They are, I’m told, never played together except by accident. The notes are what we used to place you in an hypnotic state.” He chuckled, “After all, I couldn’t be expected to devote precious hours to putting you under every time we wanted you to…to perform.”

  “That doesn’t explain why I am…”

  “Why you are here this evening,” he interrupted. “Do you remember several days ago getting a phone call and hearing on the line nothing but our delightful five notes?”

  “Yes, now that you mention it. I thought it was strange and frightening. I’d been hearing those same notes in my dreams.”

  “The phone call was an experiment which I had little hope of exceeding, but it appears that it has.”

  “All the more reason for me to leave now. Will you send someone to get my car, Doctor? I want to go back to my room and pack.”

  “Certainly, my dear. Again you disappoint us.” He pressed a button on the desk and almost immediately the study door opened and Mrs. Foster appeared. “Our guest has decided not to grace our house with her presence. Will you conduct her back to her room. She is going to get her things and leave.” Mrs. Foster nodded.

  Kathy was surprised to see that her wine glass was empty. Quickly she glanced at Gruber’s glass and was relieved to note that it, too, was empty.

  Kathy followed the older woman up the stairs and along the hall. Once more she listened for a key in the lock and heard none. She sat on the edge of the bed smiling to herself. She’d exerted her will. It had been a terrible mistake to come here, but before anything happened, she was going to leave. She was happy to know that there was, what did Gruber call it? A threshold she wouldn’t cross.

  She stood up intending to get her things from the closet and pack. But suddenly she felt faint and very tired. Sitting back on the bed, she tried to recall her meeting with the Doctor. He’d poured their wine from the same bottle. She’d waited until he drank before sipping her own. He couldn’t have drugged her. She stretched out on the bed intending to rest for a moment before packing her things and leaving.

  As Kathy fell into a restless sleep the bells began, seeming, at first to come from far away. Gradually they grew louder until they echoed off the walls. The same five discordant notes continued like that for the next six hours. Kathy tossed and turned crying out in her sleep but never awakened.

  Soon after the bells stopped, Mrs. Foster entered the room and held an open vial under Kathy’s nose. “Mrs. Ryan,” she said sharply, “it’s time to wake up. Doctor Gruber wishes to see you. You need to bathe, oil your body, use heavy makeup, and this time dress appropriately. You know what the Masters prefer. I’ll be back in exactly one hour,”

  Although Mrs. Foster’s words had registered, Kathy was confused. “What time is it?” she asked feeling as if she’d slept for days.

  “Almost midnight.”

  Kathy sat up, “But I’m going to…” she glanced at her open suitcase.

  Mrs. Foster stepped closer to the bed, her hands folded in front of her, “Tell me, Mrs. Ryan,” she said evenly, “exactly what are you going to do?”

  “I…I’m going to take a bath and…and make myself look desirable.”

  “And why do you wish to do that?”

  “Because Doctor Gruber wishes to see me.”

  “Just Doctor Gruber?”

  Kathy paused, frowning, “No, both of them wish to see me. Doctor Gruber and…and Master Frederick.”

  Mrs. Foster stared down at Kathy, “You will prepare yourself so that you look beautiful for Master Frederick. You will make your cunt easily available because I’m sure Master Frederick will wish you to show it to him. This is what you are going to do. Am I correct?”

  Kathy nodded slowly, “Yes, yes, of course, Mrs. Foster. I will take care to appear just as you say, beautiful for Master Frederick. I…I…am going to wear something that will enable me to show Master Frederick my…my…cunt should he wish to see it.”

  “You want Master Frederick to command you. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Ryan?’

  Kathy closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking back at the stern older woman, “That’s what I want, Mrs. Foster. I want Master Frederick to order me to…to…do things.”

  Mrs. Foster watched her closely, “Things you have never done before?”

  Kathy appeared puzzled as if she were trying to grasp what Mrs. Foster had asked her. After a moment, she nodded, “Doctor Gruber…his nephew…yes, they will tell me to do things I have never done before.”

  “And you will obey?”

  “Yes, I’ll obey.”

  “I’ll return in an hour,” Mrs. Foster said. She didn’t lock the door.

  Chapter Eight

  After her bath, Kathy rubbed her body with perfumed oil. Then she sat at the dressing table for a long time and looked at herself in the mirror. In her eyes she saw a brightness that startled and pleased her. She’d taken her cosmetics from their case and arra
nged them neatly on the dresser tabletop. She chose black mascara and a blue eye shadow that she applied expertly. The lipstick was fiery red over which she spread a thin coat of gloss. She brushed her short black hair until it shown. The beautiful image that now looked back at her from the mirror was not at all trancelike. In fact, it was animated, expectant. She felt aroused, energized. Her face was flushed with excitement. Her eyes sparkled. She smiled at the image in the mirror feeling better than she had in a very long time.

