Château d'Mauvoisin

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

I woke the coach man, Gaspard before light and set him and his bleary eyed assistants to readying the finest coach of my stables. I inspected the velvet covered cushions of the interior myself. My fingers exploring every delightful inch of thier soft, bristling surface. I laughed at my own ingeniousness at how wonderful this would be. I strode from the carridge house, very pleased with myself.

I lept up the stairs to my room to see to my own things as dawn's light began flooding the halls. I flung my door open wide. Andrea and one of her younger attendants were placing things into a trunk for me. "Andrea!" I said at nearly a shout, which caused a sharp intake of breathe fromthe frightend kitten who assisted her. Eyeing her hungerily with a wild gaze, I continued more calmly as I strode in, "Andrea, please go and see to my fey's packing. I am sure that I can oversee my own packing with this one's aid."

As Andrea turned with a curtsy to me I said, "I should like to know the instant she is ready for the journey, Andrea."

 

[caspai]

Andrea

I look up as Leonce bursts into his room, a wild look in his eye, an air of mischief surrounding him. The maid at my side gasps, and I give her a sharp look. I have warned them so many times not to draw attention to themselves. His gaze turns to her, and a speculative look lights his eyes.

"Andrea, please go and see to my fey's packing. I am sure that I can oversee my own packing with this one's aid."

I give a small curtsey to him, but when I rise, I look into his face.

"Leonce, time is short, and if I am to get everything in order, just as you would wish, I need every person to do their job. Lara has her job, just as I have mine. We have just finished your packing, and if you will permit us, we can now go and see to the Mlle's packing as well. She will be needing breakfast as well."

I know that there is risk involved any time that I question him in this way. Perhaps I should have just allowed him to have his way with her, teach her a lesson about listening and minding my words. It could also serve as a lesson to the others. No, I can not do that to her. It is hard enough to get the people to come and work here, without stories such as that would be to spread.

I stand erect, watching carefully for a sign of what his reaction will be.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

I shifted, throwing an arm to my face to block my closed eyes from the invading ray of sun that filtered through the glass panes, splattering over the cold room with it’s cheery warmth. It was crisp and untainted light, the type only a day after a heavy storm brings, although the occasional cloud passed through it’s beam, the buttercup yellow stuttering slightly before reasserting itself.

Footsteps, the kind high buttoned boots make on a freshly polished hardwood floor, sounded down the hall and turned. Another pair, with a shorter stride and no-nonsense step followed and stopped outside my room. The click of a key and a soft sigh of the relaxation of the burden on the doorframe as the wooden entrance swung inwards reached my ears. Feigning sleep, I continued my shallow breathing, my long lashes tickling my cheeks as I let my eyelids flutter ever so slightly, as only a dreamer’s does.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

With an annoyed wave of dismissal I sent Andrea and her timid lackey on their way, as they stepped through the door I laid a hand, still cold from the chill of the stables, upon her assistants shoulder. As the young one'* face drew a full three shades paler, "Andrea, I wish to know the moment she is readied for breakfast," I said with a chill grin. I played a finger along the curve of the girl'* ass before slamming the door behind them.

I went to the mirror and striaghtend my suit, brushing my hair and freshening my face at the basin. Picking up my razor I felt its sharpness carelessly with my thumb, my mind lost in thought I shaved impatiently waiting for breakfast to be done witha nd the journey to begin. My pet'* health my only care as I washed my face. The blood from my thumb making crimson clouds in the basin.

 

[caspai]

I feel Lara jump as the door slams shut behind us. I resist the urge to give her a talking to, feeling that she knew well enough what risk had been taken in that room. We walk quickly down the passage, stopping at the room that was occupied by the object of Leonce's current obsession. Taking a key out of my pocket, I unlock the door.

