Subjection (24 page)

“Do you know who I am, boy?” she asks, the moment she has me alone.

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply. “You’re my master’s mother.”

The look on her face suggests that she wants to slap me, but I can’t figure out why. She interrogates me, asking about my brother, my master, my life before and after my master bought me. I answer honestly for the most part, omitting the incriminating things and keeping the answers simple. I’m just a stupid Demoted slave: I cook, clean, and serve my master. She seems to grow increasingly angry as she talks, desperate for me to slip up. I wonder if this is why my master is estranged from his family, but I can’t figure out why he allowed her in the house. She asks me about re-education centers, which one I was at, which ones I’ve heard of, whether I’ve ever seen or heard my master doing anything with them. I tell her about the one I was at, but mention nothing else. The sheer fact that she wants to know makes me want to hide it.

“Nothing else to tell me, boy?” she asks, glaring at me.

“No, ma’am,” I reply, innocent. “I just follow my master’s orders. I wish I could help you find what you’re looking for.”

“Maybe you need a little inspiration,” she suggests, a vicious smile on her face.

I have no idea what she’s referring to, but she pulls out her com device. “Yes, come on in. We’re in his office. If he gives you a problem, just tell him I requested your company. Tell him you have valuable information for me.”

I stare at her, confused, and then I hear a knock at the door, followed by my master’s voice.

“I told you not to visit!”

“I’m not visiting you. I’m visiting your mother.”

The visitor’s voice evokes a physical reaction, one that only worsens as the door to the office flies open to reveal Bobby’s overly casual style and fake smile. “Bet you didn’t think you’d be seeing me again.

Chapter 21
Intimidation

I’ve had so many people hurt me, I never thought that any one in particular would stick out above the others, but the memory of what he did to me is still too fresh, and I have stupidly allowed myself to believe that I would be safe.

My master storms in just seconds later, glaring at his mother. “What is he here for?” he demands.

“Your little friend says that you have an unhealthy relationship with your slave,” my master’s mother replies, giving him a dirty look. “He tells me that you threatened to spread lies about him, that you threatened to have him destroyed, just for using him like the little whore was meant to be used.”

“I can use my property however I want,” my master reminds her. “I don’t fancy sharing with someone who touches my belongings without my permission.”

“Bobby tells me that Sascha knows some secrets that he shouldn’t,” my master’s mother says. “He called me up just a few days ago, told me that you and your little secrets were what really drove you to try to silence him. What a pity, Cash, that’s no way to treat your friend!”

“He’s lying,” my master responds.

“Well, then, you won’t mind if Bobby and I both speak with Sascha, will you?”

I freeze, fighting back the terror that threatens to take hold of me. He won’t do it. He won’t let them hurt me, do what they want to me. He’ll save me, even if I was looking into his secrets. I look at my master desperately, wanting nothing more than to run to him and hide.

“Go ahead,” he says, and I feel my heart sink. “But don’t you dare lay a hand on him. I don’t want so much as a hair out of place.”

“Of course not, Cash,” his mother replies. “After all, I have a reputation to uphold as well.”

My master turns and slams the door, leaving me alone with them.

Bobby smiles at me. “How’s your hand, Sascha?”

Hearing my name come from his mouth makes me want to vomit. I clench my hands into fists at my side and force myself to reply. “Almost healed, sir.”

“And the rest of you?” he continues. “How’s that sweet ass of yours?”

“Fine, sir.”

“Maybe you should show us,” he suggests, a smile spreading across his face.

I stare at him, confused.

“Take off your clothes,” he clarifies.

Trembling, I obey. I have nothing to hide; just like every day since I was Demoted, my body is not my own. In a few seconds, I stand naked before my master’s mother and his former best friend.

“Ask him about it,” my master’s mother orders, glaring at Bobby.

“Tell us about the secret your master has,” Bobby orders, a smile on his face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir,” I reply. My master has a secret research project, but as far as I know, Bobby knows nothing about it.

“You’re lying!” Bobby snaps. “Touch yourself.”

“What?” I’m confused. The order is out of nowhere, and it makes as little sense as this conversation.

