Passion Light (21 page)

He looked directly at Evan and gave him an abrupt nod of greeting.

Doris was as out of patience and as stressed as her husband Albert was. “We have to discuss something with the two of you,” she said firmly.

“You and Albert…and Olaf?” Isabelle asked doubtfully.

Evan watched attentively but said only, “Speak. We will listen.”

“This mess has happened without the agreement of many of us here,” Doris said. “We want to make plans to stop the two old perverts that have hatched this ridiculous plot. None of us can stand the idea of what they plan and we just can’t put up with them any more. Albert says he’s cracking up and he wants to crack a few skulls on his way out, too, just out of anger and frustration.”

“I don’t want Albert getting into trouble,” Isabelle said. “I care for both of you and, Doris, you know how Uncle will react.”

“Why are we all living in fear of that dirty old man,” Doris shouted. “Just look at this costume he’s sent for you to wear!” She flung it onto the bed where it glittered in two small pieces that would leave all Isabelle’s parts uncovered, her breasts pushed together and up and her backside revealed by a thong and some silk scarves. What was this thing Uncle had for silk scarves that covered nothing?

“What kind of incentive does Uncle think he can use on me to get me to wear that?” Isabelle asked the group. “He’s ordered me burned at the stake. I don’t feel like doing ANYTHING he wants,” she said flatly.

She looked at Olaf and said, “Unless you plan to dress me yourself I’ll never wear that plus I feel like a little hand to hand combat just to land a few on you and the priest and Uncle.”

Olaf nodded in agreement. “Of course, I understand, but the costume is not what we want to talk about, really. The design of it is what your uncle ordered. He kept telling the sewers to make it smaller. A tissue would cover more of you than that little pile of scraps. I don’t blame you for not wanting to wear it and I would certainly not make you do so. It was just an excuse to come here and meet with you two.”

Isabelle was ready to concentrate on nearly anything else besides the costume. It made her feel slightly ill and miss the shelter of family more than she ever had since her father died.

Olaf moved a little restlessly. “This whole thing seems crazy, as if your relative has lost his way. Isabelle contributes to this place in vital, even strategic ways. If Uncle is no longer competent to run this place then someone more capable needs to take charge. Albert has the experience as a commander, but not all of Isabelle’s skills. Doris does know a lot about what Isabelle does, but people don’t give her the respect she deserves anymore than they do Isabelle.”

“You are right about Doris and Albert, plus they are married, but Uncle treats them all like servants. They exist only to make him more comfortable. He’s never been one to worry about right and wrong,” Evan observed.

Olaf moved restlessly again and then spoke as plainly as he could. “I feel we can prevail if we stick together. Most of Uncle’s old guards are less effective and capable than they once were. Isabelle has provided them with a soft life,” he said smiling ironically.

He continued, “And some would be with us in a confrontation. If we lose, the place will be unbearable anyway, so the risk seems worth it to us. I cannot be a party to what they are planning regardless, so I am with you if you want to go against them.”

Evan nodded in acknowledgement of what he had said. “You were right when you suggested to Albert that all of you wait for the moment we make our move,” he said.

Olaf looked at him in shock that he could know of the conversation he had with Albert. He shook his head and laughed a short and admiring sound. “Uncle is a fool, isn’t he?” he asked smiling grimly.

Doris spoke up. “What about this costume thing? Isabelle will be naked as a hog on a platter if Uncle has his way. Then he’s going to roast her. I’m supposed to make sure you wear the few pieces of clothing he’s planning to allow you. Olaf is supposed to be here to see that it happens, too. It was our excuse to come here to speak with you two and to let Isabelle know that not everyone here thinks she’s a witch. Any woman can get cranky if she has to put up with too much crap from stupid men.”

Isabelle blotted away a tear and laughed and hugged Doris. “I have to thank you,” she said. “You help me so much and I appreciate it and don’t say so enough. I don’t think I could have managed or survived this long without you and Albert.”

Doris got flustered and dithered for a few moments fighting her emotions.

Evan spoke up. “Wear the costume…but for my peace of mind alter it to cover the parts I object to others seeing. This is going to haunt me if we are not careful.” He looked pained and angry, showing more emotion than he usually did.

Isabelle started to object and he looked at her and stroked a hand down her arm in a gesture meant to comfort. She suddenly realized he was every bit as unhappy as she was with Uncle’s scheme. He was trying to be a cool and strategic thinker, but his emotions were as involved as hers.

His eyes looked grim and unhappy but he was carrying on just as the rest of them were.

Evan continued, “It will serve us as another distraction. Brian and I and…I think, Olaf, too…will accompany you so that no one will touch you. We will all be in costumes and the show will be more exciting and impressive theater than if we leave Uncle’s plans in place. Every eye will be on us and no one will be watching for other things.”

“You’ll be in a costume, too?” Isabelle asked.

“And Brian and Olaf, all of us, and others, too,” he replied.

