Chapter 44

Seeger hesitated in the hallway just outside the door to his office. He considered waving this one off by letting a faculty assistant hand the young lady a generic reprimand. He never did like having to deal with any matters remotely sexual when it came to the students, and even more so in light of recent events. Had he not been in a faculty meeting which had bored him to the point of tears, he would not have jumped at the chance to deal with a student disciplinary matter.

Seeger took a deep breath, drew himself up straight, and set his face to his standard student-intimidating scowl before he opened the door. It lasted all of two seconds, the time it took to identify the student.

Seeger's fingers tightened around the door knob. His eyebrows knit into a worried line before he advanced into the office, closing the door softly behind him. Heather looked up and gave him a forlorn look but said not a word. She squirmed once and was still.

Seeing her looking so vulnerable reminded him of the day in the parking lot when Richie had assaulted Brad, claiming he had harassed Heather. Heather had appeared unmolested save for a large wet stain on the crotch of her jeans bearing an odor that Seeger was not too old to remember.

Seeger sat behind his desk and folded his hands, lacing the fingers together tightly. The standard opening line he would use with wayward students seemed horribly out-of-place.

"Well," Seeger said. He paused and let out a sigh when no other words would come to him. He wiped his face with his hand and sighed. "My apologies, Miss Sovert, but such things are terribly awkward for me in the best of times."

Heather did nothing more than nod and shift in her seat.

Seeger had hoped it would prompt a response and spare him the need to initiate the conversation. He was at a loss for words until he finally abandoned the idea that this was anything like a normal faculty-to-student meeting. "All right, Miss Sovert," said Seeger, lacing his fingers tighter. "I am going to make a huge leap of logic and hopefully I will not find myself jumping into a yawning abyss. Does this ... infraction you are accused of have anything to do with Principal Bendon?"

Heather gave him a surprised look. "I'm sorry?"

Seeger felt himself falling into that very abyss until he noticed how husky her voice sounded. As he watched, her hips gyrated and her legs parted. She let out a slow breath like a soft sigh. "Jason told me of your ... arrangement ... with Ms. Bendon."

Heather stared. "My... ? Oh."

"But I need to confirm it if I am to overlook this incident. I would ask that you do not make me say it."

Heather hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, I'm her sex slave."

Seeger let out a long sigh. He lifted his laced hands to his chin, then let them drop to the desk with a thud. "Unconscionable," he murmured through clenched teeth. "I take it she was the cause of this incident?"

"Yes, you could say that, Mr. Seeger," said Heather. "I'm being punished."

"Punished," Seeger said in a flat voice.

"Yes, for being a bad girl."

"A bad... ?" Seeger trailed off.

"Mistress needs me to be a good girl for her. I didn't obey her properly so now--"

Seeger slapped the palms of his hands on the desk and bolted out of his chair. "Enough!"

Heather flinched. "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Seeger, I'm just telling you what--"

"I am not angry at you, Miss Sovert, not in the least," said Seeger as he paced. "If anything, you have my utmost sympathy for the situation you are in. I trust this was not by your own choice."

Heather shook her head. She uttered another husky sigh and rocked her hips once before grasping the edges of her chair.

Seeger furrowed his brow. "Are you quite all right, Miss Sovert?"

"I'm ... i-it's just my punishment, Mr. Seeger."

"But you're not ... I don't see you..." Seeger trailed off. He took a deep breath. "I pursue this against my better judgment, but ... are you ... are you being stimulated in some fashion at this moment?"

Heather bit her lower lip and nodded. Her hips rocked in a parody of sexual intercourse. Her eyes slid closed and she panted in time to her invisible lover's thrusts.

Seeger stared at the spectacle in stunned shock before his sense of chivalry overcame morbid curiosity. He averted his eyes and turned away. "Forgive me for staring, Miss Sovert," he said in a low and awkward voice.

Heather did not reply, except to continue panting.

Seeger's hands clenched into fists. "I have to stop this. I cannot let Laura do this to a student. I cannot let her do this to anyone!"

"P-please ... unhg ... Mr. S-Seeger ... don't try to ... unhg ... do anything..."

"Are the Harbingers doing anything? Are they trying to help you out of this situation?"

"I-I ... they have ... uhnn ... bigger things to deal with..."

Seeger sighed and covered his eyes with his hand. "You cannot imagine how much this situation frustrates me, Miss Sovert. Laura has far more influence than I do with the school board. She has all but convinced them that I am an old horse who needs to be put out to pasture." He started to turn towards her but stopped himself. "Perhaps I should wait before I attempt to converse with you any further," he said in a low voice as he took his seat, still turned away from her.

Her panting rose to a crescendo, then eased after a low, shrill whimper. "I think I'm okay now, Mr. Seeger," she said in a soft and tremulous voice.

