Chapter 4.
Expecting an argument, Sarah steeled herself expecting to be told a resounding no in answer to the request to go to the party with Sophie. To her astonished surprise, her father not only said yes, but even liked the idea of Sarah spending the night at Sophie's. Sarah had few friends, none that had ever extended an invitation to a sleep over, not since Linda had gone off to find herself.
On the evening of the Homecoming, Robert and Karen drove Sarah over to the house Sophie's mother had bought. He and Karen were going to a Rotary dinner, and rather than have the girls disrupt Mrs. Larken's routine with Toby, they offered to drop Sarah on the way. Sarah waved to them as they pulled away and she headed to the door. When Sophie answered the door she scowled at Sarah with a puckered brow.
"That's not what you're wearing, is it?" the punky blond looked at Sarah's conservative skirt and sweater set.
"Is there something wrong with how I'm dressed?" Sarah asked looking down.
"Oh no, its fine for going to the library or dinner with the folks….Babe, it's dull, and dead." Sophie pulled her into the house and grabbed her bag. "We'll dump this in my room." She called down as they went up the stairs. "Mom, we're raiding your closet for an outfit for Sarah."
Bobbie Graves. Sophie's mom had come into the hall. She was young, having been only seventeen when Sophie was born. Like Sophie, she too had a heart shaped face with blonde hair and big blue eyes. She was fine boned and just a few inches taller than her daughter. Her voice was smooth as silk and sexy. She was dressed to go out herself. "That's fine, help yourselves!" she said happily. "Sarah, if you find anything you really like just keep it. It's time for me to get a new wardrobe anyway." She looked at her watch. "I'm late baby, have fun see you in the morning. Don't wait up…"
"You either." Sophie called back leading Sarah toward the huge closet in her mother's room. "Let me see, nothing pastel, something dramatic…I know." She began pulling out some very dramatic garments but began to discard them as she held them up to her friend. "Nope, not this …" she moved to the back, "Maybe this." In her hands was a sequined tube top in a dark red almost burgundy color. "Yes!" She pulled out a tight little skirt with a slit up the one side up to the hip. "Oh yeah! And it's got a matching jacket!" Looking down at Sarah's feet she asked "What size shoe do you wear?"
"Seven." Sarah answered quietly.
"Mom has a pair of red boots, she never wears, and I think their sevens." Sophie dove into the shoe rack and pulled out a pair of lace up boots that would end jus under Sarah's knee. "Perfect."
"You're having way too good a time." Sarah said.
Nodding Sophie agreed, "This is better than dressing a frickin' Barbie doll."
Sarah looked in the mirror after Sophie was finished dressing her. Sophie pushed Sarah into the seat at her mother's dressing table. "You need makeup!" She pulled out eye shadows and began to apply makeup to Sarah's face. "And I'm gonna change the way you're wearing your hair. Oh and if anyone asks your name tell them your is….Solange. All models have a professional name they go by."
"Solange?" Sarah asked feeling a bit strange.
"Yep." She applied a light liner to Sarah's eyes. "I want you to keep the fresh look, just a bit more …sophisticated." She began to work on Sarah's hair. "You've got great hair." She commented pulling it up and clasping it with a red enamel clasp. "Mom's got earrings and a choker that goes with this clasp." She raided the jewelry box on the dresser and pulled the earrings and choker that went with the hair clasp. "Oh man, wait till you get a load of yourself!" Sophie turned Sarah to face the mirror once more.
Sarah stared, "Sophie, I can't go out looking like this."
"You look great." Sophie said finishing her own makeup. "Besides, you can't go where I'm taking you looking like Marian the Librarian."
Sarah looked at the discarded garment on the bed. "I didn't look that bad."
Sophie shrugged. "Sarah, you're young and you're hot. Why not make the most of it?"
Sarah looked at herself in the mirror; to be honest the out fit did look hot on her. She looked like a younger version of her mother. "It is a stunning outfit." She admitted. "Okay, I'll wear it."
Sophie came back out of her mother's closet holding a pair of purses, one red, and one black. She held them up to Sarah and tossed the red one back in the closet. "Here, put your lipstick and stuff in here." She looked at herself and then said to Sarah in a low growl. "Look Paradise, here comes Sophie and Solange." Linking arms with Sarah she stopped only long enough to dump Sarah's other clothes in her bedroom.
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The gate had a guard, who took Sophie's card. "You're ok, go ahead in Miss Curtis, have a nice night."
"That's Bull." She said to the burly built guard.
Sarah looked toward the Wilde house, also known as Paradisia. It was lit up with sparkling lights in the trees and shrubs. Valets were taking the cars and parking them and handing the guests little tags to identify which car belonged to them. Sophie turned her car over and walked with Sarah up the stairs. "You are not going to believe this place." Sophie boasted.
