Chapter 14: Is Crystal a slave?

Charlene Mackenzie hoped this would be the last time she had to do this. Her daughter had spent the last three years declaring that she was going to be a submissive to a true Dominant. She had hoped that the third time was the charm, it wasn't. This was number four. Each time, she'd had to run the Dominant off, or bribe them to turn her daughter away.

Crystal was just going through a phase, and she had been going to those damn websites again, and heard the legend of this place, and this Devon. Some woman who claimed to have been trained was talking about it, and others who had seen what Devon had done were also singing his praises. Crystal had told her Mother she was going to go to Devon and beg him to take her on as a trainee, or better yet, a house slave. Charlene had explained that she would support her daughter's desire, and would personally speak to Devon and see if he would take her as a submissive. She had driven up from Philadelphia and was on time for the meeting.

Devon sat at his desk and looked at his first appointment after lunch. Charlene Mackenzie was rich, she owned 24.6% of the stock in the Mackenzie Pharmaceuticals LLC, and she was divorced. Her former husband had been cheating on her, and she'd tossed him without a moment's hesitation according to the news reports currently in a folder in the filing cabinet. She had called and asked for an appointment to speak with whomever was in charge.

"Ms. Mackenzie, I'm not sure what you hope to learn here, you said you wanted to talk with whoever was in charge, that would be me." Devon said.

"It's a personal matter Mr. Jamison, and one I'm loath to admit."

Devon smiled charmingly. She was no submissive; she was even too controlling to be a good dominant. "We do have a reputation, of our willingness to maintain discretion Ms. Mackenzie."

"I know that, or else I wouldn't be here."

"Perhaps a tour of the facility would place you at enough ease to allow you to discuss whatever brought you here." Devon said.

"I doubt it. You see, my daughter is convinced she's one of these slaves. She's determined to come here and join you. I have her safe at home for now, but that could fail at any moment, and she'd be coming here to see you, the great Devon." Charlene said with obvious sarcasm.

Devon shrugged helplessly. "I'm afraid I forgot to put a moat around the house." Devon said. "It's so hard to keep a determined person outside without one."

"This is not a joking matter. My Daughter is nineteen years old and I'm here to ask you to tell her she's not one of these slaves, and that she should stop playing at this nonsense."

Devon smiled again. He made a mental note to ask Dominique about a Public Relations person to handle shit like this. "Ms. Mackenzie, if your daughter is submissive, and I have no idea if she is, why would she want to come here? Surely she could be submissive under your supervision."

"She's not submissive, it's a phase. She just wants to think she is."

"When did this phase begin?" Devon asked casually.

Charlene pinched her lips into a thin line and then spat at him. "Three years ago."

"I was unaware that phases lasted three years. I was under the impression that they lasted a few weeks or at most say, three months."

"Of course it's a phase. How in the world could my daughter end up thinking she's a sex slave?" Charlene growled. "That's outrageous."

"Just so." Devon allowed. "So as I understand your request. You want me to meet with her, and then tell her she's not a submissive." Devon said. He got a nod. "What if she is submissive?"

"She's not."

"If Ms. Mackenzie. I did say if."

"She's not." Charlene insisted again.

Devon shifted. "Ms. Mackenzie, if your daughter is truly submissive by nature, and has discovered this, and is determined to follow it, there is no stopping her."

"That's my problem. Not yours."

Devon smiled charmingly. "Ms. Mackenzie. You made it my problem by bringing it to me."

"Just do your part, and I'll pay you for your time."

Devon smiled again. "You don't have enough money to pay for my time."

"You might be surprised Mr. Jamison. I have a great deal of money."

"I know exactly what you're worth Ms. Mackenzie. I also know what you were worth ten years ago." Devon said waving a hand. "You can't afford to buy me, or rent me for that matter. Especially for something I'm unwilling to do."

"Mr. Jamison, I'm not accustomed to being told no. I'm going to assume you have a superior."

"Indeed I do. She's more short tempered than I am." Devon answered with a smile. "I'll call her if you wish."

"I'm hoping that you don't make that necessary."

"Ms. Mackenzie. I'm going to be blunt, and frankly, more helpful than you can imagine. If your Daughter is truly a submissive by nature, and if she is determined to follow this lifestyle, then her best bet is this facility. With us, she can learn how to be submissive, safely. To be taught how to submit with pride, and with respect." Devon said.

