A Tangled Web Ch. 02

Then, still remaining silent, she put her hand against the small of Vera's back and used it to half push, half guide her as the left the changing room. As they went along Vera was well aware that the cloak, being only fastened at her throat, had nothing to hold it closed at the front and with each stride she could feel herself being exposed. She heard a door creak and the sudden drop in temperature told her that she was outside. The flagstones were cool and damp beneath her bare feet as she stood, waiting. Then she heard the unmistakable sound of a horse pulling a cart, or, as it turned out, a carriage, approaching. A few brief commands were shouted, she was helped into the carriage and, almost before she had a chance to settle back into the seat, she was whisked away.

At first the carriage twisted and turned through the city streets but, after a while, the road straightened and they seemed to begin a long climb into the hills. Vera made herself as comfortable as she could. Her hands tied behind her stopped her from sitting back properly but she was able to wedge herself in the corner. The evening air was cool and, with the cloak gaping open, she was quite cold, but there was little she could do about it, indeed, little she could do about anything that was happening to her. At last she sensed that the carriage had pulled into some sort of courtyard and was drawing to a halt.

Again there were the shouted commands and the carriage door was opened and Vera was helped out. As she was led away she had the sense of being led through somewhere more peaceful, somewhere better appointed than the club. At last she was brought to a halt and the cloak, blindfold and wrist restraints were removed.

As Vera blinked her eyes in the light she gradually became aware of the room that she found herself in. The main feature, indeed, the dominating feature of the room was a small pool, maybe two meters by three meters, with steps leading down into it. She was still gawping, admiring the fine porcelain tiles that lined the pool, when she became aware that she was not alone. There were two other women in the room standing right behind her. The elder of the two women, who had the definite air of being in charge, came over and started to examine Vera slowly and thoroughly. All the while she discussed with her assistant which cosmetics would be best for Vera's colouring and skin tones. Evidently she was some sort of expert, a beautician, perhaps.

As the beautician worked the continuing hercomments made it clear that her assitant was being trained. She commented on Vera's muscle tone, the bruises which still remained from the other day, the shape and firmness of Vera's breasts, the unevenness of her toenails, the unshaven and unruly bush that was Vera's pubic hair and noted with disgust the state of Vera's hairstyle. Vera tried to comment that getting a fashionable trim on the compound was next to impossible but she was told in short order to keep quiet; her opinion was not required.

Once the inspection was over the assistant took Vera to an alcove where there was a shallow basin. The collar was removed, Vera was bent over and a bucket of water emptied over her head, washing out the worst of the filth. Then the assistant shrugged off the loose tunic she was wearing and stepped out of her shoes. Now just as naked as Vera, she took her by the hand and led her down the steps into the pool. The water was warm and quite shallow, coming to maybe mid-thigh on Vera and, when she was told to sit, her shoulders were just above the water. The assistant then sat behind her whilst the beautician laid various bottles and sponges along the edge of the pool. The assistant took Vera's shoulders and pulled her gently backwards until her hair was completely immersed. Then, taking one of the bottles from the edge of the pool she started to wash, her fingers sensuously massaging Vera's scalp. A few suds started to slip down Vera's forehead and she raised her hand ready to wipe them away but it was knocked back. Apparently her role was to be completely passive, even to the extent that she was not to wipe her own forehead.

Once her hair was completely washed and rinsed the assistant stood up and motioned Vera to stand before her. She arranged Vera until her feet were as wide apart as was comfortable and then turned to the collection of bottles and lotions on the side of the pool. This time she returned with a soap, which she worked into a rich creamy lather before rubbing it gently into Vera's groin. Then she turned back to the edge of the pool, this time to return with a razor. Vera couldn't suppress a squeak of fear as the assistant approached with the naked blade but again the beautician sharply told her to keep quiet.

