The Diaries of Ayesha

Vacations are wonderful. Returning from them is not.

In my case I returned to the Bank and found a large stack of reports and about sixty phone messages to deal with.

Miss Dawes was nowhere to be found however, and I had to deal with her phone traffic as well as my own, so it was a thoroughly frazzled Michael Forbin that picked up the phone when Devon Myers, the senior attorney of the Bank called.

"Is Miss Dawes in her office?", he asked with his usual urgency

"I haven't seen her at all today. I've been handling her phones, but nobody seems to know where she is."

"Damn !", he swore." I have a client lunch scheduled with her today. The new client insists on meeting with her before signing the contract."

"So you can't handle it? You're charming enough."

Snake charming that is, I thought.

"The client has a reputation for being somewhat mistrusting of lawyers. Of course, she used to be one.", he said self-depriciatingly.

"Friend of yours then.", I replied smugly.

"Study partner at Berkeley. Wait a minute. Can you take her to lunch as Miss Dawes's personal assistant?"

"I guess so. But I just came back from vacation so don't expect party manners just yet.", I agreed.

"Just don't slurp your soup in front of her.", he said. "I'll bring her down there in about ten minutes."

I used the ten minutes to clean up slightly and arrange to use a company car for a few hours.

My car is not suitable for human consumption, but suits me just fine.

I had just put on my coat as Devon came around the corner pushing a wheelchair with a dark haired young woman in it.

I'm not sure who started laughing first, her or I, but laugh we did to the utter confusion of Devon.

"We'll meet again, don't know where or when.", I said stretching out a hand to her.

"Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb.", Susan Bellamy said grasping it warmly.

"You two know each other?", Devon asked mystified.

"We met while I was on my vacation but I thought you lived in Sacramento?", I said.

"I was visiting a friend of the family. I live here in the City.", she said.

Devon, seeing he was out of his depth, withdrew gracefully with a reminder that I needed to bring her back to his office after lunch.

"How was your vacation?", she asked as we took the elevator down.

"It had it's moments. If you'd been on the train the next day you would have seen one that would curl your hair.", I said thinking of Mistress Tamara.

"So, were you surprised to see me?", I asked as we waited for our lunch to be served.

"Not really.", she said, looking out over the Bay.

I guess I must have looked surprised because she smiled at me widely.

"OK, I'll bite. Why not?"

She nibbled on a breadstick and then pointed it at me.

"When the car attendant on the train warned me about the bribe you slipped him, I asked him to check on you."

"And?", I asked intrigued. What could he have learned on a moving train about me?

"Well, he checked your name against the reservations system and told me that you had put the tickets on your company credit card. The rest was easy enough to find out when I got home."

I have to admit I was impressed.

"When you were practicing law did you have an investigator on your staff, or did you do it all yourself?", I asked shaking my head in amazement.

"My Uncle Jason was a police detective. I guess I spent too much time with him when I was a little girl. I wanted to be a cop, and my father insisted I become a lawyer. So being Daddy's dutiful little girl, I got my law degree instead."

"So why did you choose my company to handle your trust fund?", I asked.

"When you say 'my company' , you make it sound so personal. You just work there.", she observed.

"I don't even consider that I work for the Bank. I work for Miss Dawes.", I said proudly.

She sipped her wine and looked at me thoughtfully.

"Company loyalty or personal loyalty?", she asked after a moment.

"Miss Bellamy, I enjoy your company. And I don't wish to be offensive. But that is strictly my own business."

"Sorry.", she said with a slight blush. " To answer your question, I was considering moving my trust fund to a more progressive bank when I discovered you worked for one. When I found out that Devon worked there as well, I knew I could trust your money managers to do things properly."

Lunch arrived and she attacked her lobster like it was planning on returning the favor and boiling her in hot water sometime.

Over lunch we discussed a number of things unrelated to business. I gave her a little more detail on my vacation, leaving out the more lurid parts of course.

After all she was a lady.

Over dessert I expressed my concern about her parting quote on the train.

"Considering the man I saw you with, I was a bit worried.", I said.

"I'm sorry. Mr. Hahn is my personal attendant and he is a bit protective of me."

"Have you ever accidentally called him Lurch?", I asked.

She giggled at that idea.

"I don't think he'd appreciate it.", she replied.

"Well, keep him around and nobody will ask you to dance.", I said without thinking, and then winced as I realized my mouth speed exceeded my brain speed again.

"Even when I didn't have wheels, I didn't dance very well.", she replied without rancor.

I started to apologize and then decided against it. She'd probably heard too many of them.

When we got back to the Bank, Minx was waiting in Devon's office for us.

"Here she is Devon, safe, sound, and well fed.", I said following her as she wheeled herself into the room.

"I can see that. And on the company nickel too.", Minx said with an amused glint in her eye.

"Affairs of state, Miss Dawes. May I present Miss Bellamy? Miss Bellamy, Miss Dawes, CFO of Dawes, Jones, Mosley and Grubbs.", I said with a bow.

"I'm glad to have you with us Miss Bellamy.", Minx said offering her hand.

"I'm happy to move my account here. Your investment policies have been progressive but prudent, and are paying off better than average. I was very impressed by your investments in African mineral rights.", Susan said taking her hand and shaking it warmly.

"Well thank you.", Minx said in surprise." I see you did some research before you contacted us."

"She does that very well. Be afraid. Be very afraid.", I said with a wink in Minx's direction.

"Devon, do you have that contract?", Susan said turning to him.

"Right here.", he said and handed it to her with a pen.

She tried to get next to the desk to sign it, but the chair stopped her.

Minx ,of course, had a solution.

"Michael, bend over and let her use your back as a desk.", she directed.

I didn't even blink. If Devon said anything she'd have his balls for breakfast.

Susan braced the contract on me and signed it quickly.

"I didn't dot the 'i' 's ", she said. "I wouldn't want to ruin his shirt."

I got up and took the contract from her.

"Don't worry, I'd just bill the Bank for it.", I replied, and handed it back to Devon.

He took it and excused himself to file it.

"Well, thank you for the delightful lunch Mr. Forbin. Miss Dawes, take care of my money.", Susan said backing the chair up. "I've taken enough of your time today."

"Not at all. I appreciated a chance to get out.", I said.

"If we can provide any other services Miss Bellamy, just call us.", Minx offered.

"Thank you both. I'll say good bye to Devon on the way out.", she said and wheeled herself out of the office.

When we returned to Minx's office she did take the time to welcome me back before reviewing the status of the projects that had been waiting while I was on vacation.

The subject of Susan wasn't raised again until the end of the day after we had technically quit work.

"I understand that you met her on your vacation.", Minx said taking the tea I offered her as the sunset light filled her office.

"Yes I did. She needed the room I had booked on the train, so I swapped with her until we got to Sacramento. I will admit that I bribed a waiter to be seated with her at dinner.", I said.

"Why?", Minx asked curiously.

"It was kind of a challenge. You know me, hopelessly romantic. I thought she was an interesting young woman."

She smiled at me knowingly.

"And she needs a little help.", she said.

"I guess so. She's still a bit bitter about being in the chair. You know, people being too nice, or too condescending .I guess she gave up her law practice and withdrew after her accident." , I admitted.

"Michael, one of the reasons I do love you is your compassion for others, even when you don't show any to yourself at times.":, Minx replied, taking a cookie from the tea tray.

I blushed in response to that. I don't think I will ever deal with the subject of my innate goodness without blushing.

And that seemed to be the end of it so far as Minx was concerned.

Devon sent me an E-mail the next day thanking me for my assistance, but also reminding me of the conflict of interest rules in my relationship with Susan.

"What relationship are you talking about?", I asked him, frankly a little pissed off about his note.

"Well the two of you are friends and you have access to inside information. I only meant you couldn't discuss company business with her.", he protested lamely.

"Excuse me for the language Devon, but bullshit! If you want to apply that rule, you'd better give up golfing with your friends.", I warned.

"You don't have to be so defensive about it.", he said trying to placate me.

"I don't consider one dinner and one lunch a relationship, or even friends at this point. We were traveling companions and I did her a favor."

"OK, I was just trying to cover my ass and yours."

I started to walk out and then looked back at him.

"Devon, if I need my ass covered, I'm sure Miss Dawes will let me know. Mind your own business.", I snapped.

