Training
Chapter Five: Training
Nix stared at the red haired elf in front of her. ‘I… I’m sorry, you were saying?’
Len closed her eyes and shook her head, laughing. ‘Just sit down, Nixara.’ She raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. ‘Please.’
Fuck. How could she make a question sound like an order?!
Nix sighed softly before walking over to the chair in the middle of the room. ‘Fine, I just… don’t understand why we’re doing this.’
Lydia chuckled softly before she sat down on the bed, leaning back ever so slightly as she watched Nix take a seat in the middle of the room. ‘Lydia has shown you what it is that we do here, no?’
Nix’ breath caught in her throat. She still felt her heart skip a beat when she thought about the way the bleeding man had looked at her. Back then, part of her had to fight the instinct to help him. But there had also been something else. His face… it had… shifted. And in his place she saw the alternating faces of every man she’d had to look at during that fateful night. And then the discomfort at seeing him in that position had faded and it had been replaced by something far more primal. Something far… hungrier.
It had taken every single ounce of self-restraint she’d had not to fling herself at the man and kill him herself. So she’d agreed. Right there and then on the spot. A warmth had filled her up she hadn’t quite felt before and she’d felt a deep rumbling inside of her. It was like a purr of approval from a tiger that could devour her whole if she wasn’t careful. Danger tugged at her, but then again, so did desire.
So she’d agreed. And with that, her training had started. Long classes with Lydia and some of the other girls discussing conversation techniques and pleasure techniques and everything else she’d need to make her clients feel safe, welcome… Those were her daytime classes. At night Lydia would teach her other things. How to make it hurt. How to keep them from bleeding out until she’d gathered the information she was looking for. How to end it swiftly in case anyone came knocking. How to best stop them from screaming. It turned out that the smallest cuts could make the biggest of differences.
When those classes had started, she wasn’t quite sure how she’d end up feeling about them, but they turned out to be her favourites. They seemed to scratch an itch deep inside of her she couldn’t quite reach and the dark voice inside of her seemed to hum in approval with every little thing she learned. He wasn’t quite talking to her yet, but she could feel him rising to the surface a bit more.
That was good. She needed him.
I realize I make for quite a view, but I do wish you’d talk to me, Nixara.
Nix blinked rapidly, her eyes focusing again after glossing over. She glanced over at Aelenthi, suddenly unsure if the woman had spoken to her out loud or if she’d somehow heard her voice in her head again. She shook it off. ‘Sorry. Busy day. What was the question again?
‘I asked if Lydia’s shown you what we do here. Though I assume that’s a given.’
Nix simply nodded.
Aelenthi narrowed her eyes. ‘All of it?’
Nix paused, unsure of what to say. She wasn’t sure if Aelenthi knew everything that went on at the Bellevue and Lydia had instructed her to always use caution. One wrong word could literally cost a life. Eventually, she just nodded. The less she said, the better.
A soft smirk lifted the corners of Aelenthi’s mouth.
‘Good. How are you feeling?’
Nix raised an eyebrow. ‘Confused. You still haven’t told me why you’re here.’
‘All in due time. Answer the question.’
‘Okay, I… I guess I’m tired. It’s been a long couple of days.’
‘Good. That’s exactly why I’m here.’
‘It is?’ Nix frowned. She hadn’t seen Len since that one night at Lydia’s office, now two months ago. Whenever she’d carefully asked Lydia about the elf, she’d simply said that the time wasn’t ripe yet. Nix knew better than to press the issue.Miss Lydia wasn’t one to let herself be pushed.
‘Yes. You’re skilled, Nixara, but you’re also in your head. You’ve lost the connection to your body, which is rather essential for the work you’re about to do. Plus, if my observations are correct you absolutely do not know how to let go.’
Nix opened her mouth to protest, but Len cut her off with a single look. ‘Please don’t argue with me when you know I’m right. Lydia speaks highly of you and I’m sure you’ll become a valuable asset to this place but if you don’t find a way to release all that tension you’re holding in…’ She smiled wryly. ‘Well, things might get explosive.’
