Harmless Little Lietto
#1 of Art of Macabre
---Here's an adult story written in a different style I felt like trying out, inspired by some of my World Lit work. Also, my boyfriend is reading Laural K. Hamilton and I woke up dreaming of something similar to this. I major mix of things to push me to take time for this, and I feel there more than likely will be more additions, Madame Ordella being our main attraction through the series.----
Time was of the essence. Of five years in my mercantile business and this... this would be a first. "We can not be late," I said out loud as Josephit strapped down the last of the crates. The morning light and the wakening of busy patrons brought an illusion that time was infinite and that tardiness was miles away. It was only an illusion as our destination was miles and miles away. We had to make a three day trip in 34 hours. Josephit turned around when he finished with the crates and fit me with a tired gaze.
"And we will not be late as long as you understand action exceeds your posture paralyzed by worry." He walked by me as I undertook the notion he was speaking about me.
"Well, since a certain badger lacks the worry of this party of two, this mouse has to do extra to make up the difference. That's what makes me a skilled tradesman- thinking of the amounts and how to fill in for the slack." My badger friend and coworker merely shook his head as he went off to bid farewell to the attendee at our shop. It will be well watched while we are gone, but the dominant thoughts on my mind were, of course, the worry of being late and the consequences that follow that poor mishap of timing. There was also one thing that haunted my mind so. Our buyer... a mistress...
We've not had a mistress buyer before. She had undergone the misfortune of losing her husband, and now she has gained the household all to herself. The poor thing probably doesn't know what to do with it all.
"What's this? That eye of your's is taking a look somewhere far far off..." Josephit had come out and noticed my mind's wanderings.
"Oh, there is just this thought about the madame. She lives at the edge of Dovear Valley. To think.. the isolation and the death of her husband. What could she be doing purchasing such luxurious in time of mourning?"
"The lass is probably squandering the riches away that the man of the house left her. It seems in his absence she probably thinks she can do as she pleases. She might be without authority of the house, but the state will look down on her if she remains widow for too long. If she cherishes her newly independence so dearly, she had ought to take herself somewhere else. Maybe a country a little more liberal." As Josephit said all this, we had already took seat in the carriage and brandished the reigns to begin our journey.
"That is the way of our dearly beloved country," I added in dutifully with some remorse to the madame. After we ride past the gates, we continued talking of the lady and pondering what she would have planned with all the merchandise. It's what we did on every long journey.
A few days later, we arrived at the bordering village right before we arrive at Mistress Ordella's estate. I think Josephit said it was called Holshemer. The village was very small. Even if it was dark, I could tell it was small. The villagers were very kept to themselves, and the shops had closed much too early compared to a more vibrant and prosperous village. Maybe I lived in Noqueta too long. Still, nothing could compare to my home.
The designated tavern was where the mistress instructed us to meet. There, a trusted servant would be waiting to lead us to the estate. It was Josephit's idea to go into a different tavern.
"You see... the way I think of it, is that if we go into that yonder tavern. We will won't have the time for mead or even much pleasantries. I figure this lass for a very straight forward business woman. In a case like that, I can't help to but have my own pleasantries by a means of my own making." He spoke of his plan while we rode past the tavern we were supposed to stop at. I merely smiled.
"You really thought things out on this, my friend."
"Well, of course! I had me over two days to do it in..." We both gave a lighthearted laugh as we pulled up to another tavern. We were lucky to have two taverns in this town. After arriving, we walked inside and absorbed the rich candle lit room full of chatter and an exquisite waitress. I knew Josephit had his eye's fill of that beauty.
We both took a stool at the bar front and called for the bull at the end speaking to a tiger and cougar. The look of him as he was approaching showed he spent too much time in the tavern. His belly was full beyond the proper coverings of the linen shirt he wore and his horns were low on his head(an old belief that lowering horns were a sign of aging back then). In a deep gruff voice he greeted us and asked what we wanted. I turned down anything, but my partner ordered a stout of the local stuff. It seemed we were going to be there a while.
Once the drink was fixed and placed in front of my companion I leaned next to him to whisper. "Your side mission better not keep us or our buyer's servant waiting too long. We are late enough as it is." Josephit merely waved my remark off with his badger paw and continued drinking. His throat made a few swellings and it looked promising that the mead would be consumed faster than our precious time would.
