"Summer in Paradise" by Fox
Chapter 16
The light was very bright, so bright she jammed her eyes shut. She could
feel her pulse in her temples: pum PUM, pum PUM. And her mouth! God, it tasted
like the battle for Iwo Jima had been fought there, with her tongue the hill to
be gained.
"Summer," she croaked.
"Yes Mistress?"
"Draw the curtains and turn off the lights. And get me some juice and a
Midol."
"Yes Mistress."
Angelita knew she had had a few drinks last night with the Captain, but she
wasn't drunk when she returned to her cottage. At least, she didn't think she
was drunk. But god, she felt rough!
"Where is that stupid girl," she mumbled. "Summer!"
No reply.
"Stupid cunt," Angelita grunted. Her shoulders hurt, too.
Angelita decided to get out of bed. When she got her hands on Summer, she
would smack the little bitch into next week.
She tried to rise, but something was holding her back.
"Oh no, don't get up, Angie my sweet. Just stay in bed. Don't trouble
yourself."
"Cassandra?" Angelita's eyes snapped open. Reality bit her, hard.
"What the hell?" She barked, shaking her arms against the ropes leading to
each bedpost.
"Good morning to you too, Angie. Did you have a good sleep?"
Angelita concentrated and brought the room into focus. Cassandra was sitting
on the wicker chair next to the bed, her long legs crossed, shapely ankles
resting on the bedcovers. A cup of coffee steamed on the end table next to her.
Summer knelt with her head in Cassandra's lap.
"Cassie! What the fuck is going on here? Untie me, right now!"
"I'm fine thank you, Angie. And yes, I had a good sleep too."
"CASSIE!"
"There's no need to shout. I can hear you just fine. But I do think that
certain pleasantries should be observed when one awakes, or the whole day can be
ruined. Isn't that right, Summer dear?"
"Yes Mistress," Summer replied. She moved her head beneath Cassandra's hand
like a puppy eager for her mistress's touch.
"Fuck you!" growled Angelita. "Now let me out of here."
Cassandra raised the china cup to her ruby lips. "In good time, Angie. There
are things to discuss first."
Angelita's yell echoed in the room. She wrestled against the bonds that tied
her. The bed rocked.
Cassandra rose, languidly perching herself on the edge of the bed. "Struggle
all you want, you're only going to hurt yourself, dear," she said smiling. "Save
that pleasure for me."
Legs still covered by blankets, Angelita kicked her feet as she thrashed
about. The movement made Cassandra's coffee slop over the cup rim and on to her
blouse.
"Oh now look what you've done," said Cassandra looking at the brown stain
spreading against the fabric. "You've made me spill! Summer, go get me a damp
cloth, there's a good girl."
"Yes Mistress." The slave girl left the room.
"Angie, Angie, Angie," Cassandra said over the sound of water running. She
leaned forward to where her friend lay one the bed. "You have so much to learn."
"Fuck you, you bitch," Angelita snarled.
"Here's lesson number one." Cassandra's right hand whipped out, smacking
Angelita hard in the middle of her left cheek. Angelita's head snapped to the
right with the force of the impact.
Cassandra grinned broadly. "Damn! That felt good!" She stroked Angelita
on the side of the face as angry red welts appeared. "Was it good for you too,
Angie my love?"
"Mistress?"
Summer had returned, carrying a silver tray with a bowl, a cloth, and a
carafe.
"Thank you Summer," Cassandra said sweetly. "Just put it over on the
table, please dear, then go fetch a glass of orange juice for our little friend
here."
With a polite curtsy, Summer scampered from the room.
"You know Angie, that girl has a very nice ass, don't you think? And she
is so eager to please!"
"Cassandra, what is going on here?" Angelita's voice was quieter, but
menacing.
"Why I should think it's obvious, Angelita. I've taken you prisoner."
Angelita grunted as she thrashed against her bonds once more.
"Angie, if you'd just stop that for a minute or two, I'll explain what's
happening. If you keep it up, you're only going to hurt yourself, or the bed, or
both. So cut it out."
"Okay you conniving bitch, tell me what's going on," Angelita spat
through clenched teeth.
