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Chapter 6
The client who had droned on in my ear for
what seemed like forever, was still talking when I saw Paul burst into the
room. As important as this client was to
my business, I could see that what Paul needed to tell me was more important. I
asked the client to wait a moment and pressed hold, my mind already racing
ahead of me.
“Nathan, you have to come now! I tried to stop him, but he ignored me. Clare is in trouble and needs your help.” Although he had not said what Evan was doing, my stomach dropped at the thought that he was doing her damage. Quickly ending the call, the client non too happy, I rushed with Paul back down to the basement. What I saw when I entered the room, was enough to know that Paul had not been over reacting. Clare was tied taut, her body off the ground. This was not what bothered me, instead it was the lines of red welts that were covering her back, some of which had been hard enough to cause some drops of blood.
Running over to Evan, I gripped his arm and swung a punch at him, the surprise attack catching him off guard. He landed on the floor, his face stunned and I mentioned to Paul to hold him down while I started to let Clare down. She had fainted, so I was able to handle her body without causing her any more pain. I held her gently in my arms, my feelings all in a muddle. Evan started to stand and I warned him with my eyes not to try anything. “Evan, what the fuck did you think you were doing? No, I don’t think I want to know, just get out now before I decide to use the whip on you.”
At least he was smart enough to leave without any fuss and I soon forget him in my hurry to get Clare into a bath. I was aware of Paul walking Evan to the door but I moved off in the opposite direction towards my bathroom. Turning on the tap to fill the bath, I felt her stir but not wake up, and so had the time to get her into the tub before she could have the chance to fight me. I tried to work out how I was feeling. I had spent the last two weeks playing with her like a doll, her feelings not even being considered as I controlled her world. Now I was made to confront that fact that she was a real, flesh and blood person, whom I had allowed to be abused while I was trying to make money. I knew things would have to change, but how much I wasn’t sure.
I could feel warmth engulfing my body and feared what they were doing to me now. Dreading what I would see when I opened my eyes, I decided to see how much movement I had. Surprised that I could not feel anything binding my limbs, I began to realise I was in what felt like water. What I also realised was that there was a hand holding onto me and I groaned to think that they wanted more from me. The sound of my Master’s voice made me flinch and I opened my eyes to see what might be coming.
“Shh slave, you are safe now.” I found it hard to link what I knew of Master Nathan with the gentle voice I was hearing now. I started to struggle, only to find him holding me still. Starting to cry, all the horror of my experience at the hands of Nathan came to the surface. He allowed me to cry, even letting me cover my face with my hands and to bring my knees up. As I cried, I became aware of another voice in the room and panicked thinking it was Sir Evan. Cringing, I dared to take a peak and saw only Paul. Sensing my distress, Paul knelt down beside the bath to speak to me.
“If you are looking for Evan, he is gone. Your Master sent him packing along with a very sore eye.” My mind was again trying to work out why Master was suddenly concerned about me. “How are you feeling? Evan really gave you a going over.” At his words, I suddenly remembered the whip and looked down to see half a dozen welts crossing my stomach and chest. I knew my back would be the same, but the shock must have not left me, as I felt nothing for the moment. “I did try to stop him, you know, but I had to go and get your Master to help you. He was like a man possessed.” The thought that he had been that concerned for me only set my tears off again, but this time he stroked my hair while I cried. I felt a certain level of peace for the first time in weeks, despite the presence of Master Nathan in the room. My Master asking Paul if he would mind giving them some time to talk shattered the peace. I watched as he left, feeling alone again as he left the room.
“Slave, I don’t know how to say how sorry I am for what Evan did. You must know I did not know what he had planned and never thought he would abuse you in the way he did.” I was again taken aback by his words. “I know I have given you no reason to trust me but I am asking you to trust me now. I promise you things will change around here, not that you will not still be my slave, but that I will take better care of you.” Wondering if I was dreaming, I just stared at this man who had made my life a living hell for two weeks.
“I have to admit that when I bought you, my only thought was all the things I could do to you and that you would not be able to complain or fight me. Today had taught me a bitter lesson, that you although you may be my slave, you are a real person too.” In my head I was amazed that he had thought the way he had, although his treatment of me confirmed this. “When you are healed, I will try to work out a way of being your Master while still allowing you to get some time to be you. But for now, I need you to stand up so I can see how much damage has been done.”
