The Little Death 14

An advantage of his new destination was that Marseille was only 500 miles from Reims and so, Mike had decided to do the trip in one day. He had only stopped on petrol stations every 150 to 200 miles and at his first stop, he had decided to see him being at Marseille as a hint from destiny. So, he had sent a WhatsApp to Isabelle:

»I am at Marseille for a few days, text me if you want to meet me!«

The message could hardly be called too personal, but it showed that he was willing to do the first step and in addition, it would help to avoid the even more awkward situation if they met accidentally, though this was quite unlikely in a city of nearly one million inhabitants.

To his surprise, Isabelle had not been online since early afternoon the previous day.

»Either, she has lost her phone or she got a new one.«

And yet, as he continued his trip to the South, he waited for her message. His cell phone was in a cover fixed to the bike`s tank to allow him using Google Maps whilst driving, but there was no incoming message from anyone.

***

Isabelle was staring to the ceiling. There was nothing of interest there, just white wallpaper and the smoke detector, now no longer containing a hidden camera. She had wondered why the criminals had removed the cameras and microphones, but perhaps, they feared these could be tracked if she or Lioba called the Police.

However, if Isabelle would raise her head, she would have to look directly at Lioba`s womanhood. Tied as they were, the other`s buttocks rested on her chest and she could have touched Lioba`s labia with her nose if she had felt the slightest desire to do so. Though they had far more severe problems, the fact that the last one to be that close to that particular spot had been Mike was driving her cracy!

»At least, she`s not moving around too much!«

Indeed, Lioba had not fallen into panic or pulled wildly on her bonds since the criminals had left. Of course, her strict bondage would have prevented her from much movement anyway, but the Isabelle was grateful that she at least was not trapped between the mattress and a squirming and moaning woman.

Not that Lioba`s self-control made the situation convenient. She might not thrash around, but she of course moved, just because she was breathing or trying to find a less uncomfortable position. And the few inches between Isabelle`s nose and Lioba`s crotch meant that she got a glimpse of the other woman`s fragrance. In addition, both women were sweating profusely.

A slight tug on Isabelle`s handcuffs told her that Lioba had moved her upper body. The chain that was slung around her neck had been fixed to the handcuffs and Isabelle could feel the delicate links of that chain.

»I could grab it and pull! If I wanted, I could strangle that Carpathian Bitch!«

The thought was terrifying, but also a bit intriguing and she brushed over the chain. Something pricked into her index finger and only now, she remembered the spring she had managed to take out of the vibrator`s battery case.

For decades, movies had perpetuated the myth that handcuffs could be opened with a paper clip. However, since Isabelle had been tied up once too often during the last months, she had developed an interest in the subject and found out that this was partially true: most handcuffs had rather simple locks and if someone had a piece of wire, dexterity and patience, he could be successful in opening them.

She began to form the spring in her hands, to get a straight piece of wire. Lioba moaned and slightly moved as Isabelle`s lap under her head suddenly began to wriggle, but Isabelle just ignored her, ready to give the neck chain a sharp tug if the other woman would move too much.

»If she makes me drop the spring, I have a brilliant excuse for strangling her!«

She had to pause, for the concentrated work was straining and not only could she only breathe through her nose, she also had half of Lioba´s weight pressing down on her ribcage. Isabelle looked up and saw the other`s private parts right in front of her eyes. The ropes had sunk deep between her labia and Isabelle knew from bitter experience how painful the combination of a tight crotch rope and spread legs was.

She remembered how the Chinese had wrapped a pill into the wad of thongs that stuffed Lioba`s mouth. It was some of the aphrodisiac this was all about. Isabelle had only a vague knowledge about such things. Had the pill already dissolved and had Lioba swallowed enough of it to cause a reaction?

She could not help staring at the others private parts. Did her labia look swollen already? Had the scent become stronger? Were her movements, her occasional sighs, her breathing giving signs of a growing arousal?

»If she – cums, it would be literally eye-watering!«, Isabelle thought with a shudder. She continued to work on getting the tip of the wire into the small opening of her handcuff`s lock and she closed her eyes, trying to block out Lioba`s presence and to fully concentrate on her work.

She had no idea how exactly she had done it, but suddenly, the iron grip on her left wrist loosened.

»Mhhrrmm!«

With renewed energy, Isabelle tried to untangle her handcuffs and the chain around Lioba`s neck. The other woman protested and squirmed when the noose tightened, but then, she obviously felt that the chain had come loose. Isabelle groaned when the pressure on her chest increased as Lioba sat up.

