Ebony and Ivory 10

After what had seemed like ages, but had maybe not been more than some hour’s walk, Silvana felt a hand grab her upper arm, firmly, but not brutal. She was directed to sit down on a rock, and though it was chilly on her bare bottom, the exhausted girl deliberately took the chance to relax.

Now, she felt something at her legs, and when the grip tightened, she sensed that her thighs were tied together with some belt, right above her knees. Then, her captor took off her shoes and socks. Silvana felt a rocky surface under her soles, also something spiky, maybe pine needles.

»Where are we? Is this some mountain path? If we are in plain sight, why is nobody trying to help us, or at least asking what is going on?«

Of course, blindfolded and with her ears plugged, she couldn’t tell anything about the world around her. Perhaps, it was just too early to raise any attention. Her thoughts were interrupted, though, as she was made to stand up again. Then, she mewed as her captor put her over his shoulder. Silvana’s breasts rubbed over the rough surface of an outdoor jacket, and she felt a hand on her butt.

»Mhhmm! Nnngg!«

Silvana squirmed and flailed her lower legs when the hand found its way between her legs, but her captor didn’t bother, and then, she felt the ground shake. Though keeping on walking on, her kidnapper was shaking from side to side, and Silvana realized they were on something like a hanging bridge.

The ravine didn’t seem to be too long, for after a few minutes, they were on steady ground again. Silvana was carried down some stairs, and then, she was once again made to sit down. This time, she was sitting on some cold stone, and she was leaning against a wall.

Silvana mmphed, but for some minutes, nobody took care of her. Then, she was led a few yards before she felt that now, captor number two was joining, for one still held her arm whilst her armbinder was removed. She ached into her gag as her arms fell free, but before she could shake them out, her wrists were grabbed and cuffed in front of her. Or rather shackled, for the iron bands around her wrists felt rather like manacles from the Middle Ages than modern handcuffs.

Silvana was pushed back until she leaned against a surface that was solid, but moved a bit when she moved, and which had strange knobs piercing into her back. Her hands were pulled over her head and fixed to some eyelet. The belt around her legs was removed; then, similar shackles were tied around her ankles and her legs were pulled apart, though not more than some two feet, allowing her to still stand more or less comfortable.

Now, the hood was pulled from her head, and then, nimble fingers plucked the plugs from her ears. Silvana cringed when she suddenly could hear sounds again, though her new prison wasn’t especially loud. She could hear the rustling of chains, accompanied by some heavy breathing and an occasional moan. Obviously, Abina was in the same room.

She greedily breathed through her nose when the two pairs of panties were pulled from her head, allowing her to get some air into her lungs that didn’t have the fragrance of Annika or Lisa. Then, as she felt a hand pick on the tape of her blindfold, she heard an oppressed giggle, telling her that at least one of her captors was female.

»I am not sure whether this shall make me feel better!«, she thought, remembering the hand between her legs. In addition, she had been the prisoner of women sometimes, and they hadn’t lacked meanness compared to men.

The blindfold was removed, and Silvana blinked. The room was well lit, and more and more, she could make out some details.

She was in a room with stone walls, and right in front of her, she could see a nude black woman stand with her arms raised. Then, she recognized that Abina was tied to an Andreas’ Cross. She was still gagged, but her panty hood had been removed, too. She stared at Silvana with eyes like saucers.

To her left and right, Silvana noticed other contraptions made of wood and iron, and though they all looked as if they had been built just recently, there was no doubt these were torture devices. Silvana felt a shiver run down her spine.

»Mhhrrrrmm!«

She twitched and squealed when a finger was poked into her side. Giggling, a tall woman stepped in front of her. She grinned and said:

»Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!«

The woman was sporting an anorak and cargo pants. Her blonde curls were tied together by a band she now loosened, shaking her hair free. Then, she added:

»I am Louise – but you will refer to me as ›Mistress‹!«

Though she had pronounced her name the French way, she was showing a slight Austrian accent. Now, a second woman stepped beside her. She was as tall as Louise, and she was clad in a black catsuit, emphasizing her voluptuous forms. A cascade of black hair fell over her shoulders, and she had a pale skin.