“Touch your little cock, or I’ll do it for you,” Bobby threatens, taking a step toward me.

I grab myself, because I don’t want his hands on me. My master told them not to touch me, but why did he leave me with them in the first place? I take my dick in my hand like it’s a foreign object, wondering what sort of test this is that I’m trying to pass.

“Well, go on, enjoy yourself,” Bobby taunts, stepping close enough that I can feel the warmth of his breath on my face. “Play with yourself like the little whore you are, unless you’d rather tell me about your master and his secrets.”

I don’t reply, I just start sliding my hand up and down. It feels so wrong, like I’m being controlled by someone else’s whims. I bite down on my lower lip as I feel the tears start to fall down my face. When Bobby moves behind me, I feel the revulsion, and I wonder when I should scream, call for my master. He saved me once, will he do it again?

I feel warm breath on my ass and I yelp in terror. This is too real, too close to the last time, only now we have an audience.

“Tell us the secrets,” Bobby demands, each word puffing against my skin, more painful than any whip. “Tell us, unless you want more of this.”

“Please, sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Ask him more directly,” my master’s mother suggests, watching and looking almost bored. “Stupid animals can never figure things out on their own.”

“You know, Sascha,” Bobby demands. “The secrets. Tell me. Tell us both.”

I realize that he doesn’t even know what he’s talking about. If he did, he would have been more direct, but he’s just fishing, and he’s doing a terrible job of it. I gag as I feel his tongue slip down the crack of my ass, and I try to pull away, only to find myself securely restrained by an arm around my waist. Before I make up my mind to scream, Bobby rises, clamping a hand around my mouth as well.

“Tell us what you’re hiding or I’ll make you,” he whispers in my ear.

I close my eyes and brace myself for what’s to come.

“Ask him directly!” my master’s mother snaps, angrily enough that I peek to see her glaring furiously at Bobby. “You said you knew what the secrets were. Ask him!”

Bobby’s arm moves from around my waist. I pause, repulsed that I’m still touching myself, and I hope this can all be over. My master’s mother isn’t stupid enough to think Bobby really knows anything, is she?

“Don’t stop, little whore,” Bobby snaps, grabbing my arm and moving it up and down. Somehow it’s even worse than doing it myself, more intimate.

I don’t speak, not even when I feel his fingers brushing over my back. He’s not hurting me, not yet; if this were another situation with another person, it might even feel good. But it’s Bobby, and he’s doing this in front of my master’s mother. I’d rather have bees swarming over my skin. I squirm, but I don’t pull away. I can’t give either of them a reason to think I’m so uncomfortable.

Bobby’s hand snakes forward, covering my own, working it up and down over my cock.

“Cash told me about how beat up you were,” he comments. “I never really got a chance to look at it for myself. Looks like someone carved you up like a little piece of meat.”

I feel myself flushing, but I stay silent. It stings to think of my master talking about me with Bobby, providing him with more fuel to hurt me. I know that was never my master’s intention, but it doesn’t change anything. I yelp as the soft caresses turn rough, fingernails digging into my skin.

The pain catches the attention of my cock, and I’m mortified to feel it growing hard.

“You like that, don’t you?” Bobby taunts, forcing my hand up and down over my cock while he claws at my back. I don’t want it to feel good, but my body disagrees.

I look at the door, wondering what my master is doing on the other side of it. Why isn’t he in here? He was so angry at Bobby after what happened at the party; why isn’t he stopping him now?

My master’s mother seems to be growing impatient as well. She takes a few steps closer to us, her face and body language clearly communicating her displeasure. “You don’t know anything, do you? My son did nothing but chase you out of his life!”

“He’s hiding something!” Bobby protests, jerking his hand and mine up and down over my cock while digging harder into my back with his fingernails. “Just give me some more time with Sascha, I can get him to talk.”

I clench my teeth, resolute in my desire to stay silent. My body betrays me; I grow hard and excited from the rough treatment and humiliation. I close my eyes, pretend I’m not standing in front of these two people. I want my master, but he won’t come for me. Still, I keep his secret.

