A Descent to Darkness - Part 3

Kai felt sick, after the long hours of spinning. His body was numb, except for the burning pain in his nipples and groin. The Mistress had finally stopped the spinning and electricity, but the shadows still held him suspended, naked and trembling. Freedom Man clung to The Mistress's leg like a devoted puppy, nuzzling her thigh. "Mommy... can we go shopping?" Freedom Man begged, his voice muffled against her skin. "I want pretty dresses..." The Mistress stroked Freedom Man's hair absently, her amber eyes scanning the ruined street. "Hmm... shopping does sound... entertaining," she mused. With a lazy gesture, the shadows released Kai, letting him crumple onto the cold pavement. He gasped, curling into a fetal position, his body still sparking faintly. "Get up, Flesh Light," The Mistress commanded, her voice sharp. "You're carrying the bags." Kai forced himself to stand, legs to no avail. "What a weak hero whore" The Mistress said, as she lifted Kai with her shadows, and forced him to crawl on all fours. "Now, Sissy Boy, Mommy's going to treat you to some new lingerie," The Mistress announced, her shadow tendrils forming a leash around Freedom Man's neck. "Lead the way, bitch." Freedom Man scrambled eagerly towards Fifth Avenue, dragging Kai behind him by a shadow leash attached to his nipple piercings. The pain was excruciating with every tug, but Kai bit back his cries. They stopped outside Bergdorf Goodman. The doors were shattered, mannequins lay broken amidst scattered designer gowns. The Mistress strode inside, her shadow tendrils parting the debris like dark water. Freedom Man bounded after her, squealing with delight. "Ooh! Mommy! Look! Silk!" He held up a torn Valentino slip dress, pressing it to his cheek. The Mistress chuckled, running a finger along a rack of La Perla lingerie. "Such fragile things," she murmured, shredding a lace bodysuit with a shadow claw. "Perfect for fragile pets." She turned to Kai, who crawled behind them, his breath ragged. "Flesh Light. Fetch." She pointed a sharp-nailed finger at a display of Louboutin stilettos. "The red ones. Size 12." Kai tried to resist, but the shadows enveloping his legs and arms, forced him to crawl towards the shoes. He grabbed the box with trembling hands. "Good girl," The Mistress purred. "Now, hold it." She turned back to Freedom Man, who was struggling into a sequined Gucci mini-dress backwards. "No, no, Sissy Boy," she tutted, using a shadow tendril to yank the dress off him. "Like this." She draped the dress over his shoulders like a cape, leaving his lingerie-clad body exposed. Freedom Man giggled, twirling. "Pretty! Thank you, Mommy!" The Mistress smirked, "All my pets have to look cute, and fuckable, all the time." She snapped her fingers. A shadow portal opened beside her, swirling like ink in water. She tossed the Louboutin box into it. "For later," she murmured, her eyes flicking to Kai's bare feet. Kai shuddered, understanding dawning. *The heels... they're for me.* Freedom Man tugged at a rack of Versace gowns. "Mommy! This one!" He pulled out a slinky gold lamé dress. "Try it on!" The Mistress arched an eyebrow. "For *you*, darling. Mommy wants to see her bitch sparkle." She gestured with a shadow tendril, stripping Freedom Man naked instantly. "Put it on." Freedom Man struggled into the dress, his movements clumsy, the lamé catching on his bruised skin. The Mistress watched, a cruel smile playing on her lips. Kai crouched nearby, clutching another box of shoes, the shadow leash pulling taut on his raw nipples. He watched Freedom Man preen in the gold dress, oblivious to his own degradation. *He's broken... completely broken.* The Mistress turned, her gaze pinning Kai. "Thinking unkind thoughts about Mommy's bitch?" she murmured, her shadow tendril stroking Kai's cheek. "Naughty Flesh Light." The tendril flicked sharply, snapping against his nipple piercing. Kai cried out, doubling over. "Carry the dresses," The Mistress commanded coldly, pointing to a growing pile of designer garments Freedom Man was tossing her way. "And stop dripping photon tears on the couture. It stains." Kai crawled to the pile, the shadow leash dragging him. He gathered the heavy silks and satins, his arms trembling. Freedom Man skipped past him, now trying on a feathered Dolce & Gabbana robe. "Mommy! Do I look like a princess?" The Mistress laughed, a low, dark sound. "You look like Mommy's toilet paper holder," she said, ruffling Freedom Man's hair. "Now, find Mommy something black. And sheer." Kai piled the dresses onto his back, the fabrics scratching his skin. Each movement sent fresh waves of pain from his pierced nipples. He watched as Freedom Man eagerly rummaged through the wreckage, pulling out sheer black negligees and lace bodystockings. The Mistress examined each one critically, discarding most into the shadow portal. Kai's mind raced. *The portal... it goes to her castle. To the Umbra.* He glanced at the swirling darkness. *If I could just...* A sharp tug on the leash made him gasp. The Mistress was staring at him, her eyes narrowed. "Planning an escape, Flesh Light?" she purred, her shadow tendril wrapping around his throat. "Naughty, naughty." She squeezed. Kai choked, clawing at the cold darkness. "Mommy knows best," she whispered, leaning close. "You belong in darkness... and heels." She released him, turning back to Freedom Man. "Found it!" Freedom Man held up a spiderweb-fine black nightgown. "Perfect," The Mistress declared. She snapped her fingers again. The shadow portal widened. "Time to go home, pets. Mommy's tired of retail therapy." She shoved Freedom Man towards the portal. "You first, Sissy Boy." Freedom Man skipped through eagerly, disappearing into the ink. The Mistress turned to Kai, her shadow tendrils lifting him roughly. "Your turn, Flesh Light," she murmured, her amber eyes glowing in the dim light. "Time to see where broken heroes... reside." She hurled him into the swirling darkness. Kai tumbled through cold, formless void, the dresses scattering around him. He landed hard on smooth, icy stone. Freedom Man stood nearby, still wearing the gold lamé dress, clapping softly. "Home!" he chirped. Kai looked up. They were in a vast, obsidian hall. High above, no ceiling existed—only swirling, starless void. The Mistress stepped gracefully from her portal, her laughter echoing in the cavernous hall. "Welcome," she announced, spreading her arms, "to your forever home, Flesh Light."

To be continued...