This is a work of FICTION, made by and for adults. The following chapter includes depictions of trauma. Reader discretion is advised.

Elva’s sinking feeling didn’t last long enough for her to scream, though she had time to shut her eyes as they neared the portal. As her head fell through the darkness, Elva emerged and landed with a gentle thud on a soft cushion.

‘What… what did she—!’ Suddenly, the contract fell into her lap with a gentle thud. After yelping in surprise, Elva opened her eyes to glance down at the scroll, where she finally noticed the change in lighting and the cold, stone floor.

“Where,” Elva started to ask as she glanced up from the floor and found herself in a wide cage of iron bars. Elva could scarcely see anything through the darkness beyond her cell; the wall behind her, made of the same dark stone as the floor, was the only solid wall. She looked upward to find a mystical orb hovering below the dark wood ceiling, casting a warm light on her cell.

‘I suppose it’s not dark, at least,’ she bleakly thought as she looked around and found the only furniture was the slim, pillowed bed with soft, gray sheets she sat on. ‘It’s more comfortable than the straw bed of Móra’s,’ Elva’s heart sank as she remembered what Mistress had said about her circumstances.

‘If I’m dead,’ Elva took a moment to look down at her bandaged finger. As she undid the blood-stained wrapping, she found her finger had healed; not even a scar remained where the gash once was. Elva let her hand fall into her lap in resignation. ‘I’ll never see Móra’s cottage again, will I?’

Elva felt a tear fall from her cheek onto her hand. As her head fell sullenly, Elva tried to think of what she would miss, but the only memories that came to her thoughts were those with Móra. ‘Is that… so bad, then? It was so lonely… and I was so afraid.’ She glanced further down at the scroll in her lap and slowly picked it up. ‘At least I won’t be so lonely… right?’

After a moment, Elva finally unrolled the scroll and began to read its contents in the dim light. “‘Sexual Slavery Contract,’” Elva began to speak aloud as she read the document. “‘This agreement is being entered voluntarily, but cannot be broken except under the conditions stated herein, after which certain precautions shall be taken to protect those involved.’ That sounds comforting, at least.

“‘Parties involved. This is an agreement between Saoirse,’” Elva paused as she read the name aloud. ‘Saoirse… that must be Mistress’ name. “Freedom.” It’s… beautiful’ After a moment, Elva realized her thoughts had wandered as she shook her head before continuing. “Uhm, ‘Saoirse, hereinafter called Mistress, and Elva, hereinafter called the slave.’” ‘I guess she already knows my name. I almost expected it to say kitten, though.’

“Let’s see… ‘Declaration of con-sensus: Both parties, Mistress and slave, acknowledge to have read, understood, and agreed on the document describing in general what is meant by the term “Sexual Slavery.” Declaration of… lu-ci-dity? Both parties state explicitly to enter this agreement fully lucid and aware of their actions and consequences. Declaration of free will: Both parties state explicitly to enter this agreement of their own free will.’” Elva took a moment before reading on to breathe a short sigh. ‘There’s a lot about making sure I accept the terms willingly… I guess that’s a bit of a relief.’

Elva glanced down to the bottom of the unrolled paper to see the following clause. “Okay, ‘the slave’s role,’” she paused to release a light sigh before nervously continuing. “‘The slave will obey Mistress at all times and will wholeheartedly seek Mistress’ comfort… pleasure… and well-being, above all other considerations the slave may have.’ I can,” Elva paused to swallow nervously, “hopefully do that… What else am I…”

She paused again as Elva unrolled the scroll to reveal several detailed paragraphs. ‘Oh dear,’ Elva gulped uneasily again after finding the following clause started after she unrolled the scroll further. ‘This is… Mistress can’t expect me to remember all of this, right?’ She reflected on her encounter with Mistress and her demanding tone when she gave Elva the contract. She closed her eyes as she released a heavy sigh.

‘I shouldn’t expect her to be so kind,’ Elva thought with resignation as she opened her eyes and unrolled the contract back to the beginning of the clause.

“‘The slave shall derive its pleasures from accepting its part in the contract and will gladly accept the pleasures Mistress provides. The slave further agrees to confess its desires for Mistress’ consideration.’” Elva paused for a moment. ‘So Mistress will be… pleasuring me as well.’ She felt her cheeks grow warm as she recalled Mistress’ kiss at the end of their encounter. ‘That was already so different… what would it feel like if she…’ Elva’s thoughts drifted to the nights alone in the cottage with only her fingers to comfort her.

Elva blinked twice as she finally noticed her mind had wandered and her chest had grown hot. ‘Focus, Elva. You need to have this read by “seven, sharp,” whatever that means.’

