In Her Power

Continuing the story begun in “The Empress Triumphant”


As a smart, savvy young woman with a drive to be the best and an affinity for her work, Assistant District Attorney Julia Chang didn’t rely on her good looks to succeed in life. When opportunities presented themselves, she jumped at them. Assignments that others saw as difficult, challenging, menial, or silly, she saw as ways to gain experience and credibility. Her positive outlook, hard work, and almost infallible success rate made her the superstar of the District Attorney’s office.

And then came that one assignment that Julia knew could make her career. The DA offered it to her because, in his mind, she was the one who could not only handle it but own it. Without hesitation, she accepted.

The assignment called for Julia to meet with prominent businesswoman and philanthropist, Severna Strickland. No one within city law enforcement circles believed that there was anything actually philanthropic about Severna. Everyone knew that she was a power-hungry criminal, who wanted nothing more than to dominate the city for the sake of her own nefarious purposes. But proving what everyone knew was the issue. No one ever had, and it looked likely that no one ever would.

But now came the chance for Julia to meet with Severna one-on-one, to talk with a woman who normally shunned every law enforcement official who she didn’t own with bribes or blackmail. What driven ADA--aspiring to one day assume the role of DA, and then possibly move on to Attorney General or Supreme Court Justice--wouldn’t grab that opportunity and run with it?

Sure, the assignment had its perils. As Severna was the instigator of the meeting, it would take place in her corporate office building, a location previous visitors likened to a fortress more secure than most prisons. Departmental budget constraints kept Julia from obtaining any kind of police escort, so she would have to enter the proverbial lion’s den alone. Furthermore, Severna hadn’t divulged the purpose of the meeting. She had merely stated to the DA that she had something important to discuss. So Julia would have to go in decidedly unprepared and ready for just about anything.

Julia arrived at Severna’s office on the day of the appointment, exactly 10 minutes early. She announced herself to the young, pretty secretary who sat outside a pair of large, ornate doors and then took a seat on the plush lobby furniture. Just under 11 minutes later, the secretary called her back up to the desk, instructed her to remove her shoes upon entering the office, and bid her a productive meeting. The young woman didn’t get up to open the doors, and Julia began to say something to that fact when the doors swung outwardly open on their own.

Swallowing her unspoken words and stepping inside the office, Julia saw a series of floor-level cubbies on her left. She took off her shoes and stashed them in one of the spaces, wondering as she did why Severna insisted on such a practice. As a second generation Korean American, she understood the protocol of removing one’s shoes upon entering a home. But doing so in a business setting made her feel vulnerable and exposed. In this case, having not worn stockings or tights with her outfit, she felt completely naked, even though only her feet were.

Julia walked across the vast suite to an exquisite antique desk that was almost big enough to live in. Two plush armchairs faced the desk and the oversized executive chair behind it. The latter chair was turned away as Julia approached, hiding its occupant and mostly muffling a conversation that took place in it. By the time she reached the desk, the chair turned, revealing an attractive woman of indeterminate age who held a phone to her ear. The woman made eye contact with Julia, smiled, and said goodbye to whoever she had been talking with. Putting down the phone, the woman stood and moved halfway around the desk to greet her guest.

“Ms. Chang,” Severna said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m so glad you could come.”

Severna’s smile was nothing if not engaging, but it didn’t stop Julia from sizing up the rest of her host. Of particular note were the stiletto pumps that Severna wore. Suddenly Julia understood that her feelings of vulnerability and exposure weren’t random, and that the mandate to remove her shoes at the door was precisely calculated to make her feel exactly that way. Score one for the criminal mastermind. And score one for the plucky ADA for recognizing the criminal mastermind’s psychology.

“Thank you, Ms. Strickland,” Julia said, without missing a beat. “I appreciate the invitation.”

“Please, call me Severna.”

“Yes, of course. And it’s Julia.”

With pleasantries out of the way, Severna indicated that Julia should sit down and then she, too, retook her seat.

“So, what is it that you wanted to discuss with the District Attorney’s office?” Julia asked.

“I have in my care a person of interest,” Severna said.

“Do you mean...a criminal? Or a suspect in a crime? In which case, wouldn’t this be a discussion to have with the police?”

“No, this person has no formal charges filed against her.”

“Her?”

“That’s right.”

