Skulls, Bones and Flowers 9

As Marguerite had predicted, the mansion wasn’t far, and so, it took Sayana and Daisy just some 30 minutes to reach the backside of the slave quarters. They lay in an unusual silence, only disturbed by the occasional cry of a baby.

As they sneaked along the fence, they noticed that the door stood open, and there was no guard around.

»Maybe, they built search parties, and now, the women have to do some of the men’s chores, too!«

The two had found a ragged sack they used to cover themselves as they now carefully entered the slave quarters. A few children that were too small for doing work were playing in the sand, and one or two of the few old women were busy with some work, but none of them really took notice as Sayana and Daisy sneaked inside the small hut in a corner of the yard that was Sayana’s realm.

»They sometimes need me, but most of the time, they fear me!«, Sayana whispered once she had closed the curtain. The hut was small, just some four square metres, half of it a simple cot, and it was filled with all kinds of clay pots and herbs dangling from the wall. The smell was overwhelming and strange, but not unpleasant.

Sayana produced some bread that was a bit hard, and also a pumpkin calabash filled with what tasted like cold tea. Daisy frowned.

»Is this some sort of potion, too?«

Sayana shook her head, scoffing.

»Most of these herbs are balms for wounds, or medicine against some female illnesses. For most of the time, I am just an herbalist!«

»And yet, you can send people through time! You even managed to mind-control these thugs to kidnap us!«

Sayana’s eyes became sad.

»Just to protect my little sister! And now, she’s gone!«

Daisy knew that she had some right to be angry at Sayana nevertheless, but she instead tried to cheer her up a bit:

»Maybe, she and Little John make it to some place where they can stay together! Maybe, she will have a live in freedom!«

From the floor, Sayana picked a flat pebble that looked like a coin, and she held it to Daisy with a grievous expression.

»And maybe, if I throw this stone, it will land on its edge and stay like that!«

Daisy didn’t respond. For a Black in the West Indies, there wouldn’t be much of a change during the next 80 or 100 years. So, even if she would reach an extremely old age, Nyala wouldn’t see the abolition of slavery.

»Will you be able to brew another potion for us?«, she asked instead, and Sayana rummaged through her collection of herbs and balms, collecting some on the bed. Daisy was a bit disappointed, for none of them looked very spectacular. There wasn’t even a mandrake, or a Voodoo doll.

»I only need the three drops of virgin blood, but we can also brew the potion now and add it when we meet with your friends! After all, this will only support my magic! If you, or anyone else, would prepare this potion, it would just become a soup that tastes terrible and will maybe accelerate your digestion!«

So, Daisy helped by plucking dried herbs into pieces and grinding them in a mortar whilst Sayana lit a small fire and placed a clay cauldron on it. Indeed, the liquid she created looked as spectacular as Irish Stew, and the only thing that looked a bit strange were the purple fumes that came from the simmering pot. Sayana put a lid on it and then, she lay down on her cot. Daisy, who sat on an edge of it, asked:

»Now, what? Will you not prepare something to regain your powers?«

Sayana sighed.

»If such a potion would exist, don’t you think that Nyala and I would have left years ago? No, there are only a few things I can do – and one of them is rest!«

However, Daisy wasn’t satisfied with that explanation. The idea of having to sit and wait until the night made her unruly, and in addition, she wanted to know more about Sayana’s witch powers.

»And what else could you do?«

Sayana, who was lying on her back, showed an enigmatic smile.

»Arousal!«

Daisy coughed, and Sayana smiled a bit broader, opening her eyes.

»You wanted to know! Unfortunately, I can’t do it by myself! It would lack the – element of surprise!«

The thought of Sayana masturbating whilst she was sitting beside her made Daisy’s cheeks burn. Still focussing her, Sayana added:

»You could do it! But it would only work if we both did it deliberately!«

»No!«

Daisy jumped up, but didn’t dare to step outside the hut. Sayana didn’t comment her reaction, and after some time, daisy said, without turning her back:

»Sorry, I-I didn’t want to hurt you, it’s just-«

»You didn’t hurt me – I don’t even know your name!«

Indeed, though they had spent some time together on the dinghy and later on the raft, they had not formally introduced each other.

»Désirée! Though most people call me ›Daisy‹!« She chortled:

»It’s English for ›Marguerite‹!«

When she turned around, she saw that Sayana looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and interest.

