Chapter 3: Climax
Iro and Jay sat at the bar of the upscale restaurant across the street from their office, the clink of glasses and low hum of conversation filling the air. The room was bathed in the warm glow of vintage Edison bulbs, casting long shadows across the polished concrete floor. The scent of roasted garlic and fresh bread wafted from the kitchen, making Iro's stomach rumble in anticipation.
Now that they were alone, Jay seemed excited to see Iro. "Hey, man, I've missed you."
"Really?" Iro was honestly surprised those were the first words out of his mouth after sitting down.
"Really? Because I remember trying to keep in touch with you after we left college. With both of you. And you guys lied to me. You didn't go out west, at least not out west anywhere I could find."
Jay's smile faltered, and he looked embarrassed. "I ...know. It was Erika's idea. She had it in her head that you were dangerous. But we...well, I, well. You know."
"As articulate as ever, eh. It's fine. I understand. She does have quite the presence." Iro took a drink from his beer.
"I just don't understand all of the sneaking around. I didn't even really believe my grandpa's story. It was desperation that drove me to try using the mirror."
Iro remembered that whole week quite vividly. "She'd just gotten me fired from my job with a false sexual harassment claim. She came to my apartment and began spitting and touching everything. She was planting DNA and threatening to involve the cops. I set the mirror out for her to look at, just to see if anything would happen."
Iro ran his hands through his hair and looked at Jay. "It changed her. Not just emotionally, but physically. Impossible stuff. Hair, face, height, even her clothes changed. Even now, I feel like I'm riding a hurricane. Whatever you guys expected by coming here, this isn't something I would ever choose to use again."
A wry smile crossed Jay's face. "Honestly, Iro. All that stuff is Erika's thing. I really do just want to hear about you. How are you doing?"
---
"Elizabeth, bark like a dog?...sh-"
Elizabeth immediately barked,looking around to see if Iro had suddenly returned. Then she saw the recording device in Erika's hand.
"Elizabeth, bark like a-"
Elizabeth glared at her. "That was barely an order the first time he said it."
Erika sat in her chair, continuing to eye the now angry Elizabeth.
"Did Iro tell you of his grandparents?" She asked, changing the subject. "It's the only other time that we know of the mirror being used on someone like it was on you. Do you know what happened?"
Elizabeth simply glowered at her. "His grandmother nearly killed Iro's infant mother, and then threw herself from the second floor window, killing herself."
Elizabeth's eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her voice steady. "I serve my master willingly. Iro has given me purpose, a life I never had before."
Erika raised an eyebrow. "A life where you're his slave? Where you have no free will?"
Elizabeth bristled at the word 'slave,' but she maintained her composure. "Iro is not my owner. He is my master. There's a difference.
I serve him because I choose to, because he gives me a sense of belonging, of purpose. I've been lost for so long, and he found me, gave me a reason to exist."
Erika leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she studied Elizabeth. "He gave you a sense of purpose, or he is your sense of purpose? And what about when he tires of you? When he finds someone new to serve him? What happens to you then?"
Elizabeth's tried to maintain a straight face, but something seethed behind her eyes. "My master is welcome to have as many serve him as he likes. He may not, however, tire of me." Elizabeth was speaking through clenched teeth at this point.
"He chose to be my master, and so I serve him. But he must also be my master. It is his responsibility."
Erika watched her answer. Her lips moved, but the words sounded dark, like a dangerous promise spoken by something other than the woman in front of her. Perhaps it was time for something different.
---
"My hands are always full. Erika makes sure of that. But how about yourself? Any relationships since college?"
Iro stared at Jay incredulously. He knew Jay had undergone a drastic change since that one holiday after his parents chewed him out, but he'd never imagined it would carry on after college. He couldn't imagine what they'd said to change him so drastically.
He shook his head. "Jay, you were there for both of the most important relationships in my life, and after both of them, the woman disappeared without a trace. I wouldn't say it was love, but still. I guess I just took it as a sign. I dated a bit, but mostly I threw myself into work as well. And then Elizabeth."