"I don't want her submitting." Charlene said through gritted teeth.

"Yes you do, but only to you. Let's for the sake of argument say that I was willing to do what you asked. Then she'd decide that I'm a fake, and would go off in search of a master to meet her needs. Now assuming that he or she didn't just humiliate her for their own perverted needs, what would they do assuming that she's a reasonably attractive young woman?" Devon asked.

"This is outrageous. I'm not going to sit here and have a conversation about what unscrupulous men like yourself would do to my daughter if given half a chance." Charlene sputtered in fury.

"No, not like me Ms. Mackenzie. We have hard rules here, inviolate rules that both the staff, and clients are aware of, and unwilling in any circumstance to violate." Devon said.

"Easily claimed." Charlene said. "Men like you have no sense of honor."

Devon chilled noticeably. His eyes narrowed and his voice dropped an octave, it was now low, dangerous, and filled with promise of awful violence. "Ms. Mackenzie, I've tried to explain some things to you. Things you apparently have no desire to learn about. Instead you insult me, and bring my honor into question. I believe this conversation is at an end. Tell your daughter I have no desire to see her, because doing so would be an unendurable insult."

"What insult would that be Mr. Jamison?" Charlene demanded.

"Once again finding myself in the same room as you Charlene."

"I won't tolerate that kind of behavior from anyone. I want the name of your superior."

Devon reached over to the phone and tapped one button. A dial tone filled the room, then he tapped another button and a number was dialed. It was answered on the second ring. "Yes?"

"Dominique. I have you on speakerphone. Charlene Mackenzie is here. She has made an outrageous request, and I've tried to explain that to her. She rejected that explanation, insulted my honor, and now demands to speak to my superior." Devon smiled thinly. "Does that adequately explain the situation Ms. Mackenzie?"

"Other than leaving out that you were rude and dismissive it will do. I demand that you instruct him to tell my daughter than she's not submissive." Charlene said loudly.

"Devon, is this a joke?" Dominique asked.

"No, I assure you I don't find it the least bit funny." Devon said.

"Did you hear me whoever you are?" Charlene demanded.

"Throw that bitch out of the house, bodily if she won't leave voluntarily. I have work here and no time for asinine shits who think they're the cats own ass." Dominique said and hung up.

Devon tapped the button shutting off the speakerphone. "I'm sorry, that was my superior, and I'm afraid there isn't really anyone above her to demand satisfaction."

"Who does she think she is?" Charlene demanded.

"The President and CEO of the Corporation. She's right by the way, she is in charge." Devon said.

"I'll buy the company and fire her." Charlene sputtered in rage.

"It's not for sale." Devon said.

"I'll buy whatever it is that owns this company, and fire the lot of you." Charlene threatened.

"You can't. They aren't for sale either." Devon said. "I'm afraid our interview is at an end." He lifted his wrist and spoke into his watch. "Ann, would you care to see a visitor to the door. Perhaps I should say escort her from the premises?"

"On the way Devon." Came from the speaker.

"I'm not leaving until I get some satisfaction." Charlene said.

Ann came in the office then and asked the obvious question. "Escort? Devon you never throw anyone out."

"Dominique has instructed me to do just that with Ms. Mackenzie here."

"Don't you dare touch me. I'll sue, and have you thrown in jail." Charlene raged.

"Uh Devon. Perhaps I should call Uncle Jack." Ann said. As a former police officer, she knew that the gray area of person on person violence was a difficult area indeed. At the very least, it would be an annoying lawsuit, at the worst, charges for assault.

"Perhaps that would be best." Devon answered.

"Uncle Jack? Who's that?"

"The Sheriff of this County. I have him on speed dial as well. Perhaps you can demand that he make me talk to your daughter." Devon said reaching for the phone.

Charlene stood up and said. "You haven't heard the last of this."

Ann followed her out and watched her get into a Mercedes and the driver took them away. She returned to the office and found Devon tapping his finger in obvious irritation. "What the hell was that all about?"

