Hinterlands

by Isha Dehaven

  Once they were satisfied, or somewhat satisfied with her appearance, Mr. Stephen yelled out for Ms. Enders. They didn’t have to wait long before a tall slender dark-haired woman came bounding around the corner with a huge smile. She was adorned in the same dress Amelia was wearing, though it looked a bit more worn, with a loosened thread here, and a bit of lace missing there.

  “Ahhh the new meat eh? Oooo a pretty one she is Stevie!” She crowed as she turned Amelia about. Amelia liked her immediately. Her mirth was infectious and Amelia loved the way Mr. Stephen was immediately perturbed at her chipper manner. She found herself giggling as Kitt teased and cajoled him. She had a certain gawkiness about her, and a boyish way of standing. Kitt laughed and Amelia found herself staring at her small lips and teeth. She was pretty and coquettish, but most of all she emanated good cheer, and that was something that was in stark contrast to everyone Amelia had met thus far. “Well come on Lassie, I’ll show you the ropes. Let’s not spend our time hanging around with these lead weights shall we!” Kitt crowed. And at that she snatched Amelia’s hand and they both bounded off into the vast maze of Hinterlands, as Mr. Stephen called after them.

  Kitt led Amelia through the long subterranean hallways of the manor house, passing various servants rooms, storage spaces, dry larders and kitchens. The air was alive with activity as the servants prepared for the evening, and it seemed phenomenally large to Amelia, there being so many places one could get lost. Around each corner the hallways seemed to stretch off into infinity and as they skipped along bouncing from one room to another Amelia felt giddy with the same feeling of romance she had felt when first viewing the house from the carriage.

  Kitt spoke here and there as they toured through the house, comically taking on the stentorian tones of a school marm as she pretended to know about this or that vase or balustrade. As she guided Amelia up and down the imposing marble staircase, she pointed out secret places where servants would hide in order to avoid work or simply to gossip freely with one another. As they passed into vast ballrooms and billiard rooms, Kitt showed Amelia the entrances and exits servants used, and instructed her as to the proper places to stand whilst attending to the houseguests. Most importantly, Kitt was sure to emphasize where Mr. Stephen stood to watch over them all.

  After some time, they ducked into a storeroom and closed the door. Kitt perched cross-legged upon a burlap sack of flower and began the laborious process of rolling a smoke. Her dress was so short Amelia could see her stockings and short lacy pantaloons. Amelia’s eyes were drawn down the long legs towards the pinch of black fabric where her legs came together. The skin of her inner thighs looked smooth and unblemished, yet Amelia could swear there was a bruise in the shape of fingers on the white flesh. She looked away nonchalantly before Kitt could notice her gaze. Kitt lit the cigarette and took a long drag, the tip glowing red in the dim light. She closed her eyes momentarily before blowing the smoke out. She stared curiously at Amelia from beneath her short dark bangs, and spread her legs wantonly as she reclined against the wall.

  “So what’s your name?”

  “Uh…Amelia Kerrick.” Amelia realized she hadn’t even introduced herself and she felt that customary shyness overwhelming her again as he tried to maintain eye contact with Kitt.

  “Where are you from, Uhh Amelia?” Kitt handed the cigarette to her and watched her amusedly. Amelia put her lips on the cigarette, drew in a breath and started coughing immediately. It was noxious.

  “London, Seven Dials” she whispered hoarsely, her face turning red and her head swimming. Kitt giggled, and took the cigarette back from her.

  “And watcha think of this place so far lassie?” This was Kitt’s best Mr. Stephen impersonation and it was dead accurate.

  “It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, really. I, I can’t say how lucky I am to be here.”

  “You think so? That’s rich.” There was a silence then, and the girls stared at each other awkwardly. Amelia was getting that sensation that she was really naked, and there was nothing but a thin piece of fabric covering her most delicate areas. Kitt took another long draw on the cigarette.

  “Well, Uhh Amelia. You better prepare yourself to meet our lord and savior Dunmoor. He’s a real scoundrel that one.”

  “Oh is he so terrible?”

