Author's Notes: ARGH! Weird ass fucking sleep schedule is killing me. So we're getting to the ending. Just two more chapters to go really. I'm sort of torn about whether I'm ready to see this end or not but I don't want to drag it out and make people not want to read it. I'm glad for the people that have enjoyed it. It made me feel a lot better about my writing skills since I know they're not top notch like some people I can name. I appreciate all the sweet messages and comments I've received. It's been a wonderful thing for me. I'm going to try and go running now since my tendon seems to be doing okay. But we'll see if I fuck it up worse well I suppose it'll serve me right. My wife has the day off from work so I may not get the next chapter up tonight but we'll see. I'll try. I promise.

Chapter 18:

Olivia jerked her head motioning silently for her partner to follow her around the bend in the path. It was a long twisting winding path that was cut through the woods. Unlike the Bridle Path that was easily passable this was hard even for one person to cut through. She couldn't imagine how the others were following them but she could hear footsteps, laughter and see moving lights through the thick foliage that let her know they were nearby. They looped around a large tree pressing themselves back against it. Elliot's military training helped them during this run but it was still difficult when people outnumbered them were looking for them. She trusted Elliot and Alex. Julia a little less but she knew the woman wouldn't let them get seriously hurt. She had put herself in more danger protecting them rather than letting them get hurt which would've saved her a lot of trouble.

She sighed as the people looking for them continued to move by she could hear their feet and their muffled words. She looked at Elliot who looked back at him. In the thick foliage it was pitch black. The only light they had a small flashlight that Elliot had insisted she carry. Carefully they slid around the tree coming to an abrupt stop when they heard voices but when those faded they took off once again. Running was tough when you had only eaten breakfast that day. Gabriel had made sure they were a bit weak for this by not allowing them to eat anything.

Elliot motioned for her to wait and then slowly stepped ahead making sure the coast was clear before they took off again. It was harsh and fast until suddenly the world was no longer right side up. Elliot stopped jerking as he saw Olivia now dangling upside down from a large tree by a piece of thick rope in an age old trap. "Can they do that?" He asked as he stared up at her.

"Elliot go! Get out of here." Olivia motioned him away but it was no use. He wouldn't leave her behind. He had to figure out how to get her down first. It took him a bit to find out how the ropes connected but as he worked the knots trying to get them undone with his bare hands he felt his body hit the ground and heard laughter behind him.

"Very impressive. You two almost managed to escape." Lady Alondra walked around taunting Olivia and Elliot who were now chained to large T-frames in the middle of a large clearing in the woods. She grabbed Olivia's hair jerking her head back. "Obviously your Mistress needs to teach you how to behave. Clearly she's not doing a good job if you break the rules so easily. I wonder if it's possible to beat a conscious into a pet? Why don't we find out?" She dropped Olivia's head and stepped back grabbing a thick leather bull whip.

"That's enough Alondra." Alex's voice rang out. Olivia released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"It's not my fault you've done such a horrible job mastering such a spirited pet. It doesn't take much to break one you know. I could show you how if you're unsure." Alondra smiled her cold smile still keeping the whip ready to go.

"And it won't happen as long as she's mine. Now back off." Alex snapped stepping towards Olivia in between her body and Alondra's coiled whip.

Julia sighed softly watching the entire scene play out with folded arms. She didn't step in the way knowing Alex was going to have to fight her own fight eventually. She was quite pleased to see her doing so. Alex looked back at her as she stepped towards them moving past Lady Alondra. "It's going to hurt you know. Punishment but it won't be something you cannot take but you do deserve it you realize that right?" Julia asked as she stood beside Elliot. "You both realize you deserve it don't you?" She spoke louder allowing Olivia to hear her as well.

"Lady Alondra step back you won't be the one punishing them. Lord Gabriel has said that he feels it would be more effective for myself and Lady Alexandra to do so. This way they will both be able to understand just how disappointed we are with them for their stupid behavior." Julia's voice was cold and rang out in the clearing that was lit with torches. Everyone was there and waiting with baited breath. Julia was supposed to be an incredible sight to watch when she chose to punish a pet. They couldn't wait to see what these two women could do.

Julia took a step back and grabbed an ornate knife from the small table sitting to one side of the T frames. She lifted it up allowing it to be seen before she turned back to Elliot who was watching her over his shoulder with wide eyes. She'd intentionally made sure they were turned away from the light so their fronts were hidden mostly from view. She lifted the knife to the shirt and cut it down the center tearing it from Elliot's broad back. She moved to the other side doing the same to Olivia's shirt and bra. She stepped back setting the knife down and lifted up a cat o nine tails.