"Her daughter is submissive, or has said so for three years. Charlene claims it's a phase, and all it needs to end is the famous Devon to tell her that she should stop this nonsense." Devon said. "When I tried to explain the dangers of that action, she insulted me, and demanded to talk to Dominique. I complied, and was chastised a second time, and told to throw her out." Devon explained.

"Oh shit. Dominique must be pissed." Ann said.

"I'm sure she's rather annoyed. I'm waiting for her to call back and get an explanation and the details." Devon said. The phone rang as he finished and he smiled. "Right on time."

"Devon, did you throw that spoiled little shit out?" Dominique asked.

"Yes I did. Actually, I had Ann escort her." Devon said.

"What was her problem?"

"Her daughter is going through a three year long phase of believing she's submissive. Ms. Mackenzie believes that all it would take is for me to tell her she's not to break the phase and end it." Devon said.

"She's fucking nuts isn't she?"

"I don't know, highly opinionated certainly, used to getting her own way, absolutely."

"Is she going to be a problem? Am I going to be fielding questions from her attorneys for the next month?" Dominique asked next.

"I believe so. She said she would buy this academy, and fire us all." Devon said. "She left after telling me I hadn't heard the last of this."

"Shoot me the information on her. I want it now." Dominique said and hung up.

"She's not really one for pleasantries is she?" Ann asked.

Devon shook his head and talked into his watch. "Jeannette, get the file on Charlene Mackenzie, and fax it to Dominique right away."

"Yes Master." Jeannette replied.

Ann shook her head. "Can she do that, buy the company?"

"No. She may think she can, but she can't." Devon said. "However the attempt is liable to annoy the moneymen to an unhealthy level."

"Oh, and they would do what?" Ann asked.

"Probably buy her company, and destroy it." Devon said smiling. "I have no idea who they are, the moneymen behind this. I only briefed lawyers on the proposal. However they had fifty million dollars lying around in ready cash. Offered additional money if needed, we would only need to explain why we needed it."

"That's a lot of cash to have laying around." Ann agreed.

"For some in the world Ann, that's a drop in a bucket. They make billions every year." Devon said. "I was just reading about one fellow who is upset that he'll have to give his wife one of his mega yachts, he has three, in the divorce settlement. A mega yacht by the way is more than two hundred feet long."

"Poor baby." Ann said shaking her head. "I can imagine how upset he is. He'll no longer have a personal navy to float around the world for him."

Devon shrugged. "I understand he's currently buying a new yacht, another new term, giga-yacht. More than three hundred feet long."

Ann walked out grumbling about people with too much damn money.

Devon talked to Dominique later and confirmed her impression. Charlene was a third generation trust fund kid who was spoiled beyond belief. She wanted things her way, and she was going to get it.

"What do you mean I can't buy it? Everything is for sale." Charlene raged to her lawyer.

"Not this Charlene. I spoke with a representative in the Cayman Islands. He suggested that I perform a biological act which is impossible upon myself."

"You have to be kidding." Charlene said. She understood that he'd been told to go fuck himself.

"No, I'm quite serious. When I demanded to speak with the stockholders who saw to this Vassal Academy he said he was one of them, and then told me what I could do."

"That's outrageous. How many people am I going to have to fire when I buy it?"

"You can't buy it. I found the Swiss company listed as the holders of the Vanutick Holdings Company."

"Good, and you were able to convince them to sell to me right?"

"No. I was informed that the stock holders wished to remain anonymous, and I should enjoy the rest of my day by a polite vice president of Credit Suisse."

"Did you tell him we have an account there?" Charlene asked astounded.

"Oh yes, and gave him the number. He said he didn't deal in the minor savings area and wasn't familiar with me."

"Minor savings?" Charlene asked astounded. She had just over ten million dollars in Credit Suisse, mainly to keep the IRS's hands off it. That was minor savings to these people?

The attorney cleared his throat. "I spoke with the Vice President of Credit Suisse we normally deal with, and the one who gave me the brush off is in charge of accounts that are numbered, and deal in a couple more zero's minimum."

"Billions?" Charlene asked astounded.

"Yes, he suggested that unless we wanted to have our account closed, we shouldn't bother Mr. Weiss again."

Charlene sat down. This was impossible. Devon's backers were billionaires? "So I can't have them fired?"

"No. It would appear not."

"No wonder they had the audacity to throw me out. The backers are the mega rich." Charlene said with understanding.

