Chapter 12

Suddenly, I felt very tired, and slumped back against the kitchen counter.

“Are you okay?” Kayleigh asked, worry in her voice.

I sighed, “I’m not okay, but I’m also not not okay.”

“Isn’t that the same as ‘okay’?”

“No, it isn’t. It isn’t even close.”

“Think I could have a cup of hot cocoa, with you?” I asked.

“Oh, my God!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t even think to offer! I’m so sorry. Of course, you can!

“Zoey, let me up, so I can...”

“No, Mistress. Please. Let me do this?” Zoey requested.

“Let her,” I told Kayleigh. “She’s getting pleasure from serving you.”

I saw tears, in the young submissive’s eyes, as she began bustling about.

“Zoey,” I asked, “are you all right?”

“Master, it’s just so nice, to have someone understand. To have someone like us, knowing about us, and not care.”

“As I told your Mistress, you’ll never lack for an understanding ear, ever again, after tomorrow.

“No matter what you may be feeling, there is SOMEONE, in my House, that can relate. And I know they will be glad to help. That’s just the kind of people we are.

“But, you’re wrong, on your last point. Zoey. I really do, care. What’s more, I heartily approve.”

A smiling Zoey made enough hot cocoa for me, and to refill Kayleigh’s cup, and then returned to Kayleigh’s lap.

I went ahead, and pulled out a chair at the table, and sat my ass down.

Kayleigh was troubled, but I waited, knowing she had to work things out in her own mind. Finally, she asked, “Are they really going to kill her?”

How do you answer that? How do you make it all right, in the mind of a seventeen year old girl? In the mind of ANY decent person?

I sighed, and asked, “Kayleigh, What would you do to someone, that tortured, raped and very nearly killed Zoey? Tortured her so that she’d never again, enjoy sex? With you, or anyone else? So that she reacted in fear, if someone even suggested kissing? So that she cowers away, when you tried to hug her?

“What would you do, if you had the chance, knowing that you could do just about anything you wanted, and never get caught?

“What do you think your Mom would do, or your Dad, would do, to the person who did such a thing, to you?

“Remember, I saw you, at that bonfire, after Seth had knocked your brother over. What would you do to the woman, who got Liam drunk cut off his dick, and damn near beat him to death? Even before you sat by his bed, for a month, until he could leave the hospital?

“What would you do?”

“What would you do?” she fired the question right back at me.

I sat back, memories flooding into my thoughts.

“I’d make a soap dish, from their skull,” I stated flatly. “It would rest beside the one in my kitchen.

“That’s what it means, when I say you are under my protection. That’s what it means, to be under the protection of my House.

You, your brother, your sub? You all have both those protections, by my word to you, witnessed by Lance, Whom I’m sure has spread the word to the rest of the House, and because your Mom has been accepted into my House, yet you are dependent on her.

“Ever hear the phrase, ‘You mess with one man, you get us all?’ Yeah. And My House, will swear blood oath, and blood feud, if any of us are attacked.

“You need to know this, because that is what you will be joining, if you ask for placement in my House. You will be expected to protect every other member of the House, with your life, if needed, from harm, just as the rest of us, will do for you.”

I sighed, again. “This also needs said. You don’t talk about House business, or membership, to outsiders. You don’t ‘out,’ any of us. Just as you don’t want to be outed about you and Zoey.

“When someone asks, Why are you hanging around with those people, you can’t say anything that could cause us any trouble. You can say something like we are friends of your Mom’s that you really like, because we don’t treat you like a kid, or something like that, but you damn sure can’t say we are teaching you to be able to safely tie Zoey up, in shibari.”

“Sion, I’m not stupid. I had most of that figured out already.

“I don’t know what I’d do, if some one did that to Zoey, or Liam. Now, I’m thinking I’d come to you or Madam, and tell what happened, and ask what to do.”

She stared at me a moment, then said, “You mean to tell me you’ve killed someone?”

“Kayleigh, even your Mom doesn’t know this, about me. I have killed 17 enemy combatants, in Iraq. I was a sniper team leader, during Desert Storm.

“I’ve also killed one rapist, in another state.

“The man, who’s skull is now a soap dish, raped the 5 year old daughter, of a House member.

“He was a deputy Sheriff. He was on duty, in uniform, when he grabbed Lisa and raped her. Yes, I killed him. The Prosecutor wouldn’t charge him. So, I went to his house, and killed him. I disposed of his remains, and they’ve never been found. I did it, at a time his family wasn’t home, so they wouldn’t have the trauma of seeing him killed. Or of BEING killed, as some of the House wanted to do. They only know he’s disappeared.

“None of this makes me proud. I still have nightmares, even after all these years.

“I hope to never have to do it again. But to protect a member of my House? To protect you two? Or, failing that protection, to wreak retribution? Of course I would.”

“You’d do that, for us?”

“Yes. I swore an oath, to that, when you asked for that protection. Lance witnessed it. My honor requires that I do all I can, to protect you.

“Early this evening, my Queen accepted your Mom’s service, and by collaring your Mom, my Queen swore an oath, to give the same protection, to your Mom. Her oath was witnessed by three Dominants, and one submissive, at least. Yet, every member of the House will recognize the collar she’s wearing, and know, without being told, that she is under our protection.

“Now, Zoey, is under your protection, as she is your sub. You requested to be under my protection, therefore, you are under MY protection, and so is Zoey, by extension.

“Your Mom is under my wife’s protection, because she asked my wife for a collar, which she was granted, and is wearing, now.

“That protection is also extended to you, and Liam. And Zoey, again through you.

“So, if someone messes with me, or Liam, or Zoey, we can come to you, or your wife?”

“Yes. BUT, first off, you don’t want to go looking for trouble, expecting the House to back you up. remember my wife can read minds. She’ll hear the lie. You do NOT want to incur her wrath.

“I’m sorry to keep harping on this, but in Society, it’s important to be honest. Trust me, on this.

“Second, it’s not just my wife and I. You can go to any member of the House.

“Third, I think that if someone seriously fucked with Zoey? You’d be telling us how you kicked their ass, not asking for help.

“Or, am I wrong, about that?”

“No. You’re right. I’d really hurt someone who hurt Zoey.