On The Altar
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TW: Religion, Aliens ;

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It was the day of SenDih's deflowering ceremony .

"Is the Vessel prepared ?" .

"Yes , xe has been anointed ." .

Sweet-smelling oils had been waxed into xer hair , with a thin braid hanging down on the left side of xer face and pinned up on the right . Xe looked resplendent in soft white silk camisole and sheer white skirt . The camisole was almost a rose gold , while the skirt was a very pale aqua . Xe wasn't wearing underwear . Xe hadn't been given any to put on .

There were fresh flowers and plants in the waiting room , a room xe had seen in passing many times but had never had a reason to enter . Live pots of Morning Glories , birthing a new flower every day . Exotic orchids making lewd, sexual poses . Lillies with their large trumpet flower , with Datura , and White Rose . Some of these planters were large urns that xe recognized from the garden next to the church .

The sound of voices outside .

Deux large men entered the chamber , looking xer up and down , inspecting every detail . The rosary around xer wrist , a small celice around xer ankle , a flower in xer hair . The clothes were sheer . Xe felt naked , being measured by the attendants .

"Wh-what are you going to do to me ?" , xe asked . It was forbidden to talk about sex until they reached the age of consent . Xe knew from school how everything worked , but xe had never actually seen it before .

"You'll be fine ," une said stonily . "We aren't going to hurt you ." .

There was no thought of worry in xer head , only a long-standing social anxiety . In spite of this , xe retained a positive demeanor .

Outside the room , the choir was doing warm-ups . ah ah Ah AH! aH ah ahhh .

"Here . Drink this ." The other attendant handed xer a clay mug with a thick base and no handle . Xe took it , carrying it from beneath with the flat of xer palm and steadying with xer other hand . Inside was a thick potion that smelled of alcohol and bitter herbs .

Obeying , xe drank the liquid , one bitter sip at a time .

The attendants wore white robes with grey crucifixes emblazoned on the fronts of tunics that went over their heads and covered their fronts and their backs . Each of them was wearing a large, wooden Cross , and their hoods were large--deep enough to cover their faces . Were they... John and Mike ? . Maybe John and Sandro . Wait , who in the congregation is that tall ? .

SenDih knew how babies were born . First , a male gets fellatio from a tongue . The tongue's egg sacs are in her throat , the sperm fertilizing dozens of eggs at once . Later , the tongue kisses the belly of a noble , whose orifices are in our navels . Eventually the newts climb out , like lizzids crawling from their eggs after breaking free of their containment . The Babushkas act as wet nurses , raising the whole lot as a village . And then the Neutrois look after the toddlers . Everyone knows that .

Would there be a male , or just a tongue ? . Would it be fast , or slow ? . Would she kiss xer belly ? . Was xe ready for that ? . Well , yes . Ready and eager . Still , the questions . Would there be a lot of people , or just a few ? . The sound of choir warming up .

A few minutes pass . SenDih finds xerself swaying side to side with the music , feeling soft and pleasant and soft .

The attendants leave without saying anything . A few more minutes pass . Xe feels like xe's swimming .

The sound of gunfire from outside . It was normal to hear a few bullets pop off once in awhile . Usually just scaring raiders and pharisees away . The doors were never breached , so the sound of rifles always signalled safety .

The room had off-white, pale rose gold paint , and rich red carpet with dark wood panelling around waist-high . The planters were a dim cobalt , the pure silver candlesticks brought up and polished for the occasion . Everything matched complimentarily, barely , differences in whites barely visible without a titanium to measure it against . The leaves of the flowers were a rich green , fresh from the garden and still radiating biophotons , the flowers a riot of colours that gave a springtime air to the otherwise stoic chamber .

Xe examined some of the flowers . The orchids were the naughtiest , some of them looking blatantly like sex organs , or tiny faerie people with their legs spread wide . Lillies looked feminine with their curves , but watch out! . That's some pistil there . The morning glories were missing their seed pods .

The Holy Spirit commanded xer to kneel down and pray . So xe did .

"Hail Mary , full of grace . The Lord is with thee .
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb and blessed is the Lord Jesus .
Pray for us sinners , now , and at the hour of our death .

"Hail Mary , full of grace . The Lord is with thee .
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb and blessed is the Lord Jesus .
Pray for us sinners , now , and at the hour of our death .

"Hail Mary , full of grace , The Lord is with thee .
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb and blessed is the Lord Jesus .
Pray for us sinners , now , and at the hour of our death .

"And tho i walk thru the valley of the shadow of death i shall not be afraid for The Lord is my shepherd and my guide .

