A Tale of Ties and Binds - Chapter 28

Chapter 28. A Temple of Temptations

Her first thoughts to return were not concerning the feeling of the cold stone she was lying on, nor the serpentine ropes keeping her arms and legs constricted. They were not about where she was, how she'd gotten there, who had done this to her, nor what they planned to do next.

Penelope's first thoughts were on the slippery wet tongue that had invaded her mouth and was trying to lure its partner into a dance. She pulled her had back and opened her eyes. Amidst the darkness of wherever they were, Ellisia's face appeared, framed with an orange glow in the dim torchlight.

"Ellisia?! What are you doing?!"

The Matriarch of the Thunderbolt smiled innocently. "Ah, Scylla! I thought you'd never wake up!"

The aftermath of the potion still lingered throbbingly in Penelope's head. "Why was your tongue half-way down my throat?"

"You weren't protesting."

"Well I could hardly protest when I was unconscious, could I?" She tested the mobility in her limbs - tightly bound, as could be expected in her situation. Her arms were boxtied behind her, wrists tied to opposite elbow, with another rope beginning between her forearms and trailing down to cleave her arse cheeks only to disappear somewhere between her legs. A chest harness kept her breasts firmly compressed against Ellisia's curvaceous pair, and more ropes weaved through their knees and ankles. "Where are we?"

"Underground dungeon. It's not as nice as the last dungeon we found ourselves in, but at least we're not having hot wax dripped over our tits this time."

There was always something that made Ellisia thankful. "As happy as I am about the lack of any wax torture, I'd very much like to get out as soon as possible." Penelope didn't know how long she'd been lying there, but her shoulder was beginning to go numb.

Looking around, she realised Ellisia couldn't have been more right. The dungeon was a small room, no more than twenty paces across, built from stone and lit with only a few torches. A dark staircase occupied one wall leading up to somewhere unseen. There were chains hanging from the other walls at even spacing, each ending in an unlocked metal collar. More chains were imbedded into the stones on the floor, one of which connected to the four-way shackles keeping Penelope's and Ellisia's feet bound together. Penelope recognised the maroon-haired prisoners sharing the dungeon. Ellisia's sisters-in-arms, also known as Hera's Daughters, were likewise chained naked in face-to-face pairs. Stacia and Leah were chained beside the wall and Helen and Circe were chained beneath one of the torches.

"This must be an old temple to Athena," Penelope said.

"Aye, it is," Ellisia agreed. "My sisters-in-arms and I have been trying to get ourselves free for days. No such luck."

Penelope looked harder at each of Ellisia's crew. It seemed their captors had locked their heads together somehow such that they could only helplessly wriggle their arms about and make faint squeaking noises. "What cruel punishment is this? Why are their heads locked together?"

"Oh, no, they're not locked together. They're just kissing."

That seems rather pointless, Penelope thought. "Why not do something a little more... constructive?"

Ellisia looked as though she'd been insulted. "They are! They've been offering prayer to Hera for liberation! It's how we do things in my Household: fuck until Hera solves our problems. No liberation just yet, but that might change now that you're here."

At first, Penelope assumed that was a compliment to her cleverness, until Ellisia locked lips with her again and slid her tongue back into Penelope's mouth. Penelope recoiled away a second time. "Isn't there something else we could be doing?"

Ellisia sighed, then her hazel eyes lit up with excitement. "Well, I was waiting for you to wake up before I did it."

Finally. "What?"

The Matriarch of the Thunderbolt smiled playfully and tugged up on her bound arms. Penelope felt her crotchrope tighten and the rope dug in against her most sensitive spot.

"Aah!" she yelped with surprise. So that's how these crotchropes work. "No, I mean something else we could be doing to help us escape without having to rely on divine intervention."

"I trust you'll think of something, Scylla," Ellisia said, leaning closer. "Meanwhile, I have some prayer to catch up on." She started planting soft kisses across Penelope's cheeks and slowly tugged her arms up and down again.

