by Susan Sass
Faith woke suddenly, her eyes blinking in the darkness. Her Aunt’s voice echoed in her head, “…they are not coming back,” and the memory of the grave, that hole in the ground that they put the mangled remains of her parents after the accident, fresh and new again in her heart. She trembled as she realized this was the answer to Aya’s question, what was it she was so afraid of that she must hate it so. She was afraid of love. She was afraid if she loved someone that they would leave or die. All her hope and trust had been buried in that grave with her parents when she was just a little girl. Ever since then she had very carefully avoided love. A random thought rose up; this is also probably why she had such a phobia of holes, of being buried, how even just the smell of raw turned earth could make her react with such violent fear and horror.
The voice in her head rose up, calm and reasonable, so persuasive, “There is no way you can control this, people will always die, leave. Even with the best of intentions, even if they do love you, they cannot promise to never leave, sometimes they die. Accidents happen, nobody can predict that. You cannot survive that again. It would kill you. Be smart, don’t…” Faith’s hand reached up and touched the collar around her neck. Deliberately she spoke loud enough to activate the shock, “Love!” And as the electricity forced her body to convulse, and the agony washed away all other thought, she managed to hold onto that single word.
Afterward, she lay in the darkness, staring up toward where she knew the camera to be, she wiped the tears from her face with her hand and tenderly licked the salt from her fingers. Lightly, gratefully she traced the circle of leather around her neck that held the pain, the sweet cleansing pain, a gift from Master.
She knew what she was afraid of now. It wasn’t love. It was losing it. She knew she had it now, and she knew she would do anything, face anything to keep it for as long as possible. Reminding herself of her Master’s last command, she composed her thoughts and willed her body to relax and once more fell asleep.
She didn’t wake, until her mistress voice broke through the veil of dreams.
“Wake up, slave. We have work to do.” Mistress was back, she had come back. Faith blinked and stretched, her limbs quivering and stiff as she forced herself to her knees, pressing her forehead to the floor in greeting and then assuming the more vertical posture of waiting. It was a few seconds before she remembered her dream and the epiphany that had followed. She trembled a little as she remembered.
Aya’s voice was brisk, cool. “First things first, slave, you reek. A slave must keep her person clean, appealing to her Master. She must always be prepared for her Master’s use. Come along.” Her Mistress stood and turned abruptly, walking out of the box. Faith jumped to her feet, promptly following, already anticipating the chance to wash. Aya was right; she did stink and it was her own fault. If she hadn’t run away this wouldn’t have even been an issue. Faith was so focused on her thoughts she failed to notice that Aya hand stopped outside the box and almost ran into her.
Aya was holding up a handful of chains and harness, the bridal and bit dangling down. Faith’s eyes widened as she realized she was going to be driven rather walking but she swallowed and instantly nodded her understanding and leaned over at the waist, assuming the position, her hands behind her back, her mouth open waiting for the bridal. Aya’s voice was cool, “Yes, my little pony, I see you understand. I am going to remove the collar but I want you to remain silent. A silent slave is always listening, listening and obeying.”
In many ways, the familiar feeling of the chains, the straps and the bit in her mouth were welcome. And when Aya tapped her sharply with the whip, Faith stepped up briskly, trotting with as high and spirited a gait as the chains would allow. If Aya had not said to be silent, Faith thought she would have tried to nicker softly her happiness to do this thing for her Mistress.
They did not go to the compound and Faith experienced a Mild pang of regret, realizing she had harbored a small hope of seeing some of her friends. She wanted to see them, to somehow show them that she was doing it now, that she wanted it now. As they turned into the old stable her eyes fell on the exercise machine that had forced her to trot painfully for what seemed hours in the hot sun and her resolve faltered. A tiny echo of her rebellious voice rose up, “…hate that thing. Don’t want that thing…” But as Aya tried to drive her past it, Faith balked and pulled toward it, shaking her head, her eyes pleading. She wanted to fight the voice, to show the voice that it was wrong, she did want it, she wanted it all, even the things she hated.
Aya stopped and looked at her curiously, “Are you asking for this?”
Faith could not help but smile around the bit in her mouth and nod. This time she risked it, and nickered, a soft happy little horse sound and was rewarded by her Mistress’s soft laugh. “You really do want to repeat all your lessons.” Aya looked at the sky, “Well, little pony, because this is just a review, a reminder and an assessment of your retention of previous lessons, we will not spend too much time on this. But for a while, a taste of what once was, I think we can indulge your curiosity.”
As she trotted in the dreaded circle, Faith mocked the voice in her head, “you are wrong, I do want it, even if I hate it.” As she went round and round, her muscles remembering, reminding her of the times before when she had let the voice rule her, this time she thought about how sweet it was to do submit to her Mistress’s will, to revel in the love in her heart. She was almost disappointed when Aya stopped the machine and unfastened the chain. Impulsively she dropped to her knees and pressed her drooling wet lips to her Mistress’s foot, kissing it like she had so long ago, only this time because she truly craved the sensation, the demonstration of her subjugation. As she felt the warmth of the skin against her lips, tears burst from her eyes, and she could not help but mumble around the bit in her mouth, “Thank you, oh thank you.”