"Where should I begin? To be brief, I'm taking over the island."
"The island!" Angelita brayed her contempt. "And how do you think you're
going to do that, Cassie?"
"It's already happening, dear one. I'll start with last night. While you were
busy screwing the Captain, I was here with our friend Summer. She was the
perfect weapon for me, you know, she fit into my plans wondrously! You are such
a tart, so full of lust, you asking me to train her gave me the opportunity to
create the ideal weapon to defeat you. Which I did. I trained her well, don't
you think? She is the perfect little bedroom slut, obedient, willing to please.
And so suggestible, darling, it's amazing! I hardly needed the chemicals at all!
So I trained her for you, and planted a few suggestions of my own. Then last
night, it was so easy to bend her to me." Cassandra paused to light a cigarette.
"All along you thought she was yours, when really, she was my little pet project
just waiting to be put into action."
"Mistress?"
"Ah, speak of the devil! Thank you Summer. Please offer the orange juice
to Angelita. You'll have to help her drink it, of course, she's a little tied up
at the moment."
"Yes Mistress." Summer walked to the head of the bed. She sat on the
edge of the mattress near Angelita's head. Turning, Summer offered the juice
filled goblet to the woman on the bed.
"You should drink it, Angelita," said Cassandra. "The drug I had Summer
administer to you last night must have left you with a very bad headache, not to
mention the horrible taste in your mouth. The juice will help."
Angelita turned her face away, her jaw clamped shut.
Summer turned and looked questioningly at Cassandra.
"Angie, I know what you're thinking. The juice is not poisoned or
drugged. It will make you feel better."
Angelita pressed her head as far away from the proffered goblet as she
could.
"Oh very well," Cassandra sighed, "Summer, give me the glass." Cassandra
took a long draught of the juice before handing the glass back to Summer. "Now
I'm certainly not going to drink it if it's poisoned, am I. So drink the damned
juice, Angelita."
Her eyes shining like a viper's as it sizes up its prey, Angelita slowly
turned her head.
"When I get free, Cassandra," she snarled, "I'll give you to Leon and
Miguel, and then I'll take what's left of you, and ..."
"Please, spare me the drama, Angelita. Your cousin Leon and that pig
Miguel are dead." She extended her thumb and forefinger. Placing her fingertip
against her temple, she bent her thumb like the hammer on a revolver. "Now, shut
your hole and listen. You. Are. My. Prisoner. Get it? Don't piss me off."
Angelita formed a gob of saliva and spat.
Slap! Slap!
Cassandra's hand flicked out in exchange, striking Angelita's face. She
grabbed Angelita's nightgown, and, with a single yank, ripped it open. Summer's
eyes grew wide as Cassandra smacked Angelita's exposed breast with the back of
her hand.
Angelita sucked in air, but didn't shout. Blood oozed from the line
where Cassandra's rings tore tender flesh.
Cassandra grabbed Angelita's cheeks, her long red fingernails digging
into the skin.
"Try that again and I'll burn your nipples off!" she snarled. She waved
the cigarette in front of Angelita's eyes. "You know I'll do it, Angelita, so
let's be civilized, all right?" She gestured at Summer. "Now, drink the juice."
Summer raised the goblet to Angelita's lips. Marks from Cassandra's hand
glowed bright against the dark hues of Angelita's skin. Reluctant, the prisoner
drank from the glass. Her eyes never left Cassandra.
"That's better. Your body has always been amusing to me, and I don't
want to hurt it. Not yet, anyway." Cassandra settled back in the wicker chair.
She placed her feet upon the bed, crossing her ankles once again. "Last night, I
had Summer administer an effective but short term knock out drug to you."
Angelita's eyes widened.
"You're probably thinking: How did I know what you might drink before
bed? I didn't."
Cassandra glowed with self-satisfaction.
"It was applied to the rim of the glass, my sweet. It didn't matter what
you drank, Summer was to serve it to you in the appropriately prepared glass.
Which she did. And here we are."
It was too much for Angelita. She exploded, her words a torrent of
venom.
"What do you think you're doing Cassandra? I can have you tortured, killed!
