The Crumbling of Ares
3. Animals Crying
by Salacious_Ink
Tags:
#cw:noncon
#D/s
#dom:female
#f/f
#multiple_partners
#scifi
#sub:female
#amnesia
#angst
#clothing
#cw:violence
#dollification
#latex
#maid
#nobles
#ownership_dynamics
This story is a fanwork/side story to Miss Praxis' story Amareth Falls, which is an incredible read on its own, though I have tried to make it not prescriptive reading to enjoy reading The Crumbling of Ares.
Please enjoy the works, and support the creators if you are so inclined or able.
The weeks following my return to the palace of House Harmonia were some of the most gruelling and emotionally draining of what I can recall of my life.
Even ignoring the oppressive artificial gravity of the palace, Mother’s own expectations were a force unto themselves. She was more than emphatic about how every single aspect of House Harmonia’s success rested upon my shoulders. Mother and I were the sole surviving members of House Harmonia.
But with everything that had happened, I was still alive. I, her final chance at continuing lineage and legacy, sparing us the indignity of becoming mere history.
Though the wonders of modern science could keep a person alive for centuries, Mother would not be around forever to ensure House Harmonia’s interests. We would need more heirs. We would need to grow our family line once more.
Mother would do her best, though a woman in her late second century had a near nil chance of producing healthy children, even through the advanced process of Abrahamic Gestation. Even so, she admitted such scions were seen as barely legitimate not-quite-clones by the other Great Houses of Mars, and to have a House of only Abrahamic-born heirs would likely lose our House a great deal of hard-curried favour and bloodily-won respect. But she was adamant to not allow herself to capitulate to something as ephemeral as fate.
But with everything that had happened, I was still alive. I, her final chance at continuing lineage and legacy, sparing us the indignity of becoming mere history.
Though the wonders of modern science could keep a person alive for centuries, Mother would not be around forever to ensure House Harmonia’s interests. We would need more heirs. We would need to grow our family line once more.
Mother would do her best, though a woman in her late second century had a near nil chance of producing healthy children, even through the advanced process of Abrahamic Gestation. Even so, she admitted such scions were seen as barely legitimate not-quite-clones by the other Great Houses of Mars, and to have a House of only Abrahamic-born heirs would likely lose our House a great deal of hard-curried favour and bloodily-won respect. But she was adamant to not allow herself to capitulate to something as ephemeral as fate.
Aside from ensuring the continuation of our line, I was also being tutored on the academic and economic side of our House. As a weapons manufacturer and owner of more than one security conglomerate in both private and public sectors, I needed to know how our operations worked. While weapons schematics and battle strategies were usually for people of lesser importance to handle, I was instructed in their basics at the very least.
But when Mother’s stranglehold on life loosened, I would become the new Matriarch of House Harmonia. I would hold the final decision on every matter regarding our assets, and so I would need to know their ins and outs before I would ascend to the highest seat of our House. Even though many of the board members of the companies we owned had ties to the Great Houses of Mars, they were not nobility themselves. They couldn’t be trusted. They hadn’t the honour or strength, even if they had the ambition.
But when Mother’s stranglehold on life loosened, I would become the new Matriarch of House Harmonia. I would hold the final decision on every matter regarding our assets, and so I would need to know their ins and outs before I would ascend to the highest seat of our House. Even though many of the board members of the companies we owned had ties to the Great Houses of Mars, they were not nobility themselves. They couldn’t be trusted. They hadn’t the honour or strength, even if they had the ambition.
Even a few days of this was more than enough to exhaust me, but as the days stretched to weeks and dragged into months I could feel the tears beginning to form in my psyche. Mother was doing her best for House Harmonia, I knew, and that meant I was to force myself to live up to her expectations. As she told me, her expectations were the expectations of the people we ruled.
This was what was expected of House Harmonia. We are Strong. We are Perfect. We are Scions of Mars.
This was what was expected of House Harmonia. We are Strong. We are Perfect. We are Scions of Mars.
And yet.
