Preface
This story begins in the May of 1866. Forced to do so by the USA, the French are about to withdraw their troops from Mexico, where they have supported the Austrian born Emperor Maximilian I. against the Republican rebels led by Benito Juarez.
Those who have followed the adventures of Zenobia and Andrea so far will maybe be glad that some characters from earlier stories will have an appearance.
Chapter one
„Next year, we are 60!“, Zenobia mocked towards Andrea who was standing beside her at the railing of the „Seahorse“, a steamer that had suffered from a gale that had lasted for more than two weeks and had driven her far south from her original route, meaning that the „Seahorse“ now was heading towards the harbour of Mazatlan in Mexico.
Andrea smiled and pressed her beloved`s hand. It was May the 17th 1866, her 34th birthday, and Zenobia`s 24th. Actually, Zenobia didn`t know her exact birthday, but when she had registered as an U. S. citicen the year ago, she had decided that Andrea`s birthday was as good as any other day. And though there had been little opportunity to celebrate that day properly so far, she still was feeling like they were on their honeymoon.
Some three months ago, they had been left naked, bound and gagged in a barn outside Dali in China, only to be found by some peasants. But before, they had had some precious hours alone. Though it had not been the first time that Andrea and Zenobia had been tied naked, with their bodies pressing against each other and with a rope between their legs teasing their most intimate parts, it had been the first time that both had been fully aware that they loved and desired each other – and also the first time when both had been able to reach the peak of extasy before some rescuer interrupted them.
Though it had been at the very moment when they had been in the throes of Zenobia`s fourth and Andrea`s second orgasm when the peasants had discovered them, they had been too overwhelmed with joy to feel more than a bit embarrassed. The men had freed them and since Xiao, their last captor, had left them some jewels, they had been able to buy a passage to Hongkong.
The money they had gotten for their jewelry had even been enough to buy them a first class passage on a ship back to the USA. Since it was some two weeks before the ship`s departure, they had checked in at one of Hongkong`s best hotels.
It had been here that they had been confronted with racism for the first time in months: the hotel owner obviously thought that Zenobia was Andrea`s maid, and so did the ship`s Captain. But Zenobia had found a solution that had allowed them even more privacy. They had booked a suite that offered a small chamber for Zenobia – and a big bed in which they spent every night in love and lust.
Both girls had never had the opportunity to be together without being tightly restrained before, but they had both quickly and willingly found ways to please each other and themselves. Now, no gag stuffed into rtheir mouths prevented them from exchanging passionate kisses and no rope held their hands, allowing them to explore the other in the secret of the night. If the chamber maid wondered about the fact that Zenobia`s bed never was touched or about the sounds that could be heard from within the sleeping room at night, she never told anyone.
Aboard the ship, where Andrea had booked a cabin with an extra bed for her „maid“, too, it had started even better – no one expected them to show on deck, since Andrea had pretended to be easily sea sick and so, they had spent most of the time in their cabin. But after a few weeks, the weather had become worse and a storm had hit the ship.
The „Seahorse“ was a big and strong ship, and so, there had been no danger of dying in the waves, and in addition, their cabin still offered some convenience, compared to the third class passengers in the steerage. But the constant moving of the ship now caused them to hardly find some undisturbed time in each other`s arms and when the storm had calmed down, both Andrea and Zenobia had been in a mess and longed for a hotel at the shore where they would be able to take a bath and change clothes.
The ship`s original direction had been San Francisco, but the storm had driven it far south and just hours ago, the Captain had told all passengers that they would soon reach the harbour of Mazatlan in Mexico. Whilst most of the other passengers were mourning, Andrea and Zenobia didn`t care that much. They still had some 2000 dollars left and they had no final destination in the U. S.. So, both girls were in quite a good temper when they finally walked down the gangway.
Among the other passengers, the two women, one white and one black, who walked down the gangway hand in hand, were a bit showy and so, a tallish blonde woman made her coach stop when she saw the two lovers.
„Now, that`s interesting. I never would have thought that we would ever meet again.“
Xenia LaFayette had recognized her former slave immediately. She remembered only to well the circumstances of her escape attempt from Whilmington more than a year ago – circumstances that had left her naked, bound and gagged for the Yankees to find her and had forced her to fight to get back her lover`s respect.
Now, Mr. Drake was residing on his mansion at Cuba with her, but from time to time, they travelled to Mexico and tried to get some advantages from the political problems the country was suffering from. Sometimes, they supported the Emperor, sometimes the rebels in the North, and always, these transactions brought some more money to Mr. Drake`s purse. Since it was sometimes better to send only a woman, Xenia did some of these business trips only accompanied by her maids, Annabelle and Veronica.
