The Shadow Doctor Ch. 01

Tam shifted the stool over slightly so that he was facing her again. "While you are applying the cream, let's discuss the conversation imbalance again."

"Right back to the same topic. This is clearly worth something to you, having a civilized conversation?"

Tam nodded.

"Okay, I'm willing to play along and chat, but I'm going to want something of equal value in return. Since I can't lie, I want you to promise not to lie either. And since I have to answer your questions, I want you to have to answer my questions. Just pretend that you cast your spell on yourself whenever you talk to me. Do that and our conversation will be balanced."

"I have no intention of lying to you, so I am perfectly willing to agree to be truthful. On the topic of trading questions, what you propose would be balanced, but it would not be properly balanced. We are not equals; I am the master and you are the slave. I think a proper balance would be that I will allow you to ask me one question for every three times I compel you with a question. I reserve the right to refuse to answer, but if I do so or if I answer incompletely I will tell you why and allow you to ask a different question. I believe that to be a proper concession. Do you accept?"

"Yes. Not ideal, but I'll take it. That counts as one question for you. What are your next two?"

"I'm not sure something as simple as asking if you accepted should count as a question." Tam grinned as he said it.

"I was compelled to answer, I could feel it. It's not my fault you phrased it as a question. Two more for you, then one for me."

"I'm curious about your current concern over modesty. I've worked on your naked body for hours and watched you being fucked. Your modesty didn't seem to be a concern for you then. Why are you now trying to cover yourself?"

"I'm not completely sure. Um, thinking about it, I think it's because when they were treating me like an animal, I was reacting and fighting back like an animal. Now, you still have me locked in a cage, but you're treating me a little bit like a person. If I feel like I'm a person again, then I'm embarrassed about being naked." The woman blushed furiously. "I still can't believe I just told you that. This spell is a real mind-fuck."

Tam laughed. "Third question: Do you know that you look very pretty when you blush?"

"I don't know that, but I've had men tell me that before. Are you . . . wait, I almost wasted a question on whether you were trying to make me feel embarrassed."

"It is your turn, and no, I was not trying to embarrass you, though if produces those blushes I may try in the future. Go ahead and pick your first question."

"Lots of questions, but I want to start by trying to understand you. Why are you willing to make concessions and bargain with me? I'm supposed to be your slave, and you've got this spell on me too. I thought you would just be compelling me to answer and beating me into obedience, trying to break me."

"Not a simple question. Part of it is simply that I believe in the importance of manners. Society functions better with respect and politeness, and I always strive for that. I'm also a scholar, and I'm curious to see if I can train you to be a good slave without beating you to a pulp. In the end though, it's because I want you to be happy. I bought you to share my bed, and I'd rather have an enthusiastic partner than a cowering wretch. I do not know you well, but I enjoy the intelligence and determination I can already see in you. If I were to follow Chiang Lu's method in training you, I fear that would be lost. I think treating you with respect and giving you some indulgences will help achieve that goal."

"I was wrong before; I'm not the one going mad. I'm being held captive by an insane person. You think I can be happy being what, your little pet? You honestly think I'll wake up some day and think 'Oh boy, I hope I get to suck Master's cock today! And then maybe he'll let me brush his shoes, or mop the floors! Maybe he'll have me whipped if I'm lucky! What a wonderful day!'"

"It seems unlikely to you at the moment, I'm sure. Still, there are thousands of slaves in this city. Many of them are well treated, have positions of responsibility in the household, and are quite happy. It is a better life than the poor have in the slums; I do not know the exact numbers, but from my understanding more than half of the slaves in the city entered the condition voluntarily to earn money for their families or pay their debts. Still, I am realistic enough to know it will not happen overnight. You asked your question, and I answered as honestly as I could."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm very enthusiastic about the part of your plan where you don't beat me senseless. I'm a big fan of only having half of my face covered in bruises."

