The Sacred Sect, Chapter 5 – The Pleasure of Pain

by Lorinda Jade

Over the coming few months, Laura remained in her role as the spiritual leader of the sect until such a time as Elspeth’s successor would be appointed. She didn’t want it to be a permanent arrangement, as her primary reason for taking a back seat in the sect’s running, was to let the younger girls explore their sexuality for themselves with their peers, in keeping with the ethos of ‘spiritual fellowship and lesbian love between young girls’. She felt that the matter of appointing a new high priestess should be left for now, until such a time when they could decide upon what future direction the sect should take. A permanent memorial to Elspeth was erected in the chapel to stand in a central position behind the alter. On a simple wooden stand was a naked figurine made from marble and standing twenty-four inches high, fashioned to look like Elspeth standing and holding an orchid. The plinth had a candle holder in one corner and at each meeting a new purple candle would be placed in it and lit, so the ‘Light of Orchidia’ would shine for all to behold. The inscription on a gold plate simply said, ‘To the Memory of High Priestess Orchidia 1992-2006.’

It was at a Tuesday-night priestess meeting in late September when another bombshell was dropped. Abbess Snowdrop (Laura), and the three priestesses Rosebud (Charlotte), Lily and Sunflower were all sitting naked in the initiation pool and drinking wine, which had become the custom for the priestess meetings as it was Orchidia’s favourite way to relax and meditate. Lily and Sunflower were both very busy with school projects, and other out-of-school activities such as the Girl Guides and their music and dance classes, that they felt they didn’t have sufficient time or energy to devote to the sect any more, so they requested they be granted leave to go inactive, but they wished to remain as honorary priestesses (as was the usual practice). Snowdrop graciously but reluctantly accepted their application, but now of course it meant that not only did she have to make a decision about appointing a new high priestess, but also they would need to ordain two more priestesses. The two girls intimated to Snowdrop that between them they had known in their hearts for some time that Rosebud was the only realistic choice for the office of high priestess. After some lengthy discussion, and a very strong case put by Rosebud, they decided that the candidates for priestesses should be Buttercup and Daisy, the nine-year-old twins. Snowdrop was a bit hesitant because this would by far be the youngest priesthood the sect had ever had.

Rosebud had learned much more from Orchidia than anyone else was aware, so she would be leading the group in the tradition of her mentor and idol, but with some new ideas of her own, and she would carry it all out in her unique feisty-but-fun manner. The twins were totally devoted to the sect’s practices and had a good understanding of its ethos, so they were deemed to be worthy of higher office. Snowdrop decided that there would be a triple ritual and sooner rather than later, with Rosebud being enthroned in the office of high priestess, which would be taken care of by Snowdrop, followed by the ordination of Buttercup and Daisy, which Rosebud insisted on doing (even though this would have been the duty of the High Priestess in any case). Sunflower and Lily would of course also be in attendance. At the Thursday-night meeting that week, Rosebud called the twins into the priestess’s sanctum before the meeting for Snowdrop to put the proposals to them. They of course, were most happy to accept, but they were sad that Lily and Sunflower would be leaving the group. They were most delighted though that Rosebud, the little girl they had nurtured since her earliest days in the sect, would be their new group leader. Snowdrop suggested that as it was going to be quite an involved ceremony, the three girls would be allowed only one attendant each (instead of the usual two) to try to keep the logistical complexities down to a minimum. Rosebud naturally wanted her ‘lesbian bride’ Poppy. In recent weeks Poppy had been busy learning make-up and hairstyling skills from Buttercup and would take on the role of stylist for the three girls. Daisy chose one of the newer sect members, a demure eight-year-old brunette who went by the sacred name of ‘Petunia’. Daisy had taken her under her wing and had somehow managed to impart her magical wardrobe skills upon her. So they now had a wardrobe mistress for the occasion. Finally, Buttercup decided on the youngest member of the group for her attendant, a mysterious seven-year-old girl with jet-black hair and dark piercing eyes who had taken the marvellous sect name of ‘Aconite’.

“Just because she’s so fucking cute,” Buttercup explained.

The core of that evening’s meeting was yet another one of Rosebud’s ‘fun learning sessions’, this time about all the major pagan goddesses. She had meticulously prepared her presentation, with lots of visual aids, many of which were from her own collection of goddess imagery and symbolism. Rosebud did however emphasise that in the eyes of the sect, above all goddesses, Sappho reigned supreme, and she even read out some of the surviving fragments of her poetry:

“I have a child, a lovely one, In beauty like the golden sun, Or like sweet flowers of earliest bloom; And Claïs is her name, for whom I Lydia's treasures, were they mine, Would glad resign.”

“If love you have for me, not hate, Arise and find a younger mate; For I shall no longer abide Where youth and age lie side by side.”

Abbess Snowdrop announced all the proposals to the rest of the group and stated that the triple ritual would take place the following Thursday. Everyone was excited in anticipation of what was to come. Surely it would be another truly memorable night in the history of the sect.

