Those stairs seemed endless. It was that type of building with so many floors that I lost track of which one I was actually on along the way. If only I could use the elevator, but that was only for the "nobility." There was no place for the likes of me. I had to trudge and trudge. Despite the fact that I wasn't one of those who loved endless stairs, there happened to be a few Severs who trained this way. Those foolish bimbos thought that running up and down the stairs would bring them closer to what others had from the goddess. Sure. That's just how it is, and some stairs are hardly going to change that.
I finally reached the desired floor. Floor 112. Damn it... I stopped behind the door and had to catch my breath for a moment. My stamina wasn't all that impressive, even though we were forced to stay in good shape at the academy. But more or less, they didn't care about us and left it mostly up to us. The law mandated it, but who cared about some Severa. It was more desirable if we kept ourselves in worse shape. And since I was resigned to the fact that I would be slaving away until the end of my days, I didn't give a damn.
My breath finally calmed down, and I could straighten up and set off with a slow walk toward that door. My breath had calmed, but my heart rate had spiked and was sounding the alarm. The whole floor looked so polished and clean. As if a Starix had found herself in the higher layer of the city, that was how it was supposed to feel. I looked around the large hallway. It was one of those main corridors that, with its spaciousness, could satisfy even the highest Mistress from Midtown. It could have been about two and a half meters high, maybe more. I felt like a nobody there... Wait. I guess I was feeling that right. I was walking past one of the large elevators, which also had dimensions in the range of over two meters. I might not even have been able to reach the buttons. Normally I felt tall, but here I felt completely insignificant. The walls were hung with propaganda pictures and posters. They often depicted Goddess Emma, or some other form of service to higher society. I didn't like them, but I still stopped in front of one and looked up. Goddess Emma. She was depicted floating in the clouds, surrounded by golden light. It was a majestic piece of work. She herself was so gorgeous. Her short, bright white hair was cut slightly above her shoulders. A golden crown made of golden leaves and other ornaments sat on her forehead. Her expression was so calm, yet superior. Not in an arrogant tone, however, but a loving one. She wore a tight suit that hugged her every curve. She was perfect. The most striking were her hips. Firm and wide, yet beautifully shaped by precise curves. Unknowingly, I touched my own hips and daydreamed with the wish to have ones like that too. It wasn't just the hips. Everything matched and was just as it should be. A muscular body, strong yet tender, rather complementing her already perfect physique. I stood there and examined her every part. I could have looked at that picture for hours. But I couldn't.
It was hard to tear my gaze away. But it had to be done; I couldn't risk Lady Sinclair accusing me of this as well. I quickened my pace and headed to the end of the corridor where her office was. I approached the door and took a deep breath. I knocked nervously. The moment an authoritative "Enter" sounded, I felt my legs shake even more; fortunately, that wasn't visible under my loose dress. I carefully opened the door and stepped into the office. It was quite large, with a large desk in the middle. On the right side were a pair of larger armchairs and some shelves. And behind the desk sat Lady Sinclair. Her white hair resembled the hair our goddess had in that picture. She, however, had it a bit longer and braided into a larger braid that she wore draped forward, next to her breasts. The bottom part of her hair was dyed red. The moment my eyes unconsciously caught that braid, my gaze, as if automatically, glued itself to her deep cleavage. I wondered how those breasts managed to stay in place. The lady was apparently aware of her greatest asset... Or rather, two assets.
I snapped out of it, immediately dropped my gaze to the floor, and knelt before her. I remained silent, as my status dictated. I looked nervously at the ground, not daring to look at her. It sounded like she pushed her chair back and stood up. With the clicking of heels, she walked right in front of me—so I could see the tips of her sharp, high-heeled boots. I waited for a moment, beginning to hesitate about what I was supposed to do. Kiss her boots or look up at her... Damn, what should I do? I was starting to get nervous. Suddenly, I felt a finger hook under my chin and lift it. I don't know what it was, but viewed from this low angle, she looked even more majestic. She fixed her red eyes on me through small round glasses that sat on the tip of her nose. I wouldn't have been surprised if she couldn't see all of me past her bosom. She wore a tight, long black dress that trailed all the way to her ankles. One leg protruded through a slit, revealing her beautifully shaped thighs and hip. If it were up to her, she would undoubtedly have shown more, but she wasn't that high on the ladder. She was still... just a lady. So a cleavage and one leg were the maximum. Well, better than my long dress, which could only dream of hugging curves or showing cleavage.
"I hope that during that trip up here, you managed to prepare a decent excuse for why you were late. Do you want me to remind you of your duties?" she spoke in a cold, authoritative voice, burning her eyes into mine. "I was delayed at the academy, my lady..." I stammered nervously. Nothing better came to mind. It was better than telling her about my secret meeting that I was planning... Playing dumb seemed like the best move.
I felt that gentle chin-lift turn into a firm grip on my cheeks. I didn't dare flinch. Sinclair pulled me closer, and this time I felt the heat of her eyes... She smiled. Not that it calmed me down... It wasn't that relaxed smile followed by laughter and a friendly pat on the back. It radiated perversion. "And what were you doing there? Reading? Don't try playing that with me, Vaira..."