»I am Valentina«, she said with an accent matching Louise’s, »and since that little bitch here«, she brushed through Louise’s hair, »has reclaimed the title ›Mistress‹ for herself already, you may call me ›Milady‹!«

Without warning, she put her hands on Silvana’s breasts, and the girl mewed and squirmed in her bonds. Valentina shook her head as if she was a naughty child.

»Louise, show her the instruments!«

The blonde stepped out of Silvana’s sight, and a moment later, the contraption she was leaning against moved. Horrified, she realized that she was tied to a giant wheel, with knobs in it, and she was tied to the rim! Now, it turned, pulling her arms higher and forcing her to arch backwards. With her legs cuffed, Silvana was forced to stretch her limbs, and Louise didn’t stop when she was standing on her toes, her body pulled into a painful bow. She could only move her head now, and Valentina continued to knead her breasts.

»Now, since you can’t talk, we have to communicate otherwise. Do you know the Morse code?«

Silvana shook her head. She knew a few letters, but what did Valentina have in mind? Dis she want her to hum her name?

»Too bad – for you! For I want to know your bra size!«

She opened her fingers a bit, trapping her captive’s nipples between two of them. Then, she squeezed them, so Silvana moaned.

»This was just the test, if you are sensitive. Now, you may count either the times I pinch you, or your squeals, that’s your choice. However, I want you to nod as soon as I reached your bust width! If you are a 32, for example, and you moan after 31 pinches, you will be punished! And though the toys we have in this room may not be historically accurate, they are very functionable! Did you get me?«

When Silvana didn’t react, she felt another painful tug when Valentina plucked one of her pubic hairs. Putting it onto her palm, she blew it over to Louise.

»I asked you a question!«

Silvana nodded weakly, and then, Valentina began to pinch her nipples, again and again. She waited between the attacks; perhaps, she just wanted to make counting easier for the girl, but to Silvana, it seemed that she wanted each painful tingle to radiate through her nerves before she sent the next one after it.

She finally nodded, and Valentina withdrew, cocking her head.

»43? Are you sure?«

»Mhhmmm?«

Her eyes widened, and Valentina threw her head back, laughing.

»Just kidding! I counted to 36, and it seems you told me the truth! So, we don’t have to repeat the game using something – more impressive than just my fingers!«

Silvana panted, her chest heaved, and her nipples still burned from the attack. Valentina now placed a kiss on each of them, playfully sucking with her lips, before she added:

»Now, I want to know the cup size, too!«

Her hand slid between Silvana’s legs, cupping her pubic mound.

»Is it A?«

»Nnngggg!«

Silvana shook her head, groaning and writhing as Valentina increased the pressure. She counted down the alphabet, and when she had reached »D«, Silvana nodded vigorously. Valentina bent over her and asked:

»So, you are a 36D?«

Again, Silvana nodded, and Valentina kept her hand at her most intimate spot for a few more seconds before she finally withdrew. Louise now approached Abina who had watched the humiliating procedure with horrified fascination.

»So, you got the rules?«

Abina, who had a little more ability to move, writhed in her bonds and moaned when Louise wanted to touch her breasts. The blonde stopped and asked:

»So, you don’t want me to touch your boobies?«

Abina shook her head, and Louise stepped back, raising her hand. It looked as if she was about to slap Abina, but she just waited until Valentina had put something small into her hand. When she showed it to the Black, she mewed, and her eyes widened with fear: it was a pair of tweezers.

»If I use these, I am technically not touching your skin!«

She let the tweezers snap a few times. Abina screamed through her gag, and Louise stopped, the tweezers just a few inches away from the Black’s breasts.

»So, you are preferring my hands then? You better choose now, for there is no third option!«

Her voice had turned sharp, and after a few seconds, Abina nodded. Louise still held the tweezers and asked:

»So, you want to feel my hands on your boobies?«

Abina panted, and only her skin colour hid the fact she was blushing all over. However, she managed to nod. Louise put the tweezers away, cupped her breasts, and the game was repeated. Abina managed to count up to 34, and though her chest was heaving when Louise touched her pubic area, she also could nod when she had reached »D«.

