When The Gavel Falls (Masters of the Castle)

by Tabitha Black

  Chapter Two

  Having seen how opulent the ground floor of the Castle was, as well as the elaborate costumes of the guests she had caught sight of on her way in with Rosa, Silver was expecting the Wardrobe to be fairly substantial. Nothing, however, could have prepared her for what she saw when she entered; room after room after room of every costume she could have imagined—and plenty she'd never have been able to conjure up in her wildest dreams.

  There were sections for ageplay, leather, lace, furries, superheroes... and every era of history was represented, from Greek goddess to the early twentieth century—and everything in between. As well as clothes and shoes, there were wigs, hats, gloves, belts, jewellery and other accoutrements, not to mention corsets and other underwear in a rainbow of colours, styles and fabrics. Suddenly Silver's little black dress—the one she had splurged on especially for the trip—seemed as plain as a bin bag.

  Overwhelmed by the choice, she wandered from room to room, allowing her fingers to caress the soft, buttery leather, the coarse linen, the smooth satin. Here at the Castle, she realised, she could be anyone she chose.

  "May I help you?"

  Silver could have wept with relief when a bubbly assistant appeared at her elbow. "Yes, please. I quite honestly don't have a clue where to start."

  The brunette swept an appraising eye over her, clocking her hasty ponytail, oversized jumper, black trousers, ballet flat shoes, and the black bracelet on Silver's wrist. "Dungeon, eh? Nice. Are you here with someone?"

  "I... uh, no. Well, not yet. I'm going to be auctioned off tonight." Hearing herself say it still didn't make it feel real.

  "Ooh, you are so brave. I thought about it, but then I chickened out," the girl said with a chuckle. "At least I'll get to see some of my friends on the block."

  "That's very reassuring to hear."

  "Well, we'd better make a special effort, see whether we can't increase the asking price substantially," the assistant said, and Silver found herself smiling despite the sudden onslaught of butterflies in her stomach.

  "Got any ideas?" she said. "I hope you do, because up until... oh, about five minutes ago, I was going to wear my little black dress."

  "Tut tut, no, that would never do. And besides, you're not allowed to wear anything but appropriate attire here at the Castle. Tell me, do you have any particular clothing fetishes? A nice corset? Latex, perhaps?"

  "Oh, God, no," Silver blurted. "Not latex. Not with my figure. It would be like trying to get toothpaste back into the tube."

  The assistant laughed. "Nice accent. You're not from around here, are you?"

  "No. I flew in yesterday, actually. From Australia."

  "For real?"

  "Yep."

  "I've always wanted to go to Australia. You gotta tell me all about it while I get you all dressed up."

  "Only if you promise to make me look stunning," Silver said.

  "That won't be hard. You've got amazing hair, a gorgeous face and, despite what you said, a terrific figure. I mean, look at that waist! So many women would kill for an hourglass shape like that. Are you sure I can't convince you to wear a corset? I bet I can shave at least another couple of inches off."

  "That's very kind of you, but I'm really out of practice, and I think I'm going to have enough things to worry about this evening without adding potential asphyxia to the list." Silver paused. "How does this work? I mean, am I choosing the one outfit for the entire duration of my stay?"

  The assistant looked shocked. "No, of course not! You get to come back and change as many times as you like while you're here. And don't forget the New Year's Eve ball tomorrow night. It's fancy dress." She chuckled. "Then again, every day at the Castle is fancy dress."

  "I can see that." Silver gazed around again. "I'm sorry to be so unhelpful, but I really don't know where to start. I'm also having a hard time even thinking straight; I only managed to have one coffee this morning and I usually need at least three to function. So I shall apologise ahead of time in case I start to get really grumpy."

  "Why don't you just take a seat over there and I'll go grab a few things for you to try on. I've got a pretty good idea of what would suit you, and we know which programs you aren't in, so that narrows the selection down."

  "That sounds great." Silver watched her scurry off and took a seat, wishing she'd managed to stick to the diet she had planned to go on in the month leading up to the event. There was almost nothing quite as humiliating as being given clothing by a sales assistant which didn't fit once she was actually trying to put it on.