With a snap of my fingers! I run this island! It was my father who ruled before
me, and his father before him. You're dead, you and your family! All dead!"
Angelita sneered her disgust. "You, your father was a soldier who took orders
from my father, just like you take orders from me. Your mother was a fisherman's
daughter." Angelita pointed her chin at Summer. "You have no more rights around
here than she does."
Cassandra's eyes narrowed, just for an instant, before her lips curled
into a broad smile.
"Sweetheart," she began, "do you think your mother was a Spanish
princess? She too was just a merchant's daughter. You forget, pirates and
thieves founded this island, and we all come from that magnificent bloodline.
Your father was Captain, true, and his father Captain before him. But Angelita,
sweet proud Angelita, do you think your father was the only child your
grandfather sired? " She paused to let the statement sink in.
"Your grandfather was also my grandfather. My mother was his daughter."
Cassandra chuckled, a sardonic laugh. "Maybe she was a bastard, but aren't we
all, here on this island paradise, Angelita? My mother was your aunt, and I, I
am your cousin."
Her eyes glistened as she leaned forward.
"Your father knew it. He also knew that I was smarter than you, that you
were ruthless, petty and spoiled. Why do you think he paid to have me sent away
to be educated? Because he was a kind and generous man? Ha! He sent me away so
that I wouldn't be around while he set it up so you would inherit and that idiot
Rasquedo would be in charge. Rasquedo was to keep you from going berserk with
power, and to ensure the bloodline. I was supposed to go to college, meet some
Yankee stud, fall in love, have babies and just disappear. But I didn't. I
studied, and I learned, and I came back here.
"All the time, I was planning, dreaming, waiting for the right
opportunity. I did everything I had to do to get ready. I have made alliances,
and gathered support.
"And I am now claiming my rightful inheritance."
"Whore, cunt, bitch!" Angelita spat. "You'll never have what's mine, I
promise you. Never!"
Sitting back, Cassandra poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Ah but don't you see? I already have it. Leon and Miguel are gone,
you're mine, and soon, very soon, the Captain will find himself, shall we say,
demoted?" She patted her abdomen. "After he fathers my child, that is. He is so
good in bed, don't you think?"
Angelita screamed her fury. The veins in her arms stood out, muscles
rippling, as she pulled against the bonds. Her face glowed red with anger and
effort.
"Enough of this," said Cassandra in a calm voice. "Time to move on.
Summer, please get me the compact case from my bag."
"Yes Mistress," the slave girl replied. She rummaged through the bag
that lay on the floor near the dressing table.
Angelita was still thrashing about on the bed as Cassandra accepted the
small round object from Summer. The training mistress rose from her wicker
chair, and moved toward the bed.
"Hold her legs. I don't want her kicking me. "
"Yes Mistress." She climbed on the bed and with some effort in
overcoming Angelita's struggles, maneuvered herself to straddle the captive
woman's thighs.
Pinned, Angelita's face was a mix of rage and hatred.
"I'll get you, Cassie. You'll pay for this ..."
"No, I don't think so, Angie." Cassandra opened the compact. Bringing it
close to Angelita's face, she puffed, and a fine white mist flew forward.
Angelita coughed as the cloud descended upon her face.
Summer stared at the two women, her mouth open.
"What the ..." Angelita stopped in mid-sentence as the first tremor
racked her body.
"What is this powder, is that what you want to know, Angie? It's just a
little something passed down to me from my grandmother," Cassandra stated in a
menacing tone. "You must remember her? My Gran' Cass? I was named after her, you
know. She was the fisherman's wife, the old lady who spent her time muttering
to herself, the one that you and your uppity friends called the bruja?
You were right. She really was a witch." Cassandra paused, and fixed Angelita
with a look. "Well, more correctly, Gran'Cass was a high priestess of voudon.
And she taught me her secrets." She paused as another series of tremors coursed
through her captive's body. There was the sudden smell of urine.
"A high priestess, who knew the secret of real zombie powder."
With a snap! the compact clicked shut. Cassandra leaned back. Her smile was
feral. She began to chant, her voice low, hypnotic.
Angelita's eyes showed white as they rolled back. With a final shudder, she
collapsed and lay still.