»That`s right, squeeze me to death for trying to get free!«, Isabelle thought and let out a fainted ache. Lioba looked down on her, panting and a drop of sweat dripped from her nose, landing on Isabelle`s face. Then, Lioba leaned back again and Isabelle felt her fingers touch her lower abdomen and her pubic mound.

»He, what the-«

She protested through her gag, but Lioba increased the pressure. Then, she darted forward. Staggering, she was now kneeling on her lower calves, fighting to keep balance. Isabelle moaned as Lioba`s knees pressed against her head, but then, Lioba toppled forward.

»Uuhhhmmmm!«

Isabelle screamed into the panties filling her mouth as the other`s crotch seemed to land on her face, but Lioba managed to land on the mattress above her co-captive`s head. For some seconds, the two just panted, but then, Isabelle realized that Lioba had actually acted reasonable.

Her ankles were still tied to Isabelle`s elbow ties, but now, Lioba could squirm into a position that allowed Isabelle to sit up. Even more, by some more shifting and distorting their limbs, Isabelle could now use the wire on Lioba`s handcuffs.

»I can`t believe it, this really works, in a few minutes, we-«

In her effort to free the other`s wrists, Isabelle had become too hasty. She missed the small lock and lost the spring. With fluttering fingers, she felt over the crumpled bed sheet, but it had gone! Isabelle let out a moan of sheer frustration and Lioba suddenly kicked at her back.

»He, I haven`t done it on purpose!«

Then, she realized that the other wasn`t kicking her, but pushing against her back. At the same time, she was squirming and wriggling, trying to get closer to her night stand. Isabelle saw how she finally managed to grab a small plastic bag and she understood: it was the bag that had contained the handcuffs she was tied with and perhaps, it also contained the keys!

Lioba had pulled the bag to the bed and now, she was trying to rummage through it. Isabelle watched how her expression became more and more disappointed and she was about to resign when suddenly, Lioba let out a triumphant grunt. Moments later, she was holding a small key in her hands.

The little exercise seemed to have brought her to her limits, as it took her considerable time to bring her hands close to Isabelle`s elbows.

»Perhaps, you should quit smoking!«, she thought, but she distorted her back and stretched her arms so Lioba could reach the cuffs better.

»Ooouhmmmph!«

Isabelle groaned with relief when the cuffs opened, allowing her to relax her shoulders and to use her arms again. Her fingers trembled, but she managed to pick the keys. Lioba turned her arms towards her and she finally managed to untie the other`s wrists and elbows, too.

Once her arms were free, Lioba made an attempt to get up, but with her ankles still cuffed and completely exhausted, she staggered and landed on the floor. When Isabelle saw that her co-captive seemed unable to get to her feet soon, she grabbed the key. It was a bit straining to reach her ankle, but once one was free, releasing the other was easy.

»Mph!«

Isabelle saw that Lioba had managed to get on her elbows and was trying to get up. She dropped the key to her and then, she stumbled towards the kitchen where she found a knife. As she returned to the bedroom, Lioba was weakly picking on the tape in front of her mouth. Her eyes showed relief at the sight of the knife.

»Haven`t I been punished enough?«, she sighed, but Isabelle realized that Lioba would not yet be able to use the knife without cutting herself. So, she carefully sawed through the ropes. Lioba groaned with relief as the grip of the crotch rope loosened and even Isabelle couldn`t help feeling pity at the sight of the red rope marks.

»It will become really funny if the pain turns into an itching!«, she thought, but selflessly, she undid Lioba`s ankle cuffs before she began to work on her gag.

Both girls didn`t take much care of their hair and so, they managed to remove the duct tape at about the same second. Isabelle reached for the sodden panties whilst Lioba grabbed the knife and carefully cut the stocking cleaving her lips.

»Uuhhgg!«

The panties came out, followed by some saliva, and Isabelle sat there, panting and licking her lips. Lioba also worked the ball of thongs from her mouth. She was obviously trying to speak, but only a croak came out.

Isabelle wanted to get up, but had obviously moved to fast, for she felt dizzy and staggered. Lioba helped her to get to her feet and, aiding each other, they reached the kitchen where they greedily drank some water. Then, Lioba made a quick trip to the bathroom. Isabelle went there next and when she returned, she saw that Lioba had placed the ash tray on the kitchen table and with a slightly trembling hand, she held the cigarette box to Isabelle.

»That should beat the taste of used underwear!«

Isabelle could not help giggling hysterically and Lioba joined in. She accepted the offered cigarette and Lioba lit both theirs. Isabelle made the mistake of inhaling, coughed and then, she sank on the chair, looking at Lioba with disbelief.