  "Don't tell anyone, but I brought you this. We don't normally serve drinks in here, but you're probably jet-lagged, and I wouldn't want you to go and get all cranky on me. My name is Janice, by the way." The girl handed Silver a cup of steaming coffee.

  "You are a star," she said, almost weeping with gratitude. "Seriously, I could kiss you! Thank you so, so much."

  "It's only a coffee, not the holy grail," Janice said, sheepishly. "Okay, I found three to start with." She held the dresses up one after another. The first was a black babydoll, with lots of ribbons and chiffon. The second was bright crimson leather. The third was so striking it made Silver gasp.

  "Is that... chainmail?" she asked in wonder.

  "No! Isn't it clever? Here, feel it."

  Running her fingertips over the fabric, Silver realised it was not, in fact, metal—instead the silver dress was made of tiny rubbery loops, which were soft and warm to the touch. It reminded her of the elaborate cardigans her grandma used to crochet, and was a clever illusion. "I don't think it would suit me," she said sadly.

  "Bull," the assistant said rudely. "Come here and let's try it on."

  With a feeling of dread, Silver did as she was told. To her astonishment, the dress slid easily over her hips and seemed to fit perfectly, once it had been zipped up.

  "I thought so," Janice said, taking a step back and looking her up and down. "So sexy. With the right hair, make-up and heels, you're going to be a knockout."

  "I don't do heels," Silver said. "I love them, but I can't walk in them to save my life."

  "We'll just see about that."

  "You don't take no for an answer easily, do you?"

  "Not if I can help it."

  The energetic young woman was as good as her word. Over the course of the next hour, Silver found herself being shuffled between the Wardrobe and the Salon next door, being primped, preened, pampered and prettied, until she was finally allowed to look in the mirror for the 'big reveal', as Janice called it.

  "Oh," she breathed.

  "You like it?"

  "Are you kidding? Is that really me?" Silver took it all in; the way her long platinum mane fell in bouncy waves down her back, the subtle yet alluring pinks, purples and blacks emphasising her light blue-green eyes, the rose shimmer on her lips and cheekbones. The dress glittered with her every movement, clinging to her curves in a ridiculously flattering way, and the silver and black platform stilettos with five inch heels made her legs look a mile long.

  "I said you were gorgeous! Didn't I say that?"

  "Yes, you certainly did."

  "The people who are bidding won't know what hit them. I bet you'll easily be in the highest price range out of all the girls," Janice said proudly.

  "Well, I don't know about that..."

  "I do. Do you feel sexy?"

  Silver blushed. "Not sure about that. I feel… different. This skirt is certainly shorter than I'm used to." She tried to tug down the hem, but it stubbornly refused to be pulled further than a few inches below her groin. "I'd better not get caught bending over," she grumbled.

  "You should," the assistant said with a wink. "That'd raise the asking price even higher."

  Despite herself, Silver laughed. "I still can't believe you even supply underwear here. And we get to keep it!"

  "Well you're perky enough that you don't need a bra," Janice replied. "And you wouldn't want to spoil the whole sexy effect by wearing those h
ideous granny panties underneath the dress!"

  "They're my lucky knickers!"

  "Maybe so, but you're far more likely to get lucky in that thong."

  "Thong? You mean the g-string you put me in? It's more like a cobweb."

  "It's perfect. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?" the assistant said, taking back Silver's empty coffee cup.

  "You've outdone yourself as it is," she replied. "I really would never have been able to make myself look so amazing."

  "The pleasure is all mine. Now, you get that booty out there and start turning heads."

  "Thank you again." Silver gave Janice a grateful smile and left the Wardrobe, wondering where on earth to go next. Then she remembered seeing something about a café in the brochure. Two coffees were good; three were even better...

  * * * * *

  "I can't believe it's the afternoon before the big event and we still haven't chosen a girl," Travis said, as he and his twin brother strolled through the perfectly manicured Castle gardens.

