Pawn Takes Queen

Late evening. And in the New York branch of the Hellfire Club Tessa emerged from the elevator and entered the Dungeon's waiting room.

It was like any other waiting room. Chairs and tables with magazines for members and their guests awaiting their scheduled appointments. (Anything from simple bondage fantasies to whatever S&M scenario they wanted to partake in.) At present there were only five people waiting. Three were club members, two male and one female. And two were guests, both female.

There was the reception desk where a woman, Missey, sat dressed in a black corset, briefs, thigh-high boots and long gloves. The same outfit Tessa was wearing. She was also wearing a knotted scarf as a gag and flirting with the single female member by crossing her wrists as if they were tied. She batted her eyes and the member chuckled and crossed her wrists too. Tessa knew they were going to have a session together once Missey's relief showed up. Behind Missey's desk was a sliding door which lead to the dungeon area. And to the left and right of it were suspended cages just large enough to hold a life sized mannequin of a human being inside. One of a man was in one and one of a woman in the other. Both were in fetish outfits. Bound and gagged of course. Sometimes though club employees were actually put inside them during really busy periods just to add to the atmosphere.

The walls, ceiling and floor were made up to look like a medieval castle's interior. Torches with holographic flames lined the walls. More contemporary lighting hung from the ceiling. Between the torches were paintings with a bondage theme. Most of the subjects were women. But a few had men as captives. One in particular showed men as prisoners of a woman who look suspiciously like the one Tessa came to see. There was also a section in which there were photos of famous fetish models that at one time were either special guests or employees of the Hellfire Club. Women from Bettie Page on up.

And, of course, there were the snack, soda and condom machines plus bathrooms.

Missey removed her gag as Tessa approached.

"Yes, Mum?" The cute British lady asked.

"It's important I see Ms. Frost right away." Tessa replied.

"Yes Mum." Missey knew Tessa to be Sebastian Shaw's personal assistant. And thus not one to be kept waiting for ANY reason. She tapped the button on her desk console and the sliding door behind her opened. "Cell Six, Mum."

"Thank you. Oh, and Missey?"

"Mum?"

"You two have a good session."

She smiled that shy smile of hers. "No complaints yet, Mum."

It was slight, blink and you missed it, but Tessa did smile back as she entered the Dungeon. 
  
The Dungeon was a corridor with 13 doors. Six on each side. One, the exit, at the far end. Behind the side doors were soundproofed rooms, cells, made up to look like medieval torture chambers. Cell Six was the third door to her right.

Tessa entered.

Emma Frost wore a white version of Tessa's costume. Plus a cape. (Only royalty wore the cape. And she WAS was the White Queen after all.) With a sadistic smile of satisfaction she watched as a muscular man whacked the hell out of a naked, sobbing, blonde woman's butt with a greek paddle.

His head, save for the eyes, was completely covered by a black bondage hood. He wore black briefs, a harness, bondage bracelets and boots. His particular uniform when performing dungeon duty. The nude victim was suspended a few inches from the floor. Hanging from a chain by her cuffed wrists. Her ankles were chained to the floor with the legs spread apart enough to look like an upside down human "Y." She had a leather penis-gag tightly buckled into her mouth. Thus her screams, sobbings and moanings would be less annoying to Frost's ears.

The woman wasn't a member or a guest. Tessa knew her to be Robert Helton's daughter, Dijon. HE was a member of good standing within the publically known aspect of the very exclusive Hellfire Club. He had nothing to do with the Inner Circle and it's activities. At least knowingly.

Unfortunately, as the daughter of the millionaire, SHE was an annoying pain in the ass. A spoiled brat from childhood to adulthood who grew used to getting her own way in everything. And hang the consequences. The rules only applied to "lesser beings" and not her. Even the rules of the Hellfire Club of which her father was simply just a member.

One of those rules was no unescorted guests. Guests were allowed but ONLY if escorted by a member. Or a high ranking club official. The escort would be totally responsible for the guest's behavior and actions. Last week Mr. Helton brought her to the club for lunch. Dijon loved the ambiance. Tonight she came with guests of her own. But no father to escort her.

When told she and her friends couldn't enter she became belligerent and demanded to see the person in charge. The hostess, not about to comply, was all set to have security bounce this idiot and her posse out. But Ms. Frost was there and, though quite pleased with the entended actions of the hostess, decided to step in and try a more diplomatic approach. (Only because Helton was, unknowingly, of some importance to the Inner Circle and this ridiculous "party girl" was going to one day inherit his membership. The sooner she got straightened out about things the better.)