I hear my master’s mother moving toward us, and I keep my eyes closed.

“You’re a filthy creature!” I hear her say, and when I hear a whoosh of air, I brace myself for the slap.

I’m surprised to hear Bobby yelp, retreating away from me a moment later. I glance up, shocked to see a bright red handprint on his face.

My master’s mother is glaring at him. “You stupid, disgusting man. You wasted my time so you could have another chance to molest a slave? You humiliated me and lied to me? You know nothing. You never knew anything!”

“But I did!” Bobby protests, cowering away from my master’s mother. “Cash was always secretive, and he wouldn’t share Sascha! That’s not normal, Ms.—”

Another slap. “Shut your dirty mouth,” she orders Bobby.

I have never seen so much hatred directed at another person who wasn’t me. I’d feel bad, but Bobby deserves everything he has coming to him.

“You will take the job that Cashiel arranged for you, and you will never return to this town,” she threatens. “Not to see your family, not for a vacation, nothing. If I so much as
think
that you’re anywhere around me or my son again, I’ll report you, and not for assaulting a slave, but for assaulting a free woman. My little boy might have money and connections, but it’s a child’s game compared to what I can do to you. I asked for your help in keeping my son out of trouble, and you come up with this? If we were anywhere else but here, I’d have you arrested right now!”

Bobby just stares at her in shock, as do I. The information about my master getting Bobby out of town is news to me, and the way his mother is acting makes me realize exactly where my master got his evil streak.

“Get out and visit a whorehouse or something,” she says, shoving Bobby toward the door to the office before turning to me. “And you. Get dressed.”

I do as she orders, numb and still terrified. I hear the door slam as Bobby leaves. He was my biggest threat; the woman who made him cower is that much more powerful by comparison.

When I’m finished dressing myself, my master’s mother walks over to me, and I brace myself as she grabs me by the face. Her fingers dig into my jaw, and I wonder for a moment if she’s going to just strangle me to death and end it all right here.

“I’m onto you, you little shit,” she hisses. “You and Cashiel think you’re so smart, but I brought him into this world. He’s mine, and so is everything he owns. I should have had him Demoted when he was a child.”

I stare at her, silent. I have no idea what I’ve done to anger her, or what my master has done to anger her, but I’m afraid of her. My master spent the past week bringing me to tears every day, and I would much rather return to that than spend another minute with this woman.

We finally return to meet my master, who is looking nervous.

“What did you do to him?” my master asks. He’s pale, panicked, and clearly relieved to see me coming out in good physical condition. I’m surprised that he’s so concerned about it; it’s like he’s forgotten about his secret research.

“I stopped your repulsive friend from molesting him,” she says. “Bobby misled me, but he won’t be bothering either of us again. We just asked your slave some questions. He was evasive. I think he’s hiding something.”

My master takes a breath, and I wait for him to tell her to leave. He doesn’t. “If he’s hiding something, I know nothing about it,” he says, his voice carefully controlled. “How would you like to proceed?”

His mother laughs. “So formal, Cash,” she teases. “I don’t want to hurt your little pet. But where do you keep your tablet?”

I watch in amazement as he retrieves his tablet, handing it over to her without a word. What power does this woman have over him?

She pulls out a small device and plugs it into the tablet. It makes a low whirring sound, and lights flash across the screen. A few minutes later, she frowns. “What about yours?” she asks, glaring at me.

I’m caught. She makes it sound like she knows I have one, so I can’t deny it. “My master took it away from me, ma’am,” I reply, hoping that he’ll think of something if he doesn’t want her getting at it.

“Bring it,” she orders. I watch in amazement as my master obeys.

A few moments later, the device is whirring in my tablet, and in just a few moments, it flashes bright green.

“What do we have here?” my master’s mother asks, a gleeful smile on her face. “Cash, I didn’t think you had any secrets from your mommy. Why on earth would you need this level of security? I thought you were being a good boy, these days.”

My master stands there, jaw set. I’m worried about him, and even more worried as he opens his mouth, looking crushed.

“Mother, please—”

“It’s mine,” I say, immediately. I see my master’s eyes fly open.