When the melodious notes of the Satyrs flutes started a dense low fog bank rolled over them. It was so thick, dew drops from the white clouds settled like little fallen snowflakes that drifted lazily on the wind upon her skin between the bindings. When she inhaled, aromas assaulted her lungs and sense of taste. She was overwhelmed. The rich hardy taste of grass, dirt, flowers, the essence of the Oak tree, and the salt of the sea spray. The magic which flowed around them was deep and one with nature. It stirred something within her she had never felt before at least not where magic was concerned. Her whole body tingled with a rich warmth flooded deep inside. It was that light floating feeling, like she was soaring high above the clouds. She tried to shake her head to get rid of the feeling and noticed she couldn't. Her whole body felt heavy, like she just wanted to stay there. Nothing felt wrong a sense well-being flooded over her. Hermione noticed the fog had lifted when the music stopped. The feeling of euphoria built up slowly inside her.
A deep rich bark of laughter rang out and Hermione felt it like an annoying buzz in her ear.
"All five. Now I am pleased." His voice thrummed like a buzzing of wings in Hermione's ear.
She couldn't even stand, she was supported by the Satyr behind her. Her head had fallen on his shoulder. He moved and placed a kiss on her temple. His lips felt cool to her flushed skin.
The speaker strode forward and lifted her head up so he could look at her. He had dark wavy brown hair, bright golden eyes, and a deep rich tan. "Did you drug this beauty Vladimir?"
"No, Master Pan." Vladimir insisted. "She started attacking me before we left."
Master Pan then questioned the Satyr. "Do you know why she is like this?"
She felt a deep timber which flooded through her body as the Satyr spoke behind her. "No, Master Pan. I have never seen this before." It was spoken with an air that rang with authority from the Satyr.
Master Pan laughed. "Oh this is indeed a rare beauty." He said as he caressed her cheek. "I have never seen this happen before. She appears as if she is in euphoria, after being whipped and ravished. As seeing this one is so plaint take her to Landon to be groomed. I will question her later."
"Yes, Master Pan." The Satyr said and lifted Hermione into his strong arms.
"I was to give her a lesson." Vladimir stated quickly.
"Not today. You are to leave that one alone." Master Pan insisted.
While the Satyr walked with her, she heard the hooves clop along a path. She looked up into his eyes as he looked down with a smile at her. His eyes were the most sparkling silver she had ever seen. He bent his head lower and looked into her eyes.
"Do not speak of this to Master Pan, I implore you." He kissed each of her cheeks. "Tell him nothing in which you may see, hear, or feel when you go into the Flute Dream."
That feeling of euphoria increased even further. It was more than well-being she was feeling now. Her eye lids were getting even heavier to keep open. She fought to stay awake, if she didn't have such a euphoric feeling she would be frightened. Hermione couldn't fully understand what was happening to her. The cool kisses the Satyr lavished upon her face were soft as she no longer felt the warmth of the sun.
"Landon. Master Pan said to bring you this one. She is almost ensconced inside the Flute Dream." The Satyr whispered excitedly.
"The Flute Dream?" Landon asked. "Tyran, no witch or wizard has been effected by the pipes in ages."
She felt such a soft gentle caress of a hand that ran through her hair. Hermione opened her heavy lidded eyes and saw the almond shaped eyes of Landon.
"Oh little one, you are precious. I will be your guardian while you are in that realm of sleep. Nothing shall befall you while I stand guard. You have my word. Sleep little one. We will talk when you awaken." Landon said with a warm deep timber in his voice.
Hermione could not fight off the heavy drowsy feel any longer, to the realm of sleep she went.
Hermione found herself on that hill top, the ones with stones built so long ago, very much like the one she had left only moments before. The white swirling mist enshrouded their hard dense forms. The lute of melodious harmonies dashed around the circle upon the wind. A faun with white hair formed inside the circle in the very middle. He was old, so very old, his skin wrinkled well beyond the years. A great wave of awe rose inside her as she looked upon him. His skin was like waxed paper, the blood veins could be seen underneath. Even his goat half held that white hair.
They weren't alone though, just beyond the stones Hermione saw the most amazing sight she ever beheld. Naked human forms with collars wandering aimlessly around the circle as if lost. The white haired faun look out where Hermione looked.
"They are submissives lost in the deep realm of Flute Sleep. They are non-magical as well as magical. They call the realm of Flute Sleep, sub-space in your time." His voice held a reverence as he spoke.
Hermione looked at him, "Are you a submissive?"
His laugh was boisterous. "Nay, little one. I am the Master of this realm of sleep. I am the Master Pan."
Hermione became confused. Vladimir had called the man before her, Master Pan, he did not look like a faun at all. This faun didn't have a flute at all. The melody that played surrounded them. It was odd, she could hear it, but it appeared no other submissive could, at least with the way they walked around outside of the Druid circle.
"Where is your flute?" Hermione asked.
