Master A-0011

F or most in my circle, looks were their identity. If they held beauty, they used it like a tool. Manipulation was almost guaranteed, and their ego was certain to be overinflated. My life revolved around these sorts of people. I was one. In the outside world, there wasn’t a soul who hadn’t heard of Ethan O’Brien. My movies broke box office records. I was the epitome of male sex appeal, and there wasn’t a day that went by when I wasn’t reminded of it.

As one of the most famous people in Hollywood, my life should have been easy. And maybe that was the problem. Women threw themselves at me. They begged me to fuck them. I should have been living the dream. Had it not been for who I’d been born as, maybe I would have. Acting may have been my job, but I would have been famous regardless. That’s what happened when you came from one of the richest and most elite families in the world.

I hated it. I hated everything about my life. From the earliest years, I could recall this thing inside of me. It started with a want. A simple craving. Touch. Love. Attention. I had always been a cute kid, but where the world doted on me even back then from modeling and my small movie roles, my home life was anything but picturesque. Affection was nonexistent. Happiness wasn’t found. The O’Briens had secrets. Some so dark, they couldn’t help but leak free. Maybe that’s why for so long we were considered a risk to our circle. We were chastised. Berated by our own kind. We were a disgrace…until I took care of it.

“Look at the pretty boy. Pathetic. Weak,” my father screamed in my face, spitting against my swollen cheek as he bent over my beaten body. “I can’t even look at you. You make me sick. You might as well wear makeup and put on one of your mother’s dresses. I bet you already do,” he said, kicking me again . You sure as hell don’t do anything manly like sports or— a gust of air exploded from my lungs from the kick to the stomach —boy things. Should I grab a pair of heels too? Would you like her panties?”

I fought to catch my breath as clinking from his belt sounded. I could barely move from the new injuries to the two fractured ribs I had from the beating before. “Dad, stop.”

“I’ll stop when you do. No more shoots. No more prancing around and practicing for those stupid roles.”

“But Mom said—I told you ? —”

Laughing. It filled the space and so did the sound of piss as it began saturating and bouncing from the knight costume I’d had made to practice my role.

“Mommy’s boy. Fucking pansy. You’re almost twenty, but you’re no man. You’re a fucking girl.”

Maybe I hadn’t been a typical boy growing up, but I enjoyed being anyone but myself. I was good at acting. It was the epitome of my identity. Pretending. Smiling. Seething. My father had created me whether he wanted to admit it or not. And I was more like him than he knew. It didn’t take long after that day for him to see firsthand.

Murder came easy. Acting was my mask. It’s probably why he and my grandfather never saw it coming. How could they when to them it was a random Tuesday and their abuse was habit? The male side of my line had tried so hard to mold me into disaster and dysfunction. They thought because of my good looks, I wasn’t “tough” enough. Their jealousy and hate towards me knew no end, and when the beating began, I was ready. But not for what came from me.

That day, I destroyed them with an act that felt natural. For the first time, I felt at home. But I wasn’t prepared for what it would mean. Neither were the leaders of our circle when they stepped forward to cover up my secret when parts of their bodies were…missing. That was years ago. That’s when Elec took me in. That’s when he started teaching me how one of our status should be. With more than a decade of his help, I found my blood wasn’t as forgiving. The darkness lured me in, and the more I gave myself to it, the more it had to show me.

“I said stay out of my way, Melissa. I know what I’m doing. I’m fine .”

Red shoulder-length hair swayed as the Mistress glanced my way but turned back to the Main Master. Her face was as hard as his, but where Elec projected barely any emotion, the anger she held was evident. And I knew her, personally and from her role here. She was an elite and one of the Garden’s therapists. I often saw her on my way to see my own doctor.

“That remains to be seen. Your appointment is in the morning. You’ve rescheduled enough. I will see you, then.”

“I haven’t forgotten. Nine o’clock, sharp.”

The dismissal was immediate as he turned from her, heading for me.

“Master Eleven.”

It was a greeting, but he wasn’t stopping as he swept by.

“Main Master, I was actually headed to see you.”

“Of course you were. Fuck, I told you I’d call. I forgot.” He slowed, turning back to me. “What is it you need?”

Hard blue eyes bore into me suddenly making my needs feel not so important. He was busy running this shitshow. I knew that. The thing was, I couldn’t go through this again. Not for the third time.

“I need a d? i . A housekeeper, cook, the works. I looked through all of them last time. Is there any…not so attractive?”

“Attractive? That’s right.”