Seeger hesitated before he turned around, steeling himself for a scene reminiscent of the one he had recalled earlier. Instead, Heather was sitting a little more comfortably, though her hips still did occasionally squirm as they had when he had first entered the room.

Seeger tilted his head. "Are you wearing something that is doing this to you?"

"Yes, Mr. Seeger. I ... I'm not really sure how it works, it just--"

Seeger waved a hand. "Yes, yes, no need for diagrams." He frowned. "Miss Sovert, I must do something about this."

Heather gave him a stricken look. "If you do that, it might make things worse." She smiled slightly. "And ... she's a good Mistress to me. She at least lets me keep my mind."

"Unlike Marcie."

Heather paused and nodded.

"God almighty," Seeger murmured. "I had always suspected as much, but--"

"Nothing can be done for her, Mr. Seeger," Heather said.

"And if I leave this, you would become like her!"

"No, Mistress prefers me like this."

"For now!"

Heather's eyes shimmered. "Mr. Seeger, it's okay, I can handle this."

"You are not even in your right mind now. Your voice sounds like you are playing out an erotic dream."

A tiny smile touched Heather's lips. "I guess I am. I enjoy being Mistress' good girl."

Seeger's stomach turned. Even as Heather spoke in breathy tones of blissful obedience, he saw a plea for help in her shimmering eyes. He had a knack for seeing the truth there, and he hoped the instinct worked here as well, or it would be just so much wishful thinking.

His hands clenched into fists, but he resisted the urge to pound them on the table in frustration. Even with everything that he had witnessed over the past two months and the trust Jason had earned, he had not wanted to believe Laura would stoop so low as to enslave a student. He had held out some hope that Jason had been mistaken.

Yet since then he had uncovered evidence which hinted at other sexual liaisons between Laura and at least a dozen boys at Haven High. The only way Laura could have left scant evidence behind is by way of mind control.

"I could stop her," Seeger said in a low, earnest voice. "I just need evidence. Something I can give to the board. Or ... something to make her resign her position. At this point, I just want her out."

Heather stared at him, and for a moment, Seeger thought he had gotten through. At the same time, he felt guilty for even suggesting it. The only viable evidence would be a picture or a video, something he could not in good conscience ask her or the Harbingers to provide.

Heather finally sighed and shook her head. "I couldn't do that. I ... I have to be her good girl."

Seeger sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Mr. Seeger, my next class is about to start. Is it okay for me to go?"

"Ms. Hollis is recommending your suspension for this," Seeger said in a neutral voice.

"I know, she told me."

"I cannot arrange for such a thing even if I wished. All suspension requests must be approved by Laura, and I suspect it would do nothing for your situation."

Heather shook her head. "I live with her when I'm her slave."

"I thought as much." He waved a hand in dismissal. "I've decided not to suspend you or enter a reprimand into your record. Go back to class."

"Yes, Mr. Seeger." Heather stood and headed to the door. She stopped for a moment and said, "I'm sorry I couldn't help."

"No more so than me, Miss Sovert," said Seeger in a sad voice after Heather had left.

Melinda emerged from her last class of the day ready to head home. She felt quite the slutty little schoolgirl, having flashed her garters at many boys and allowed a privileged few to see her nicely shaved and wet pussy. She shivered in anticipation of Aunt Jo's hands sliding over her body and teasing her into aching need, and of the fat strap-on dildo plunging into her twat.

Yet as much as her body urged her to head for the bus, she forced herself away from the doors and headed down the hall. She thought of going to see Jason but spotted Heather still lingering at her locker, arranging books in her backpack.

Melinda sighed. She hated trying to talk to Heather while she was actively Laura's sex slave. Heather would be in a constant haze, as if she did not know where she was or what she was doing. Melinda supposed she could count herself fortunate that the trigger Aunt Jo exploited at least allowed her to think.

She took a deep breath and marched towards Heather as she forced another book into her already bulging backpack. "What the hell, Heather, you cleaning out your locker or something?"

"Mistress wants me to study for my exams every night," Heather said in that breathy voice Melinda had grown to hate. "She didn't tell me which subject she wants me to start on first." She let out a ragged sigh, and her hips swayed. "I don't want to be a bad girl again."

"Again?" Melinda narrowed her eyes as Heather panted and rocked her hips. "Wait, is that why I heard you've been acting weird in your classes all day?"

Heather's eyes shimmered, and she nodded. "Melinda, is this ... uhng ... going to take long? I have to ... uhng ... report to Mistress so we can head home."

Melinda swallowed, her pussy aching as she imagined her own hips humping Aunt Jo's strap-on. "M-maybe I shouldn't be asking you this now, but ... but I've been thinking about it all day. I--"

She paused, distracted by Heather's slow hump. Several boys lingered and glanced in her direction, lips curled into lascivious smirks. Girls frowned and wrinkled their noses as they passed, save for the occasional furtive and desirous glance. Melinda swore she heard one mutter "why should that beanpole Diane be so lucky?"