"It's a bit hard with you doing that. And I'm not talking about those two nips poking into my tits."

Ellisia giggled. "Just try to stop me! I've been stuck down here for days watching and listening as my sisters-in-arms fuck each other. I wasn't tied up with anyone! I haven't had someone to tug my crotchrope, to help me pray! There's a lot of built up energy down there! A lot! Now please, indulge me. Please?" Her big round eyes welled up pitifully. She looked so sad.

It was Penelope's turn to sigh, realising her counterpart wouldn't be any help to the situation while her mind is controlled by her loins. She tugged her arms up and down.

The crotchrope played Ellisia like a lyre. The Matriarch of the Thunderbolt cooed softly and bit her lip, periodically flicking out her tongue to taste Penelope's lips like a cat might lap up milk. Her hips thrust forwards and backwards, gliding across the rope between her legs.

This could take ages, Penelope thought as she remembered Ellisia's sexual prowess. I'm far too impatient and want some answers. "Has anyone else been down here?"

"Hmmm-ahh!" Ellisia replied, still thrusting.

"It's a simple question," Penelope said, still tugging. "Who comes to feed you? Who delivered me here? Were there any other prisoners?"

"Guards. Ahhmm! Guards. No. Mmm."

"Curses." That doesn't help me. "Thalia must be keeping the other High Mistresses prisoner elsewhere."

Ellisia seemed to sober up a little at the mention of that name. "Wait, Thalia? Aye, she's the one who kidnapped my crew and me. I came to her to... persuade her to help me win the Boule's support, but then she called in her guards. Next thing I know, I'm blindfolded and gagged and being carted out of the city. They chained me up and stuck me down here."

"The slippery bitch does like having goons do her dirty work. I'm annoyed they overpowered me so easily with their magic potion."

"Aye. They had an unfair advantage in my case since I was already tied up and gagged when they appeared."

Perhaps I underestimated her. "Thalia managed to overpower you by herself?"

"Well... not exactly." Ellisia gave a guilty smile. "I did say I was trying to persuade her."

"Oh," Penelope realised. "That kind of persuasion. It's quite similar to your method of prayer, isn't it?"

"Then they came back a while later with the rest of my crew, bound them face to face, chained them to the floor and now here we all are. The least they could have done was kidnap some random girl off the street to chain her up with me. Preferably one with nice soft lips and a skilful tongue. Can you keep tugging please? Hnngg!"

So Penelope took the time to explain everything while Ellisia kept herself occupied with the crotchrope. She began with what happened in Sparta with Adara and the duel, and how they now have a small army of Spartan girls under their command. Then Penelope explained how Thalia and her co-conspirators were sneakily kidnapping the other High Mistresses of the Boule so that they'd eventually have the majority vote and can ally Athens with the Celt's Thessaly. Throughout her entire monologue, she had no idea whether or not Ellisia had been paying attention or if her nodding was merely the result of her passionate throes.

The update concluded with the hazel-eyed matriarch throwing her had back and groaning out a long and well-needed climax. Her entire body shook in tremors, kicking about as much as her bondage and bound partner would allow.

Something made Penelope's ears perk. "Wait, do that again."

Ellisia let out a long sigh, her face coated in lather of sweat glowing all shades of red and orange and yellow. "I don't know if I can do it again so soon. You might have to give me some time to rest."

"No, I mean try kicking your legs again. I thought I heard something."

The two prisoners kicked their feet around as much as the bonds would allow, jingling the metal chain which kept them tethered to the stone floor.

Penelope smiled. "Do you hear that? That doesn't sound like iron - it's too light... I think this chain is made of bronze."

Ellisia cocked and eyebrow. "Which means?"

"Which means it's probably weak! Bronze hasn't been used for chains in decades. This chain must be at least a century old, from when this temple was used to keep prisoners in the Attican-Thessalian war. We might be able to break it."

