Heroes Were Enslaved - Enslaving the Humans pt 3

The former elven stronghold, now in the process of conversion in becoming Contessa's new station of command. Those that fought to defend it from the Demon King's advances now work in chains to design it to their Masters specifications. Severed heads dot along the outside walls as a warning while their bodies, tranced back to movement by a necromancer, work alongside those living causing a fear for utter obedience less they suffer the same fate. The central chamber, home to Contessa's main strategy briefing room, was also home to the captured maid presently chained up along the wall no longer wearing the black gown she had on before. Instead, she was stripped to her white stockings and head lace. She hangs there awaiting her coming punishments and torture when she hears the doors opening. Looking up, she's surprised to see Alicia enter into the chamber alone carrying with her a few scrolls in her arm. The maid grunts slightly to get the former princesses attention and it works, to a degree. Alicia just smirks at the maid resting the scrolls down in a row over the table but soon approaches the captive stopping before her.

“Do you feel like talking now?” Alicia inquires to the maid taking another step closer studying her features. “This isn't the breeding farm, you won't have your tongue cut out for not mooing or oinking.”

The maid only appears more fearful in hearing that as Alicia seems to find it quite humorous. She reaches up touching a hand to the side of the maids head stroking down losing her smile quickly.

“You know Master wishes to know why you were here in the first place. Elves traditionally don't keep human maids.” The maid remains silent though makes a pained noise once Alicia grips her hair tightly tugging her inward. “Master will not be as kind for the information as I have been, slave. You will answer her, you will obey Master in the same way I do and hide nothing.”

The maid only tears up as the doors open a second time. Alicia looks over and seeing the steel masked Contessa, she steps back and bows her head.

“Master.” She greets.

“Anything from her?” Contessa asks stepping into the room letting the doors close shut behind her. Alicia shakes her head stepping to the side looking at the maid.

“Nothing, Master, your slave remains a mute.”

Contessa lets out a long sigh through her mask pulling it off letting her ears flop back out. She then hands the helm to Alicia who steps back with it keeping her gaze downward. The elf commander steps toward the maid looking directly into her eyes.

“Then if she's not willing to give up the information...”

The maid screams out loud as Alicia continuously whips her bare bottom with a knotted stick. The maid was bent over forward across the back of a wooden horse held in place with leather straps around her wrists and ankles. Contessa sits off to the side not wearing the helm so her enjoyment was on full display watching her slave torture her other slave. That is until Alicia stops for a rest and turns back to her Master.

“Well, she definitely has a voice that can be utilized, Master.”

“I didn't tell you to stop, slave.” Contessa hisses prompting Alicia to bow her head in deep forgiveness and turn to continue.

The maid resumes her shrieking, though aside from those she doesn't seem to say much else. Soon, Alicia's arm grows tired as the maids bottom is covered in cuts and streaks of blood. The former princess groans rotating out her shoulder and goes for another thwack shortly after when she hears Contessa push herself away from her chair coming up to the ftont of the maid. Alicia steps back giving her Master the room to grip the maids chin and tilt her head side to side letting it drop back down with a deep sigh.

“She's passed out from the pain. Pity. Remind me again what the mages said of their inspection.”

“They found nothing out of the ordinary, Master. No incantations, no markings, nothing.”

“Hm...humans have a knack for marking their property.” Contessa states making her way around to the side of the maid checking along her see through stockings. “But this maids skin is untouched. Too pure to have even been a maid for an elven stronghold.”

“She may have been sent with ulterior motives, Master.” Alicia states as Contessa ponders a bit more before her eyes grow wide.

She rushes over and grabs hold of her helm slipping it back down over her head and hurries back to the maid unbuckling her wrists and ankles as Alicia watches on confused.

“M-Master?”

“Open the doors, slave.” Contessa commands as Alicia quickly goes over opening up the main chamber doors just in time for her Master to pass by dragging the unconscious maid from behind by her hair.

Alicia follows shortly after trying to keep up with her as they come out through the main hall and finally outdoors where Contessa tosses the maid down into the mud. Several slaves jump back surprised but seeing their Master present, they quickly resume their work while Contessa looks up at the sky silently cursing out the clouds. She looks over and spots a mage standing there staring back as confused as the others.

“Deal with these clouds!” Contessa commands as the mage looks up and begins to incant.

“Nubes spargunt!” She shouts as the clouds immediately part away in a wide circle letting the moon shine out.

Contessa looks down at the maid as the moonlight shines down over her. Slowly, symbols begin to appear over her back. The commander crouches down to get a better look as Alicia quickly goes and hoists the maid up over her own back so that her Master can stand upright for the better look at them. She touches a finger along the maids flesh reading the words under her breath. She then looks to the same mage as before and steps back.

“The rune at the base of this slave's neck...convert it.”

“Yes, Master.” The mage states coming over resting a hand at the back of the maids neck. “Converte in nomine Domini!”

The rune glows from its usual bright green to a deep red and then dims back down. Her job finished, the mage steps back as Alicia quivers looking back around the corner of her eyes.

“Master...I...I just...what was that?”

“This maid is an assassin, brought in secretly to kill our Master.”

Contessa explains making her way back inside the main structure signalling Alice to follow along. She does carrying the maid with her as she goes.

“These runes on her back would have intensified her abilities the moment she came into contact with our Master. However, these came at a price nullifying any memories of this for her essentially making her a sleeper agent. I suppose they thought us finding a human in the elven territories would have had us jumping for joy and sending her straight to the capital. Naive of them. But...it just shows the humans realized the threat before they felt it was too late.” Contessa reaches out stroking a finger over the changed rune. “This one was a fire rune, it would have engulfed her and, presumably, our Master should her skills not have been enough. However, I've turned it around making her completely ours now. If she wishes to live.”

“Then...permission to speak freely, Master?” Alicia requests as Contessa turns.

“You may.”

Alicia plants the maid down on the Contessa's table and turns bringing her hair up showing the back of her neck to her Master.

“I...I felt something.”

Contessa steps forward and chuckles a little behind her mask.

“It seems when the mage converted the maids rune, she accidentally set one down on your neck as well.”

“You...you won't use it, will you? I'm loyal, Master!”

“Remain that way and I may even forget about it.” Contessa says turning around to face the maid resting a hand over her sternum. “You can continue with that by setting this one's test of obedience.”

“What should it be, Master?”

“You know,” Contessa looks back at Alicia. “I haven't gone hunting in a while.”