Weeks passed. Zach's life fell into a steady, regular rhythm.

Almost every night at seven, Robin would hypnotise him and toy with his mind. Often she'd have him focus on her feet, but after a time she found other ways to hypnotise him and have him respond.

Sometimes Zach would arrive home to find Robin excited to try some new technique: hypnotising him silently just by squeezing his hand or pulling him off-balance; waking trances where he was never quite sure if he'd actually been hypnotised; or a "confusion induction" where Robin overwhelmed him with conflicting instructions and bewildering questions.

Once Robin even tried a classic old-fashioned pocket watch, but Zach kept bursting into giggles.

"I'm sorry Robin, but a swinging watch is just too much of cliché!"

"Don't make fun of the pocket watch, Zach! My girlfriend was kind enough to lend it to me."

"Your girlfriend has strange tastes."

"You're not wrong there, but I will punish you if you say another word against her."

"Okay… okay…" Zach held his hands up in mock surrender. "I won't say a word against her."

“Good.”

“…but I will say the watch is silly.”

Robin glared at him.

Through those weeks, they kept the regular practice time of seven o'clock, with just a few exceptions for the rare work emergency or Saturday social event.

As such, Zach was surprised to arrive home Sunday afternoon to find a strange woman sitting in their living room.

"Oh! Hi… Hello! Sorry I didn't realise we had guests. Are you… a friend of Robin's?"

The woman gave a reserved smile. "I'm her girlfriend. You must be Zach?"

Zach tried not to stare. The woman was stunning: dark hair and blue eyes, dressed somewhere between goth and rockabilly. And she'd already made herself comfortable on the couch, with bare feet propped up on the footrest, her nails painted a dark colour.

"R-Right, yes. I'm Zach."

Zach blinked for a moment, and then realised he'd forgotten something.

"Sorry, what was your name?"

The woman hid a smile again. "Alicia. Nice to meet you, Zach."

"Nice to meet you. Did you want me to see if Robin's in, or…?"

"Oh, Robin knows I'm here. She's still finishing up, but I'm sure she'll be out soon."

"Oh. Okay."

"She said I should make myself comfortable."

Zach couldn't argue with that. Alicia certainly looked comfortable.

"She also said she that her servant would help me with anything I desire."

"I… She said that?"

"Mhmm. Quite clearly." She paused, looking him up and down. "That's you, right?"

"Oh. I… Yes, I guess so."

"You guess so…?" She smirked a little, although there was a hint of encouragement behind it.

"Well…" Zach glanced away and found himself looking at Alicia's feet again. "How much did Robin tell you?"

"Enough." Alicia made a show of wiggling her toes.

Zach blushed.

"So, you're Robin's servant, right?"

"R-Right."

"And you'll help me with anything I desire. Right, Zach?"

"Yes."

"No."

Zach looked up into Alicia's stern gaze.

"When I ask you something, Zach, you say 'yes Alicia'. Understood?"

"I… Y-Yes Alicia."

"You'll help me with anything I desire, right Zach?"

"Yes Alicia."

"Good."

Zach felt like he'd already lost control of the situation. But he had to admit… part of him would be happy to serve this strange lady, or at least talk to her more. Besides, Alicia was a guest, and it was good manners to take care of a guest.

"Is… Is there anything I can do for you, Alicia?"

Alicia smiled at him, more warmly this time.

"A drink would be lovely, Zach. Water, with some ice and lime? I'm sure you can find some for me. I'll wait here."

Zach nodded, already walking to the kitchen.

"I'll be right back."

Zach felt quite pleased with himself when he returned a few minutes later with an ice cold glass of water topped with a lime. He delivered it right to Alicia's side, offering it to her. He hoped Robin would be pleased with his hospitality.

Alicia took the glass and sipped it carefully. After a moment she smiled and nodded to him with approval.

"Very good, Zach. Thank you."

Zach found himself smiling too. It was a small task but he was proud he'd succeeded.

"Perhaps you'll take a seat Zach, in case there's anything else you can do for me?"

"O-Of course— Yes Alicia."

Zach sat in his usual spot, out of habit. It was only good manners.

Alicia continued to sip the glass, her feet propped up on the same footrest Robin usually used. One foot moved slowly, as though her toes were tracing a circle in the air.

Zach tried not to stare.

"Zach…"

Alicia's feet didn't have the same movement or polish as Robin's, but the dark polish on her pale toes was still very eye-catching. He'd thought it was black at first, but it wasn't quite that dark. Was it purple? Or wine red?"

"Zach… Zach."

Zach blinked. Alicia was trying to get his attention.

"Sorry! I zoned out."

"Understandable. But there's something else you can do for me."

Zach nodded. "What can I do for you, Alicia?"

