Author's Notes: ALL RIGHT PEEPS! They're finally here. Now we're getting into the bulk of who's who. There's really nothing terrible here so I think everyone is safe for now. Also my wife is still asleep hence me being able to get this one up as early as I'm getting it. My run was also interrupted because of knee pain. Arthritis is the damn devil! So yeah let me know what you think and all that? Also thanks for the reviews those that have. I really appreciate 'em. That's the reason this one got up so fast! Yeah...we'll go with that...since technically it got written last night at like midnight after my wife went to bed and I was left downstairs alone with my puppy. So yeah...let me know what you think?

Chapter 9

Julia moved through the room, Elliot following two steps behind her. Because of how broad and muscled the Detective was she'd chosen a thick black leather collar with a bolting mechanism in the back. A small d-ring sat in the middle with nothing decorating it. She wasn't one for fancying up too many things for her male servants. Females were a different story since she truly did prefer the softer curves of a woman's body then the hard defined features of a man's.

Alex was standing close by watching Julia move before deciding to go to her. She had used her belt loop to hook Olivia's leash too though she knew the brunette wouldn't go far from her. It was a trick Julia used to use on her. She noted that her former Mistress had done the same with Elliot's lead keeping him close. As soon as she was standing beside Julia she smiled at her. "So what do you think of all this now that you're back into it?"

"It's just as I remember." Julia smiled though her eyes didn't reflect the smile.

"Julia?" She turned slightly catching the eyes of a beautiful brunette.

"Hello Roxanna." She greeted the woman who walked towards her quickly now that she realized it was her.

"It really is you! Oh Julia I've missed you so." Roxanna gushed happy to be around her once again.

"That's very sweet Roxanna. Or should I say Lady Roxanna. It looks as though you're now on the other side of the whip."

Roxanna laughed a bell like sound. She was very pretty, exotic really. Full lips set into perfect features with dark eyes and long dark black hair that was pulled away from her face. She was dressed in a red dress that brought out her olive toned skin making her all the prettier.

"Yes it looks as though now I'm one of you. You have no idea how wonderful it is to see you. Lord Gabriel and Sir William were so excited when they were told you were going to be here."

"I haven't seen Lord Drachir yet. I wondered where he was."

"You walked right past me earlier." Drachir or Lord Drachir as he was known was a tall elegant looking man with only a well groomed goatee and a freshly shaved bald head. He was tall and broad a very good looking man in any setting.

"I'm sorry. I didn't even notice. I was too caught up in the moment." Julia apologized.

"This must be Lady Alexandra." Drachir stepped past both women.

"Yes forgive my rude manners. This is Lady Alexandra. She's the friend I told you about when we spoke."

"It's an honor to meet you my Lady." Drachir held out his hand meaning to take Alex's.

Alex smiled and gave a small nod of her head careful not to let her head drop as she held out her hand allowing him to kiss the back of it. "The pleasure is all mine." She murmured.

"Alexandra this is Lady Roxanna a dear old friend."

"Please Julia. We shouldn't stand on such terms. Mistress Juila is the one who trained me years ago. We've been friends ever since."

Julia smiled and shook her head. "It was a long time ago. So much has changed. You both will have to fill me in on all the things that have been going on since I've been gone."

Alex glanced around noticing many people were standing and talking in the large hall. A long elegant table was set up in the center, where all the guests would sit when it was time for tea. At the moment everyone seemed more content to familiarize themselves with each other.

A small gong rang signaling everyone to sit at the tale. Chairs were pulled out by the submissives for their dominants Elliot and Olivia following suit carefully shifting around to their sides. "Kneel." Julia's soft voice issued a command and Elliot slid down on his knees just as they'd practiced.

"Kneel Olivia." Alex issued the command in the same authoritative tone as Julia watching for compliance. The table was already set with fine bone china. The man standing at the head of the table was just as handsome as Lord Drachir. He was dark skinned with hard cold eyes.

"Welcome my friends. This is truly a wonderful event for us to be having here today. We can all thank Lord Hermann for setting this up for us. Thank you." Everyone clapped appropriately and with a wave of the hand all went silent. "Now seeing as this is our first event since the Masquerade and we have some new faces I'd like for everyone to get to know one another. Take some time today to walk the grounds, mingle with each other and try to get to know each other. I know we are all excited for this event and I would like for it to be as pleasant as possible for everyone. We have a lovely week ahead of us. And I hope we can all enjoy ourselves while we are here." The man motioned slightly with his hand and the door opened revealing the various girls and boys that belonged to Decadence as a whole. Each was dressed in very sexy lingerie consisting of corsets, short barely there skirts, stockings and boots for the women. The men wore mesh tops with tight boy shorts and boots very similar to the women. Each was carrying either a tea pot or some tray that held various finger foods. As tea and finger foods were served everyone began to talk.

The beautiful woman beside Alex spoke to her. "Excuse me? I saw you arrived with Lady Julia."

"Yes, I did. I'm her friend Lady Alexandra."

"Lady Alexandra. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Lady Thyra." The woman's green eyes were bright, her long brown hair fell in waves but was clasped at her shoulders with a hair piece to keep it from falling everywhere.

"The pleasure is mine." Alex smiled as tea was poured into her cup. She added two lumps of sugar before speaking again to Lady Thyra knowing she should get familiar with people. She couldn't expect Julia to do all the work.

"How long have you been attending these events?"

"Since before Lady Julia left. Of course she was Madam Julia back then. But it's all right. We're quite pleased to see her returned to us. Is this your first time?"

"Yes it is. I'm looking forward to it."