The room is now filled with morning sunshine, clear and crisp. I look at the young woman who is resting peacefully in the bed, and give a soft sigh. Oh, that this had not happened. Shaking my head, I point to the wardrobe, and softly ask Lara to take out a fresh gown. Walking over to the bed, I sit down on the edge of the bed and say softly, so as to not frighten her into wakefulness:

"Madmoiselle, it is time to awaken. If we are not on our way soon, we risk waking the sleeping demon with Monsieur."

I see her eyes flutter, and wait to see if consciousness has taken hold.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

My eyes flew open expectantly at Andrea’s voice, and I greeted her with a smile. Glancing around the room, I saw the majority of my things had already been packed in an impressively sized horse blanket trunk that sat near the door. The large room looked barren with only the red ruffles of my intended outfit draped over the foot of the bed to add color.

“Good morning to you, Andrea.”

After a light breakfast, complimented with the ripest of fruits and the sweetest of creams, one of the ladies, who had stood by and gasped in horror at the welts rising on my skin as I stepped into the bath the night before, came to help me dress.

As I stood with my fingers grasping the windowsill as she tightly laced my bodice, I saw the curve of the drive serpentining through a cluster of evergreens and exiting the front door was Leonce. He shouted hasty directions, and a carriage - even finer than the one I had arrived - in pulled up to the main entrance, a fine pair of dark bays decked out in full silver-studded harness with their ears pricked, prancing nervously as they waited.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

As the horses tramped with impatience in the whitestone gravel before the marbled stoop, I shouted at Gaston, "All is in order?!?" The hour was latening and I was mad to get onto the road. He acknowledged, but I paid him no heed. Running my fingers over each of the polished silver studs of the bridles, how happy the studs glistened in the sun. Like stars in lines waiting into the day to see to my fey's care with speed. One of the stallions reared and snorted as I passed in front of him. Something about him, he seemed to not trust me, curious. Still he ran like the wind under Gaston's whip. That thought running through my mind like the gentle morn breeze, as I absently gripped the whip.

Looking into Gaston's eyes. I laughed at thier flashing of fear as his hands tightened upon the reins. I returned it to its place, roaring into the air with beemusement. I bellowed to the footmen to stow the luggage. Andrea had been her usual vision of effiency and perfection. All preparations had been taken care of. I watched the porters scurrying about, in anticipation, fists clenching and unclenching with impatience. My laughter having died and my lips loosing my smile, rapidly...

 

[caspai]

Andrea

With the lord and his captive lady prepared for the trip, I pack a small bag for myself, and ready the staff for my absence. They are given a schedule for what needs to be done for the next two weeks. I do not know if that is the length of time we will be absent, but it does no harm to be prepared.

Sighing, I wonder what this trip will bring. I have no great anticipation, but realize there is little I can do to change the events from their current course. To stand up to Leonce would not only be dangerous at this point, but it would also have the potential of leaving the poor wounded dove alone with him, completely at his mercy. I can't bring myself to do that.

Shaking my head, I give directions to a footman to have the luggage taken to the carriage, and take my own small bag out myself.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

Standing hesitantly on the sprawling front steps, a small bag of my more valuable possessions clutched in front of me, I watched Gaston and Leonce below, each the opposite of each other. Where Leonce tormented and frightened the horses with swift movements and his lilting verbal chants, the coachman quieted them with a steady hand and whispered reassurance.

Looking over the lush semicircle of perfect green, dew laden from last nights storms, I thought only momentarily of escape, for the simple reason that there was nowhere to escape to. I knew that my relatives, who had owned the estate before Leonce, had bought up all the land around it, leaving it pristine and untouched. Their enjoyment of the natural world was now my detriment.

Sighing, I knew I was far weaker than Leonce, or even the red-faced horseman, and with nothing but an expanse of open grass, running away wasn't even a plausible option. Seating myself on the hard steps resinedly, I told myself I would just have to bide my time and catch my captors off guard.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

Once Adrienne and Andrea were both nested into the handsome coach I flung myself in and slammed the door. Thumping my cane on the roof of the carrige promted Gaston to crack his whip and the horses thundered away from the house. I leaned over the carrige and kissed Adrienne's hand, "Take heart my treasure," I siad softly, "we shall soon have you bathing yourself to new again at the coast." I hoped that reassured her some.

