XVI
Mei Ling returned me to Minx's quarters and removed the hood. My ordeal
must have lasted for hours because I could see daylight through the half-open
kitchen door.
I asked her if I could serve her breakfast and she assented.
I returned to the main room with the food and found that Minx had
returned.
There was fire in her eye and anger in her voice when she saw me.
"Kneel NOW!" she demanded.
I dropped the tray with a clatter and knelt where I was. Minx walked
towards me with deliberate steps, a crop in her hand .It was like being stalked
by a cat and I was for sure the mouse.
She stood over me and looked down.
"You are undoubtedly the stupidest slave I have ever owned! Don't you
have any instinct for self-preservation at all? You might have been killed you
fool! You just wait until you heal, because after you do I'm going to beat your
sorry ass until it's bruised again!"
I listened, head down, as the storm continued to rage.
"I have devoted time and effort in you, too much to see you throw it
away.
"Do you see yourself as that much of an object? Answer me!"
"I was just trying to follow my orders." I stammered.
"Your orders and your oath of obedience do not require that you die.
When you have reached your limits, beg for mercy. Even Lydia will listen at that
point shit for brains!"
She turned to Mei Ling.
"Take him into the bathroom and chain him face down in the tub. And
don't be gentle about it!" she directed.
Mei Ling grabbed my arm, twisted it behind me, lifted me to my feet, and
marched me into the bathroom.
The bathtub was a sunken tub of black marble, twice the width of a
normal tub. Inset into the corners were restraint rings. She pushed me face down
into the tub and stood on my neck as she attached chains to my wrists and legs.
I felt the cold marble on my body as my face was pressed into the stone.
I heard Minx's voice from above me.
"Now slave, let's see if you have learned anything." she said.
The water started flowing. It slowly crept up towards my face. I tried
to raise my head to stay ahead of it, but the force of Mei Ling's foot held me
down. The margin of space for air shrank slowly.
"Mistress, please." I said as the water crept up.
"Please what?" came from far above me.
"Mercy, Mistress." I begged.
"No. You have a lesson to learn first."
The water crept over my nose forcing me to breathe through my mouth as
well as I could.
"Mercy, Mistress", I burbled through the water.
"No."
I gasped a last lung full of air as the water covered my whole face. I
held my breath as long as I could. The pressure on my neck lifted and I raised
my head enough to breath out and suck in more air. With the pressure removed I
could breath through my mouth, but that space was waning.
"Mercy, Mistress", I panted.
"Why?" she demanded.
"Please." I begged.
"It amuses me to see you this way. Why should I stop? It might please me
to drown you." she asked.
I was submerged again before I could answer her.
A strong hand pulled my head up by the hair.
"Tell me why I should stop." she repeated.
"Because you may want to use me again. Please Mistress."
The water stopped, then started draining away.
"Good boy. But I want you to answer one question for me. Tell me the
truth; Why didn't you beg for mercy from Lydia?" she asked quietly.
"Because I wanted you to be proud of me. I wanted to take it to please
you. I should be able to take what is done to me. I didn't want to fail you. I'm
sorry I did."
"You didn't fail me. You failed only yourself Michael. You will see
many slaves do things that you physically or mentally can't do. I only ask that
you try. Do not be ashamed of failure, or feel badly that you can't do something
another can. Take pride in what you can do to serve me. Remember that I love
you. As your wife loved you and accepted you, so do I. You must learn to trust
again."
She released my head and walked away leaving me to think on the cold wet
marble, the last of the water gurgling down the drain under me.
She was right of course. It would be arrogance to assume I could do
everything. There was a quote that sort of summed it up. "Some people God gave
big brains, others he gave big muscles. Don't ask me to move furniture." I did
want her to be proud of me, but I guess I was trying too hard. I was acting half
my age, trying to impress a woman. I felt myself blush. I should know better
than that. What was it the doctor had said? Moderation is the key to success.
"Why are you blushing Michael?" Mei Ling asked, startling me. I had
assumed she left with Minx.
"Because I just realized I am a fool, Master." I answered.
"You are achieving wisdom Michael. You have realized that you are a
fool. Now what do you propose to do about it?" she asked.
"I will try not to be foolish about things I have no control over,
Master."
"Such as?"
"I will not try to be everything for my Mistress. I will just be what I
can be for her, Master."
"The light dawns. She demands much, but accepts what is offered if it
comes from the heart and spirit. Please to remember that in the future Michael.
Be worthy of her."
She patted me on the head, and I heard her leave, closing the door
behind her.
