Dominique 3/3 by Helier

Far away across the Atlantic in a large appartment in the
Seizi=E8me, the fashionable 16th arrondissement of Paris by the
Bois de Boulogne, Giselle sat twisting a birch in her hands.     It
was made of fine long rods of young wood bound together with
leather thonging.    It had been made with loving care by an expert
and Giselle was fascinated by the springy grace of it. =20
Experimentally she tried it on her own hands and was startled at
how eagerly the angry little tips seemed to bite into her flesh.   In a
few minutes she would be asked to use this instrument on a young
woman's naked body.   The thought made her heart beat faster.

Giselle knew what Erica had done and she would have no pity for
her.   Furthermore the birching was to take place under the
discerning and sensorious gaze of M. de R.V.    Harry Edwards
would also be there along with two cousins of Amelie who lived in
Paris and the silent fearsome woman who had ordered this
punishment, Erica's own mother, Mme Ricard.

Giselle thought about Erica.   She had never met her but had seen
her two or three times at functions she had attended with M. de
R.V.    Erica always seemed the brightest and sharpest in any
room.   Her beauty was striking - she shone like cut stone - but
Giselle had always felt a coldness as though some essential
human quality was missing.   Giselle would be harsh with Erica. =20
Everyone in the room would want her to and would condemn Erica
for what she had done.   They wanted Erica safe and so did
Giselle.   If harsh punishment was a way to save her from herself
then Giselle would take delight in it.    She wondered how Erica
must be feeling now, knowing what she had to face.   If indeed she
did know - perhaps she didn't.

A sound on the stairs brought her out of her reverie.    With the
last thought in mind she placed the birch on her lap where it would
be hidden by the table.   She sat waiting, listening to the racing of
her heart.    The door opened and M. de R.V. entered slowly with
Mme. Ricard on her arm.    Giselle found her terrifying.    Her eyes
were dark tunnels with only a steely glimmering to mark where
they ended.    She was dressed entirely in black.   M. de R.V.
gestured for Giselle to remain seated.    Behind them was Erica
walking with her head held high.   She was dressed with elegance
in a silver blue pleated day dress with matching shoes.    With her,
nowadays shoulder length, blond hair tied back she looked older
than she was and very poised.   Plainly she had come with a lot to
say.    Behind her came two young women in their early twenties,
Amelie's cousins - Giselle knew them from photographs.    Simone
was tall with long dark hair, dark eyes and beautiful white skin.  =20
Her sister, Mireille, was quite thin with light brown hair and
nervous eyes that darted constantly around the room.    Harry
Edwards came last, closing the door behind him.

M. de R.V. settled Mme. Ricard in a thick armchair and, after
waving the sisters to a sofa on Mme. Ricard's right, placed himself
in the armchair on her left.  Harry Edwards sat on a straight-
backed dining chair between M. de R.V. and the table where
Giselle sat.    Erica glanced around for a moment, a little annoyed,
and then crossed the room to a matching 'carver' on the opposite
side.    Giselle marvelled for a moment at M. de R.V.'s effortless
stage-management. Erica was already isolated with the whole
room looking at her.   She would immediately feel she was on trial. =20
It was clear she knew nothing of what had already been decided.

"This evening," began M. de R.V.    "We are here to talk of ..."

"I understand we are here to discuss Amelie Karan," Erica
interrupted.   "I think I can be of some help."

There was a silence.    Mme. Ricard fixed her daughter with a
glance that could have cut metal.

"Yes," said M. de R.V. after a meaningful pause.   "I would imagine
that is the case."

There was another silence in which Erica seemed to lose a little of
her self-confidence.    It was clear that she was afraid of her
mother and the blatant accusation in that stare made Erica regret
having opened so abruptly.

"I don't know ... " she softened her voice.    "I don't know how she
knew in the first place that I had heroin in the house.    It was
stupid of me to have kept it, I know it was.   To be truthful ... Ray
had left it behind and ... I should have got rid of it ... "

She looked around as if expecting comment but no-one spoke so
she continued.