  "They all came off the bus and vanished inside so quickly this time, I didn't get a chance to scope anyone out properly," Trevor replied coolly. "Besides, I figured we'd wait until they've had a chance to take a look around, get cleaned up and so on. No doubt we'll have our pick at the Meet and Greet Marshall said there will be before the auction starts."

  "Money certainly isn't an obstacle. We've been saving up for this ever since we heard it was gonna happen."

  "And what with more and more of our friends committing themselves to just one lucky lady, the competition is getting nice and sparse." Trevor grinned. "I must admit, I am looking forward to it."

  "So am I. Sometimes I get a little tired of always catering to our guests' needs, no matter how attractive some of them are. Don't know about you, but the idea of a whole two days and nights spent with our pick, getting to do whatever we want to her… I can't remember when we last did that."

  "Don't get your hopes up too high. There will still be limits. And we may not get to find out what they are until we've coughed up."

  "Ah. You see, I already thought of that." Travis winked. "And I think I figured out a way to sneak a peek at the forms ahead of time."

  "You are incorrigible, little brother."

  "Ha ha, I'm the same size as you, and only eight minutes younger." He paused. "I am smarter than you, though."

  Trevor chuckled. "If you manage to find us a pretty, pliant little thing who just happens to love and hate everything we want to do to her in equal measure, I will give you that. But only then."

  Trav wasn't deterred. "Then it's a deal."

  As one, the twins began to walk back towards the Castle entrance. "Is there anything in particular you're after?"

  Trevor thought for a moment. "I haven't lit a girl on fire in a while. So many chicks are scared of it. I guess that's one of the few drawbacks of living the lifestyle the way we do here. Never enough time to build up the necessary trust to do the edgier things."

  "That's true. Ironic that girls will let you take the cane to them within hours of meeting you, but the idea of a little fire flogging has them running scared." Travis chuckled. "I know which one I'd prefer, if I had to choose."

  "Yeah, but you're not a masochist."

  "Fair point."

  "Hey, shall we go to the cafeteria and have a look to see whether we can spot any potential prey? Kaylee said something about the girls who are up for sale wearing black velvet ribbons around their necks. Great advertisement," Trevor said with a wink.

  "You go ahead. I have a little detective work to plan."

  "You're not gonna do anything dumb, are you little brother?"

  "Come on, Trev, you should know me better than that. And besides, do you want someone we can really let loose on or not?"

  "Of course I do. Like I said, this is our treat to ourselves. No topping from the bottom allowed. I'm sick of it. And no brats."

  "No brats?" Travis cocked an amused eyebrow. "They're fun!"

  "They're hard work, is what they are. Great in small doses, but I want the emphasis to be on play, not discipline."

  "I love taking little brats in hand and making them squeal with contrition. Can't you meet me halfway?"

  "It's a moot point anyway—unless there's a new box on the intake form to check, we won't know until it's too late."

  "And speaking of the intake form, I'd better go. I'll catch up to you later. Happy hunting; find us something gorgeous to torment."

  Trevor smiled. "That's the plan."

  Once Travis had set off for the second floor, Trevor made his way to the cafeteria, a churning excitement beginning to build in his gut. It had been too long since he'd last really had an opportunity to indulge himself.

  Usually, he and Trav played the role of entertainers to lonely female Castle guests, those women who had come alone, or wanted to indulge their fantasies of a threesome. It was fun, and they were used to making women happy—they had been strippers before they came to the Castle—but sometimes he wanted a little more than to feel like a performing monkey. He was a deep, dark sadist at heart, and longed to not only build something of an emotional connection to a girl, but to be selfish in what he did to and with her. The next few days would be a perfect opportunity. Auctioned slaves were guaranteed to their purchaser for two days and nights, but as New Year's Eve fell on a Wednesday, they were welcome to stay on until the following Monday morning. When Marshall had mentioned that, Trev's heart had leapt. The twins had intended to be one of the Castle 'plants'—Doms who were waiting in the audience to bid in case no-one else did so—but as soon as he'd realised what an opportunity was presenting itself, Trev had been unable to resist taking part for real, and paying for the privilege. Besides, it was for a great cause in a dear friend's name. Travis had taken little persuading either, once Trevor had assured him that this would be the most fun they had had in ages. Travis was all about fun.