"We've been trying to snap them for days! I told you, it doesn't work."

"Not if you pull on it," Penelope said. "But it might work if we can bend it."

That didn't inspire Ellisia's confidence. "And how do you suggest we break a chain by bending it? They're not exactly rigid."

Penelope blew a wayward strand of hair from her mouth. "Get on top of me."

"Scylla, I thought you'd never ask." Ellisia didn't wait for an explanation and elbowed herself off the ground to roll the pair over with herself on top. She was about to lean down for another kiss when Penelope shouldered her off to the other side. "Ow, that was mean. You're such a tease!"

"Just keep rolling. We'll twist the chain until it snaps under the pressure."

"And after we're no longer tethered to the floor, then what?"

"Then I'll think of something else."

Ellisia shrugged as much as the chest harness would allow, though it did pull Penelope's crotchrope accidentally - not that she was apologetic in the slightest.

The pair shouldered and elbowed themselves over one another, rolling around in a wide circle on the floor as the chain shackled to their feet turned with them. With every roll, the bronze rings became slightly harder to twist, coiling up like a python.

It was tiring, and dizzying, and Ellisia had a habit of 'accidentally' jerking Penelope's crotchrope. Penelope realised she may have been doing the same thing after her maroon-haired counterpart convulsed through a second climax. The third time was also an accident but the fourth was completely intentional. The crotchrope was not as effective at luring Penelope into an earth-shattering orgasm, however, though Ellisia wasn't easily convinced and never gave up.

They'd made three full rotations before the bronze chain finally gave way under the strain. It snapped halfway between the prisoners' shackles and where it was imbedded into the stone.

"We've been... here for days... and we never... thought of that..." Ellisia panted exhaustingly.

"We're not finished yet..." Penelope answered. Her bronze-coloured hair was clinging to her face. "We're still tied up..."

"All that prayer... really knocked it out of me..."

"That wasn't prayer... because it worked..."

Ellisia frowned. "Now what?"

Good question. Penelope scanned the room again as she caught her breath. The rest of Ellisia's crew were still too busy grinding against one another to be of any use. If they'd noticed how their matriarch got free, they'd not cared enough about freedom to do the same.

The sound of footsteps interrupted Penelope's plans, echoing from the darkness of the staircase. A sandalled foot appeared first, then another, followed by a pair of long toned legs. She wore a loose white chiton which hemmed high on her thighs, belted with a silver golden chain above thin hips. Her hair was long and brown, and her eyes expressed such disappointment at the scene before her.

"How dare you break my chain," Thalia said with just a hint of annoyance. "It was a very valuable antique. Oh well. I expect Titania will pay dearly for the both of you." The High Mistress knelt down beside Penelope and checked the tightness of the ropes, to her satisfaction. "I was considering sending you back to Thessaly with the alliance proposal inscribed on the collars around your necks. What do you think? Too clichéd?"

"It's been done before," Penelope scowled. "Queen Adrianne had the same idea."

Thalia recoiled. "Ew! Cretans. Anyway, it's time for us to go. The cage wagon is waiting for you on the surface. It's a bit small but I can see that you won't mind being squished up together. Guards!" Four of Thalia's goons descended the staircase. Each was shrouded in a dark blue cloak that covered their features. "Take these two first, then come back for the others."

"I've met a lot of bitches," Ellisia growled, "and you're up there with the top five."

"Then I'd best try harder to reach number one. Guards, don't forget to gag them."

The cloaked women produced thick strips of blue cloth from their pockets and knotted them in the middle. One guard took Penelope's head in her grip while another forced the knot between her teeth and tied it off under the fall of her bronze-coloured hair. The other guards did the same to Ellisia, though the Matriarch of the Thunderbolt was far more resistant and tugged on her arms once too many times for Penelope to handle. No doubt Ellisia took joy in the success as a much-needed climax rolled its way through Penelope's exhausted body. After being unshackled from what was left of the chain, the two were lifted off the cold ground and carried up the stairs.