As they spoke, the woman continued applying the cream. Despite her best efforts, her movements gave Tam the occasional glance at her breasts, and a brief glimpse between her legs as she shifted her weight. He felt his cock twitch in interest. Strange that the clinical mindset he had when viewing her nude body earlier transformed into arousal now that she was trying to conceal herself.

On a whim, he took advantage of the lull in conversation to purposely let her catch him looking at her breasts as she rubbed ointment into one of the bruises on her ribs, then sent a mental command that she should feel a mild burst of arousal. She blushed furiously and shifted to cover herself again.

"A few more questions while you apply the ointment. What is your name?"

"My name is Moonlight, daughter of the Defender." The woman blinked in confusion. "That's not my name. My name is Yelena Alexovna. Why did I answer that way?"

"Ah, I suspect it is another small detail of the spell. The spell compels you to provide an answer in the language the question was asked, if you can. I assume that is a translation of your name from your own language. You have five more of my questions to answer before I must answer you again."

"That's not fair! I was wondering out loud to myself!"

Tam raised an eyebrow. "You started this by counting my request for assent as a question. I will give you an easy one though - am I correct in my guess that you were compelled to give me the translation of your name?"

"Yes, that seems to be the case. Though it's very odd - there is no direct translation of Yelena Alexovna into Han beyond Yelena daughter of Alex; in my language, they are traditional names taken from history. Moonlight and Defender are rough translations from the original languages into Han. If I didn't know the original languages, I'm not sure I would have been able to give you that answer."

"Exactly how many languages do you know?"

"I am fluent in eight languages, can carry on basic conversations in four more, and can read and write an additional three dead languages. So, not counting minor dialect variations, I know fifteen languages."

"I am impressed. I would be tempted to think you were lying if I didn't know it was impossible. Are you older than you look? How have you learned so many languages?"

"I'll be twenty-three years old in a month. I've always had a natural gift for languages. I grew up knowing three languages and picked up words from others easily. It was the talent that led to my father Alex adopting me. He hired tutors for me from a young age to teach me all the languages he thought would be useful for me to know, and trained me to work as a translator for the family, allowing me to continue to learn as I worked."

"It helps to know the original languages that modern languages are descended from. Many languages have common structures and similarities which make them easier to learn once you know one of them. Han was one of the most difficult to learn, since it shares few similarities with the ones I knew before I was sent here. Also, that was two questions at once, so you only have one more before I get to ask one."

"I suppose we will continue with names. How do you spell Yelena Alexovna in Han? Say, for instance, you were signing a contract or some other legal document."

"I combine a pair of characters that have a similar sound to Yelena, then follow it with the sign my family has adopted for our business dealings in Nihai. Here, I'll draw them for you. Also, your pronunciation is atrocious, it's Yelena Alexovna." She uttered each syllable clearly and distinctly while she reached out of the cage to trace a pair of characters in the dirt with her finger.

Tam studied the characters, then stood and walked to the table where he copied them in ink on a scrap of paper. He compared his copy to the original on the floor then replaced it on the table. Taking a set of formal documents, he began to carefully ink the characters into the space left blank for that purpose. He glanced over at the woman as he did so. She was rubbing the cream into the bruises on her neck, working around her iron collar, but watching him.

"I believe it is your turn to ask a question."

"I think you want me to ask why you're writing my name down on those papers. I have a better question though. What's the best way for me to get you to release me?"

Tam laughed in genuine amusement. "I admire your determination. I will refuse to answer; I do not want to release you, so I will not tell you how to influence me to do so. However, since I have refused to answer, you are permitted another question, but you will have to wait to ask it. I see you are hesitating to apply the cream to the bruises on your face."

Yelena flushed. "I'm . . . not sure if I can rub it in without removing your cum. I was told I wasn't allowed to remove it your permission."

"Ah, yes, Su Wen is very intimidating. I will propose another bargain, like our arrangement with the questions. I will allow you to clean your face, if you display your body for me to admire."

"What?"

"I simply want you to drop your new modesty and willingly present your naked body for my eyes. I have already seen you naked for hours; you're not really sacrificing anything, and in return you will have my permission to clean my semen off your face without fear of punishment."