Leaning back into the seat I pulled a silver flask from the depths of my jacket. I unscrewed the cap, then looking at Adrienne, "My fey," I began with a smile, "care for a bit of rejuvenating on the road?" I asked. Not listening for an answer I pulled out a small glass and filled it with the potent magical green fluid of abissynthe, and thrust it towards her. Out of the corner fo my eye I caught Andrea's glare. She just did not approve of magical potions. I flashed her a warning glare of blazing eye before turning my gaze to Adrienne, "Please, my luv, it does wonders for the soul."

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

One, two, three…one, two, three…one, two, three… I counted the beats of the horse’s swift canter, something that I had done many times in the feather down of my own canopied bed at home. Visitors tended to arrive late, and the comforting sound of an equine gait on hoof packed dirt worked far better then counting sheep.

I soon became accustomed to the rocking motion, although it hardly affected me, pressed as I was between Andrea and Leonce. Fishing through his pockets, the madman withdrew something that glinted in the faint light that was allowed in through the draped windows. At the hint of silver, I at first thought it was a knife, and shied away, but on second glance realized it was merely a flask. From this flask, he poured a glass of a vile looking elixir, an unhealthy green in color.

“What is it?” I asked, and received only a menacing glare that I took to mean rhetorical questions like such were not a welcome addition to the conversation.

Accepting the glass as graciously as I could, determined to get on my captor’s good side, I raised it to my lips. If it smelled bad, it tasted even worse. The bitter flavor was lightened only by a hint of wintergreen leaves and the slight tang of anise, but otherwise it was perfectly revolting.

Trying not to let my distaste show, I coughed into my handkerchief in as lady-like a manner as I could muster, wondering what the affects of this potent combination would be.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

Downing a glass myself, I watch as Adrienne's cheeks flush with the warmth of the drink as she daintily coughs into a handerchief. Smiling at the green glow flooding my own throat, "And what dreams may come, my fey," I whisper as I glance out the window. The drink bringing the world into focus beyond the curtain lace of the coach window. The hollow pain in my mind slowly retreating to numbness.

Bemused I started humming a tune softly to myself, as the world drifted by. Thumping the ceiling with my cane, "Gaston! Gaston, brazen them out, we shall not spend an entire holiday on the road!" I shouted. Gaston responded by cracking the whip. The carridge lurched forward as the horsespicked up their pace. I laughed heartilly as the sensations of the rocks and holes of the road became more evident with speed. Adrienne's and Andrea's faces bounced slightly with the jolts of travel.

I brushed my lips across Adrienne's ear, and in a whispered kiss, "Soon, my pet," I said with warmth as I began kissing her from ear to neck. A large bump under the tires bounced my arm up, glancing across her breast. My fingers instantly ensnared by the traps of her charms, siezed her delights in a soft, but steady grip. My kisses retreating along her shoulder. My mind racing over her as the coach raced across the road. How intriguing it was to share travel with such a distraction, even better than cracking the whip myself. I thought in my fevered mind. "Faster, Gaston! Faster!" I shouted, my lips barely parted from Adrienne's shoulder.

 

[caspai]

Andrea

Watching as Leonce begins to offer the vile liquid to the poor girl, I wonder at what may come of this. I have to fight my impulse to knock the glass from her hand, knowing that it would do no good, anyway. He would become angry, perhaps violent, and he has a seemingly inexhaustible supply, anyway. He would just give her more.

Leonce urges the coachman to increasingly faster paces, and I tense, expecting at any moment that we will hit a rock and be sent flying over, crashing. When it doesn't happen, I begin to relax, only to see Leonce begin his personal attack on the body of the Mlle.