Doris laughed and said, “I can’t wait to see this! It will be like the show of the giants. Isabelle’s tall for a woman and the men are all 6’5” or taller. I am starting to see that this might be more entertaining than I thought, now that I have hope for my girl. Albert and I care for her, partly because we lost our own children, but more because of the kind of person she is.”

Isabelle walked to the bed and picked up the few tiny pieces of cloth she was supposed to wear. Dismay rose as she tried to imagine what they would cover. There was just enough to hide a little of her crotch and hold her breasts high and bare, nipples uncovered. A whimper of anguish escaped and she pressed her hand to her mouth to smother it. She could not imagine appearing in front of a huge crowd of strangers literally nearly naked.

The intent, his plan appalled her. Many people had little modesty, but Isabelle did. How did the strippers do it? She’d rather pull weeds all day in the gardens than wear this ‘not quite a garment’ in front of a crowd.

It was like a nightmare, one a good many people had. It occurred to her that Uncle intended for her to feel this pain first and then the pain of being burned while people watched as the next phase of a well-planned torture, designed just for her. First he intended for her to be stripped naked and completely vulnerable and then he planned that she would died in horrible pain and agony while people watched every moment of her suffering.

Doris and Evan knew what she felt. Even Olaf sensed some of what she was feeling.

The additional cruelty was that Uncle was her last surviving relative, one who obviously and clearly did not have even an ounce of affection or love for her. Her heart broke a little and all of them knew it. Evan reached to touch her trying to communicate his caring and to comfort her.

Olaf looked conflicted and worried, but said nothing. At least he looked like he cared.

Doris said, “You know what to do, don’t you? Imagine all of them naked, too. Swagger in and smile and think of all them wearing the same thing you are.”

“That could get kind of gross,” Olaf pointed out. “Few of them are as pretty as Isabelle, but more of them, especially the men are plain ugly. Pretty women are sometimes so beautiful I can only see them like they are, art made life. I do not think bad thoughts. I merely appreciate their beauty, even as they age they still seem beautiful.”

Evan looked at him with focused attention. “You think like a Terran,” he said.

Olaf answered, “I do not know where I came from or who my people were. I was raised in an orphanage. When I reached eighteen I enlisted in the Army and managed to survive the wars. I fell in with Isabelle’s uncle after it was all over out of loneliness and disenchantment.  As far as I know I was the only survivor of a whole battalion of soldiers. I was hurt but I was able to walk away from the destruction when I regained consciousness. There was no one left to fight or to join. Finally I came upon Kevin Wright, your uncle and his cohorts. They seemed better than being alone. I was nearly mad with it.”

Doris reached out and patted his face. She had to reach high to do it, but she gave him a motherly pat anyway. “We have a strategy and we know what to do. You men see to your plans while Isabelle and I try to do something with this costume,” she said. “Isabelle and I will use her bathroom and dress her as modestly as we can manage and still rivet the crowd’s attention.”

“I want to see her before we go outside,” Evan said. He was stressed more than he had ever experienced, even in battle. Every protective instinct he had screamed.

“Don’t worry,” Doris said bracingly, “I’ll preserve her modesty, but she will still look beautiful enough to knock their eyes out.”

Evan growled with tension and then turned and looked at Olaf. “Come, I will find you a costume.” He knew he desperately needed distraction.

Chapter 25

It was still light outside when they all entered Isabelle’s room. Brian and Olaf wore standard ceremonial costumes like ones worn on Terra. Evan was in one that was slightly more elaborate. Evan’s cohort Ana also joined them through the tunnels.

They clustered together receiving last minute instructions from both Evan and Ana. Ana said, “I will march in front of Isabelle to clear the way and prevent insult to her. Brian and Olaf will walk on either side of her for the same purpose.

Evan added, “I will accompany Isabelle, walking directly behind her. All of us are taller than she is and more experienced warriors, too. We should be able to make the march without any untoward incidents.”

At that moment Isabelle emerged from her bathroom followed by Doris.

Everyone just stared for a few seconds, amazed by what they saw. Isabelle was not one to go about dressed up and sparkling. She had known that she did not want the attention of Uncle’s guests and had intentionally hidden her beauty. But the costume revealed what she had so carefully hidden. She was outed as a lovely woman and she looked great.

Her long red/brown hair was arranged in two small braids with gold beads that wrapped around her head to hold the rest of her hair back behind her ears. It draped in soft curls all the way to the small of her back.

The costume Uncle had sent was virtually invisible under a series of scarves that effectively hid all Isabelle’s delicate parts without covering her completely. As she walked her long beautiful legs were revealed by each step. Her waist and graceful back were also evident, but not immodestly so. Her breasts were covered with a gold silk scarf that was tied like a halter around her over the ineffective little cupless bra. Evan’s engagement necklace, which she wore constantly dangled just below the hollow of her neck.