Inner Circle

by Charles Arnold

  Frederick nodded, “She’s well trained. She knows her place. Is she going to demonstrate?”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve asked Herman Brookmeier to tell this Carmelita person to take her aside for awhile and carefully explain the process. Then all of us will introduce her to the dog.”

  “Even with the drugs might not our bitch throw a goddamn fit?” Frederick questioned.

  “While she was under hypnoses last night I conditioned her to hear the bells when a certain word is spoken. We can, in future, keep changing the word. For now, it’s the word, ‘army’. If she starts to object I’ll find a way to introduce the word into the conversation. As soon as she hears the word, the bells will ring in her pretty little head.”

  “And, like a puppet, she’ll do as we say?”

  “Yes, but I’d rather not put her into that state unless it’s absolutely necessary. The Brookmeirs aren’t fools and neither are any of the people in our circle of friends. They will know, or at least strongly suspect, what we’ve done. Ultimately we must break her spirit. I’m in total agreement with you, my boy. She must freely choose to be your beautiful companion. She must want to please us. She must decide without threats or chemicals or hypnoses to service for our amusement.”

  Frederick nodded, “Yes, uncle, the real Mrs. Ryan must do that, not the woman upstairs.”

  Several hours later the key turned in the lock to Kathy’s door. Mrs. Foster was pleased to see her charge sitting primly on the edge of the bed, her hands folded in her lap, the new purse at her side. Kathy tried to hide her fear of the woman behind a weak smile. Mrs. Foster crossed to the bed and handed Kathy a wide brimmed straw hat and a long silk scarf that matched the print dress. “The Masters want you to wear these,” she said.

  “Oh,” Kathy said, frowning. She adjusted the hat and draped the scarf over her shoulders.

  “The purse should contain cosmetics.” Mrs. Forster indicated Kathy should open it.

  “Yes, there’s a make-up kit inside.”

  “Come then.” Mrs. Foster went the length of the hall and down the grand staircase with Kathy following behind. She opened the heavy oak door to the den and stepped back. Kathy entered and the older woman closed the door.

  Both Gruber and Frederick sat behind the massive desk. On the other side of it, a single plain wooden chair faced them. Gruber gestured toward the chair, “Please sit, Mrs. Ryan,” he said.

  She’d forgotten how terribly thin and deathly pale they were. She glanced at Frederick but quickly turned away. His gaunt face, sunken cheeks, and horribly pockmarked skin frightened and sickened her. “Do you see, Uncle,” he hissed angrily, “she still avoids looking at me. I’d like to have her beaten!”

  Kathy grabbed the arms of her chair and leaned forward, “Please Doctor Gruber…I’m sorry.” She turned back to Frederick, “I’m sorry, Master Frederick. I meant no disrespect.”

  “It’s all right, my dear,” Gruber smiled across at her. “We know you want to please us. That’s why we’re taking you on a little outing. We’re going to visit our friends, the Brookmeirs, at their estate. I’ve told them that you are quite fond of Frederick. I would like you to demonstrate your affection for him before our friends. Will you do that?”

  Kathy shot another glance at the grotesque nephew then turned back to Gruber, “Yes, Doctor. I’ll show my affection.”

  Gruber nodded, “Not only in what you say but in your actions. We want our friends to understand that you are devoted to Frederick. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, Doctor. I will do my best to please you.”

  Frederick glared at her, “You can start by showing me your cunt. Stand up,” he ordered.

  Kathy rose and, setting the purse aside, lifted the hem of her dress until her shaved pussy was exposed to both of them. She bowed her head and felt the color rise to her cheeks. Frederick turned to his uncle, “I think she’ll behave. I believe it’s time to take the bitch to meet Captain Siegfried.”

  Kathy sat between the two men in the back of the limousine. No one spoke during the hour long trip. Kathy was beginning to feel more like herself. She hadn’t heard the bells since early that morning. The long black limousine swung into the Brookmeirs’ driveway that, like Gruber’s, wound between huge oaks for at least a mile before they came to an imposing stone house which resembled a castle.

