“Why then?”
“Insurance.”
Sir pulled out his checkbook, calmly wrote out a check for five hundred thousand dollars from his personal account and held it out to her.
Brie felt sick to her stomach watching him give in so easily to the witch.
“Have Brie bring it to me, boy.”
Sir gave the check to Brie and nodded, his eyes revealing neither anger nor defeat. She stood up and walked over to Ruth. The woman lay there, studying her like a piece of meat. With a dissatisfied grunt, she took the check. “Before I give her the violin, let me make sure this money is good.”
She called the number on the check and verified the funds were available.
“Good boy.” She sat up and pulled the violin from under the pillow. She held it out to Brie and, without warning, dropped it from her grasp.
With lightning-quick reflexes, Brie caught the instrument before it hit the floor.
“Pity,” the woman exclaimed, folding the check and stuffing it into her brassiere.
Brie carried the violin with reverence back to Sir. He took it, looking it over briefly before commenting. “Do you have the case?”
“It’s in the bedroom. Have your pet get it,” Ruth answered in a disinterested voice.
With Sir’s permission, Brie went to retrieve it. The case, lined with red velvet, was open on the bed. She closed it slowly, feeling power radiating from that simple violin case—a connection to the past.
Brie held it to her chest as she walked back to Sir. With the same reverence she had shown, Sir placed the violin inside and latched it shut.
Sir spoke to Ruth in a businesslike manner. “Where should I send the next check? I do not want to meet with you again.”
“Agreed. Totally unnecessary to meet in person. I’ve gotten what I need from my heartless son.” She lifted a card from the table and handed it to him. “Send it here two weeks before the premiere. Failure to do so will have dire consequences.”
Sir took the card and tucked it into his jacket.
“There are three things you might find of interest, Ruth.” He nodded towards the check. “One: that is a bogus account. You will not be receiving any funds from me. Two: I know that you had your medical records altered. I could only wish to get rid of you that easily. Three: my lawyer informed me that you are bankrupt—not a cent to your name. You are living on borrowed time and that time has finally run out.”
She rose from the couch in a furious rage. “Foolish boy! I will bury you!”
Sir tucked the violin under his arm and said, “We’re finished here.”
“Finished is right!” Ruth screeched. “My threats are not idle, Thane. I will trash your reputation as thoroughly as I did your father’s. You will lose everything. Money, honor…” she looked directly at Brie, “…love.”
“Unlike my father, I am not dead and can defend myself.”
Her laughter was hard and cruel. “You underestimate me, son. There will be nothing left when I’m through.”
“I repeat, I am capable of defending myself. And yes, your threats are idle. I do not fear you.” He put his hand on Brie’s back and directed her towards the door.
Ruth hissed from behind them, “I’m coming after you too, precious. If I don’t ruin you, Thane will.”
Brie took a deep breath once the elevator doors had closed. It felt as if she had survived a physical battle. She was exhausted, both emotionally and physically. She glanced at Sir and was heartened to see a slight smirk on his face.
Yes, he’d won the hour.
Although Sir remained aloof when they returned home, he called her to him that evening and asked her to bow at his feet. “I actually contemplated uncollaring you, Brie, but something the beast said today caused me to reconsider. She is correct in likening your devotion to that of my father. It is also true that a part of my mother lives in me. I am capable of being heartless and cruel, but my father’s unfailing passion beats in this heart. It is his legacy that I choose to live out.”
Brie looked up hesitantly, afraid to hope.
“Are you repentant of reading the letter?”
“More than you know, Sir.”
“Will you ever contact her again, in any way?”
“Never knowingly, Sir.”
He snorted in understanding and amended his statement. “Will you immediately tell me if you encounter her unexpectedly?”
“Immediately, Sir. No hesitation.”
He ordered her to stand. “As punishment, I could have you endure another session with rice or even a thorough beating.”
Brie bowed her head, ready to accept his punishment, although she feared it would be much harsher than the first.
His breath was long and drawn out, as if he was completely exhausted. “However, I fear whatever the beast has planned will far surpass any punishment I could deliver. She will attempt to break you emotionally. It will get ugly, I guarantee it. Are you strong enough? If not, then I should set you free now.”
She took offense at the offer and stated proudly, “I would die for you, Sir.”
He growled, “Dying is not an option, téa.”
Hearing her pet name uttered from his lips made her whole body sing with relief. “What I meant, Sir, is that I would suffer any hardship to remain by your side.”
“You must be sure, téa.”
Brie kissed his hand lovingly. “In good times and in bad, there is no place I would rather be than by your side.”
“Then we stand together.”
“As one, Sir.”
His smirk from earlier returned. “I did enjoy the look on her face the moment she realized she’d been beaten at her own game.”
“It was brilliantly delivered, Sir.”
“After being forced into a corner, I spent the night devising my plan and setting the wheels in motion. As my mother said, ‘Desperate times call for desperate measures.’ The beast didn’t stand a chance.”
“Your father would have been proud.”