It was a long day, filled with memories. After a rough hosing down she was relieved of the pony harness, but kept chains on her ankles to remind her of her disgrace. Over and over they retraced their steps, Faith reliving each place, each pain, each fear, each frustration, and each humiliation, hearing the echoes of her old thoughts, old rebellions. Over and over, Faith would stop and plead, almost demand to stop and do it over, to do it right this time. Aya seemed to understand, letting Faith lead and set the pace, watching and listening, her dark eyes curious and thoughtful. Each time, Faith would communicate her success and gratitude by pressing her lips to her Mistress’s foot and then jump up and lead the way, almost hurrying from one memory to the next.
In the end they stood at the brink of the hole, and Faith found her whole body vibrating with terror, and she threw herself at Aya’s feet, for the first time sobbing aloud, her arms clutching at her Mistress’s ankles, forgetting the rule of silence, “Mistress, I can’t to this part. I want to but I can’t.”
Aya crouched down, “Little slave, I have watched you chase your voice all over this island today, fighting it, and defeating it. This is not a war that can be won in a single day. We will leave this battle for another day.”
Faith passively allowed her Mistress to lift her up to her feet, and stood staring at the cover over the hole, her eyes locked on the one last thing she knew she had to face. She whispered softly almost to herself, “I am going to have to go back down there,” and shuddered. The voice in her head was deafening, a panicked shriek of denial, that it was impossible, that it would kill her, that death was in that hole. Faith turned to Aya, her voice was strangled and vibrating with terror, “You have to make me go back down there.”
Aya’s voice was brisk, and cool, “Little slave, I have let you lead because only you knew exactly where your demons lived, but now you will listen and obey. I said, not today. You’re Master and I will decide when you are ready to face this. Now it is time to return to the box. Your trial is tomorrow.”
Faith’s eyes widened and she gasped, “Oh, thank you, Mistress.”
“Do not thank me, thank your Master. Now com
e along.”
Faith turned away from the hole and followed her Mistress back to her cell. When Aya turned to leave, Faith realized she had not replaced the shock collar and she cried out, her voice pleading, “Mistress, wait, please, may this one speak?”
Aya paused, turning a frown on her face. “What is it that you wish to ask?”
“Mistress, please, you forgot the collar. Can this one please have the collar?”
“Why?”
Faith took a breath, “Mistress, all day today, each time the voice would protest, complain, that was where I asked to stop, to face it, to do the things it hated most of all. The voice still hates the collar. Please, Mistress, let this one wear it again tonight.” Faith could hear her voice crack, “Please, Mistress, it helps this one when she is alone.”
Aya frowned and narrowed her eyes, “Have you been shocking yourself with it?”
Faith prostrated herself, her voice pleading, “Only once, Mistress, only once when I could not make it stop, in the night, in the dark, when I was most afraid, I needed it. I needed to remember you and Master. It helped me remember.”
As Aya buckled the collar back around Faith’s throat she cautioned, “Little slave, your batteries are low, save them for your darkest hours.”
Chapter 12
JD watched Aya’s retraining of Faith with great pride in the both of them. Aya showed great restraint considering Faith interrupted her weekend with Master and Faith showed incredible shame at the attempted escape. It seemed to JD that it was almost time to take Faith into the playroom for the removal of her maidenhead. How that would happen and exactly when it will happen was yet to be determined, it would come soon. He picked up the phone and called Aya to his office.
Aya came into the office, knelt, and asked how she might serve him as was her custom. JD told her to rise, kissed her forehead, and motioned her to a chair as was his custom.
“Aya, I am looking forward to the trial tomorrow. I see a bit of wisdom in her request. Her penitence and willingness to submit to this punishment has showed me that she is ready for the final step in her training. I think she will offer me her virginity on her own volition. I also want to bring the two guards that were on duty that night to stand trial for their ineptitude and negligence.”
“Master, I agree with everything you have said. The slave is penitent and I do think she is ready to give all to you. But, I think there is one final thing she needs to do, sir. She asked me to put her into the hole again, but I am not of the Mind to force this. If she truly must face this fear, then she will have to get into it by your command. If she can do this, then she will be yours completely.”
“Then we are of one Mind concerning this. The trial will take place the day after tomorrow. Make all of the preparations and put the guards under restriction until then.”
“It will be as you command, Master.”
Aya left JD’s house shaking her head with a small smile. She was thinking back to the day she gave herself to him and how wonderful she felt. She’d felt safe and balanced for the first time in her life. She knew that Faith would feel that way as well, if she would only give into her new life fully.