It was just after 9.30pm when Laura and Charlotte got home that night, so Charlotte immediately went off to her room to get ready for bed, which didn’t take long as all she had to do was get undressed and put on her favourite pink silk wrap. She sat at the kitchen table with her wrap gaping open enough to reveal her little chest, and she had spread her legs so as to wantonly display her vagina. She was slurping her bedtime drink of hot chocolate and munching on a cookie, when she casually asked her mother something which caught her somewhat unawares.

“Mummy, can I get my nipple pierced like Elspeth had done, before next Thursday? Please, pretty please?”

Laura didn’t answer immediately, but spent some time thinking about her daughter’s request, sipping her coffee and taking several deep drags on her cigarette. Instead of protesting about her mother’s smoking habit, Charlotte now thought that she (and other girls) looked ‘dead sexy’ when smoking. Finally Laura expelled a long stream of smoke from her nose which excited Charlotte, as she recalled how glamorous Elspeth’s nasal exhales always looked.

Laura answered, “Well Darling, to be honest I’ve got no realistic objections, but I must warn you that body piercings are permanent, and it will hurt one hell of a lot when you get it done.”

“Yes, but it will be worth it!” Charlotte protested, “It will be a permanent reminder of Elspeth for me, and besides all the other girls will think it looks so fucking sexy!”

“I must admit,” Laura went on, “I’ve been thinking about something along those lines too. If my daughter is going to have a nipple piercing, then I think I should definitely get my nipples pierced too! I’ll give Anastasia a call tomorrow. Do you remember Anastasia?”

“Umm… kinda,” Charlotte responded with a puzzled look on her face.

“Anastasia is an old friend of mine, she pierced your ears when you were five, remember? Well she also does body piercings by appointment, so I’ll see if she’s free on Saturday.”

Charlotte sprang up from her chair plonked herself onto her mother’s lap and flung her arms round her neck. “You’re the fucking best, and you’re so fucking beautiful too!”

“Charlotte Laura Marie Davenport! I’ve told you so many fucking times not to fucking swear so fucking much!” exclaimed Laura.

They both collapsed into a fit of the giggles, but when they had calmed down a bit Charlotte nestled herself close into her mother’s bosom and kissed her full on the lips. A long lingering tongue dance took place until Laura lifted Charlotte off her lap. She playfully slapped her daughter on the arse fondling the softness of her buttocks through the silk material, and announced, “Time for bed young lady!” Charlotte kissed her mother simply on the lips and bid her ‘goodnight’ before slithering up the stairs, cheekily wiggling her buttocks at her mother as she went. Laura went into the lounge to pour herself a well-earned brandy, and she lit one of her Sobranie Black Russian cigarettes as a final treat before retiring.

The appointment was for 3.00pm on Saturday, and Laura wanted them to be punctual as she knew what a stickler for time Anastasia was. She thought it best if Charlotte’s somewhat unruly long red hair was tidied up out of the way, so she put it into four plaits for her. Charlotte decided to wear a skimpy pink vest top with a tight powder-blue skirt that only just covered her buttocks, and the blue shoes she had worn for her birthday ‘date’ with Elspeth. Laura had gone for the ‘smart casual’ look with a brand new pair of designer jeans that deliciously hugged her arse cheeks (Charlotte observed), a black pin-striped waist jacket, and black stilettos.

When they pulled up in the driveway of the enormous detached house at two minutes to three Charlotte exclaimed, “Fucking hell! Does she really live here?”

“Yes,” Laura replied softly, “come on shift your butt, we don’t want to keep Anastasia waiting.”

Laura rang the bell, and they were met by a youngish girl with short cropped black hair (they later found out was only sixteen). The girl was wearing a smart black housecoat with a crisp white apron, white seamed stockings and black shoes.

“Welcome Miss Laura and Miss Charlotte,” the girl greeted them, “I’m Antonia, the maid. Mistress Anastasia will see you now.”

“Pleased to meet you Antonia,” Laura and Charlotte answered in unison.

Antonia curtseyed to them and let them through the door. As they were led into the lounge, Charlotte wondered what this ‘mistress and maid’ thing meant, but she was stunned out of her thoughts when she first clapped eyes on Anastasia. Anastasia Duval was a single woman of 54, although at first sight she looked about twenty years younger. She worked in the legal profession as a barrister so she always had to dress smartly for business, and she believed in using plenty of the finest cosmetic products and wearing expensive jewellery to enhance her appearance. Today though, if you didn’t know it, you could never have guessed what her ‘day job’ really was. She was wearing a pink latex skirt that was just short enough to reveal the tops of her silky black seamed stockings, and a cream-coloured silk blouse was tied round her 38D breasts, revealing the three-inch gold chain which hung from her navel. ‘She’s not wearing a bra’ Charlotte thought, as she could clearly see the outline of her nipple rings through the fine material of her blouse.

Anastasia got up from her seat to greet her guests, with the 4-inch stiletto heels of her pink ankle boots making her look exceptionally tall. Charlotte was in awe of this magnificent woman with her shoulder-length platinum-coloured hair and heavy but immaculately applied make-up. And she couldn’t help staring at her ears in which she wore ten matching pairs of gold hoops, all the way up from the lobes to the tops. Anastasia leaned over to take Charlotte’s little hand to kiss it. “My how you’ve grown since I last saw you Miss Charlotte, and you’re such a pretty little girl!” said Anastasia. Charlotte didn’t know what to say and just turned bright red. “And it’s so good to see you again Laura, it’s been too long,” she carried on. “It was so nice to get your call yesterday.”