„What is it, Madam?“, Annabelle asked her when she saw that Xenia was watching Zenobia and Andrea walking through the crowd.
„Oh, I have just discovered something I have lost long ago. Something I desperately want back in my hands. Veronica, dear, please follow these two women over there, the Black and the White, and find out where they are going.“
***
More than 300 miles away, in the city of Torreon, Edler Klaus von Trausneck, the Austrian military attaché, was talking to Marcel Preud`homme, commander of the company of the Foreign Legion stationed in the city.
„So, France bows it`s head towards the Americans?“, von Trausneck asked. The Captain nodded slowly. The day before, a message had reached the city that all French troops would be withdrawn from Mexico during the next months. Since the waging war against the Mexican Republicans led by Benito Juarez was not to be won by the Emperor and his allies, Preud`homme wasn`t too sad about this order, but he felt pity for the Austrian with whom he had befriended.
„Of course, my men will take care that everyone you want will reach the shore in safety. We are allowed to make negotiations to guarantee a withdrawal with a less a bloodshed as possible.“
„Captain Preud`homme, do you really expect me or my grand cousin to be so cowardish?“
Preud`homme oppressed a sigh. Lady Elisabeth von Habsburg had entered the room. The 19 years old aristocrate was a descendand of a rather unimportant side line of the Austrian Imperial house, but she could call herself „Elisabeth von Habsburg“, just like the Empress in Vienna, and she emphasized her nobel origin on every occasion. She was a rabid proponent of the Mexican Empire ruled by the younger brother of the Austrian Emperor. Elisabeth closed her eyes from the fact that most Mexicans wanted the foreign rulers to leave and many of them supported the Republicans. But now, without the support of France, even she would have to accept the truth.
„Klaus, dear, would you like to read the letter I got from the messenger yesterday?“
Preud`homme frowned. He had always suspected Elisabeth to do her own negotiations with the Emperor and once again, she seemed to know more than him or von Trausneck. He watched the Austrian read the letter and become slightly pale. Then, he handed the letter to Preud`homme who managed to remain calm, but was strongly affected, too.
The letter said that the Emperor`s wife had left Mexico for Europe, to ask for further military support for her husband`s cause. Also, she had expressed her hope that everyone loyal to the Empire would hold out till her successful comeback. It were the hopes of a desperate woman, but whoever had written that letter had added a small passage:
„France has agreed upon keeping some smaller outposts to support the Mexican Imperial troops in their fight against the rebels.“
The French government would sacrifice another few hundred Foreign Legionaires to help the lost cause of that unholy intervention. In the letter, the few garrisons that would now become Austrian were named – among them, that of Torreon.
„As you see, even your government wants you to keep the city against the rebels. So, please, stop talking about withdrawal and better make your men train for the expexted battle.“
Preud`homme could see that von Trausneck was trying to say something. He knew that he was dependand on the goodwill of his young grand cousin. She was very rich and she also had relations to the Emperors, both in Mexico City and in Vienna. If she decided, both von Trausneck and his family would fall from grace and suffer the consequences.
„Madame, my orders-“, he began, but rudely, Elisabeth interrupted him.
„Captain, as soon as the official orders implied in my letter will arrive here, you and your men will be under the command of my grand cousin!“
„Which means I will be in fact under your command“, Preud`homme thought. He knew that the opposing forces were quite far away, but he had only some 80 Legionnaires plus some 200 Mexican soldiers to keep the city. Had he been ordered to stay on his post to allow the French army to withdraw, he would have fought until the last man, but this order only meant dying in a lost war, under the command of an Austrian girl. Preud`homme actually was a Belgian, but he had sworn allegiance to France.
„I am sure that you and your men will set an example of bravery. If you fight like the lions you pretend to be, half of you would be enough to frighten ten thousands of the rebels.“
Having said so, the young blonde retired, leaving the two men alone. Preud`homme took a long sip of his flask whilst von Trausneck tried to find words.
„Marcel, I know that this is a prolonged suicide. But, what can I do?“
Preud`homme frowned.
„Maybe, we could intercept the messenger sending the official orders to remain here. Then, we could withdraw and save hundreds of lifes.“
Von Trausneck shook his head.
„Elisabeth knows that this letter will arrive soon. And she will sent a message to the capital if she suspects us to try anything like that.“
„Who else knows about that letter?“, Preud`homme asked.