"I just thought it was something we could do together.   Just once
or twice - for fun.   Dominique gave her no attention anymore - she
was lonely.   I know now how wrong it was, but  ... when she
wanted more I ...    At first it seemed mean to refuse her ... but
then it just seemed to get to her.   She became crazy.   She began
to pester me for it every day and when I refused she threatened to
tell.     I was frightened.   Even though it wasn't mine it should
never have been in my appartment.    Then she started telling me
about Dominique's business dealings - sort of boasting.   I didn't
want to listen - I didn't listen ... at first.   But once you know
something it's impossible to pretend you don't.   I should have
taken her to a doctor.    Perhaps I should have told Dominique
what was happening but I was scared, you see.   She was capable
of anything."

Erica stopped.   Her voice was breaking and she bowed her head
and was silent.

"Capable of anything ..."   Harry Edwards slow words were thick
with irony.   "Except injecting herself."

"What?"   Erica looked up, shocked at his tone.

"We tried it at the clinic - she couldn't use the equipment."

Erica glanced at her mother.

"Maman, =E7a n'est pas vrai, elle fait semblant.   She's lying - she's
an addict."

"Yes, she's an addict," snapped Harry.   "And, yes, she's a liar."

"She's trying to incriminate me.  She threatened ..."

"Erica!"    Harry's voice grew hard and cut through Erica's protests.  =20
"From the moment that girl entered my clinic she has lied and lied
and lied.    She has insisted against all sense, against all the
evidence, that she stole the drugs from you;  that you knew
nothing whatever about the whole thing."

He stopped and waited as Erica turned pale.   She opened her
mouth to speak but then closed it again.=20

"Yes, you have incriminated yourself but as yet not enough. =20
When she kept insisting that she had stolen the drugs we got her
to show us how she would prepare them - she got it completely
wrong.   The way she was doing it she would never have found a
vein."   =20

He looked around the room and then back to Erica.   =20

"It didn't surprise me, to be perfectly honest.    We gave her a
tranquiliser shot when she first came in - she closed her eyes and
turned her head away.    She can't stand needles - I don't think
she ever watched you do it."

Erica was trembling now and glancing nervously at her mother.

"That's right ... " she mumbled.    "She begged me to ... I had to
help ... "

"You fucking bitch!"   Suddenly Mireille was getting to her feet.=20
"You did it to her.   You did it!"=20

Simone held her and drew her back down. =20

M. de R.V. turned to look at Mme. Ricard and she spoke almost
immediately.   Her strange voice shattered the silence that had
followed Mireille's outburst.   It was a devastated voice - little more
than a hoarse barking sound that shocked those like Giselle who
had never heard it before.

"C'est assez.   C'est assez," she growled.   "C'est d=E9ja trop.   Cette
fois-=E7i, cest trop."=20

She turned and gestured heavily to Giselle.   For a moment Giselle
was so startled by the force of her eyes that she couldn't
understand what was meant.    Then suddenly she knew.  =20
Turning towards Erica she carefully lifted the birch and placed it
on the table.

Erica's eyes grew wide.    She looked at Giselle, horrified, then
turned to her mother.   She was breathing heavily and her bottom
lip was trembling as she lost control.

"Oh, no."   Her eyes filled with tears of self-pity.   "Oh, please, no,
Maman, non.   Pas le faisceau, je t'en prie."

Mme. Ricard's voice, though still hoarse, seemed to grow softer
while an immense sadness filled the darkness of her eyes.

"Trop tard, mon enfant, trop tard.   D=E9shabille-toi."

At a sign from M. de R.V. Giselle stood up and, leaving the birch
on the table strode into the centre of the room.

"You will undress, Erica - comme ta m=E8re t'a dit."