"Leonce, please, the coach is crowded and uncomfortable. Do you think perhaps it wouldn't be better to wait for a better time and place for that?"

It won't do much more than postpone the inevitable, but it is the best I can do. It is a hard thing to deal with Leonce without the influence of Absynth. When he has consumed it, there is no telling how he will react. He could either react with violence, or he could be as gentle and kind as I remember him from before...

 

[Mistress Jorja]

I settled back against the velvety seats, my breathing shallow in the relative silence. The only sound bold enough to interrupt was the gasping of the wheels and the occasional squeal of the axels as we bounced jauntily over a particularly large obstacle.

Between the dull pantings of the wheel's monotonous thrumming, the rasp of human breathing reached my ears clearly. Little did I know it was my own short gasps that I was hearing and the rush of blood through my veins serving as an audible canvas.

The grating breaths started to form words…words in a foreign tongue which I was not familiar with. Words in a deeply ominous tone of warming. Warning me. But of what?

The spaces between them grew sorter, an unrelenting torrent of syllables that flooded over me. It was no longer a frightened voice, but a heady call of war. A battle cry, a surprise attack directed at me.

My clothes were confining, the high collar chocking me in its python grip. I tore at the sash that wound its way around my waist, trying to escape the grasp of sheer terror. My eyes bright with an animalistic instinct of fight or flight, I attempted both, falling to my knees on the polished wood floor of the carriage.

With a piercing shriek, I curled myself into a ball, covering my ears and trying to block out the sounds of a raging battle and the crackling of an angry fire. My mouth was dry with fright, a fright for which I could no long articulate my emotions, but only scream…

and scream…

and scream…

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

From the corner of my clouded eyes, I watched as the potent exilure enrapted Adrienne's mind and soul. Sharing the beauty of the drink with her pleased me deeply. I watched as her cheeks flushed with enthusiasm. Her breath came quickly and laced with the zest for life, that abisynthe can only bring.

I shifted from the window to watch my fey as she began to speak in heated words. I pulled at the glass clutched between my fingers, an eyebrow cocked in anticipation...

Suddenly, the bliss enfolded her in all its glory. She tugged at her ridiculous clothes. She fell to her knees on the carrige floor. Shouting, screaming, begging, demanding...

I flung the glass from my hand, crystal shards scattering upon the wood of the door. Diving upon her, silencing her screams with my hungery lips. My fingers clawing at the restraints of her gown, shreds of finest cloth filling the air with thier sundering sounds and fragments.

Maddening hands, driven by the beat of the hooves and rounds of the wheels, finding homes upon her globes. Beneathe her corset. Her eyes wild and stark. Her arms thrashing and grapsing as my lips sank into hers and my fingers found her hot budding nipples in the tiny space of the carrige floor.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

The bony fingers of cold fear wrapped themselves around my neck. I clawed at my skin relentlessly, a flush of color blooming beneath my alabaster complexion.

Gasping as Leonce crushed me in his staunch grasp, I struggled for a moment. As the monotonous chanting continued, wheel against axel against packed soil, I welded myself to his body. Somehow, I found protection – if not comfort – in his torrid embrace.

My eyes tightly closed, I kicked out wildly. My legs unrestrained, I found purchase on the hard wood sides of the carriage as I thrashed, serving to extricate myself from the tangle of velour and lace.

Opening my eyes, I saw Leonce – the true Leonce – for the first time. My fevered countenance blushed at this sight of love, my mouth parched as my tongue entwined with his.

Clutching at him as a dragon hordes its gold, I sought his hardness with needy fingers. The drapes over the curtain drifted apart slightly, my eyes flicking nervously towards the door, dark shadows clouding the edges of my vision. My pupils shrank to pinpoints in the assault of buttery light, hot color raising high in my cheeks, and the taste of Leonce’s ‘potion’ still heavy on my taste buds.