»Désirée! A French name! Did – they call you so?«

It took Daisy a few moments to understand what Sayana meant: Slaves usually got their names by their masters. Sometimes, it was common names, sometimes, these names came from European mythology or were just nicknames. Maybe, because she was a witch, Sayana had been able to keep her name, but her sister had been renamed »Fleur«, most likely after both had been baptized.

She sat down on the cot again, taking Sayana’s hand.

»My mother called me so! And the nickname was found by my friends! I am born free, and, maybe with the exception of the last two days, I have never been a slave!«

»Now, I understand why you want to go back!«

Daisy felt as if an iron fist was squeezing her heart. She could have told that the 21st century was far from being a paradise, that racism and prejudices still existed, and that she had been confronted with them. However, in comparison to Sayana’s life, it maybe was a paradise. Sure, it was much better than her current predicament.

Another thought came up in her mind: if they escaped, even if they would be able to take Sayana with them, the situation for the other slaves wouldn’t change. Only the grand grand children of the toddlers currently playing outside would perhaps witness the end of slavery in Martinique.

She took Sayana’s other hand and with a hoarse voice, she breathed:

»What you said, about regaining your powers – I just can’t do it! But would it help if I’d lie down beside you?«

The fact was that Daisy just needed a hug, even if it meant cuddling with a woman who was almost naked, just like herself. Sayana smiled:

»I would like that!«

So, Daisy cuddled against Sayana, slinging her arms around her. Sayana did the same, emitting a deep sigh. Daisy stiffened when she felt the close presence of the other’s nude body, but Sayana just whispered:

»Sorry, it’s just – it’s a long time since someone took me in his arms!«

Daisy guessed that it was since she had been enslaved. The other slaves treated her with a mixture of fear and rejection, and for the Whites, she was just another slave. And when she had shared the bed with the Comte, even if he hadn’t been a brute, she sure hadn’t enjoyed these occasions.

»Nyala?«

Now, Sayana sniffled.

»For Nyala, I was some kind of an annoyance, a relic of her past whilst she lived in the mansion and was allowed to live with Marguerite! She’s my sister and I will always love her more than my life, but-«

Her voice broke, and Daisy brushed over her cheek.

»Let it out!«, she whispered, and Sayana sobbed whilst Daisy, crying herself, held her in her arms. It was as if all the tension, all the tears held back for more than a decade, now flooded out of her, and though Sayana didn’t weep loudly, she nevertheless cried and cried, and her shoulders twitched under Daisy’s hands. Under other circumstances, she would have said something like »There, there!«, but she felt that Sayana just needed to let go completely, and she continued to tenderly caress her. Daisy felt a tingle radiating from Sayana, and she wondered if that had something to do with her powers, too.

»Thank you, Désirée!«, Sayana breathed, and she reached for Daisy’s hand, leading her to her left breast.

»Can you feel it?«

Feeling the other’s breast felt a bit strange, but not especially unpleasant, and when she had overcome her first surprise, she could indeed feel Sayana’s heartbeat, slightly accelerated, but strong and steady.

»I am feeling so much better! Maybe, you are a witch, too, Désirée!«

Daisy was used to be called by her nickname, but somehow, it felt like a caress when Sayana used her real name. She thought of withdrawing her hand from the other’s breast, but Sayana had slung he arms around her, trapping her. Still, there was this strange tingling, as if she was cuddling against a vibrating machine.

»I-I am not into girls«, she croaked, noticing that she sounded less determined than she would have wished. Sayana kissed her cheek.

»They say the tears of a witch taste like fire, and they can heal all wounds!«

She turned her head, so Daisy’s lips brushed over her cheek. She couldn’t speak for the wound-healing, but all she could taste was a slight bit of salt, like ordinary tears. Her hand that was not feeling Sayana’s breast had wandered over her back, and there, she felt a scar. Sayana sensed her touch, and she whispered:

»A lion, when I was just a girl! Do you have any scars, Désirée?«

Now, Daisy giggled.

»When I was 12, and my brother Antoine was 9, he idled around with an air gun! Well, since then, I have a dimple on my buttock!«

She realized that Sayana couldn’t know what an air gun was, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she felt how her hand now wandered down her back, finally plucking on the waistband of her panties. She let out a fluttering breath, but didn’t protest when Sayana pushed her fingers into her panties, searching for the little scar. Sayana giggled.