She kissed Laura tenderly on the lips. “Let’s have a drink to unwind before we get started, what would you both like?”

“Something with brandy in, I think,” replied Laura.

“Coke please,” said Charlotte, “with lots of ice.”

Anastasia turned to Antonia, “Make that two large ‘Sapphic Slammers’, and a Coke please for the young lady.”

“Certainly Ma’am,” said Antonia, curtseying to her mistress.

Antonia prepared the drinks and brought them over to where they all were sitting — two cocktails consisting of a large measure of brandy with a bottle of Babycham mixed in, and a glass of iced Coke with slices of lemon. What Charlotte never knew however, was that Antonia had also slipped a double measure of vodka into the tall glass. Anastasia leaned over to the coffee table and picked up a pack of long slim panatelas, offering one to Laura.

“Light please, Antonia,” Anastasia commanded as she put the cigar to her ruby-red lips. The maid obeyed, taking a gold-plated lighter to put to the ladies’ panatelas. “You may take one too,” she said to her, “and you can withdraw now, I’ll ring if I need you,” she added, quietly but firmly.

“Very good Ma’am,” Antonia replied before curtseying to all three women. She lit her panatela, took an initial inhale, and as she started to exhale, she glided gracefully and silently from the room. Anastasia chatted with Laura for quite some time, and Charlotte not knowing what to say just spent her time admiring Anastasia’s astonishing beauty, and drinking in the aroma of the cigar smoke.

After about 30 minutes, when they had finished their drinks, Anastasia announced, “It’s time to get started. Let’s go.” Anastasia lead them down the hallway to a small room which was fitted out a bit like a medical examination room. There was a black leather examination table with a chair beside it, a stainless-steel trolley with various pieces of surgical equipment on it, and a tall round stool with a black leather seat.

“Who wants to be first?” she asked.

“Me please!” piped up Charlotte, “What do I need to do?”

“Just take your top off honey, and hop up onto the table,” Anastasia replied.

Being so excited and all of a fluster, Charlotte tore off all her clothes and sprang naked onto the examination table. Laura sat beside her daughter, holding her hand while Anastasia put on a pair of surgical gloves. She sat on the stool, and asked, “Which nipple is it going to be young lady?”

“The left one,” replied Charlotte, “just like Elspeth had.”

“Ah yes,” said Anastasia in a manner that told them she had been the one who’d pierced the teen’s nipple not so long before her tragic death, “and would you like a similar piece of jewellery too?”

“Yes,” Charlotte said firmly, “but in gold.”

From a blue velvet-covered box, Anastasia picked out a dainty but sturdy gold hoop, about half an inch in diameter. “Would this one be to madam’s liking?” she asked.

“Perfect,” replied Charlotte, “just perfect.”

“Now let’s see if we can tease your nipple out enough to be able to pierce it,” Anastasia laughed.

She dabbed around Charlotte’s tiny left areola with surgical alcohol in a slightly erotic manner that certainly made the nipple spring to life! When she was satisfied that it was ready, she clamped it, then took a sterile needle out of its pack and started to push it into the tiny pink bud.

“F-F-F-U-U-U-C-C-C-K-K-K!” Charlotte screamed as the needle pierced through her flesh.

Anastasia quickly followed the needle through with the piece of jewellery, snapped the hoop shut, removed the clamp, and suddenly said, “All done now, you OK honey?” Charlotte nodded even though her chest felt like it had a knife going through it. “Here, take a look,” Anastasia added. She held up a small mirror so that Charlotte could see the new adornment hanging from her nipple.

“Fuck, that’s beautiful,” Charlotte complimented, with tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. She edged gingerly off the table and turned her head upwards to Anastasia with a ‘kiss me’ look on her face. Anastasia leaned over to oblige her, and was delighted that this tiny nymphet wanted to thank her with a deep Frenching. Charlotte was so happy too, and she wondered what kind of lipstick Anastasia was wearing as it tasted so yummy!

It was Laura’s turn next. Charlotte finally sat down on the chair as Laura planted her behind on the examination table to unbutton her waist jacket, revealing her 34B breasts which popped out like coiled springs. The nipples were rock hard, the result of her having witnessed her daughter’s sexual piercing, which caused Anastasia to remark, “Well those babies sure won’t need much teasing out!” Laura gave a wry smile and lay back on the table with Charlotte holding onto her hand. The nipples were pierced and had silver barbells placed in them. The pain was excruciating, but Laura didn’t want to show it in front of her daughter and just bit her lip to prevent herself from screaming. She was pleased with Anastasia’s work, and had decided to give her a little bonus on top of the normal £200 fee, but Anastasia refused any payment on account of her having ‘such a cute daughter’. She also whispered to Laura that the three of them should meet up pretty soon for ‘a little fun’.

[Note: The fragments of Sappho’s poetry are well known surviving translations.]