Story: Mind Games.

 by Jackie J

The evening had turned out much better than Jane Askew had thought. When she had received Lucy’s invite for the event she had wanted to refuse, make some excuse but it was for charity and a charity she herself supported, she had to attend, she was a patron after all and Lucy was quite insistent. Jane chuckled to herself in the taxi on the way home Hypnosis, what a sham and the performance had not changed her mind. The hypnotist was very professional, a little frightening but it was just theatre wasn’t it. She must have had stooges in the audience she must have had. Looking at the pamphlet “Madame Zara” had given her when they chatted after her performance Jane wondered if she had been rude when she told her that she didn’t believe it was real. No, Madame Zara seemed alright she must have heard that many times from the less gullible members of her audience.  Anyway, I did compliment her on her eye makeup, couldn’t take my eyes of it, I do hope she didn’t think I was staring at her? Jane tried to remember what the hypnotist had told her before she left it seemed important at the time but for the life of her, she couldn’t bring it to mind. 

“Just here on the left driver you can pull through the main gates then up the driveway to main entrance.”

Jane entered the palatial old house and sighed. Her attempts to sell the property since her husband Rodger passed away had been unsuccessful, it was too much just for her but Jane had reconciled that until she received a significantly improved offer for the property, she would remain at Tarragon Hall. 

Waking the following morning Jane trudged down to the kitchen and smiled at the dust on the bookcases and banister highlighted by the bright sunshine bursting through the picture window on the large half landing, the smears on the window proclaiming itself to be not without its own lack of attention.  A mug of coffee in hand, sat at the breakfast bar Jane reflected on the state of the house. Since she had fired Mrs. Mullins things had deteriorated for sure. Jane regretting that she had sacked her maid Jenny, not thoughts she had shared with anyone else had she? But she had to fire her she couldn’t keep her housekeeper on at Tarragon Hall after what she had said about Rodger at the funeral. Of course, what she had said proved to be true, Rodger had been having an affair but it didn’t make it right broadcasting it to everyone. Twelve months now and she would have to do something the state of the rambling old place was getting out of hand, perhaps that was another reason the place hadn’t been sold?

The distinctive ring of the door bell brought Jane from her daydreaming. It would be Lucy to tell her how well the charity event went and how much had been raised.

The door opened and sure enough it was the bubbly Lucy made up to the nines as usual in an expensive ensemble. Jane smiled still wearing her nightdress, dressing gown and the oversize slippers she wore.

“Jane it’s nearly lunch time and you are not dressed yet?”

Lucy was quickly into the kitchen filling the kettle and preparing a cup of coffee for herself, care taken to clean the stains from the cups previous use.

“Well Jane what did you think about the event last night we made over five thousand pounds, the hypnotist, Madame Zara contacted me out of the blue, waived her usual fee, did it for nothing, wouldn’t even take anything for her expenses. I am sure her family is from the area, perhaps that’s why she was willing to help?”

Lucy laughed.

“And you, I thought you had gone home the place was empty when I found you sat in her dressing room. You told me you didn’t believe in it, that it is just all a sham, an act that it is impossible to hypnotize people? So, go on what were you talking to her about?”

Jane smiled and sipped her coffee trying hard to remember but she couldn’t? 

“Erm, erm, well just general stuff about the charity you where there weren’t you?”

The kettle having boiled Lucy made her coffee and sat opposite Jane at the breakfast bar.

“Not all the time, only for a few minutes actually, when I came into the dressing room Madame Zara was giving you a pamphlet and you left shortly after that. It must have been a good thirty minutes after the performance had finished before I joined you.” 

Jane drained her coffee cup and stood for a refill trying to recall what she had spoken to the hypnotist about; she was convinced they only chatted for a few minutes and that Lucy had been with her all the time? 

Jane laughed stirring in a spoonful of sugar into her drink wanting to make light of her dilemma.

“Perhaps she hypnotized me Lucy?”

Lucy put down her cup with a look of concern.

“Do you think so Jane Really?”