I was still pretty pissed off about the whole thing by the end of the day and George, the security guard at the main desk noticed it as I left.

"Bad day Mr. Forbin?", he asked as I signed out.

"Tell me something George. Are all lawyers assholes?", I replied.

"Not as many as it seems sometimes.", he said in reply.

By Friday, I'd gotten caught up on my work and was looking forward to two days of nonproductive downtime when Minx called me into the office.

"I understand that you and Devon had some words.", she said neutrally.

"Yes we did.", I agreed.

"He's right you know.", she said.

"He may be right, but I resent the implication that I can't keep my mouth shut. Or that something is going on between Susan Bellamy and I.", I said angrily

"I understand that. And he really wasn't trying to bust your ass and neither am I. Treat the information you get here the same way you do information about Ay'esha. What you see here, what you say here, what you do here, stays here."

"Will that be all Miss Dawes?", I asked stiffly.

"Yes Mr. Forbin. That will be all.", she said.

I was almost out the door before I heard her call to me.

"Michael ...", she said.

"Yes Ma'am?", I said stopping.

"I do love you."

"I know.", I said turning back towards her. "But I'm a little annoyed about this whole affair."

She nodded.

"You should have heard the fight my father and I had about my first boyfriend. He was right about him being unsuitable, but I really didn't appreciate the interference.", she said.

"How old were you?", I asked curiously.

"Twelve."

When I got home that night I kicked off my shoes, threw my tie on the table and changed into my grubby Star Fleet Academy sweats.

Phase two of the evening was laundry. I hate to do it, but going to work nude is against the rules.

I threw it in and emptied my travel bags from my vacation, carefully searching the pockets. I also made sure I didn't throw my red shirt in with the whites again.

The pink underwear problem is one that continues to haunt me to this very day.

As I sorted through the debris from my pockets I found the note from Susan with her phone number on it and decided to give her a call.

I figured it was Friday night and she'd probably be out, but what the hell.

I dialed the number and waited as it rang twice then was picked up.

"Bellamy residence.", A soft voice answered.

"This is Michael Forbin. Is Miss Bellamy available please.", I asked politely.

"I will see if she is accepting calls Sir."

There was a long pause and then Susan's cheerful voice came on the line.

"Hi! I didn't expect you to call.", she said.

"I didn't expect you would be at home on a Friday night.", I said.

"Why not?", she said surprised.

"It's just my luck. Whenever I call a girl on Friday night, she's either not at home, washing her hair, or has a date.", I said honestly.

"You're wrong this time.", she said.

"And pleasantly so. I was going to ask if you wanted to go out tomorrow night.", I said.

"Thank you, but I have other plans. Wait - " she hesitated

"Maybe some other time?", I asked.

"Would you like to go to a play with me tomorrow instead?" ,she continued.

"What play?", I asked. I'm not much of a theater person, and it's only by a direct order that Minx can get me to attend the opera with her.

"I've got tickets to HMS Pinafore for tomorrow night.", she offered.

"Have you been doing more research on me?", I teased.

"No. Why?"

"Because I love Gilbert and Sullivan. I'd love to. Where and when?"

"The Opera House. It's the traveling company of d'Oyly Carte performing."

For those of you who don't know, they are the premiere company performing Gilbert and Sullivan in the world, and the tickets are not easy to get.

"Should I meet you there?", I asked.

"We'll pick you up from your house around six. Maybe we can have a late supper after the play.", she replied.

"Just one thing. Do I have to dress, I mean how formal is this performance?"

She laughed.

"I'd love to see you in a tux after seeing you on the train. A true contrast of styles. Just dress nicely"

"Six tomorrow then. Wait a minute. Do you need the address?", I confirmed.

" Of course not. I had that the day I got off the train. See you tomorrow.", she said and hung up.

Damn the woman! I kept thinking of Walter Wart the Freaky Frog.

Always one jump ahead of the crowd.

By five thirty the next evening I was shaved, shorn, shoes were polished and I was in my tux.

Go ahead, make my day.

At six exactly there was a knock on the door and I opened it to find Mr.Hahn waiting for me.

I grabbed the roses I'd bought earlier and followed him to the van where he opened the door for me. I saw that van was nicely equipped with good carpeting, a wood paneled interior, a TV and VCR combo, and a set of locking clamps for her chair.

She was dressed in a black sheath dress and heels and shook her head as she looked at my attire.

"You had to do it didn't you?", she said taking the roses.

"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.", I said sitting down in the captains chair next to her.

"What's that quote from?", she asked as Mr. Hahn started the van.

"Dr. Murry Gell-Mann of CalTech. His personal motto.", I said.

"You went to Tech?"

"I hung around there when I was in high school. The nicest thing about CalTech is the attitude. If you want to learn, welcome aboard. I was allowed to sit in on some of the physics classes until I confused mass and rest mass. Then it was nicely suggested I leave until I had more of the basic background.", I explained.

"How did you wind up working as Miss Dawes' assistant with that sort of background?"

"That is a tale for another time.", I deferred. "In general I've worked as a computerman, doing support and programming. Spent a little time working for a newspaper, just a mixed bag of things."

She looked out the window at the passing scenery before turning back to me.

"Tell me something honestly. Why are you interested in me?"

I looked her right in the eye before answering.

"Because I think you are a very intelligent young woman and we have things in common. One of those things is an occasional problem with self pity and self doubt.", I said bluntly.

She started to reply then hesitated.

"Do I really come across that way?", she asked finally.

"Sometimes. You have problems accepting that people like you for you. They don't give a damn about the chair, and they aren't trying to be charitable to the quote, cripple, close quote.", I said.

"Boy, I'll never ask you to be honest with me again.", she said with just a touch of humor.

"Susan, I wouldn't be much of a friend, and I do want to be a friend to you, if I didn't answer you the best I can. I don't want you thinking I'm just being nice to the cripple.", I said.

"And you have moments where you doubt yourself and feel sorry for yourself?", she asked.

"Oh yeah. Probably more than you do and for reasons I consider far worse.", I admitted.

"Will you tell me about them?"

"Someday maybe. After all I have to keep some secrets. Otherwise, you won't have anything to dig for when you start investigating me again.", I smiled.

"Smart ass."

"At your service."

When we arrived at the Opera House Mr. Hahn pulled to a stop in front and then got out of the van to lower the ramp for the chair.

She unlocked her own clamps and rolled herself down the ramp with me following and then allowed me to push her up the ramp to the main entrance.

The opera house was filled much the same as it was before when Minx and I attended, but this time the crowd was a little less formally dressed.

In fact Susan and I were slightly overdressed, but it didn't matter to us.

The usher directed us to our seats that were about the middle of the house on the isle and Susan locked her wheels so that she'd stay in place. I kept waiting for Mr. Hahn to appear but he didn't. I finally asked about him.

"Oh he decided that he'd rather sit this one out. So it's just you and I", she said, as the music started.

By intermission we had both laughed and clapped so hard we were weak and I almost couldn't push her up the aisle to the foyer.

I fetched her a glass of wine and a coffee for myself and we were discussing the merits of some of the other Gilbert and Sullivan plays when That Voice called for my attention.

"Good evening Miss Tamara.", I said without turning.

She joined us and smiled at Susan.

"Who is your charming friend?", Tamara asked waving an unlit cigarette in her holder around. She was dressed in a men's tux and was about as butch as when she pimped me out.

"Miss Bellamy, this is a friend of Miss Dawes, Tamara. Miss Tamara, this is Miss Bellamy, the young lady from the train I spoke to you of.", I said, trying to put as polite a face on it as I could.

"Oh yes.", Mistress Tamara said. "Darling, you did miss quite a good time by not staying on the train.", she said to Susan.

Susan surveyed her casually before replying.

"I'm sure I did, but the time I spent with him was quite pleasant."

"But he was so beautiful in his corset ..", she started to say and then caught the sick look on my face.

Susan just looked at me speculatively and then back at Tamara.

"Probably better than you do in that tux.", she said with an evil smile.

Tamara didn't bother to respond to than comment, just nodded stiffly and walked outside to smoke. And probably steam from Susan's remark.

Susan just watched her go and sipped her wine, but I could see the amusement in her eyes.