"If you don't mind me saying, your pet is lovely. And what impeccable manners it has."

"Thank you. I'm very pleased with her." Alex reached out petting Olivia's hair gently. Olivia for her part immediately leaned into the hand but it was hard to determine if she'd done it because it was her role or whether she was trying to get away from the stranger eyeing her. "She's done very well since I collared her."

"Did you train her yourself? I've been so torn about breaking mine in that fashion. I've heard so many differing things about training versus no training."

"I trained her myself with a little advice from Lady Julia here and there. We've been good friends for a while."

"Of course. I should've recognized Lady Julia's handiwork. She used to train all the girls and boys before she left you know. Each one that belonged to Decadence was hand-picked by her and trained by her to perfection."

"I didn't know she'd done that. I never really asked though." Alexandra shrugged lifting her hand from Olivia's head and moving to pick up a small cucumber sandwich. She took a bite and then offered it to Olivia feeding her from her hands as she'd known she would have to do. She only hoped Olivia wouldn't resist or be upset with her later. But to her surprise (and enjoyment) Olivia willingly parted her lips and allowed herself to be fed.

"Oh yes she was quite a force to be reckoned with back in the day. Perhaps sometime this week you could convince her to perform a scene for us. I know I for one would love to see her work. "

"I'm sure there are plenty of others that would be better suited to perform then I Lady Thyra." Julia responded looking at her.

"It is wonderful to see you my dear. You've been away for far too long. I was just chatting with your friend here about your history."

"I see that. I personally would be interested in seeing Lord Gabriel perform with his little maid. I've heard it's incredible."

"It is. They performed at the Masquerade. You should've been there Lady Julia."

As the two began to talk Alex continued to eat and sip her tea feeding Olivia occasional bites. Julia broke the conversation as someone else caught her attention and drew her to speak.

"Well I hope we'll get to be good friends while you are here Lady Alexandra."

"I'm sure we will."

"That was a bit crazy." Alex murmured flopping down on the couch in her rooms later in the afternoon.

"You get used to it I'm afraid."

"I didn't know you had such influence here Julia." Olivia remarked softly glad that she was allowed to speak now.

Julia and Elliot had joined them in Alex's rooms as soon as they could once tea was done and everyone was sent off on their way.

"Well I did have it. I don't anymore. Most of those faces were as new to me as they are to you. I only know a few people. Lord Gabriel was the one speaking at the head of the table. Sir William was the man at his right side. I didn't get a chance to speak to them but we have a week and I'm sure they're both busy trying to conduct what is going on." Julia moved sitting down on the wing chair. Elliot shifted and moved to sit in the other chair while Alex and Olivia occupied the couch.

"What is the next event on the schedule?" Alex asked watching as Julia pulled the flower that was clipped in her red hair down.

Julia sighed. "Dinner will be quite an affair. That's when things will get a bit more shall we say heated? For now we should try and focus on getting to know everyone."

"Will Olivia and I be able to do that? I mean we're both attached to you and Alex at the moment." Elliot asked as he shifted his head. His neck was tight he noticed.

Julia frowned but replied "Yes there will be times when you're away from us. Come here and I'll rub your neck."

Elliot eyed her wearily. "Don't worry. I prefer my bed mates much softer and more female than you. So unless you're planning to correct that you won't have any problems." Julia said dryly. He smiled at her and nodded moving to sit at her feet and let her work the kinks of out his neck and shoulders where he seemed to carry most of his weight.

Julia dug her fingers into his muscles carefully working them through his clothes. "What should I wear tonight Julia?" Alex asked.

"Did you bring the cocktail dress I told you to?"

"I did. So I should wear that?"

"It will be a bit more formal for a time then everyone will change into more comfortable clothes of play time and watching scenes."

"They want you to perform you know." Olivia murmured looking at Julia.

"I know. And I will make up an excuse that I don't think Elliot is quite ready for that. If they keep pushing I will ask for one of the girls that's Decadence's property and go from there." Julia replied easily.

"Thanks for trying to save my ass Julia." Elliot muttered his eyes clothes as he relaxed under her strong hands.

"Literally." Olivia snorted.

Alex and Julia both snickered but remained quiet. "Should we get out there and mingle?" Olivia asked after a few moments of quiet.

"I think it would be a good idea. Give us a chance to get to know people. Do you feel comfortable with that Alexandra?"

"I'm fine with it. We need to find our suspect and we've only got six days to do so."

"Just give me a second." Elliot waved a large hand at them.

"You just want me to keep rubbing your shoulders and neck." Julia murmured smiling slightly at him.

"Glad I'm so easily figured out."

"Indeed you are Detective."

"I'm a guy. I wasn't cut out for deceit. I had to be trained for it."

Julia laughed and nodded, "All right. One more minute and then we're going to go down to mingle."

"Fine let's go in a minute."

Olivia shook her head shooting an amused look at Alex who returned it. She knew it made Alex happy to see Julia getting along with Elliot and herself so well. She was also pleased to see that Julia wasn't going to waste time dragging her feet on this investigation. She wanted to get out there as much as they did to figure it out. She only hoped there suspect would be easy to figure out otherwise they were just wasting time. Well maybe not wasting too much time since she and Alex were sharing a room with a very large bed. Maybe this week would turn out for the best after all. At least she could always hope right?

Author's Notes: Okay peeps! I like that word. I'll use it more. Makes me feel special. yeah...anyways the next chapter will get a bit more heavy so be advised! That's what's up. I may get it up today depending on what's going on around my house. We'll see. If not see you Monday!