„Well, except my grand cousin, it`s just us – and her maids, I presume.“
Among the servants of Lady Elisabeth, there were her two personal maids she was very close with. Mitzi and Heidi shared all her secrets and they had their eyes and ears everywhere. Preud`homme had seen them flirting with some of his men and he was sure that this was the way the Lady got at least some of her secret informations. He had not found any proof about his suspicions yet, but Preud`homme was sure that the two pretty girls were more than just maids.
„So, if we could ensure that all the five of us to remain silent about that order, we could easily let the new letter disappear and then, we could withdraw, just as we were ordered before. If the Empire will remain, we can say that we just have not got the other orders. And if the Republicans win, it doesn`t matter anyway.“
Von Trausneck laughed without humour.
„If you find a way of persuading my grand cousin into doing so, I am totally with you. But you`ve just heard her. She wants to remain here and wants us to keep the garrison to the last man.“
Preud`homme took another sip of Tequila. Then, he said that he had to look for his men. It wasn`t a lie, since he wanted to talk to three of his men who would maybe able to make Elisabeth to remain silent about the order the letter implied.
***
„Phew, these peasants are really enthusiastic about us. We had to do three encores“, Carmencita panted, wiping some sweat from her forehead whilst Emilia, her companion, greedily drank some water.
Viola Darlington, who had just left her fortuneteller`s tent, smiled.
„No wonder, since you once again were great.“
„But they could only do so with my support“, Inez, the fourth of the group, added. She had played the guitar when the two others had danced for the peasants in the little village north of Durango.
Whilst Viola was wearing a brightly coloured robe and a headscarf, the others were all dressed in white blouses that left their shoulders free and were wearing coloured gipsy dresses. They looked exactly like the little harmless group of gipsy dancers they pretended to be.
Viola had supported her cousin, who was fighting with Juarez, for some time. She had even been the leader of a gang of outlaws in the Arizona Territory, but some year ago, this career had been halted quite brutally. Not only had her gang members betrayed her, but also had Viola ended up naked, bound and gagged with another woman`s used knickers, stowed in a coffin together with the woman she had originally intended to rob.
She shuddered when she remembered the long hours in the stifling box, unable to move or to make a sound and with a rope tied between her legs constantly pressing on her crotch. Viola had never found out what her abductors had finally planned, but some time after their cart had stopped, someone had opened the coffin`s lid. It had been some cowboys who had freed them from their tiny prison and, after some hooting and lewd comments, had even given her and her fellow captive some clothes.
In Tucson, Cassandra had had a talk with the Sheriff and Viola, who had preferred to disappear, had never seen her again. Disappointed of men, she had tried to find some female accomplices to continue her fight for the freedom of Mexico south the border. And now, she and ther three others were spying for the Republican army, disguised as a troup of entertainers. Viola was working as a fortuneteller and whilst she told her customers about their future luck, she managed to find out informnation about the strength and position of the enemy`s forces. Carmencita and Emilia did some dancing – the Cancan or some gipsy dances, giving the exited crowd a glimpse of their knickers.
They sometimes had to keep some young boys away who wanted more than to just look, but all in all, it was quite a convenient way of fighting for Juarez.
„Well, it seems that the peasants have gone to bed for this night“, Inez yawned, „time to have a look at the others.“
Whilst Amelia took her rifle and prepared for the first watch, the three others entered their brightly coloured wagon. A polyphonic mmphing greeted Viola and her colleagues.
„Time for dinner and toilet“, Viola said.
„Mmmhhmmmpph!“
Only the plucky Isabella answered, staring daggers at her captor. Aurora and Marita remained silent, obviously too groggy to put up any resistance.
It had been some week ago that Viola had decided that the little all-woman-group of entertainers would be a perfect disguise for her and her group and so, they had taken their place.
Isabella, who was dressed only in her knickers and a camisole, now transparent from sweat, squirmed in her bonds. She was tied to the chair with her wrists crossed behind the backrest and tied to one of the rear legs. More rope wrapped around her upper body and the backrest kept her in her sitting position. Isabella`s legs were tied to the chair`s rear legs, forcing her to sit with her legs slightly open. She was gagged with a rag that had a giant knot tied in it`s middle. The knot was pressed between her jaws and the ends were tied tightly in her neck. The way her cheeks bulged told that more cloth was stuffed into her mouth.
Beside her, Aurora and Marita were tied and gagged the same way. They were dressed only in their camisoles and knickers, too.
Drawing by hugues66
„Always remember, it could be far more uncomfortable for you“, Viola said and opened the lid of a heavy chest.
Inez helped her to get the thoroughly trussed up girl out of the box. A weak moaning told them that Arina was still awake, but had obviously lost some of her fighting spirit.