The foyer was dimly lit; little twinkling lights draped doors and windows. As each of the guests entered they were greeted by the butler. Sophie smiled at the man, "Hoggens, is Pablo about?"
"Miss Curtis, welcome." The butler greeted her with cordiality, "Master Pablo asked that you be shown to the sitting room, he'll join you there." He snapped his fingers for on of the other servants to take over door duty. "If you'll follow me." He led the girls down a passage and to a room at the end of a long hall.
Sarah looked at the room, "So this is Wilde's house." She mused.
Sophie joined her. "When they sold the place, they sold all its contents as well. The owner kept most everything, and made a few minor changes. He's quiet the art patron, and so the notorious status of the house rather pleased him." Sophie sounded like a tour guide.
Sarah pointed to a mural on the wall. "Are all the murals like that?"
"No," teased the punk blond. "This one is relatively tame compared to some."
Sarah looked at the overtly sexual depiction and blushed. "Oh really?"
Before Sophia could say another world Pablo entered the sitting room. "Sophie, my little nymph." He greeted as he walked to her with extended hands. "I'm so glad you could make it." He kissed her on each cheek and turned to look at Sarah. "And who is this?"
"Pablo, this is Sarah, my model; however we are calling her Solange from this point on." Sophie slipped an arm about the man's waist. "Sarah Williams, this is the one and only Pablo."
Sarah walked forward and extended her hand. "How do you do." She said smoothly, thinking of how her mother would behave.
"Sarah…Williams… I say… you're not related to that actress Linda Williams are you?" He took her hand and gripped it firmly. When she nodded, he placed a finger under her chin and tipped her face to the light. "Ah yes, the same fine bone structure. Sophie you've quite the eye! You're a lovely thing."
Sarah was not sure she liked being examined and scrutinized by this flamboyant artist. "You're very kind." She said coolly.
Pablo dismissed the attitude and turned to Sophie and smiled down at her. "I've a surprise for you."
Sophie looked up with excitement. "Really?"
Nodding he moved to the door and came back holding three masks. "We are attending the party downstairs instead." He held out a mask to each of the girls.
Sarah looked at the white kidd leather mask. "What is this?" She asked Sophie.
Sophie cleared her throat. "Well, the downstairs of the house is….a little bit…kinky."
"A little bit kinky," Mused Pablo. "Faeking, the owner of this house is into the bondage scene." Pablo put on his mask, a gray leather mask. "The color of the mask denotes your status. White is for observers, blue is for participants and gray like mine are for select few who are allowed into the bowels of the house. I'm free to go where ever I please. Then of course there's the one black mask belonging to the master. He is the law here, and no one crosses him."
"You brought me to a bondage party?" Sarah asked in a tight voice.
"Lighten up," Sophie laughed. "We're not going into any of the rooms where they're doing things. We're going to go down to the dungeon and have some fun dancing and drinking." She put on her white mask. "Come on, it's really cool."
Pablo sensed the skittishness of the dark haired girl. "I promise you, no one will ask you to do anything you don't want to. You're white mask is a protection."
Sophie made a face. "Sarah, come on…it's time to play with the big kids. Let's have some fun."
Sarah looked at the white face mask. "You're sure everyone knows this means I'm not playing."
"I promise you." Pablo smiled.
Sarah lifted the mask to her face. "Oh hell, may as well give it a try."
"Not everyone who comes here is looking for a hookup," Pablo said as he led them toward the elevator that would take them to the lower level of the house. As the door open to the lower level the hard hitting sexual music from the other end of the hall hit her. "Live band, the Master doesn't scrimp."
He found a table for them to sit at and then went to get some drinks. He placed them down and then leaned over and kissed Sophie. "How was your week?" he asked.
"Slow." She sipped her drink, "Did you look at my sketch?"
Pablo looked over at Sarah. "I'd say you captured her."
Sophie looked pleased.
Sarah took a sip of the drink in front of her, and then made a face. "What's in this?"
"Rum and Coke," Pablo said not looking at her. "Why don't you like it?"
Sarah looked at him. "I don't drink."
He looked at her as if she'd just said she had a lobster in her ear. "Everyone drinks." He replied.
Sophie giggled. "Sarah, is this your first drink?"
"Yes." Sarah pushed the drink away.
Pablo lit up a cigarette and smiled at the girl. "It takes a few sips to get use to. Take another sip." He handed his cigarette to Sophie, and watched as she drew in the smoke.
Sarah felt a bit like a fish out of water, when Pablo pushed the drink back at her she reluctantly lifted the glass and sipped again. This time the drink felt warm going down. "It is nice, I guess."
"Do you smoke?" He asked.
"No, that's Sophie's bad habit." Sarah said taking another sip.
"Oh that's not her only bad habit," Pablo said in a depraved manner. "Little Sophie has some very bad habits that are lots of fun, don't you dirty baby?"