"You men doing business here?" The tavern keeper asked us he was leaning against the back wall. I let Josephit take care of his drink as I took care of the conversation.
"Yes, we are on business for a Madame Ordella. Do you know her well?" The mention of her name created something in the bull's expression, but no clues came to mind as to what it meant. His words and the way he said them were more of a clue, though.
"She doesn't come to this village often... rare occasions if she does. If I happened to be in your shoes, I would be cautious of all steps I'd be taking up to that place."
"W-what do you mean...." A nonchalant shrug from him as he began busying himself with cleaning a glass.
"You just get that "feelin'"-that's all. A lotta rumors float about, but I don't take to no rumors much. Still, one time I saw her. She came through town, and I swear she moved as if she floated like a ghost. I never seen any creature move so... stiffly-and still move! It gave this bull the creeps. And her husband who died-who's even stranger I tell ya'. I knew him, now. He was a man who didn't deal with company. Even them servants were scarce around him. He was passionate about his privacy, I know that true to my heart. Then all o' sudden he's off havin' a weddin' ceremony and all. Only a year before he was lost to the grave. Then- no funeral... I mean, a man so secluded as that wouldn't have friends, but I didn't see no family no nothin'."
I had taken the bull's words in, and it seemed all the more fascinating. My thoughts were opposed to think this woman guilty of any crime as he seemed to speculate at, but it was good entertainment. Just about then Josephit hit the wood top with the metal mug. As I looked, he had been licking his lips with a content tongue.
"That one's had it. I don't believe we would have the time for another, no?" He smiled to me in hopeful glee, completely ignorant to all the dreaded tales the bull told me.
"I believe it's time we get on our way." I looked back to tell the tavern master we were on our way, but he was back with the felines at the corner. He even glanced back while they were talking and the felines did as well. "Josephit, I think we need to leave..."
"Why? What's the matter?" I had already placed coins on the table top and grabbed my partner's arm and pulled him with me to leave. Once we were out, I started telling Josephit about what the tavern bull had said. "Oooh, that's just a bunch of bull. Ha!" A fit of giggles took him away, and I sat down in the carriage looking at him unamused.
Before I took the reigns and made off, I was caught by surprise.
"Mr. Lietto I presume." Startled I bumped into Josephit and looked at the young fox standing at the side of our carriage. Well dressed, I instantly knew this fox to be the one we were supposed to meet.
"Uh, uh..yes, you are?" I spoke as I began to settle myself.
"I am servant of Mistress Ordella. I see that you had mixed the locations of your posted arrival."
I gave a very stern look at Josephit, who looked apologetic enough to satisfy me from beating his head.
"Yes, honest mistake really." Turning back to apologize I saw that he had gone. "W..where did he go?" Josephit was looking over me to try and find him as well. Then the next second the young fox came up beside us on a horse. I never even heard him move.
"No more time can be wasted, my mistress awaits. I'll be showing you the way now. Try not to let anymore grand spectacles get in the way of your business. If business is what you wish to have still, that is?"
"Oh yes-yes... we will follow."
"Then follow." And he was off.
"Strange..." Josephit commented as he we trotted after him. "Quite a mouth on him, don't you think?" I merely looked at him and thought of how it was his fault to begin with. The look did it's job. "I didn't know the little louse would be catching us taking a break..." I looked at him again. "Okay, okay! Lesson learned." He crossed his arms and huffed. I looked ahead and smiled as I was content with the victory.
Madame Ordella's mansion was exquisite. It was something I never would think to see all the way past a lonely forest and sitting next to the cliffs of the Dovear Valley. The gates opened for us and we had a cobble stone path leading up to the front doors, which were made of heavy oak and carved skillfully. The fox hefted off his horse took it to another fox nearby, more than likely the stable boy.
We were stopped right at the steps. When we got out the fox began speaking.
"This way, gentlemen." He stepped up, and the doors seemed to open by themselves.
The inside was made of wood, but decorated with paintings, mirrors, carpets, chairs, love seats, and a set of stairs at the middle. It had all that was needed to show the glory of an aristocratic household. The second floor had railing on both sides above us that led to the middle set of stairs, and the steps opened wide as they descended to the floor like a mouth opened to consume and take us up to a higher level of the house.
