The Night Gods III XI: The Cotillion Of The Damned

Artwork by Hive account@marty-art on Steemit... with many thanks!

In some circles, Lord Penrose's soirees marked the high point of their social calendars. Some were small intimate affairs designed to entertain the select few- fellow perverse elites... a cornucopia of macabre sexual behaviors. Others were large gatherings of the rich and famous... The really special occasions, however, involved both, often at the same time- complex affairs that were not only sexual in nature, but took on an air of religiosity as well. These involved the elites at their height of open debauchery.

These special occasions involved the sado-sexual sacrifices and the Halloween gala promised to be the highlight of the year's festivities. It was this soiree that Yuri and Vanessa would unwillingly attend, hoping to discover the identity of the mystery man that Vanessa had told Przybysz about. Not only would Yuri and Vanessa be in attendance, but some of the New Hollywood's most luminous stars as well.

Natalie Williams had been a child star, famed for her abilities as a singer, dancer and actress. Her beauty was unsurpassed as were her sexual appetites, according to the tabloids. At 12 she had her own television show, a sitcom about the trials and travails of a precocious pre-teen. The show practically mirrored the girl's real life experiences... by 12 she was more sexuallty experienced than many 30 year olds. Now 26, her sexual exploits with members of both sexes were the stuff legends are made of.

Natalie, like many of her contemporary former child stars hed been groomed for the life they lead... Products of years of psycho-sexual manipulation and forced into sexual liaisons with both men and women three or four times their own ages. One of the primary architects of this psychological indoctrination technique was the eminent Dr. Malcolm Van Sloan, renowned psychiatrist and professor at Harvard School of Medicine. Van Sloan had treated Natalie personally for her bouts of depression since early childhood... with the complicity of her star-struck mother. She had become first an unwilling participant- a party favor for the rich and powerful, handed around and subjected to all manner of perversities. Her mother, like many before her, was willing to sell her childhood and innocence for a life of glamour, riding the coattails of a wealthy irreparably broken child.

As an adult, Natalie was an enthusiastic performer at Lord Penrose's sexual extravaganzas- often performing bizarre sex rituals with Cheryl Layne... an actress that shared a childhood similar to Natalie's. Cheryl's mother, like Natalie's was stage-struck, an aspiring actress herself whose own ambitions had been thwarted by a lack of talent, looks and personality. She too would mortgage her daughter's innocence to enter the perverse world of the entertainment industry.

The sex shows were just the warmup fro the real festivities... an appetizer to whet the perverse appetites of the truly sadistic. The later rituals held in private, were more theater than anything else, merely emulating a religious service. they were conducted for the pleasure of the participants rather than an actual form of worship- of deities real or imagined. Robes and masks were a part of the theatricality, designed to enhance the atmosphere and experience. These people were drawn to the pagentry by the same aspect of human nature that drew many to the ritualistic pagentry of the Catholic Church.

It was against this backdrop of man's fascination with the esoteric and supernatural- coupled with the pagentry and arcane rituals, that made Lord Penrose's affairs popular with the ultra-rich and powerful. The elites of Hollywood, both old and new were there. Studio executives brought party favors- aspiring stars of all ages and types. When Yuri and Vanessa arrived, Natalie and Cheryl were the center of attention- performing a complex bondage ritual... clad only in lingerie, bound and gagged, they were being tended by a large hooded black man brandishing a variety of sex toys, whips and the like. Lord Penrose himself was at the door to greet them.

"Vanessa darling," he said, his voice dripping with the insincerity of the British aristocracy. Lord Robert Penrose was a man in his 70's, tall elegant, with an air of nobility... an aristocrat through and through. His tanned face featured an aqualine nose and blue eyes... eyes rimmed with red, rheumy- the result of a life spent in dissipation. He moved toward Vanessa and Yuri, shaking his hand and kissing both of her cheeks in greeting.

"Robbie darling," Vanessa said looking around, "you look wonderful dear."

"You're lying, but thank you dear," he smiled, "and you're as beautiful as always."

"I don't see Gwendolyn," Vanessa observed scanning the crowd for Penrose's daughter.

"You know how she hates these affairs," Penrose laughed, "and her father along with them."

Gwendolyn Penrose despised both her father and hisfriends. These gatherings sickened her and she avoided them like the plague... either by leaving or by staying in her rooms at the luxurious estate.