I stood up, still in a daze over all that had happened, especially his comments. I was starting to feel the pain of the welts on my body and groaned in pain as I stood in the bath. He turned me around gently and I heard him gasp as he saw my back. Looking back to see in the mirror, I could see a series of welts criss-crossing my back. I felt weak and was glad of his hands on my hips as he helped my out of the bath. He gently dried me off and then applied the same ointment he had used on me two weeks ago and then handed me two painkillers. Without another word he led me along a hallway to a room I had never seen before. When I realised it was his bedroom, I froze, thinking he just wanted to fuck me, but he made me keep moving and surprised me by lifting up the covers to reveal clean, crisp sheets.
“Please, lie down and sleep. Someone will be in to check on you soon.” I was still a bit suspicious but did as I was told, the sheets feeling so cool on my skin. I lay on my side, so that my welts would not rub on the bed or the covers. I was already drifting off to sleep when I felt him attach my hand to the top of the bed. My final thought as sleep overcame was that some things would not change.
It was dark in the room when I awoke. It took me a few moments to remember where I was and that I was not alone in the bed. My body was sore now, the welts throbbing. I tried to lie still but the increasing pain made be moan. I could feel the body move beside me and the fear that I had woken him up and he would be angry washed over me. He came around to my side of the bed, two more tablets in his hand. I took them eagerly and then he used the cream on me again. Before he had even finished, I was again asleep.
The next time I woke, it was morning and I was alone. I was still tied to the bed, but on checking the rope had been changed to the chain and cuff I was used to, and I was able to stand. I needed to use the toilet and was pleased to see an ensuite attached to the room. I did not look in the mirror as I used the toilet but once I was done, I could not resist. I saw that while some of the welts had started to go down, many were still quite red and sore looking. Just as I was making my way carefully back to the bed, the door opened and Paul came in with a tray of food.
“I hoped to get here in time to help you, but at least it seems you do not have a fever. Come and sit on the bed and have something to eat.” I was still a bit wary of him, his involvement yesterday still on my mind. It was the rumbling of my stomach that reminded me that I had not eaten since breakfast the day before. I sat gingerly on the bed and he sat beside me, placing the tray on the bedside table.
“Here, have these with your meal and then I will reapply the cream.” I ate in silence, the closeness of him keeping me on edge. “Clare, I know you don’t know me, but I am here only to help you. I have grown up with the slaves my dad kept at home, so I know how they should be treated. I know I helped Evan yesterday, but you must believe me when I tell you he really did go too far. I have spoken with your Master and I truly believe it when he says your treatment will change.” I ate as he spoke, part of me trying to picture a child growing up with slaves around him. “Is there anything you would like to ask me?
“Do you truly think things will change. Here I am, still in chains, though the setting is a bit nicer than downstairs.” I knew I was sounding like a child, but the pain was making me feel nasty. “ Clare, I can’t tell you that everything will be great but I do believe your Master is willing to try. I do not know him well but my father always spoke of him as a decent man. I just think he was overcome by the power of having his own slave and yesterday came as a big shock to him. I do believe that if you are willing to give him a chance, you would find life here to be not so bad.” The tablets must have been having their effect on me, as I felt myself growing tired again. Paul must have seen this and quickly applied the cream as I drifted again off to sleep.
Walking the next time, what seemed like
late afternoon sun was coming in a window and I got up to see what was
outside. I was unable to open the
window, but I could see a large yard, with a tall fence around it. There was a pool and a nice garden full of
flowers. Seeing the outside for the
first time in weeks made me feel sad. I
wondered if this new life I had been promised would include me being able to
leave the house.
The door opening made me turn sharply, my fear of punishment still great. This time it was Master Nathan who entered
and I froze, ready for him to drag me away from the window.
When he just walked up and looked out the window too, I didn’t know what to think. We stood in silence for a moment until it got too much and I had to sit on the bed. Master Nathan sat down next to me and took my hand in his. I flinched but he did not let go, so I made myself let it sit there. “Now that you are showing some signs of improvement, I need to offer my apology yet again. I know you have no reason to believe me, hell if I was you I wouldn’t believe a word I was saying.” I looked at his face to see if he was joking, but all I could see was a serious expression. I was starting to think maybe he really did want to change. “As I have said, you will still be my slave and I will expect you to obey me, however I will also reward your good behaviour. Tell me now, is there something you would like, within reason of course?”
What would I like? I would like to go home, to have control over my body again. However, I did not want to mess this up, so I choose something I thought he would allow me. “I would like to go outside, just in the backyard.” Waiting for his response, I was shocked when he stood me up and began to lead me out of the room and through the house until we were actually standing in the yard. Paul had followed us out, curious as to what we were doing.
As I breathed in the fresh air for the first time since my abduction, I began to believe that things would change. Sure, my life would never be the same again but maybe, just maybe it would become something more than the nightmare if had become. I suppose only time would tell.
To be continued
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