Inner Circle (25 page)

“I fought against it with all my strength. They injected me with the most powerful of Doctor Gruber’s stimulants but I screamed and struggled. I kicked at them and bit them every time.” The tears had begun to stream down her cheeks. “One day, Madam Brookmeir brought me the newspaper from Bogotá. On the front page was a picture of my brother. His body had been found at the bottom of a remote canyon.” She wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. “I remember very clearly what Madam Brookmeir said when I finally gained control of myself. She said, ’Unless you do exactly as you’re told, next week I will bring a similar paper which will describe the deaths of your father and mother in a fiery car crash. The autopsy will show that they had been drinking and using drugs.’ I knew it was no idle threat. She is cruel beyond imagining.” I nodded, agreeing. Carmelita continued, “Then Madam Brookmeir leaned back in the leather chair and parted her gown. She said, ‘Now, you arrogant little bitch, get on your knees and eat my pussy. When you’re finished I want you to thank me and to tell me what you wish to do for the Colonel.’ I did as she commanded and after she had cum, I said that I would do whatever she asked.” Carmelita began to cry in convulsing sobs.

Kathy rose and held her until she quieted. “There, there,” she said, “we’ll find a way out of this.”

“There is no way, at least not for me. I am resigned to remain what I am.” She stood and lifted her skirt to reveal her bare ass cheek on which was a raised purple scar that formed the letters “DW” Tentatively she ran her fingers over the scar. “After appearing in eight entertainments, one at each estate, there’s a celebration in which you are honored by being branded a dog whore.” She lowered her dress and sat down. “I’m to explain to you, the process by which you earn the right to such a distinguishing mark,” she smiled wanly across at Kathy.

“I won’t.” Kathy said adamantly. “I’ll die first.”

“And so will your late husband’s parents. If you kill yourself, they will have their revenge. I’m sure they will replace you with that sister-in-law you love.”

Kathy was beginning to feel the girl was right. Mary Margaret was still at Satomi’s Facility. The members of this obscene Inner Circle might be able to purchase her from him. Certainly they could easily arrange for the older folks to be killed. Still…there had to be a way out. “Perhaps, what you say is correct, but I…”

Carmelita cut her off. “It’s getting late. I need to tell you about the process before they ring for us.” She took a deep breath. “First, you will be taken to each of the estates to be introduced to the animals, the dogs will already have been trained to recognize your scent. When you enter their quarters, they will know what you are because of the scent and because of the way you approach them.”

“The way I approach them?” Kathy questioned.

“Yes, as I said, the dogs are trained to know they are superior to us, to those of us who service them. We are never permitted to stand in their presence. When we visit them and when we perform at the entertainments, we must always crawl on our hands and knees. The dogs are all very large. As long as they can look down on a woman, they know she belongs to them. They know that the women who stand upright are either their masters or the companions of their masters. None of the dogs have ever seen me standing. They will never see you standing. As I said, they were acquired as puppies and nursed from bottles. Each has been completely isolated. All they know are their masters who walk upright and the creatures who service them and crawl. Before the entertainments, you will be aroused by a strong application of Doctor Gruber’s salves or will have taken some new pills he’s developed.”

“But you’re not drugged or hypnotized?”

“No. The members insist that we are fully aware. It pleases them to know that we realize how contemptible we’ve become and they delight in knowing they’ve made us feel less than human: made us feel lower than the animals we service. The drugs and hypnosis may be used at the beginning during the training period, but when they feel you are ready for the first entertainment, there will be none, and you will wish more than anything that there were.”

“I swear to you, Carmelita, I will not crawl to their dogs.”

The young girl smiled sadly. “After you have been introduced to each member’s pet, which takes about eight weeks, you will be given two more weeks of intensive training. From the time a woman is acquired until her first performance at an ‘entertainment’ she is in training for about ten weeks. They will expect you to have visited all of the pets. You will also have permanently arched feet and will have been exercised until your body is supple and beautifully sculpted. And you will be taught how to please…the dogs you service.”