 

[caspai]

Andrea

The affects of the liquid on the poor girl were almost instant. I watched helplessly as the two of them writhed together on the floor of the carriage, wishing desperately for something that will allow me to re-establish some sanity in a situation quickly spiraling out of control. Reaching out, I try to pull Adrienne to me.

"Leonce, this must stop right now! This is madness! Don't you see what you are doing to this poor girl? Have you lost what little sense you had left?"

My best efforts achieve very little. Adrienne begins to cling to Leonce with a strength born of madness, all the while tearing at her clothing as if it were attacking her. I hear Leonce laugh, helping her with her efforts. As the clothing disappears from her form, Adrienne melts into Leonce, beginning the first steps into the dance that leads to sure madness if it is not stopped.

Looking around in desperation, I see the bottle of absinthe lying forgotten on the seat. Picking it up, I consider hitting Leonce over the head with it, but know that it would do little good. With this vile concoction in him, he has the strength of ten normal men. It would take more than one thin glass bottle to render him unconscious. I can at least get rid of what is left of this bottle of the vile drink, if nothing else, and I throw the bottle as hard as I can out of the window that is cracked open to allow for some circulation of air.

As I continue to look desperately around for something that will aid me in my attempt to stop this madness, my eyes fall onto the niche just under the seat opposite, where the bricks are kept. These are used to heat in the winter to provide warmth while traveling in the cold. It is all that is available by way of a weapon, and must work. Looking again at the couple on the floor, I find that they are much too engrossed in each other to even realize I am still in the carriage. Lunging to pick up one of the bricks, I hit Leonce over the head with it with as much strength as I can muster. His frenzied motion over Adrienne suddenly stops, and he collapses in a heap on top of the poor girl.

This sudden change of circumstances causes her to begin to scream. Feeling the urge myself, I take several deep, calming breaths before rolling Leonce off of her, and checking frantically to see if he is still breathing. To my great relief, he is breathing deeply. Pulling Adrienne up from the floor, I take the carriage robe and wrap it around her now naked body, and look at Leonce, wondering to myself what could possibly happen now.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

Suddenly aware of a slight ache at the base of my skull and my body being rolled heavilly to one side. I realise I can not see. My eyes snap open, my vision blurred; but not by the green fairy this time. I watch as Adrienne is pulled from my touch and Andrea begins to wrap her length in the robe of the carrige. Blinking I realise that there is a heating brick on the seat next to Andrea. A shot of pain floods my head and rancor rises in my heart.

My head bouncing on the floor over the roughness of the road, my mind tries to understand the strange things that I have just wwitnessed. The only thing that is there is the light twinge of solid pain emminating against the floor.

Suddenly, slighty at first the green fairy soothes my pain and awakens my reason. Andrea, swet Andrea struck me! The thought more devastating than the blow, she must be trying to steal my treasure from me! The pair on the seat, Andrea holding Adrienne close, speaking words masked from my ears, but obivously another betrayl. My eyes narrow from the floor as my fingers ball into fists.

Striking like a viper from the coils of the floorboards, I lunge forward, siezing Andrea and pulling myself onto the seat. The brick falling hard onto the floor. In one motion I fling Andrea over my knee, her legs flying up into the air, her cornette bursting her hair into curling erruption around her face. Crimson droplets falling from my head staining her petticoats.

Holding her fast, binding one of her wrists behind her back in an iron grip and pinning her across my lap. My free hand flinging the petticoats over her back and tearing at the restrictions of her underdress. Her protests falling on deafened ears as I succeed in bringing her pale cheeks into view. Fingers widespread, palm flat, I drive home a strike upon her cheek from the roof of the carrige. Every strike bringing a cry for more as her cheeks begin to shw the burn of my hand, pinks, reds, blues.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

A shallow shriek started in my throat at the silvery shower of glass, a light breeze dancing over us, a cool balm for my pink cheeks. My vision faded slightly at the sight of Andrea, her actions calm and resolved, that of a woman staunch in her position; yet hereyes wild and unsure.