"Fa La ." .

Xe remained kneeling for some time , xer hands clasped together in prayer , fingers vertical , fingers interlaced , hands up in supplication , arms crossed over chest with thumbs twisted around each other fingers horizontal like bird wings . Just lie back and think of the God-Emperor .

There was a small bowl of fruit . Xe had a slice of apple . A pitcher of water . Poured xerself a glass .

Voices United 198 , Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us .
Voices United 202 , O Breath Of Life .
Voices United 105 , Dust And Ashes Touch Our Face .
The choirmistress , calling out the numbers and names .
The furrowing flipping of book pages .

The smell of frankinsence and myrrh . They'd be swinging the brazier back and forth , xe reckoned .

"Holy Spirit , come .
Walk with us tomorrow .
Take us as disciples ,
washed and wakened by your calling ."

An attendant entered the room . "Come on ." .

What else was xe going to do ? . Xe went .

The Isle was lit with the dusk light pouring thru the stained glass , illuminating the entire cathedral in brilliant colours like the flowers in the waiting room , and dozens and dozens of candles radiating warmth in darkness .

"Candles , candles , iiin the windows .
Glowing , growing , thru the night .
Shedding , spreading , cheer in darkness .
Sending , lending , hope in light ."

As xe came out of the waiting room , xe saw the other attendant ushering the next noble in . Would there be one tongue , or many ? . Xer mind flourished with questions .

"What are the stories candles will tell to me? .
What do they say , in golden light? .
They promise that tho the darkness covet me ,
Love is shining thru the night ."

The small choir filled the cathedral from foyer to apse . They sang of spirits finding their way home , the raising of haleluiiaa , the breath of life and the wind of God . Their voices were heavenly , harmonizing weaving melodies with practiced expertise , male tenors encoding vibration into the walls over babushka baritone buffered by neutrois bass , female soprano and noble contralto entwining in a marble spiral that could destroy shadows .

Xer head felt fuzzy . It was warm and nice in here .

The attendant had one hand locked around xer bicep , the other holding a bardiche .

The colours swam in front of xer . The room spun a little . "What are you gonna--"

"Shh ." , the attendant shushed .

At the far end of the apse , a throne had been set up at the feet of the Lord HaSe , depicted alive and flying into the sky .

"Sept-zero-trois ," the choirmistress instructed .
Furrow furrow furrow .

"There's a song in every silence ,
seeking word and melody ,
There's a dawn in every darkness ,
bringing hope to you and me ."

In the throne was a male with his legs spread wide , a tongue kneeling in front of him , head bobbing rapidly up and down , the occasional sucking sound from her lips . SenDih watched avidly , fascinated to finally be seeing what xe had wondered about for so long . She came off him with a satisfied gasp and a loud pop , drinking air into starving lungs .

The other attendant returned to xer side and took hold of xer other bicep . In er off-hand was another bardiche . All xe could do was witness .

The deux attendants took xer up to the alter , bereft of communion chalices and layered with blankets and a small pillow . The attendants inserted xer into the alter like slotting a pipe into an organ bellows .

Xe couldn't move if xe wanted to . And xe didn't want to , because xer head felt fuzzy and soft and so did the blankets and pillow .

The choir ended one song and began another . 563, HaSe You Have Come To The Lakeshore . A small piano and a parishioner with a guitar added ethereal and grounded frequencies to the choir's twining melodies . Xe felt completely and genuinely safe .

The woman finished swishing the seed into her mouth , glands above the lymph nodes releasing dozens of tiny tadpole eggs from her swollen neck . She looked at SenDih with unbridled lust , ready to go with the blessing of The Saint and The Lord .

Taking another minute to collect her eggs in her mouth . Making sure his seed spreads over all of them . It was a cold and dangerous world . Only a few of them would survive to adulthood .

She finished her ministrations and turned her attention again to the snack on the altar . Creeping up with an animalistic gait , drinking xer in with her eyes . Xe wondered what xe looked like to her . What her name was .

The woman embraced SenDih , cradling xer first in a hug and smelling the sweetness of xer hair . It felt nice . Smiling naughtily , she slowly lowered herself over SenDih's body , kissing xer shoulders , xer breasts , xer ribs . Oh , this was nice! .

SenDih relaxed fully into the altar , biceps loose in the attendants' hands , letting xer legs dangle over the front . The woman licked up the side of SenDih's body , hiking camisole up , hiking skirts up , actively enjoying xer body .