  It was mid-afternoon, and there weren't many people in the cafeteria. Trev got himself a coffee and took a seat in a corner, his practiced gaze running over all the old, and especially the new, faces.

  There was a very tall, elegant brunette he hadn't seen before, but she looked kinda stuck-up. Another woman came in wearing nothing but a nude bodystocking. She had pretty impressive fake tits, but her brassy hair and blue mascara suggested that she was the type to whine if he tried to do anything that would ruin her make-up. A cute babygirl was chatting animatedly to her friend in the corner, but Trevor didn't want to spend the next few days changing diapers. He enjoyed dabbling in ageplay now and then, but it wasn't his main kink by any means.

  With a sigh, he took a deep sip of his latte and wondered idly what Travis was up to.

  * * * * *

  It took about twenty seconds for Silver to remember why she had given up on heels a long time ago. You can look as gorgeous as you like, the effect is ruined if you're walking like a five minute old foal, she thought glumly, as she tottered carefully to the cafeteria. For a moment, she considered going back to Wardrobe to ask for a different pair of shoes, but Janice hadn't taken 'no' for an answer the first time she had pleaded her case for some flats, so Silver doubted she would have changed her mind in the last five minutes. I'll just get to the canteen, get a coffee and a sandwich, then go back to my room and wait until the Meet and Greet. Minimise the amount of time spent wearing these bloody things. Perhaps by then there'll be someone else in Wardrobe—someone with more sympathy for my plight. And besides, I have far more terrifying things to worry about than what an idiot I look in stilettos. Like being purchased by anyone who has enough money. Gah. GAH.

  "A cappuccino please. With one sugar. And this sandwich," she said. "How much is that?"

  "What's your room number?" the cafeteria assistant asked.

  "Er. I forget."

  "Well we don't accept money here at the Castle. It's all added to your room tab," the girl said.

  "Shit. Sorry," Silver apologised, "I just really need my caffe
ine fix."

  "All good, Mandy, I'll get this for her," a male voice cut in.

  "You will? On your tab?" Mandy looked surprised.

  "Yes, that's what I said. Now," the man added, shooting her a look.

  Silver turned to get a good look at her rescuer, and felt her tummy lurch as she saw the tall, drop-dead gorgeous, blond man wearing a black t-shirt and black Chinos. Being blonde herself, she usually preferred men with darker colouring, but this one was... woah. His square jaw was strong, his shoulders broad and—be still her beating loins—he had some seriously sexy tattoos on his arms. Her mouth went dry as she immediately found herself wondering whether he had ink anywhere else on that rock hard body. He was looking at her with an amused, speculative expression, and when he raised a single eyebrow, she realised he was waiting for her manners to return.

  "Sorry. I mean, thank you," she stammered eventually. "That is really most kind of you."

  "Any time," he drawled. "That's an interesting accent. You British?"

  "Er, well, it's complicated. I was born in England but I've spent the last ten years in Australia."

  He chuckled. "Throw a shrimp on the barbie?"

  "Yeah, that's the place." Silver was accustomed to hearing all the typical remarks about Crocodile Dundee, and they usually irritated her to no end, but this guy seemed to be able to make anything sound sexy. "And you? Are you from... around here? Ohio?"

  To her utter shock, amazement, delight and terror, he leaned into her at that, and spoke so close to her ear that she could feel his hot breath on her skin. "Does it matter?"

  "Here you go, one cappuccino for the lady, and a cheese sandwich. I put it on your tab, Trev."

  Silver was relieved and disappointed in equal measure when the cafeteria girl interrupted the moment.

  "Good girl," he said to Mandy, and Silver felt her insides melt as she imagined him saying those exact same words to her.