  She ran her hands over her smooth body. The treatment at the Facility had proved to be permanent, not a stubble of hair anywhere. She slipped a finger along the crease of her smooth cunt and wasn’t surprised to feel that it had already become very wet. Taking the form-fitting red spandex dress from its hanger, she wiggled into it. Finally, she slid her tiny bare feet into the five-inch heels. A thin strap crossed the base of her toes. She smiled as she buckled the wide leather band around her ankle and pulled it tight. “Yes,” she said, standing up and taking a few steps, “that’s better.” She looked down at her feet. ‘I have cute little toes,’ she thought, ‘they should be seen like this, bare and in stilettos.’ She took several more steps. The spike heels felt natural. She turned back toward the mirror. The light glinted off her full red lips. The matching red dress clearly revealed she was wearing nothing beneath it. ‘Good,’ she thought,’ they will see that I’m naked under my dress.’ The red shoes accentuated the graceful curve of her calves and bared her bright red toenails. “Yes,” she whispered again, smiling into the mirror, “this is who I am. This is who I want to be.” Without speaking the words, she thought to herself, ‘I’m sure they will be pleased. The Doctor and his nephew will like the way I look in my tight red dress and my obscene shoes.’ Frowning, she heard the bells again. She reached into the corner of her suitcase and took out the collar. She put it around her neck and buckled it.

  Ten minutes later she was once more sitting across from Doctor Gruber. “You are, indeed, an astonishingly lovely woman, Mrs. Ryan.” Kathy felt herself blushing. Gruber continued, “Frederick will join us shortly. Did you wear that revealing dress hoping to please him?”

  “Frederick?” She paused as if trying to recall who he was. Then, remembering, she brightened. “Yes, Doctor, I’m hoping to please Frederick. Hoping to please both of you.”

  “And I see you are wearing Negra’s collar? You want to please him as well, don’t you?” Kathy caught her breath and shook her head. Before she could answer, Gruber hurriedly went on, “We’ll speak of that later. Tell me, Mrs. Ryan, do you still hear those noises you complained of, the bells?”

  Kathy looked puzzled, “What bells? No, Doctor, I haven’t heard any bells.”

  “Good. I had the impression you were disturbed about something. Will you do something for me now?”

  “I’m not sure.” Kathy edged back in her chair.

  “Will you place your hands on the outside of your dress and play with your nipples for me?” Without answering, Kathy did as he requested. She could feel the tingle as her nipples stiffened. “That’s enough,” Gruber said. Kathy quickly dropped her hands into her lap.

  “You find yourself eager to do what I ask, is that not true?”

  Kathy glanced away for a moment, then looked across at him, “Yes,” she said clearly, “yes, doctor…eager.”

  “Do you intend to obey Frederick as readily as you obey me?”

  “Frederick?” Again, Kathy looked confused for a moment. Then she nodded, solemnly, “Oh, you’re speaking of Master Frederick. Yes, Doctor, I’ll obey him just as I obey you.” She hesitated then continued, “It’s what I want. I mean pleasing you and…and…your nephew is what I want.”

  “Do you remember our little conference this afternoon?” he asked.

  “Yes, certainly. I said I wished to go home.”

  “And I told you to get your things and leave if that was what you wished to do. I gave orders that your door was not to be locked. Was it?”

  “No. I listened for the key in the lock. Mrs. Foster didn’t lock it.”

  “You could have gone home then.” He paused. “Perhaps you stayed because you didn’t wish to disappoint dear Frederick?”

  Kathy was slow to answer, “Yes, I suppose that’s the reason. I didn’t want to disappoint….” She frowned seeming to concentrate then repeated, “I didn’t want to disappoint dear Frederick.”

  Gruber’s hard eyes bored into her, “Aren’t you forgetting something, Mrs. Ryan?”

  Kathy looked down at her hands then quietly said, “Master Frederick…I didn’t want to disappoint dear Master Frederick.” Saying the words sent a flow of heat to her crotch, even as she remembered his horribly pockmarked face.

  “Frederick will arrive momentarily. Perhaps you will arrange yourself in a more provocative way? Raise your skirt. Cross your lovely legs. Slide one strap of your dress down over your shoulder. You are most anxious to win Frederick’s approval, are you not?

  Kathy waited a moment, then pulled her dress up and crossed one bare leg over the other. She glanced at Gruber who nodded. “I…I...want very much for Master Frederick to be pleased with my appearance,” she said. She pushed the thin strap of her dress over her left shoulder.