Of course she wouldn't listen to reason and threw down the "Daddy-Card" clearly overestimating his level of influence with the club. "Listen you tarted up skank! By the time my father's finished you'll be lucky to have a job here scrubbing toilets!"

The next thing the insufferable socialite brat knew was that she was hanging by her wrists in a dungeon while some beefcake in bondage gear was using her pampered ass for batting practice. Tessa knew that as painful as the physical torture was the mental torture Ms. Frost was projecting on her was far far worse.

{This better be important, Tessa.}

Frost was annoyed that she had to divert her attention. Tessa didn't care. She had a job to do.

[Irene Adler is here to see you. I figure "Destiny" of the Mutant Brotherhood is worth the interruption.]

Frost sighed both physically and telepathically.

{It is.}

[She's in your secretary's office.]

With that Tessa turned to leave.

{Tessa. Tell the janitor he has the week off. With pay of course. Someone else will be doing his job.}

[Understood.]

And, with that, Tessa left.

Frost sighed. Fun time was over.

"Enough, Roy. Unbuckle the gag and then go fetch a loin cloth and enough rope for a reverse prayer with a crotchrope to the wrists."

Roy removed the gag. And when he left the room Frost went over to the still blubbering Dijon Helton.

"What did we learn?"

She struggled to get the words out.

"T-t-that I'm never EVER t-toooo cooome heeeere..." Still sobbing but trying. "...w-without an escort."

"And?"

"If-if I ever insult you, or-or a member of-of your staff j-just for doing th-their j-jobs...," Frost rolled her eyes as Dijon struggled. "...again I'll be-be visiting six different countrys at the s-same time. A-as dis-dismembered body parts!"

"And?"

Blubbering

"AND?"

"G-get my act to-together. L-learn from my f-father s-so I c-can properly take over the business."

"Very good, Dear. And as a reward for learning these valuable lessons I'll allow you to come here for the next week unescorted." Frost smiled like the Grinch. "To scrub our toilets among other things. What do you say?"

"T-thank you."

Dijon would not remember her time in the dungeon. Frost planted false memories into her. She'll think she just went home to sulk and get blind stinking drunk while her friends went off someplace else to have fun. And while she will come to the club to perform janitorial services she'll only remember going to bed early. But, on a subconscious level, she WILL remember her painfully induced lessons.

Roy came back with the rope and loin cloth. (An elastic waistband with two distressed pieces of flimsy cloth that would barely cover anything.)

"Free her. Get her to put the loin cloth on. Bind her, regag her and put her on display in one of the waiting room cages till her shift begins. She's going to be our janitor for the next week.

Roy nodded and did as instructed.

Her secretary's office ajoined hers. When Frost entered she found Irene Adler sitting on the couch accepting a glass of wine from a serving girl dressed like Tessa and all the other female employees of the Hellfire Club. She saw her superior and...

"Ms. Frost is here, Ma'am. If you'll excuse me."

"Thank you, Dear." The elderly blind woman said with the trace of Australia.

The girl left, leaving the tray with the bottle and extra glass. Alone the two mutant women hugged.

"It's been ages, Irene."

"That it has. But we both have been busy all these years."

"True. What can I do for my old friend and former mentor?"

"It's what I hope to do for you my old friend and former student. Namely warn you."

"Warn me?" She picked up the other glass and poured from the bottle.

"Your club has designs on a young mutant named Alison Blaire. A singer who calls herself the Dazzler."

And if it wasn't for those damned X-Men they would have had her by now. She took a sip. Tonight though, if all goes well, they WILL have her.

"What do you know?" Frost asked. "Why is she of such concern to you?"

"Not her. You. You and your lot hope to make her a 'White Pawn.' A weapon to use against your enemies. And because she IS a talented young lady you also hope to use her joint singing and light abilities to be able to influence her followers to your way of thinking. But to do that you're going to break her down and rebuild her into your own image."

"And?"

"And it will work. She'll become as ruthless and as deadly as you. But it will only work for a while. She'll learn the truth. That she's not working of her own free will. And that will make her angry. Livid as a matter of fact. She'll destroy you, Emma. Your own recreation will destroy all of you in a fit of rage so great not even your telepathic powers will save you.

"I saw how you die." She indicated Frost's costume. "She's wearing one of your outfits. Wearing the very cape you're wearing now. And YOU are kneeling gagged and frog-tied before her. Completely helpless as she laughs and slices your head off with the simple sweep of a finger laser. Shaw and the others. All will die from the 'Swiss Army Knife of light' that was your White Pawn. Probe my mind and you'll see I'm telling you the truth!"