Heather moaned and lay a hand against the nearby locker, lowering her head as her hips moved faster. Her breath became a rapid pant timed to her thrusts. She shuddered, uttered a shrill whimper, and let out a long, husky sigh. She leaned against the lockers as her hips grew still.

Melinda's gaze flitted to Heather's crotch, expecting to see a dark, wet stain. The denim was bone dry. "Shit, is she not even letting you cum?!" Melinda said in an urgent whisper.

Heather turned her head. "I told you, it's a punishment," she said in a breathless voice. She drew herself up straight, paused to catch her breath, and closed her locker door. "I have to go to Mistress now. Is there something you wanted?"

"I don't think I can get out of this now," Melinda said in a shaky voice. "I-I'm going to become a sex slave whether I want to or not." She swallowed, and added in a small voice, "Aunt Jo is going to take me soon. I overheard her talking to Mom."

Heather paused, and some of the dreamy pall retreated from her eyes. "What did Mom say?"

"I didn't hear that part. Aunt Jo didn't sound happy, though. And, no, I don't think Mom's trying to protect me, so don't go there!"

"Then why are you bringing this up? I really have to go."

Melinda grabbed Heather's arm just as her sister turned away. "No, wait!" She sighed. "A-all right, I'll get to the point. I'm thinking of asking Jason to do it."

Heather frowned. "Do what?"

"Make me his slave."

Heather hesitated, and her Aura suddenly churned. "I don't ... it's ... it's not a good idea, Melinda."

"I know you told me that before, but what choice do I have?!"

"Jason's being taken directly into the Darkness. You really want that?"

Melinda shuddered. "But ... but you and the Harbingers, you're working on something to rescue Jason, right?"

"Yes, but--"

"What 'but?' If you rescue him, and I'm his slave, I'll get freed too, right?"

"Not if he makes you tell him what we're planning."

Melinda shook her head. "It's not like I really know anything yet. I've been waiting all day for Cassie to tell me. Not a single word. Ned doesn't want her telling me anything anyway, and he always gets his way with her."

Heather uttered a quavering sigh and shuddered. Her hips swayed. "I think ... there's a better option."

Melinda frowned and tilted her head. "What option?"

"Can you wait a little longer? Like until next week?"

"It might be too late by then!"

"Then ... let me ... I-I'll get back to you on this before anything happens to you, I promise."

Melinda nodded slowly. "Okay," she said in a wary voice.

Heather's lips curled into a dreamy smile. "Now I have to get going, Mistress is waiting for me."

Melinda watched her sister head towards the faculty administrative offices until her own need became too great. She uttered a soft moan and scurried towards the waiting bus in the parking lot.

Jason admitted to feeling eager as he headed to the Inn, and not just in anticipation of enjoying his two slaves. He wondered what they would teach him that day.

Jason thought Richie's protests so much childish whining. He was still of his own mind. He could make his own decisions. Going to the Inn was no longer a required duty. He wanted to go, if for no other reason than to see if they would ever actually manipulate his mind. He felt in a quandary whenever he looked at himself in the mirror. He could very clearly see his own Aura, yet he never felt more in control in his life.

Jason strolled into the lobby, and saw Cindy was not behind the counter. He took that as a good sign. It likely meant she was already sprawled on a bed naked, nicely wet and wanting. He wondered if he should make Cindy and Kim go at it. They were almost the same height, which would be optimal for a sixty-nine.

Stacy looked up and smiled as Jason entered her office. "So good to see you again, Jason, as always." She gestured to the chair before her desk.

Jason sat, and his eyes roamed around the edges of her thick, roiling Aura. "So what do you have for me today?"

"Before we get to that, I'd like to know if you had any insights as to what I asked you to think about."

"Well, I have, but--"

Stacy raised a hand. "Now, don't make any assumptions. Just tell me what your thoughts were."

Jason nodded. "Yes, I guess I do know someone that sort of fits the picture you painted."

"Sort of?"

"Well ... yes, she does fit that profile rather closely."

Stacy rested her chin upon her folded hands. "And who would that be?"

"Diane."

"Ah, yes, she's the girl with that rather interesting new power, isn't she?"

"Not all that new. We used it against Victor."

Stacy smiled. "Yes, all of the Harbingers used it. They kept it under careful control, didn't they?"

"Of course they did."

"Think Diane is capable of that sort of control now?"

Jason paused. "You're not saying anything that I haven't already thought of."

"Oh, I'm sure of that. You tend to be a very detailed person."

"And I'm not going to agree to go after her."

Stacy shook her head. "Jason, there you go again, you're making all the wrong assumptions. You're letting that cloud the issue and prevent you from making the right decision."

"But the 'right' decision in this case would be for me to enslave her," Jason said, ignoring the twitch of his cock.