»I don’t even need my hand to feel your heartbeat, Désirée!«

Daisy blushed, but she had to admit that Sayana was right. She felt awkwardly fascinated by what was going on, and she didn’t want it to stop, at least not yet. She felt Sayana move her shoulder as she did something with her free hand; moments later, she knew that the other had removed her loincloth.

»He!«, she protested, but she knew that she had sounded more indignant on other occasions. She felt Sayana’s knee gently push between her legs, and then, her lap pressed against hers. Daisy felt now that Sayana was not only vibrating, she felt hot like a turmoil.

»A-are you j-just recharging your b-batteries?«

»Hm?«

»I-I mean, are you just trying to get your powers back?«

Sayana looked at her, their eyes only inches apart from each other, and she kissed Daisy’s cheek before she replied:

»I am glad you are here with me, Désirée! Everything else is just a side effect!«

Her hand pushed between them, taking Daisy’s from her breast, but keeping it pressed against her body. Then, she slowly led her hand down her belly. Daisy knew what the goal was, but she didn’t resist, and when she felt Sayana’s belly button, she playfully poked it. Then, Sayana’s skin felt even hotter, and she sensed some fuzzy hair.

»Oh my God, what am I doing?«, she thought. Sayana didn’t force her hand, but she led Daisy deeper, and she then felt the moist hotness between the other’s legs, felt her part her thighs, accompanied by a sigh. Daisy closed her eyes, and her fingers easily slid inside Sayana. Suddenly, all felt natural, and wonderful!

Some time later, the two girls lay there, still cuddled against each other. Both were covered with sweat, and both were panting, though it had only been Sayana who had reached the peak. Daisy just felt a little confused – and a part of her was about to ask Sayana for doing the same favour to her.

»Hmmm!«, Sayana sighed, stretching her limbs, »the last time, I was still free and on another continent!«

Daisy smiled, though she still was overwhelmed from the experience. Then, she suddenly gasped, looking at the curtain.

»Oh my God! The-the kids! They must have heard us!«

In fact, Sayana had become quite vocal when she had climaxed, but now, she looked as if she didn’t understand Daisy’s embarrassment about having had an audience. She reached for her hand and shook her head.

»They won’t dare to enter this hut! Though it would be quite safe right now!«

On Daisy’s questioning look, she explained:

»As I said that arousal strengthens my powers, I forgot that when the – hunger gets stilled, I need some time until I can fully unfold them again! For the next hour, I am as helpless as a newborn baby!«

»That’s what I wanted to hear!«

The curtain was ripped away, and the two girls stared at the grinning face of Toussaint. He was holding a cutlass, and beside him stood two more overseers.

***

Marguerite had continued to demand that Alceste should get her and her friends to her father, but the man had just ordered two of his men to tie up Lilly and Nesrin. Their hands were tied behind their backs, and the men didn’t spare comments when their breasts were exposed. Then, nooses were tied around their necks, and for a terrible moment, the girls feared they would be hanged, but the other end of these ropes were just tied to the saddle of Alceste’s horse.

»You, of course, will travel with me – Countess!«

He said her title mockingly, and Nesrin wondered why he didn’t show respect to the daughter of his employer. Marguerite looked at his offered hand. He obviously wanted her to get onto the saddle, but Marguerite shied back. Staring daggers at him, she fumed:

»My father will have you flogged, bastard!«

Alceste glanced angrily, but then, a scornful grin appeared on his face.

»Your father will do as I say – and so should you! Now, get onto the horse!«

Marguerite stared at him, panting. She saw that he was serious, but she stayed where she was, and her voice sounded steady as she replied:

»I can walk, like my friends!«

Alceste scoffed; hen, he ordered one of his men to tie Marguerite’s wrists behind her back, and tie her to his saddle, too. When the man tried to touch Marguerite’s boobs, however, he scolded him.

»Grab the others if you want, but this one’s reserved for me! Now, let’s get them ready for the ride!«

Knotted cloths were forced between the girls’ jaws and knotted tightly at their napes. Then, blindfolds were added, and after that, they felt a tug on their necks as the horse started to walk.