She said it with confidence.   She had been nervous until this
moment but now the waiting was over and she had been given the
authority to command and punish, she felt comfortable and sure.  =20
Unwillingly Erica got to her feet, staring at the birch.

"Is it you?" she asked fearfully, although she already knew the
answer.

"Yes."

"Oh, please ... it will cut me to shreds.   Oh, please, no.   Not with
that."   Erica was overtaken with sobbing."

"Take off your dress.    Immediately."

All hope deserting her now Erica, still sobbing, began to fiddle with
the zip of her dress.   She was making no headway and Giselle
knew she would have to establish her authority more forcefully.  =20
Erica left off her zip and started fiddling with the cuff of her dress.=20
She had almost stopped crying and was retreating with a sulky
look.   Giselle stepped forward decisively and slapped her face
hard.

"Now."

Erica stared at her, mouth open.   Her face visibly reddened, she
glanced at her mother and then at M. de R.V. - neither flinched. =20
Giselle raised her hand again and Erica at last flew to obey her. =20
Within a moment she had tugged the zip of her dress down to her
waist and was slipping it off her shoulders.  For a moment she
hesitated then she dropped it to the floor.   Beneath it she wore a
fine silk slip.   At an impatient sign from Giselle she lifted this from
the hem and stripped it off over her head.    She clutched it
protectively to her breasts until Giselle stretched out her hand. =20
Reluctantly Erica gave it to her and was left shivering in little more
than her bra and panties.

Giselle made her take off her suspender belt and stockings then
without warning gripped her by the hair and turned her round. =20
Erica cried out with the ferocity of the pull on her hair and with the
shock.   Giselle pushed her across the table and held her down. =20
For a moment nothing happened besides Erica's stiffled protests
then without hurry Giselle drew a deep breath and delivered a
stinging slap across the white satin of Erica's panties.

Erica hadn't expected the indignity of a hand-spanking and she
squealed loudly.   Giselle didn't wait for further reaction but
proceeded to spank her thoroughly across each buttock and all
down her legs.   Her slaps were powerful and brought cries and
squirming from Erica who fought unsuccessfully to raise herself
from the table.    When her legs were red with smacking Giselle
stopped and let her get up.   She stood biting her bottom lip and
agitatedly rubbing at her stinging thighs.    Giselle spoke firmly to
her.

"The kindness of a warming is all you can expect, Erica.    The rest
will be extremely unpleasant.    Take off your knickers and your
bra - without delay."

Erica heard the threat in her voice and hastened to obey.   Only
when she was naked did she seem to become aware of the stares
from around the room and try to cover herself.

"This is what I want you to do,"  Giselle said, picking up the birch.  =20
"You will grip the edge of the table firmly.   You will step
backwards until your arms and upper body are horizontal.   You
will keep your back and legs straight at all times.   Do you
understand?" =20

Erica looked at the birch with huge wet eyes.

"I ... I don't want ... Maman!"

"Fais ce qu'elle te dit, ma fille."

Erica gave a wail of despair and, crying loudly, now hurried to
obey.   Giselle stood beside her and corrected her posture with the
handle of the birch until it was exactly as she wanted.    With all in
readiness she turned to M. de R.V.    He could see the
smouldering in her eyes and he was content.    She hadn't let
herself be overawed by the situation and he could see how
prepared she was to give Erica what she deserved.   It pleased
him that she had justified his faith in her.    He nodded almost
imperceptibly in her direction.