The shriek rose higher as Leonce fell into a burden atop of me. His weight choked me. Heavy scents of lingering flowers assaulted my senses, tickling the base of my throat. Slithering from beneath the prone figure, my mind finally caught up to what had transpired, twisting reality into the cold daymare of surrealism.

“You thief! Don’t steal him from me!”

Nostrils flared, I reached out to catch the tail of Leonce’s coat, only to have him tear it violently from my grasp.

“Oh how I loathe you! Give me my love. It is you who has chanted the words of my nightmares. Oh be gone foul creature. I can suffer no longer. Why do you haunt me so?”

Andrea, my sweet Andrea who had been only nurturing and sisterly to me, I now found my enemy. A rival for the attentions of this man, mad though he was.

 

[caspai]

Andrea

The dual attack upon my person was just too much for me to overcome. As Leonce pulled me over him and began his assault, Adrienne herself, in the grip of a delusion I could not begin to fathom, commenced with her attack as well. She seemed to believe that I was trying to steal Leonce away from her. What could that vile concoction have done to her poor, sweet mind that she would be unable to see that I had been trying to save her, not steal Leonce?

Between the two of them, they managed to overpower me, the grip Leonce held around my waist making it impossible for me to breathe. As the darkness began to close around me, I looked up into Adrienne's face, seeing the dazed, crazed look in her eyes that I had so often seen shine through from Leonce. With a gasp, the darkness washed over me, and I fell limp to the floor of the carriage.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

Andrea fell limp slowly in my grasp and I slacked my grip, letting her slide launderylike to the floor of the carrige. I leaned back, presing my battered head to the rear wall of the carrige. "How dare she?" I hissed in a whisper over the rush of pain echoing in my ears.

Not hearing an answer from the depths of my mind, my hand shot out, ensnaring Adrienne's wrist and pulling her forcefully to my chest. My lips crushed into hers, my tongue darting between her lips, that parted with willing, eager ease. My invading tongue, scavenging the territories of her mouth, looting the tace tastes of la fey verte that still lingered on her tongue. An arm wound across her shoulders and nails dug, of their own accord into her soft flesh.

Breaking our kiss, dragging my tongue across her sweet lips as we part. My fingers sinking deeper into her shoulder, imprinting her with crimson marks of my caress, I looked deep into her eyes, patiently. They had the cloud, that very perfect cloud that can only be seen when one's mind is at dance with that unbottled genie. "Now, my sweet," I whipsered with a malicious grin, "what shall you suppose we do with this troublesome one?" I indicated Andrea's crumpled form with a sideways nod of my head, never letting my piercing gaze loose its stranglehold on her too pools of beauty. My eyes were flashing with anticipation. My mind racing on what vengence I could take for myself upon Andrea's flesh for transgression on my skull. Wondering still what could spring forth from Adrienne's first dance with the fairy.

I licked my grinning lips like a wolf circling for the final kill, almost tasting the meat. Two fingers absently were rubbing the braided velvet curtain ties on the carrige window as I peered into Adrienne's soul searching for my answer in her soft, glazed eyes.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

How dare she, indeed.

I echoed Leonce in words and tone, leaning against him heavily. Tossing my head back in carefree, vicious laughter, I stepped away from him. My fingers continued to rest on the flat of his firm stomach, as if any contact with him assured that he was mine.

Kneeling down next to Andrea, I submitted to the overwhelming urge to run my fingers through her silky hair. Stroking her as I would a gleaming Thoroughbred, I lowered my lips to her neck. My hands splayed on the velvet cushion, I licked her fair skin, tasting and scenting the competition.

Moving up to her cherry red lips, I brushed my mouth over hers, softly at first…as gentle as a mother wishing their child a sweet dream. Tilting my head, I glanced at Leonce, the fire stoked by his potion burning bright beneath my bosom. With a spreading smile, I returned my attention to her fallen form.

