Chapter 12: Tessa

My own contribution to moving the supplies to the storeroom is cut short at two o’clock when Lady Helen comes to collect me for a dungeon session with Madame Natasha. Madame Nicole has kept her promise that I would be unavailable to mistresses between nine and two each day, but beyond that, she cannot prevent a member of the Mistress caste demanding that I am at her disposal. I’m torn between frustration that my work hours are diminished, and excitement at the prospect of another session of bondage and punishment. After all, that’s the reason I wanted to stay the extra week, and was prepared to work as a Field Slave to make that possible.

“Your arse and back are quite marked,” observes Madame Natasha as she secures me to a whipping frame. “Are you sure you are okay to endure more?”

“Yes, Madame,” I reply. “Doctor Olivia checked me over after my double session with Madame Gail yesterday, and she said I’m okay to continue with these sessions.”

“Very well. But don’t forget that I gave you the option of chickening out.”

As much as several mistresses like to play bondage and punishment games with me, most prefer a mental game of domination and submission over physically delivering a punishment. Over time I’m learning each mistress’s particular fetish. Those like Madame Natasha like her target to bear the ordeal with fortitude and courage. Others prefer the whimpering slave routine. I can play my part in both scenarios. The same goes for the balance between bondage and punishment. Madame Bernice will spend most of our sessions weighting me down with shackles and chains, with little more than a light spanking to conclude. Madame Natasha is at the other end of the scale. Bondage is limited to whatever is needed to prevent me from moving and spoiling her aim. Despite some painful sessions, Madame Natasha is experienced enough not to draw blood and leave scars. It’s all part of the trust between mistress and slave that makes La Chatte Heureuse successful.

It’s six o’clock when I finally have time to find Madame Rebecca and ask about the slave overseer position. My back is sore after my session with Madame Natasha, but it’s well within my ability to tolerate. Madame Rebecca takes me into a side room and asks a lot of difficult questions. In fairness, they are questions that I’ve asked myself about my suitability to do the required job.

“Okay. I’m willing to go to the next stage,” says Madame Rebecca. “We need to establish whether you have the ability to do a lock-up routine in E4. Report to me just before nine o’clock and I’ll watch while you perform tonight’s lock-up.”

“Yes, Madame. Thank you for the opportunity.”

“Well, don’t thank me yet,” chortles Madame Rebecca. “Most mistresses can’t handle the lock-up routine with so many slaves, so I’m intrigued as to how someone from the Slave caste will manage.”

I go to building E4 to freshen up and grab something to eat. Fortunately I’m not on duty in the slave quarter’s kitchen this evening. Those sorts of tasks are usually assigned to General Slaves rather than Field Slaves. I suppose organising the duty schedule could become my responsibility in future. Like most evenings, the meal consists of a help-yourself buffet. Latecomers will need to make do with the less popular dishes.

Looking at the activity around me I make a mental note of all the challenges a slave overseer faces. While all these women are slaves by choice, they aren’t necessarily a harmonious group willing to work hard. There are the usual cliques, bullies and shirkers. One advantage I have over the mistresses is my ability to identify troublemakers from within their midst.