  “Hah hah hah. Listen lass, just follow my lead. It’s your first night here, so it’s unlikely anyone will touch you. Even as god-awful pretty as you are. They have a hard time keeping their paws off of us around here.” This last utterance Kitt had said more to herself than to Amelia.

  “Thank you.” Amelia smiled. Even though she had just met her, Amelia felt genuine affection for this girl. Kitt Enders was the first friendly face she had met since coming to Hinterlands, and she found herself feeling almost comfortable for the first time. Both girls were staring at one another again. It was a unique feeling being with Kitt, and although the urge was entirely foreign to her, Amelia could actually see herself nuzzling up to Kitt’s neck, to smell and kiss her in that most intimate of places behind her ear. Amelia glanced again between her friend’s legs and had the impression there was something of honey and seashells there, something that would drive the boys wild no doubt. This time Kitt saw her looking. Amelia blushed deeply.

  “Have you met Enza yet?” Kitt saved her.

  “Oh, Yes. The strange girl from our room. Yes.” Amelia felt a confusing flutter in her chest at the mention of Enza’s name. The encounter had stuck with her for reasons she wasn’t quite clear on.

  “Well, watch out for her too. I can’t protect you from her. She bullies us all around here, aaand she’s the special pet of Lord Dunmoore. Adores that one, he does”

  The girls spent the next hour hiding out in the storeroom chatting before they were expected for dinner service. Amelia was to do exactly as Kitt did, following her directions precisely. This would ensure that she wouldn’t raise the ire of Mr. Stephen or Ms. Farstone, worse yet the Lord or Lady of the house.

  They made their way back to the Kitchens and reported to Mr. Stephen who seemed more irritated than normal, chiding everyone within eye-shot. Here they lined up with no less than ten other girls, all of similar age, and all dressed in the same revealing blue dresses. They were handed large silver trays loaded with the most amazing pastries and hors d'oeuvres Amelia had ever seen. Amelia was terribly hungry and now began to suffer as the delectable smells of roasted meat and sauces wafted lazily through the air. Both Amelia and Kitt’s trays however, had large crystal decanters filled with red wine. Their primary role at dinner would be to keep the glasses filled-and easy enough proposition.

  All at once the girls began to file out into a vast and exquisite dining hall, one by one carrying their trays in front of them. There was a gracefulness about it like some little line of ballerinas, intent on performing an intricate dance, their stockings identical, their smooth legs moving in unison. Amelia focused on the back of the girl in front of her, a sprightly creature from the orient who appeared no older than Amelia. She held her head exquisitely forward, her black hair wound tightly into a round black bun. Amelia could see the little muscles in her back flexing with the weight of the tray as they walked into the hall. The sense of space was overwhelming. It was the largest room she had ever been in and it took extreme concentration for Amelia to keep from gawking. The Dining table was long and decorated with a red velvet tablecloth and numerous guests were seated around it. At first Amelia resisted looking at the guests, overwhelmed with her efforts to blend in and do exactly as Kitt did. But as she began to lean over and fill the goblets of wine she couldn’t help noticing how finely they were dressed, the gentlemen in high collars, the ladies in exquisite dresses. There were mustachioed young men looking quite serious in argument, and young ladies engaged in conversation. Some of the guests held their goblets up to be filled without even looking at Amelia, others left them on the table and stared hungrily as she leaned her slender torso over to pour the wine.

 
“Madam” she said lightly, in almost a whisper as she poured wine quickly into a glass held by an amazingly beautiful noblewoman with a plunging neckline and curly brown locks held up high above her head. At first the woman paid her little mind, merely holding up a glass, and glancing absently her direction, but as soon as the woman noticed her appearance, she turned and smiled at Amelia in a way that was more hungry than friendly. Amelia tried smiling back politely but then felt the woman’s other hand sliding gently up the back of her thigh, drawing her in closer. Amelia shuddered as the woman’s fingers groped her buttocks firmly squeezing the flesh beneath her fingers. Only the thin fabric of her pantaloons now separated this woman’s hand from bare flesh.