Some gunfire from outside . The rusted alarm rang a few times and went quiet . Normal . It was an incidental detail , not something that gave them pause .

The woman's hands gripped SenDih's body with strong fingers . She positioned herself over SenDih's belly . She kissed SenDih's navel , and then everything felt normal and okay again . Positioning herself just so , she slipped her long tongue into xer navel , releasing a few eggs , a bunch , a cluster . Collecting them from the back of her mouth with her tongue and then trying again . Flick . Flick . Flick . Every flicker of tongue inside xer made xer fire with pleasure and lust . Xe wanted it , wanted it in that moment , hotly , demanding .

Flick . Flick . Flick . Moans of pleasure . Her tongue setting the eggs , placing them as deep inside xer as she could .

SenDih came , a flourishing of warm radiance that suffused xer entire being .

As xe started to come down , xe felt like a different person . Moments ago xe had lived one life , a life of independence , a life of choosing whatever xe wanted . And now xe lived a life in service to the Church , the Cross , to HaSe and The Saint and The Lord and Mother Nature . Xe was a brood mother now .

The woman slinked off , finding a spot to sit down , and laying down , and curling up into a ball like a pleased cat . The neutrois picked xer up by xer biceps , effortlessly . Xe didn't protest at all . This is who xe was now .

They took xer to the Twin Peaks Temple , to be with the other brood mothers . The objects and decorations from xer apartment were already packed and in boxes in the new, empty room .

Xer life was on rails now , in Service to God . Xe was completely at God's mercy , completely within God's grasp . Groomed all xer life into complacency and then made into what xe was groomed to be . Completely missing was a fighting chance . From birth to life , enough room to play on xer rumschpringe , and in life path no choice whatsoever . Xe came again at the thought of having all choice taken from xer . The touch of God was seeded firmly within xer deepest core .

Praise God .
Yes , please , thankyou .
Fa La .

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From birth to death , xe had been given no choice . That wasn't entirely true . Maybe . Xe had prophetic dreams , of times of xer life when xe would pull upon reserves of energy in places where xe might have died . Would God not be there , too? . Still , the thought of it gnawed at xer . No choice . There were situations in life where struggle would be futile , if one could even think of a reason for it to be so . That's how xe wound up here -- by walking willingly into xer Passion . No choice . The thought gnawed at xer .

Why did it make xer want more ? . Xe had so many feelings . Xe'd had experiences , and that was between xer and God . Experiences tying xer hands together with the kitchen towels , stuffing xer own panties in xer mouth , playing with the camping rope from the garage . Being tied up made xer feel good . Was this the same thing ? .

No choice . The words echoed inside xer head over and over again . Wasn't that a bad thing ? . Choices that grown-ups had made for xer . One day xe would see the Watchers that guarded xer thruout xer life , would know about the bloodline programs that necessitated xer origin . these were small matters , that xe would one day have the freedom to forgeT . and somehow the fact that xe would one day know these truths engendered in xer a character of calm and patient trusT . Zen was just like that alreadY .

Xe looked down at xer feet , xer boots missing their shoe laces . They took the shoelaces xe had gotten from the president , so that xe couldn't hang xerself in the room xe was in . That was how much xer life was not xers anymore , that xe belonged to God and to Society now . Soon , xe would move from iso to general population . The weight of it was inevitable . Asked if xe could stay in iso .

"Of course , you always have the right to choose . Pack up your bag within half an hour ." .

No choice . Xe came , just thinking about it . A warm white light went off in xer mind , causing xer to moan out loud . God's light is within xer . Xe packed xer bags -- filled with the clothes they had given xer , not the clothes xe wore here -- with grace , dutifully folding each towel and article of clothing .

This feeling , is this what Rapture is ? .

The guards were all women , and all of them were touchy to the point of being rapey . Over and over again , it was made abundantly clear that SenDih's body belonged to the Order now , and that meant that within these walls , xe was public property . They grabbed xer hips , xer thighs , caressed xer flat chest , pawed at xer belly , regularly pinned xer up against walls and knelt down in front in order to sniff xer navel , having spent so much time watching pregnant nobles go thru metamorphosis that they could smell the change in hormones . Xe was still wearing the same white silk skirt and camisole , and a lingerie of chains not heavy enough to encumber but more than enough to grab onto .

The guards were all psychic , and all of them kinds of untrained wild psychics . The degree to which they could disrupt xer normal paths of thinking was made plainly evident every day , imparting a kind of nakedness that went beyond lack of clothes . They would lunge for objects at the same time xe reached for things , pick up objects at the same time xe thought of them , would talk to each other of the same topics xe was thinking . It happened constantly , everywhere . The similarity was too stark for things to feel so subversive . It wasn't something they were actively doing , it was just something they did , without ever thinking about it at all .