Iro looked at Jay anxiously. "Did Erika share the story from my grandpa?
Jay gave a vague shrug.
Well, he used the mirror, and his wife, my grandmother, nearly killed my mom as a baby. Sharing that story, he still looked scared. I can't bring someone else into that."
Iro shook his head. "Plus, how would I even introduce her. Yes, this is my business partner, sex friend, and completely obedient servant. What have you got?"
Jay did laugh at this comment. "There's no arguing that's pretty messed up." He said. So what about her? Elizabeth, I mean."
Iro choked on his drink. "I've seen guys chain themselves to crazy with far less control than I have, but no. I mean, yes, we do our fair share of...but no. A relationship requires something more. That's one lesson I learned from my grandfather's story. Absolute control, but only until you let the reigns slip?"
Iro shuddered. "There was a moment...well, a few days, when it first happened. I saw that madness. It's there.
Jay shook his head. "I've only heard a little bit from Erika, but I can't imagine having to deal with that."
They sat in silence for a moment, drinking. Then Jay spoke up again. What about something big. Have you tried ordering her to... build a house. That would take weeks or months. Would she work til she's finished?"
"She..would." He hesitated. "I tried something like that. I asked her to write a program. Something small, should have taken a couple days. I knew she didn't have the skills to do it, but I watched her try. She spent days barely sleeping, and came to me periodically for guidance. She was a mess afterwards."
"Honestly, I've likened it to a drug. Every few hours, she seems to need an order. Even something as simple as closing the door, but if she doesn't get it, then she starts getting twitchy. I've never pushed it too hard. I made a mistake using the mirror, and now I work with a bomb."
"The closest I've come to freedom is by working close with her. She knows what I want her to do, and she does. Sometimes she still waits til I tell her to do something, but that's happened less and less often."
Iro got a thoughtful look on his face. "Maybe if she'd remained a maid, she would have been able to stay home and manage things there without constant supervision. But I'm not taking my chances on that happening again. I've had time to consider, and I've thought of much more terrible things than a submissive in a leather thong wanting to be tied up." Iro shuddered again.
Jay pretended like he knew what Iro meant by that. "Wow, that sounds like a crazy life. But at least she seems happy. That witch Erika is constantly forcing me to do all sorts of things I'm really not qualified to do."
"About that, Jay. I never understood why you went with her. You finally turned your life around. I assumed it was because your parents threatened to disown you if you didn't take school a little more seriously. And even though we lived together, you two never seemed that close. Are you two...together?"
Jay squirmed in his seat. No. We aren't. And yes, they did. Disown me, that is. But no, we are just two people who's ships seem tied together.
Iro sat back in his seat. Sorry, man. I didn't know about your parents. That's rough. But why her? Everything I've learned about her in the last half hour, I don't think I can trust Erika, but you? We were friends before Erika came along. I could find a place for you here."
Jay shook his head, smiling. "No, thank you though. As I said, our boats are tied together. Besides, if I left, who show Maria how to have fun? Certainly not her mother." Jayshook his head again, thinking about his young friend and ward. Then he looked up at Iro's face and realized what he'd said.
---
This was it. The fire inside. Erika had always kept Jay on too tight of a leash to let him experience it, so she'd never seen it before. But she'd felt in. In the night, when she worried whether she was really doing her best to serve Iro.
For years she had convinced herself that Iro did not want a serving girl following him around following every order he gave. She was able to convince herself that by letting him live his own life, she was doing what he wanted.
Nothing she'd seen between him and Elizabeth had changed her mind. She had seen how Elizabeth's presence had made him just so slightly uncomfortable. He had grown used to it, but he was scared.
"Has he been a good master?" She finally asked, trying to change the subject to less dangerous topics.
Elizabeth seemed to settle down.