Catching her lower lip between my teeth, I tore viciously, blood trickling over my chin as I turned away from her. Uninterested now, I stood, glancing unsurely around my surroundings as if they were foreign to me.

Raising a hand to my mouth, it came away red and wet, the metallic taste of coppery blood cutting the sharpness of the pale green liquor. Scraping my fingers down Leonce’s arm, I fell back into his grasp, drawing hateful words from some dark corner of my soul.

“She is a traitor. Make her pay, my darling, make her pay.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Leonce

Adrienne's sweet words of sanity and clarity echoing in my mind, urging me on to action I should have taken years before. One lightning flash from my hand and the carrige drapery cord was ripped from the door. The curtain fluttering in its wake. The other hand grabbing Andrea's limp wrists into an iron grip. The braided velvet of the cord snaking its way to bite into Andrea's wrists clapping them together it bound tightness. Her pulse struggling past the cord.

A smile of perfect cruelty flashed to Adrienne before it crushed itself upon her lips, my tongue darting out to savor Andrea's blood from Andrea's yeilding lips. Breaking our kiss with a sudden and violent, audible parting, "Yes I think we should punish her, my fey." I watched the spark of intensity and curiousity ignite and smolder in Adrienne's clouded pools.

"GASTON!!!!" I bellowed in a roar that shook the trees lining the road, "Stop the carrige!" I commanded. My voice filled with power and flavored with dark desire. The carrige lurched and carreened slightly as the cloud of dust billowed around our halting. Smiling softly at Adrienne I said in hushed tones, "I think this is a wonderful spot to feed you, my love."

When the Wheels were finally still and the horses were panting, thier coats glistening with thier exertion. Gaston opened the door and assisted Adrienne down the steps. His eyes flashed with surprise at her disheveled apppearance, then nearly pooped out of his head as I pushed my way out of the carrige with Andrea slung over my shoulders. Her wrists bound behind my back. One glance of cold cruel eyes silenced him and foced his eyes to lower.

"Gaston," I said in an icy calm voice, "milady Adrienne and I shall be picnicking for a while and do not wish to be disturbed." "Of course your lordship," Gaston nodded, "I and madame Andrea wil.." I cut him off with a slap to his cheek. "No, Gaston, I will be in need of her services." I hissed as I turned on a heel to look him in the eye, "Andrea, will be accompaning us." "Yes, milord," He said softly, his head bowed to look out of respect, but twinged with hidden fear and sadness.

"Gaston, bring the trunk and follow us." I commanded as I took Adrienne in one arm and Andrea's slunk form over the oppistie shoulder and took bold strides off the road and into the velvety green of the forest. The scents of the country assailing my nostrils. The flutter of birds as they disappeared before our aproach. The flittering of streaming sunlight through the leaves. The soft crunch of moss and emerald truf beneath my heavy feet.

Reaching a small meadow, shrouded by ancient giants. A rockstrewn brook babbled through the center. Spinning around and surveying the scene, "Yes I think this will do," I said as I dropped Andrea hard to the earth, partially waking ehr with the impact. Pulling Adrienne to my in a tight embrace, feeling the crush of her breasts against my own. Long fingers snaking beneath her hair to force her neck forward, crushing our lips to one. Breaking our kiss, and whispering, "Now, let us enjoy ourselves as civilized persons, my fey," I grinned. Spinnning around sharply, carrying Adriene in my sudden movement, her light feet flying off teh earth, tethered by my arms. "That will do Gaston." I instructed as he softly set the trunk down to the earth and turned back to the road.