Xer head felt fuzzy . Dinner was an hour ago . Xe wondered if they were slipping drugs in xer food .

"Noble . Come here ," une d'elles beckoned .

Without thinking , xe acquiesced , turning to face her . She grabbed xer chains on une side and pulled , spinning xer around and landing xer like a cello in the arms of a cellist . She caressed SenDih's pubic mound , little more than a hole for xer urethra , and flat breast , before moving up to xer belly . Palming it gently and roundly , she leaned her head in and inhaled deeply of xer hair and neck , exhaling with a slow satisfaction and a non-zero amount of lust . Lifting xer camisole up with one hand , she used the tip of a claw to pick ever-so-gently at the edge of xer navel . She could do lethal damage to xer whole clutch and there would be nothing xe could do about it .

Yet despite all their teasing , they never did .

The forced displays of defenselessness wore xer down like waves eroding a shoreline . No choice . Noble , come here . Defenseless . Stand like this . No choice . 0700 , wake up . 2300 , go to sleep . Grabbing , sneaking touches . It felt so good . Taking gripfuls of tender thigh , brushing xer perineum , holding xer still as they tasted xer neck with their tongue . Didn't want choice . Liked it better when they surprised xer . As if the environment had been patiently engineered to produce that exact result .

Every touch , every caress imparted a soft lust that built and built until xe could have well begged , until the grasps and massages were never long enough , until xer shyness were a gag in xer mouth that made xer want to scream into it . It was always just a little bit too cold , and there was always just a little bit too much touching , and though there were people all around xer all day long mirroring xer thoughts and actions , there was always just a little bit too little validation .

It made SenDih want to weep , divine, immaculate tears that dripped slowly down xer face , xer closed eyes the only indication that anything were amiss .

It was perfect .

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The dorm SenDih was interred in was relatively nice . Along one wall were dix(10) beds in bunks of deux(2) , each of them decorated with colouring pages and hand-drawn portraits , pasted to the wall with toothpaste , scraps, tags of paper from nobles before still held fast .

The meals were decent . Xe missed cooking . The temperature was warm , despite the blankets of snow outside . At times , they would go out for exercise , or to the art building , or the fire pit for hot chocolate . The other nobles were of varied disposition -- some were friendly , some were unapproachable . It was a large enough dorm that one could sit at one end and not have to pay attention to the others at the other end .

"Isihetnah Sendih ka ." , a guard called out xer name . Xe got off xer bunk and walked over to the large door at the entrance . "Training . Come with me ." .

SenDih acquiesced without any resistance . It's not like xe had any choice . They did a quick frisk to make sure xe wasn't pocketing anything . Xe carried a book in xer hands , a novel from the wall of shelves that made up the library in the recreation building , kept xer sweater hung loose over xer shoulders and tied up in the middle . They were all assigned the same loose, comfortable clothing , but there weren't any restrictions on how to wear them .

The room they brought xer into was hot and humid . Against the far wall there was a forge , the walls were lined with racks covered in whips and floggers , and a variety of implements surrounding a set of chains hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room . There were crosses on the walls too , large X-shaped crosses with restraints at the wrists and ankles .

"Ummm... They said i should come here for training ?" , xe half-asked, half-informed the guard at the door .

"In the middle ," he replied , confirming xer worries . A cloth mask concealed his identity . He could have been the local bank teller , for all xe knew .

Gulping , xe set the book down on a countertop next to the door . Looking trepidatiously from side to side , assessing all the hardware in the room .

"Your offspring must be strong ," the guard informed xer . "Must be capable of taking shock and surviving intact . We will train this instinct in utero . You will accept this responsibility . Obey ."

Xe put xer head down . "It obeys ." , xe responded automatically . Xer grooming had been going on for xer entire life , had culminated with the hypnotic and mnemonic training xe had received as a KhDh[FairWitness] of House Isihetnah years ago . Obedience was automatic .

Standing in the centre of the room , xe allowed the guard to remove xer clothes . He was patient , methodical , undressed each portion plainly and reverently , treating xer as a noble of an upper house , folding each piece and setting them down on a tray which he then wheeled to the side where xer book was . Xe stared at the door . Heavy , and locked . Just like xer mind . The guard lifted xer arms one by one , placing them into metal cuffs and latching them shut . Xe stood there , helpless , simply walked into a jalit and made xerself vulnerable .