We returned to the theater for the second act of Pinafore and as usual  I had a hard time keeping a straight face as Captain Corcoran brought out the cat of nine tails during one of the songs.

Susan noticed my reaction and smiled softly at me as the play went on.

After the play I rolled her out of the building and onto the sidewalk to wait for Mr. Hahn to arrive with the van. The other people waiting for their rides swarmed around us and jostled the chair making Susan uncomfortable.

I finally started being rude to people and pushed her out of the crowd and down the street.

"The hell with this.", I said." Let's get dinner. I know a nice little deli that has the best pastrami you ever tasted."

Before she could object we were cutting our way through the grounds of City Hall and up the Polkstrasse as some of the locals call it.

She ordered gefelte fish and mazoh ball soup and I had a pastrami and we both ordered a plain seltzer.

"You were right, the food here is terrific. I just wish the neighborhood was a little nicer.", she said looking out of the patio at the passing people.

"Come on now, you were a lawyer you've met worse.", I teased.

I could see her mood shift when I said that.

"Sorry, I'll lay off the lawyer jokes.", I apologized.

She shook her head.

"It's not the jokes. It's what you said about worse people. I know there are.", she said trembling.

I placed my hand on her arm.

"Tell me about it.", I said softly.

"I can't.", she refused continuing to look into the street.

"I'll make you a deal. You tell me one of your secrets and I'll tell you one of mine.", I offered.

She looked me and frowned.

"You mean your penchant for dressing up, or your interest in whips? Not much of a secret there.", she said.

I looked into her eyes.

"I'll tell you of how I came to work for Miss Dawes. You will be one of the few people who knows the real story.", I said confidentially.

She considered my words for a few minutes then looked away.

"All right. You want to know why I'm in this chair? Because of worse people."

She abruptly wheeled away from the table to a cigarette machine and bought a pack. I decided this was no time to be a health nut, and lit it for her when she returned.

"I was fresh out of law school. I didn't want to follow in Daddy's footsteps and be a corporate lawyer, I wanted to make my own way. I'd majored in criminal law in school and decided I'd defend the poor and downtrodden."

She drew deeply on her cigarette and coughed.

"Sorry. I gave them up, but occasionally I need to smoke. Anyway, I opened my little office and started soliciting business. I'd handled a few minor criminal cases, shoplifting, auto theft, nothing major really.

"Then I had a visit from some men with foreign connections, we'll say. They wanted me to defend one of their associates on a murder charge. They promised me a good sized fee if I won the case.

"And I lost. The State had this guy six ways from Sunday. He was so stupid, he still had the gun in his car."

She closed her eyes in pain at the memory.

"I told his associates I'd done my best. They didn't say anything one way or the other. And the next night as I walked up to my apartment building ,two men stopped me. One of them knocked me down while the other kicked me in the back and kept kicking me. I felt a crack and then I couldn't feel my legs anymore.

She looked into my eyes , and I saw the tears pooling in them, and then they started rolling down her cheeks.

"They just left me there. I laid there all night, calling for help. Nobody heard me. The next morning a garbage man found me and called for help."

"Did you tell the police what happened?", I asked, drying her eyes with a napkin.

"Sure I told them. And they said they'd find my attackers. I even told them who hired me to handle the case."

She took another deep drag on the cigarette.

"They didn't do shit. They never found a connection to the client and basically wrote it off. I was attacked by 'person or persons unknown' .", she said breathing smoke.

"What about your family?", I asked.

"Oh Daddy did right by me. Set up a trust fund, offered me a job in his office. Uncle Jason offered to use his connections to find the two men. And he tried, he really did. But he never managed to prove anything or even find a connection."

I sat there silently, anger building in me. I gave up expecting justice many years ago after the death of my wife.

But I also believed in the Eleventh Commandment.

"Thou shalt not get away with it."

"Now it's your turn. How did you wind up working for Miss Dawes?", she asked stubbing the cigarette out.

I looked her in the eyes.

"Consider this attorney/client privilege. What I'm going to tell you should never be repeated to anyone, but you won't believe it anyway.", I said seriously.

"What did you do? Kill someone to get the job?", she asked half seriously.

"Not exactly, although there is a death involved in the story."

She raised her right hand.

"I swear I won't tell anybody. Now tell me.", she swore.

And I did. I told her of the night Mistress Minx took me from a dark road and brought me into her world. I told her of my guilt for my wife's death and of Minx's forgiveness. I told her of my oath to serve Minx and Ay'esha.

And when I was done she stared at me silently.

"That is the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard!", she said in anger.

"I told you that you wouldn't believe it.", I said without blinking.

"And you expect me to believe that you are her slave and that there is a group of women secretly running the word?", she said her voice becoming louder.

"It won't be a secret much longer if you raise your voice much more.", I said reasonably.

She pushed herself back from the table and wheeled the chair out the door as I followed her.

"I'm going home Mr. Forbin.", she said icily. "I'm sure you can find a taxi."

"Susan, I told you the truth. Check it for yourself. You've got a talent for research. Check into my past. You'll find a missing period of time where I'm supposedly out of the country. ", I said.

She stopped the chair abruptly.

"If you are a member of this group, I'm sure you can prove it some other way.", she sneered.

I reached inside my shirt and removed the medallion from around my neck and handed it to her reverently.

She examined it in the neon lights of a storefront and read the inscription carefully before handing it back.

"Nice work. But it doesn't prove anything.", she rebuked.

I followed her back to the Opera House where Mr. Hahn was sitting in the van waiting for us. She ignored his assistance and wheeled herself into the van and activated the ramp, leaving me standing outside.

As Mr. Hahn drove her off I saw her looking at me with utter contempt from the window.

I didn't hear anything from her the next day, but Monday morning Minx called me into her office.

"What were you doing with Susan Bellamy on Saturday night?", she asked looking out the window.

"We were attending a performance of HMS Pinafore, then went to dinner.", I answered. I figured that Mistress Tamara must have complained about my actions.

"I know that much. What happened afterwards?", she said, still not looking at me.

"We talked about things.", I said cautiously.

"What things?", she replied.

"She told me about her accident."

Minx turned and faced me and I could see how angry she was.

"And you told her of Ay'esha.", she spat.

"Yes, but she didn't believe me.", I admitted.

She slammed her fist down on the desk making her tea cup jump.

"And if she had? M-5, you broke security on Ay'esha. It's not like the web site where you change the names and places. This is a very intelligent, talented woman. What if her beliefs are not the same as ours? What if she'd prefer to serve Lydia and Kali instead?

"This is potentially very serious Michael. She called here this morning and talked to me and asked if there was any truth to it."

"And what did you tell her?", I asked cautiously.

She frowned.

"I told her ...", she hesitated for a moment, " the truth. Yes. And I invited her to my house for dinner tonight to discuss it. I expect you there at eight and you will be prepared to serve the both of us, if she so desires."

"May I speak?", I asked timidly.

"Yes Michael. I'd really like to hear what you have to say.", she said sitting down and staring at me with a hard cold look that promised severe punishment later.

I told her about Susan's accident and her frustration at never being able to prove that her client's associates had crippled her.

"Mistress, this is a woman who has been wronged and has lost faith in the basic rightness of things. Ay'esha has at its core, compassion and a devotion to right. Your compassion binds me to you and to Ay'esha. I didn't expose Ay'esha lightly. Isn't this a case where we have to take a stand and do the right and proper thing, despite the danger.", I pleaded.

Minx's hard look softened as I argued my case.

"Are you asking Ay'esha to find the people who hurt her and bring them to justice?", she asked in a moderate tone.

"I suppose I am. I know, I know. We do not interfere. But I'm asking for this favor. Help her please.", I admitted.

"Do you love her Michael?", Minx asked.

"I don't know. But I feel for her. What if it was you? You'd expect me to find the people and do whatever was necessary."

She looked out the window again before answering.

"I suppose I would. Very well then, I'll look into it. If nothing else, we can use the information to buy Susan Bellamy's silence."

I sighed in relief.

"You are not off the hook yet M-5. I'm going to cane your ass until you have a set of stripes like a zebra for this.", she said. "Now get out and go back to work. I need to think."

I didn't expect any relief at dinner that night, and I was right.

Minx sat at the head of the table and Susan sat at her right. I was banished to the foot of the table and for the most part ignored.