"It's a good thing Iro doesn't have any children then." Elizabeth responded. "Yes," Erika chuckled. "Yes it is.""You know, I've been watching you for a while now, Elizabeth. You're quite remarkable. How does it feel, serving Iro like this?" Elizabeth's eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her voice steady. "I serve my master willingly. Iro has given me purpose, a life I never had before."Erika raised an eyebrow. "A life where you're his slave? Where you have no free will?"Elizabeth bristled at the word 'slave,' but she maintained her composure. "Iro is not my owner. He is my master. There's a difference.I serve him because I choose to, because he gives me a sense of belonging, of purpose. I've been lost for so long, and he found me, gave me a reason to exist."Erika leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she studied Elizabeth. "He gave you a sense of purpose, or he is your sense of purpose? And what about when he tires of you? When he finds someone new to serve him? What happens to you then?"Elizabeth's tried to maintain a straight face, but something seethed behind her eyes. "My master is welcome to have as many serve him as he likes. He may not, however, tire of me." Elizabeth was speaking through clenched teeth at this point."He chose to be my master, and so I serve him. But he must also be my master. It is his responsibility."Erika watched her answer. Her lips moved, but the words sounded dark, like a dangerous promise spoken by something other than the woman in front of her. Perhaps it was time for something different.---"My hands are always full. Erika makes sure of that. But how about yourself? Any relationships since college?"Iro stared at Jay incredulously. He knew Jay had undergone a drastic change since that one holiday after his parents chewed him out, but he'd never imagined it would carry on after college. He couldn't imagine what they'd said to change him so drastically. He shook his head. "Jay, you were there for both of the most important relationships in my life, and after both of them, the woman disappeared without a trace. I wouldn't say it was love, but still. I guess I just took it as a sign. I dated a bit, but mostly I threw myself into work as well. And then Elizabeth."Iro looked at Jay anxiously. "Did Erika share the story from my grandpa?Jay gave a vague shrug.Well, he used the mirror, and his wife, my grandmother, nearly killed my mom as a baby. Sharing that story, he still looked scared. I can't bring someone else into that."Iro shook his head. "Plus, how would I even introduce her. Yes, this is my business partner, sex friend, and completely obedient servant. What have you got?"Jay did laugh at this comment. "There's no arguing that's pretty messed up." He said. So what about her? Elizabeth, I mean."Iro choked on his drink. "I've seen guys chain themselves to crazy with far less control than I have, but no. I mean, yes, we do our fair share of...but no. A relationship requires something more. That's one lesson I learned from my grandfather's story. Absolute control, but only until you let the reigns slip?" Iro shuddered. "There was a moment...well, a few days, when it first happened. I saw that madness. It's there.Jay shook his head. "I've only heard a little bit from Erika, but I can't imagine having to deal with that."They sat in silence for a moment, drinking. Then Jay spoke up again. What about something big. Have you tried ordering her to... build a house. That would take weeks or months. Would she work til she's finished?""She..would." He hesitated. "I tried something like that. I asked her to write a program. Something small, should have taken a couple days. I knew she didn't have the skills to do it, but I watched her try. She spent days barely sleeping, and came to me periodically for guidance. She was a mess afterwards.""Honestly, I've likened it to a drug. Every few hours, she seems to need an order. Even something as simple as closing the door, but if she doesn't get it, then she starts getting twitchy. I've never pushed it too hard. I made a mistake using the mirror, and now I work with a bomb.""The closest I've come to freedom is by working close with her. She knows what I want her to do, and she does. Sometimes she still waits til I tell her to do something, but that's happened less and less often."Iro got a thoughtful look on his face. "Maybe if she'd remained a maid, she would have been able to stay home and manage things there without constant supervision. But I'm not taking my chances on that happening again. I've had time to consider, and I've thought of much more terrible things than a submissive in a leather thong wanting to be tied up." Iro shuddered again.Jay pretended like he knew what Iro meant by that. "Wow, that sounds like a crazy life. But at least she seems happy. That witch Erika is constantly forcing me to do all sorts of things I'm really not qualified to do.""About that, Jay. I never understood why you went with her. You finally turned your life around. I assumed it was because your parents threatened to disown you if you didn't take school a little more seriously. And even though we lived together, you two never seemed that close. Are you two...together?"Jay squirmed in his seat. No. We aren't. And yes, they did. Disown me, that is. But no, we are just two people who's ships seem tied together. Iro sat back in his seat. Sorry, man. I didn't know about your parents. That's rough. But why her? Everything I've learned about her in the last half hour, I don't think I can trust Erika, but you? We were friends before Erika came along. I could find a place for you here."Jay shook his head, smiling. "No, thank you though. As I said, our boats are tied together. Besides, if I left, who show Maria how to have fun? Certainly not her mother." Jayshook his head again, thinking about his young friend and ward. Then he looked up at Iro's face and realized what he'd said.---This was it. The fire inside. Erika had always kept Jay on too tight of a leash to let him experience it, so she'd never seen it before. But she'd felt in. In the night, when she worried whether she was really doing her best to serve Iro.For years she had convinced herself that Iro did not want a serving girl following him around following every order he gave. She was able to convince herself that by letting him live his own life, she was doing what he wanted.Nothing she'd seen between him and Elizabeth had changed her mind. She had seen how Elizabeth's presence had made him just so slightly uncomfortable. He had grown used to it, but he was scared."Has he been a good master?" She finally asked, trying to change the subject to less dangerous topics.Elizabeth seemed to settle down.
