Chapter 5

Nicholas sat at his desk, the rain pounding against the medieval lead glass window. "Yin failed," he said to himself as he stood and walked over to the fire.

That night thirty-eight years ago came back to him, sitting in this room he felt the tremors, knew that something ... life altering had just happened. Standing by the fire, warming his hands against the chill that always crept in through the ancient mortar of the keep, he wondered if the life to be altered or ended would be his.

For the first time in, well, longer than he cared to remember, Nicholas felt the cold clammy hand of fear grip his heart. It was a feeling he had almost forgotten, and now, standing alone with an unknown future looming over him like a tidal wave he was unsure, just for an instant, that the path he had chosen was the right one.

Ian pulled up the security video from Michael's flight again on the big plasma monitor. One minute Michael looks as though he is on deaths door, the next he is radiant, looking like one would envision a saint, glowing.

Ian sat back and regarded the frozen image, "how could they have known?" he said to himself as he pushed a button on the computer and the perspective shifted to the oriental woman.

Yin Su-Trang, twenty-eight years old, an advertising consultant for Dentsu. The young woman seemed to have no family and was in New York for meetings with clients. She was scheduled to meet with four more clients in London the following day.

Ian's team was working on a deeper background check of Ms. Trang and had started looking at Dentsu, trying to determine who actually controlled the company.

Ian dialed the Swiss extension and waited for Hans to pick up. "Hello," Hans answered.

"Hans, its Ian, have you reviewed the data files from the flight that I forwarded you this morning?" Ian asked.

Hans Stremble sat back in his chair, looking out the large windows that provided a wondrous view of lake Lucerne, Hans was weary.

"Yes Ian, I have reviewed the vid's, it would seem that Mr. Dane was attacked by a chosen." Hans said heavily.

Ian was pleased, "what action do you intend to take?" Ian asked, doubtful that Hans would have the balls to do anything.

Hans sighed, "Ian, we are still in the process of evaluating all of the circumstances surrounding this incident, it is unclear as to the background of Ms. Trang, who she may have been working with or if Mr. Dane is the one who prompted the attack himself." Hans's answer was exactly what Ian was expecting.

"I appreciate your handling this situation in your usual fair and unbiased way, I look forward to any updates you can give me," Ian replied as he slammed the phone down.

'I hope Michael is the one, ' Ian thought to himself, 'we have fallen into anarchy.'

Ian stood and stretched, heading to the kitchen in search of Millie.

Nicolas was restless, Mr. Dane had been whisked away from the gate at Heathrow by MI-6 before anyone could get on the plane, and his whereabouts were, for the moment unknown.

Knowing that it would be several hours before his people would be able to track down Mr. Dane, Nicolas called for Heidi and Isabel.

The chrome and leather furniture gleamed in the late evening light, their modern forms made for an interesting contrast with the brown hued natural stone walls of the ancient fortress.

Nicolas gazed out the high windows, from the top floor of the Keep which he had been modifying for years to suit his needs. He had a commanding view of the valley, all was lush and green, the end of summer still not whispered by the winds, the land was at its zenith full of power and energy.

Watching the falcon drop from the sky into the forest below he reveled in the feeling of power this view gave of his adopted land.

Germany had changed; since the east and west had merged under one flag again the energy of the country had shifted once more.

Gone were the decades of surveillance and espionage, now the country grew and prospered as it once had, a whole living being throbbing with the lifeblood of an epic past and an unstoppable future.

Soon enough Germany would once again be the main player on the world stage.

Soon enough, German industry and might would make the very foundations of the planet quake.

Nicolas's coal black eyes squinted into the setting sun, 'nothing will stop me, ' he thought as he turned seeing Heidi and Isabel kneeling, awaiting his pleasure.

In all things, Nicolas liked to be the most powerful, this was true in business, all of his relationships and especially sexually.

There was no wife or significant other, Nicolas was too self-absorbed too share his life with anyone. Servants were the order of the day, everyday, when it came to Nicolas's interactions with the rest of humanity.

Heidi and Isabel sat quietly on the hard wood floor; another opportunity to gain Nicolas's favor, another opportunity to please him, today life was good.

Nicolas looked down at his two pets, while not his favorites and not at the bottom of the list of servants, what these two lacked in physical attributes they more than made up for in shear desire to please, whether that pleasure came from sex or punishment didn't seem to matter with these two.

"Heidi, please remove Isabel's clothing," Nicolas said, as he made himself comfortable, sinking into the lush confines of the rich Italian leather swathed couch.

No verbal response was required from Heidi, standing; pulled Isabel to her feet and slowly began unbuttoning the crushed silk Cavalli blouse. The fabric felt like butterfly wings as she slid her hand down Isabel's taught abdomen, trailing the now open buttons.

She played briefly at the waistband of the silk pants Isabel wore and then slid them down, kneeling before her, a puddle of golden silk pooled around her feet.

Rising again, Heidi turned Isabel away from her, sliding her fingers under the straps of the Lastraioli bra, the lace feeling rough and subtle at the same time. Slipping the clasp, the black lace fell revealing Isabel's ample breasts, capped with hard oversized nipples.

Slipping to her knees again, Heidi grasp the bands of the thong and slid it down over Isabel's well-defined mocha colored thighs. Remaining on her knees she could smell Isabel's desire, knew that her friend and lover was in need, she hoped Nicolas would not make her wait long to pleasure her beloved.

Isabel bit her lower lip; the sensuous nature of how sessions with Nicolas began always surprised her, considering how ... depraved they could end up.

She was in love with Heidi, of all the girls in the group Heidi and she were the closest, they were always together and it always made a session that much more erotic when Heidi was involved.

Nicolas took in the scene, at almost 5'10 Isabel looked like a bronzed Amazon when compared with the diminutive Heidi.

At 4'8 Heidi was compact, waif like, no tits to speak of, sensitive pink nipples, her red hair and alabaster skin created a wonderful contrast to the darker tones of Isabel's muscled form.

"Isabel, come over here and kneel in front of me," Nicolas said, as he rose to stand over her.

Kneeling before Nicolas Isabel was scared, would it be pleasure or pain today, she wondered, her question was answered as the crop flew down cracking across her shoulders sending waves of pain down her spine and eliciting an ear piercing scream.

The scream was the key, even before its echoes died Nicolas was beginning to get hard. He loved to hear the vocalization of his power, the confirmation that he was making an impression.

Four more hits fell across Isabel's back; long livid welts began to rise in an X pattern across her back and shoulders.

Nicolas was breathing heavy; the exertion always got his blood boiling. "Heidi, strip me," Nicolas commanded.

Heidi fairly leapt over her prostrate friend and began removing Nicolas's clothing.

As the layers were stripped away Nicolas's body was revealed. Tight muscles rippled at the slight movements he made to accommodate Heidi's ministrations, his tanned skinned glowed red in the dying light of the day, the sparse body hair was an equal combination of black and gray.