»So, we have one 36D and one 34D! Ah, just in time!«

Unbeknownst to Silvana or Abina, a fifth person had entered the room and now stepped between the two captives. He was old, very old, and he sported a burgundy red bathrobe that seemed to be made of brocade. In his right, he was holding a glass containing an amber-coloured liquid.

Both Valentina and Louise curtseyed, though that looked a bit odd on the two tall women that didn’t wear maid’s outfits. Louise reported:

»The Blonde’s a 36D, and the Black a 34D!«

»So, this – salesman told the truth!«

He slowly approached Abina and brushed over her breasts with his left. When he did the same to Silvana, his hand was as soft as a breeze, but it felt more disgusting than the torture from Valentina. He seemed to be exhausted from the activity, for Louise now placed a chair behind him and he sat down, right between the two captives.

»I have to pay tribute to my age! Back in the days, two pretty girls would have been no match for me, but now, even with the help of these little blue pills, I have to face the facts that my – active days are over. All that’s left is the pleasure of looking and watching!«

He took a sip from his glass and let his eyes wander over Silvana’s and Abina’s bodies. Then, on a gesture from him, Valentina and Louise fetched two buckets and placed one between each captive’s legs. The man now said:

»As I said, watching is all that’s left to me! And now, I want to see the two of you relive yourselves!«

His voice sounded calm and cultivated, as if he was having a conversation at a party. Silvana noticed the characteristic dialect of Vienna, which made the whole situation even more terrifying and absurd. Now, the old man took another sip from his glass.

»Once you have obeyed, you will be given some food and water! But if you decide to keep me waiting – well, to wait is another thing my age has taught me!«

He leaned back and toasted to his captives.

***

 On a side road, Annika had parked the van, and they dozed for a few hours before Marlene, Hilmar and Marcus left to get some food plus maybe some valuable information about the Erzherzog. Nabia and Annika, who both sported a collection of borrowed clothes that didn’t fit well, remained in the car to not raise suspicion.

Since they had parked close to the village’s end, the two women could hide in the bushes to follow nature. Here, Nabia even spotted a small brook, and they enjoyed the refreshment of ice cold water in their faces.

»I hope that they will also buy a few toothbrushes and deodorant«, Annika yawned, stretching her back. Beside her, Nabia scoffed.

»We have water, and no burning sun – what else do you need for the next few days?«

Again, Annika yawned.

»I know, when you were my age, you lived from three drops of water a day, and each morning, you had to walk ten miles over thorns on your bare soles to get to school!«

Nabia’s lips showed the glimpse of a smile. Then, she put her hands on her hips.

»What do you mean by ›my age‹? I am 29!«

Annika giggled. Then, she remembered that she was bantering with a criminal they had only allied with temporarily. She lowered her head and asked:

»Why have you done all this? I mean, loyalty towards your friends, or your country, is one thing, but what you did was-«

»Oh, spare me moral lessons before I had my coffee!«, Nabia grunted. Then, she approached the Policewoman and added:

»When this is all over – will you try to arrest me?«

Annika took a deep breath. Such a dilemma wasn’t stuff for a pre-coffee talk either, and so, she dodged the question by a lame joke:

»Who says I would only try?«

Nabia’s attack came fast. She kicked away Annika’s legs, sending her down to the grass, and landed on top of her. She placed her lower arm on Annika’s throat, though she didn’t put too much pressure in the grip.

»Seems I am the better fiiiih-«

Her triumph ended in a high-pitched squeal when Annika poked her sides with her thumbs. Nabia cringed, and Annika rolled over, and now, she was on top of the Black. Remembering her Ju Jutsu skills, she secured her opponent in a position that kept her pinned down, though it required Annika to clamp to the other’s body and limbs.

»Just beginner’s luck!«

Nabia squirmed, and Annika fought to keep her under control. The Policewoman was I the better position, but the Black was taller and stronger than her. Suddenly, Nabia chuckled. Annika, her face only an inch away from hers, frowned.