“Next… ‘The slave will strive to remold its habits, attitudes, knowledge, and skills,’” Elva started to slow as she continued the passage, “‘in accordance with Mistress’ desires,’” Elva paused again and dejectedly lowered the contract. ‘What,’ Elva thought as she considered what Mistress might intend, ‘will be left of… me?’ Elva tried not to dwell on that question and slowly raised the scroll back up after a moment.

“‘The slave will seek to learn how to please Mistress better, and will gracefully accept any criticism in whatever form Mistress chooses. The slave unconditionally accepts, as Mistress’ right, anything Mistress may choose to do with the slave, whether as punishment,’” Elva swallowed nervously, “‘for Mistress’ amusement, or for whatever purpose Mistress desires, no matter how painful, unpleasant, or uncomfortable to the slave.’”

Elva felt the color drain from her cheeks as she lowered the contract. ‘That… certainly sounds unpleasant,’ She shivered nervously. ‘Try not to think about what…’ All else failing her, Elva shook her head and raised the contract, trying to focus on the following passage.

“‘The slave agrees to submit completely to Mistress in all ways,’” Elva continued until the end of the passage. “‘The slave also agrees that, once entered into the Slavery Contract, its body, soul and mind belong to its Mistress, to be used as seen fit, within the guidelines defined herein. The slave agrees to please Mistress to the best of its ability, in that it now exists solely for the pleasure of said Mistress.’”

Elva breathed a sigh of comfort as she moved on to the following passage. “Alright, ‘The slave’s veto: The slave holds veto power over any command Mistress gives and may rightfully refuse to obey that command. This can only be invoked if said command may cause permanent harm, or where agreed by both Mistress and slave.’” ‘So, I can refuse some commands… I suppose that’s reassuring.’

“‘The safeword: Both parties have an agreed-upon safe word: teardrop. This safeword can be used by either party to temporarily postpone this agreement. The slave accepts the responsibility of using this safeword when necessary, and trusts implicitly in Mistress to respect the use of that safeword.’” Elva felt her chest lighten as she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well,” she said before moving on to the next section, “that all doesn’t seem so bad now. Next is… ‘Mistress’ role: Mistress accepts the responsibility of the slave's mind, body, and immortal soul, to do with as she sees fit. Mistress agrees to care for the slave, to arrange for the safety and well-being of the slave, as long as she shall own the slave.’”

Elva blinked twice as she reread the end of the passage. “Care for the slave and arrange for the safety and well-being…” ‘That seems contradictory after reading about pain and punishment, but… This all started because I wanted to feel safe. Will I be?’ She looked up at the glowing orb. ‘Can I be safe?’

After a moment, Elva looked back down at the contract and continued. “‘Conditions of Lucidity. Mistress accepts the responsibility of the slave’s lucidity and guarantees that the slave will be lucid in times determined by the contract, the slave’s veto, or when the safeword is used. The slave accepts that Mistress naturally releases mind-altering pheromones and aphrodisiacs that heighten relaxation, lower… inhibitions, and increase… sexual desire,’” Elva paused as she anxiously thought about the passage. “I’m… not sure how I feel about that.”

She shivered briefly before continuing. “‘Taking of sustenance: Mistress accepts the responsibility of the slave’s energy as her food to consume as she sees fit, accepts any limitations the slave may have, and agrees not to cause permanent harm while feeding.’ Well, I knew what I was getting into, at least,” Elva commented before continuing.

“‘Punishment,’” Elva scarcely finished reading the clause title before she felt her stomach drop. “‘The slave agrees to accept any punishment mistress decides to inflict, whether earned or not.’ Oh no,” she nervously added as her spine shivered and her heart stopped. ‘I’m not making it out of this safely… Please, Brigit, tell me it gets better.’

In her nervousness, Elva glanced past the next paragraph, where her eyes caught something in a list below. “‘Burning or branding of the body,’” she read aloud fearfully; her eyes and hands shook as she contemplated those words. The sounds of screaming and shouting began to fill her thoughts while the heat of fire began to prickle her skin. ‘Please…’ she prayed as she looked back up to the paragraph she had looked past.

“‘Rules of Punishment…’” Elva could barely focus on the words as she read nervously. “‘Punishment of the slave is subject to certain rules designed to protect the slave from intentional abuse or permanent bodily harm.’” Elva swallowed nervously before continuing. ‘Please…’ “‘Punishment must not incur permanent bodily harm, or the following forms of abuse.’”

Her shaking ceased for a second as Elva stared at the paper in disbelief. ‘I won’t be hurt like…’ The fall of a tear from her cheek halted her thought; finally, the words set in, and Elva began to sob as she gripped the contract to her chest. ‘Móra… I’m so sorry—you…’ Elva pulled her feet onto the cot and curled herself up as she tried to halt the screams from her thoughts.

Elva could only sit with her head on her knees for a time as the tears flowed down her cheeks; eventually, the drops abated as Elva started to compose herself. Wiping her eyes with her sleeve, Elva tried to clear the lump in her throat.