I awoke, an artificial but no less cinematic spacescape still projected across my wall from my slumber. I stared at it, my mind past the idea of comprehension yet somehow settled within acceptance from the lessons forced into my head. This is how things were. To have dominion and authority like this was to suffer. To be in control – to have power – is to fight. It is to be bled by those around you and to risk having everything taken from your corpse before it hits the floor.
Despite my incredible discomfort, I slid out from under my heated blankets and set about remaking my bed. But I was distracted as the door to my room opened, and Deianira stepped in with demure expectations of service.
‘Mistress? Please, you need not take any action like this on my account,’ she said, a hand moving to touch her collarbone but stopping at the thick collar which surrounded her neck, ‘As your personal maid, your menial tasks are my responsibility. It is what I am for’
I dimly stared back at my sheets, the blankets and pillows tucked and fluffed just as if no one had slept in it the night prior.
‘Oh, I wasn’t doing it for you. It just … hm. It just felt right, I suppose.’
‘Oh, I wasn’t doing it for you. It just … hm. It just felt right, I suppose.’
I rose to my full height, now starting to get used to the gravity of the palace. Now that I wasn’t as slouched from the constant gravitational pressure I noted that I was in actuality just a fraction taller than her.
That petty part of my conscious mind felt smugly satisfied in that knowledge, but I wondered if that was a good feeling to indulge in.
That petty part of my conscious mind felt smugly satisfied in that knowledge, but I wondered if that was a good feeling to indulge in.
Deianira helped me dress for the day. I felt sure that after she had shown me how to wear certain things I could dress myself, but she insisted that this was part of her role as my maid. I hadn’t the heart to deny her.
A sigh escaped me as I asked her, 'So, what does Mother wish for me to learn today?’
‘Actually Mistress, Master Neidr has informed me that today’s lessons are cancelled. Master Neidr has unfortunately suffered a sickness,’ Deianira said, ‘Though it is advisable that she rest for a few days, she will likely only be able to restrain herself from her own work for a day at most.’
I nodded. I had a day off? Goddess, what could I do? I should keep continuing with Mother’s work schedule, but my body ached just from the thought of it.
‘So … what, then? Any suggestions for what I used to do to relax?’
Deianira seemed to um and ah about her answer for a moment before arriving to a conclusion, ‘Mistress very much enjoyed sparring in order to relieve stress.’
‘Sparring? Oh, with swords?’ I asked, my interest suddenly piqued. While I did enjoy looking at the weapons mounted on the walls, I had wondered if I’d be able to recall how they were used. Of course I understood the basics; the sharp bit goes into the other person with as much force as you can put behind it. But the how and why still eluded me.
‘That sounds like a wonderful idea. A bit of physical exertion to shake off the mental exhaustion.’
‘That sounds like a wonderful idea. A bit of physical exertion to shake off the mental exhaustion.’
‘Thank you, Mistress. I will redress you with more appropriate clothing and we shall attend the martial hall after breakfast.’
Deianira removed what she had already affixed to me, replacing the clothes from whence they were and bringing out a very formal new set of garments; tight-fitting white riding pants and a matching silken blouse and crimson coat of double-breasted buttons of polished copper over the top. She also provided a bair of shin height boots, made from supple ochre leather with flat soles for dexterous movement.
It was as I inspected myself in the mirror that I noticed the back of the coat was embroidered with a large symbol: a shield of bold red bordered by argent, twin snakes coiling around an ancient symbol of conflict, the Kalashnikov. Flanking the shield were two fearsome creatures, a lion and bull, reared up in a striking pose.
Deianira noticed my fascination and elaborated, ‘The symbol of House Harmonia, Mistress. It is your noble coat of arms.’
It was as I inspected myself in the mirror that I noticed the back of the coat was embroidered with a large symbol: a shield of bold red bordered by argent, twin snakes coiling around an ancient symbol of conflict, the Kalashnikov. Flanking the shield were two fearsome creatures, a lion and bull, reared up in a striking pose.
Deianira noticed my fascination and elaborated, ‘The symbol of House Harmonia, Mistress. It is your noble coat of arms.’
I turned to Deianira to thank her, finally noticing that the symbol on her thick metal collar was the same as the one adorning the back of my coat.
'Your collar has my coat of arms?' I observed.