My teeth bit into each other at his look of understanding. “You know I have routines. It helps the anger.” I paused, reigning in the swirl of rage already building. I couldn’t stand talking about my feelings. My issues. “I need someone I’m not going to kill.”

“Of course. I take it men are out of the picture.”

“They’ll be dead faster than the women.”

“I thought so.” The Main Master pulled out his phone, pushing buttons and scanning through. “You’ve looked at all the d’s available?”

“Every single one, multiple times. I was worried about this last time. I just…I need structure. Dr. Almer, my therapist, says it’s important for me. I just can’t find the right person, and you know how I feel about blank slates.”

“Yes.” He paused as he scanned. “The first auction you bought one b and a d . The second you bought two b’s and a d . And…I see they were all picked up within days.”

Nodding, I studied his face as he continued to go through the information on his phone.

“What about a crow ? ii ? Not a criminal but…” His finger swiped countless times, and a few minutes passed. He immediately went rigid but smiled. “Wait a minute. I think… Yes . I might have someone for you.” He got quiet, pulling something up and nodding. “Exactly what I thought. Good scores. According to testing, her temperament is…excellent. She would have made a perfect candidate for the d program except, well, given the circumstances, was impossible.”

Elec turned the phone to face me, and my lips parted. For long moments, I couldn’t speak past taking in the deep scars that were visible over her skin. A thick line ran just over her temple to below her left eye. It was light pink and jagged reaching to the middle of her cheek. Another marred her lower neck, disappearing into the gown towards her chest. That one was thicker and a darker shade with one closely below. It was…intriguing. Mysterious. It had my stare jumping back to her face. Not a beautiful face, but not unattractive either. More… classic beauty , and I liked it.

“What happened to her?”

“Does it matter? You want her to clean and cook for you. Do you need her life story for that?”

“No.”

“Great. I’m going to enter her information into your cart. When you’re finished, let the guards downstairs know and they’ll retrieve her. You can take a look in person and?—”

“No.” I swallowed back the odd edge in my tone. It was interest and intrigue. Doom and deception. “She’ll work just fine. Charge me whatever you want. If you could have her delivered while I finish up, that would be great.”

More movements of his finger. “Done. This won’t happen again, Master. And you better believe this favor comes at a price far more than money. Next time, you’ll know a different outlet if you kill her too.”

No favoritism. We were friends, but not concerning the auction. He was all Main Master, and not the man who saved my life in more ways than I could think about.

“Thank you.”

Elec threw me a nod but was already walking towards the hall at a fast pace. I turned back to follow and make my way to my private balcony, but I took my time, watching as he rapped against a door: the door to the Couple . Within seconds, he disappeared behind it.

Where moments ago I would have been curious who the couple was, all I wanted to do was get this other part of bidding over with. I had the d …now for the b ? iii s . Their looks would have to be impeccable. What they were taken for would be their downfall. What they’d probably used to get their way in the outside world would come back to haunt them. Ethan O’Brien wasn’t a savior. He was about to become their worst nightmare.

Opening my door, I paused, waving over a male slave at the end of the hall waiting to offer assistance should anyone call.

“Master, how may I help you?”

“I am Master Eleven. This is important. I need you to listen carefully. The Six has my auction schedule. I need you to have them bring up my meal. Even though they’ve gotten it right the last two auctions, I need you to make sure they bring up my three o’clock meal. Not the six or the eight o’clock one. I need the three, and two bottles of water. I am on a very strict diet. It has to be right. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Master Eleven. I will have them bring it right up.”

“Great.”

I headed inside, shutting the door behind me. Lights were already going crazy with increasing bids on the large screens above the stage. I glanced at the blonde, tempted to push my button to get it over with, but I wasn’t looking for a w . Virgins weren’t my thing. They were too innocent. They didn’t ignite the rage I needed to release. And it was time… The slight shake in my hand drove my fingers to twitch at the thought.

Walking to my seat, I paused as female laughter had me looking to the wall that divided me from the couple. The hum of voices held a joyous tone, but it didn’t last through the murmurs that continued. I remained standing, stepping closer to the wall. With the buzz from below, it was hard to hear, but the closer I got to the balcony, the clearer the conversation between the couple and the Main Master became.

“I have to admit, I was surprised when you called and cut your honeymoon short to return. And did I hear correctly that you both went back to Boston instead of Chicago? I thought Chicago was the plan?”

At the Main Master’s question, the woman’s soft voice answered.

“It was but…Rhett and I…”

The man, who must have been her husband, stepped in when she trailed off.