"He is a good master, but he has grown complacent. He is correct to believe I know what is expected of me much of the time, but it is still necessary for him to tell me."
"Complacency was always his greatest weakness." Erika said, interlocking her fingers. "That was the reason I couldn't stay around, after college. That and....well, anyways. Next-"
"No," Elizabeth interjected. "I've answered enough questions. You answer one of mine."
Erika cocked her head to the side. "Alright," she agreed. "Your turn. Ask a question."
"I only have one. Why? Why do you care? About the mirror, about my feelings. Any of it. You said you can't use it. You don't even want to look at it. So why?" She stared at Erika for a moment, then realization dawned. No, not realization. She sensed something. "Oh. Oh." Her voice rose louder.
Erika had expected this. She had sensed it as soon as she had walked in, but she'd had Jay to practice on. Those changed by the mirror had a certain feeling to them. One that could only be sensed by others similarly effected. Or at least she hoped so. It was possible as the owner of the mirror that Iro might be able to sense it as well, but that was a risk she'd had to take.
"How? When?" Suddenly Elizabeth had so many more questions.
Erika sighed. "A long time ago. But more importantly, Iro doesn't know. When he first recieved the mirror, he returned to school and passed out. Jay and I, we were having fun and ransacked his car looking for goodies from home. Instead, we found a locked box. We got it open, and did this to ourselves. I was hoping to understand the differences between us."
Elizabeth was stunned. She had thought she was the only one. And Iro didn't know. "He should know. About you. And Jay. You should be happy for him to know and to command you."
Erika snorted a laugh. "Do you really think so? I have long suspected that because we did this to ourselves, without any desire from Iro, the mirror has given us some leeway in interpreting our service to him. After hearing his grandfather's story, I believed it even more. So when heard about you, and your...fervor for service. Having met you, though, I wonder if the difference is only who we ended up as. You seem to enjoy being micromanaged, seem to crave it. I wonder if that could have been me."
"But while that is good for Iro now, I don't think he would have liked it in college. He needed support, but not support that he could order around. So Jay cooked and cleaned, and I made sure to be the study partner that he needed."
Elizabeth continued to look at her, trying to listen for lies. "He should still know about you."
"Oh?" Erika asked. "Do you really think he would want that? Two more slaves. If he wanted that, don't you think he'd have made more by now. More importantly, do you really want that?"
Elizabeth was confused. "Why wouldn't I want him to know the truth?"
"Think about it. You saw me earlier. I know him better than you do. You crave his attention, but I know him. He'll know soon enough anyways, but if you tell him before we leave, well... let me show you what will happen."
Erika smiled at Elizabeth. "Give me until tomorrow before you make your decision. We leave in the evening, so you will have plenty of time to tell him. But for now, I think our conversation is over."
Elizabeth was confused, but then she heard the front door to the office opening, then hurried footsteps, then the conference room exploded open.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Iro burst into the room shouting.