"She's likely in her rooms, my dear," Penrose told her. "Undoubtedly exhausted from a hard day squandering my money."

Gwendolyn took her revenge by spending as much of the vast family fortune as she could.

"I'm going to say hello," Vanessa replied, "before all the fun starts- are you coming Yuri?"

Yuri was engrossed in the floorshow- the young actresses with their well-endopwed master,

"Your man seems to be enjoying himself," Penrose observed dryly. "Why not leave him with me?"

"I'm afraid he might not be here when I get back," she laughed. "Come Yuri."

"Say hello to my beloved daughter for me," his Lordship smiled, "I see so little of her these days."

"I shall," Vanessa said kissing his cheek before leading Yuri away.

They found Gwendolyn in her rooms, in a wing of the estate removed from the festivities. She was beautiful, a natural blonde in her 40's- tall and elegant like her father, but without the look of dissipation that etched his face. Her beauty was natural, understated- her movements graceful like those of a dancer.

"Gwen dear," Vanessa said, "you look incredible- you have to tell me your secret." The two women embraced. Their friendship was genuine, there was none of the insincerity of Gwendolyn's father's greeting.

"Hello Yuri," Gwendolyn smiled. "No kiss for me?"

"Hi Gwen," Yuri replied kissing her cheek, "not going to the party?"

"You know how I despise those thing- sickos," she replied. "Why don' t you and Vanessa stay up here with me? I've got champagne chilled and we can have our own party."

"Gwen," Vanessa said earnestly, "I have to ask you something.'

"Of course dear," Gwendolyn said. "Anything."

"There was a man here a couple of months ago," Vanessa said. "He was tall, dark- he looked like he could be Arabic or something like that..."

"Ah," Gwendolyn replied, "the mystery man. I've never seen him here before that... He's someone different- special. He's not one of the sickos. Whenever he's here, he disappears before the partying begins... Why, is he important?"

"I don't know," Vanessa told her cousin sincerely. "He could be... Do you know his name?"

"You're not looking to trade Yuri in are you?" Gwendolyn laughed touching Yuri's arm. "I might be interested."

"This is serious Gwen," Vanessa said sincerely. "I need to know his name. Can you find out for me?"

"Of course dear," Gwendolyn said blythely. " Now how about some champagne?"

"You won't to call me will you?" Vanessa asked. "This could be really important."

"I promise dear," Gwendolyn said crossing her heart.

In another part of the estate a private affair had begun. Twenty-five of Lord Penrose's inner circle had gathered in a black draped room dimly lit only by candles. There was an altar behind which a statue of a large stone owl presided over the festivities... the attendees were clad in black robes and were standing in a semi-circle around the stone-topped altar.

A tall black-robed figure entered leading a child wearing a white satin hooded robe, He led the child by the hand, then lifted her, holding her out toward the owl, as if seeking approval... all the while intoning:

"Oh wise and ancient one, accept this lowly modest gift... our unworthy sacrifice to you."

The figure placed the child on the altar and removed the robe showing a naked girl of six or seven years old. Her hair was blonde, her eyes blue and wide with fright. She began to cry and tried in vain to hide her nakedness with her hands.

Two figures came forward and laid the child on the altar, securing her arms and legs with straps. The child began to wail pitifully and struggle against the bonds. The tall figure stood at the foot of the altar and dropped his robe to the floor revealing a fully erect Lord Penrose. The girl screamed when he entered her abd began to struggle wildly.

A figure appeared behind Penrose carrying a silver tray upon which was an obsidian dagger with an ivory handle. Lord Penrose grasped it in both hands holding it high above his head. The child's eyes were wide with terror, what was about to happen was now clear. She shrieked loudly, tears pouring from her eyes and down her cheeks. The knife plunged into her chest and within seconds Lord Penrose withdrew her still beating heart. He held it forth to the statue saying: "The sacrifice is complete, Ancient One."

As the others removed their robes, Penrose smeared his face and chest with the heart and began to lick it. The men and women gathered moved forward in unison chanting the sacrifice is complete, before covering their hands, faces and torsos in the blood, licking it from their fingers. Beck was among them, as was Dr. Van Sloan and numerous famous Hollywood dignitaries... their perverse theater of the macabre satisfied- for the moment.