Giselle raised the birch.   Erica was whimpering in fear and
already twisting her bottom away nervously.    Giselle drank in the
sight of her for a long moment then, with fiery energy, swept the
springy birch whips down to wrap themselves angrily around the
pink of Erica's naked flesh.  =20

The effect was immediate and tumultous.    There was sharp
intake of breath around the room and Simone clutched Mireille
who let out a squeal.   Even Giselle flinched slightly realising what
she was doing.  For Erica the reality of her situation was enough to
make her almost mad on the spot.   She pounded her feet on the
floor, a long hollow moan echoing from deep in her belly.   It was
like six whips all at her flesh at once.   It was a transforming pain
that threatened to carry her beyond anything she could imagine.  =20
Long blistering weals sprung up almost instantly;  projecting on her
skin the extremity of what she had earned.    The moan cascaded
into gasping cries that mounted to screaming pitch as the pain
matured.    She became aware that the birch was being raised for
a second time and she broke.

Erica's legs bent under her.    She shook her body violently and
half-turned to look back at Giselle.   For a moment it seemed as if
she was trying to get control of herself but then with a wild shriek
she leapt away.    Crying hysterically she backed away from
Giselle to the wall.   When she reached it, the coldness of its touch
on her flesh brought new cries and she slipped down in despair,
clutching the leg of the chair she had sat on with such poise only a
few minutes before.   Giselle stared at her with sensuous
contempt.

"Back here," she commanded, her eyes boring through Erica's
tears.

"No ... "  wailed Erica.   "I can't ... Maman ... Maman!"

Her mother looked away in disgust.

"You will come back to the table," said Giselle but Erica only
wailed louder and cowered by the chair.

"It will kill me," she moaned.   "She will kill me.   You can't want
that.   You can't!"

Harry Edwards glanced at M. de R.V. who spoke sternly to the
terrified girl.

"Erica, please get up and turn around.   I would like Dr. Edwards to
examine the effect.   It is not the intention that you should be
seriously harmed."

Erica stared at him, panting hard.    With another fearful glance at
Giselle she stood and turned to lean, crying with her head on her
arms, against the wall.    Harry stood up and walked round the
table to Erica.    For a moment he crouched behind her and ran his
fingers over the raging weals.

"I think this is exactly the desired effect," he said.

Erica cried out in dismay and tried to flatten herself against the
wall but Harry caught her around the waist and easily pulled her
away.   With one strong motion he turned her around and picked
her up so that she was bent double under his arm.   Her bottom
was in front and her legs were kicking furiously.   In his powerful
grasp she was no more than a hysterical child.   Her arms were
clamped to ther body and, completely helpless, she could no
longer fight them.   Harry brought her to the centre of the room. =20
He lowered her so that her feet touched the floor but continued to
hold her tightly in the position Giselle needed for her punishment.

"Don't spare her, Giselle," said M. de R.V. and Giselle drew back
the birch once more.

Erica gave up.    She accepted the inevitable and no longer fought
the pain.    Her body kicked and screamed as Giselle's relentless
arm bore down, crossing weals with weals, blistering her and even
cutting her down the sides of her buttocks and legs, but her mind
was no longer engaged.   As their excoriating punishment tortured
her body she was thinking of them all, training herself in the rage
and bitterness that she expected would always be her weapon.  =20
There would come a day when nothing would stop her.    She
knew she would have to work to appease her mother, to keep the
inheritance.   In all the world she was afraid of no-one except that
malevolent spider with her poisonous bite - but even she couldn't
last forever.   And then M. de R.V. - the obscene old powerbroker
with the bulge in his pants - she would take Giselle from him just
as she had taken Amelie from Dominique.   None of them had her
strength or her cunning - they all needed their supports.    Only
she had the courage to be alone and that made her invulnerable.  =20
She had been stupid letting herself be drawn into this battle with
Dominique.    She had wanted to break that girl from the first
moment she saw her but it was a stupid obsession and it had
caused her only trouble and humiliation.   She still knew she could
never rest as long as Dominique was loved by everyone and
beyond her control, but she had plenty of time to take care of that -
now there were bridges to rebuild.

Erica stood trembling pitifully in the middle of the floor.    Giselle
remained close to her and Harry was supporting her or she would
certainly have fallen.   They all stared at her while she recovered
herself.