»What’s so funny, old hag?«

Instead of an answer, Nabia, who had managed to free one of her arms, slapped her buttock. Annika gasped, and now, she realized what had amused the Black: during their brawl, the knot on the ribbon of her wrap skirt had loosened, and it had now come off. Except for her panties, shoes and socks, she was exposed below the waist. Nabia still chuckled.

»Fighting dirty is one thing – but fighting naughty-«

Annika’s lips trembled, but she forced herself to show a stern expression.

»I’ll give you reason to laugh!«

Her hand found Nabia’s flank, and she squeezed some flesh, causing the Black to squirm and squeal. Again, she hit Annika’s butt, and the Policewoman yelped, though it didn’t sound as if she was suffering too much.

»Bitch!«

Annika now used both hands to tickle Nabia. The Black managed to free her other hand, too, and she clawed her fingers into Annika’s buttocks.

»Slut!«

For a while, the fighting continued, with Annika tickling Nabia, who in return slapped her butt. It was accompanied not only by dirty talk in German, English and Akan, but their fronts grinded over each other, and so, both were caught by surprise when they heard a whistle, followed by a voice yelling at them:

»Hey, get a room!«

The two spun around and spotted an elderly man leading a dog on a leash. He shook his head and continued his way, mumbling something about the decline of Western civilisation. Both Annika and Nabia burst out laughing, and they hugged. When they got up from the ground, Nabia grabbed Annika’s skirt.

»Allow me!«

Looking around if the man had gone, Annika lifted the hem of her T-Shirt, so Nabia could tie the skirt around her waist. Annika plucked a blade of grass from Nabia’s curls. Since the Black had bent forward, their faces were very close again, and she could feel Nabia’s breath on her cheek.

»If I’d kiss her now, she sure would not fight me off!«

She forced herself not to do so, and Nabia withdrew from her. Annika knew that her cheeks had reddened, and she also knew something else.

If this was all over, and she had to decide whether to arrest Nabia, the word »dilemma« would be an understatement!

***

Hilmar, Marcus and Marlene found a small supermarket with a coffee shop included, and as they had hoped, the shop attendant was a source for gossip. Of course, the main theme was the shooting at the parking lot, where a car had been burned, and »some foreigner« had ended up in hospital. The other people at the coffee shop agreed upon the fact it was another example of gang criminality.

»And I always thought that such problems only exist North of the border!«

The difference in dialect exposed Hilmar as a German, but obviously, the people didn’t include him in their suspicion against foreigners. By playing naïve, they managed to be told a mixture of truth and gossip about the incident, and Marlene exaggerated her concern:

»And I thought that we could have a quiet holiday, enjoying the Alps! BTW, a friend of mine told me that I should visit the ›Erzherzog‹ when I am around! What is it, the name of a mountain, or a local restaurant?«

It wasn’t the most subtle approach, and for a moment, Marcus expected the locals to fall silent, like in an old horror flick, when the stranger asked the peasants why there was so much garlic tied to the doors and windows. However, the shop attendant and the four other customers just confirmed that there was neither a mountain nor a restaurant of that name.

»Maybe, your friend was talking about the Baron?«, an old woman said, and now, the next in line chuckled:

»Of course! So, he’s an Erzherzog now! Good Lord, if he goes on like this, he will be Emperor next year! Jeez, this old fellow gets weirder every day!«

»I think I need some more context«, Marcus said, offering the old woman a coffee and a piece of cake. She obviously had no errands to run, for she sat down and told them that close to the village was an old castle, and it had been the seat of a Baron until the end of the Empire in 1918. From time to time, people had lived there, and, according to a mixture of tradition and mockery, the locals referred to these people as »Baron« or »Baronesse«.