Minx's latest house slave was fully dressed in consideration of Susan's presence, and served dinner to the two women.

Mine was served to me in a dog bowl, but at least I got to sit at the table.

I could see Susan's expression grow uncomfortable with Minx's treatment of me even in the flickering candlelight, and she finally put her fork down and commented on it.

"Miss Dawes, is it really necessary to humiliate him this way. He had the best of intentions when he told me his story.", she asked.

Minx looked at her coldly.

"He had no right to do so. And because of it, he will be punished. I would like you to witness it, so that you will understand how seriously Ay'esha considers things like this."

"If it's all the same to you, I would rather not. Is this the loving woman he told me about, or is that a pose you used to break his spirit, to brainwash him?", Susan refused.

Minx rose from her chair.

"What right do you have to question the way I handle my slave? He's mine to do with as I please.", Minx said harshly.

"He is a human being. He did it because of his concern for me. I needed to talk and he was there to listen. He could have lied. I thought he was lying to me when I called you.", Susan argued.

"He has been trained not to lie to a woman. But he has shown poor judgment in discussing Ay'esha with you. And he will be punished."

Minx walked to the umbrella stand in the corner of the dining room and withdrew a bamboo cane.

"M-5, strip and assume the position NOW!", she ordered.

I quickly stripped and knelt before her, my head facing towards the door and my ass facing Minx and Susan.

Minx raised the cane and I heard the swish as Susan cried "NO!"

The cane slammed into my ass and I felt the first rush of blood into the stripe.

"One, Mistress.", I said through clenched teeth.

I heard the sound of the rubber wheels of the chair on the wooden floor as the second blow landed.

"Two, Mistress.", I moaned.

"I said NO!", Susan repeated and heard the sound of an open hand striking flesh. I peered into the reflection of the china cabinet ahead of me and saw reflected, Susan's hand holding Minx's arm back keeping her from striking the blow.

Minx relaxed and lowered the arm slowly as Susan released it and took the cane from her.

"I've seen enough. If this is what Ay'esha is like, I want no part of it. I'm taking Michael away from here with me.", Susan said in anger.

"Michael, do you wish to go with her?", Minx asked in an amused tone.

I rolled over gingerly and looked at her.

"No, Mistress. But could I have a pillow to sit on please?", I asked wincing at the pain.

"Of course.", she said kindly. "Miriam, please get a pillow for Michael.", she called into the kitchen to the waiting slave girl.

She turned to Susan and extended her hand.

"Susan, I'm sorry we had to do this to you., but we had to make sure.", Minx explained.

Miriam brought me a soft feather pillow and I slipped it under my ass and looked at Susan.

"Sure of what?", she asked looking at the smile on my face.

"Sure that you understood what Ay'esha stands for. I'd no more beat him than I would a dumb animal. I will correct him, but I won't just beat him.", Minx explained.

"Mistress Minx would like you to join Ay'esha and work with us.", I explained as Susan looked confused.

"But, why? I can't tie people up and beat them, which is something I gather you do ", she stammered.

"Why not?", Minx asked.

"You know why not. A, what do you call it, Dominatrix in a wheelchair? Impossible."

"Not all who are members of Ay'esha are Dominants. There are submissives and switches and there are people who don't play at all. No, you might not be able to be a Dominatrix ,but you are very good at what you do. Research. We could use someone like you working for us.", Minx said confidently.

Susan rolled her chair away from us and faced out into the garden, visible through the side window of the room, lit only by moonlight..

"Do you know what you're asking me to do.", she finally said without turning.

I stood up ,and at a nod from Minx, carefully got dressed again.

"Yes we do. We're asking you to take part in the world again. We're asking you to feel. And we're offering nothing in return except a chance to make a difference.", I said.

"A chance to feel. Do you know what those words sound like to a cripple?", she said bitterly.

"Yes. We're all crippled in some way. I was crippled by guilt and isolated myself from the world. You are in a wheelchair, crippled by the actions of criminals, and isolate yourself from the world in a different way.", I said softly.

She spun the chair around and the tears spilled from her eyes in painful sobs.

Minx went to her and held her in her arms, as she had held me that night so long ago. As she did so, I knelt before Susan and put my hand on her leg and squeezed gently, knowing she couldn't feel it, but likewise knowing she sensed my presence.

A long time later, the tears spent, I carried an exhausted Susan Bellamy, the newest Daughter of Ay'esha to Minx's bedroom to sleep, cradled in my Mistress' sheltering arms.

Miriam, dressed in her French maid outfit came into the study a few minutes later with a tray with a carafe and cup on it and set it down on the table.

"Good morning Master Michael.", she said pouring my coffee for me.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that.", I said taking the cup from her. "It makes me nervous."

"The Mistress prefers that you be called Master when we are alone together. You are hers and that gives you power over me in her absence.", she said kneeling before me.

"But I don't wanna be a guest of honor!", I thought as I sipped the coffee and nibbled on the fresh croissant she had included on the tray.

"Is the Mistress awake yet?", I asked.

"Yes Master. She is having her breakfast in the garden. The new Mistress is still in bed. I moved her chair upstairs and with your permission, I will return to her, to assist her as I can."

"Very well.", I said feeling like Jean-Luc Picard, "Make it so."

She rose to her feet and curtsied before leaving and I watched her leave the room.

It's a good thing Minx can't read my mind all the time, or I'd be in even deeper shit than usual.

I put my shoes back on, having slept in my clothes, and went into the garden where I found Minx only half involved with her breakfast, and totally involved with a conversation she was having on the phone.

"Devon, I don't give a shit what you want. I'm telling you what I want. And you WILL do it MY way!", she snarled into the phone as she indicated I should sit at the table with her.

I snarfed a piece of her bacon from her plate as she continued to talk to Devon.

"That is correct. I want all of the court records for Bellamy and Ameche for the last ten years examined. I want any, and I mean ANY, shady deals with mob type people outlined. And while you're doing that, also check into any felony cases that Miss Bellamy might have handled with her firm as well. I want a full profile on these people on my desk by five o'clock this evening.", she said, changing her tone to the one that scared me every time. "Is that perfectly clear?"

It must have been, because after another minute of anguished noises from the phone she hung up.

"Goddess, I love doing that to him.", she said calmly.

"And I'm not supposed to pick on him?"", I replied.

"I'm the boss. Rank Hath It's Privileges , Michael.", she said sweetly.

"How did you sleep last night?", I asked changing the subject.

"If you're asking what happened, nothing. If you're asking how we slept, we slept fine." , Minx said pointedly.

"Methinks she doth protest too much.", I said innocently.

"Michael...", she said warningly.

"Nicht schissen.", I said raising my hands in surrender." I take it you're starting the investigation today."

"Yes. I want Devon to check her father's records as well as hers to see if there is a tie in. I don't expect he'll find anything in a day, but by having him include her father's records, he'll never know we're checking on Susan specifically.", she said.

"And it does make more work for him."

"That too."

We were joined a few minutes later by Susan, dressed in one of Minx's silk robes, being pushed along by Miriam. She looked rested and happy and as she was wheeled up to the table I could see new hope in her eyes.

"Good morning Miss Dawes, Michael.", she said.

"Good morning Susan. I hope you slept well.", Minx said rising slightly to greet her.

"Very well. I appreciated Miriam's assistance with my bath this morning. Somewhat nicer than Mr. Hahn's method.", she said.

"Did she scrub your back?", I asked and was kicked under the table by Minx in response.

"Actually she offered to, but I'm a little shy with strangers.", she said blushing slightly while Miriam cast her eyes downward modestly. "She did move me downstairs in a fireman's carry. Very ingenious."

"Miriam, you could have come out here and asked Michael to carry her down.", Minx scolded.

"That's my fault. I saw the two of you together from the window and didn't want to disturb you.", Susan apologized.

"Miriam, fetch Michael his breakfast .. on a plate this morning", Minx said with a smirk in my direction, " and get Mistress Susan whatever she would like."

"This is going to sound silly but, I'd really like a smoked kipper. I haven't had one in ages. But I don't suppose you'd have anything like that.", Susan said wistfully.

"Smoke me a kipper, Skipper. I'll be back in time for breakfast.", I mumbled to myself.