Jane sat back down at the breakfast bar giggling her arms outstretched and waving her fingers in front of her.

“Wooooooooooooooooo, woooooooooooooooooo.”

“Don’t be silly Lucy, I told you before and I told Madame Zelda, Zara whatever her name was the same I don’t believe in it, no way could I be or was I hypnotized.” 

“Anyway, forget that nonsense five thousand pounds Lucy that’s a tidy sum and the woman wouldn’t take a penny that’s fantastic perhaps she could come back next year given it was so successful?

Lucy finished her coffee and smiled.

“Yes, that’s a good idea Jane I will bare that in mind, anyways I have to dash just called to give you the good news.” 

Lucy left and Jane stared at the dirty pots and plates by the sink and sighed adding Lucy’s and her own cup to the pile.

The telephone ringing Jane walked into the hallway and picked up the receiver.

“Hello Jane speaking.”

Jane wasn’t on the telephone long and replacing the handset back on its cradle she went to get dressed and was soon leaving the house heading to town.

That evening sat with a large gin in hand Jane toyed with her much shorter hair. The hairdresser had questioned why Jane wanted to trim her long locks into such a conservative short bob but Jane had been adamant the same with the colour, Jane’s hair was dark but not black, raven black like it was now. 

When Jane awoke the following morning, she stared into the bathroom mirror questioningly? Her hair what had she done to it? All Jane knew was that it had to be this way, she wanted it this way but could not think why?

Sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen her first coffee of the morning half drained the telephone rang and Jane headed into the hallway and answered the call.

“Hello Jane Speaking.” 

“Hi Lucy, yes of course, sounds intriguing, two thirty, Roland’s wine bar, see you there.”

Lucy looked at Jane questioningly when she entered the wine bar to join her at their usual table in the corner.

“Jane? Your hair, what have you done?”

Jane pushed up her hair with her hand and smiled.

“What don’t you like it I think it looks quite nice, I needed a change, much less fussy, easier to manage?”

Lucy shrugged her shoulders.

“Well it’s different, very different I must say Jane it looks…

Lucy refrained from saying what she really thought, that it looked more the style of a working woman rather than a millionaire lady of leisure.

“Well rather short and black that’s quite a change for you but if you like it that’s all that matters, so what brought this on, you haven’t said anything before about having a change?”

Jane looked at Lucy, what did bring it on, why did she change her hairstyle so drastically? Surely, she had discussed it before, she had wanted this style for some time hadn’t she, she needed it to be like this, she must have mentioned it before?

“I must have mentioned it before, anyway forget my hair pass me a glass Lucy and why did you want to meet it sounded urgent, so what’s the favour you want?”

Lucy filled Jane’s glass and topped up her own.

“Well, and you can say no of course, Madame Zara, the hypnotist woman from the other evening, remember I told you she gave her services for nothing? I did say that in view of giving her performance for free if there was anything I, well we could do for her she just had to ask.”

Jane sipped on her wine and leaned forward.

“Yes and?”

Lucy took a gulp of her wine then looking rather sheepish continued.

“Madame Zara is working in the region for the next few weeks and needs somewhere to stay. She could stay with Chris and me but we are away on holiday at the end of the week for a month and I wondered if, well if, well if she could stay at your place you have plenty of rooms at Tarragon Hall? It’s only for two weeks, three at the most, she would be no trouble she would be out rehearsing or performing most of the time, just somewhere to lay her head keep her things?”

Jane took another sip of her wine looking into the middle distance across the room. This had been mentioned before hadn’t it? Although she couldn’t remember when, hadn’t she already agreed that Madame Zara could stay at Tarragon Hall whenever she wished and seemed to know just how to answer? 

“Yes of course Lucy that will be nice having a guest to stay at Tarragon Hall, Madame Zara will be most welcome, it’s the least we can do for her after what she did for our charity.”

Lucy couldn’t believe it her friend had agreed without question and raised the wine bottle from the ice bucket to top up their glasses.

Jane put her hand over her glass.

“No, no more for me Lucy I will have to get back and prepare for my guest, when will she be arriving?”