"Ah! A tale you shall have." The Master Pan said. "Come little one, sit at my feet and listen to the tale."
Hermione wasn't totally comfortable with him. "Is it all right if I sit right where I am?"
"Of course. Sit where you feel comfortable. A true master will never require more than you can give. He may push you beyond what you think you can give, but never more than he knows what is inside you. That comes with time little one. Sit."
His words were comforting. Hermione sat where she was. Even as she did so the melody seemed to change ever so slightly while the Master Pan began his tale.
"I am a lecherous master. One day I chanced upon the most amazing site. A water nymph lovely and fare she was. Being a master of lust, of course it aroused feelings of infatuation, and I gave chase. I had to have her you see. Clever little thing she was indeed running to the aid of her sisters. They turned her into a reed. The wind was on my side that day. It blew and I heard her melody, for it was sung from the very breath of her soul. I wasn't sure which reed it was so I took several and made a flute. You hear Syrinx in the music surrounding us right now, her soul is calling and begging for me to return."
"Return where?" Hermione asked.
"To return to her, to play her and cherish her once more. The only way I could ever be with Syrinx is when I played the flute. Such pain would arise deep within my soul when I played. My soul called to hers and when united the Flute Sleep appears and I can be with her. She was ever my most cherished love and possession."
Hermione looked around, "but where is Syrinx? I don't see her."
The Master Pan became so distressed, he wept bitterly. Hermione scooted closer to him, her heart broken at the site of seeing him this way. Though she was still cautious. He had opened himself up to her. She wasn't sure how to comfort him, attentively she reached up closed her hand over his that was upon one knee. It was a small gesture, but one he seemed to find solace in.
"I am stuck in the Flute Sleep, because I have not my love with me to play her, to make her appear here with me. She plays ever around me, I hear her cries and I cannot comfort them, kiss her tears away, hold her once more. I was tricked."
"How were you tricked?" Hermione asked.
"I chanced upon a sorceress, Jaloux . Beautiful she was. Reminded me a lot of Syrinx. Gave me a right ole chase she did until I caught her as well. She became my new slave of pleasure. I am ever a lascivious master. I kept her away from Syrinx. Jaloux wanted me to play my flute with her in my bed chamber. I told her this could never be done. I had always kept Syrinx safe. One day, Jaloux made a beautiful feast for me, and I ate my fill. She asked me again to play my flute with her in my bed chamber and I denied her. Time carried on and I reasoned all was fine. Little did I know that Jaloux had become jealous of my flute that is ever with me. She made another feast for me, I ate my fill of that one as well, again she asked for me to play flute with her. Again I denied it. I should have realized upon the third time she made a feast that something was wrong. It was inside one the pies. An elixir of euphoria that she fed me. When she asked that time, I gave in feeling as nothing was wrong. I was transported as well as Syrinx, and Jaloux to the Flute Sleep. Jaloux realized right then she was more than jealous of a flute, she was jealous of another female. They quarreled. And while they fought, they walked out of the Druid circle, leaving me trapped inside it. Syrinx returned to a flute once more and Jaloux had her jealous revenge and now we are separated eternally."
Hermione was flummoxed. She wasn't quite sure what to say to him. Jealousy was almost as bad as lust as their were always two sides to it. Jealous out of envy, or jealous out of possessiveness. These were black and white issues that Hermione knew one day even she would have to deal with them. She hadn't had to cross the bridge of jealousy over a master, but she could see what could happen before her, that it was a vengeful force as it tore them all apart. It was the melody that played that drew attention back to him.
"How is Syrinx playing?" Hermione asked while she patted his hand.
He lifted his other hand and caressed her cheek. "She is ever cursed to play. Where? I do not know. Help me little one. Help me. Free me from this torment."
His pleading cries was all as she heard as darkness surrounded her taking her away from the Master Pan.
Hermione's eyes opened slowly. Her head hurt, and she felt a little ache here and there. She felt the caress upon her cheek, just like the Master Pan had been doing. Almond eyes looked down into her and a broad smile was Landon's face.
"You are back to me little one. How do you feel?" Landon asked imploringly.
"My head hurts." Hermione told him.
"Not to worry. I will give you something for it." Landon bent down and whispered in her ear. "What did you see?"
Hermione wasn't sure if she should tell him what she saw. She wasn't even sure if what she saw was even real. It wasn't like she had the Hogwarts library at her disposal to find out if anything like that were possible at least magically anyway. Trust was very problematic, there wasn't anyone she could trust other than her friends. Having decided that, Hermione shook her head no and remained silent. Better to err on the side of caution than to make a grave error.
"Not to worry. I implore you, tell Master Pan nothing of what you saw inside the Flute Sleep." Landon said. "Lay still, I will get something for your head little one."
She had lifted her head and tried to rise, but found out she couldn't do that very well, she found her strength uncommonly weak. Whether she liked it or not, she was at Landon's mercy.