"Check in the freezer Miriam. I believe that when Dr. Ruth was here I had some put away for her.", Minx directed.

"Yes Mistress. What else would you like Mistress Susan?", Miriam asked.

Susan looked at her and then at the two of us.

"An English muffin with orange marmalade, two pouched eggs, and a pot of tea.", she directed.

"Will that be English Breakfast , Ceylon, Green, Earl Gray, Orange Spice, Pekoe or Darjeeling tea Mistress?" Miriam asked carefully.

"Is she serious?", Susan asked Minx.

"Very."

"Darjeeling, with lemon.", Susan said finally.

"Yes Mistress.", Miriam replied with a curtsy and left for the house.

"You know, I could get to like this.", Susan said watching Miriam walk away.

"When I've finished training her, I'll give her to you if you like. She really is a treasure.", Minx offered.

"I'm not so sure about that.", Susan said hesitantly. "I've never owned a slave before. In fact it's hard for me even to say the word 'slave' without seeing an image from Uncle Tom's Cabin in my head."

"It's not much different than having an old family retainer. Miriam serves me well, she receives room and board and a small allowance. When I don't need her she is free to do as she likes.", Minx explained.

"That's true. When my Mistress first trained me I did all the housework for her and did the cooking. And I was given an allowance for books and music. She treated me very kindly after I stopped being such an asshole.", I amplified.

"You weren't an asshole Michael. You were just scared and uncertain. After all, I did kidnap you.", Minx reminded me.

"Are you serious?", Susan exclaimed." You kidnapped him?"

"I told you that Saturday night.", I pointed out smugly.

"But that's illegal!", she continued.

"And immoral and probably fattening.", I replied." And the second best thing that ever happened to me in my life."

"What was the first?", she asked.

"My marriage."

I guess Susan's ability to accept six impossible things before breakfast tripped out, because she didn't say anything for a long time.

After breakfast, she resumed her questioning of us.

"How long have you been her slave?", Susan continued as we returned to the house.

"Awhile.", I said evasively.

"And you've always served her?", she pressed.

"I've served others at her command, but I was collared by her.", I replied.

Miriam brought Susan's clothing downstairs and assisted her to dress in the privacy of the downstairs bathroom, while I went upstairs and shaved and showered for work.

I may be Minx's pet, but I am expected to work.

I arrived late of course, and had to plow through Minx's, I mean Miss Dawes' , voice mail and EMAIL.

Devon came in to my area about noon looking for her with the expression of a doomed man.

"I need to see Miss Dawes.", he said.

"She's not here yet. Anything I can do?", I asked.

"She wanted some research delivered by the end of the day. There's no way I can do it.", he said.

"Then you'd better plan on chasing ambulances for a living. You know how she is. If she wants it by a certain time, it had better be ready.", I said straight faced, but smirking inside.

"I can't give her what I can't get.", he replied.

"What do you need?", I asked innocently.

"Oh, Miss Dawes wanted me to do a background check on Susan Bellamy and her father's law firm for some reason. No problem with his, but when I checked on Susan's, I hit a brick wall on her last case."

"What was it?"

He looked at me and shook his head.

"You don't need to know.", he replied.

"Devon, you know I'm going to read the report anyway. So just tell me."

He sighed.

"She was defending a man named Yakov Zilenski on a murder charge. The State convicted him and just after that she retired from the legal profession. Had some kind of an accident and broke her back.", he explained.

"So what did you find out about the guy?", I asked, mentally crossing my fingers.

"That's where I hit the wall. I couldn't find out anything really. There was a rumor about him though."

"Devon, I don't work for the Psychic Friends Network. What is it?", I said tiredly.

"Seregi Rudenko, the guy who owns Rudenko Imports, you've heard of him?"

"The guy who imports old Russian uniforms and stuff and sells them as collectors items? That Rudenko?"

"Same guy. He's got a reputation as being a real hard man. Anyway, the rumor is that this Zilenski guy crossed him on something.", Devon added.

"What about the guy that Zilenski shot?", I asked.

"He worked for Rudenko as a security guard."

"Self defense maybe?", I asked.

"According to the report, Zilenski shot the other guy in cold blood and then just drove home. Didn't even get rid of the gun."

"Thanks Devon. I'll try and keep Miss Dawes off your back about things. Just get the stuff you can ready for her."

"OK, I owe you one.", he said gratefully.

He left the office leaving me to think. Russians. Or possibly Russian Mafia.

Every group has it's little subgroup of headbashers, the Italians have the Cosa Nostra, the Japanese the Yakuza , us of course with the Mob and now the Russians. Most of the criminal groups can be predicted and they do actually operate from a code of ethics.

The Russian Mafia however was a different story.

Mostly ex-KGB goons, they'd kill anybody for a price and nothing would make them talk to the police.

I picked up the phone and called Devon's office.

"Hey Devon. Where is that Zilenski guy now?", I asked when he answered.

"I'll have to check around. Why?"

"Just curious. Thanks."

When Mistress Minx arrived at the office a couple of hours later I briefed her on what Devon had so far.

"Russian Mafia? What a fucking mess!", she swore startling me with her language.

"Sorry about that. Now what?", I asked.

"I'll pass the information to the Mother of Many. I don't think we can do very much right now."

"So he gets away with it?", I said sourly.

"I don't know. Michael. Just wait and see. Susan has waited this long for justice. A little longer won't hurt.", she reproved.

Devon presented his report and his apologies at five, as requested and Minx took the slim folder of information and flipped through it.

"Thank you Devon. I appreciate this.", she said, handing it to me.

Devon thanked her for her understanding and started to leave then stopped.

"Miss Dawes, may I ask why you're interested in the Bellamy family?", he asked.

"I'm considering adding Miss Bellamy to the Research department.", Minx said.

"I see. Thank you.", he said and left.

"I'll scan this and send it down to the Rancho.", I said walking towards my office with the file.

"Stop right there Michael.", Minx snapped.

I turned and looked at her in confusion.

"I'll handle that file myself.", she said getting up from her desk and taking it from me. "You might be tempted to make a copy for yourself and do something stupid."

"Since when have I done anything stupid?", I protested.

"I seem to recall you having a drunken Russian punch out my former Master.", she said sweetly.

"I gave into an impulse. So sue me.", I said.

"I'm going to make sure you don't have another.", she said." Go home."

I didn't see Mistress Minx for the rest of the week other than at work, and the both of us were up to our hips in paperwork concerning the change of government in Hong Kong and the Bank's long term investments in Asia. Not to mention the money Ay'esha had in those markets. If you've ever heard the expression "Chinese Fire Drill", you can understand. Susan returned to her daily routine, and I just mentally twiddled my thumbs the rest of the time.

When Friday rolled around I was somewhat surprised to have Minx suggest I take Susan out on Saturday night.

"I want you to take her to Sin.", she said.

"Susan is, well , she's a virgin to the Scene. I'm not so sure it's a good idea right now.", I said seriously.

Minx sighed in annoyance.

"Michael, if she's going to be involved with Ay'esha, she at least has to be able to deal with the Scene. Sin is the best place for her to be exposed to it."

"And if she has a problem with it?"

"Then you leave. "

"OK, but I won't enjoy it.", I said glumly

"Trust me. You will.", she said knowingly.

Minx was generous enough to loan me the company limousine and Miriam to drive for us the next night, and I'd discovered that Minx had already made arrangements with Susan to go with me.

I also discovered that Minx hadn't gone into detail about the club with Susan.

"I'm surprised that you didn't call me last week.", she said, as we drove towards the club.

"I wasn't sure I should to be honest. I kind of dragged you into a hornet's nest by telling you about Ay'esha.", I apologized.

"Michael, I'm excited about it. The idea of being a member of a secret organization, I mean, I don't know what to say about that.", she gushed.

"As little as possible. But I know what you mean. The first time I was permitted to go into the field on an assignment, I kept hearing 'Secret Agent Man" in my head the whole time.", I cautioned.

"What is this place like?", Susan asked.

"Well, think of the Cantina in Star Wars but with more leather.", I said after a moment's thought.

"Sounds like fun.", she said.

I guess I looked at her strangely and she laughed at my expression.

"What, you didn't think I was at least familiar with places like we're going to?", she said amused.