The heat of the midday sun hit them instantly. They emerged onto the surface to find themselves within the courtyard of a large mansion surrounded by high stone walls. Small statuettes of Athena stood watch in front of the main gate, the door into the mansion and at the entrance to the underground temple. The goddess held a whip in one hand and a collared chain in the other.

The guards unlocked the door to the cage wagon and unceremoniously dumped the bound and gagged prisoners inside on a bed of straw, pushing them deeper in to make room for the next lot. The cloaked women then turned and made their way back down into the temple to pick up the rest of Hera's Daughters.

Penelope's mind was racing as she tried to come up with a new plan. The ropes across her wrists were too tight to squeeze her hands through. The breast harness keeping her bound to Ellisia didn't allow for any easy mobility, so neither of them could simply stand up and hop to freedom. She sifted through the straw hoping to find a sharp rock or a particularly useful stick, but the movement only tempted Ellisia into more prayer kissing and thrusting.

"Mmsht ymm?" Penelope mmphed through her gag. She didn't need the distraction.

"Yesh!" Ellisia replied between gagged kisses. Her tongue slipped out between the cloth and her lips to once again try to find its way into Penelope's mouth.

The captain decided to allow it. On the off chance the goddesses were paying attention and were feeling generous enough to intervene, Penelope would accept any help she could get. If nothing else, it made Ellisia feel better about returning to Thessaly a bound and gagged slave in a cage. She tugged on her arms and felt Ellisia return the gesture. It was a very effective distraction from the peril of once again being in the Celt's clutches. Perhaps Ellisia's methods weren't so sill after all.

And then it seemed as though the goddesses may have been listening. When Penelope looked up from her prayer, she spotted a pair of green eyes beneath a fall of flame-red hair peeking over the rim of the courtyard wall. "Dmphn!"

Daphne raised her finger to her lips, ushering the captain to remain silent. She gave a reassuring smirk and disappeared behind the wall just as the next two guards were emerging from the underground temple with the next two bound and gagged captives.

"Hmmph?" Ellisia asked. This time it was Penelope who rammed her tongue past the gags and into Ellisia's mouth. That kept her quiet. It would be incredibly unlucky if the Matriarch of the Thunderbolt accidentally warned their enemies.

The guards reopened the cage and dumped Circe and Helen inside. They were still busy 'praying' for liberation. Penelope doubted they'd even noticed being moved.

Thalia reappeared with the last pair of cloaked guards carrying Stacia and Leah. She waited for the cage door to be locked before beginning her monologue. "You know Titania better than I do. Would she appreciate you tied up as you are, or should I try my hand at the Celtic knot pattern? Is that a nice touch or another cliché? I swear, if the Cretan queen had the same idea I might just... ugh! It makes no matter. Let's just be on our way. Guards, open the gate and mount up!"

The command drew out a long mmphing groan from Ellisia (or perhaps that was due to the tugging). Penelope was desperately hoping whatever plan Daphne had in mind didn't rest on their still being inside the courtyard.

Three of the guards in blue cloaks mounted their steeds while the fourth joined Thalia on the wagon and took up the reins. The convoy started through the gates with two horses out front and one taking the rear. Again, none of Ellisia's sister-in-arms seemed to notice they were moving, such was their concentration on their unique brand of prayer.

The main gate opened up onto a boulevard with lush trees and bushes on either side. It was a long road - mostly gravel and dirt with a few paving stones in between. But there was no other traffic and no other buildings in sight, to Penelope's dismay. It appeared Thalia was smart enough to keep her prisoners as far away from any kind of help as possible.

The convoy had rolled a few hundred paces down the road by the time the fiery-haired nymph made her appearance. She crawled out from under some bushes after the convoy had passed and silently skipped up behind the rear guard's horse, a rag in hand. With a sudden burst of speed, Daphne leapt up and over the horse's rump and sat herself behind the cloaked guard.