“June thinks she’s forgetting something from her past. She thought maybe she could find it back in Boston. I told her there’s nothing there. I think she needs your help again, Elec. The nightmares are getting worse. I can barely calm her when she wakes.” The anger from the man couldn’t be mistaken. “Is it David, her ex? Is it what the stalker did to her? Both? She’s so afraid, but she doesn’t know why. She can’t remember the dreams. Can you do what you did last time? You’re the only one who can make her better when she gets like this.”

Silence.

“Rhett, you did the right thing requesting that I come. Now, go sit in the chair and think about how much you love your wife. You hear nothing I say until I speak your name again. Nothing. June…come to me.”

A brunette in a blue, sheer slave robe walked to the stage, but I was more intrigued by what was going on to the one behind the divider. I mindlessly reached over, grabbing my button to bid, still listening as I waited for the Main Master to continue.

“June, June, June.” There was an edge of disapproval in his voice, yet it somehow seemed sad? “You didn’t call me. Not in your first week like I told you to, and not when you started having these nightmares. We talked about this.”

“I was going to. I really was, but I couldn’t. Calling you is all I think about when I’m not here. I swear I wanted to. I just.” She abruptly stopped. “My fingers wouldn’t stop shaking when I tried to dial. That’s why I made Rhett call you. I really tried. I think…I think I was just scared.”

“Of me?”

“…I don’t know.”

The Main Master’s tone dropped so low I couldn’t make out the foreign words that seemed to leave him. But I knew what it was. I knew Elec and what he was capable of doing to people’s minds.

“Look into my eyes, June. You don’t fear me. We’re friends. See. There we go,” he said lowly. “I believe you, and I forgive you. Come closer. There we go. Just like that. Follow my finger and listen to me. You don’t fear me. Everything I do for you is to make you stronger. You look up to me. You think of me as your best friend. We are friends,” he practically growled under the smooth tone. “Best. Friends. The best. I helped you after the stalker. I did that. No one else. I will always protect you. You don’t fear me. Say it. Believe it.”

Seconds. Almost a minute.

“We are best friends. The best. Friends. Elec, my best friend.”

“There we go.” He let out a breath that almost sounded like a sigh of relief. “Just like that. Perfect. We are. See, your body is losing all tension. You’re relaxed. That’s right. You feel so happy to be at the Gardens. Happier now that you’re with me. You love this place. You long to come back and watch your husband have his revenge towards men who hurt you. You can’t wait to see me every time you’re here…To help me.” His tone softened as another minute passed. “One more breath. Slow. Deep. Isn’t that so much better? No more fear. Good girl. Eyes back to mine. Perfect. I’m going to close out any fear you may have for good. I have a gift for you.”

A snapping noise filled the space. Then two more.

“A gift?”

“You’re my best friend. Of course I have a gift for you. Do you want to know what it is?”

“Yes.”

“There’s my June. So much better. I found David. I have him waiting for you.”

“You found him?”

“I did, and after you kill him tonight, there will be no more nightmares. I forbid you have them. You don’t fear me. You need me. You can’t go a single day without me crossing your mind. That’s how it is with friends. That’s why you call me on Wednesdays and Saturdays when your husband is at his meetings.”

“I don’t…fear you.”

“No. And you don’t forget to call me either. You know I need you.” His volume dropped and there was an intoxicating pull as his words continued. I blinked through the slightly dazed feeling, not sure I should continue to listen. “What is your name?”

“June Vaughn-Rivera.”

“And?”

“I’m strong. I’m his.”

“Yes you are.” Another snap. More foreign words. Louder this time. “What do you think, Rhett? I have David here for you. Are you ready to have some fun?”

“You have that motherfucker here? Oh, hell yes. I want him.”

“Good. I’ll have them deliver David to your apartment. I want to hear all about your night over breakfast.” A pause. “June… you take the lead. Make the bastard pay for hurting you. You and your husband do this together.”

“Gladly.”

No soft tone from her anymore. No monotone response. I stepped back from the wall, gazing at it with a sense of pride in my friend, wander…and curiosity. Laughter started up again and I managed to force my attention to the stage. But I never stopped looking at the wall or wondering exactly what was going on between the three of them. Elec had his motives for everything, but they were always in our best interest. What was his interest in Rhett Rivera? He was an elite like me, but he’d turned his back on his family a decade ago. Apparently, he was back in our circle, and if I had to guess from what I just heard, maybe his return hadn’t necessarily been by choice .