"I guess I'm guilty of making a snap judgment. From the way you reacted at Minx's, I had the impression you weren't, or at least didn't care for it."

"I just didn't want to watch you get beaten for doing what you thought was right. Does it still hurt?", she asked concerned

"A bit. The bruises are just starting to come up. She wields a mean cane when she's punishing me.", I said.

"I gathered that. Do she do that to you very often?"

"No, thank the Goddess. I have to really screw the pooch for that kind of punishment. I'm pretty well behaved for the most part.", I said in reverent tones.

"Why do you let her do that to you?", she finally asked.

I looked at her mildly.

"I took an oath to obey her and agreed to accept her punishments. A deal is a deal.", I explained.

"I guess I really don't understand then.", she admitted.

"Susan, in some ways you are like the student who asked the teacher to tell him all the knowledge of the world, while standing on one foot. It takes time.

"For me, my service and acceptance of her orders is as natural as breathing. In one case I had to decide if her life was worth more than mine. It was and is, so I acted accordingly and almost did get killed for it."

"That's terrible!", she exclaimed.

"Is it? ", I replied calmly. "Is a man who dies trying to save the life of a small child who is drowning doing a terrible thing? He decided that the life of the child was worth the risk. My wife wanted to have my baby. The chances were against her, but she decided to do it anyway. She felt it was worth the risk. And she was wrong. She died."

"You could have stopped her.", Susan insisted.

"Do I have the right to determine the actions of another person who is making a free choice? In my mind, no."

"But Minx controls your actions.", she protested.

"Didn't your mother control yours when you were a child?"

"Yes, but I didn't know any better."

"And I control my own actions, except where they conflict with Minx's or Ay'esha's needs. It's like being in the Army. You may not agree with the orders, but you are obliged to carry them out to the best of your ability.", I explained.

"I guess I just don't understand. I'm sorry.", she said shaking her head.

"No hurry.", I said, pulling out my pocket watch and looking at it. "We've got some time before things really get going. How about some dinner?"

"Sure. Did you have some place in mind?", she asked.

"Not really. What about you?"

"Any place is good for me."

I pressed on the intercom button.

"Miriam, pick a good place for dinner. You may indulge yourself.", I said.

"Yes Master.", she replied and the car turned towards the Bridge.

"It's in her hands now.", I said leaning back.

"Master?", Susan asked.

"Minx's orders. She is required to call all of her superiors Mistress or Master. In fact she would be required to call a trained slave Mistress or Master at this point. She's still leaning her trade.", I explained.

"So if you told her she had to do something she would have to do it?"

"Or if you did."

Susan got a thoughtful and then an evil look on her face.

"So if I told her to pull over and stop then get out and strip in public she would?", she asked.

"If you told her to yes - but ..", I cautioned.

"I knew there was something. But what?", she said.

"What if the cops arrest her? What if someone assaults her? With privilege goes responsibility. Are you prepared to protect her if necessary?", I queried.

"I think I see your point now. You trust Minx to protect you."

"Give the lady a cookie. That is exactly why I serve her. She protected me and I shall protect her. Sine die.", I said with a salute.

The car passed over the Bridge and I could tell from the turn that Miriam picked that we were headed for a little town on the bay that had a number of Italian restaurants that both Minx and she were fond of.

The car pulled to a stop and Miriam opened the door of the limo, deftly removed Susan's portable wheelchair and lifted her into it.

I followed the two women as we were greeted warmly by the owner of the place, Antonio.

His booming Italian accented laugh followed us as his daughter seated us at a window table, looking over the Bay towards the City, and handed us menus.

"My father just made fresh lasagna.", she said, "and the bread is fresh too."

I looked the two women with me and nodded.

"Two lasagnas for the ladies and a spaghetti with meat balls for me. And remind your father to hold the cheese on it. You remember the last time.", I warned.

"He does too. Miss Dawes was pretty upset.", she said laughing at the memory.

"Well, the last thing I need is Proxmire's Syndrome.", I said sighing.

She nodded and left, then returned with fresh Italian bread and garlic butter.

"What's Proxmire's Syndrome?", Susan asked curiously.

"Well you know what cheese does to some people? Does the reverse to me.", I explained.

"Oh.", she said and blushed slightly.

I smiled at her.

"You know, you're cute when you blush.", I said.

The blush got even deeper and even Miriam began to smile at it.

"Stop that.", Susan giggled.

"Yes Mistress.", I replied submissively.

That changed the giggle to a full laugh.

"Michael, you are a tease. Mistress.", she said again, rolling the words over her tongue like a fine wine.

"When you are a Daughter of Ay'esha, Dom , sub, or otherwise, you deserve to be addressed as Mistress.", I said honestly.

Miriam nodded in agreement and started to speak, then looked at me for permission.

"Go ahead Miriam. Unless Mistress Susan or I tell you otherwise, you may speak freely.", I acknowledged.

"Thank you Master. Master Michael is right Mistress. While I am require to address my superiors as Mistress or Master, as he is male, he is required to address all women in Ay'esha, unless otherwise instructed, as Mistress.", Miriam explained.

"This is confusing.", Susan said shaking her head. "Even if you are a slave, he is still required to call you Mistress when you, what would you call it, graduate?"

"Yes, Mistress. As a sign of respect. To be accepted into Ay'esha at any level is a great honor for a woman or a man. For a woman, it means she is entitled to share in the protection of the world, as a mother protects her children. For a man, it means he has proven his ability and his love for a woman. He is willing to sacrifice for the goal of protecting the world from harm.", Miriam explained proudly.

"Sidney Carlton understood the attitude very well. The needs of the many.", I said, thinking back to my earliest days with Mistress Minx.

"Has it ever occurred to you that you're a little weird with that attitude in this day and age.", Susan said as we relaxed after dinner.

"Don't say weird. Say maladjusted.", I said casually.

"Why?"

"I prefer it. Hand me the check will you?", I replied, pointing towards the bill.

We got up and I thanked Antonio for the fine meal and we returned to the City with full stomachs and high expectations as we plunged into the depths of Sin.

The club was reasonably crowded when we arrived, but Miriam pushed Susan's chair through the crowd and into the back room. Miriam excused herself and disappeared into the backstage area leaving me with Susan.

"It's a little noisy in here.", she said, looking around at the men and women in various states of undress.

"It gets that way until the show starts. Then you could hear a pin drop.", I said, nodding to one of the regular participants as she walked by leading her slave on a leash.

"Out without your Mistress tonight?", she asked looking at where I crouched next to Susan.

"My Mistress for this evening is here. This is Mistress Susan. Mistress Susan, Mistress Elaine.", I said and mouthed the word "no" at Susan.

"I'm pleased to meet you. This is my first time here, and I'm very interested in things.", she said offering her hand.

Mistress Elaine just looked down at the outstretched hand and ignored it.

"I hope you find it to your liking.", she said coolly and walked away, tugging on her slaves' lead.

Susan just looked after her and then looked at me.

"Bitch. ", she said.

"I agree. She's not one of my favorite people. Incidentally good job with the introduction. I forgot to warn you that a large number of people here are not of Ay'esha and you shouldn't mention it at all. Most of the people here know Mistress Minx, but many don't know her real name or that she is of Ay'esha. And we keep it that way for obvious reasons."

"I thought so.", she said nodding.

Miriam returned from backstage wearing a purple silk corset that forced her breasts outward and exposed her pierced nipples to view and five inch high spike heels.

The waitress passed through and I ordered coffee for myself and soft drinks for the girls.

She knelt on the other side of Susan facing the stage and placed her hands palms up on her knees as we had both been trained as the lights dimmed and the music started.

Mei Ling led Tammi, my former nurse and bed companion onto the stage.

"Did you know about this?", Susan hissed in the darkened room.

"I warned you it could get kind of wild. Tammi loves being tied and whipped and teased. And The Master is very good at it.", I said keeping my eyes on the two women.

She settled down and gulped her drink and sat back to watch.

Mei Ling took Tammi and chained her to the bondage frame on the stage with her ass exposed to the room, then started flogging her, slowly and sensualy.

The reddening of Tammi's back and ass spread until it was an even shade all over her exposed flesh.

Mei Ling rang her leather gloved had between Tammi's legs and showed the wetness to the room and laughed mockingly at her.