Before the guard could call out, Daphne rammed the rag between the woman's lips to silence her. She wrapped her other arm around the guard's chest to keep her from snapping the reins or reaching for her weapon.

Reinforcements arrived when the golden-haired Serena emerged from the bushes and sprinted up alongside. Daphne pushed the guard off the horse and into Serena's waiting arms then hopped into the saddle. Penelope was sure to have a convenient coughing fit to mask the noise of the guard's futile struggles as she wrestled with Serena in the dirt.

Daphne galloped her horse to rejoin the convoy. With a skilful leap off the saddle, she climbed atop the moving cage wagon and prowled across its roof like a tigress in the night. She lay down across the bars and poked her arms through to begin untying Penelope's wrists from her elbows. At the exact moment Penelope was free of her bonds, the wagon started slowing down. Something was happening on the road ahead.

Unaware of what was going on immediately behind her, Thalia asked her escort, "Why are we slowing down?"

"Your Honour," said the guard at the reins, "those are soldiers on the path."

"Snap the reins! Ride through them. I don't have time for this nonsense."

"There are too many, Your Honour."

"What do they want?" asked the High Mistress through gritted teeth. "Who do I have to yell at to... no... it can't be... Peitho?!"

Penelope thought that name sounded familiar. Peitho? The same woman who helped me escape the Minotaur's labyrinth? What's she doing here?

Thalia continued, "How'd she get back?! Stop the convoy. Stop!"

The cage wagon came to a sudden halt as an uproar of shouts and cracking whips ensued. Daphne seized the opportunity of confusion to pounce. She grabbed Thalia from behind and pulled her back onto the roof of the cage then lunged into the guard at the wagon's reins and dragged her to the ground.

Before Thalia could make sense of her plight, Penelope and Ellisia slipped their hands through the bars and pinned her to the cage roof. Though she struggled furiously like a frightened animal, a lifetime of having other women do all her dirty work had left the High Mistress weak in comparison to the career soldiers locked in the cage.

Up front, Penelope could see the forward guards being arrested and shackled in irons by Athenian soldiers dressed in white boiled leather armour with matching plumed helms. Among them was Peitho - the doe-eyed girl with golden brown hair, hazel eyes and long tanned legs - rescuing Penelope from slavery for the second time. She was wearing a beautiful blue gown with purple lace trimmings that showed off every curve her body had to offer.

"Peitho!" Thalia furiously screamed as Hera's Daughters began tying her arms and legs to the bars. "Peitho, you bitch! You were meant to be enslaved! You were gone!"

The clever girl approached, grinning victoriously from ear to ear. "I was gone, but now I'm back. You have Penelope here to thank for that. She was the heroine who saved this damsel in distress from the Cretan labyrinth." Her grin turned flirtatious as her eyes met with Penelope's. "It's been too long, Penelope. You look good naked. I'd wager you'd look even better in my bed."

The captain felt a blush creeping up to her cheeks. "It's good to see you too, Peitho. I take it you know Thalia?"

Peitho laughed. "Know her? Crazy bitch orchestrated to have me kidnapped when I was envoying in Crete."

Then it clicked. "You were a High Mistress?"

"Were? I still am! At least until the end of summer. And now that there's proof of Thalia's treachery, she'll be arrested and thrown in a dungeon where she belongs. There are still three other High Mistresses missing because of her schemes. Fortunately for them and unfortunately for Thalia," she held up her hand and wiggled her little finger, "we have ways of getting information from tight lips."

That made Thalia cry. "I nearly had it. I was so close! So close! I hate you! You're such bi-mmph!" The treacherous politician's insult was cut short by Penelope's hand.

"Shut up, Thalia."

"Thank you, Penelope." The way Peitho's hazel eyes flashed gave Penelope a fluttery feeling in her stomach. "We should probably get you out of that cage and into something more flattering. You should at least be clothed when Athens declares war on Thessaly."

Continued in Chapter 29

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