  “Uhh please mum…please” Amelia gasped as she was pulled closely against the seated woman, who then pressed her chin against the corset of Amelia’s dress and peered up into her face wickedly. Sudden intakes of breath from around the room alerted her to the fact that all of the serving girls were being groped in various ways by the guests, in many cases quite shockingly. The small oriental girl she had been following when they walked into the room had her dress pulled down around her waist by a young handsome gentleman, who was then suckling on her small breasts. She seemed to struggle for a moment, but then relinquished, tipping her head back and moaning with half-closed eyes as the man bit and sucked the erect nipples. Across the table Kitt sat lewdly astride the lap of an older nobleman with piercing dark eyes. He had taken the decanter of wine from her and was pouring it down the skin of her throat and onto her exposed breasts. She seemed utterly abandoned to his actions and put up no resistance—even enjoying it. All around her the sounds of heavy breathing and laughter had taken over. The noblewoman with curly locks now had both hands upon Amelia’s buttocks and was rubbing the cheeks salaciously, even slipping her fingers beneath Amelia’s pantaloons to stroke the smooth skin. Amelia struggled to pull away even as she looked over to see the young handsome gentleman had now unfastened his breaches and had removed his massively swollen member. It stood there shivering slightly as he breathed in the perfume of the young oriental girls breasts.

  This was too much. Amelia managed to escape the grasp of the curly haired woman by pushing away from her forcefully. The woman laughed a strange laugh and turned back to her wine. Amelia then ran from the room, leaving the firelight and moans of desire behind her.

  Scarcely able to breathe, she burst into the hallway outside of the dining room, not knowing quite where to turn. Her eyes filled with tears and she began to sob as she ran blindly through cavernous rooms, slamming doors behind her and occasionally bumping into servants who were preparing the beds for the evening. Thoughts were rushing wildly through her mind. How terrible the events of the dining room were! What in the world was this place? This house where, the servants were treated with such impropriety, such vulgar immodesty? How horrid the curly-haired woman’s eyes had appeared; so full of desire and hunger.

  The thought of what must be occurring in the dining room that very minute sent shivers through Amelia’s heart. The oriental girl and Kitt, they both seemed to be enjoying it, even relishing in it! Amelia noticed that she herself was very aroused, her body bathed in feverish warmth, and the sensation between her legs angered her. The young nobleman had been so handsome, so youthful. His lips were smooth and full, and the way he used them to suckle the small breasts had been tantalizing. Amelia had also never seen a man’s member exposed like that before, standing swollen and massive. Her heart beat rapidly at these thoughts and she tried to steady her shaking body and walk without drawing attention, even though she knew tears were still glistening upon her cheeks.

  The reality that she would never find her room began to dawn on her. With a sinking feeling she considered the possibility of having to ask someone for directions. Amelia was still mulling this idea around when all at once she came around a corner and bumped headlong into Enza.

  “Ah the new girl! How goes it little flower?” She asked in her heavy accent. She wore the same dress as Amelia but in her case it seemed out of place. Though she wore it beautifully, the fabric hugging her lithe body like no other girl here, she was also a wild thing to Amelia, a force of nature desiring to be naked at all times. Since their brief encounter in the room this morning, Amelia had been deliberating on how to address her the next time they should meet, but now she found herself quite unable to respond. “Why aren’t you with the others?” Enza asked quizzically, her face suddenly turning suspicious. She was heartbreakingly lovely Amelia thought. Her dark eyes enticing with their wickedness, her full and abundant lips parted in a perpetual half-smile.

  “I…I was there, but I left. I couldn’t take it.” Amelia stammered looking at the floor.

  “So they introduced you to the family the first night did they? I thought as much. Mr. Stephen is likely trying to get in good with the Duchessa no doubt. Listen girl…” Enza hissed this, suddenly very forceful. “You come with me now-you understand? This will be the only way to save your situation here. No questions.” At this she turned up a nearby stairwell gesturing for Amelia to follow her.

  Amelia dutifully obeyed.