Aya went to her cottage, got on the phone, and gave the orders to put the guards into restriction as JD had ordered. She went to Faith to put her through another day of training and penance. After several hours of being put through her paces, Faith was covered with a sheen of sweat, panting hard and exhausted. She was on the floor beside Aya as she was worked at her desk. Aya looked down at Faith as she slept lightly, curled in a ball on her side, assessing the superficial marks on her back and backside.
Aya was proud of how well Faith had taken the blows. She even saw in the slave the signs of sexual excitement as they were delivered. JD was right, this one is ready for what was to come next. It was too bad the marks that Faith wore right now would fade away before her trial. They would’ve made a good costume for the little slave that Aya had come to look on with an increasing fondness.
When the morning of the trial arrived, Aya had made the arrangements so that the start time would be at 11 am. She went to the cell and woke up the sleeping slave. Faith knelt at Aya’s feet, kissing them and greeted Aya. She asked for and was given permission to speak.
“Mistress, is this slave to go on trial today?”
“Yes little slave, today is the day you face everybody for your misdeed. We need to get you ready for it now.”
Aya took Faith to the public shower. She bathed her, oiled her skin and brushed her hair. She took Faith over to the clinic. With tiffany, she waxed all of the hair from Faith’s sex. Remarkably, with each strip, Faith became wetter and wetter. Yes, she cried out in pain, but she was becoming excited with the pain. Aya was very satisfied with the way things were turning out. The voice in Faith’s head may have at last be silenced.
Aya took Faith back to her cottage, dressed her in the shift of a novice slave and put on a stiff black leather collar with 3 rings on it. Aya then put restraining cuffs on Faith’s wrists and ankles. She brushed out Faith’s hair one more time, attached a leash to the collar, and walked Faith to the pavilion. Aya admonished Faith to silence as she placed the slave in the prisoner box. Faith sat on the bench ramrod straight, head bowed, legs slightly spread, and eyes on the ground. Then her wait began.
After a time, the gallery filled up with the population of the island. JD had given orders that everyone attend. He had granted Faith the privilege of punishment before everyone and everyone is what she would get. For Faith, the wait ended at the appointed hour.
The slave assigned the honor of bailiff called for all to rise. JD came in and sat at the bench. He told all to be seated and called for the first guard to be brought in. Ramona was to be the council for the defense for the guards. Aya would prosecute.
Aya spoke first, “Master, the man before you stands accused of dereliction of duty. A slave left the compound at night when he was on watch. Due to his negligence, the slave in question was put in personal danger. He stands now, before you, for judgment.”
Ramona spoke next, “Master, the man before you did let the slave escape the compound. He was walking his rounds as he should, but the slave was able to avoid him and escape. He is sorry that it happened, but there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He humbly throws himself on the Master’s mercy.”
JD nodded to Ramona. As she took her seat, he sat quietly for a while. JD ordered the defendant to rise. As the guard and Ramona stood, he said to them, “I agree that the slave, Faith, did sneak away from the compound without his knowledge. However, the purpose of the night guard is to provide safety and security. It is also assumed that the slaves will stay in the compound in their dorms and not leave. It is therefore my judgment that this man refreshed in the way to properly stand his watch and be returned to duty. In the future, the guard shall be doubled so that we all can feel safe in our beds at night.”
The first guard knelt and bowed to JD. He thanked him for his mercy and was given leave to go. The next guard was brought in. Aya stood again and spoke to the court, “This one was found asleep in front of the monitors on the night the slave Faith escaped the compound. He is accused of sleeping on watch and dereliction of duty.”
As before, Ramona was acting as defense council. She spoke.
“This man is guilty of what his accused of. He was exhausted from a day of hard labor. He should have gotten relief for the night watch, but did not want to bother anyone else. With the Master away with Mistress Aya, he wasn’t sure where to turn. Feeling it was his duty, he stood his watch even when he wasn’t in shape for it. These are his reasons, but not an excuse. He pleads for the Master’s mercy.”
“I have given this some thought all ready.” JD replied. “Even though you thought it was your duty to stand this watch, you should have gone to the doctor as he was the one in charge while I was gone.
“Because you made a bad assumption, a slave was able to leave the compound at night and put herself in danger.
There is no excuse for sleeping on duty. Therefore, it is my judgment that you be demoted back to the fields and all privileges be revoked for a period of two months. At that time, I will look at how things are going and see if you have earned any of your privileges back.” Aya motioned to the guards standing by and had him removed from the pavilion.
Chapter 13
JD then called for a short recess. The crowd stood and stretched their legs. As JD returned to his seat and Faith was brought to the bench, the onlookers resettled. There air was thick with anticipation. This was the part they all came to see.
“Faith, you have been brought to me for judgment. I ask you now, do you want to have a jury trial or do you want me to judge you. The choice is yours.”