Kissing Adrienne's hand gently before releasing it and kneeling before the trunk. Quickly unfastening the brass buckles and givign the leather straps slack, I throw the lid of the luncheon trunk back. The sound sending flight to a group of startled birds somewhere in the distance. I could hear Andrea begin to stir and try to lift herself from the ground, finding her hands perhaps a little numb and not with thier accustomed freedom, now lashed together as one. Not turning my attention from what I was digging around in the trunk for I called over my shoulder, "Adrienne, my fey, would you be so kind as to help Andrea get prepared for what is to come?" With that I tossed tow interesting items out of the trunk without looking as they carelessly landed between Andrea's wrists and Adriene's feet. The long bladed carving knife's sharpness blazing brightly in the sun, the broad headed inlaid wood brush landing softly and quietly. Filling my arms with a fresh bottle of green liquid, a fistfull of sugar cubes, an ornate, slotted silver spoon, two broad mouthed glasses, some strawberries, and the two leather trunk straps; I turned and grinned maniacally in thier direction.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Adrienne

I leapt daintily from the carriage, skirts of chiffon rustling moodily over my hips. It felt good to stretch my legs, and I stepped out of my slippers to run my toes through he grass. The dew-kissed emerald spears were still wet despite the sun overhead.

Everything seemed sharply in focus, sensations overwhelming and colors so blaringly loud that they melted into each other. Trailing a few feet behind Leonce, who had Andrea hoisted easily over one shoulder, I took my time.

Thoughts of a surreptitious flight were the last thing occupying my mind. It was foolery, I decided, for by abandoning Leonce, Andrea would have him all to herself. Fierce jealousy raging through me again, I ran a few steps, leaning heavily against him.

Kissing the nape of his neck, I struggled to keep up with his confident, loping strides. Trees draped themselves tiredly over the narrow, winding trail.

Kneeling on the checkered blanket besides Andrea, I picked up the knife Leonce had provided me with. Fascinated, I pressed the tip into my finger and turned it over and over, watching the glinting sunlight. As Andrea started to move, I brought it to her lips, lightening quick, impressed even at my own reflexes.

Seeing a flash of fear in her eyes, I replace the knife with my lips, the urge to taste her suddenly overwhelming. As if to show I had honorable intentions, I kissed her lightly, all the time trailing the knife down the swells of her luscious bosom.

With a sideward glance at Leonce, and a nod of pure approval from him, I began to methodically cut away the fabric, revealing more smooth skin with every plunge of the knife.

 

[caspai]

Andrea

Bound, hand and foot, I feel Leonce pick me up and carry me away from the carriage. His shoulder is digging painfully into my stomach, but I welcome the pain, as it sharpens my senses, the dull throb of my jaw a reminder of the anger and violence this man is capable of. I feel myself being lowered onto a blanket, and the sunlight filtering between the leaves of the trees above dazzles my eyes. Adrienne is instantly above me, toying with a knife. Looking into her eyes, I see the madness that has just begun to take hold of her mind. Briefly, the thought of trying to reason with her flashes into my mind. I reject this thought as quickly as it comes to me. The seductive madness of the world Leonce has chosen has already made a claim upon her soul.

Sunlight flashes against the blade as, almost too quickly to see, the blade is placed on my lips. The metallic taste of the blade is terrifying to me. With a pleased look on her face, she removes the blade, and then bends down to place a soft kiss on my lips. The unfamiliar feel of soft lips pressed to mine are somehow soothing to me, and I feel my guard begin to slip just a bit. Then I see her glance up, a new light shining in her eyes. I gasp sharply as I feel the knife glide across my breasts, the sharp point focusing every fiber, every nerve in my body, directly there.

As my clothing is cut from my body, I feel sunlight and air upon my body. Curiously, the sensation is not unpleasant to me. Were it not for the knife held by Adrienne, and she in the grip of her seductive madness, I would enjoy the feelings I had always been too restricted to feel. The cool air brushing my now bared nipples causes them to harden. The feel of the blade upon my naked flesh causes me to gasp, and I fight against the wild urge to moan. What is this madness within me? Is it possible that THEIR madness was also entering into me? How could I possibly be enjoying the feel of this?

Closing my eyes, I bite my lip and rage a battle within myself, attempting, and seemingly failing, to gain control over my own reactions...