Yelena scowled at him, looking for the trap in his offer. Tam simply sat and waited patiently. Eventually she sighed and lowered her hands to her sides. "Like this?"

"No, I said display yourself. Kneel, knees spread wide so your pussy is open. Hands behind your head. Push your breasts forward."

Yelena glared at him but complied, her eyes fixed on his. Tam let his eyes drink in her form in the submissive posture. He reached into her mind and pushed her to become aroused.

Yelena's breath caught and she lowered her head blushing as her nipples hardened. "How . . . how much longer?"

"Just a bit more. Look at me, Yelena, not at the floor."

Yelena forced her head back up and met his gaze. Her face was flushed, her eyes beginning to dilate and darken from their normal grass-green to a dark jade. Her lips parted and her breathing grew more labored as Tam mentally pushed her arousal higher. Finally he took mercy on her, tossing a rag through the bars of the cage.

"Thank you, Yelena, I'm very pleased. You can clean your face off now and finish applying the cream."

She scooted to the back of the cage, covering herself as best she could again, before she began cleaning her face. She was clearly confused and embarrassed by her arousal.

"You're due another question, Yelena, since I refused to answer the last one."

"Um . . . do you know what the Tong are planning to do to my family?"

"No, I do not. I have a simple contract with them. I show up, I cast my spell on a subject, I remain available while the subject is questioned in case there are complications, and then I leave. I can make a guess. Are your family criminals?"

"Yes. They're not really my family; it's just what we call the group. My adoptive father and I are both members. In structure and daily activities it's similar to the Tong, but instead of many independent groups, we all work together across several countries under a central authority. Smuggling is our main line of work but we cover everything in the underworld."

"And what do you do for them?"

"I'm a translator. International smuggling involves a lot of different languages, and it's important to be very clear about agreements when both sides are prone to violence if they feel they've been short-changed."

"What did Su Wen ask about? General highlights only please, don't let the compulsion make you recount all of the hours of questioning."

"Daily patterns, safe houses, stockpiles of goods and weapons, locations of gambling dens and brothels. Who our best fighters are, their tactics and capabilities."

"Then I assume she was gathering intelligence for an attempt by the Tong to take over your operations and assume complete control of all underworld activity in the city."

"That's what I was afraid of. How quickly do you think they'll act?"

"I can't say for sure. It takes time to mobilize troops, but they'll want to act quickly before your people change their patterns in response to your disappearance."

Yelena sighed and slumped slightly. She looked down at her hand and realized she was done with the cream. She crawled back to the front of the cage and set the jar and rag outside the cage without being told to do so.

"Yelena, there's one more thing we need to do for your treatment. I need to inspect your vaginal walls for tears."

"If you think I'm letting you inside me without a fight, you're crazy."

Tam sighed. "I know you find it embarrassing, but please remember that I am a doctor. I will use a speculum to widen your passage so I can examine it visually. I won't touch you with anything but my fingers. It's something I do on a routine basis for female patients. The embarrassment is surely preferable to acquiring a painful infection or long term injury which could be avoided with treatment."

"That doesn't mean I have to like it. But alright, it makes sense. Are you . . . ah, hang on, let me think how to phrase it so it's not a question. I assume you're going to take me out of the cage to do this."

"No, I do not think I trust you that much yet. I think there is a way to do this which will not put us in a position where you are tempted to violence. Come over here."

Yelena frowned but reluctantly crawled to the front of the cage where Tam had set the stool and the tools he required for the examination.

"Lie on your back with your shoulders braced against the ground. Then lift your legs and put them through the bars here and here, resting on the crossbar, so that your pelvis is spread open and elevated to a height where I can examine it."

"I'm tempted to risk the infection" she muttered, but awkwardly complied. Tam helped position her once her legs were through the bars, pulling her forward so that her sex was framed by two of the bars. An additional benefit of the position was that she was supporting her weight on her shoulders and elbows, making it impossible for her to strike him unexpectedly.