Deianira nodded, 'It denotes my station as your servant and property of House Harmonia.'
‘So anything with this symbol on it denotes it as property of my House?'
‘That is correct, Mistress.’
I turned back to the mirror. A thought encroached upon my mind that I disliked the implication of.
Shortly after dressing, we attended the dining hall. Deianira bid me sit at the head of a table, and vanished off into one of the many side passages that turned this palace into a maze. I sat in waiting, staring down the length of this opulent table of polished sandstone edged and etched with gold. It spanned nearly the entire room, dotted at perfectly even lengths with silver candelabras with dustless taper candles, likely real beeswax rather than any synthesised compound. Only the best for the Great Houses of Mars, after all.
I looked at the dozens of empty chairs which surrounded the table. Once there were people here. My siblings. Uncles, aunties, the rest of our House. Now it was only Mother and I left. I leant forward as I steepled my fingers together in melancholy thought. Who was I to these people? Who were they to me? I felt nothing when Deianira told me of their passing, but seeing even the barest traces of who they once might have been inspired a draining emptiness within my chest.
Did I love them? Did they love me? Mother said she loved me. Why didn’t I believe her?
I looked at the dozens of empty chairs which surrounded the table. Once there were people here. My siblings. Uncles, aunties, the rest of our House. Now it was only Mother and I left. I leant forward as I steepled my fingers together in melancholy thought. Who was I to these people? Who were they to me? I felt nothing when Deianira told me of their passing, but seeing even the barest traces of who they once might have been inspired a draining emptiness within my chest.
Did I love them? Did they love me? Mother said she loved me. Why didn’t I believe her?
My thoughts were interrupted at the sound of Deianira’s dainty footsteps reentering the room. She deposited before me a large variety of polished fruits, fresh bread still steaming with warmth and softness, and a grilled mushroom cap almost the size of my splayed hand dripping with some sort of red wine sauce.
As I began eating, I suddenly came to a sort of realisation about something. Of course I hadn’t seen my siblings in the palace on account of them having perished in one way or another; only the ghosts of their vague memories lingered in the occasional oil paintings which decorated the walls of the palace halls. But for a palace this large, surely it couldn’t just be my own maid managing things?
As I began eating, I suddenly came to a sort of realisation about something. Of course I hadn’t seen my siblings in the palace on account of them having perished in one way or another; only the ghosts of their vague memories lingered in the occasional oil paintings which decorated the walls of the palace halls. But for a palace this large, surely it couldn’t just be my own maid managing things?
‘Deianira,’ I began, ‘Is there anyone else in the palace?’
She tilted her head in some confusion, a gesture that made a small pulse of something flutter through my chest cavity, ‘What do you mean, Mistress?’
I coughed lightly to clear the feeling in my chest, ‘Well, I mean that this is a big palace. You couldn’t have put all this together this quickly, could you?’ I gestured to my plate to illustrate my point, ‘You are my maid, but are there others like you?’
‘Like me? Well … yes, but … here? No,’ Deianira began, a hesitancy in her changed timbre, ‘there are certainly other servants in the palace. They are not like me; which is to say they are humans. Not Dolls.’
‘I see. So why is it that I haven’t seen any of them? Why is it only you that attends me?’
Deianira shifted with discomfort, risking a glance to the doors to ensure no one was listening, ‘To speak the truth Mistress, you have a certain … reputation amongst the staff. Before I came into your service you had enacted … disciplinary action for unintended slights and … poor performance. This has led many staff members to become intimidated by your presence. But when I came to serve House Harmonia it was decided I would be your personal maid, given my own … durability. It’s for that reason that my responsibilities are attending to all your needs, including assisting in your education and exercises. So I will also be your sparring partner for today.’
I sucked a breath in through my nose, running my hand through my hair to collect myself before I spoke, ‘They’re afraid of me?’
‘To be candid, Mistress; yes,’ Deianira nodded.
A despondent gust escaped my lungs. To think I must have been so cruel before I had lost my memories. Was I really that person? My jaw shifted with tension as I entangled myself in thought. What would happen if I were to become that person again?
‘Deianira … are you afraid of me?’ I asked.