Vera tried her hardest to keep still as the assistant, kneeling before her, scraped away at her lower belly. It wasn't too bad at first but as the assistant worked lower and lower Vera's feared that the slightest knick, a simple slip, would end in agony. In her mind she was saying 'Please be careful, please be careful' over and over as a sort of mantra. Finished at last, the assistant put down the razor and picked up a sponge. Using a finely scented oil she bathed Vera's groin, front and back, until it was scrupulously clean and any residual soreness from the shave had been soothed away. Then the assistant started on the rest of Vera's body and, as she soothed the soapy sponge over Vera's arms and shoulders, there was a certain amount of physical contact and that, combined with the warm aromas of the oils and soaps and the way that Vera was being pampered made it really hard for her to stand still. The feeling was so good that she wanted to share, she wanted to reciprocate, but the stern gaze of the beautician as she overlooked the operation made her desist.

Finally the beautician felt that Vera was sufficiently clean and she was led out of the pool. Whilst the assistant towelled herself off and put her tunic back on Vera, still dripping wet, was led over to a large wooden armchair. No sooner has she sat down than the woman pulled a lever and the chair tipped backwards until Vera was almost, but not quite, horizontal. Leather straps were fastened around her wrists and ankles holding her arms and legs to the frame of the chair. However, they were padded and quite loose so they were evidently there to help keep Vera still rather than to punish in any way. Now the two women really set to work. Whilst the beautician set out to cut Vera's hair the assistant gave Vera a pedicure and a manicure. Vera's hair was already stylishly short but it looked like it was gong to be cut quite a bit shorter. Mostly the women worked in silence but from time to time the beautician would give her assistant curt instructions.

Once the assistant had finished the pedicure she took a pair of tweezers and, as gently as she could, started plucking the stray hairs that she had missed when she had shaved Vera's groin. The first one made Vera jump a little and give a squeak of pain but the beautician told her very firmly to sit still and be quiet. Then it was time for her to have her makeup re-applied. Vera couldn't see just what was going on but they were very painstaking, very methodical. Here the assistant was in a very subordinate role and had little to do beyond applying a touch of rouge to Vera's nipples and lower lips.

At last they were finished. The wrist and ankle cuffs were released and the chair was returned to the upright position, which meant that Vera could finally see herself in the mirror. Her hair had been cut tomboyishly short and straight but that was nothing compared with the makeup. They had used the oriental style with a base of very pale, not to say white, foundation. Her eyebrows had been trimmed to the finest lines and then enhanced with black pencil. Whilst she was still definitely 'round eye' she was now looking as oriental as possible. Vera was helped to her feet and fitted with a kimono in purest white silk as well as a pair of the wooden sandals that the locals wore. As a finishing touch the collar was refastened around her neck. The beautician looked her up and down a few times before declaring herself satisfied, whereupon she left leaving Vera in the care of the assistant. However, they were not to remain long. The assistant led Vera out, along a corridor and into a sumptuously furnished living room. There was a black lacquer drinks cabinet and Vera was told to stand next to it.

"The Mistress, she expects her glass to be full at all times, she does not like to have to ask. Apart from that you do not speak, you do not move. Now stand up straight and don't slouch. We didn't spend all that time and effort for you to ruin it by looking sloppy." And with that the assistant left.

Vera waited, and waited, and waited. She was tired, it was very late and she had already had an evening full of incident. The sandals were hard against the soles of her feet and she was dying to sit down but she knew better. She had put up with so much to get this far she wasn't going to ruin it now. At last she heard voices. The door opened and Xui-Li, accompanied by Mei-Xing, entered the room and they went to lie full length on couches. Vera was bitterly disappointed; Xui-Li appeared not to have noticed her, let alone acknowledged her. Still, she remembered that the assistant had said that Xui-Li did not like to ask for her drinks and how they had arrived almost immediately when they had been together at the club so she turned to the cabinet and, uncorking a new bottle, poured out two glasses of wine. These she took and placed on a low table that lay between the couches. Again neither Xui-Li nor Mei-Xing made any acknowledgement of her presence.

When Xui-Li had entered the salon she had been delighted by what she saw. The girls, as ever, had done her proud and Jun-Nui was stood looking sweet and innocent, with a touch of fear in her eyes like a frightened doe. She was careful not to let Jun-Nui know she was watching, keeping it cold and impersonal was all part of the process. When Jun-Nui brought the drinks to the table in a rather clumsy attempt to appear geisha-like she had to work hard to suppress a smile.

"So, Mei-Xing, what news of the up-river cadre?" She asked in a conversational tone.

