Master B-0077

“Please. Blue, please. I can’t wait any longer. I’m begging you. Blue.”

My lids cracked open. Pounding immediately made me wince as I flattened my hand on the floor. A whimpering mixed with chains in the distance, and memories exploded through as I caught the blood covering my arms and hands. Shit, it was all over me.

Pushing myself up, I stopped on my knees, meeting Ashlee’s swollen, bloodshot eyes. Had I been praying through my fucked-up state that it wasn’t her? That I was wrong? I wasn’t. Her body was still trembling. Still kneeling and staring towards the wall exactly like I’d last seen her. Except now I was in her path, making her look at me. Blood was splattered over her face. Not smeared. Not wiped away. It covered and streaked over her chest and shoulder from where I’d...Fuck.

Had last night really happened? Had I…

Inches from her thigh rested the other slave’s head. I groaned, bringing my hand up to cover my pounding eyes.

“Master. Master, please. Can I be uncuffed? Master, please. I have to go to the bathroom.”

Another slave. Yes. I had bought three.

I dropped my hand, looking back at the one person I never wanted to see again. What had I been thinking, buying her? It was a mistake. One I couldn’t do anything about now. I should have let Anthem tear out her throat, or Pete do…whatever it was he did. She was trouble, and her presence would take me down a road I wasn’t sure I was ready for. Could I face my past? Or this…eating away of my insides from what I was missing? I couldn’t even understand what ‘it’ was.

“Go let the slave free and you both clean yourselves up.”

“As you wish, Master.”

Her throat was raspy. Raw. My gaze raked over her form as she rose on shaky legs. Each step was stiff as she made her way to the bedroom. That Ashlee had stayed awake the entire time and not moved was surprising, but not something I wanted to think about. I stood, heading to the sink to down a glass of water. My hand reached for the counter, and I closed my eyes, reliving the flashes that had my heart racing all over again. My cock hardened, and I made a sound as I pressed into the countertop. God, I wanted it again. The blood. The death. It wasn’t my first time to kill, but it sure as hell was the first time I hadn’t had to worry about it, and that made all the difference. So much, I’d completely crashed and burned. I’d even thrown up at one point if I could recall, but…it was such a blur with how fucked up I had been. So…unreal.

I chugged back more water, cringing through the migraine starting to take over. Putting down the glass, I started opening cabinets. Nothing but plates and more glasses. Drawer after drawer, I searched for some sort of pain relief. As easily as I could have medicated with what got me here, I needed to think. To relive last night with a clear head. One that wasn’t about to explode.

“Fuck. Come on.” Silverware slid to the front at my pull, only to slide back as I slammed it shut. Movement caught my attention, but I ignored it as I kept searching. Each minute was a torment I wasn’t wanting to deal with.

“Master?”

I ignored the voice, moving to the cabinet below the sink, knowing what I was looking for wasn’t down there.

“Master, I believe I can help.”

My head lifted as I glared. I took in the bottle, only to come back up to Ashlee’s cautious face. Her hair was still wet, and she was wearing a white spaghetti strap slip. It did little to hide what was underneath. Damn her shower had been fast, or had I been wandering around the kitchen longer than I thought? Had I checked these drawers more than once?

“Did I tell you to dress?”

I went forward, snatching the bottle, and watching as her hands instantly rose to the straps. Morality battled making me want to lash out all over again.

“Forgive me, Master. After you said how much I disgusted you, I thought you would like me to cover myself. I’ll take it off.”

My narrowed eyes lifted as I opened the bottle, pouring out two pills to my palm and immediately throwing them back to swallow. A strap fell down her bicep and I shook my head as she reached for the other.

“Leave it on for now.”

“Of course. Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat. I had special training here on a variety of different foods. I would be more than happy to try to make anything you wish.”

“You keep saying ‘wish’. What I wish is for you to leave me alone so I can think.”

She gave a nod, heading back to where she’d been kneeling before. I let her, trying to ignore how much my eyes kept drifting that way. The pull to take in her face, to study every single line and expression she could make and compare it with my own was overwhelming. How could someone who didn’t share both parents look so similar? Fuck, if I wasn’t a good ten years older than her, we could have been twins. My hair may have been white, but naturally it was just as blonde as hers. And as much as I wanted to walk around and keep staring, it was equally just as hard to see my father in feminine form staring back at me. I could barely look at myself. Now to have to constantly look at her too? I didn’t know how not to fuck myself over at every turn. It burned my stomach, or maybe I truly did need something to eat. When was the last time I’d had a real meal that wasn’t booze or drugs?

“I changed my mind. I am hungry. I made a list of what I ate before I came here, so I think there’s food. Make me something.”

No glance in my direction. No smile or emotion. Ashlee sprung to her feet, keeping a fast pace as she headed for the kitchen. Footsteps had me turning and the other slave jerked to a stop at the body on the floor. Shades of color left her face and she turned to face the wall, going right into the kneeling position like Ashlee had. I grabbed my phone from the end table, lifting the stack of papers. The number I needed was listed amongst everything from the guard to restaurants to even a number to hit for movie times.

