Chapter 83: Melissa: Wednesday

I spend Wednesday morning doing chores around Madame Bernice’s suite and running errands. That may sound simple and boring, but it isn’t. After yesterday’s discussion about loyalty, and my refusal to be bought, Madame Bernice has decided to punish me for insolence. Ever since my first day in Madame Bernice’s thrall, I’ve frequently worn a steel collar and metal cuffs on my wrists and ankles. Apart from the additional weight on my limbs, the inconvenience has been minor. Now Madame Bernice has added linking chains, making movement much more of a challenge.

I doubt her intention is to cower me into long term submission, but simply a knee-jerk reaction to my defiance. She threatened to add a gag as well, but her desire to seek my opinion about her proposed special event, makes a gag counter-productive. Even so, some of my errands require travelling around the buildings and grounds, so plenty of people see me bound in my chains. If Madame Bernice hoped to make me feel humiliated, she’s missed her mark by a mile. I like the sensation of my restrained limbs while I work, and I find the whole experience erotic.

By lunchtime Madame Bernice is finalising a formal proposal to put to Madame April. Her request is to have exclusive use of the Tower. While there are no rooms in the Tower designed for Lady caste members, her plan is to allow ladies to use some of the mistress caste suites for the duration of the event. I don’t know why Madame Bernice has chosen to invite the particular members on her list, but I suspect they are all in her sphere of influence one way or another.

I come across Tessa while I’m running one of my errands for Madame Bernice. She shows no ill-effects from our session with Madame Natasha yesterday. I don’t doubt that Tessa’s back is still sore, but to give Madame Natasha her due, she’s skilful at delivering that sort of treatment without causing serious injury.

“Have you heard the rumour that you and I are lovers,” says Tessa as we pass each other.

“No, but after our session with Madame Natasha in the dungeon yesterday I can understand where that rumour started.”

“Yes. Madame Chloe isn’t amused by it all, however,” adds Tessa as she walks away. “You might want to talk to her as soon as you can. Preferably without those shackles. She’s touchy enough at you being in Madame Bernice’s thrall all week, without adding fuel to the fire.”

I reflect on Tessa’s warning and I consider the best way to respond. Neither Madame Chloe nor I can have a relationship, let alone a marriage, unless we accept the sexual nature of our work. I know that as a Slave caste member, I’m more likely to be in situations where I’m performing sexual acts, not necessarily against my will. Madame Chloe is less likely to be involved in such things, although she’d be entitled to command one of the members in E4 to service her sexual needs if she felt the inclination. I suppose she could do the same with staff slaves, but that may give rise to ‘terms of employment’ issues. I spend a few moments thinking about how I would feel if Madame Chloe engaged in the sort of no-holds-barred sex that I’ve been involved in performing. I don’t have a satisfactory answer when Madame Natasha intercepts me on my way back to Madame Bernice’s suite.