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  They followed the stone staircase as it spiraled upwards, Enza leading silently and occasionally glaring at Amelia over her shoulder. Amelia found herself hating this controlling girl, a girl her own age that seemed to possess so much power, yet was also so beautiful and alluring, a strange paradox. It wouldn’t have surprised Amelia in the least to hear that Enza had once been the head of a household, or something quite similar, and it was strange that she hadn’t joined the others during the terrible dinner service. As they climbed she found herself occasionally glancing at Enza’s toned legs ahead of her. The stockings drew a sharp border where the cream colored flesh began, and she wondered if Enza was still naked beneath the dress. She continued to watch Enza’s nimble form as she trailed behind, recalling the girl’s skin and its alluring scent, only to force herself to once again look at the stone steps in front of her. She was overwhelmed with the notion that she should never have come to Hinterlands, and she was confused at this attraction, where there shouldn’t be one. Her nervousness was growing. She tried to think of other things but her thoughts kept returning to Enza.

  As they reached the upper landing it was apparent they were on the topmost floor of the house, perhaps even into one of the many turrets that she had glimpsed on her initial approach. Enza opened a large wooden door, filling the stairwell with golden light and splitting the silence with a terrible creak.

  “Come little flower. Do as I say! You hear me?” She gestured for Amelia to follow her into the lighted doorway.

  “Enza what is this?” Amelia started.

  “Shhh!” Enza directed her into a very large bed chamber filled with heavy wooden furniture. The ceiling towered 12 or 14 feet over head and was gabled with massive timbers that had been hewn from even larger trees. The wood was intensely dark-colored and imposing even in the dim light. The cool stone floor was covered in many varied rugs, woven in hypnotic patterns foreign to the eyes of an 18 year old girl. An intricately carved writing desk sat mutely against one wall beneath a broad panel of windows. The centerpiece of course was an oversized bed, with four towering posts standing sentinel around a thick and abounding red flannel top-blanket. Amelia’s breath caught in her throat when she saw it and she was overcome with a sudden feeling of excitement. She tried to hide this emotion from her face, but was certain that Enza had noticed.

  Enza took Amelia by both wrists and pulled her through a heavy velvet curtain that hung on one side of the room. Although it didn’t initially look it, the curtain separated the larger room from a small antechamber or closet of sorts. Only this was like no closet Amelia had ever seen. The chamber was a dark dressing room, filled with long rolls of exquisite fabric, as well as many types of clothing of which she was unfamiliar. There were shimmering bodices of gold lace, an
d thick leather breeches without a covering for one’s front or backside. There was what looked like armor for women, chainmail with holes where someone’s breasts would be. Beyond this, there were many lashings, whips and restraints hanging about the walls. There was even a stone phallus sitting on a pedestal near the back, perfectly polished, long and smooth.

  “What is this place?” Amelia said more to herself than to Enza specifically.

  “Listen to me girl!” Enza grabbed her chin and turned her face to look directly into her eyes. There was something so passionate there that Amelia felt her tears begin to gather instantly. Enza was peering into her soul it seemed, and she felt powerless and weak in her knees. “If you want to keep your position in this house, you will stay here and keep hidden…and you will watch. Do you understand?”

  “Yeees” Amelia whispered.

  “Good.” With this Enza pressed her soft lips forcefully against Amelia’s kissing her deeply. Amelia struggled in confusion, grasping the ribbons on the back of Enza’s dress and trying to push away. The Latin girl took the opportunity to part Amelia’s mouth with her tongue, sliding it suddenly inside and then probing it gently and rhythmically. Amelia felt her resolve weaken and something falling away deep inside of her. She had given, and she realized she was kissing back, sucking Enza’s tongue and emitting soft sighs of relief. The girl’s lips were so soft and succulent, her tongue so delectable. Her mouth was a luxurious and saturating feast. THIS was what she wanted, this was what she needed. Her heart thundered loudly in her ears drowning out all other sounds, and her face was filled with fire, as she felt the girl’s slender fingers in her hair, beckoning her to surrender, to lose herself to this hunger, this pleasure, from which there didn’t seem to be any escape.