"Your punishment is over, Erica."   M. de R.V. spoke quite gently
now.    "Do you have anything to say?"

The thought of speech seemed to increase her shuddering sobs
but she turned towards him.

"I did someting ... very wicked to Amelie... I admit it.    I am sorry
now ... for what I did."

She turned painfully towards Giselle and, without daring to look
her in the eyes, slipped the birch out of her fingers.

"I couldn't face Amelie now ... but I want her to be assured I have
been properly punished ... that I love her ... and that I do not blame
her in any way for what has happened to me."

She turned back to Amelie's cousins.

"I have been punished by Giselle ... but would you, please ... her
cousins ... each add one stroke to my punishment ... for Amelie."

There was sharp intake of breath from Giselle.   She, more than
anyone, knew how fierce the strokes had been.   She was
astonished that Erica could gather herself to speak, let alone to
ask for more.   She couldn't bring herself wholly to believe in
Erica's sincerity but that only made it more extraordinary - that she
could still be in state to scheme after all that, testified to her inate
strength and, Giselle couldn't help admitting, to her courage.

Simone looked around anxiously at her sister who murmured to
her.    Mme Ricard was staring at her daughter with narrowed
eyes.   She knew her and knew when she was pretending.    She
was half-inclined to stop the whole performance but then perhaps
because she understood that it was in Erica's nature to need to get
the upper hand whatever it cost, she nodded to Simone.   She
knew it was a hard way for Erica - her back and legs were red raw
and must have felt to her as if she were standing in scalding water
- but if she had the courage then perhaps she deserved to have
her moment.

Simone stood up.   She felt self-conscious but she knew what she
must do.

"My sister is not strong, Mademoiselle, but for Amelie's sake I will
do as you ask - for both of us."

She took the birch from Erica and stood turning it awkwardly in her
fingers.    Her hands began to shake as she watched this strange
girl turn around in front of her.    Erica thanked Harry but indicated
that she would stand without his help.   She took a few steps
forward and stood upright, placing her hands on the edge of the
table to steady herself.

"Je suis pr=EAt, s'il vous pla=EEt," she said.

Simone approached.   She was a tall muscular girl and Erica must
have realised how strong she would be.    Simone hesitated
staring at Erica's back.    It was hard to see where she would be
able to birch her now without doubling up on an area already
enraged.    Giselle had been thorough with her six strokes and the
multiple rods of the birch had left scarcely an inch of her
untouched.   Simone turned back to her sister in dismay.   She
didn't see how she could do it on top of the punishment Erica had
already had.   Her sister's face was pale, the thin lips drawn tight.

"Pense =E0 Amelie," she hissed.   Their eyes met for a moment and
Simone did think of their beautiful cousin and of the anger and hurt
they had felt at what had happened to her.   Strengthened she
turned back.   She swung the rod back behind her head, feeling
the light springy the rods flexing in her hand.    She heard Erica
gasp then she brought it swishing through the air to rip mercilessly
across Erica's lower buttocks and the tops of her thighs.

Erica screamed, bouncing on her toes, then returned to her
position, breathing loudly and shifting her legs in restrained
agitation.   Without waiting, Simone gave her a second stroke, this
time across the only part of her thighs that was relatively
untouched, low down near her knees.    The tips of birch rods
twisted around her trembling legs and bit into the front of her
thighs.

Again Erica screamed and this time she cried bitterly, standing
with her legs apart feeling the new stinging where she hadn't at all
expected it.    Simone, having done what was asked of her for her
cousin and her sister, was overcome with pity for the agony of this
girl, no older than herself, who had paid so dearly for her
wickedness.   She dropped the birch on the floor and gathered
Erica into her arms, tears now rushing down her own cheeks too.

For a couple of minutes nothing else happened.   Giselle sat down
and watched as these two beautiful women clutched each other,
sobbing passionately.   There was a sense of fulfilment in the
room and no-one felt much like disturbing the quiet.   Mme. Ricard
stirred.   She rose and then waited as M. de R.V.
and Harry both stood up beside her.