Lucy filled her own glass and returned the bottle into the splash of ice.

“Well if that’s alright with you tomorrow around midday.”

Jane smiled.

“Then I should get back straight away and prepare her room.”

Lucy stared at Jane when her friend stood from the table.

“You are sure you are alright with this Jane, Madame Zara staying with you?”

Lucy was so pleased that Jane had so willingly agreed to offer accommodation to Madame Zara she didn’t even notice or question Jane when she repeated her previous response word for word. 

“Yes of course Lucy that will be nice having a guest to stay at Tarragon Hall, Madame Zara will be most welcome, it’s the least we can do for her after what she did for our charity.”

Jane left and Lucy finishing what remained of the wine tapped out Madame Zara’s number into her mobile.

“Hi, its Lucy, from the charity, yes that’s right about the accommodation, it’s all arranged with my friend, the one you met the other evening Jane, Jane Askew. Yes, she is pretty, yes very skeptical but no, quite the opposite you will be pleased to hear, she is looking forward to you staying with her, Tarragon Hall do you know it? You do, yes that’s right Long Acre drive, off the main road leading from town a bit in the wilds but you have a car. When? I said tomorrow around midday like you asked she will be expecting you. No that’s fine, no trouble at all and thank you again for the other evening it was a great success.   

Jane having returned to Tarragon Hall had only one thing on her mind but could not think why? That she had to prepare for a guest nothing was more important was it?

Sat in the kitchen Jane stared at the pamphlet she had been given by Madame Zara following the charity event and the all-consuming thoughts of preparing for her guest swamped her mind.

With Mrs. Mullin’s cleaning equipment removed from the cupboards Jane put herself to work and with a smile on her face Jane stood back at the doorway of the main guest room to admire her work. Fresh linen adorned the bed everything inside room perfect ready for her guest. 

The following morning Jane awoke early or so she thought, it was in fact just after noon? Yawning she stretched, her body filled with an unfamiliar ache. Bleary eyed Jane made her way down to the kitchen and stopped at the doorway surveying its pristine appearance and shook her head. What the fuck? 

Switching on the kettle Jane shook her head again trying to clear her mind whilst she ran her fingers over the glistening mirror tiles which had not offered a reflection for many months? The clock on the cooker gave Jane another surprise twelve fifteen? It couldn’t be, it couldn’t?

Jane did not have time to dwell on the situation the sharp shrill of the door bell having her pulling the cord of her dressing gown tight around her and heading to the door. Probably some post or a parcel she thought.

Opening the door Jane stood back quizzically it was Madame Zara two cases in hand and a smile on her face? Before Jane could question why she was there the introductory words of her arriving guest put Jane at compliant ease unable to resist staring into her bright gleaming eyes.

“Madame Zara, Madame Zara, Madame Zara your guest.”

Jane stepped back and Madame Zara entered, keeping eye contact she dropped her cases then closed the door behind her.

Jane stood motionless and expressionless staring into Madame Zara’s eyes.

“You know why I am here Jane; you remember don’t you Jane.”

Jane continuing to stare spoke softly.

“Yes, Madame Zara you are here to help me I am yours to command.”

Madame Zara smirked and taking hold of Jane’s hand guided her down the hallway into the lounge and sitting her down on the sofa chuckled. 

“Jane, look at me, relax, close your eyes and listen to my voice, all you can hear is my voice that’s right, now deep breaths, deep, deep breaths feel your body heavy, very heavy your burdens so, so heavy, weighing you down. Madame Zara is going to lift those burdens, take them away, that’s what you want, isn’t it Jane? Tell Madame Zara that you want those burdens lifted, tell Madame Zara Jane.”

Jane slumped on the sofa with her eyes closed spoke in a dreamy tone.

“Yes Madame Zara, Jane wants her burdens lifted.” 

Madame Zara continued.

“Jane Askew has many burdens, but remember Jenny, we spoke of Jenny before didn’t we she has no burdens she just does what she is told, you want to be Jenny don’t you, you are Jenny aren’t you Jenny, you want to do what you are told don’t you Jenny, Jenny wants to please her mistress, Madame Zara is Jenny’s Mistress. 

