The smell of perfume intensifies and they start brushing each other’s hair, helping each other get ready.
“Stand.” Mistress says to me.
I do it quickly, scrambling to my feet as fast as my exhausted body can move. I feel exposed, violated. Naked not just physically, but emotionally and mentally stripped bare.
She circles me, tutting more, poking at the flesh above my hips. “Fat.” She mutters under her breath. “A fat lazy dog. That’s what he’s bought.”
The other girls laugh again, running their eyes over me with more contempt.
Somewhere far off, a bell goes off. The three women gasp, rushing to take position, kneeling one beside the other in a neat little row right in front of the door with their heads all bowed.
“Quickly.” The mistress hisses, ramming some sort of fabric dress over my head, down over my body. It’s silk, sheer, a beautiful delicate pink that seems to mimic my skin exactly. Mistress pushes me forward, pushing me down, and I only just make it to the floor as the huge double doors open.
My heart hammers in my chest. I bite down on my tongue to stop my teeth from chattering, but my body still shakes uncontrollably ashewalks in.
I don’t need to look. I know better than to raise my head anyway, but I know who it is, who is here.
He takes one measured step after another. He murmurs something to the Mistress and then nods before he turns all his attention on the dark-haired girl. He cups her face, he strokes her hair and she blushes, she swoons, she loves every minute of it.
I don’t know what I expected. I don’t even understand why this is making me angry but as I stay on the floor, as I kneel, he plays with the other women, he gives them attention, and he acts like I’m not even here.
What the fuck? What does this man want from me?
He’s hurt me, abused me, had me locked away and tortured for I don’t even know how long, and now that he’s seeing me again it’s like I’m nothing to him.But surely he wouldn’t have paid all that money, wouldn’t have done any of the things he has if I mean nothing to him?
“Tell me,” I murmur as my eyes skim over each of them, “how my pets are today. Have they been pampered? Have they behaved?”
It’s been four months since I’ve been here, since I’ve been home, my real home. I spent far longer than I wanted in Scotland. I spent far longer managing petty Chapter in-fighting, squashing men who thought they’d found a weak point to exploit and trying to track down Ezekial too, though those efforts have led to nothing.
Of course I checked in, dialled in to watch her training but that was all I could do; watch.
“They have for the most part.” Clara says, keeping her eyes fixed on them like she can’t bring herself to look at my mangled face. “They’re already put out by the new one.”
“How so?” I ask. My understanding was she’d been locked up this entire time, and only last night was she brought out of confinement.
Clara shrugs. “You know how they are; Felice in particular is territorial.”
Territorial is good. Territorial is exactly how I want the others to behave. “I trust you to ensure she is perfect.” I reply before turning my attention on Anya.
Her dark hair cascades like a silken waterfall down her back as she curves over into a perfect show of obedience. I slide my hand under her chin and pull her to her feet.
For the slightest of seconds, I see that flicker of horror as she sees my face; as she sees the burns, the scarring, the melted flesh. Then, like a perfectly obedient bitch, she smiles back at me, she blushes so beautifully, and I drag my fingersdown over her soft cheek to where her parted lips are waiting. She draws the tips in, sucking them softly, moaning too as she tastes the ink under my nails.
I raise my other hand, stroking her hair, rewarding her in a way I know she’ll love.
After Anya, I focus on Julie. Giving her the same attention, the same treatment. Then I look at Felice, who looks like she’s dying waiting for me to get to her.
“Felice,” I murmur softly, and she reacts as if me saying her name is pleasure enough.
I bring her to her feet and she leans in, brushing her body against me, ensuring her breasts catch on my arm in a way that rubs against her nipples.
“Master,” She breathes. “It’s been so long…” she begins before gasping when she looks at me.
I know I’m not pretty now. I know my appearance is a thing to behold, a thing of nightmares. But these are my pets, my whores, specifically trained for my needs. They don’t have to be attracted to me, their wants mean nothing when I own them entirely.
She gulps, quickly recovering herself and then plants the softest of kisses on my hand as a form of apology.
“I’ve been busy, Felice.” I say.