»Why do you have to be like that?«

Lioba raised an eyebrow and looked questioningly whilst Isabelle searched for the right words.

»So – so – cool!«

Lioba laughed.

»Believe me, I am not cool! But would you like me to be – more hysterical?«

Isabelle shook her head, avoiding to look at Lioba.

»No! You are doing fine – and that`s the problem!«

She jumped up and looked around. Lioba seemed to understand what she was looking for.

»There is an open wine in the fridge and some Slivovitz on the side board!«

Isabelle grabbed the Slivovitz.

»Glasses are-«, Lioba began, but Isabelle just pulled the cork with her teeth, spat it to the floor and took a large sip directly from the bottle.

»-in the display cabinet«, Lioba finished her sentence. Isabelle put the bottle down, took a few deep breaths and then, she uttered:

»You are doing absolutely fine – and that makes it all the harder for me to hate you!«

She stared at Lioba, her chest heaving and her fingers cramped around the bottle neck. Lioba`s blue eyes first narrowed and then widened and her face showed an expression of regret and understanding.

»You mean, because I got you and Sistine into this!«

Isabelle sank on her chair and only a determined grip from Lioba prevented the Slivovitz from dropping to the floor. The Policewoman buried her face in her hands and sobbed. A bit indecisive what to do, Lioba put her hand on her upper arm. Isabelle twitched as if she had touched her with a red hot iron.

»Don`t you touch me!«, she fumed.

Now Lioba took a small sip of the liquor before she said:

»Look, I might not be the most emotional person in the world, but I am feeling for your colleague, too – and for Sophia!«

With tearful eyes, Isabelle stared at her.

»It`s not about Sistine or your colleague! It should be and if I were a little bit more professional, it would – but it is not about them!«

She paused and without a word, Lioba pushed the bottle closer to Isabelle. The girl took a sip and then, she forced herself to continue:

»It`s about – Mike! Ozzie!«

Lioba stiffened.

»Ozzie? You – you know him?«

Now, Isabelle giggled whilst tears ran down her cheeks.

»I thought so! But obviously, I was just his affair! A snack for in between, before he returned to his true love!«

»His true love?«, Lioba asked in a drawling voice.

»I saw the photo of your alumni party!«

Lioba reached for the liquor bottle, but Isabelle`s fingers cramped around it.

»Mine!«, Lioba barked and, surprised by that sudden outburst, let the Slivovitz go. Lioba took a considerable sip and then, she looked at her companion.

»Wait a minute – Isabelle! You are – you are – Belle?«

Isabelle`s jaw dropped.

»He – he told you about me?«

Lioba scoffed.

»Technically, he did!«

Isabelle impatiently waited for Lioba to take another sip from the bottle, to light another cigarette and to take a deep draw before she continued:

»Well, we met at the party. I mean, it was nothing – we had separated on good terms back then and there was no reason not to talk to him!«

»Talk! You were sitting on his lap!«, Isabelle fumed, but when Lioba passed the bottle to her, she accepted the offer.

»Well, we both had quite a lot of alcohol, I was feeling lonely and he seemed to be unhappy about something, too – or rather, someone!«

Now, it was Lioba`s turn to drink before she could finish her story:

»We kissed – and if you put a knife at my throat, I could not tell whether it was his initiative or mine. Well, and then, later, he helped me to my room. I can`t say if I really needed his help or if I was trying to trigger his White Knight-reflex!«

»Oh, he loves playing the White Knight!«, Isabelle uttered, feeling involuntarily amused. She reached for the bottle, but Lioba didn`t let it go. Their fingers touched, but Isabelle didn`t shy back when she listened to the end of what Lioba hat to say:

»At my room, we kissed again. But then, before things could get – more physical, he suddenly mumbled something about a bell and left!«

She looked up at Isabelle.

»Turns out he was not speaking of a church bell, but an Isa-Belle!«

The addressed sat there, panting and an expression of disbelief on her face.

»You – there was nothing more? He didn`t sleep with you?«

»Not because I didn`t want to!«, Lioba pouted and took the opportunity to conquer the bottle from Isabelle`s fingers. She emptied the last drops from it.

»Actually, it should be me who is jealous of you – Belle!«

As they looked at each other, the corners of their mouths began to twitch and at the same moment, both burst out laughing. Isabelle had already turned on the waterworks, but when she blinked at Lioba, she saw that she was sobbing, too, whilst trembling with laughter at the same time.

»Are you – are you crying?«

Lioba wiped her eyes.