Jane responded speaking slowly

“Yes, Jenny has no burdens I have no burdens I am Jenny, I do what I am told, Madame Zara is my Mistress, I am Jenny.”

Madame Zara smiled.

“Remember at the theater, Mrs. Askew told Madame Zara about her old rambling house, how unclean it was, how worried she was, that she needed a cleaner, a maid but wicked Mrs. Askew had sacked her maid and Madame Zara said Jenny could be her maid, be the maid at Tarragon Hall. You are ready to be the maid here now aren’t you Jenny, tell your mistress you are ready to be her maid Jenny.”

Jane in her trance induced stupor responded 

“Yes, Mistress Jenny is ready to be your maid.”

Madame Zara continued. 

“Yes you do Jenny, you want nothing more than to be the maid at Tarragon Hall to serve your Mistress but before you can be my maid you have a very important job to do for your mistress. Listen to your Mistress Jenny you are on a beach and Mrs. Askew is asleep in a small boat by the shore. Can you see the boat Jenny?

Jane murmured her dead eyes momentarily flickering open.

“Yes Mistress, a boat Mrs. Askew asleep.”

“That’s right Jenny, now be a good maid, the sea is very calm now push the boat away from the shore and watch it drift out to sea.”

Jane’s head slumped back down and Madame Zara smiled.

“Watch the boat Jenny watch it drift out and out far away, far away, watch it Jenny, watch it carefully tell me when the boat is out of sight over the horizon gone, gone, Mrs. Askew is gone tell your Mistress Mrs. Jane Askew is gone no longer with us.”

Madame Zara stood and waited until Jane sat slumped mumbled her reply.

“Gone, gone the boat is gone Jane Askew is gone, gone.”

Madame Zara chuckled.

“That’s right Jenny Jane Askew is gone out of sight nowhere to be seen or found and she is not coming back is she Jenny, Jenny can be the maid she wants to be now, tell your mistress she is gone and never coming back, tell your Mistress Jenny.”

Jane groaned and confirmed that she had buried her former self deep within her own subconscious mind, lost and insidiously bound somewhere within the billions of Neurons a blind lost soul silently imprisoned and shackled by the axons and dendrites with only one of the trillions of Synapses ever able to provide the lost key to its return. She was Jenny now, Jenny the maid of Tarragon Hall, the maid of her Mistress, Madame Zara.

“Jane Askew is gone Mistress, I don’t know where.”

Leaving the limp controlled mind and body of Jane Askew on the sofa Madame Zara, Jennifer Mullins the daughter of the former maid of Tarragon Hall, wandered to the bar and poured herself a glass of wine and taking her first sip chuckled to herself looking at what will be her willing maid Jenny.

Finishing her wine Jennifer strode back to her maid and stared at her sat in her fine nightdress and dressing gown smirking at the large slippers she wore.

Under her mistress’s command and still in her stupor Jenny compliantly stripped and having carried the two suitcases from the hallway into the maid’s quarters, once the abode of Jennifer’s mother, Jenny Mullins, she filled the closet and drawers with the contents of the suitcases and then dressed.

Jennifer smiled checking the large bow of her maid’s apron and adjusting the lace and ribbon tiara cap pinned to her short black bob cut hair.

Jennifer spent the next half hour reinforcing Jenny’s new persona. She was a maid, had been a maid for many years, Jenny had been hired to bring the house back to its pristine standard. With these thoughts drummed into the empty mind of what was the mistress of Tarragon Hall Jenny the maid was ready to begin her new life, the maid of Tarragon Hall.

Sat on a stool in the kitchen, to the command of her Mistress’s voice, a voice she knew was to be obeyed without question, Jenny’s eyes blinked open to her new world, her new life.

“Jenny, Jenny, wake up Jenny, wake up?”