“So you have in your care a woman you think the DA but not the police would like to know about?”

“I think it’s more fair to say that she would like to speak to a prosecutor to see what her options are.”

“I’m certainly willing to talk with her,” Julia said. “But I can’t make any guarantees that such a conversation wouldn’t lead to me seeking a warrant for her arrest, if it looks like she did indeed commit a crime.”

“Of course,” Severna said.

“Is she here now?”

“Yes. If you’re ready, I can bring her in.”

“Please do.”

Julia’s heart pounded. She didn’t believe for a minute that the mystery woman wasn’t a criminal, convicted or otherwise. This really could be, as she hoped, the defining moment of her career. Or it could be, as she tried not to imagine, one of the last moment’s of her life.

Severna picked up her phone, dialed a number, and spoke almost silently to the person on the other end of the connection. Then she ended the call, put the phone down, and smiled sweetly at Julia.

“She’ll be here presently,” she said.

No sooner had Severna spoken, then Julia heard the muted thud of the office doors closing and soft, slow footsteps across the floor. She turned to see a stunningly gorgeous woman walking calmly towards her.

The woman wore a black leather corset tied with silver cord, tight black pants with silver threaded seams, and nothing on her feet. Although her face was as beautiful as Julia had ever seen, her eyes stared blankly ahead, and her mouth hung slightly open, as if she were in a daze.

Saying nothing, the woman walked past Julia, around the desk, and over to the executive chair. She stopped when she was at Severna’s shoulder.

“Do you recognize her?” Severna asked Julia, indicating the new arrival.

“No, I’ve never seen her before,” Julia said, finding it immensely difficult to take her eyes away from the woman, even as she addressed Severna.

Severna either didn’t notice Julia’s struggle, or chose not to comment on it. Instead, she lightly touched the woman’s arm in a casual gesture.

“Do you recognize Julia?” she asked.

“Yes,” the woman said.

“From where?”

“She used to work for me.”

“What? No I didn’t. You’re mistaken,” Julia said to the woman.

“Are you mistaken?” Severna asked the woman.

“No, I’m not mistaken. Julia Chang used to work for me.”

“If that were true, wouldn’t she remember it?”

“No, she wouldn’t.”

“What are you talking about?” Julia asked.

Oddly though, even as Julia spoke, she began to believe what the woman said. There was no basis for her belief, other than the woman simply sounding convincing. If was almost as if the woman were leading her, as an attorney might lead a witness with a line of questioning. But how could a woman who seemed half asleep be able to influence her in such a way with a few simple statements?

Julia moved to look at Severna, to see what her host’s reaction was to all of this. But pulling her gaze away from the strange, beautiful woman was difficult. No, it wasn’t difficult, it was impossible. She couldn’t stop looking at the woman.

“Why wouldn’t Julia remember doing work for you?” Severna asked.

“Because I erased her memory when she completed her task.”

“How were you able to do that?”

“Through hypnotic suggestion.”

“So, you had hypnotized Julia?”

“Yes.”

“What?” Julia said. “No, no, that’s not...she couldn’t...I wouldn’t...”

“She’s telling the truth,” Severna said to Julie. “You did work for her in the past, while under her hypnotic control. And before she released you, she made you forget everything that you had done. She’s very good at that. It’s her specialty. Isn’t it your specialty...Ms. Mesmer?”

“Yes,” Ms. Mesmer said.

Julia gasped. She knew that name and the reputation that went with it.

“And what was it that you made Julia do for you?” Severna asked Ms. Mesmer.

“I made her sabotage a case against one of my workers. The woman was facing years of jail time. But Julia unknowingly ensured she got off free and clear.”

“Oh yes, I remember that case. It’s the only one that Julia ever lost.”

“No, no, no,” Julia said, trembling.

“That’s very impressive,” Severna said. “To control a woman’s mind to such an extent that you could make her act against all of her principles and values. Ms. Mesmer must be incredibly skilled at brainwashing. But, of course, we all know that she is. What you don’t know, my dear Julia, at least not yet, is that Ms. Mesmer now works for me. Isn’t that right...slave?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Ms. Mesmer said.

“And why do you work for me?”

“Because you brainwashed me and made me your obedient thrall.”

At this point, fear overcame Julia. Though she couldn’t take her eyes off Ms. Mesmer, she began pushing against her chair in an effort to stand.