»Well, some years ago, an old fellow from Vienna bought the castle. He rarely shows up here, and he seems to be a bit excentric, but I think he’s harmless! Now, he’s the ›Baron‹ – and once, when he visited the city hall, the Mayor jokingly called him so. Well, the old fellow smiled and replied that actually, he was an Erzherzog!«

For some time, the locals had then called him, a man named Alois Bergenau, »Erzherzog«, but since the old man didn’t insist on his assumed title, he had been »degraded« soon after and now was referred to as the Baron again. Marlene exchanged a look with Hilmar and breathed:

»An old castle-«

»Here, if you want to have a look! You may keep it!«

The shop attendant handed her a brochure, showing a small castle on a rock needle. It looked quite nice, but the brochure told them it was just the usual tourist trap, offering some souvenirs and guided tours.

A bit disillusioned, they walked back to the van, loaded with shopping bags. Marlene stared at the brochure. Could it be that finding the Erzherzog was so easy?

»The castle opens at 10am! Maybe, it’s just a waste of time, but since we don’t have any other clue, we might as well get there after breakfast and see if we find a hint of Silvie’s whereabouts!«

***

Being bound to the torture wheel, Silvana had to stare at the ceiling, and she could only get a glimpse of the old man if she bent her head forward, and he was standing. Now, with him sitting, she could as well count the spiders walking over the ceiling.

Who the hell was this old creep? So far, he hadn’t introduced himself, and Silvana had never seen him before. It seemed as if he had crept from some nether hell, to have his way with the helpless girls now locked inside his torture chamber.

She shuddered at the word. Torture chambers belonged into the past, in museums, or maybe in ghost trains, but this was all terrible reality. Silvana pulled on her shackles, just to remind herself that she wasn’t dreaming. They were as real are the knobs piercing into her back and buttocks; at least, they were rounded, but they would soon change from quite inconvenient to very inconvenient – before they would turn intolerable.

She heard a whimper from Abina, accompanied by some clinking of the chains tying her to the Andreas’ Cross. Silvana knew exactly how she felt: scared, humiliated, exhausted – and desperate to relieve herself.

The last time they had been to the bathroom had been before they had been bound, gagged and boxed several hours ago, and now, despite them being dehydrated, nature was calling. However, there was still some dignity, and none of them wanted to be the first to throw it overboard.

Their ankle ties prevented them from squeezing their thighs together, and so, the two girls could only writhe in their bonds and pant as the urge to pee grew stronger and stronger. Silvana had been forced to relieve herself in front of strangers before, and though it had been humiliating, she knew that she wouldn’t die from it. However, she just didn’t want to bow to her captor’s will that easily.

»Uuuhmmmmmrrrrmmmm!«

Abina’s groan started in her throat, then turned into a high-pitched wailing. Silvana didn’t have to raise her head to see how the Black was squirming, her eyes showing her strain.

Abina had been behind her kidnapping, and she had done some very mean things to her, but now, Silvana couldn’t help feeling pity for her co-captive. Maybe, Abina deserved to be punished, but by the law and not some evil old bastard craving for their physical needs.

She felt a pain between her legs, and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to hold it for very much longer. Silvana bit down on her gag and tensed her muscles. From Abina came some heavy panting, followed by faint sobbing, accompanied by the sound of liquid sprinkling into a metal bucket.

»Thanks God this is over!«

With a sigh, Silvana relieved herself. Now, since Abina had finally succumbed to nature, she also so no reason to fight on.

»Good girls!«, the old man said, followed by a short applause. Valentina and Louise quickly dabbed the girls’ middles with washcloths and then removed the buckets. Still breathing heavily, and feeling numb between her legs, Silvana rose her head and could see that Louise had changed into an outfit that made her look like a secretary: white blouse, a beige, knee-length skirt and pumps with moderate heels. Her hair was held back by hairpins, and she even sported a pair of glasses. Valentina, who had not changed from her catsuit, now stood behind the man and helped him out of his bathrobe. Underneath, he wore suit trousers and a plain shirt. With Valentina’s help, he now put on a cardigan, making him look like a harmless old pensioner.

»I know that I promised you some water, but I have to see whether we have guests! Valentina will stay with you, so you don’t chat too much!«

His chuckle sounded like a dry cough. With the help of his cane, he slowly walked towards a part of the room Silvana couldn’t see, followed by Louise. Once they were gone, Valentina loosened the torture wheel a bit, so Silvana could stand on her feet and look straight without distorting her neck.