Kathy reached across to touch the girl’s face. “This is insane, Carmelita. You must find a way to escape. Maybe together we can…”

Carmelita looked down at the floor. Color rose to her cheeks. “There is one thing more I must tell you. Please believe me, they haven’t required me to say what I’m going to say.” She glanced up at Kathy, then lowered her eyes again. “I don’t want to escape. I’ve become like the others. My life here is…is….satisfactory. Even if I could go home to my parents, I wouldn’t. Not now. Mrs. Brookmeir is cruel beyond imagining. She has taken much from me. But this is my life now.”

Kathy shook her head. “That can’t be true. A woman of your intelligence and sensitivity simply can’t accept the kind of life you have here?”

The young girl smiled wanly, “During the first year escaping was all I thought about. But now the idea never occurs to me.” She paused and glanced away before turning back to face Kathy. “I have no wish to discourage you, Mrs. Ryan, but I’m certain that after you have been in service to the Grubers for a year you will not wish to leave.”

Before Kathy could respond, they heard a bell chime. Brian entered and quickly fastened a long leash to each of their collars. He led them down a corridor and into a sort of anteroom where the others had gathered. Madam Brookmeir addressed Carmelita, “You’ve explained everything to her?”

“Yes, Madam, but there was not time to tell her how she’s to present herself to the Colonel.”

The older woman turned to Kathy, “Before we open the door to his quarters, you are to get on all fours. You will never stand in his presence. You will crawl to his cage, lower you head to the floor and let him sniff you… This will be your first lesson. You may not believe this now, but before long you will accept this…you will accept them as your masters.”

Kathy laughed, “You must be out of your mind. For you to even imagine such a thing proves you are not only perverse but clearly as insane as Gruber and Frederick.” She took a step toward the older woman, her eyes flashing angrily, “I’m not some poor ignorant wretch you took from the streets. I’m sure my breeding and my education is far superior to yours and…” The flat of Madam Brookmeir’s hand struck Kathy so hard it almost sent her to the floor. Brian quickly jerked on the leash pulling Kathy to her knees before the enraged woman. Gruber smiled and Frederick giggled.

Before Kathy could recover, Gruber stepped over to her. “My dear Mrs. Ryan,” he began his voice loud but even, “is it true that your late husband was in the army?”

Suddenly the shrill discordant notes sounded in Kathy’s head. The volume increased and they played over and over very rapidly. A dazed look spread over her face as she stared up at him.

“My…my husband? No. He never was,” she said softly.

“Do you remember what Madam Brookmeir told you to do?” he asked.

It was a moment before his question registered. Kathy shook her head, “No...no I don’t,” she said uncertainly. They waited watching her carefully. She frowned and put her hands over her ears but the notes played more rapidly than ever. After a few minutes, she dropped her hands to her sides and lifted her head. Her face was expressionless, “Yes, I remember,” she said.

“Tell us.”

“I’m to be on my hands knees when the door opens. I’m to crawl to the Colonel’s cage and must remember never to stand in his presence. When I’m at his cage, I’m to let him sniff me. I should put my head down on the floor and lift my buttocks, so he knows my scent.”

“Why is it necessary for him to know your scent?”

“So he will recognize me when I come to him.”

“That’s right, Mrs. Ryan.” He studied her for several moments before speaking, “From this day on you will have a new purpose in life. Do you know that it is?”

“I’m to give to the members of the Inner Circle and their pets. In time I will want this, just like Carmelita and the others.”

“Very good. Tell me, did Carmelita show you her scar?”

“Yes, it was in the form of the letters DW.”

“Would you like to earn such an honor?”

“Oh yes, I would.”

“You must say the words and ask me to begin your training.”

Again, Kathy lowered her eyes and appeared to be struggling with a thought but the bells drove everything from her head except their discordant sound. When she looked up at Gruber his eyes bore into her. She knelt before him and clasped her hands as if in prayer, “Please, Doctor Gruber, begin now to train me. I want to be the best, the very best. Please, Doctor, begin my training.”