She nodded to Alex meaning for her to step back. She would do this herself since she knew how much pain the body could endure before it passed out without needing to know the Detectives' pain thresholds. She stood in between the two Detectives and reared back with the cat o nine tails. She was careful on all accounts not to put too much pressure behind the blows which landed over and over on both Detectives' backs, thighs and buttocks though she'd left them in their undergarments. She worked their bodies until every slight move hurt before she made a move for the next item. An aluminum cane, she cracked it against her hand easily wanting to get a feel for how hard she should hit with it before she started walloping the Detectives. The audience was breathless as they watched her attention to details as she struck both in quick succession. It didn't take long for both Detectives to scream with the pain of the cane but still she didn't let up knowing if she did Gabriel would see to it they were beaten until unconsciousness took them.

Alex couldn't help but wince remembering how well Julia could do with a cane. She'd only been caned three times by her and she could remember the bruise patterns on her flesh the next day. The welts had all but faded but the purple and blue bruises had stood out in stark contrast. She had almost wanted to cry but then she realized how truly pretty they were and she liked the way they looked. She only hoped Julia was going a bit softer on both Detectives but it didn't look like she was.

Finally when Julia let up she turned to Alex and held out the cane. "Strike them both. Twice more. That's all they'll need. They've learned their lesson well." She promised. Alex hesitated for a second before taking it and nodding. She struck both Detectives as harshly as Julia had knowing she had to show her own dominance over them just as Julia had. When they were finally done she set it aside and turned to the now applauding audience who were calling for more.

"They cannot take anymore Lords and Ladies. They will pass out from the pain if you push them over the edge. As is they're about there now." Julia called over the applause as Gabriel stepped towards her. "Beautiful work as always; I'm glad you haven't lost your touch." His eyes were much colder than they had been towards them before Alex noticed. She watched as Julia gave a small nod. "Take them down and march them to the house Alexandra. Crack the whip if they won't move. Everyone will follow us back yes?" Gabriel nodded stepping aside as Alex moved forward and carefully helped both Detectives down from the restraints holding them. They were both about to pass out from the pain but somehow they managed to stand up and together supported each other back up the path to the house.

"How is she?" Julia asked stepping into the sitting room of Alex and Olivia's rooms.

"She cried herself to sleep a little while ago. I fed her some pain killers and told her to sleep it off. I put ice and cold cloths on her back like you told me to. She said it helped." Julia nodded as she moved to sit down.

"I wasn't unnecessarily harsh with them."

"I know. If you hadn't been as hard as you were Lord Gabriel would've had worse done to them and God knows what Alondra would've done to Olivia if she'd been allowed to beat her." Alex shuddered at the thought. "Is Elliot all right?"

"He's fine now. I gave him some night time medicine that should knock him out and keep him under for a while. I cleaned him up and then got him in the bed. He wanted me to come and check on Olivia."

"Funny Olivia wanted me to do the same thing for him."

"I'm not surprised. They're partners. It was a bit obvious with how long they eluded everyone and then with the way they supported each other back up the trail to the manor." Julia walked over sitting on the couch beside Alex. "Are you all right with what happened?"

"It was tough to watch but I knew it had to happen. I'm dealing with it. Olivia made me swear not to blame myself and she also told me to tell you you swing one hell of a mean cane."

Julia laughed, "Funny Elliot said the same thing before he passed out." She sighed. "We'll let them rest tomorrow. No one will expect them to be up and moving after that performance for at least the morning."

"Have you found anything else out about our murder?" Alex asked. "We're almost through with our week here and we've found nothing so far."

"I know. I'm working on it. I know someone who may know but it will be hard to get him to talk. I didn't train him; Gabriel did so he's very loyal to him."

"One of the Decadence pets?"

"Yes a boy by the name of Kalil. We can find him tomorrow while everyone is out especially now that we have an excuse to stay close to the house because of Elliot and Olivia's condition."

"Tomorrow it is." Alex agreed easily watching Julia rise.

She walked over to the bedroom peering in and sighing. "She's very beautiful Alexandra. Take care of her and let her take of you too." She spoke softly her blue eyes burning into Alex's own ocean blue.

Alex blinked as she turned back to face her and nodded, "I will Julia." She promised.