»Sorry, but the mixture of being bound and gagged, drinking liquor on empty stomach and meeting my ex´s love interest sometimes shatters my self-control!«

This produced another volley of laughter and finally, Isabelle held her stomach.

»Stop it, please!«, she panted. »I had more than half of that Si-, Sibbbo-, Slivovitz and I don`t yet trust you to hold my hair if I have to throw up!«

***

At noon, Greg had ostentatiously unwrapped some sandwiches and started his lunch break, but none of the three women in the lab had taken notice. Sometimes, their work was like a puzzle and now, they were about to solve it.

»Leduc, you are a fucking genius!«

It had turned out the Professor had followed a path she and Lioba had decided would lead to nowhere, since one of their goals was not to create something that caused addiction and therefore hadn`t thought of psychotropic drugs.

Leduc`s idea was quite simple: he had followed Sophia`s idea of mixing an ingredient that raised sensitivity with one that caused relaxation – but he had added a mild antidepressant. It was a stuff given to old people in retirement to help them sleep better. And yet, Sophia could see the connections as if she was watching a video: if a woman would take the mixture of the three drugs, she would be in a state of relaxation, physically and also psychologically. In addition, she would be highly sensitive towards any stimulation. In other words: bad sex would be at least tolerable, average sex would be good and good sex-. Sophia saw some extra possibilities to earn money, for a woman under the influence of that drug cocktail sure would cause scratches on her lover`s back, plus maybe damaged eardrums.

She gulped and looked at Luana and Ingrid who were just controlling data on adjacent computers. They had chatted before and so, she knew that these two would very soon also know that they had found the Holy Grail, so to say.

Sophia had dedicated quite some time to this very moment, but it tasted as stale as the rubber ball in her mouth. Instead of becoming a renowned scientist, she would end up locked away somewhere in China. The government there would be able to block any attempts of looking for her and sure, the interest in her and Luana`s person soon would cease anyway.

Ingrid got up from her chair and looked at Luana.

»Have you gotten the same results as I did?«

Reluctantly, the Taiwanese nodded and Ingrid turned towards Sophia.

»How about you?«

Obviously, Sophia`s unhappy expression was enough of an answer, for Ingrid now showed a broad smile and one after the other, she hugged Luana and Sophia.

»We did it! We did it!«

She danced along the desk, but then, she suddenly spun around to her two captives.

»Or rather, we almost did it! There is one last problem. I might refer to it as the ›Goldilocks-problem‹, though-«

She paused and her eyes fell on Luana`s and Sophia`s crotches. The latter knew that the delta of her pubic area was barely hidden by the pantyhose whilst Luana at least had the little protection the thong offered.

»Though those who will help me solve that final problem have either dark than golden curls«, she let her index finger wander over Sophia`s pubic mound before hooking it into the waistband of Luana`s panties, pulling them towards her a bit and peeking inside, »or no curls at all!«

***

»So, you like Chinese poetry?«

»Mhhm?«

Sistine`s ability of clear thinking was slowly recovering, but she though that she had misunderstood Lan. The Chinese smiled.

»It was an old poem I recited when I was kissing you down there. The original has got 83 verses, though you seemed a little distracted after the seventh!«

Sistine just uttered a faint sound, unable to do more. She was still thoroughly gagged with Lan`s panties and the three scarves and in addition, she wouldn`t have known what to say. To say the girl was overwhelmed would have been an understatement.

»Is that what I really am? A masochist?«

Of course, Lan had not tortured her really, but she also hadn`t used the Martinet just for caressing her. The slaps had hurt – not very much, but Lan had always used enough strength to make Sistine twitch. Also, she had concentrated on her sensitive spots. Though, after a while, she had felt as if her entire body was one very sensitive spot. Her soles, the back of her knees, her inner thighs, her armpits, all these had joined her breasts and her pubic area in getting treated with the Martinet, though the latter two parts had gotten more attention. Still now, every part of her felt very sensitive, though a look into the bathroom mirror had told her that the whipping had left no traces except for a slight reddening here and there.

Lan had carried her to the bathroom because Sistine had been unable to walk a single step. In fact, she wasn`t sure whether she would ever be able to walk again, but this was not because of pain.

As promised, Lan had kissed the pain away after she had caused it – and more. Sistine had wailed from the spanking, but she had screamed through her gag and begged for mercy when Lan had used her tongue on her. Deep inside her – hell, how could a human tongue get that deep anyway? –, the restless Chinese had discovered a small hidden spot – so small Sistine hadn`t even known about it and so sensitive that the faintest touch had felt painful. For about two seconds. Then, however, the bomb had exploded and if ever someone would ask the girl how a bomb would feel after it exploded several times in a row, she would be able to tell him.