"C'est bien fait," she said and, with scarcely a look at Erica, she
left the room.    Harry accompanied her.

When the door had closed behind them M. de R.V. turned to Erica.

"Put your dress on," he said and directed Giselle, with a glance, to
help her.

Simone returned to sit beside her sister who took her hand and
kissed it.   Giselle picked up Erica's dress and slipped it on her
without underwear then stood with her in front of M. de R.V.   =20

"Dr Edwards will tend to you in the coming days.   Your mother has
indicated to me what your options are - you may wish to think
about them.    You may leave, in which case she is resigned to
having nothing further to do with you.   On her death her business
interests will be sold and the proceeds distributed to three
charitable institutions.   If you choose to stay, you will follow her
orders which are as follows:   in two weeks time you will go to her
factory in Lyons.   There you will be given training and work on the
factory floor as a section supervisor.    Your identity will be known
and no doubt your disgrace will be surmised."

Erica gaped at him.   They couldn't mean it.   This was death - this
was worse than anything she had imagined her mother would do
to her.

"Your inheritance of your mother's fortune will depend entirely on
your ability to demonstrate through successive transfers that you
have the skills, the consistency and above all the maturity to direct
her affairs as responsibly as she has."

Erica's world was crumbling.     Her mother was like a rock - she
could last for years.    Poverty or banishment - Erica's mind went
numb.

"Giselle, please conduct Erica to her room.   You may have
questions, Mademoiselle.   We will talk further tomorrow."

With her head bowed Erica turned, helped by Giselle, and left
without a word.

------------------------

High over the Atlantic, Dominique sat on a plane staring out over
fields of white clouds that seemed to blanket the whole earth.  =20
She was heading back to L.A. and this was to be her last trip for
some time.   She felt curiously contented at the way things had
turned out even though they were nothing like she had imagined
when she went to California just over a year ago.

Elli ran everything.   Dominique had conclusively proved to herself
as well as to the others that she did not have the mind or the
maturity for control.   She understood that now - although it had
been difficult at first - and it was a relief.   Officially they shared the
job but in fact Dominique took little part in the day-to-day running
of the company and instead confined herself to strategy and
planning.     In these areas Elli would never question her
judgement but in all other areas Elli was in control.

Dominiqe shifted uncomfortably in her seat at the thought of it. =20
Elli had been deadly serious about making her come back for a
weekly taste of the cane.   Once Dominque had missed an
appointment and Elli had treated her to two particularly sharp extra
strokes to remind her.   The truth was there was something in it for
both of them and, even though Dominique was filled with nervy
dread beforehand, the sessions still excited her and always made
them feel close and warm to each other afterwards.

In her personal life Dominique was now wholly focussed on Tess. =20
She had rediscovered the joy and love they had shared before and
it appalled her to think that she could ever have risked losing it.  =20
Perhaps there would come a time when she would look for
someone again but for now she only wanted to be with Tess.    Elli
was still preoccupied on and off with Giselle.   It was said that
Amelie had gone to France and was staying with Erica.   The
thought was scary at first but then Dominque realised that it was
pointless for her to worry.   Amelie was a woman now and would
no longer make the mistakes a child makes.    Perhaps she was
genuinely in love for the first time.   In any case, given Erica's
current status it was clearly not luxury and power that drew her.  =20
Erica was a beautiful and fascinating woman and there was no
reason why they shouldn't find love together.

The plane droned on gently homeward and Dominique slept, the random
madness of the world far beyond her control.     High above the Atlantic a
device detonated deep in the guts of the plane.   It was huge and thorough. =
 =20
The air recoiled from it;   the sky choked and carelessly let its burden=
 slip
away.   The ocean became Dominique, the world went on alone and it was
Elli that cared for Tess from then on.