"Such a perverted little slut, getting aroused by pain.", she said.

She released the chains and turned her to face the room and then rechained her. She started the process with the whip again and I could see Mei Ling's and Tammi's nipples start swelling in arousal from their passionate play.

She pulled at Tammi's nipples with her gloved hand, then taking a lighted candle started dripping wax on her.

I snuck a glance at Susan. She was watching raptly, entranced by the beauty of the two women contrasted with the dark tortures being inflicted.

When Tammi's nipples were completely coated in hot wax, Mei Ling peeled it off with a knife and threw it into the crowd.

The lights dimmed and they were gone from the stage.

Susan looked at me and then down at Miriam who was sweating slightly from watching the scene. Miriam looked back up at her with a slight blush of her own.

"That was .. incredible." , Susan finally said. "I've never seen anything like it."

"I'm still amazed every time I see them together.", I said, sipping my now cold coffee.

"Do you know them? Are they friends of Minx's?"

"Tammi was my nurse and my housemate when I had my accident. She isn't of Ay'esha although she was trained by Minx as her slave. The Master on the other hand. .. well I learned many things from her.", I explained.

The discussion of the players in this little drama halted upon the arrival of the two parties under discussion.

Mei Ling was dressed in a leather catsuit this time and Tammi was wearing a G - string and a leather corset.

I knelt before Mei Ling as I had been trained to do and Tammi knelt next to Miriam.

"Good evening Michael. I understand that this is a new friend of Minx's?", Mei Ling said, ignoring the no smoking law and lighting a cigar she removed from a pocket of the catsuit.

"Yes Master. May I present Mistress Susan, Mistress Susan, this is Master Mei Ling.", I said from my kneeling position.

"Master?", Susan said bowing towards Mei Ling.

"I prefer to be called Master. It is part of my title in the real world.", Mei Ling explained. "I have known M-5 and his Mistress for many years."

"M-5?", Susan said looking at me.

"Long story. Let's just say M-1 through M-4 were not entirely successful.", I said casting my eyes towards the ceiling.

The lights dimmed again and Mistress Elaine and her slave made their way onto the stage for the next part of the show.

She was her usual brutal self, whipping him until his back was a mass of welts and then ordering him to the floor. He laid there as Mistress Elaine pulled her leather skirt aside and pissed all over his bleeding back.

His moans caused applause from some of the members of the audience and a look of disgust from Susan.

Myself, I controlled my reaction. Elaine's tendency to remind me of Lydia was a personal problem I was still dealing with.

As the lights came up again Susan leaned towards me and muttered softly that she'd like to leave.

"Yes Mistress.", I said and touched Miriam on the shoulder. when she looked up I nodded towards the exit door and she rose and disappeared backstage again.

Mei Ling turned towards Susan and asked if she was enjoying herself.

"I enjoyed watching you and Tammi, is it? But that woman is a simple sadist, no style at all.", Susan answered

Mei Ling laughed and stubbed her cigar out on the sole of her boot.

"I think I could get to like you. Do you think you could do better?", she asked.

Susan didn't hesitate.

"Yes, with some practice."

"Let's go.", Mei Ling said, reaching for Susan's chair." We'll start with Tammi, unless you'd rather start with Michael."

"Excuse me?", Susan said. "Start what?"

"You and I are going on stage, and I'm going to show you how to flog a slave properly.", Mei Ling explained.

Susan looked at her aghast.

"I can't.", she stammered, looking to me for help.

"Why not? Your arms work. Let's go."

Susan started to protest again and then stopped.

"Michael, do you think I can do it?", she asked.

I looked her in the eye.

"Yes. The Master taught me how to control my fear of needles. If she can do that, teaching you how to use a flogger is a simple task.", I said.

"But on stage in front of all those people?", she hissed.

"You don't have to. And I know that the Master wouldn't want to embarrass you. But it is a chance to learn something new."

Susan looked at Mei Ling and Tammi's eager faces and then at the crowd which was shrinking in size as the night wore on.

"Let's rock.", she finally said, unlocking her wheels and letting Mei Ling push her towards the stage.

The stage wasn't designed to accommodate wheelchair access, but two of the leathermen in the room lifted the chair onto the stage with grins of approval and stepped back to watch.

Tammi knelt before Susan and Mei Ling her back to them, as Mei Ling accepted a flogger from one of the leathermen.

"Nicely balanced.", she commented to the man and then turned to Susan.

"A well balanced flogger saves wear and tear on your arm.", she continued. As an example, she moved her arm and wrist just slightly in a fanning motion, as if she were brushing a fly off her arm.

She repeated the motion and this time the flogger brushed across Tammi's back lightly.

"You try it.", she said handing the flogger to Susan.

Susan took it gingerly and repeated the motion and caught the tails of the flogger in her chair.

"Try it again.", Mei Ling said, untangling the strands from the chair. "Use a little more side swing."

Susan looked at the one sniggering fool at the edge of the stage and tried again.

This time the flogger executed a clean arc and landed on Tammi's back with a soft thwock.

"Much better." , Mei Ling said approvingly. "Now again, only harder."

Susan repeated the motion, reddening Tammi's back slightly, as she wriggled in pleasure like a puppy being scratched.

Again Susan repeat the motion as Mei Ling supervised and pointed out areas to avoid. Throughout the entire lesson more and more people gathered to watch the unique sight of a Dominatrix in a wheelchair.

When Mei Ling finally let her stop and Tammi showed her marks to the room there was a smattering of applause the grew into a full roar of approval. Susan just looked out over the crowd from her perch on the stage and blushed as the two leathermen lifted the chair back onto the floor.

Miriam came out of the wings of the stage and knelt beside her, dressed in her drivers uniform, and presented her with a single black leather rose.

A tear seeped down Susan's cheek at the approval of the people in the room, people who didn't know her, but thought of her as one of them. A sister, a friend, a new member of the Scene.

However not all was well in the back of the room where a small group stood and stared, sneering at the idea of Susan as a Dom, Mistress Elaine most prominent among them.

As Miriam wheeled Susan towards the door Elaine blocked her.

"I suppose you think you're pretty special.", she said cruelly.

Susan looked up at her and shrugged.

"Not really. I appreciate someone trying to teach me something new.", she said without rancor.

"Unless you can break a slave, you're nothing.", Elaine spat.

Mei Ling walked up at that point and smiled at her.

"Gentleness has it's advantages. A slave may want to serve her, while you've always had to make people serve you.", she said slyly.

Before Elaine could respond to that, one of the leathermen who had assisted in putting Susan's chair on the stage intervened by standing over Elaine and looking down at her from his full six foot five inch height.

"Problem?", he said mildly, but with the implication that if there was, it would be a short lived one.

She stepped back and Miriam rolled the chair out of the room while Mei Ling followed with Tammi.

He nodded at me as I passed and as the door closed behind us I heard him say "It seems that a lesson ..."

Mei Ling waited at the curb with us while Miriam went to get the car, and she gently stroked Tammi's hair while we waited.

"I hope I didn't hurt you?", Susan apologized to Tammi

"Oh Mistress, I enjoyed it. When I am permitted to be a training slave for a new Mistress, I am being honored.", she said happily.

"Isn't that a little risky. I mean you could be hurt if I made a mistake."

"My Mistress will protect me and instruct you. I'm too valuable to her to be injured needlessly.", was the honest reply.

"That's how it works. Although a certain slave I could mention had a tendency to try and prove himself.", Mei Ling said lighting a fresh cigar.

I tried to ignore Susan's stare as the limo pulled up.

"May we offer you a ride Mistress?", I offered to Mei Ling.

She blew out a cloud of smoke and declined.

"No, I need to reward Tammi for her service. After all I can't just ride her hard and put her away wet.", she said, stroking Tammi's head once more.

Miriam again assisted Susan into the car and stored the chair.

"Thank you Master," Susan said. "I appreciate your efforts to teach me."

Mei Ling bowed towards her.

"I look forward to teaching you more in the future.", she said and then leaned in close to her and spoke a few more words.

Susan's face broke into a smile as Mei Ling stepped away and faced me.

"Michael, you will give my regards to your Mistress.", she instructed.

"Yes Master. And please give my regards to your honorable Father.", I said bowing before her.