“I will, my dear. Both Frederick and I will train you. One day you will proudly wear the mark of honor you wished for.” He patted her head, “Now go to meet one of your new masters, the Colonel.”

Kathy crawled to the door. Brian swung it open. Madam Brookmeir touched Gruber’s arm. “My God, she’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. “Far more beautiful than any of the others and they are all lovely.” They watched as Kathy crawled toward the cage that housed the massive animal. He stood up immediately and watched her approach. It was clear he recognized her as one of those who were brought to him to satisfy his lust.

He waited, panting. Kathy did not look up. When she was close to his cage, she turned and slowly drew her dress over her hips. She inched back until she felt the bars of his cage. They watched as she pressed her face to the floor and raised her ass. For several minutes the dog sniffed noisily. Then he did exactly as they had said. He growled and turned away from her.

Kathy rearranged her dress and crawled to the door. Madam Brookmeir nodded at Gruber. “She is, as I said, remarkably beautiful, but you know Doctor, this will not do. She’s deep into one of your hypnotic spells. There is no pleasure to be had in watching a mindless creature perform tricks. If you can bring the real Mrs. Ryan to the members you will, as I have said, be admired and praised and envied. If you present us with this,” she gestured toward Kathy who now knelt before them, “we will not accept it.”

“I understand,” Gruber said, somewhat chastened. “Frederick and I know what’s to be done. This woman will not embarrass us nor will she disappoint the members.”

“I’m sure you will succeed, Doctor. We’ve never known you to fail at anything.” She gestured toward the door. “My husband will take you back to the drawing room where you’ll be more comfortable. Please leave Mrs. Ryan here with Carmelita and me. Even though the poor woman is in a daze perhaps something of what she sees will register and help her to understand that we mean what we say.”

When they had departed and closed the door, Madam Brookmeir sat down on the only overstuffed chair in the room. She indicated Kathy was to take the wooden chair facing it. Carmelita began to tremble slightly and her face reddened. The older woman pointed to the floor between her legs. “My little Carmelita,” she cooed, “I think you know what you’re to do.”

Carmelita glanced at Kathy, then got to her knees before Madam Brookmeir who had pulled her short skirt up and spread her legs. She wore no undergarments. Unlike her blonde hair, the mass between her legs was thick and dark. She crooked a finger at the blushing girl. “Ask, my little pet, ask nice.”

Carmelita again stole a look at Kathy who sat straight up staring at them. She thought she caught a sign of recognition in Kathy’s eyes. The bells had stopped and Kathy was slowly returning to her lucid self. Knowing Kathy would understand and remember humiliated her even more. “Speak up!” Madam Brookmeir said sharply.

“Please, Madam, may I…may I…lick you?”

“First, tell me about your dear bother.”

Carmelita stiffened and tried to hold back the tears that were forming. “He was killed, Madam.”

“And who was responsible for his death, dear little one?”

After several moments Carmalita whispered, “You were, Madam.”

“And did you love your brother, my dear?”

Carmelita looked away then back at her tormentor, “I loved him with all my heart, Madam.”

“And what are you begging to do to the woman who sent that sterling young man to his death?” The girl sat silent, staring at the floor. “You know what happens to those who disobey? A video tape of their activities is sent home to the parents.” She waited. “I think we both know what you really want,” she said. She turned to Kathy, “For the first six months the threats were necessary and it was necessary to hobble her. But, Mrs. Ryan, neither are required now.” She smiled at Carmelita, “Isn’t that so, my pet?”

Carmelita blushed, “No, Madam, they are no longer necessary.” She looked at Kathy, “I am on my knees begging the woman who was responsible for my brother’s death to…to…permit me to lick her…lick her…cunt.”

“You’ve learned to love it, haven’t you? You look forward to these private moments of intimacy with me, don’t you?”