»Feeling embarrassed?«, she asked, and her voice sounded rather matter-of-factly than mockingly. Reluctantly, Abina and Silvana nodded. Now, a devious smile appeared on the raven-haired woman’s face:

»Heads up, Ladies! In a few days, you will think back of this as ›the good old times‹ – at least in comparison!«

***

The parking lot belonging to the castle was on the foot of the rock, meaning they would have to walk a steep zigzag road to reach the entrance. However, Annika had decided that this was a good thing: the van had the advertising for a German moving company on both sides, and though this wasn’t suspicious per se, it would perhaps make people remember the car.

During breakfast, only Marlene had noticed a strange chemistry between Nabia and Annika, and to her great surprise and embarrassment, she had felt a slight jealousy. Obviously, the Black had moved on quickly, and she hadn’t mattered much to her.

However, it was more important to work out a stratagem, though they still doubted that they would find the missing girls by simply visiting the castle.

»Now, we will build three groups. One will go to the entrance, buy tickets and take the regular tour! We will be typical tourists, and we will even take as many photos as we can do without looking like complete lunatics!«

It was decided that this group would be Hilmar and Marlene who could pass as a couple, though their current status could be described as »it’s difficult«. Marcus also wanted to join them, but Annika told him that if they needed to take the tour a second time, it would be less suspicious if this was done by someone who hadn’t been at the castle before.

»You may want to be either group two or three. One has to explore the left side of the castle’s surroundings, to see if there’s a possibility to enter unseen, the other one is doing the right. Since Nabia’s German isn’t that good, she will join me!«

Marcus didn’t mention the fact that Nabia could also have joined him. Instead, he chose for the left side by throwing a coin. All five left the van, and Hilmar and Marlene walked up the hill. After a few yards, Hilmar took Marlene’s hand.

»We want to look convincing, won’t we?«

Marlene said nothing, but she also didn’t withdraw her hand. After a while, his thumb brushed over the back of her hand, just like in earlier times, and she had to oppress a sigh; this, Hilmar wasn’t doing for show.

The castle’s entrance looked like thousands of others: a wooden gate with a smaller door in it, beside it a sign informing them about the entry fees. Beside them, there was a Japanese family waiting, the two parents each carrying a camera whilst the two children had picked up sticks and did some fencing, playing either Samurai or Medieval knights.

Exactly at 10 am, the small door opened, and a woman stepped out. She was tall and had blonde curls, and she greeted them in a friendly tone, adding a »konnichi wa!« towards the Japanese who bowed in response.

»They are so cliché that we look even less suspicious in comparison!«, Marlene whispered into Hilmar’s ear, and he nodded. Then, he looked at the woman who, having sold them their tickets, stood beside the door and said:

»I am Louise Kerner, but you may simply call me ›Louise‹! I am happy to bid you welcome at Castle Adelfels! Once we have reached the inner court, the Baron will also welcome you, but his age prohibits him from taking the way down here! However, you may as well ask me about anything you want to know about the castle’s history!«

There was a small shop behind the door, and the two children obviously begged their parents to buy them some wooden swords and shields. Patiently, Louise waited until the kids had been put off for later, and they followed a curved path towards the inner court. Here, beside the entrance to the main building, an old man sat on a chair under a sun umbrella. When the little group approached, he came to his feet with the help of a cane.

»Welcome to Castle Adelfels! I am Baron Alois von Bergenau!«

In 1918, when Austria had become a republic, they had also abolished titles and titles of nobility, but it wasn’t kept too strict and so, former nobles who insisted on calling themselves »von XY« could do so, as long as they didn’t demand any privileges. However, though he was dressed like any old man they could have met in a retirement home, and though it was a warm and sunny day, Marlene was somehow reminded of the scene when a naïve visitor entered Dracula’s castle.

»Follow me!«, the baron said and made an inviting gesture towards the entrance before he slowly staggered towards it. Cuddling closer to Hilmar and pressing his hand a little tighter, Marlene followed him inside.

***