  They were ushered inside by a swarthy male servant. It was early evening. Kathy noticed the sky to the west was still light. The thin summery dress felt comfortable. She had become accustomed to being without undergarments. The new four-inch heels had also become comfortable.

  Although she felt somewhat apprehensive, it was good to be away from Gruber’s dreary estate and even better to be free of the hated Mrs. Foster. Frederick poked her with his elbow. She quickly remembered to take his arm. As they followed behind the servant, her heels clicked on the marble floor of the spacious entrance hall. Flaming sconces lighted their way and cast lurid shadows on the floor and ceiling. Huge tapestries hung from the stone walls. She noticed most were copies of scenes from various paintings of Dante’s “Inferno”. Others depicted the punishments of the Inquisition. One made her cringe and turn away. It was of a large dog, a Doberman she thought. It was sitting straight up. The animal appeared to be staring straight out at her, its red eyes glowing like hot coals.

  They were led into a vast sitting room not unlike Gruber’s. Although it was a warm spring evening, a fire blazed in the open hearth. Their hosts rose to greet them. Mrs. Brookmeir looked like a Teutonic sixty-year old Barbie Doll. She was almost as tall as Doctor Gruber and at least one-hundred pounds heavier. Kathy decided her blonde Barbie style hair was a wig. She wore a short lime green spandex skirt pulled tight across her broad ass. On her fat legs were white silver-flecked pantyhose. An orange peasant blouse with a low cut neckline exposed the upper swell of her huge breasts. She tottered toward them on white leather pumps. Her face was heavily made up: bright red lips, fake eyelashes, dark mascara, and rouged cheeks. She greeted them with a wide-mouthed smile. “Ah, the good Doctor and Frederick!” she exclaimed, as she shook their hands. She stepped back to appraise Kathy. “And this is the woman who performed for us several months ago at one of your entertainments. She was naked then, but I’d recognize her anywhere. She’s stunning. Simply stunning!” She studied Kathy for several more moments. Kathy had almost erased the memory of that night at Gruber’s estate.

  Mr. Brookmeir came forward to stand beside his wife. He was a small man, thin and frail. His hands shook and his voice was little more than a raspy whisper. Kathy couldn’t imagine these two terribly mismatched people ever having sex. Gruber extended his hand to the old man, but addressed his comments to the woman, “Yes, dear Eva, Mrs. Ryan has become quite fond of Frederick and has also agreed to comply with his wish that she continue performing for our select group, but at, ahh, shall we say a more sophisticated level.”

  Mrs. Brookmeir responded with a throaty laugh, “So it has been rumored among the members of our inner circle. I must say, if you are successful in training her, you will be the envy of us all.”

  “Yes,” her husband rasped, “she is a beauty, a real beauty.” He cleared the phlegm from his throat and continued, “I recall your telling us that she’s quite wealthy and has several degrees from the best universities.”

  “Both are true.” Gruber nodded, “Mrs. Ryan is a rare acquisition, a lovely woman of some means who is, indeed, extremely bright and quite cultured.”

  Frederick placed a cold hand on Kathy ass causing her to flinch. He moved his hand to Kathy’s upper arm, which he squeezed painfully before speaking, “In the next several weeks we intend for her to meet each member of the inner circle,” he said.

  Mrs. Brookmeir turned to Gruber, “And is she to be introduced to each of our…what shall I say? Introduced to our pets?” Kathy made a sound and tried to move away, but Frederick’s grip tightened on her arm.

  Doctor Gruber was quick to answer, “Yes, certainly. That’s
the purpose. The first visits will be to acquaint her with the animals and to make them aware of who she is in relation to them.”

  Mrs. Brookmeir raised her eyebrows and grinned. “Pray tell, dear Doctor, what might that relationship be?”

  “Why the same as the relationship between Colonel Siegfried and your little D.W. Like her, Mrs. Ryan will serve.”

  “Don’t you mean service?”

  Gruber chuckled, “Ah, yes, serve and service.”

  “We will surely look forward to witnessing that,” she answered.

