This is based on the Book 'Ella Enchanted,' by Gail Carson Levine, a Cinderella pastiche in which the titular character has to follow any command given to her. 'Ella Enchanted' is a beautiful book suitable for children. This is not.

I watched the sun begin to dip into the horizon. My heart pounded. Once the last glimmer of light fell away, I would be his.

Well, I was always his. Three years ago (or was it four?) Sir Kevin had learned of my curse. At his command, we had eloped. He had dragged me to his estate across the kingdom. During the journey, he had forced me to put wax in my ears, so nobody else could give me a command. He could still control me with the hand signals he had ordered me to follow. Now he had a simpler way to prevent a stray order from taking me away from him. He simply didn't allow me to go outside.

The last bit of golden sunlight was disappearing. I steeled myself for what was to come. As the sun disappeared, I followed my orders. One step at a time, silently weeping every step of the way, I walked to Sir Kevin's bedchamber.

I walked through the door. I approached Sir Kevin, the only man I had seen in over a year. He raised his right hand. The signal to stop moving.

Smiling, the odious man walked up to me and kissed me on the lips. "I've been looking forward to this for quite some time," he said. "The best part of my day. When I get to be with my wife." So I was his wife. The difference between wife, captive, servant, and slave seemed so blurred. "I'll have you know I considered going to you room and starting this early, but one cannot rush a beauty such as yours." By which he meant the hours I had spent applying makeup and braiding my hair so that I could conform to his idea of beauty.

Sir Kevin went cold. "I called you beautiful, Ella. Thank me."

An order. It took precedence over my immobilization. "Thank you, Sir Kevin."

"I don't think you said that with quite enough gratitude. Some Punishment is in order." My heart stopped. A Punishment. "A Small Punishment."

The joy! The relief!

"Thank me for only giving you a Small Punishment, Ella."

"Thank you, Sir Kevin," I said with as much gratitude as I could muster.

"Much better. Now, what would be a fitting punishment? Perhaps the old classic. Slap yourself in the face."

I obliged. My cheek stung with the impact. But it was nothing compared to the other things Sir Kevin could do to me. I expected it wouldn't be the worst thing he would do that night.

"Do you feel you have been adequately punished? Answer me, Ella."

"I feel I have been adequately punished, Sir Kevin."

"Then thank me for the adequate punishment."

"Thank you, Sir Kevin." I said it in my most grateful voice.

Sir Kevin smiled. He raised two fingers on his left hand. Another signal. I was compelled to remove my clothes.

Technically, there were several signals to remove my clothes. This one meant to do it slowly and deliberately. There was another that made me weep while I did it. Another had me rip my clothes off. Sir Kevin usually gave me a Small Punishment after that. For ruining the clothes.

I undressed myself, removing each article of clothing in the order Sir Kevin preferred. First I removed my shoes and stockings. Then my shirt. Then my skirt. "Does this meet with your approval, Sir Kevin?" I was compelled to ask.

"Carry on."

I removed my underwear. I was naked.

"I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood for some fun and games," Sir Kevin said. "So let's have some fun. Hop on one foot."

I hopped. I had done this many times before. Often it was only a few seconds. Once he'd had me do it for over a day. The leg had ached for weeks.

I hopped. My bare foot slapped against the ground. My breasts bounced. Sir Kevin controlled my diet, and he ensured my breasts were always the right size.

"Stop hopping."

I stopped.

"Act like a dog."

I did. I got on all fours, I chased around the floor. I sniffed things, I licked things. I barked and panted for Sir Kevin's amusement.

"Stop," he said.

I stopped.

"That wasn't a very good impression of a dog. Smash your head on the floor."

I did. Hard enough to hurt, but not hard enough to bleed and ruin the face Sir Kevin loved.

"Now apologize."

"I'm sorry, Sir Kevin."

"I forgive you, Ella." A wicked smile formed on Sir Kevin's face. "I think the time for fun is almost over. But first, cartwheel around the room for me."

Sir Kevin found cartwheels were amusing. So I had to practice every day. Even with my head still aching, it was easy to move around the room.

"Now kick your own butt."

Another thing Sir Kevin found funny. My right foot came up, involuntarily, and struck me in the behind.

Sir Kevin laughed. "I think that was funny. Laugh, Ella."

I laughed. A deep laugh, like Sir Kevin would want.

Sir Kevin walked up to me and punched me in the stomach. The force of it knocked me over. "Ask me why I did that, Ella."

"Why did you do that, Sir Kevin?"

"Because I wanted to." Sir Kevin raised his middle finger. The signal that meant I should fuck him.