“No,” Sir said solemnly, “he would have been saddened that we were still fighting against each other, but I trust he’d have understood my actions.” His gaze suddenly became sentimental. “Although I was against you being there today, your presence was…appreciated.”
Brie smiled at him lovingly.
Sir took her hand and placed it over the healing brand on his chest. “This is where you remain. Always.”
Burying herself in his embrace, she whispered, “Thank you, Sir.”
When she walked into the bedroom that night, she found the violin lying in the middle of the bed. The two lay down on either side of it. She could tell he had something he wanted to share.
Sir touched the strings, making a light strumming sound. “This instrument has been in our family for over two hundred years. It was passed down from generation to generation to the most promising talent.”
“I had no idea it was that old.”
“My great-grandfather was an American who fought in World War I. He fell in love with the Italian language and culture after making friends among the troops and decided to relocate there after the war ended. He married the sister of one of his Italian comrades and set about propagating the world with eight children, the youngest being my grandfather. Although Nonno never stepped onto American soil, he carried the Davis name and was granted the family heirloom when it was discovered his son had exceptional talent.”
Brie stroked the smooth wood, amazed so much family history was represented in one instrument.
“My American relatives invested in his education, flying my father out here when he was only twelve. For all intents and purposes, he grew up an American but never lost his love for his homeland. At least four times a year we would visit, even when his concert schedule became hectic. Family meant everything to him.”
“What a rich childhood you had, Sir.”
“True, I did.” His eyes held a haunted look, but Sir smiled as he looked down at the violin. “After he
passed, the only thing I wanted of my father’s was this violin. Naturally, my mother refused to give it to me. I had assumed she’d sold it because of its considerable worth, but now I realize she kept it all these years for one reason.”
Brie looked at him sadly. “Blackmail.”
His eyes narrowed and his voice became dark. “Yes, but she failed to take into account that I am my mother’s son. I am not so easily manipulated.”
Brie ran her fingers over the strings tenderly. “Now it’s back where it belongs.” She smiled. “Is this the violin he always played, Sir?”
His expression softened. “Yes. My father would touch no other.”
“So when I hear his music, I am hearing this instrument.”
“Yes.”
“Wow…” she said in admiration. Brie looked at it again, realizing it was a piece of Alonzo’s soul in physical form.
Sir picked it up and placed it back in the case. “And now it can wait for the next in the Davis line to bring it back to life.”
“A beautiful gift…”
His eyes shone with triumph when he replied, “A valuable legacy. One worth fighting for.”
Excitement at The Haven
Brie’s Master was asked to join an impromptu meeting at The Haven with several of the other Submissive Training Center staff members. The discussion was to center on issues anticipated following the publicizing of the documentary. Sir had given Brie permission to roam the club until he had finished.
Sir was no longer worried about Faelan. After the formal meeting with the Dom, Brie had had no further trouble with him. It seemed Faelan had found his niche in the community with a little guidance from Marquis, and he was highly popular at the club these days.
From what Brie could gather from information Lea had shared, he had created an unusual routine at The Haven, inspired by the auctions at the Center. At the start of each evening, submissives were invited to fill out a form detailing a simple fantasy they wanted to play out that particular night. An hour before he was scheduled to scene, Faelan would announce the scenario that had captured his interest. The lucky sub would then spread the word, guaranteeing a large audience to watch it.
It was not only popular with the subs, but with fellow Dominants as well. They took the opportunity to observe the wide variety of scenes presented and select those that aroused them to recreate at home. Despite Faelan’s young age, he was a master of role play and displayed advanced skills, having been trained by both Sir and Marquis. It made him a hot commodity in the community.
Although Sir no longer considered Faelan a threat, he reminded her, “If at any point you feel uncomfortable, seek Tono out. He has been made aware that I will be in a meeting tonight.”
As Brie watched Sir walk off to join Headmaster Coen and Master Anderson, she felt a thrill. She hadn’t been allowed this kind of freedom in forever, and she found it invigorating.
She stepped over to the first alcove and was surprised to find Marquis finishing a scene. Celestia, his collared sub, was bound to a wooden St. Andrew’s cross, her back a crisscross of red marks, indicating that she’d received an intense flogging from him.
Marquis zipped up the bag that held his infamous tools. He approached his sub with predatory grace, turning her head and kissing her forcefully while she was still bound.
Celestia’s moan resonated in Brie’s core. It was the sound of a woman who had been flying high in subspace, brought back to earth by the overwhelming connection of her Master’s kiss.
She heard him say faintly, “My beautiful star…”
Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled. “My heart.”
Brie was moved by their simple exchange. She admired how each D/s couple had their own erotic dance. No two couples followed the exact same steps, but the deep level of trust and respect was consistent throughout the community.
Marquis released Celestia from the cross and cradled her in his arms, kissing her lightly. It was the romantic side of Marquis that Brie had been surprised by the first time she’d scened with him during training.
She smiled to herself, remembering the first day she’d met him at the Training Center. Oh, how Marquis Gray had frightened her with his dark, penetrating eyes and ghostlike figure. She understood now that looks did not define a person. It was one of many lessons she’d learned at the Center.