Unbeknownst to Viola and Arina, the two young women had encountered some distress at the same time and only a few miles away from each other, though it had been different men who had bound and gagged them. Whilst Viola had been overpowered whilst trying to make some money, Arina had been kidnapped by an Apache warrior. The man had stripped and humiliated her, but not actually hurt or raped the young blonde. After a few days, he had left Arina behind when a posse had approached, but her life had not been the same since then.
The men who had rescued her had found her completely naked and had blabbed that fact all over the city. In addition, there had been constant rumours that Arina had had sexual intercourse with the Apache. Her uncle had not shown to be a real support for her and so, after a few months, Arina had ran away.
After half a year in Tucson, where she had worked as a barmaid, Arina had met Isabella and her friends who were a Mexican group of entertainers that had impressed her and so, she had joined the three women on their trip through Mexico. This life had been quite poor, but new, entertaining and free and Arina had enjoyed it. That was, until last week when the gang of brigants had overpowered them and taken their place.
When the wagon was travelling from one place to another, the four girls were just kept locked inside and had at least the freedom to speak. But once they reached a village, they were kept bound and gagged and the noise of the music and the watching crowd took care that nobody took notice of their predicament.
Every morning and evening, they were given some food and water. Then, the lid in the wagon`s floor was unlocked and opened. One by one, they were untied and, with a leash around the neck, were allowed to relieve themselves under the wagon. Their captors took great care that one was thoroughly bound and gagged again before the next one was temporarily released.
During the night, they were kept bound hand and foot and gagged only with the knotted cloths, but without their mouths stuffed. Since the wagon offered only four narrow beds, the captives had to sleep on the floor between these beds. That is, if one did not disobey the orders or tried to run away from captivity.
Arina had tried so on the first occasion when they had freed her to relieve herself. Quickly, she had pulled the leash from her neck and ran away. It had been some ten yards before they had caught her and taken care that she would never try such a thing again.
They had ripped her camisole from her, leaving her only in her white knickers. Then, they had tied her arms at wrists and elbows and her legs at the thighs, above and below the knees and at her ankles. Her gag had been reinforced by the remnants of her camisole. A broad strip had been tied over the cleave gag, covering her mouth from nose to chin. Then, they had stowed her into the box where she had to stay for the whole day, except for the meal times.
During the nights, she was allowed to stretch her limbs and to lie beside her companions, but she remained as thoroughly bound and gagged as she was during the day. Arina still was looking for a way to escape, but she knew that she would have to wait for a better opportunity.
Drawing by hugues66
She heard what her captors were talking about. Arina had learned Spanish quite well during the last months.
„Rumour has it that the French troops will withdraw sooner or later. That means that Emperor Maximilian will only be left with the Mexican troops loyal to him. Juarez will be victorious soon!“
Since that part of Mexico was still a part of the Empire, their cheers were not that loud, although the village had only a few soldiers positioned there. Viola, who had quite a good knowledge about the positions of Juarez` armies, too, continued:
„If the French leave, Juarez will have to take Torreon before Emperor Maximilian is able to send a release force. The city`s important and we are not the only one to know about that. So, our duty is to head for Torreon and to prepare some local resistance.“
The others nodded. It would be quite easy for them to get into the city and most Mexicans were rather loyal towards Juarez. Viola knew that if it was her merit that Torreon could be taken without a prolonged siege. Juarez would reward her and then, she could perhaps make an easier living than like she did now.
„How far away from Torreon are our troops?“, Carmencita asked.
„His advance troops are some two week`s march away, I guess. From here to Torreon, it`s some 150 miles. If we start tomorrow by dawn and take no major breaks, we can be there within a week.“
Arina tried to show no reaction. During this week, there would sure be a chance of escape. Maybe, they would even let them go to get rid of them.
„But what if they will kill us?“
Except for keeping them gagged and tightly restrained, the four women had not been brutal towards Arina and her companions. But now, they were not longer spying, but on a military mission.
***
Andrea and Zenobia had to find out that even the best hotel of Mazatlan did not offer rooms with a bathroom, like the best American hotels did. It only was possible to get a bathtub and so, they had taken a bath together as soon as the room service had brought enough water. Again, they had checked in as maid and mistress, but of course, the small servant`s chamber would remain untouched.
Though the water was only luke warm and not enough, it felt marvelous to wash all the salt and dirt from their bodies. After that, Zenobia pointed at a pile of clothes on the floor.
„Shall I call for the room service to take care of our underwear?“, she asked. Andrea, lolling about the bed naked, shook her head.