An unconscious hand went to Deianira’s collar, her expression a blend of implacable thoughts. I quickly waved a hand in dismissal. I couldn't bear to hear her answer.
‘I apologise, I don’t … Ahem. I didn’t mean to … press the point. I’ll finish eating and then we can go spar,’ I said, peeling a sanguine-skinned pomegranate before a thought bid my head turn back to Deianira, ‘Have you eaten?’
‘Yes, my standard nutritional porridge,’ she answered.
Even the thought of something with a description that bland caused the taste of raw flour to rise unbidden in my mind. Breaking the pomegranate in half, I offered one of the halves to Deianira.
‘Here, we’ll both need energy.’
Deianira looked at me with hesitancy. Doubtless that no small amount of suspicion was pooling behind her eyes. But she gently took her half of the pomegranate I offered, and returned a graceful curtsy.
‘Thank you, Mistress.’
I nodded in acknowledgement and bit into the other half of the pomegranate, dozens of seed-filled sarcotesta bursting between my metal teeth. The juice had a bitterness to it that I didn’t expect, coating the back of my mouth in mildly acrid sweetness.
Something was gnawing at me.
Once Deianira and I had finished my breakfast, she led me to the martial hall. It was some distance away from the dining hall, walking through stairways and across grand galleries displaying historical armaments of House Harmonia among art pieces and other flauntings of prestige and wealth.
Eventually we arrived, and I was able to take in the room we found ourselves in. High walls coated with a facade of synthetic wood panelling, covered with rich velveteen banners proudly bearing the crest of House Harmonia.
Eventually we arrived, and I was able to take in the room we found ourselves in. High walls coated with a facade of synthetic wood panelling, covered with rich velveteen banners proudly bearing the crest of House Harmonia.
Deianira stepped forwards and spoke in a clear voice to the room at large, ‘Training weapons; mêlée; blades.’
The wooden panelling slid aside from one of the walls, and solid black silhouettes of a variety of swords, blades, and machetes composed of hardened rubber were produced, hanging upon racks as organised as precious texts.
‘Please choose weapons to spar with, Mistress.’
The wooden panelling slid aside from one of the walls, and solid black silhouettes of a variety of swords, blades, and machetes composed of hardened rubber were produced, hanging upon racks as organised as precious texts.
‘Please choose weapons to spar with, Mistress.’
I took my time to examine each and every one. But there was a style that did call out to me, perhaps more immediately than the katzbalger. A stout blade, its point almost triangular, with a rounded pommel and grooved handle. I held it in my hand and gave it an experimental swing and thrust.
‘This one, I think. What is this called?’
‘This one, I think. What is this called?’
‘A gladius, Mistress. Originating in one of the earliest periods of Terran civilisation, the Ancient Roman army typically wielded them with broad shields known as scutum. Earliest examples are thought to date back to 225 BC.’
I gave a nod, as if I knew anything she was talking about, ‘A good weapon then. We’ll train with these.’
Deianira and I took up place at opposite ends of the mat, and I felt some tingle of recognition prickle in my fingers. This I knew. This I understood. I held the gladius firmly without choking the handle, my fingers comfortable within the finger grooves. I coiled my arm like a serpent, the sword's single fang poised towards Deianira to strike. My knees were bent, feet flat on the mat and in a strong L-shape to ensure my balance. Deianira's stance was also low and strong, though she held the blade across at an angle; a defensive posture.
I lunged.
My blade rushed forward, the stab caught by the true edge of Deianira's own sword as she deflected the blow. I felt a rush of air and a sudden stop.
I looked down.
Just a centimetre from my neck was Deianira's own gladius. She had stopped herself, her movements controlled and precise, but strong. She took the blade away.
'Mistress, don't you think you should be wearing protective equipment?' Deianira asked, 'Just for while you are recovering your skills.'
I gulped. I hadn't realised but the moment I had lunged in my heart was set racing. The feeling of force behind Deianira's sword as it was such a mere distance from such a vulnerable part of me was unlike anything I'd felt before.
I straightened my coat, 'You stopped before you hit me. No harm done. I don't see the reason why. But shouldn't you be wearing something?'