Nix felt more than heard a deep, dark chuckle inside of her and it took all her self-restraint to not jump up when it rumbled through her.
I LIKE THIS ONE.
In spire of everything, Nix’ lips curled into a grin. There was a playfulness, a lightness to Aelenthi and yet… It was as if every word was laced with seduction, doused with desire. If this was how she wanted to play it, Nix wasn’t one to yield instantly.
‘Oh really?‘And here I was thinking you’d be the type to be into fireworks…’
Len stood up, never breaking eye contact. ‘True…’ She started slowly walking towards Nix, honey coloured legs flashing with every step through the slits in hervelvet dress.
‘I’m here, Nixara, to help you relax. To teach you how to let go, so you can focus on everything else you’ve got going on. Lydia plans to give you a lot of responsibilities. My job is to keep you calm, safe and sane throughout all of those.’
Nix cleared her throat, and looked away, unable to bear the intensity of Len’s fiery green eyes. Suddenly, she felt a finger under her chin: angling her face up and gently forcing her to look up at the elven woman who was now towering over her.
‘How?’ Nix swallowed heavily, hating how husky her voice sounded.
Aelenthi smirked. ‘Lydia wouldn’t be Lydia if she didn’t want our classes to be useful in more ways than one, so feel free to take what you’ve learned here and apply it to your own clients.’
Nix blinked at her. What exactly was she suggesting here? She swallowed hard, maintaining eye contact until Len let go of her jaw again.
‘There’s just one catch…’ Len said, as she walked over to one of the cabinets, opened a drawer and grabbed an object, just out of sight. Nix could hear the sound of metal on metal and frowned, immediately on her guard as Len walked back into her direction, stopped in front of her and uncurled her fingers to reveal a small, thin black leather choker with a ring attached to the front.
Nix looked at Aelenthi questioningly.
‘I need you to do exactly as I say.’
Nix stared at the collar in Len’s hands before looking up at the woman in front of her. ‘Excuse me?’
Len smiled sweetly and crouched down so they were at eye level. Softly, she placed a warm hand on Nix’ arm. ‘Listen, Nix…’ she murmured. Nix felt a shiver roll down her spine when Len used her abbreviated name. There was a warmth to her voice that instantly made her feel a tad more at ease. ‘I know you’ve been through a lot and trusting people isn’t something that comes naturally to you. I get that. But please believe me when I say that I only want to be good to you.’ Fiery emerald eyes locked with inky darkness and refused to look away. ‘I’m here for you. And all I ask in return, is that you trust me and that you slowly learn to surrender to me so that I can help you.’ She grinned and shook her head softly. ‘Besides, you’d be surprised how many clients are looking for services like these. If you want to make a name here, or meet a lot of our more… important… clients…’ Len’s pause was just long enough for Nix to see another flash of that man in the dungeon before her eyes, the promise of revenge dangling right in front of her. ‘Then these skills will definitely come in handy. Best way to learn is just to experience it for yourself and learn how to make it your own whenever you need to.’
Nix swallowed, looking the elven woman in the eyes, trying to size her up.
Len hadn’t looked away once.
There was a softness in her eyes, but Nix saw something else. A sparkle, an enticing promise of things to come.
I just want to make you feel good, Nix… Let me take care of you. I promise it’ll be worth it.
There it was again, that voice in her head. Len’s voice. Nix looked up at her questioningly, but Len just chucked, not offering any explanations. Nix licked her lips, feeling a tingling in her stomach that wasn’t quite unpleasant.
‘Okay.’
‘Good girl.’
The tingling intensified and Nix could have sworn that she briefly saw Len’s eyes light up.
‘Let’s start with the basics.’ Len grabbed another chair and sat down across from Nix, crossing her legs. ‘I’ve been working for Lydia for a good fifty years or so, right from the moment she got this lovely establishment.’ Nix stared at the elf, marvelling, not for the first time, about the famed long lifespan of her race. ‘While the Bellevue attracts many clients who just want a warm bed for the night, you’ll find that our richer, more important clientele usually has a more… acquired… taste. Most of them are men and women in power, people with loads of responsibilities. They need a place to let go. A place where someone tells them what to do. A place where they can relinquish all control and trust someone else to take care of them.’