Our escort turned around to address us. "I will be going to announce your arrival to my mistress. You may take a seat anywhere in the room as you wait, please wait here in this room." Not waiting for any reply from us, the fox quickly made for the stairs and took a left. He moved above us all the way to the end where there was a door which he entered.
"Quite the place," Josephit said.
"Yes, I really don't see why she would require so much building supplies like we've brought. This place is quite complete." I started to think about the supplies and goods we carried from so far, and none of them seem to fit a practical purpose for a recently widowed.
"Leave!" Me and my companion both took fright when a white furred fox came from the shadows with intense eyes, deathly serious of whatever matter he surprised us for. "She will take you as well, she takes us all," his words were dreadfully mad. His blue eyes were intense. He must have been mad as I heard his words. "She's not of any species you know. She's the devil. Get out..."After we were able to calm down from the fox's scare, I could finally notice that the lad was nude. Those blue eyes searched all over in such a way that you think the shadows were out for him.
"Goodness, man!" My fellow friend observed just as I had. "How credible can such rants be when you dress yourself in madness like this?" As ingenious my friend's deduction was... the way in which the fox shook and looked at us with such seriousness made my mind peer into irrational conclusions. "Where's your caretaker? Get some clothes on you, please." I was about to interject with words of my own, but the fox suddenly looked over us. I assumed Josephit looked the same direction as I because I asked him where that fearful fox went and he could not tell me.
Still, the door that distracted us was opening and a feline maiden began stepping out from what must have been her main quarters. The fox servant kept behind her dutifully and solemnly. Her dress was one I hadn't expected to be so impressed by it as I was. The candle light lit her movements in an enchanting way while she made the turn of the stairs and began counting down the steps of the widening "mouth" of those stairs. The dress was in no way modest or respectful for a lady to come in to being a widow so recently. My thoughts were taking to the idea of this being the last time we both do business of any kind. After I made this presumption, her ears were noticeably folded. I knew, in fact, that they must have been overly grown, the only default I could find on such a tempting creature as she. Those eyes, most of all, were practically obstacles to obstruct the view of any other detail of her. They, quite literally, glistened as if with tears and out-did the showy features of the sparkling dress.
"Gentlemen," she purred with luxury oozing forth from soft lips. "I hope my instructions for your journey did not mislead you too far. I am sure to be more complex the next time I direct your travels." She smiled apologetically. She was well spoken and even humbled herself as well as any proper lady. Maybe I had misjudged with her dress too much. "I assure you that this won't be a final conclusion to our over all business. I have many plans that are in work, and it is only through your assistance that they can come to fruition." Josephit looked at me as I looked to him. Our looks were matched, and we approved thus far.
When I looked back to her, those eyes seemed to be in the way completely now. They could not be looked around. There was no where else my eyes could be diverted except upon her's. The sensation became strange after a moment. My features must have revealed something of this awkward instant because the cat's eyes looked curious.
"Something the matter?" her voice was curious as well. I became confused to why I couldn't reply... couldn't... This had all become just embarrassing... and... There seemed to be no place for my vision to be except right on her own. My eyes might as well have been in locks and chains. Such a feeling made instinct inspired. Weakening feelings began to penetrate my mousy core.
"There's... there's something the matter here. I..." My good friend sounded as though he were in the same fit I was in. My ears perceived his voice, but my eyes continued taking in the glow of those sparkling jewels. Those jewels and the owner seemed to be one with that mastering feeling that was coming over me. I could say I never had this feeling, but it was very blatant as to how it made me feel. It was as though the core of my spine, my very backbone, was shriveling in the gaze of Madame Ordella.
When a time came that I pondered something to be wrong, my knees weakened and took me to the floor. I did not even struggle, that feeling so strong and powerful. That sense of helplessness made my very core dependent on something stronger, more powerful, to follow. She was there. Standing tall above me, she did not give in to the feeling that had swept the room.
Her eyes were no longer in the way, but I still had them in my mind. I could see the fox servant succumb to the disease of the widespread weakness, still she stood, and there her eyes still stayed as I observed. The thought never even occurred to me at that moment to see how my dear friend fared against the powerful sensation.