When he pulled the hot iron out of the forge , xer eyes widened imperceptibly , xer pupils dialating in time to the sudden yet controlled rush of adrenaline thru xer system .

Xe didn't talk , and he began without informing xer . They simply began , with a warm flare over xer left shoulder , and then a warm flare over xer right shoulder . Xe sighed . The heat appeared at the top of xer spine and drifted slowly down to xer coccyx , before rising back up to the middle of xer back . Xer mind was completely blank . Somewhere , in another room , xe could hear the brassy, echoing sound of a pipe organ being played by an organist . From architectural class xe figured that the forge here with all the rods in it was probably the same forge that fed the bellows that powered the pipe organ .

The warmth turned slowly into something hot , and then quickly from hot to biting , eliciting an involuntary arch of xer back . It hurt so much more than it looked . With the tiniest of touches .

He touched xer shoulder , and xe recoiled . He touched xer other shoulder , and xe recoiled . Taking deep breaths to enter xer mnemonic trance , xer eyes would widen suddenly with shock and an involuntary twist of xer body . He barely had to touch xer at all , the tip of the iron so unbearable that it caused xer body to dance on its own , stressing and straining at the restraints holding xer arms aloft so that xe could not defend xerself . He drew a quick line diagonally across xer back , bottom-left to top-right , compensating for xer panicked dancing . The pain stuck to xer , clung to xer skin in a way that made xer dance embarassingly .

Xe was a noble of the Upper House of Isihetnah and inheritor to xer father's Imperial Guard . It wouldn't do to be making such panicked gestures . And then the iron would touch again , and the pain would be so much , so much more than anything xe had experienced in xer life up to that point . Years of meditation burned off , months upon months of patient cultivation and mnemonic training reaching a fraction of the reserve that was needed . The guard cached the rod in the forge and pulled out another , fresh and hot and glowing . The dim yet insistent ember burned silently inside its metal housing , a burn that seared itself into xer mind without damaging xer eyes .

Like setting up a tent in a glade , the guard began with one arm , and then the opposite leg , and then the belly , and then the other leg , and the other arm , moving around from place to place until xer body was a painting in bright pink and charcoal . Sweat began beading on xer forehead as xer eyes clenched harder with each application .

TSSSSSS . The iron hissed loudly , buried in the small of xer back . Xe leapt , jumped , reached the limits of the chains holding xer fast , dodged to the side . Like everything else xe was experiencing , all choice had been taken from xer . Xe was young , freshly deflowered only days ago , still at the very beginning of xer lifelong training as an oracle . TSSSSSS . The iron hissed again , buried in the other side . While xe did xer best to keep from screaming , the guard returned the rod to the forge and produced another one . There were plenty .

This time , the guard held xer by the back of the neck with one hand . Mind grappling with the sheer animal panic , xe willed xerself to calm , as he held xer at the limits of xer restraints . The next burn was overtop of the hole left in the small of xer back , an S-shape on one side , and then a chiral 5-shape the other . Like a cello . Made into living art . Xer eyes went wider as the prolonged contact seared itself urgently upon xer mind , first once and then the second time . He then held the baton flat against the fleshy side of xer thigh .

Later , upon reflection , xe would admire the guard's prolonged ability to titrate xer up , to do each stage patiently as xer shakti rose sharply with each advancement in contact . In the moment , xe screamed , a loud, gutteral scream that had been accumulating in xer belly until xe couldn't contain it anymore . He held the iron flat against xer other thigh , and xe screamed again . All focus was on maintaining consciousness , not giving in to the panic as it screamed back at xer , maintaining some semblance of somberness and dignity . And then the flat of it again , a few centimetres up on the same thigh , and then back around to the other one . Xe screamed , and screamed more , until tears were pouring down xer face hot and salty , breakwaters washing refreshingly down xer hot cheeks before dripping onto xer flat, noble chest and turning into tears of fire , the salt burning xer blistering wounds .

Biting xer tongue to keep from begging , xe clenched xer eyes shut in preparation for the next singe , trying to predict where the next fireball would land . And yet it didn't land . Xe opened one eye , chest heaving with each laboured breath , and then the other , seeing the guard cache the iron he was working with , and then didn't grab another . Salvation ? . Fresh tears poured from xer eyes and turned to fire on xer chest , creating streaks of water and charcoal that streamed down xer front and joined in the fuzzy crotch of xer pubic mound .

"Good ." , the guard said plainly , approaching xer to speak . Xe could see a bit of goatee beneath the mask . Was it someone from around town ? . Someone xe knew ? .