Alceste let the horse do a slow pace, and the men who were around them took care that none of the girls slipped when one of them staggered. At least in Lilly’s and Nesrin’s case, they took some liberties when doing so.

Luckily, the walk didn’t last longer than some 30 minutes, and it led over a ground that didn’t hurt their bare soles too much. The horse came to a halt, and the constant tug on her neck stopped. They heard Alceste dismount and whisper something to his men, followed by a louder order:

»Start with the brunette!«

Lilly felt her upper arm grabbed, and the noose was taken from her neck. Then, she was led a few yards, and she sensed that the air became cooler, and the men’s steps caused a slight echo. So, they obviously were inside a cave.

A rope was tied to her bound wrists, and then, her arms were lifted upwards. Lilly ached as this forced her to bend forward, and the strain in her shoulders increased by every inch the rope was tightened. To her relief, the strappado was fixed when her feet still touched the ground, and the position was inconvenient, but not especially painful.

There was some more heavy breathing and mewing, and something soft brushed against her hip; obviously, Nesrin or Marguerite was tied beside her. The blindfolds were removed, and Lilly could see it was indeed Nesrin, tied with her arms pulled to the ceiling like her own. They were inside what looked like the entry of a pit, and now, Alceste strolled inside, leading Marguerite by her neck rope as if it was a leash. He sat down on a box and forced the blonde to sit on his lap before removing her blindfold, too. He ordered his men but one to take guard outside, and then, he turned towards Marguerite. He repeatedly looked at Lilly and Nesrin, and he spoke very clearly, to make sure all of his captives understood:

»Now, what do you think this is all about, Marguerite? Will I get you some clothes, and then get you back to your father, to get a nice reward whilst you will be left with nothing but a few bad memories?«

He seemed to wait for an answer from Marguerite who uncomfortably shifted on the man’s lap, her chest heaving from oppressed fear and anger. Finally, lowering her head, she slightly shook her head.

»Right! But what will it be instead? Will I do – unspeakable things to you, whilst my men have their way with the other two whores?«

All three girls mewed, and now, Marguerite stared at the man with eyes like saucers, and she panted even heavier. Alceste pressed her backside against his lap, so she could feel he was physically ready to do the mentioned »unspeakable things«. For a few moments, he enjoyed the girls’ fear; then, he spoke again:

»Nah, I think I will have both – and more! Getting a lavish reward, having you not resisting to me, and being the hero of the day!«

Marguerite stared at him as if he had completely lost his mind. However, Alceste seemed gleeful, but as if he was following a somewhat reasonable plan. On an order from him, the other man now produced a whip and slowly stepped behind Lilly and Nesrin. Both shivered and mewed when he brushed over their bare backs with the leather thongs, allowing them to feel that there were spikes tied to their tips.

»Now, here’s my plan, Marguerite! I will now provide you with some clothes and get you to the Comte. I will tell him that I found you on a raft, alone and almost naked. You escaped from the pirates with nothing but your bare life – and you will confirm every word I say. Unless you want your – friends to suffer!«

He suddenly grabbed Marguerite’s scalp and forced her to watch as his henchman gave the backs of Lilly and Nesrin a lash each. He didn’t hit them full strength, so their skin remained intact, but it hurt, and they screamed into their gags. Marguerite also squealed, and Alceste seemed satisfied. He released her hair, and his hand cupped one of her breasts. Marguerite protested and squirmed, but when he made a gesture to the man with the whip, she endured the fondling with a faint whimper.

»Of course, I could have just brought you back without the whole – extra game! Sure, your father wouldn’t have been stingy. However, why taking just a bite if you can have the whole cake?«

He clawed into her breast, to make sure what »cake« he was talking about. Marguerite squealed, and Alceste reduced his grip to a gentle fondling.

»The Comte will of course be glad to have you back in his arms! There will be a big party, and for a few days, there will be all joy and relief. But what then? Can you imagine what will haunt your poor father’s head? What rumours will there be among the people of Martinique?«

The horrified look on Marguerite’s face told she had understood. Lilly and Nesrin weren’t that fast, but Alceste felt entitled to tell them his whole evil scheme, obviously enjoying the panicking effect on his audience:

»You escaped from the pirates – but before you did so, what did these mean, beast-like creatures do to you? After all, my men can confess that when we found you, you wore hardly a piece of cloth on your body! No matter what happened – in the eyes of any potential husband, even in the eyes of your own father, you will be damaged good!«

Marguerite mewed, and Nesrin also gasped. »Damaged good« – it was the same term Marguerite herself had used. And of course, there would be gossip about what a bunch of horny pirates might have done to a helpless, pretty girl in their clutches.