  Kathy looked frantically from one to the other. Confused and frightened, she was about to protest when Gruber spoke her name harshly. His eyes burned into her. She bowed her head and was silent.

  Gruber and Mrs. Brookmeir exchanged glances, before she spoke, “At your request I’ve arranged for our Carmelita to explain how one goes about becoming what Mrs. Ryan is apparently destined to become.” She picked up a little bell from the table and rang it. “After that, we will join them and all of us will pay Colonel Siegfried a visit.”

  Kathy began to feel a dark terror like none she had ever experienced. These people were powerful. They lived only for their degenerate pleasures. It seemed the rules of law didn’t apply to them. She was sure they controlled men in high place in every country. She was equally sure no one had ever succeeded in denying them whatever they desired. Not only did they possess incredible wealth, they had within their group brilliant men like Doctor Gruber who could, with drugs and hypnosis, reduce anyone to a mindless slave. She was in danger of becoming such a creature herself. In order to survive she had to pretend to accept their plans for her future until she could find a way to escape. But there was something else that troubled her as much as their power. It was her own seemingly insatiable need for sexual stimulation, for orgasms and, as she was discovering, how closely that need was related to humiliation and pain. ‘Once I’m free of them,’ she thought, ‘once I’m back in a safe place among ordinary people my needs will be just as they once were; they will be normal.’

  The door at the far end of the room swung open and a lovely young woman was led in by the husky servant who had greeted them earlier. She was very slender and much shorter than Kathy. Her long thick black hair was tied in a ponytail. She appeared to be Spanish or perhaps Mexican. She wore a plain white cotton dress that contrasted with her dark skin. On her feet were five-inch pumps that she had obviously become accustomed to since she moved so gracefully in them. Her full lips were painted bright red and her large brown eyes had been carefully made up. When she stopped before them, Kathy was surprised to see her curtsey before folding her hands in front of her and lowering her eyes.

  Mrs. Brookmeir addressed Gruber as she gestured toward the shy young woman, “This is our Carmelita,” she said. “I’ve instructed her to inform your new acquisition of the process and the rules.” She waved her hand toward the door. “Take them to one of the grooming rooms, Brian. Leave them alone but stay by the door.”

  Kathy looked at Gruber who nodded. Silently, she followed the girl and the servant out into the hall and a little ways along it into a small room furnished with a large mirror and a well-appointed dressing table. Without speaking, Brian turned and left. They heard him lock the door. Carmelita looked sadly at Kathy for several moments. It appeared she might cry. She busied herself by placing the two wooden chairs across from each other and indicating Kathy should sit.

  “My name is Carmelita,” she began, her voice soft and melodious. “Madam Eva said that I should start by telling you something of my history.” She paused and leaned forward looking closely at Kathy. “I see you are drugged but only a little. They wanted you to be fully aware of what I’m going to explain about the process. But they also wanted you to be a little bit under their control. I hope you will listen carefully and not become too upset.”

  Kathy smiled at the earnestness of the young woman, “I promise that I won’t cause you to get in trouble,” she said.

  Carmelita reached across to touch Kathy’s hand, “Thank you. They can be very cruel. Madam and Master Brookmeir acquired me several years ago.”

  “But how? How do these monsters go about acquiring people?”

  “I’m from Columbia. They saw me one day and decided to take me. My parents were both professors in the University. I attended a private Catholic School for girls. My brother was two years older and preparing to enter the ministry.”

  “Then they couldn’t have kidnapped you?”

  “No. Instead they had someone kidnap my dear brother. The police did nothing. All doors were closed to my father and mother. The highest officials claimed that my brother had simply run away. One night soon after Juan had disappeared, Madam Eva came to our house. She had my brother’s ring and his identification card. She told us that he would be returned if I would agree to go with them to America where they would adopt me since they had no children of their own. Of course, my mother and father refused and again went to the police who pretended not to believe them.” She paused to wipe away the tears that had started to form. Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Two days after Madam’s first visit, she returned when my parents were at work. She brought a beautifully carved box that she said contained a gift for me. In it was my brother’s finger.”