He began unlatching xer cuffs . "now... you... we... heaL" , he informed xer in a lilt of the voice that made it sound like he were speaking backwards . "soon... home... you... gO" .

Xer entire body screamed . Arms, thighs , the palms of xer hands , he even placed a notch on xer cheek , marking xer as a noble with House conditioning . The thoughts of the houses were as trivialities in that moment . The guard finished unlatching xer wrists , and xe had to keep xer knees braced against each other in order to keep standing . It was so much . It was so much more than anything xe had ever experienced in xer life .

He washed xer in cold water that scalded xer , applied balms and poultices as might a healer and apothecary , bound them loose with gauze and annointed them in oil . This was as much an art as the dance of the ember , plants from the gardens and fields and forest made in advance into packets that released their phytomedicines into the affected areas . Maybe the guard was a monk , lived in the monastery down the road next to the convent . Xe'd always wanted to go to the convent . It seemed like somewhere xe was just supposed to go .

Arms and thighs and back and belly and calves and neck all burning , demanding their displeasure with the ferocity of a market delivered bad supply . He finished annointing xer with a streak of jelly for the notch on xer cheek and took a step back , admiring his handiwork .

Pleased with what he saw , he motioned xer to follow him back to the door . All of xer clothes were neatly folded on the counter , xer book on top of it . Xer skin screamed . Reading , what a pleasantry . Xer skin screamed and screamed . Picking them up , cradling them on forearms covered in pink blisters and pale, washed charcoal , the bandages at least helping reduce the contact . Xe could do this . Xe was okay . Just breathe . Deep breaths . In . And out . In . And out .

Radiating like a star , naked except for the weaving of bandages covering xer body , xe was led back to the dorm . The other nobles' eyes went wide when they saw xer return . A couple of them , already bearing such scars , looked up from what they were doing and smiled knowingly . Xe could hear the tittering of excited chatter from the lunch tables as xe carefully and painfully crawled up onto xer bunk .

Eyes closed , xe focused on the pain . Let the star radiate like a star . Stared at xer own outline , usually integrated into xer proprioception , now bright and hot and demanding .

Stared at the star , and stared at the star .

This wouldn't be the last time xe went thru such trials .. this would be the first time xe went thru such trialS .

Xe stared at the star .

Xe was a star .

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The arrangements were being made by House Dih , and SenDih was told how the next several years of xer life would go . Xer life would contain trois(3) sets of offspring . The first clutch would occur in the community , unsupervised . This would prepare xer for the midwifery process . The second clutch would be a blonde-haired wonder and a black-haired devil with xer father , who was ordained to become God-Emperor Krasi Sardaukar . The third clutch would see xer breed an AloKriPiGo hybrid with a young banker , several Merfolk in orgiastic round-robins , and a strong genetic line with a construction foreman who had a face like a knot of tree bark . The children would be put into the care of the babushka wet nurses and then reared by the educative neutrois , as was the way of the LoHaFaRexi . And if they desired any form of connection after these first few years , that would be up to them .

All manner of feelings welled up in xer , tho xer sociopathy kept most of the emotions at bay . Without happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust , there were left loneliness , wistfulness , and mono no aware . Reflecting on xer past , replaying the events over and over in xer mind , grappling with xer selected future . What could have been ? . It was a question that xe could only think in words . Xer mind was as empty as a forest hollow , an echoing lagoon . Obedience was all xe knew .

"Dih SenDih ?" , a voice called out . At first xe looked around the room , used to being referred to by xer mother's House name . When no one stood up to volunteer , xe dismounted xer bunk and approached the guard .

"Yeah?" , xe answered innocently , still getting used to the strict formality of the place .

The guard bristled , but didn't mention anything . "You'll be indoctrinated today . Come with me ."

"Should i bring my--"

"Come along , miss Dih ."

Obeying , SenDih skipped across the painted concrete dormatory towards the door , and out into the hall . A guard searched xer , groping as she did so , measuring with her hands . E brought xer to a small room with a desk , two(2)deux chairs , a pillow on one of them . On the desk was a thin circlet crown made from cloth and paper .

"Sit down , miss Dih ."

SenDih obeyed automatically , choosing the chair with the pillow and sitting down . The instructor took a seat in the opposite chair .

"You can relax ," e told xer , and xe did . "Today isn't a test . You won't be hurt or graded . In fact , the more you relax , the better you'll feel ."

The tension melted slowly , gradually , but steadily . Xe kept xer voice silent .