»At first, he might not like the idea, but sooner or later, the Comte has to accept that the best he can find for his daughter is an honourable bourgeois – someone who is capable of running the plantation after his death! Someone whom his daughter also knows and admires, because he saved her from the pirates!«

Now, Marguerite was about to faint, and she seemed to have forgotten about the man holding her on his lap and kneading her breast. The plan was monstrous – and there was a high chance it would work!

In the eyes of the society, her father had to be grateful that Alceste would accept her as his wife, though she no longer was a virgin – at least that was what people would think. Alceste, however, wasn’t finished:

»Of course, you might tell a different story – a wild tale about a roguish administrator trying to lure his way into the position of the son-in-law of a Comte! Maybe, some people would even believe you!«

Alceste was still  a young man, and he could almost be called handsome, but right now, his grinning face appeared to the girls like the grimace of some demon that had just ascended from hell. He now looked directly at Lilly and Nesrin as he continued:

»If you’d tell such stories, however, it would take some time until you’d be able to convince anyone – enough time for my men to make your friends beg to them to finally kill them before they are ready with them! Do you believe this could happen, Marguerite?«

As on keyword, his henchman raised the whip, and Marguerite squealed and nodded heavily. Alceste raised his hand to stop his accomplice, and he asked:

»So, will you spread such wild tales, Marguerite?«

»Nnngg!«

The girl shook her head, glimpsing at Lilly and Nesrin who could do little to ease Marguerite’s dilemma. Alceste made her change her position, forcing her to sit astride his lap, facing him. His hands held her head, forcing her to listen, but not allowing her to turn her head as the man once again let the whip land on Lilly’s and Nesrin’s backs. Again, it was not hard enough to leave permanent scars or make them bleed, but they couldn’t help mewing, and the sound of the smacks made Marguerite whimper. Alceste now caressed her hair.

»Now, here’s the deal! We will now return to the mansion – after I have given you some clothes, of course! There, you will confirm every word of my report, and time will bring the rest. In exchange, my men won’t touch your friends – well, let’s say they won’t touch them too much. And once we are engaged to be married, I will take care that they will be brought to one of the other islands – unhurt, alive, and even equipped with a small sum from your dowry, so they have alternatives to becoming harbour whores – though I am sure they have already worked in that profession! Can you agree to that, Marguerite?«

The girl sat motionless, and Lilly could see how Alceste’s expression turned from a gleeful grin to a threatening one.

»I asked you a question!«

Reluctantly, Marguerite nodded, and Alceste removed her gag. Then, he planted a kiss on the girl’s lips, something Marguerite endured like petrified.

»Seems you haven’t warmed up for your future husband yet! I hope that you will become more passionate during the next weeks and months!«

Marguerite croaked, and he added, bringing his face close to hers, but speaking loud enough that Lilly and Nesrin could understand him, too:

»I do not intent to wait until our honeymoon until we enjoy each other! But don’t worry – if it will have consequences, I will confess that we just got carried away, and that the child is mine, not a souvenir from your little adventure with the pirates!«

»No!«, Marguerite gasped, and Nesrin also screamed through her gag. Alceste looked up, as if he was noticing her for the first time:

»Ah, I remember the last time we met – you and my future wife were about to get – more acquainted! Well, I am sure once she knows how being with a real man is, she will not miss you for too long!«

He grabbed the rope still dangling around Marguerite’s neck and got up, forcing the girl to stagger after him as he approached the other two captives. He reached for Nesrin’s face and yanked the gag from between her teeth. Then, he pushed Marguerite forward.

»Now, kiss your friend Goodbye, Marguerite! If I like what I see, I might even consider allowing the two of you seeing again before these two get shipped away!«

Marguerite panted, and Nesrin arched her head to look up at her. She wanted to say something, tell Marguerite that none of this was her fault, but all that came out was a faint croak.

Marguerite bent forward, and she kissed her lips before she breathed, almost inaudible:

»He might possess my body, but never my heart!«

***