  “Oh, my God!” Kathy exclaimed. Carmelita was crying now. Kathy hugged her for a moment.

  The girl quieted and soon continued. “Madam Eva said that the next gift would be for my parents. The box would contain my sweet brother’s head. She promised he would be released if I would leave with her immediately. That’s how members of the Inner Circle operate. Of course, there was nothing else to do. I went with her. A big limousine was at the door and a private jet waited for us at the airport.”

  “It wasn’t until we arrived here in this house that I learned my real purpose. They had no desire for a daughter. They wanted what they call ‘an acquisition’. They wanted a young virgin to give to Colonel Siegfried. They’d been looking for several months until the day they saw me leaving school. They decided right then that I was to be the one.”

  “And this Colonel Siegfried?”

  “Is their dog.” She bowed her head as the color rose up in her face. “I have been trained to be what they expect you to become…”

  “No,” Kathy said evenly, “That will never happen to me.”

  Carmelita nodded, “I remember saying the same thing. But these people have ways. They will break your spirit just as they have all of us.”

  “What do you mean by us? Are there more girls like you?”

  “The Inner Circle is composed of eight members. Each owns a big estate much like this one. Each also has a highly trained pedigreed male dog. All of the dogs are very large. Their owners bought them as pups and trained them to…to…feel superior to the women… They’ve never even seen a female dog, only female humans.” She looked away as if remembering something. “The dogs know who and what we are.”

  “I can’t believe this,” Kathy said although her experience with Gruber and Frederick’s pet told her the girl was speaking the truth. “How did they break your spirit? How did they make you become a…a…”

  “At first I fought them. I refused to obey. I refused to eat. I wanted only to die. After two weeks, Madam Eva brought me another box. I wouldn’t open it so she did. In it was another of my brother’s fingers. She told me that a similar box would be delivered each week until I agreed to…to…give myself to Colonel Siegfried. She also said that unless I did as they wished eventually my brother would be killed and then my parents. I knew she wasn’t lying. By then I realized that the people in the Circle were beyond the law. They can do whatever they want.” She leaned forward, “Do you have any loved ones?” she asked.

  “Yes, my sister-in-law who is like a real sister to me, and my late husband’s parents.”

  “I’ve been told another rich and powerful man has already acquired your sister-in-law and she’s being held somewhere in the Middle Eas
t.”

  Kathy shook her head, “That’s true. They took her and it was my fault. But this man is not part of the Inner Circle. He’s a Japanese.”

  “It doesn’t matter. They work together. Doctor Gruber will break your spirit through very real threats to those you love. If you don’t do as he wishes, great harm will come to them. I understand he is also able to use drugs and hypnosis to control others.”

  “Yes, he’s done that to me. I know how powerful he can be. He put me in a hypnotic state and made me…made me…” She couldn’t finish.

  Carmelita nodded sympathetically. “You are to be for … Negra, just as I have been mated with Colonel Siegfried”

  “No. No,” she shook her head adamantly, “I’ll find a way to escape.”

  “You can’t. First there are the people you love to consider. Your disobedience may result in their deaths. Secondly there’s this.” She removed one of the five-inch heels. Kathy was surprised to see that the girl’s tiny foot remained in exactly the same form that wearing the shoe required. The arch from her toes to her heel was curved just as it had been. “I cannot walk as others do. It’s only in the high-heeled shoes that I’m able to move normally. It’s almost impossible to run very far in five-inch heels.”

  “But how? Why? What did they do?”

  “Doctor Gruber designed a sort of metal boot which can be adjusted in a number of ways. It forces the front of the foot down and the heel up just as the shoes do, only more so. It’s very painful, but they gave me injections to ease the pain at first. I wore them every night for many months. Each night an adjustment was made to increase the angle. In the daytime I was required to wear shoes with heels like these. In time, the tendons of my heels shrank. This pulled the heels of my feet up so that only my toes touched the floor. Now, I can’t place my foot flat on the ground. I can’t even be comfortable in any shoe that doesn’t have a heel of five inches.” She looked down at her feet. “They call it ‘hobbling’…”