“Oh no, my dear,” Severna said. “I don’t want you to leave yet. I went to such trouble to procure this meeting with a member of the DA’s office--the most skilled and valuable member. Ms. Mesmer, please ensure that Julia doesn’t go anywhere.”

As Julia watched in terror, Ms. Mesmer raised her eyes and focused them on the young ADA. Swept up into her gaze them like a leaf in a gale, Julia moaned helplessly.

“Stay seated,” Ms. Mesmer said. “Relax.”

Helpless to do anything but obey, Julia did as she was told.

“Keep her awake and aware, but truthful and obedient,” Severna said to Ms. Mesmer.

“Yes, Mistress,” Ms. Mesmer said, and then to Julia, “You are awake and aware, but you must obey Severna and me.”

“I must obey Severna and you,” Julia said in a calm, monotone voice.

“Very good,” Severna said. “Now, my dear, I’m going to brainwash you. I’m going to have Ms. Mesmer keep you in this state of awareness while I do, so you know everything that is happening to you. You won’t be able to resist or disobey in the slightest, and you will flawlessly carry out every instruction I give to you. But unlike your last encounter with Ms. Mesmer, I won’t erase your memory. When you leave here, you will remember every detail of this meeting. However, I will instill powerful, deep-rooted post-hypnotic suggestions that prevent you from telling anyone what I’ve done to you, either directly or indirectly, or even hinting at it. If you prove to be an effective and useful slave, I may reward you at a later date by allowing you to forget that you are under my control. But for now, I want you to know. I want you to feel helpless and hopeless, as you do my bidding. Ms. Mesmer, please begin deepening your control over the young lady.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Ms. Mesmer said to Severna, then to Julia while staring intently at her, “You are in my power.”

“I am in your power,” Julia said, her eyes wide and locked onto Ms. Mesmer’s.

“You have no will of your own.”

“I have no will of my own.”

“You will do whatever you are told.”

“I will do whatever I am told.”

“Repeat what I have said to you.”

“I am in your power. I have no will of my own. I will do whatever I am told.”

“Again.”

Julia said the statements again, and then two more times at Ms. Mesmer’s instruction. Ms. Mesmer then turned to look at Severna. Receiving a nod from her mistress, she continued with Julia.

“You are Severna’s slave.”

“I am Severna’s slave,” Julia said.

“Severna is your mistress.”

“Severna is my mistress.”

“You will unfailingly serve and obey your mistress.”

“I will unfailingly serve and obey my mistress.”

“Repeat what I have said to you. All of it.”

“I am in your power. I have no will of my own. I will do whatever I am told. I am Severna’s slave. Severna is my mistress. I will unfailingly serve and obey my mistress.”

“Again.”

Under Ms. Mesmer’s direction, Julia repeated the statements several more times. Finally, Severna touched the hypnotist’s arm, and Ms. Mesmer stopped repeating the command.

“Is her will completely subverted?” Severna asked. “Is she as obedient to me as you are?”

“Yes, Mistress, she is,” Ms. Mesmer said.

“Excellent. I’ve always wanted to have a reliable mole in the DA’s office. And now I do. Given your track record, my dear Julia, I expect you to accomplish great things for me there. Great and wonderful things. Now, stand up.”

With neither hesitation, nor any expression showing on her face, Julia stood.

“Walk around the desk to where I can fully see you,” Severna said.

Julia complied. Severna stared her up and down, taking in every detail from her attractive features to her fit body to her pretty feet.

“Yes, great and wonderful things, my dear,” Severna said. “Not just in the DA’s office. Oh, no. I expect you to accomplish so very much right here, in this office, with me. And as there’s no better time than the present, let’s begin now.”

Severna pushed herself back from the desk and then put her feet up on it.

“Worship me, slave,” she said to Ms. Mesmer, and then to Julia, “You, slave, desire me more than anyone in the world. You must now give in wholly and completely to that desire. You must act on it, lest it consume you.”

Ms. Mesmer stepped forward and gently slipped off Severna’s pumps one at a time. Then she bent down and began lavishly worshipping her mistress’s bare feet. At the same time, Julia all but dove onto Severna, kissing and caressing her in frenzied passion.

Nearly breathless in ecstasy, Severna smiled dreamily as both of her slaves accomplished great and wonderful things....