Ringing filled my ear, and a male voice quickly came through.

“This is Master Seventy-seven in room nine-oh-four. I need a pickup.”

“Due to the number of calls, arrival time will be in roughly twenty minutes.”

“Thanks.” My brow crinkled as I pulled the phone back and ended the call.

Twenty minutes. Hell, I wasn’t going to complain. It’s not like I had to bury or get rid of the body myself. Although, it’d been years since I’d been here. And it’s not like I killed often. Only twice when episodes and drugs overtook me. Luck had been on my side, until my secret was exposed by the same person who invited me here. Blackmail? Not for me. I would have given them every penny I had for this spot, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Pans clinked and I winced, shutting my eyes to the pain. I could have fallen asleep standing had it not been for the sudden whiff of flowers I’d gotten. Gardenia? No…lavender?

My eyes opened to see Ashlee holding out water. My teeth gritted and before I could yell at her, knocking sounded. I grabbed the glass, turning to the door. Where I’d been thinking it was the guard, I internally groaned at Anthem pushing his way in. Deep claw marks were embedded to the side of his neck and his eyes were nearly black they were so dilated. He barely made it in when his head reared back at the mess on my floor. Even the tub was still there thickened with clotted and dried blood.

“Fuck, you weren’t joking about needing this last night.” His boot pressed into the head on the floor sending it awkwardly rolling a good foot or two. I’d been holding the corpse’s hand when I fell asleep. I didn’t want to remember that right now.

More banging. I glanced over, the sound pulling Anthem from the living room.

“Breakfast. Excellent. I’m starving. What are we having?”

“You,” I said walking forward, “are going to make your own slave cook for you.”

“I can’t. She’s dead. Is that eggs? Do you have stuff for pancakes?”

Ashlee glanced at me, refusing to look at Anthem as she continued collecting ingredients and getting everything together.

“There are tons of restaurants. You’re eating there. Just because it’s not night doesn’t mean I’m finished. Your slave is dead. Mine aren’t.”

“I’m pissed I didn’t get two. Months of waiting all for a matter of hours. You were smart. I won’t make that mistake again. Hey, did you bring your guitar?”

My eyes closed through the increasing throb in my head.

“Anthem, get the fuck out of my apartment until I invite you over. If you’re still here when my eyes open, I’m throwing you out.”

“No need to get pissy. Can’t I just stay for breakfast?”

Opening my eyes was a mistake. The way his stare was fixated on Ashlee’s ass had me fisting his shirt before I could stop myself.

“Get…the fuck out of my place.”

“Fine. Fine. Shit, man. Take a few hits and chill out. We’re all good.”

“We’re not. I said I’m not done. Leave until I call.”

He gave a jerk, throwing me a look as he headed for the door. The moment it shut, my eyes shot back to the kitchen. Back to Ashlee: Miss Perfect in every goddamn way. She didn’t dare break the focus on her task as I headed right for her on a warpath.

She might not have been at fault for Anthem’s actions, but I couldn’t stop the possessiveness rolling through. I’d had a hell of a fight trying to obtain her. In truth, what she cost me only added to my deep seeded hate. Five slaves. That’s how many were equivalent to her price. Hell, maybe six if I didn’t care at all for looks.

“Turn.”

Honey brown eyes held worry as she spun and briefly met my gaze. Immediately, her stare lowered, settling on my bare, bloody chest. I was still a mess. Still dirty as fuck, and the flowery scent I detected from her only reminded me of that. It drew me so close, I was pinning her into the counter.

“You know I’m pissed, and you know why.”

“His eyes were on me. I could feel them. I didn’t look.” Her voice cracked, and she grew quiet as she kept staring at my chest.

“You’re not as stupid as I thought. Or a liar which just saved your ass. One look at him, and I’ll kill you. One word. One anything towards him or anyone else, and you’re dead. Do you understand?”

Blonde hair bounced as her head nodded. “Yes, Master.”

My finger pushed under her chin, tilting her head up. Still, she averted her eyes.

“Look at me.” Instant connection. My lips parted while I searched for words. Searched for anything to say. I couldn’t force myself free of the pull to her golden depths. Such…sadness. Heartbreak? Fear. And it wrapped itself around me like a blanket, like something we shared, softening me as I pushed even more against her.

“Master.”

It wasn’t a question, but she was breathless through the whisper. It was so low, had I not looked down and fixated on her lips, I might not have heard or made sense of it at all. Fuck, what the hell was wrong with me? I stepped back, feeling the rage return. Lust, it had me nearly spinning her to take her right then and there. How? I didn’t understand it any more than I hated how it consumed me. Hated her, my father, and the tons of other damn siblings I had, all thanks to that piece of shit. We were all doomed. All…ruined in one way or another because of him. Bad genes. Bad blood. Hadn’t my mother said that referring to my father once during one of her episodes?

“Make my damn food. I’m jumping in the shower. You can open the door for the guards when they arrive.” My voice raised. “Guards only. When I get out, if either of you are anywhere different than where you are right now, I will slit your throat on the spot. Don’t believe me, ask headless Heidi over there. Give me an excuse. I’m begging you.”