"Good ," e encouraged xer . "Place your hands at your sides and close your eyes . Do you have any Fair Witness training , miss Dih ? ."

"Yes ."

"Good . We'll install a Pleasure Trigger to assist in your transformation . Relaxation . Keep your eyes closed and your shoulders even . Place some of your consciousness in your coccyx and keep your back straight , the nape of your neck , held aloft . The deeper you go the easier it becomes for you to hold your body in place ."

Intuiting what to do , SenDih began performing xer breathing exercises . The SaMachFeCros Marching Chant seemed excessive , so xe went with a standard quatre(4)-square .

"Now , take a deep breath . Hold to the count of trois(3), two(2)deux, une(1) , all the way down ."

Stress melted off SenDih's shoulders in an instant . Correcting xer posture , xe raised xer head again so it was level .

"Good . Listen to the sound of my voice as every word takes you deeper . Fractionation . Access Motor Control . Open your eyes ."

Xer motor control was on automatic .

"In a moment , you will close your eyes . When you do , you will go dix(10)-temps as deep as before . Close your eyes ."

Closed , and down , like a rock . Slowly , xe corrected xer posture .

"Eyes open , wide awake . Eyes up here , miss ."

Looking up ,

"And down ."

Xer eyes closed themselves on the way down .

"Awake . Up ."

Eyes open . Wide... check , wide...! awake .

"Sleep ."

Out like a light .

"Deepener . Slowly , in a trance-like state , raise your arm . And you're going to notice , that the higher you raise it , the lighter you feel . The lighter you feel , the more hypnotized you become . That's it . Very good ."

On its own . Clear as glass .

"When i count to trois(3) , your hand will fall . When it falls , you are going to fall dix(10)-temps as deep into trance as you are now ." E paused dramatically . "Fall ."

Xer training intervened before xe hit xer head on the table , spine calibrating , winding xer body back up into a seating position , spine straight , neck tall , eyes closed .

"Good . Motion Control end . Access Program Core . Write to Program Core ."

SenDih's world was darkness . When the instructor stopped talking , xer mind remained darkness .

The sound of something from the desk . Luxury shoes tapping on marble tile below . Coming around behind xer . Every sense heightened .

"I have here a Slave Crown . When i put it on , all conscious thought will cease . When you put it on , all conscious thought will cease . You will put it on many times . It will be your best friend , your companion , and when you earn your habit , the backbone of your veil . Does it understand ? . Speak ."

"Yes ."

"Good . Soon you will have a Pleasure Trigger installed to assist in your indoctrination . For now , we focus on the crown ."

Clear , and listening .

"Imagine the path you took to get to this level of trance . The Relaxation ." E paused . "The Fractionation ." E paused . "The Deepener ." E paused . They looked like steps on a shallow staircase . "And commit them to your mind . Dropping down . Your falling hand . All the way down .. to the core ."

E gave xer a moment to visualize , to commit it to memory , to replay each piece of the process in the order they occurred in .

"When the paper touches your skin , every scratch and tug will feel like your eyes dropping down , becoming more hypnotized than ever before . When it fits over your mind , your thoughts reflect inwards , you become like a mirrored lake , empty in every way . Access Motor Control remain upright at all times Ha . Obey ."

With that , e slipped the simple cloth and paper crown over xer head , and SenDih's world ended .

"beginning to... ...when your eyes open... ...almost time... and when i snap my fingers , you will be keenly awake , aware , and situated in your environment ."

Snap .

SenDih was with another humanoid in a nondescript room in the Nobles' training dorm . Xe felt xer world had purpose . Xe was ready to obey .

"Feel Pleasure ."

And again , xe was a star .

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"Miss Dih ?" , a voice called .

SenDih looked up . An Acolyte , in simple white robes .

"You will receive a pregnancy test today . Come with me ."

SenDih began to get up off xer bunk , had a second thought , and began putting xer holy vestments on . For the Nobles in the training house , this was a long, flowing black skirt and a black crop-top that left xer belly exposed . As a matter of course , xe put on the slave crown , slipping firmly into subspace the moment the paper touched xer skin , and then xer veil , fitting the white cloth ring over the circlet , flipping the long black train over xer head , and pinning it at the temples with bobby pins . Even in such a short time , xe had learned the exact amount of slack to tuck in at the edges , so that no part of it was too tight , or cinched incorrectly , or uneven .