"Mmm. I've finished this," Alicia held up the empty glass. "Put it out of the way for me."

"Of course." Zach hurried to his feet and took the glass "Is there something else I can fetch for you, Alicia?"

"Hmmm. Nothing for now, but sit for me again when you're done."

"Yes Alicia."

Zach had a strange feeling of being on autopilot as he took the empty glass to the kitchen, then returned to his seat.

After sitting, Zach looked at Alicia expectantly, and realised that he was hoping for another task he could do for her.

"That's all for now. You can just relax now, Zach, until I call your name again."

"Yes Alicia."

Zach found himself relaxing into the couch. A familiar sensation; he realised it was something like his practice sessions with Robin. His eyes naturally settled on Alicia's feet, propped up in just the same place. Alicia's foot swayed idly, and Zach couldn't help but stare at the polish on her toes.

Zach felt quite strange. He didn't know this strange goth woman, but he certainly couldn't tell her to stop lounging on their couch and putting her feet up on the furniture.

Was it right that she was sitting there, in Robin's spot? Alicia wasn't causing any harm, Zach had to admit. But it was still… confusing.

Regardless, Zach couldn't bring himself to speak up, let alone think what he would say.

It just seemed… easier to sit and watch Alicia's foot sway, until Alicia told him what to do again. Then he'd know how he could serve her.

Zach wasn't sure how much time passed, but finally Alicia spoke again.

"Zach, there's something else you're going to do for me."

Zach nodded eagerly. "Yes Alicia?"

"There's a book I'd like to read. It should be on the shelves just here. You can find it for me."

"Yes Alicia, of course."

"It's non-fiction, kind of a textbook. The authors are Rossi and Erickson. Don't worry about the title. I'm sure Robin's put it somewhere on that bookshelf there."

Zach looked where Alicia pointed. Robin kept a lot of reference books on that shelf. For some reason he'd never thought about them before.

"I know you can find it for me, Zach."

Zach nodded. He would find it for her.

He moved to the bookshelf and hurried to search it from top to bottom.

After four minutes he found it. Rossi, Erickson, a hard cover.

He carefully pulled it from the shelf and carried it over to Alicia.

"Very good, my servant."

Zach found his heart pounding a little at being called her servant. It pounded more when Alicia held his gaze firmly.

"Kneel and present it to me."

Zach found himself doing just that, like it was the most natural thing in the world. He knelt beside her seat and held the book so Alicia could inspect the front cover.

"That's right. Hand it to me, servant. Very well done."

He felt himself fill with pride at having pleased Alicia. He watched as she opened the book and began to page through.

A few moments passed as Alicia paged through, then she paused.

"One more task for you, my servant. Rise."

Zach stood up hurriedly.

"And now kneel again… down there." Alicia gestured towards her feet. "Just next to my feet. I think you'll find that exciting, won't you?"

Zach felt his face flush. "I… Yes Alicia."

Zach moved next to the footrest and knelt again.

"That's good. I want you to have them in view while I read. Try not to stare at them, servant."

Zach felt his face flush, but Alicia didn't seem to notice. She was apparently engrossed in the book.

Zach tried his best, but after a few minutes he had to admit that he was staring at Alicia's feet. Despite her instructions.

The polish was a dark red, he'd discovered. And her toes looked even better up close.

Alicia didn't bounce her foot like Robin. Instead there was that slow movement again, like her biggest toe was drawing the outline of a circle tilted in the air, slowly. So slowly. He found his eyes following along. It was impossible not to.

"Isn't the dark red so nice, my servant?"

Zach realised Alicia was speaking, but luckily he was already nodding. And he knew how to reply.

"Yes Alicia…"

"It's really so easy to relax as your stare at it. You can do that for me."

"Yes…"

Zach felt so heavy. Like Alicia's feet and words were just anchoring him in place, kneeling for her. And thinking was so difficult.

"There's no need to think at all, servant. No need when it's so so simple."

Zach realised he was helplessly nodding, his eyes following the motion of Alicia's toes.

He found himself mumbling quietly, "Yes Alicia…" It was like the words just tumbled out of him without thought involved.

"It's so simple to be my servant. I give you an instruction, and what do you say, servant?"

"Yes Alicia…"

"That's right. And just like that, you obey.

"You're helpless to resist obeying. Just like you're helpless to resist staring at my feet. Isn't that right, my servant?"

"Yes Alicia…"

"You can't help it, right?"

"Yes Alicia."

"The moment you say those two words, you already know you'll obey. Isn't that right?"

"Yes Alicia."

"Stand up, my servant."

"Yes Alicia."

He found himself groggily standing.

Alicia lifted her feet off the footstool, pulling them back to the couch.

"Sit on the footrest, servant."

"Yes Alicia."

Alicia placed her feet in his lap.