"I will. ", she said and startled me by kissing me on the cheek.

"Take care of Mistress Susan, Michael. She is a very special person.", she whispered.

I got into the car and Miriam shut the door behind me.

We drove back towards Susan's house to drop her off when she suddenly spoke up, as if she had made a decision.

"Miriam, take us to Michael's house.", she directed.

"Yes Mistress."

Susan looked at me in the light of the passing street lamps with an amused expression

"Why are we going to my house?", I asked.

"Because I want to sleep with you."", she said gently.

She looked at me for a moment and then smiled.

"Do I come across as an easy lay?", I replied. "And what brought that on?", I asked curiously.

"Mei Ling. She said that sleeping with you and Miriam would be fun. I haven't been in a menage-a-trois in years, and frankly .. I'm horny after watching her and Tammi."

My mouth just sort of hung open at that pronouncement.

"Close your mouth Michael. We are not a fish.", she said.

My brain restarted and I replied "Mary Poppins. I guess I'm really guilty of stereotyping here. I didn't think about, well, um..", I stammered.

"Sex? Michael, just because I'm in a wheelchair doesn't mean I don't still get horny. It's just that most men or women aren't interested. They think I'm too fragile or too delicate.

"I am bi, Michael. I wanted to make love to Minx the night I slept with her, but I didn't want to offend her."

"It probably wouldn't have offended her. Surprised her, yes.", I commented. " But are you sure about me I mean."

"Oh Michael, you are so sweet. I do like you, and I know I'd enjoy having you make love to me.", she said kindly.

"Will you teach me how, I mean, show me what you like?", I asked hesitantly.

She smiled at me again.

"You make love to me the same way as you would any other woman. I just can't tell if you're touching my clit or not. But if you kiss my neck or nibble on my nipples, I react the same as any other woman."

I was still doubtful, and I wasn't sure Minx would approve, but then again I could always claim I was just following orders.

Which would do me just as much good as it did the guys at the Nuremberg Trials.

When we arrived at my house, I waited while Miriam rolled Susan inside and settled her in the living room ,and then took her outside.

"Miriam, I don't know exactly what your instructions are concerning Mistress Susan, but she would like you to join us in bed tonight.", I said, struggling to keep a straight face.

"Yes Master.", was all she said.

"I'm a little uncomfortable about this and I don't want to make you do something you aren't comfortable with.", I explained.

"Yes Master.", she repeated.

"Is that all you have to say, slave?", I said emphasizing the last word.

"Permission to speak Master?", she asked.

"Granted.", I said formally.

"Would you get your ass in that house and make love to that woman!", she exploded.

I stepped back in surprise at her vehemence.

"I may never give you permission to speak freely again.", I said. "You know she wants you too."

"I hoped so. I did have a very hard time not scrubbing her back when she was in the tub. She has such lovely skin.", Miriam commented.

"So I'm the only one with ethical qualms about this?", I asked in amazement, looking at the lightening sky.

"From what Mistress Minx has told me, you usually are. And she does love you for it.", Miriam replied, taking me by the hand and leading me to my fate.

Susan was sitting in the living room, looking at a picture of me taken years ago in Houston. I was sitting in the flight deck of the Space Shuttle simulator, and had a grin on my face.

Indeed, my wife always said it was the perfect picture of me. Millions of dollars of electronics and me in the middle of it.

"Is that really you?", she asked.

"Yes. I was working for the newspaper at the time and covered a flight from the space center in Houston. My old roommate took the picture.", I explained.

"And this one?", she said pointing to a smaller picture on the wall of a woman peeking out from under the covers of a bed.

"That was my wife, Denise. I took that picture to get even with her for the one she took of me in the bathtub.", I explained taking it down and handing it to her.

She looked at it and then handed it back.

"She was very beautiful.", she said.

I replaced it on the wall and nodded.

"Yes she was. Then again, so are you and Minx and Miriam.", I said diplomatically.

"Flatterer.", Susan said.

I blushed and then excused myself to go into the bedroom.

As usual my bedroom was a disaster area. Books, clothing, computer manuals strewn in what seemed a random pattern, but to me were in logical order. A picture of Minx, that I really shouldn't have had hung prominently on one wall.

The room was not, how shall we say it, wheelchair accessible. The bathroom was no better in some senses.

Newspapers were piled on the floor from my habit of reading the paper first thing in the morning while I sat on the toilet.

"Miriam, please come in here!", I called.

She came into the bedroom and suppressed a giggle.

"Don't just stand there smirking, help me clean up the place.", I said.

She sighed and started on the bathroom while I shoveled a path across the bedroom and changed the sheets.

I didn't think that paisley patterned sheets were quite the thing for an interval with two young ladies.

I fussed over things so much that Miriam finally ordered me out of the room and told me to stay out until she called.

"Excuse me, but who's the Master here?", I asked in mock insult.

"When it comes to this, I am.", she said firmly. "You'd think you'd never been with two women at the same time before."

"I have too!", I shot back, and then muttered softly, "I just couldn't do anything."

She must have heard me because she reached out and touched my arm.

"You're kidding.", she said softly.

"No, I was with my wife and one of her girlfriends once. But I couldn't, well I just couldn't", I explained, blushing.

"Master , this is not the night, but I will ask Mistress Minx for permission to come back with one of my girlfriends and we will both make love to you.", she consoled.

"You don't have to.", I protested softly.

"I think every man should have the chance to do that. I think every woman should have a chance to be with two men as well.", she replied. "Now go entertain Mistress Susan, Master."

She kissed me quickly and then went back to clearing up the room.

"Is everything all right?", Susan asked when I came back into the living room.

"I'm not a very neat person sometimes, and I'm a little embarrassed for you to see my bedroom in it's current state. Miriam is cleaning it up.", I admitted.

Before Susan could say anything else I heard Miriam call for me to carry her into the bedroom.

I picked her up from the chair and carried her down the hallway to the bedroom.

The room was awash with candlelight from the stock of emergency candles I kept in the bathroom cabinet, and the sheets were turned down in anticipation of Susan's arrival. Incense burned in a holder on the nightstand, and the scent of sandlewood and candle wax mixed to make a warm sweet fog.

I laid Susan down in the center of the bed, her head placed on the pillow and slipped her shoes off.

Miriam knelt at the foot of the bed watching, dressed again in the corset from earlier in the evening.

Susan slipped the dress from her shoulders and slid the black silk down towards her feet as well as she could.

Miriam helped her undress without my asking and soon she laid nude before me, her nipples erect as Miriam snuggled in alongside of her.

I stripped and slid in on the other side of her and placed my mouth over one of her nipples and sucked gently, tonguing it.

Susan moaned as I did, and then Miriam started sucking on the other breast and her moans soon grew louder.

I stroked my hand between Susan's leg and was surprised to feel dampness as she became more aroused. In the candlelight I could see her skin turn rosier from the excitement and she started panting slightly.

I released her breast and started kissing her neck softly, and making soft bites on her while Miriam ran her tongue over Susan's belly.

I could tell from her breathing she was becoming more excited and in the dimness I could see the excitement in Miriam's eyes as well.

Instinctively she turned and lowered her pussy over Susan's face and I saw Susan's eager tongue start lapping at Miriam's clit.

I shifted position and straddled Susan as well, my cock becoming more aroused every minute as I kissed and bit at Miriam's pierced nipples causing her to spasm in pleasure. With a free hand she reached for my cock and toyed with it, stroking it, running her thumb over the head of it.

Susan reached up and grabbed my legs, pulling me down on her and as Miriam raised up to allow her to breath, panted for me to fuck her.

I delicately moved her legs aside and rubbed my cock against her mons and then slipped my cock inside her as Miriam once again smothered her with her wetness

It was an odd feeling making love to Susan, there were no muscle contractions, or other indicators of her pleasure, only the intense breathing and her groans.

And then a gasp and she went limp.

I pulled out of her and Miriam rolled off her face and we looked down anxiously at Susan's relaxing form.

"Thank you.", she whispered, "Thank you both for loving me."

Her breathing became regular and even and as the sun rose outside, we all descended into sleep together.

Chapter 16 Section 1 to 4

Toucha Toucha Touch Me!
Pete Tchaikovski's Blues
Hotcha Cornia (Dark Eyes)
Amazing Grace