"And have you thought about that?"

"Yes," Jason said in a low voice. "Yes, I did think that -- maybe -- she would be better off under someone's control. But that decision would have to come from me and not what the Darkness wants."

Jason let out a slow, quavering sigh. He had finally managed to point to the elephant in the room, the one thing preventing complete acceptance of Stacy's teachings, no matter how much sense they made.

Stacy leaned forward. "Tell me, Jason. How do you know when someone is working for the Darkness, as you call it?"

"The same as anyone else in the Harbingers. The Aura."

"The Aura," said Stacy. "Like the one you can see around yourself."

Jason nodded slowly. "Yes, like that."

"And the one you can see around your father."

Jason's eyes widened. "How did you know about--"

"Do you consider your father to be working for the Darkness?"

"Well ... no. To be honest, I'm not sure who he's really working for anymore."

"And how do you know he's not working for it?"

Jason hesitated, unsure if he should assume to what depth of knowledge of Harbinger abilities the Darkness possessed, yet he could find no way for this particular item to be turned against anyone. "I can see patterns in the energy. One thing it can tell me is whether someone is a follower or a leader. The one around my father is more the latter."

"What about your own?"

"I'm having trouble seeing the patterns in mine, but I don't see anything which suggests I'm just another slave."

"You're missing one key point. One thing that you and you alone can sense."

Jason looked thoughtful. "You don't mean ... that I can hear it?"

"Exactly. You can hear the Darkness speaking with its minions. Have you heard anything whispered in your ear from it lately?"

"Come to think of it, no," Jason said.

"Have you heard any such things around me?" asked Stacy. "Have you heard whispered orders, or perhaps gloating that you've fallen into its trap or something like that?"

Jason had a thought. He remembered something about the Darkness being more intelligent this time due to the energy it had absorbed from the Book. Yet it proved too slippery for him to hold, and he wondered what he had been thinking about. He turned a blind inner eye to the Dark pall into which the thought had receded.

"Jason?" Stacy said in a gentle voice, tilting her head.

"Huh? Um, no, I haven't heard anything like that."

Stacy grinned. "Unless you think it so intelligent that it could set up this elaborate ruse to trick you."

Jason shook his head. "No, it tends not to be that clever. It usually has to rely on its minions to do some of the thinking for it."

"So now we have an interesting mystery to solve," said Stacy. "Why do you have an Aura when you clearly are not some mindless, obedient slave?"

Jason looked down at himself. The tendrils of his Aura seemed constantly in motion, as if purposely foiling his attempts to see the patterns. It got harder each day, and the more he stared at it, the more featureless it became.

Stacy leaned back in her chair. "You have a scientific nature, Jason. Can you put it to use here? What other explanation could there be for the Aura?"

Jason did not have to think for very long on the matter. It was something he was forced to theorize given his father's Aura. Now he was more at ease with the idea, as it would fit within his recent observations. "That the Aura results from the power and not necessarily the ends to which it is put."

Stacy smiled. "Very good, Jason. And power is just a tool. It all depends on how you use it."

Jason slowly nodded. "And ... some people need to be taught how to use that tool properly."

"While others would prove too dangerous wielding it."

Jason was quiet for a long moment, then slowly nodded.

"So you see, no one is going to tell you to 'go after' your fellow Harbingers. You will decide how and when to use your power. All you need is time to think on it."

"Yes," Jason said at once, remembering the confrontation with his mother that morning. "Yes, I need time. If I'm going to make such huge decisions about people close to me, I have to make sure they're the right ones." He gave Stacy an earnest look. "I have to make sure I'm in the right."

"Exactly," Stacy said. She gestured towards the door. "Now, your two slaves are waiting for your attentions in the usual room. Take the rest of your time here today to enjoy them."

Jason nodded and smiled, his cock already swelling in anticipation. "Thank you, Ms. Missen. I was hoping I would have time for that today."

"Oh, I insist that you do." Stacy smiled. "Sometimes the act of sex can help clear the mind and make the answers come more easily."

Jason hoped so. He had to decide the fate of at least one Harbinger. His hold on the moral high ground had to be unshakable.

Diane watched Richie disassemble part of her bike as she went over everything he had told her. She had to parse it a bit, as Richie was not one to use precise words or remember every detail like Jason did. "Okay, let me see if I got this straight. Heather's mother and her sister had some sort of business where they investigated paranormal stuff, and this was around when everything with Stephanie happened. Have I got it right so far?"

Richie uttered a curse as he struggled to work a bolt loose. It yielded with a squeal of neglected metal. "Yeah, and they said they didn't find jack shit that anything actually happened."

"Well ... that makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, Victor could do that sort of thing, like make you think a room is empty when it's really filled with people."

Richie frowned. "I think Jo was handing Heather's mother a load of bullshit."