"Rub my feet, servant."

"Yes Alicia."

He blankly took her feet into his hands, rubbing and massaging them carefully.

Robin had taught him how to massage her feet correctly: firm enough to avoid tickling her, but gentle enough not to cause pain.

"That's good, my servant."

Part of him was thrilled, but that part of him felt small and distant. Somehow his thoughts were a long way off.

Alicia was right. When he responded with 'yes Alicia,' his mind had already accepted he would obey. Now he was beyond the point of resisting: he could only watch as he carried out her instructions to the letter.

He was thorough, taking care to massage her soles and arches, each of her toes, and her heels and ankles.

Alicia encouraged and praised him as he progressed, and gave the occasional direction which he followed promptly.

He vaguely recalled his time being Robin's servant: that strange sense of watching someone else steer his body, as beyond his control as a character on a TV show.

This was different, though. He still felt in his own body, there was just a sense that… by the time he'd understood Alicia's instructions, he found he'd already agreed to obey them. Those two words just tumbled out. And how could he argue with that? By the time he'd said those words, he and Alicia both knew he would obey her.

"Very good, my servant. That's enough for now. You can stop."

He found his hands falling still, though he was vaguely aware that Alicia's soft feet were still resting in them.

"I have a new task for you, my servant. Look here, servant."

He looked up at Alicia, obediently meeting her gaze, and found himself staring at a pocket watch Alicia held in her hand.

It was that same pocket watch Robin had shown him: old-fashioned, gold casing. Alicia was holding it still, showing him the white face with thin black numbers. The chain was looped around her fingers.

"Watch the watch, my servant." Alicia let the pocket watch drop from her fingers, beginning to swing from the chain.

"Yes Alicia."

His eyes were already following the motion of the watch. Back and forth. Back and forth. His eyes were glued to it.

"That's right. You just obey. Tell me you just obey."

"Yes Alicia. I just obey."

He couldn't move. It was impossible to do anything but watch the watch and obey Alicia’s instructions.

“That’s right, servant. And when you repeat words for me, they become just like your own thoughts. Agree.”

“Yes Alicia. They become just like my own thoughts.”

"Very good. Now watch the watch. It's the sexiest thing you could do for me now. Say that for me."

"Yes Alicia. It’s the sexiest thing I could do for you." Zach realised she was right. It was so sexy to watch the watch.

"The swinging watch is so sexy. Repeat for me."

"Yes Alicia. The swinging watch is so sexy." Alicia was right. It was so sexy.

“You can’t believe you didn’t notice it before. Repeat.”

"Yes Alicia. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it before." He couldn’t believe it.

“You feel so silly for not realising how sexy the watch is. Repeat.”

"Yes Alicia. I feel so silly for not realising how sexy the watch is." It was so obvious. How hadn’t he noticed?

“You’re such a silly boy for not finding my watch sexy. Repeat.”

“Yes Alicia. I’m such a silly boy for not finding your watch sexy.” He felt his face flushing. He was such a fool.

“Repeat again.”

“Yes Alicia. I’m such a silly boy for not finding your watch sexy.” He couldn’t believe he’d been so foolish.

“You want to beg my forgiveness for disrespecting me and my watch. Repeat.”

“Yes Alicia. I want to beg your forgiveness for disrespecting you and your watch.” He had to beg forgiveness. He felt terrible for disrespecting Alicia or her watch. “Please forgive me, Alicia! I should never have disrespected you or your watch!”

Alicia laughed. “I’ll think about it, my servant. Though perhaps you should beg a little more.”

Zach was desperate for her forgiveness. “Please, Alicia. If there’s anything I can do to earn your forgiveness, I’ll do it.”

“Oh really, my servant? What would you do for me?”

“Anything, Alicia.”

“Would you grovel and kiss my feet, my servant?”

Zach felt his face flush more. Would he kiss Alicia’s feet, just like that? Hadn’t they just met?

Suddenly Alicia pulled the watch out of view, and then her other hand was snapping fingers in front of his face.

“Sleep Zach! Blank deep sleep.”

Zach’s eyes slammed closed.

Zach couldn't move. Couldn't think. What was happening?

Alicia spoke, "You weren't kidding, my love. He's adorable and already so well trained."

Out of nowhere, Zach heard Robin's voice. He still couldn't think to move.

"Well he took to the training very well. He really does just want to obey. Especially if you're telling him to do something he already wanted to do deep down."

Zach felt a comforting hand on his shoulder and Robin's warm voice in his ear.

"You did very well, my hypnotised servant. You served our guest so well, and in doing so you were so obedient for me."

Zach relaxed at Robin's praise. He'd done just what Robin wanted him to.

"Everything's okay. You can relax for me now. In a moment you can open your eyes and return to your usual seat. Then I'll explain everything."