Jenny aroused was quickly to her feet instantly conscious of the unfamiliar familiarity of her uniform. The heavy highly polished low block heeled brogue laced shoes, the well fitting long black dress its hem dancing on her calves, her slip slating slightly beneath, the stretch of her garter straps on her thighs supporting black seamed stockings. The comforting tightness of her starched apron and her fingers toyed with her lacy cap.

Jennifer her face stern continued.

“What are doing asleep in here? You are hired to keep this household clean not sleep your day away now get to your chores the place is an absolute mess.”

Jenny lowered her gaze and curtsied like the good maid she had been programmed to be.

“Sorry Mistress I don’t know what, what…”

Jennifer, her voice raised an octave interrupted her maid. 

“Shut up you bumbling fool get on with your work and don’t let me catch you asleep on the job again.”

A contrite confused maid curtsied again.

“Sorry Mistress, yes mistress.”

The week progressed with Jenny having her maid persona reinforced by further sessions of staring into the beguiling eyes of her Mistress following each day’s work. At the end of the week the whole house, and every room within it was brought to an impeccable standard by its busy maid. A maid now contently confined to the maid’s living quarters of Tarragon Hall. Jenny was a perfect maid her Mistress had repeatedly told her so. Each morning the maid of Tarragon Hall awoke a little more tired and by Friday no longer confused by any lingering mental conflict of whom she was her past having been flushed from her mind completely she was Jenny, Jenny the maid, wasn’t she?  

Over a month had passed and summoned to the study by the service bell Jenny dressed in her uniform stared blankly at her Mistress sat at the desk in the corner, papers spread out in front of her. Pen in hand Jenny wafted her signature as directed across the forms presented to her, a maid’s contract and a power of attorney in the name of Jennifer Mullins.

“There Jenny all signed and sealed another three-year contract to be my live-in maid at Tarragon Hall. Just like you requested in this letter you wrote to me. Now I have a guest coming shortly so why don’t you go and prepare tea and biscuits to be served in the main reception room.”

Jenny stood back and curtsied.

“Yes Mistress.”

Jennifer watched Jenny leave to prepare the beverages and chuckled looking at the signed forms then picked up the framed picture of Rodger from the desk, Jane Askew's deceased husband and Jennifer’s lover, a lover who had promised her everything before his untimely death, Jennifer smirked and spoke to the framed image staring back at her. 

“That lazy wife you told me about the one you were going to divorce and marry me well you would be so pleased. I have the house that you promised me, Tarragon Hall, and don’t worry about your lazy wife, she is my housemaid.”

With the unknowing connivance of Lucy Davenport Jennifer Mullins, professional hypnotist and the daughter of the housekeeper come maid that Jane Askew had unceremoniously dismissed from her service, intended to become the Mistress of Tarragon Hall and its previous Mistress its maid. Following being sacked from the position she had held for many years Jenny Mullins health quickly deteriorated and never recovered up until her death some months later. Her daughter had plotted revenge on the woman who had treated her so badly. Offering her professional services to a naive Lucy Davenport, to raise money for the charity that she knew Jane Askew supported, her plans had progressed well.  

The door bell rang and entering the hallway Jennifer ordered her maid to wait in the kitchen until called to serve tea.

Jennifer opened the door to an excited Lucy and guided her through into the main reception room.

Lucy looked around the hallway amazed at the tidy cleanliness the same when she entered the reception room. Not a thing out of place surfaces to a high sheen.

“I was quite surprised when I got your call Madame Zara, I thought you would have left by now, where is Jane by the way I thought she would have been in contact we have been back from our holiday for over a week now?”

Jennifer placed a charged glass of wine into Lucy’s hand and smiled.

“Sit down Lucy and read this.”

Jennifer passed Lucy the letter that she had Jane Askew write whilst under her influence. 

Lucy looked at the letter it was in Jane’s hand writing and the signature was hers. Lucy’s expression changed whilst she read and then re read the text? 

The inference of the letter was unambiguous but why?