Sophie sipped her drink and giggled.
Someone called Pablo and he motioned he'd be right over. "When I get back, we'll dance. I always wanted to dance with two girls at once." He teased.
Sarah pulled closer to Sophie. "Are you sleeping with him?"
Sophie smiled, "Yep."
"Are you out of your mind?" Sarah looked around the room. "We don't belong here, Sophie, we're…kids compared to most of these people."
"We don't fit in with most kids either do we?" Sophie asked. "Look, I know what I'm doing. I'm on the pill and I'm careful." She looked at the room. "I thought you might get a kick out of this place."
"A kick?" Sarah noticed a group of blue masked young men in their twenties watching them. "I don't think so."
"Oh come on, we'll have a couple of drinks, dance and then if you're not happy we'll go home." Sophie said pushing the glass at Sarah. "Come on, have some fun."
Sarah lifted the drink and sipped again. "I think I'm starting to like this stuff." She said quietly.
Pablo returned to the table. "Ok, ladies let's dance." He led them to the dance floor and moved with them.
Sarah returned to the table and let Sophie dance a slow dance with Pablo. She watched, trying not to judge.
"You're new." A voice said at her side. It was one of the young men in the blue masks. "I like new."
"That's nice." She said and looked away not interested.
"Want to dance?" He asked.
"No, thank you." She replied.
"Give a guy a chance." He said suggestively.
"Not interested." She said.
"What could I do to change your mind, baby?" He asked moving closer.
"Back off." She said pulling away. She walked back to where Pablo and Sophie were now doing a faster number.
"Well, we'll just see about that, baby." The man in the blue mask dropped something into Sarah's glass, stirred it and went back to sit with his friends.
Sarah finished dancing and as they went back to the table she whispered in Sophie's ear that she needed the rest room. Sophie told her how to find it, and then took a seat with Pablo. Sarah left the room with the music and went down the hall. She turned where she thought Sophie had said and opened a door. The room was filled with people, and there was a man in the front reading a passage of poetry. Sarah closed the door and moved back. The words had been demanding and guttural. She took her hand off the handle and stared at the door knob.
"Are you lost?" A gentle voice reached her ear.
She nodded.
"I take it you didn't mean to enter there." When she shook her head no quickly, he asked. "Where are you trying to get to?"
"The powder room." She whispered.
"Ah, I see." He turned her round and moved her down the hall. "This door is the one you were looking for."
Sarah was too embarrassed to look up. "Thank you."
"The pleasure was mine." The voice said gently.
She could hear the footsteps as he walked away. She entered the powder room, and took a deep breath. "Great going Sarah," she growled at herself. When she was finished she exited the powder room and found she was again turned around. She was going over the directions in her head and speaking them out quietly as she walked down the hall.
"Do you always talk to yourself?" A voice quipped.
Sarah looked up, then down again very quickly. "What? Oh, no…I'm …"
"Lost?" the voice was gentle and very pleasant. "It happens." He tipped her face up to his. "Where are you trying to get to this time, little green eyes?"
Sarah's voice froze in her throat. The man looking into her eyes was wearing a one of a kind black leather mask. "You're the Master." She said before she knew it.
"Yes," he agreed. "I am."
If the earth could have opened up and swallowed her whole, she'd have been the happiest girl alive. That was not about to happen. "I was trying to find my way back to the room with the band…my friends are there."
"Allow me to show you the way." He offered her his arm. "Go ahead; I won't bite…this time." He teased.
Sarah laughed nervously as she slipped her hand into the bend of his arm. "Thank you."
When they reached the room, Sarah expected he'd leave her at the door. Instead he walked in with her. "Where are your friends?" He asked.
Sarah pointed to the table where Pablo and Sophie were sitting talking. "That's them."
"Ah, so you're the friend of our little Sophie." The Master said; taking her over to them. "Pablo, Sophie." He greeted the pair. "I believe you misplaced this?" He guided Sarah into her seat.
"Where did you go?" Sophie asked with a silly grin on her face.
"I got lost in the hall looking for the powder room."
The Master excused himself and left them to their own devices. The men in the blue masks watched as Sarah sipped more of her drink. The next time Pablo and Sophie got up to dance, Sarah was less hostile when asked to dance herself. One of the men in the blue masks moved close to her on the dance floor. But Sarah didn't seem to notice just how close he was dancing. A few steps faltered and she said she was going to sit again.
"You just need a breath of air." Suggested the man, and he led Sarah to the exit. "Come on, I know a great place to get air."
Sarah tried to pull free. "I don't want a breath of air." She felt a hand go over her mouth as someone grabbed her from behind.
The three men pulled her into the elevator and down the hall as the door opened again. The one behind her kept his hand over her mouth as the other two pulled her along. One of the three asked if they were sure this was alright, after all she was wearing a white mask.