Hopping off the bunk , SenDih followed the Acolyte as e led xer thru the labyrinthine training home , turning down this corridor , and then that , before arriving at the cathedral . It was a smaller cathedral , made specifically for the building , with high vaulted ceilings that could still reverberate sound .

The Acolyte walked past the main doors . "This way , please ," e implored .

The two(2)deux of them walked past the main doors , down a hallway , and around the side to a small powder room near the back . There was another inductee in the room , also wearing the revealing black robes typical of nobles in training . Xe certainly wouldn't be allowed to dress like this outside .

Thru the glass windows , SenDih could see the previous inductee , dressed in xer own robes , being led from the powder room up onto the alter by xer own acolyte . SenDih sat restlessly on the edge of xer seat , craning this way that way in order to get a better look from a distance . Two(2)deux more acolytes brought in another female , who , distractedly and twitching periodically , walked with them to the altar . Upon arriving in the centre of the room , she seemed to know what she was doing , bending at the knees , her face close to the other noble's belly . Trying to maintain a modicum of dignity , SenDih refrained from craning around any further , sat still with xer paper crown on xer head , and waited like a good gel .

Time passes .

"Miss Dih ?" , a voice called into the room .

SenDih stood . The newer acolyte looked at SenDih's porter , nodded . Both of them stood tall and proud and dignified .

"Right this way , please ." .

They walked out of the powder room and into the cathedral . Choirs were singing hymns in the corners of the apse , and all around the isles of pews were candlabras of candles whose combined lihft kept the large stone room warm .

"Up here , please ."

The porter led SenDih to the altar in the middle of the room , closer to the apse than the atrium . Helping xer up with one hand , e helped SenDih position xerself properly , fitting snugly into the tailor-made cushions that held xer legs astride on either side of xer . Once xe was firmly settled in , they brought in a tongue from another powder room on the other side of the cathedral . The tongue was led up in front of xer , came up from below , started by caressing and massaging xer ankles . The pleasure was nice , and the choir was familiar , and the candles were warm .

The tongue began sniffing xer . First xer foot , taking xer leg and straightening out the fucking creases , sniffing the underside of xer body , the sole of xer foot , behind the knee , and then the other leg , the bottom of xer foot , behind the knee . These done , she moved up to the lonely urethra positioned at SenDih's crotch . Nobles had our wombs in our bellies behind our navels , so our crotches weren't particularly exciting places . Nonetheless , the female bent down in front of xer and sniffed xer crotch , took a deep inhale , once , twice .

Satisfied with the results , the tongue crawled on top of SenDih , who was firmly fastened into the sculpted curves of the altar pillows . Pinning xer hips with her hands , the female smelled xer belly , smelled the navel that had recently been kissed , smelled it a second time , a third time . Nodding to herself inwardly and proudly , she then climbed off of SenDih on the altar . Slightly SenDih orgasmed .

Coming around to the side , the female continued smelling xer , smelled xer armpits , first passively , and then taking a deep, pleasurable inhale of SenDih's natural body odour . Looking like a somalier assessing a fine wine , she looked like she were assessing something , sizing something up . She smelled SenDih's other armpit , again tentatively at first , and then taking a deep, long inhale that made her eyes flutter . Briefly SenDih blushed .

Finally , the woman stood astride the altar , swung a leg wide over xer , and sat on xer chest , on the spot between the ribs and belly . Craning down , SenDih laid back and thought of the Queen , as the tongue continued her work , taking deep, sniffing inhales of xer neck and throat . She wasn't supposed to lick SenDih's skin , but she did , and the wet warmth of her tongue made SenDih's eyes roll into the back of xer head .

Climbing off and leaving xer shivering and aroused , the woman walked , naked and proud , to une(1) of the acolytes at the corners of the altar next to the candlabras , began speaking with er , nodding her head , talking with her hands . SenDih stared dutifully up and at the ceiling , saying nothing .

The Acolyte who had come with xer then began unfastening xer , pulled SenDih's lotus feet out of the harness-cushion , practically scooped xer up with both hands and set xer down as easily as an angel alighting upon the ground . There was the smell of rubbing alcohol as the harness-cushion was sprayed with water and wiped down .

"Congratulations , noble ," the Acolyte said , "the insemination was successful . Your body is producing the pheromones indicative of pregnancy ."

SenDih closed xer eyes . It was Perfect . It was everything xe had hoped for , everything xe had wondered since childhood what went on in the mysterious training schools of xer town , everything xe had managed to piece together from the whispers of grown ups who didn't know xe was sitting on the stairs next to the parlour , ashen-faced with nervousness and gripping the wooden banister rails .

Perfect .

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