Bella lay on her bed, her body aching from the whipping she had received two days prior. The pain was a constant reminder of her new position in the household, and it clouded her thoughts. She couldn’t think clearly, and the events that had transpired were too much for her to bear. Her once vibrant spirit had been crushed, leaving her a shell of her former self.
As she lay there, the door to her room creaked open, and Dania, the headmaid, entered. Her stern expression softened slightly as she took in Bella’s pitiful state. “Lady Fiona has requested your presence,” she informed Bella, her voice devoid of emotion.
Bella hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had no choice but to obey, but the thought of facing Fiona filled her with dread. With great effort, she slid off the bed and onto the floor, crawling on her hands and knees as she had been instructed. She was no longer allowed to stand in Fiona’s presence, a cruel reminder of her subservient status.
Dania led the way, and Bella followed, her body aching with each movement. When they finally reached Fiona at the drawing room, Bella hesitated at the threshold, her breath coming in short gasps. Dania gave her a gentle nudge, urging her to continue.
Fiona sat in an ornate chair, her eyes cold as they fell upon Bella. “You took too long to come,” she chastised, her voice dripping with disdain.
Bella’s heart clenched, and she whispered, “I’m sorry, mistress...” Her voice was barely audible, her spirit too broken to resist her situation any longer.
Fiona’s eyes narrowed. “What was that? Speak up, girl.”
Bella swallowed hard, her throat dry and tight. “I’m sorry, mistress,” she repeated, this time with more clarity.
A smile spread across Fiona’s face, a cruel and triumphant expression that sent a shiver down Bella’s spine. This was what she had wanted for so long – to break Bella’s spirit and bend her to her will. She reveled in the power she held over the once-proud girl.
Fiona extended her foot, placing it mere inches from Bella’s face. “Kiss my feet,” she commanded, her voice cold and unyielding.
Bella hesitated for a moment, her eyes filling with tears, but she knew better than to disobey. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Fiona’s foot.
“Enough,” Fiona said after a few moments. She reached down and lifted Bella’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “You look much more beautiful this way,” she murmured, her gaze filled with a twisted sense of admiration.
This submissive version of Bella was what Fiona had wanted to keep her at her side forever, but as she looked into the girl’s broken eyes, a flicker of doubt crept into her mind. She had thought that possessing Bella would fill the void that had been gnawing at her for so long, but now that she had achieved her goal, the emptiness remained.
Fiona’s brow furrowed, her thoughts racing. What was wrong? Was something missing, or was it simply not enough? She had thought that breaking Bella would bring her satisfaction, but instead, it left her feeling hollow and unfulfilled.
As Bella knelt before her, trembling with fear and pain, Fiona couldn’t help but wonder as she gazed into Bella’s tear-filled eyes.
Fiona stood up abruptly startling Bella. ‘No.’ she thought.
“Come with me” Fiona ordered, her dissatisfaction carving through her mind.
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Over the next few days, Fiona used Bella for her own amusement, ordering her around to do chores and other menial tasks. Bella’s once-proud spirit had been crushed, and she obeyed without question, her eyes downcast and her movements slow and deliberate. Fiona reveled in her newfound power, delighting in the control she held over the girl who had once been her equal.
Bella’s days had become a blur of endless tasks and chores, her body aching from the constant strain and her spirit weighed down by the heavy burden of her new position. Despite her exhaustion, she did her best to complete each task to Fiona’s exacting standards, knowing that any mistake could result in further punishment.
One afternoon, Bella was tasked with preparing tea for Fiona just like any other day but as the days wore on, Bella’s exhaustion began to show, and she made a mistake.
It was a small thing, a simple oversight, but it was enough to send Fiona into a rage.
Her hands trembled as she carefully measured the tea leaves. As she carried the tray of tea and delicate pastries into the drawing room, Bella’s heart pounded in her chest. She began to pour the tea, her hands shaking as she filled the cup. She could feel the sweat beading on her brow, her nerves frayed from the constant pressure of her new life. As she reached for the sugar bowl, her fingers slipped, and a small spoonful of sugar spilled onto the tablecloth.
Silence followed. Bella’s heart raced, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps as she realized the gravity of her mistake. She glanced up at Fiona, her eyes wide with fear, and saw the fury building in her mistress’s eyes.
Fiona’s voice was cold and sharp as she addressed Bella. “You clumsy fool,” she hissed, her eyes narrowed into slits. “Can you do nothing right!?”
Bella’s voice trembled as she stammered out an apology. “I-I’m sorry, mistress. It was an accident. I didn’t mean to...”
But Fiona was beyond reason, her anger boiling over as she rose from her seat and strode towards Bella. Her hand lashed out, striking Bella across the face with a force that sent her sprawling to the floor. The tray of tea and pastries clattered to the ground, the delicate china shattering into a thousand pieces making a way bigger mess.
She lost control, her anger boiling over as she lashed out at Bella, her hands leaving bruises on the girl’s already battered body.
When her fury had subsided, Fiona glared at Bella, her eyes cold and unyielding. “You don’t deserve a normal room,” she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. “From now on, you’ll sleep in the dungeon.”
Bella’s eyes widened in terror, and she fell to her knees, her hands clasped together in a desperate plea for mercy. “Please, mistress,” she begged, her voice trembling with fear. “I’m sorry. I won’t make any more mistakes. Please don’t send me to the dungeon.”
The sight of Bella’s devastation affected Fiona more than she cared to admit, but she refused to let her resolve waver. She had come too far already. “Dania,” she called, her voice cold and detached. “Take her to the dungeon.”
Dania hesitated, her eyes flicking between Fiona and Bella. She had never seen her lady act this way before, and it concerned her. Fiona had always been patient and forgiving, both with her and with the other maids who had once served in the mansion. But when it came to Bella, something seemed to snap inside her lady, an anger that knew no bounds.
With a heavy heart, Dania obeyed her lady’s command, dragging Bella to the dungeon.
As they descended the dark, damp stairs, Bella’s sobs echoed through the empty halls, a haunting memory of the cruelty that had befallen her. She was convinced she would be whipped again, and that idea terrified her.
As Dania locked the heavy door behind her, she couldn’t help but worry about Fiona’s behavior. She knew it wasn’t her place to question her lady, but the changes she had seen in Fiona since Bella’s arrival were troubling. Fiona was perfect in her eyes, always dignified in public and in private, and had never been so angry or anxious about anything before, so why now?