"We'll just get her a blue one." The leader of the group said as he opened a door and found the room empty. "Besides," he crowed, "how often do we get to sample fresh meat?"
Sarah struggled again as they began to grab at her top. She twisted and then dug her foot into the instep of the one holding her left arm, as she did she bit down onto the hand over her lips. The man who's foot she'd just stomped raised his hand to strike her.
"Touch her and it will be the last thing you do in this world." A calm voice at the door said.
The man looked over and his hand fell to his side. "Master." He moved away from the girl. "We were just…"
The other man let go as well. "Master." He sounded more fearful than she felt.
The man in the black mask stood unmoved. Sarah looked at her assailants and then at the man in the door.
"You know my rules." The Master was saying quietly, controlled but in a clear state of rage. "White masks are under my protection. You were told never to touch a white mask." He took a few steps into the room, placed a firm hand under Sarah's elbow. "Are you alright?" He asked, she sobbed turning her head into his chest. "Get out." He said coldly to the men. "Leave this house and don't come back. You are no longer welcome."
The one whose hand was throbbing where Sarah had bit it tried to argue. "But Master, she's just a girl…"
Eyes behind the black mask darkened. "You've broken our code; now get out before I lose my temper."
Sarah could hear the sounds of feet hurrying out of the room. Strong arms went about her and held her carefully. "I'm sorry they gave you such a fright, little green eyes." He said at last. "It won't happen again."
"I think they put something in my drink." She whispered in a sob.
"Yes, most likely they did. That kind relies on drugs and trickery to achieve their goals." The Master sighed.
"I feel so dizzy." She complained. "He told me I needed air, but he scared me…and then one of the others slapped his hand on my mouth…and …" she looked confused. "They started to tear at my clothes…."
"It's alright, little green eyes." He assured her. "They're gone."
Sarah tired to take a step and found her legs would not hold her weight. "I don't feel well." She said.
The Master placed a hand to her waist. "I can take you somewhere you may recover, would you like that?"
"Yes, please." She whispered. "I don't think I could make it back to the room…where…Sophie is."
"I'll have Hoggens tell Sophie where you are once I get you settled." He assured her as he helped her down the hall. "You may use one of my guest rooms to rest." His voice was firm and calming.
"Thank you." Sarah sobbed again, thinking of what might have just happened.
The room that Sarah was taken to was on the second floor. It was dark and the man led her to a large carved bed. When she had curled up on the satin coverlet, he lifted the receiver off the cradle, pressed a button on the base of the phone in the room and spoke in it clearly. "Will you please tell Pablo and Miss Sophie that her friend is resting in the peacock room?" He put the phone down again and looked at the girl. "You've had quite the scare."
She looked up at him in the dim light of the room. "They were going to rape me, went they?"
"Likely." He agreed sitting down on the edge of the bed. "And that would have been a terrible thing."
"Why did you help me?" she asked quietly keeping her eyes on the dark mask and the pale gold hair on the man's head. "You teach people to use force, don't you?"
The man in the black mask shook his head, "I teach submissive to enjoy their sexuality. Force is not always employed."
"Sometimes it is." She shivered.
"Sometimes." He agreed. "However there is a code of honor. You are wearing a white mask. That marks you as an observer, not a participant, and no one has the right to force you to do anything. Not here, in my house."
"My white mask didn't protect me." She said weakly.
"That is why I'm sitting here, to assure your protection." He said firmly.
"Pablo said you're the law here, and that no one crosses you." Sarah was rambling, as the drug messed with her mind. "Is that true?"
The Master moved like a cat and was stretched out lying beside her, looking at her with a smile. "Yes."
"If I ask you a question, will you answer me honestly?" She mumbled.
He tilted her face, "Ask."
"Did they go after me because Sophie dressed me up like a whore?" Her voice trembled.
"No," He said softly. "They went after you because you were vulnerable." He looked down at her alluring outfit, "As for dressing you like a whore? Being dressed sexy does not mean you're a whore."
Sarah felt her heart begin to pound. "You like I look sexy?"
"I think, little green eyes, that you had best close your eyes and rest. Whatever they put in your drink has you thinking thoughts you are not in control of." He used his hand to lightly close her eyes. "When you are in control you may ask me that question again."
Sarah took a deep breath. "Where's Sophie?"
"With Pablo." He answered softly.
"Are they…."
"Yes, they are." He answered knowing what she was thinking.
"She's just sixteen." She said worriedly.
"It does not matter to him, or her." The Master told her firmly. "Nor will it matter to anyone else."
"It's against the law." She said sounding more groggy.
"Little green eyes, I am the law here." He watched as her breathing deepened, and he smiled. "Sleep well, Sarah." He kissed her brow. "Your lessons have begun, soon you will learn who your Master is."