Tam strapped his surgical light to his forehead; the enchanted crystal glowed as he activated it with a touch of chi, leaving his hands free. He examined the smooth shaven exterior of her genitals first, running his fingers over her skin. As he lightly touched her, he found her lingering arousal from earlier and began to gradually ramp it up again. "The process will be uncomfortable for you at several points. This is normal, simply try to relax as much as possible. You must inform me if you feel actual pain at any point."

He gently parted her outer lips and spread them, then carefully examined her inner lips. His slowly probing fingers quickly began to pick up traces of moisture. When he saw her clitoris protrude from its hood, he made sure to stroke it as well. Yelena's breathing became slightly ragged.

Opening her inner lips with his left hand, Tam slid his finger into her. Satisfied with her level of lubrication, he picked up his speculum with his right hand and slowly inserted it. Once it was fully embedded, he turned the screw to open it and bent to peer inside. He positioned his left hand so that his palm brushed against her clit as he slowly withdrew the open speculum.

His main attention was focused on each section of her vaginal walls as the retreating speculum released them to view. He was after all seriously inspecting her for damage. However, a significant portion of his attention was on the entirely unprofessional level of arousal his command was inducing in her. She had given up watching him, her head back against the floor, her eyes tightly shut. As her breathing got heavier, her chest rose and fell in a pleasing manner. He could see her nipples had hardened into pebbled nubs, and the lubrication under his fingers was thickening and beginning to trickle down towards her anus.

He was relieved when the examination revealed no tearing. He set down the speculum and picked up another jar of cream, dipping his fingers into it.

"Stay were you are, Yelena. I'm going to rub a different cream into you to help you heal here."

Tam slid two cream-laden fingers into her pussy. He placed his left hand on her lower stomach, pressing down gently until he could feel the motion of his fingers inside her. He slid his fingers in and out while stroking her clit with his thumb. She quickly began panting and whimpering, her face and the upper portion of her chest flushed red. Her hands were clenched, her fingers digging into the dirt of the floor. The compelled arousal was now mixing with her body's natural response to touch, pushing her closer to the brink. Tam pressed his thumb down hard on her clitoris while giving a mental command to her to orgasm.

Yelena cried out and stiffened, her muscles locking. Tam continued to finger her through her orgasm, then for a few moments after before he pulled back, wiping his fingers off and putting his things away. Yelena was slumped on the floor of the cage; her legs still half-way through the bars, trying to recover. Tam studied the view with satisfaction.

"I . . . ah . . . what . . ." She slowly came back to her senses. When she realized the position she was in, she hastily pulled her legs back and retreated into a ball in the back corner, hiding behind her knees. She peeked out at him, and after seeing him calmly sitting on the stool with a neutral expression, faced him, still blushing.

"The examination was successful. You have no internal damage. The muscles are sore from being stretched without proper lubrication, but nothing was torn and the cream will make them feel better. Your sexual organs respond to stimulus correctly. Did you enjoy the orgasm?"

"I don't understand the question."

Tam raised an eyebrow. "The overwhelming sense of pleasure you felt when you came. Do you not know the word orgasm in Han?"

"No, I know the word, I just didn't know that was what just happened."

"Really? Have you never had an orgasm before?"

"No, nothing like that."

"That's fascinating. Were you actually a virgin before yesterday?"

Yelena blushed even harder. "No, I wasn't. I've had sex before. That was four questions, you skipped my turn."

"Very well, you can ask your question, but as soon as you're done I'm very curious to return to this line of questioning."

"I'm not. Let's talk about something else. My question is: what are your plans for me?"

"I am still trying to decide my long term plans for you. You were an impulsive purchase on my part. I bought you as a bed slave, so I imagine your primary duties will eventually revolve around warming my bed, and also include bathing and dressing me and the other usual tasks of a body servant. That's a long ways off though, and depends on whether you can be properly trained. Don't worry about any of that for now."