"They're getting organised. We have reports of over thirty new members, ready and willing to fight at your command," Mei-Xing replied as she had been prompted.

"And who's leading them? Who's in charge?" Xui-Li went on.

"The woman they call 'the crane'. I'm sure you know who I mean."

"Ah yes, very good. I will travel upstream to meet them very soon. I'll let you know when the plans are finalised. Now, enough of politics, have I told you about...," Xui-Li changed the subject to chatter from the club.

All the while Vera was listening with wild excitement. This was what it was all about, this would make everything worthwhile. Feverishly she ran the 'facts' through her mind. The upstream cadre... thirty new members... the 'crane' in command... Madam Hong to visit soon... Just wait until she put this in her report. She'd show Colonel Fortesque that she wasn't just some brainless little girl.

After fifteen minutes or so Mei-Xing made her excuses and left. This too was part of the plan; she was well aware that Xui-Li wanted to play with her new acquisition and that once the charade about the 'upstream cadre' was complete her presence was no longer required. As she left Xui-Li drained her glass and put it pointedly down on the table. Vera took the bottle and went over to refill it. As she was doing so she felt Xui-Li's hand slide in-between the folds of her kimono and reach for her calves. Vera tried to keep pouring as Xui-Li's hand moved upwards, past her knees, up her thighs and straight for.... The shock of Xui-Li's fingers probing straight for her honeypot was too much and, with a squeak of surprise, Vera gave a little start spilling the wine on the table.

"You stupid little girl; how can you be so clumsy?" Xui-Li said, the annoyance clear in her voice. "Clean this up at once." Vera turned to get a cloth. "No, with your tongue!"

Vera glanced between the wine spilt on the table and Xui-Li's stern expression. Suppressing a sigh she got down on her knees and bent over the table dipping her tongue in the puddle of wine. Xui-Li reached behind her and flicked up the back of her kimono, exposing her backside.

"I cannot believe your behaviour; you're set a simple task to perform and you can't even get that right. It's almost as if you want to be punished. Are you one of those? Are you the sort that craves chastisement, whose base desires can only be satisfied by a well deserved beating, who behaves like a disobedient little girl so as to be treated like one, who will upset her betters in order to provoke them?"

Vera simply did not know how to answer; not only did it stick in her craw to admit to liking being treated as a 'naughty little girl' but she wasn't sure that was the answer Xui-Li wanted, either. It certainly didn't help that Xui-Li's hand had pushed her thighs apart and was now reaching up between her legs where her fingers were moving in slow circular motions just where it disturbed her most.

"I don't know, I don't think so, Madam Hong," was her eventual reply.

"Well, I'm not going to let such clumsy and insolent behaviour go unpunished. I feel that a firm chastisement of that pretty little bottom of yours, which you take so much pleasure from parading around, might help you keep your concentration in the future. Don't you agree?"

"If you say so, Madam Hong." Vera didn't know whether she was coming or going. Most of her, surely that should be all of her, was appalled at the humiliations she was forced to go through for the snippets of information she was picking up but Xui-Li's busy fingers were awakening pleasures that were wild, new and very exciting.

"I most certainly do say so. Now lets get you properly prepared. Stand up." Xui-Li removed her hand and Vera stood up but, almost immediately, Xui-Li grabbed her arm and pushed her towards one of the couches. Here she was made to get up onto the couch and kneel forward with her hands reaching back, holding her ankles so that her face was pushed against the seating and her buttocks were uppermost. Once again Xui-Li flicked up the back of her kimono exposing her backside. Once again Xui-Li's hand delved between her thighs, her fingers reaching for, and finding, the centre of her pleasure.

"Do you know why you're being punished?" Xui-Li asked.

"Because I was clumsy, Madam Hong, Vera replied, her words muffled by the seating of the couch.

"Oh, that is only a small part of it." Xui-Li laughed. "You're being punished because you're just a silly little girl who has ideas above her station. You think you can barge in here and ask to serve me when, as you have just demonstrated, you can't get even the most basic of tasks right. You say you want to be my geisha. Do you think for one moment you deserve to be one?"

"No, Madam Hong, I'm sorry, Madam Hong." Once again, whatever Vera's real thoughts she had to play along.