  “Ah, speak of the Devil,” Gruber chuckled. The door at the far side of the room had opened and framed in the doorway was the Doctor’s psychotic nephew. He seemed paler and skinnier than she’d remembered. For a moment she wondered if she was uncontrollably drawn to the grotesque and if that might be a form of madness. As he pulled a chair up next to his uncle, Frederick didn’t take his eyes from her.

  “Well, I see the beautiful Mrs. Ryan has returned,” he sneered. “What is it you want here, Mrs. Ryan?”

  “I…I…don’t know. I just…”

  “Maybe you came all the way from Pennsylvania to show me your cunt.”

  Kathy shook her head, “No…no…that’s not why. That’s not it at all.”

  “What if I ordered you to show me your cunt?”

  Kathy bowed her head. The men waited. “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Yes, what?” Frederick said.

  “Yes, Master Frederick, I wore this dress so that…I mean, I want to…I…I’ll show you.” Frederick frowned, waiting for her to continue.

  “I want to do whatever you say. I want to show you my…my cunt.”

  “I’m waiting, damn it! And I don’t like to wait!” his voice rose to a high pitched screech. Trembling, Kathy tugged at the hem of the tight dress and slid it further back along her thighs. “Pull it up around your waist and spread your legs!” he shouted. Kathy did as he ordered and parted her legs. Frederick pointed at her, “Do you see, Uncle, how the little bitch opens herself to us, but not quickly enough. I think she may not be as anxious to please us as she says.” He got up and crossed to stand in front of Kathy. “Are you wet, bitch?” he asked.

  Her head still bowed, she said, “Yes, Master Frederick, I’m very wet.”

  “But you know Uncle and I are impotent. We can’t give you what you want, and you want fucked. Isn’t that right?”

  It took a moment for her to answer. She felt herself blushing, “Yes, I thought…I thought Jamie, for your pleasure you could watch us, watch Jamie and me…watch Jamie fuck me.”

  Frederick looked back at Gruber, “What do you say, Uncle, shall we let her have Jamie’s splendid black prick?”

  Gruber thought for a moment, then leaned back and closed his eyes, “No, not just yet. Jamie is a treat Mrs. Ryan wishes to earn. Isn’t that correct, Mrs. Ryan?”

  Kathy felt her mouth go dry. She swallowed hard. “Yes...a…a treat I need to...to earn,” she said.

  Frederick held his open hand, palm up, just beneath her chin. “You know what to do,” he said. Gently she touched her lips to the cold white skin. “Stupid cunt!” he spat at her. “I don’t want you to kiss it. Lick my hand like a dog bitch who adores her master,” he said. Feeling her stomach churn, she extended her tongue and licked.

>   He laughed at her and returned to sit beside his uncle. “Mrs. Ryan needs to learn respect. She needs to learn to beg for what I just gave her,” his voice had risen again. “You will beg, you know. In the not too distant future permission to lick my hand will give you much pleasure, very much pleasure.” He leaned forward, his small eyes glittering with hatred, “You will kneel on the floor at my side and be filled with gratitude if I permit you to lick my hand. You will soon be my devoted pet bitch. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Ryan? Tell us.”

  Kathy bowed her head and didn’t answer. From far away came the faint sound of the discordant notes. She cocked her head listening intently for a few moments, then looked up at Frederick, “Yes, Master Frederick, it may be as you say. If so, I’ll be pleased to kneel at your side. Being permitted to lick your hand will give me much pleasure.” She looked directly at him “It seems, Master Frederick, that soon I will belong to you.” She looked away, then back at him, “When I imagine it, I am terribly ashamed and very frightened. It…it’s not what I wish.” She glanced at Gruber who was staring hard at her. She looked down at her hands, “But, yes, I believe it’s quite possible, Master Frederick that one day I will become your pet.”

  “My devoted little bitch, always in heat,” he said.

  Kathy felt the familiar sinking in her stomach. Without looking up, she repeated, “Yes, your devoted little bitch, always in heat.”

  Frederick nodded, “How soon, Mrs. Ryan, how soon?”

  Gruber smiled across at his nephew, “In time, dear boy, in time. But you see our Mrs. Ryan has come to us wearing a sexy new dress under which she is naked, and those delightful high heels. She’s bathed and perfumed her body and taken great care with her cosmetics. Surely she didn’t go to all that trouble simply to chat with us at this ungodly hour. Is there some other member of our little family, aside from Jamie, you’d like to visit, Mrs. Ryan?”

  A shudder went through Kathy’s body. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “No, no one else,” she whispered fiercely.

  “I don’t believe you mean that,” Gruber leaned forward. “Look up at me, Mrs. Ryan.” She lifted her head to meet his penetrating gaze. “There’s an elevator that goes from here directly to the cellar. You won’t have to navigate those damp stone stairs in your heels.”