She would, however, not have been able to tell how many times she had climaxed. She had lost count and wasn`t sure whether she had fainted, but at one point, Sistine had been so sure that she had died and now was in heaven that she had been really surprised when she had opened her eyes and found herself still on earth.

After the trip to the bathroom, Lan had carried the panting and totally exhausted girl back to the bed. She had let her legs free, but once again tied her wrists to the bedposts. Now, Lan was lying close to her, her head cuddled into Sistine`s armpit whilst her hand was loosely resting between the girl`s legs.

»Later, you must tell me some of your poems!«

Lan`s other hand brushed over one of Sistine`s breasts, causing her to let out a sigh, and she said something in Chinese. Then, she once again smiled at Sistine.

»It was another old Chinese poem. In it, the poet describes the beauty of his beloved. If he had known you, he maybe wouldn`t have found time to write anything else.«

Sistine slightly turned her head so her forehead touched Lan`s hair. Under other circumstances, such a compliment would have sounded corny, but somehow, she loved it if Lan said such things.

A vibration could be heard from the night stand and Lan rolled over to grab her cell phone. Sistine could hear that she was talking to a female, obviously Ingrid. They spoke English, but Lan was limited to things like »Okay« and »That`s good« and she couldn`t understand what the German was saying. After a short while, Lan ended the call and bent over Sistine, her long hair tickling the tips of her breasts.

»Ingrid told me that they had a major success. You know what that means?«

Sistine`s eyes widened and Lan bent forward and kissed her forehead.

»You think I would allow that woman to touch you, or to test LD on you? Do you think so bad about me?«

To Sistine`s dismay, it looked as if it really mattered to Lan what she was thinking of her. Again, there was the other side of that woman, soft and somehow vulnerable. Slightly, Sistine shook her head and then, her eyes once again grew wider as she felt Lan`s hand between her legs.

»Besides«, the Chinese hissed, »if there is any kind of stimulation a drug can do better than me to you, I will chop my hands and cut my tongue! Would you like that?«

»Uuuhhmmmm!«

Sistine reared up as Lan pushed a little bit harder against her pubic mound.

»Would you like that, Sweet Sistine?«

Again, Sistine shook her head and again, she meant it that way. Lan withdrew her hand and placed another kiss on the girl`s forehead.

»Anyway, Ingrid needs my help for one last test. Don`t run away, girl!«

Lan checked the scarves that tied Sistine`s wrists to the bedposts and tightened the knots. With two more long scarves, she tied her ankles to the lower bedposts, leaving the girl exposed and spread. Then, she put her hair into a tight bun and put on her military cap. Though she still was stark naked, Sistine was amazed how much this had changed Lan`s complete attitude.

She then chose a fresh pair of panties and put on her bra. Fascinated, Sistine realized that the reversed strip was quite intriguing, too, for she knew that an exciting woman was hidden under the strict uniform.

»I won`t be long! I would promise to think of you, but maybe, I would become too soft then!«

Lan grabbed a leather bag that had stood beside the door and left the room, leaving Sistine alone with her turmoil of mixed feelings.

***

»I really love you, but right now, I feel like I got screwed by an elephant!«

Mike brushed over the saddle of his bike. He indeed loved his bike and he also loved riding it, but after having done the trip from Dover to Marseille almost nonstop, his butt felt sore and he walked like a clumsy parody of John Wayne. He had reached the city in the early afternoon and now, he had stopped in the parking garage of his hotel.

»At least, I have the rest of the day off!«

If he had guessed right and Cassandra was in Marseille and intended to visit the Chateau d`If, he would have to wait for the next day to catch her track. Mike was quite sure that she hadn`t reached the city before Sunday evening and, as Mike had checked, the prison island museum was closed on Mondays. So, tomorrow would be the first opportunity for Cassandra to visit the real background of the fictional Count of Monte Christo. Until the museum would open tomorrow at 9 am, he would be a free man.

Half an hour later, Mike had taken a long refreshing shower and sure that the toughest decision for the next hours would be if he should have dinner or go to bed immediately. He checked his cell phone, seeing that Isabelle still hadn`t been online. There was only one grey hook beside his last message, telling him it had been sent, but not received yet.

»Oh, fuck it, she can`t do worse than refusing to let me in and telling me to fuck off!«

Though his limbs ached, Mike put on some fresh clothes and left his hotel room.

***