Brie quietly moved on to the next scene, wanting to give them privacy to bask in their aftercare.
At the next alcove she came across a Master punishing his slave. Brie had no idea what her offense had been, but he commanded his naked slave to mold herself to the ‘Pole of Penance’. The girl walked over to the sleek metal pole and turned around to face the crowd, her face the picture of repentance.
Attached to the pole was a thick, black dildo. The slave bent over and pressed her ass against the toy. The multitudes watched as the girl began rocking against the large, latex cock. Her Master stood over her, obviously enjoying the sight of the dark phallus penetrating his sub. He grunted, stroking his cock as he watched.
The slave whimpered occasionally as she willingly ground against the toy, forcing it deeper into her ass.
“Hands above your head, slave,” he ordered when the penetration was complete. He then tied her hands to a ring and pulled the rope taut. Brie could imagine how the girl must feel, with her body stretched by the binding and her ass stretched by the large toy inside her. Then her Master added a new element—the Magic Wand.
Brie whimpered along with her.
He held it in front of his slave, stating, “Disobedient slaves do not get the pleasure of orgasm.”
The girl watched with a look of fear, knowing she was in trouble as he knelt down and bound the wand between her legs, securing it tightly against her clit.
“Please—no, Master,” she begged.
Her Master’s smile was playfully ruthless. “Do not orgasm or you will meet a much worse fate, slave.”
The girl cried out when he switched it on. Brie knew the wand would be creating a delicious vibration between her thighs, and wondered how the girl could possibly hold out. When he turned the wand up to the higher setting, Brie decided to leave. Watching orgasm denial was almost as bad as experiencing it herself.
She moved on, looking for Lea, but stopped short when she saw Boa beginning a scene with his Mistress. He was dressed in black leather chaps and nothing else. His Mistress was wearing embroidered, royal purple silks wrapped tightly around her sleek body, her lips a matching deep plum.
Brie was surprised to see there were four men, including Boa, involved in the scene. It was quite unusual. Boa’s Asian Mistress was in charge, so Brie assumed all four males and the one lone female must all be submissives. She forgot all about Lea as she watched the tantalizing scene play out before her.
The girl was ordered to lie on a thin wooden bench. She was bound to it with violet ropes, one just under her breasts and a second binding across her hip bones. Brie noted that her head and pussy were positioned at the edges on either side of the bench. The furniture seemed to be specifically designed for fucking a sub at both ends.
Ingenious.
Brie was a little curious, though, because the girl’s hands had been left untied. She looked at the other male submissives and noted that they were wearing similar leather chaps to Boa’s. All four men had full erections; however, it was Boa’s that drew Brie’s attention. She’d never forgotten the challenge of taking his massive cock into her small frame. Just thinking about it now caused a deep ache in her loins.
The Domme grabbed a leather crop and walked over to the girl. “You are about to be banged by my four men. I expect you to please each one equally. I will correct you if necessary.” She snapped the crop onto the girl’s mound. The sub cried out in pain at the unexpected warning. “That’s right. Mistress will be very strict tonight. I want my boys pleased.”
“I understand, Mistress Luo,” the female answered.
The Asian Domme walked up to each male individ
ually and grabbed his scrotum, squeezing her long nails into his flesh. She leaned in close to his ear, to whisper something the crowd was not privileged to hear.
When she was done, the four men took their places: Boa between the girl’s legs, the twins on either side of her and the remaining one at her head. The idea of pleasing all four men at the same time was both frightening and exciting to Brie. Boa was enough of a challenge on his own, and Brie wondered how the sub felt about her task.
She glanced between the girl’s legs and noticed her outer lips were already red and swollen, indicating a very turned-on subbie. Brie had long since realized that a woman’s vocalizations were never as reliable as the state of her sex.
A female could fake a scream of pleasure, but not an amorous pussy.
The Domme ordered, “Please the twins.”
The sub immediately took a cock in each hand and expertly stroked the lengths of their shafts with an added rotation of her wrists at the end. Both men groaned in appreciation of her evident skill. “Keep them satisfied, sub. Do not slow down, not even for an instant.”
“Yes, Mistress Luo. It will be my pleasure.”
The Mistress turned to Boa with a hungry look. “Boa, fuck the girl.”
Brie bit her bottom lip as she watched the male sub position his colossal shaft against the sub’s opening and then grab onto her thighs. The girl panted and groaned as he forced the impossibly large head of his shaft inside her.
Brie felt a trickle down the inside of her own leg. Oh, yes, her pussy knew well the sexy demand of Boa’s shaft. She squeezed her legs together, feeling her clit faintly pulse with desire.
While he was still forcing himself inside, the Domme trailed the crop slowly up the girl’s body, all the way to her throat and up to her chin. She smiled down at the female and said, “Lex, fuck her pretty mouth.”
Brie shivered. She remembered the time she’d been on the doctor’s table and Master Harris had deep-throated her while stimulating her clit with a vibrator. That was nothing compared to this. Brie stood glued in place, completely entranced by Mistress Luo’s scene.