She did and she was. Frost was actually shaken at the sight of her own murder. Okay she thought. Maybe a Plan B. Use her as a booby...

"Booby trap against the X-Men?" Irene, clearly in her "Destiny" mode, picked up her glass and drained it. "You'll die that way too. She will kill one of the X-Men before they stop her and free her mind. Knowing that YOU were the one responsible will galvanize them into vengence. You will be killed in retaliation."

"By Dazzler?"

"No. Someone else. And the Inner Circle will fall too. Emma. Please believe me when I say Dazzler will literally be a dead end for you and the Hellfire Club. Your ONLY chance to survive is to simply LEAVE HER ALONE! LET HER BE! And life will be that much better for all of you."

Frost plopped down on the couch and her blind all-seeing friend sat beside her.

"We're kidnapping her right now."

"I know. Luring her to another club under the belief that she's to perform there. Without any heroic intervention your people will succeed in getting her."

"And..." Frost continued. "...bring her here where she'll be turned over to me to...teach her."

Irene placed her hand gently on Frost's. The telepath could sense the pregog was truely worried about her. Nice that someone actually cared out of genuine concern and not personal desire.

"Let the girl go, Emma. Please. She's not worth your life. Place a false memory in her. Let her think she did perform and then went home."

Frost sighed.

"In nine minutes he'll call you to say they have her." Irene continued. "He'll need you to brainwash her band and send them home. You can brainwash her too and send them all home."

Frost sighed again. "Very well. Shaw will hate this. But considering the alternative I'm sure he'll accept the loss."

"Then my job here is done. I'll leave as you've a lot to do soon. But could you be a dear and get me a cab?"

"I'll do you one better." Frost then telepathically had Tessa arrange for one of the club limos to take Irene home. Then the two mental mutants hugged each other good bye.

As predicted Shaw called Frost and told her Dazzler was theirs. She went down to the dungeon level that was below the one meant for the members' entertainment. Frost couldn't resist taking a mental "peek" at Dijon who was standing in a cramped hanging cage. Reverse Prayer with a crotchrope to the wrists. Penis-gagged and head hung in shame. Nice to know she was actually capable of shame.

In the secret dungeon she found Shaw with a bound and gagged Dazzler. An angry little kitten they hoped to turn into a tiger. She touched the painted captive's chin and thought of what might have been.

"Oh the fun we could have had."

"Could?" Shaw's smile was replaced by a look of confusion.

"We have to let her go, Sebastian."

"WHAT?"

Emma explained everything Irene told her. Shaw hated it but had to agree Dazzler was of no use to them. Not at the ultimate price that they would have to pay. So, as Destiny suggested, she was let go. Dazzler and her band left in their own vehicles all made to believe they performed at another club, far from the Hellfire.

As Irene stepped out of the limo and headed for the house she couldn't help but smile.  Marie was safe. For had the White Queen gone to her Plan B Rogue would have been the X-Man the Dazzler killed. Mystique, would know Dazzler was only an unwitting gun and that Emma was the one who pulled the trigger. Thus she would be the one that would kill Emma in an act of vengence. Then Sebastian Shaw who approved the plan. She would get to them both before the X-Men could. Then she would kill Dazzler. For even though she was an unwitting pawn in all this still did Dazzler kill her daughter.  And it would have truly been Irene's fault. For in warning Emma of her White Pawn she would have gone to Plan B which meant that Irene would have inadvertently caused Rogue's death as well as Emma's whom she was trying to save in the first place.

But she did manage to talk Emma out of recruiting Dazzler and out of Plan B. So what was going to happen wasn't anymore. Marie was safe. At least from Dazzler. And even though the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle will eventually fall Emma was also safe from Dazzler. For the innocent singer wasn't going to become the Inner Circle's catspaw.

Later. The club was closed and Frost was ready to go home. Passing one of the bathrooms she looked in and saw Dijon, still gagged and wearing the flimsy loin cloth, scrubbing a toilet. She smiled her Grinchy smile and left. Dazzler was a bust. But if Dijon Helton worked out then the Inner Circle will have a decent even though minor pawn in the future. Which meant that this night wasn't a total waste. 




Another look at what could have been, (well certain things would have to be toned down for the sake of the Comics Code), brought to you by  Productions.

Dazzler and Queenie (Marvel)