„Tomorrow, we will tell them to throw them into the fire. I have been forced to wear these knickers for more than two weeks and I definitely won`t put them on once more.“
„At least, there is nobody who wants to stuff them into your or my mouth“; Zenobia said and giggled a bit nervously.
Andrea shuddered and pulled the sheet around her.
„Well, I hope that these ordeals are over now!“
They laughed away their uneasiness and then, Zenobia got dressed to do some shopping. Andrea decided to wait for her lover to come back soon, „warming the bed“.
Since there were still some two hours left of their „58th“ birthday, Andrea decided to prepare herself for the return of Zenobia. Actually, she preferred casual clothes, but for Zenobia, she would dress up as seductive as possible.
When she had combed her hair and put on some perfume, Andrea checked her underwear and chosed a red camisole with attached garters. It had some baleen rods sewn in it and so, it contoured her sides and belly whilst her breasts were only covered by some thin, lacy silk. The camisole was only held in place by narrow shoulder straps and Andrea had first thought it was too daring. But since Zenobia liked to see her wearing it, she put it on and also a pair of matching red silk stockings.
Since she did not expect anyone else than Zenobia, Andrea tried to put on no knickers. She thought if she should put on a candle and when she had done so, she also took the flowers from the table and began to throw the blossoms all over the bed. suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
„Who is it?“, she asked unwillingly.
„Room service!“, a female voice answered.
„I have ordered nothing!“
„I know, Miss, but your – maid has told me to send you a bottle of Champagne and to tell you that she will be back in an hour.“
So, Zenobia wanted to celebrate their birthday, too! Anticipating, Andrea decided that it would be enough to cover herself and the flowers with her bedsheet. The chamber maid was a woman, too and Andrea would not mind if she would see some of her cleavage.
„Come in“, she ordered and a second later, she heard the sound of a key turning in the keyhole.
A tallish brown haired woman in a black chamber maid`s dress entered, pushing a large trolley covered with a white table cloth into the room. Andrea wondered why the trolley was so large, since it had only a cooler with a Champagne bottle placed on it. When the girl closed the door, she mentioned another detail. The skirt of the maid`s dress was quite daring, ending just above her knees.
However, a second later Andrea was distracted from the fact that the white table cloth moved and another woman appeared from underneath. Before Andrea could do or say something, this woman, a black haired tall woman with a pale skin, pointed a gun on her.
Meanwhile, her companion had drawn a pistol, too.
„Special room service“, she smiled.
Andrea wanted to say something, but the fake chamber maid put her index finger to her lips.
„Shhh! Do as we say and you stay unharmed.“
Her accomplice put the cooler on the table and removed the white cloth. Andrea`s eyes fell on a third woman stowed there. She had her arms tied behind her back and the way her buxom boobs thrust out showed that not only her wrists were bound, but also her elbows. The girl had a broad strip of cloth tied between her lips, obviously keeping her from expelling a massive cloth packing. The girl, who stared at Andrea with widened green eyes, half covered by her dishevelled black hair, was only wearing a white slip that barely covered her legs that were bound at her ankles and knees.
„Oh, that`s Paloma – the real room service maid“, the brown haired intruder explained.
„Wha-what?“, Andrea tried to ask, but once again, the brown haired one told her to shut up whilst the other one took a coiled rope and a knife. She cut two pieces, each some two yards in length, and approached the frightened Andrea. Tightly, she tied her wrists to the bedposts, forcing her to spread her arms, since the bed was wide and meant for two persons.
Andrea gasped when the woman ripped away the sheet from her body. Then, she blushed when the intruder`s eyes fell on her body covered only in the red silk camisole and the stockings, her knickerless middle and on the blossoms on the bed.
„Oooohhhww, so you have been expecting some company for the night?“, the black haired woman said, gleefully looking at Andrea`s forms. „Well, I am afraid that it will not be your black friend, but we will take care that Paloma will stay close to you until someone will discover you tomorrow!“
Zenobia! These women weren`t just robbers, they wanted to harm her friend! Andrea wanted to scream, but the woman clamped her mouth shut with considerable strength.
„Annabelle, a hand, please!“
The girl in the maid`s outfit took a large napkin and quickly went to the bed. Andrea moaned and squirmed, but she was no match for the two armed women. They stuffed her cheeks and throat with the napkin and tied another one tightly between her lips. Then, Annabelle sat beside her on the bed whilst the other was looking at the bound and gagged Paloma.
Drawing by hugues66
„Now, all we have to do is to wait for our Black Beauty.“
***