"Tell me..." she spoke as she watched us. Her tone was casual and unimpressed by any of the anomalies that surrounded her. Did this mistress strength and power know no bounds? "You and your friend must have a great allegiance to the church as I understand where you are from. You must be a very moral creature, is this true, Mr. Lietto?" A female using my first name so casually did not even offend me. The answer for her question was not needed. I didn't have to answer. Yet...
"Yes... your dress insulted me greatly when I first saw it..." That feeling grew in me. Her eyes disappeared and still stayed in me. I was unsure of where her eyes went, but they still stayed with me. I could not say why I answered so thoroughly, or why I answered at all.
"Oh?" Her head tilted to the side, and the beauty seemed relentless. If I had not been a captive to the power that surrounded her, I could easily be a captive to the beauty. I think I soon became captive to that as well when she started to pull the dress down her body. It was far too large for her slender form. She merely pulled the straps which rested upon her shoulder away and the garment left her with nothing else. "You should be greatly offended by my nudity then, shouldn't you?" The mischief of her grin knew no bounds.
"Yes... I should..." My words possibly trembled as they left my mouth. I could feel my cheeks burn as my passion could not be restrained by my moral conduct. My heart was a hammer knocking the sensible air from me.
"But... you don't seem offended, my dear boy." Her condescending words made the balance of power over the weak shift in her favor all the more evident. Those words, in the same, set me aflame with burning desire for her. "I believe you are abandoning your fine principles for feminine qualities that you and your society find so below you." She was right. A being so powerful could not be wrong. "No, I think you are below me now." I was below her. Her words rang so truly when my knees could feel the floor. There was plenty to believe from this higher creature. "My servants kneel, and you seem to be applying for the position. I originally thought you came to do business with me, mouse, but you are here for a different purpose it seems." Different purpose... My mind centered on her words as gravity centers on the falling objects. Not even her approach was evident to me.
"You are to be my new servants. You serve not in the purpose a normal servant does, but you serve me through your position. You remain kneeling like a servant, and all the same, you remain a merchant." I remain a merchant... "You serve as a merchant... you serve however it pleases me, in fact." Pleases her... however... "Those goods you brought me are free, are they not?"
"However it pleases you, madame." I could feel her smile in me. It was all that could be felt for everything else was irrelevant to my senses. Eyes, words, Her... Those were the devastating principles that I belonged to, too weak to belong to myself.
"Good. I'd like to celebrate with some festivities. They will undermine fully all your morals. My fur will be most sensual with yours, does that bother you, Lietto?"
"No. However it pleases you, madame." Her smile was full in me. Her smell took my nose as the petals of her fur began sliding among my lips. I had always planned to marry my love before delving into such acts, and so I had no way of knowing what to truly do. That weakness still had me, though.
My lips acted upon hers. I spread my lips to invade her with a wordless, obedient tongue. A distant world away I could have felt those claws grip my head with passion and hear the wordless excitement she expressed. Smells and tastes overtook me for the longest eternity. She went to the extent of summoning my good friend to stand.
He must have obeyed, must have been under the same spell I was. A few harmless giggles from the glorious being from who I drank nectar from... Then I heard my friends gasp. Her spell extended deeper when my vision swam with the task in front of me and the pleasure of seeing my friend pleasing my mistress. He, though, was pleasing her differently and I must applaud his ability. Head bent and neck bare, Josephit was giving his blood to the appetite of my mistress, who seemed to have a thirst like no normal being. It was nothing less I expected of her majesty.
I knew his life had been taken away when she finished. His body fell to the floor so heavily that it dared to disturb the utopia I surrendered to. My lips were met with a flooding mess of passion from my mistress, and I would be disturbed if I had not been so deeply infatuated with her greatness. When her bare hips finished pressing the weight of her excitement into my mouth, she tossed me aside as light and fragile as I felt near her.
"That was good and well, but now you need to start unpacking. Josephit will be up tomorrow to help finish." She was so great and intellegent. My mistress seemed to know that the amount of goods we brought would take a full day to unload with three helpers. It did not seem I would have the help of more than one until the morning. She retired after that. There was no more need for her to expend her energies on affairs that can be handle by her devout servant.
---If you're wondering what Lietto and Josephit brought with them... well, that's in the next addition to the series. More rewarding is also the return of the mysterious crazy, scared white fox. It'll be a while before I get around to it. Please be patient. :)