Len’s green eyes noticeably darkened when she talked and Nix swallowed hard. ‘There are multiple benefits to this way of working,’ the elf continued. ‘First of all they tend to pay and tip better than the others,’ she said, chuckling. But then her demeanor changed. Darkly, she added: ‘Second, it’s easier to make them stop squirming if they were tied up from the start.’
Nix gaped at her, but Len just chuckled. She knew?
SHE MIGHT BE GOOD FOR YOU.
The rumble deep inside of her chuckled, the darkness laced with humour as it reverberated through her body. Nix closed her eyes, trying to think back at whatever it was that just talked to her.
Who are you?
There was no answer, only Len who was looking at her with her head slightly cocked: as if she was carefully evaluating how Nix was reacting to her little speech. After a few seconds, she continued as if nothing had happened.
‘I’m here to teach you how to do that. To teach you how to take control, how to properly care for anyone who chooses to submit to you.’
Nix swallowed hard, still trying to comprehend what the hell was happening. ‘How?’
‘By showing you what it’s like.’ Len chuckled and turned the collar in her hand. ‘If you’re up for it, we’ll be meeting each other once or twice a week. I’ll teach you what I know and allow you to relax and get some of that tension out of your body while we’re at it. All I ask is that you’re honest with me and that you communicate with me. In order for this to work, Nixara, I need you to trust me.’ Before Nix could say anything, she quickly added: ‘I realize that trust must be earned before it can be freely given, Nix. I’m asking you to give me a chance.’
She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, eyes full of promises diving into her own.
I’ve been wanting to hear you moan my name from the second I laid eyes on you.
Nix’ eyes widened in shock, a sudden heat appearing in her stomach. When she saw the smirk appear on Len’s face, she couldn’t help but chuckle herself. ‘Okay, how are you doing that?’
‘Party trick,’ Len snickered, leaning back again. ‘Now, for the ground rules. This…’ she nodded at the collar in her hands, ‘signifies the start of our play. Once I put this on you, you will refer to me as ‘Mistress’ or ‘Ma’am’ only.’ She grinned. ‘Politeness will get you very far, trust me.Think of it as a game we’ll be playing. Both of us will have our roles, so you will address me accordingly. If you say ‘Red’ we stop whatever we’re doing immediately, no questions asked. Say ‘Orange’ and I’ll stop what I’m doing at that time, check in with you and we’ll continue after. You will always be in control, Nix. The second anything feels even mildly uncomfortable, I need you to tell me. If you want out, you’re out. No questions asked.’
Nix tried to take a deep breath. She felt shaky, uncertain. And yet, at the same time, there was no denying that her interest was piqued. She could definitely see how this would help her get the clientele she wanted at the Bellevue, but the thing she’d never admit to herself was that that was not the primary reason for her interest…
‘Tell me, in your own words, what I just told you.’
Nix could feel a heat creep up her cheeks. ‘Red means we stop. Orange means you check in and we move on. Right?’
Len smirked. ‘Right, what?’
Nix closed her eyes, shaking her head as she chuckled. This felt silly. ‘Len, I…’
Within seconds, the elf was on her: a hand burying itself in her hair and roughly tugging her head backwards. The pain stung, briefly, and a deep, dark longing immediately flared up in her stomach. She could feel her eyes flutter shut almost instinctively, her breath catching in her throat and her cheeks reddened. ‘Right, what?’ Came Len’s voice again, her breath warm on her ear as she leaned in and slender, skillful fingers gave the hairs on the back of her neck another tug.
‘Hnng…I...’ Nix swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure. Part of her was laughing at how incredibly easy it felt to just let go, to surrender. The other half of her was starting to panic about that exact same notion.
‘Remember how much I love it when you’re polite, girl.’
‘Yes… ma’am…’
She felt more than heard Aelenthi’s breath hitch as she said those words and the hand in her hair tugged a tad harder before finally letting go. Heat pooled in her stomach and between her thighs as Nix reeled, trying to regain her composure.
‘Good girl… Let’s begin.’