The letter was addressed to a Jennifer Mullins. It confessed deep regret at the sacking of her mother. That hearing of her mother’s illness and subsequent death, a direct result of being sacked in the manner she was, had left her distraught and begged her daughters help in seeking her atonement for such wickedness. That whatever she decided her punishment should be she would willingly comply and that this letter would act in authorization to visit such punishment upon her at the time of her choosing. Not wishing to influence your decision but a period of service within my own home to tread in the footsteps of your mother may be seen to be a fitting tribute to her memory.

Jennifer then passed the contract of employment that her friend had signed committing herself to three years of service being the maid of Tarragon Hall.

Lucy stared in astonishment at the detailed contract Jane’s signature clear and bold under the chosen name of maid Jenny.

The last document that Lucy took from Jennifer being the signed power of attorney which placed control of all Jane Askew’s financial matters into the hands of Jennifer Mullins.

Jennifer put her finger to her lips and rang the service bell.

“Not a word now Lucy.”

The door from the hallway opened and Lucy’s friend entered in her maid’s uniform carrying a tray containing a tea pot, cups, saucers, spoons, milk jug, sugar bowl and a plate of biscuits. Laying the tray down on the low table Jane stood back and curtsied.

“Shall I pour Mistress?”

Lucy just stared in disbelief at her friend.

Jennifer leaned forward and smiled

“Yes, Jenny you may pour.”

Lucy looked at Jennifer then back at her friend whilst she prepared the two cups offering them to Lucy and her Mistress.

Lucy could not believe her eyes and ears when without expression this picture of domestic servitude in its neat uniform offered the plate of biscuits to her.

“Would you like a biscuit Miss?”

Lucy stared open mouthed and took a biscuit from the plate.

“Thank you.”

Jenny having served curtsied.

“Is that all Mistress?”

Jennifer smiled 

“Yes, Jenny but before you go introduce yourself to my guest.”

Jenny stood back and curtsied. 

“I am Jenny the maid at Tarragon Hall, pleased to meet you Miss.”

Jennifer smirked watching Lucy’s expression.

“That’s all Jenny you may go I will ring if I need you.”

Jenny turned and left the room.

Lucy looked at Jennifer

“Fuck, really? She doesn’t know who I am? What the fuck have you done to her? Her hair, no makeup, no jewellery, the uniform, the curtsy, she looks and acts just like a maid and Jenny, she calls herself Jenny? 

Jennifer shrugged her shoulders.

“You read the letter, her contract of employment and the power of attorney it is what she wants.”

Lucy frowned taking a sip from her cup 

“Surely you can’t keep her like that, to be a maid to be the maid in her own home no you mustn’t you can’t, I won’t let you, she’s my friend.

Jennifer smirked and stared at Lucy 

“Look at me Lucy, look at me, that’s right look at my eyes, deep into my eyes relax , look at me, put your cup down , that’s right, your arms are getting heavy, your whole body , very heavy, relax, that’s right deep breaths, deep breaths, your eyelids they are heavy so, so heavy, very heavy ,  close your eyes and listen to my voice, listen to my voice.” 

A year had passed and Lucy was no less a frequent visitor to Tarragon Hall than when her friend Jane Askew was the mistress there but now her new friend Jennifer Mullins was Mistress. Lucy of course fully accepting that Jennifer had reluctantly allowed Jane Askew to fulfill her wishes for atonement to become Jenny the maid in her own home and what a good and obedient maid Jenny was, keeping Tarragon Hall in such pristine condition for her Mistress. How wonderful that Lucy’s new friend Jennifer had been so kind to help her old friend and Lucy knew this because? Because, well that’s how it was wasn’t it?

Other friends and acquaintances of Jane Askew who questioned her actions to sacrifice all she ever was and ever had or ever would have to become a mere maid in her own home were convincing placated by her close friend Lucy Davenport.

Jane had discussed this with Lucy many times before she made the decision, hadn’t she? Lucy had seen the letter before she posted it to her sacked maid’s daughter, hadn’t she? Jane had chosen to restyle her own hair hadn’t she, chosen her own uniforms, it was definitely what Jane wanted wasn’t it? Lucy was so convincing it had to be.

The end.

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