I straightened my coat, 'You stopped before you hit me. No harm done. I don't see the reason why. But shouldn't you be wearing something?'
'As I said before, Mistress, I am quite durable. Something such as a blow with a silicone blade would hurt, certainly, but it would leave no lasting impact on my duties.'
'Quite unnecessary then,' I concluded.
Deianira’s eyes were cast downward, but at what I could not say.
'Yes, Mistress.'
With that we continued, more carefully this time, trying to become aware of my old habits and styles and how to overcome Deianira’s defences. But I was becoming frustrated. My movements were too slow and sloppy, my guard too weak. My strikes were never quite responsive enough. Yet I had no idea how to correct it.
Anger began to bubble inside me.
My swings swung wilder, my steps turned to petulant stomps. My blows rained down at Deianira but all were deflected until my blade clashed with hers, gladii crossed until Deianira pushed against me.
Anger began to bubble inside me.
My swings swung wilder, my steps turned to petulant stomps. My blows rained down at Deianira but all were deflected until my blade clashed with hers, gladii crossed until Deianira pushed against me.
My legs gave out. Fatigue and the artificial gravity of the palace bowled me over, my practice sword tumbling from my grip as I gracelessly hit the mat.
Greedy exhaustion sucked at the air around me as my lungs fought against the pressure of the palace. My forearms and thighs burned, my palms and fingers raw from where I'd gripped the sword. A laugh escaped me. This was fun. Fun! Thank goddess, I was having fun again!
Greedy exhaustion sucked at the air around me as my lungs fought against the pressure of the palace. My forearms and thighs burned, my palms and fingers raw from where I'd gripped the sword. A laugh escaped me. This was fun. Fun! Thank goddess, I was having fun again!
I opened my eyes. Deianira looked down at me, a coldness I'd never seen before in her doll-like eyes. Her expression was inscrutable, but a part of me feared that something tugged at her will, ever so slightly.
A piercing keening filled the air and I threw my palms over my ears. Deianira's reaction was far different, dropping her own sword and clutching at her collar in desperate panic.
'Mistress!' she shrieked, desperate and afraid, 'Mistress, please forgive me! Th-the deactivation code!'
I scrambled to a seated position, confused and tense at the sudden change, 'Code, what code?'
'You have to say "Cancel Termination Protocol Caduceus"!'
The keening grew more intense in pitch and Deianira's eyes widened in sheer terror. I finally realised the source of the noise: her thick metal collar.
'Cadmia, please!'
'Ah-alright! Cancel Termination Protocol Caduceus!'
With a sudden click the noise ended, the collar rendered inert once more. Deianira dropped to her knees, a desperate sob of fear gurgling from her throat. I was totally bewildered. I tried to scrounge what little remained of my memories and what I had learned, but nothing came to mind.
'What was that?'
Deianira's glassy eyes turned back to me as she desperately tried to contort her face back to a neutral expression.
'I beg your forgiveness Mistress, I … I should have told you about the Termination Collar.'
My confusion only grew as she continued.
'When I was … given to House Harmonia it was affixed to me to ensure my loyalty. The Termination Collar is fitted with several sensors to read and … interpret the emotional state of the wearer. Should the collar sense hostile intent towards a designated person it will detonate the shaped explosive charge within the collar with enough force to utterly … to utterly destroy the head of the incumbent.'
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
'But … yours didn't explode. Doesn't it have that override? Why didn't it turn off even when you said it?'
Deianira failed to suppress another shuddering sob. 'The override is encoded to Mistress' internal augmetics, and will not function unless you yourself speak it within proximity to my collar.'
Bile and blood squirmed in my neck as my mind raced to try and comprehend what Deianira was saying, 'Who did this to you?'
Deianira's head bowed, more sobs squeezing from her larynx. I reached forward and grasped at the sides of her head, forcing her to look at me.
'Who did this to you!'
'You did!'
My hands dropped away from her as she stared at me, her teeth bared and eyes welling with tears and loathing, her neck squeezing itself shut to try and suppress her emotions.
I had no idea what I should say to her. What could I say to her? No words would be enough for this.
I stood up. I turned on my heel and walked away.