She knows my name? I flinched slightly from how unsettled I became. She gripped me even harder. "I know everything that happens in my residence. So I'm asking again. Would you like me to remind you of your place in this residence, or will you be a nicely yielding little slave girl and tell me why you were delayed?"
I thought hard, but my thoughts ticked from one place to another—breasts, eyes, left wall... And round and round. Even though Lady Sinclair wasn't one of the largest ladies I'd had the chance to meet, she would still make short work of me even if I decided to fight back. This wasn't a democracy or an open debate. I still hesitated and stayed silent... Slap. Her open-handed blow knocked me to the floor, making my ears ring. I was so paralyzed that I only somewhat came to when she used her exposed leg to roll me onto my back. I didn't even have time to try to crawl away when she stepped on me, pinning me to the floor like an insignificant insect. Her undoubtedly eighty-five kilos suddenly spread across the side of my head.
"I won't ask again. And you know what happens after that. So don't be stupid, Vaira." Her icy words grounded me just as much as her foot on my temple. Damn, how could I not know. In the shadow cities, it was a favorite practice of the Higher Starix. A fucking forgotten hole. Fortunately, our Lady wasn't a big proponent of suffocation and all sorts of torment of her poor severs who forgot to close the door behind them. But it was nothing unusual when the superiors liked to show us our place for our imaginary disobedience. And that was beneath them... Literally. Even the furniture had more freedom than us. Perverted bitches. If I could, I'd give them a taste of their own medicine and use their pretty faces in all sorts of ways just to feel those superior bitches find themselves in our skin for once. It was a perverted method to show us what we were to them. Nothing more than objects. God forbid if some Severa was pretty, and occasionally a few were. If one like that were assigned to a residence where some such Lady bitch was the main person, she'd enjoy her thoroughly. Fortunately... Lady Sinclair was an exception. I don't even really know why, but she didn't take much pleasure in that. Not that she wasn't equipped for it, but she apparently had a bigger brain than ass.
"Fine... I'll tell you the truth, my lady. I was walking on the main streets. Today I was lucky, and rays of light shone all the way down to us. I couldn't get enough of it and I lost track of time... Excuse my incompetence, my Lady." I stammered it out. It wasn't entirely true, but it was believable. Who would voluntarily resist the opportunity to feel the divine rays on their skin.
She eased her foot off my chest, and I could finally take a deep breath. Before I recovered, she was leaning her backside against the edge of the desk, crossing her legs and waiting for me to pull myself together. So I gathered myself back onto my knees, holding my aching cheek with my hand.
"I would have every right to punish you for this. You don't have the slightest right to feel the rays of the highest on your skin. Are you aware of that?" she continued coldly, with her arms crossed in an inaccessible manner. I bowed more humbly toward her feet and answered: "Yes, my lady. I realize my place. I had no right to think that. I apologize, and humbly ask for your forgiveness." I felt sick having to crawl before her. I'd love to tell her to go to hell, but I'd only end up in hell myself, so I had no choice but to submit. How I hated my lot.
"Based on the testimony of other Severs, you deserve punishment for your tardiness and contempt for service to the higher class..."
And I've had it. Time to prepare for the worst.
"But... I won't punish you. Though I have the right to, I don't want to punish you, Vaira. It wasn't the first nor the last time someone wandered off and came back later. I don't find it a punishable offense," she said in a deliberate voice, leaning her hands on the desk. The muscles in her arms tightened, and she continued: "I have a lot of work and no mood to punish anyone. You'll be more useful to me if you do your job properly and as you're supposed to, rather than lingering here and enduring my punishment." The Lady stood up and stepped in front of me. My face was at the level of her crotch. I watched it for a moment, then humbly looked up. She touched my face again, but this time she ran her fingers across the cheek she had slapped a few minutes ago. I had the urge to flinch. I didn't know how to feel. Maybe I misjudged Lady Sinclair sometimes. Or maybe she had dealt with someone before me and was now bored, who knows.
"You're not like the other Severs, Vaira. So don't ruin it, or regardless of your height, you'll be just as low as them, I'll make sure of that," she finally said. She turned around and headed for the desk. My thinking jammed for a moment as I watched her backside sway to the rhythm of her walk. Her dress looked like it was about to burst... One more reason not to give her an excuse for any punishment.
"Now leave. Before I change my mind. If I'm not mistaken, you have work to do, undoubtedly." The Lady sat down at her desk and paid me no more mind. I quickly stood up and bolted for the door, feeling like she might change her mind yet.
I slammed the door behind me and leaned against the wall. My heart was pounding, and I tried in vain to calm down. What just happened? I have absolutely no idea... I didn't even know she knew my name, let alone that she'd forgive my disobedience...
I headed back to the stairs, constantly replaying the whole situation in my head. My long dress danced wildly to the rhythm of my brisk walk, and I had no intention of slowing down. But if I'm to make it to that meeting, I have to make sure no one sings or gives away my secret. So it's time to have a little fun with Lara.