"No, indeed. You're just a stupid little girl who needs to be taught a lesson. I do hope you are grateful to me for taking the time and effort to teach you?"

"Yes, Madam Hong." This seemed to be the only possible answer.

"So what do you say?"

For a moment Vera was nonplussed. What was expected of her? What did Xui-Li want from her? Then she realised, she was supposed to be grateful, she was supposed to ask for, no beg for, the punishment. Her brain raced as she tried to put the words together, working out how best to reply.

"Please, Madam Hong, Jun-Nui humbly begs you to punish her, to teach her humility, so she will come to know her proper place," she said, finally.

"That's better. Now you're learning," Xui-Li replied. "Now wait here a moment."

Xui-Li removed her hand from Vera's groin and she went over to a cupboard at the side of the room. She was really enjoying watching the discomfort of this British girl and the indignities she was prepared to go through. Oh how her eyes had danced as they had played out the charade about the cadre up-stream. The poor thing must have felt she was being so clever when all the time she was being taken for a fool. She didn't really consider herself to be a cruel woman, but this game was far too much fun to miss and now she was going to give the poor little thing a spanking, nothing too serious, just enough to warm her up.

When Xui-Li returned Vera saw out of the corner of her eye that she was holding a paddle made of black lacquered wood, maybe a foot long and four inches wide. Part of her even relaxed a bit. She'd suffered from far worse for her various infractions when at school.

What she hadn't reckoned on was Xui-Li's slow measured approach. She walked over and, without any preamble, gave Vera six smart strokes across the buttocks. They hurt, they stung, but there was nothing that Vera couldn't handle. Then, once again, Vera felt Xui-Li's hand delving between her thighs.

"So, what do you say?" Xui-Li asked.

Again Vera thought quickly. Surely that couldn't be it. No, Xui-Li would never be satisfied with a mere six strokes. It must be that she would have to beg for more.

"Please, Madam Hong, Jun-Nui thanks you but humbly begs you to punish her further so she will truly know how worthless she is," she responded.

Xui-Li's hand was removed and six more blows rained down. This time her flesh was already a little bruised and battered so this time the pain was worse. That done, Xui-Li's hand returned to Vera's groin and, one more she had to beg. Time and time again this cycle was repeated until each blow was agony and Vera was squirming around, trying desperately to ease the pain and her hands were locked around her ankles in a desperate attempt to stay in position. Her tears flowed freely now and it was an effort to get the words out between the sobs. But it wasn't just the pain that was increasing. Each time, between the blows, Xui-Li's hand would return to between Vera's thighs skilfully manipulating her, pushing her higher, the throbbing from her groin counterpointing the fire in her buttocks.

After a while Xui-Li looked down at the blubbing girl and guessed that she'd gone just about to the limit. Her poor backside was bright red and she was having difficulty speaking. However, the ease with which her fingers slipped inside the petals of her sex told another tale. Whatever this girl's motives for being here, however false her claims to want to play the geisha, the spanking had definitely got to her.

"And do you still want to be my geisha?" Xui-Li asked softly.

"Please, Madam Hong, If you so desire, I live only to please you," Vera replied and, curiously, she meant it. Mostly, of course, she just wanted the beatings to stop, to be allowed to play the role without the pain involved, however part of her, a part she wasn't ready to admit to, really meant it. She was so tired of fighting, so tired of all the pretence she just wanted to surrender, to give up, to lose herself in the wishes and demands of this extraordinary woman. Xui-Li was right to call her a 'silly little girl' -- that was what she knew she was, in deep, far out of her depth, and all she wanted, all she needed right then was a cuddle.

"Well said, my pretty. Come, come and kneel in front of me and I really don't think you need a kimono any more." Xui-Li's voice was soft, gentle.

Vera got up, shrugged off the kimono and let it fall to the ground as she knelt down in front of Xui-Li who bent down and removed the chain holding the collar from around Vera's neck.

"Do you know what it means to be my geisha?" she asked.

"That I'll do anything you ask of me?" Vera tried.

"More than that, my sweet, much more than that. You become my possession, my property, my pet. You subjugate yourself to me completely and absolutely. Are you sure that's what you want?"