"Yes, and I spoke with a friend in New York. The law firm that represents them has among other clients Halliburton and the Kennedy's."

"Jesus Frank. Who are these people?"

"People at that level don't buy companies, they just buy countries Charlene."

Crystal entered the room then almost vibrating with teenage energy. "Mom, did you talk to him? Is he going to see me?"

"We're working on that baby. It's a little more difficult than I thought."

"Mom, you went to see him today. What's wrong?"

"It didn't go real well." Charlene admitted, still off her game from the revelation of the power behind this academy bunch. Turning she saw her Daughter was wearing a collar again. "Take that damn collar off."

Crystal stood for a moment looking between the two. She took a breath and used her nineteen years of experience watching her Mother throw tantrums and understood everything. "Since Frank is here, I'm going to assume that you didn't get your way and are planning on buying them."

"I said to take that collar off."

"Mom, what happened?"

"They threw me out."

"You got them so angry they threw you out?" Crystal asked astounded. "What the hell did you say to them?"

"Watch your tone young lady, I'm still your mother."

"You tried to get them to tell me that I'm not really a slave didn't you?" Crystal asked as she sat in awe. "They told you no, and you're trying to buy them. Judging from the expression on your face, that didn't work either."

"I'm working on it Crystal, it's just going to take a couple days is all."

"Oh God. This is great." Crystal said clapping her hands in joy. "Finally someone who can tell my mother no, and not be so much as annoyed."

"Crystal, go upstairs and let us work on this." Charlene said.

Crystal smiled hugely. "Oh shit, they have got some serious juice or you'd have bought them by now wouldn't you?"

Frank was looking uncomfortable. Crystal looked at him next. "So I've got the story about right, my Mother could never handle someone standing up to her. Now, here's the question, will they see me?"

Frank didn't answer. Charlene spoke next. "No. Devon said under no circumstances."

"Before or after you tried to buy him?" Crystal asked.

"Before, sort of."

"You'd threatened him, assuming he was something like a hotel manager and you could intimidate him?" Crystal laughed. "Mom, he's already a legend. People all over are singing his praises. Do you have any idea what it takes to do that?"

"Crystal, give me a day or two to work this." Charlene again said.

"Mom, you don't get it." Crystal shook her head. "I'm amazed. You can't intimidate him; he's a true Master. I'd be surprised if he answered to anyone ever."

"Well prepare to be surprised, he's the vice president, the President is a woman named Dominique." Charlene said with a small knowing smile. Charlene hadn't figured out that her Daughter was easily as smart as she was. Crystal recognized that when Charlene didn't answer a question directly, she was avoiding the truth until she could re-arrange things to suit her desired outcome.

"Really?" Crystal asked. "Wow, and you couldn't get her to put some pressure on him?"

Charlene's face fell and she answered reluctantly. "No, she wouldn't do it."

Crystal laughed again. "God, he's awesome. Mom I've got to go and undo whatever you've screwed up. I have to be trained by Devon."

"You can't afford it young lady, without my help." Charlene said putting the brakes to Crystal.

"Still holding the trust fund over me Mom?" Crystal asked. "I've heard he charges twenty five thousand a week for training. Twenty-five thousand dollars to his paying clients, if he'll take you. You thought you could browbeat him into doing what you wanted?"

"Young Lady, unless you want to find your toys taken away, you'll keep some respect for your Mother in your voice." Charlene said.

Crystal stared at her mother for a moment. "You tried to talk him into telling me it was a phase. Oh mom. What were you thinking?" Crystal had believed that her Mother had given up that tact. Or perhaps, hoped that her Mother had given up on that effort.

"I'm your mother, I was thinking of you Crystal."

Crystal nodded. "No wonder he threw you out. He told you that it wasn't a phase didn't he?"

Charlene stood and demanded. "Take that collar off now."

Crystal unbuckled it and tossed it to the floor and walked out. She went upstairs and got her keys and wallet. She walked from the house to her car and drove towards New York. She had to find Devon. Anyone who could do what he did was powerful enough to protect her from her Mother.

It was about two hours later when Charlene spoke into the phone. Putting her security people on it. First, locate the car and get her back. Then sit on her.

Crystal parked her car in the Garment district and left the keys in the ignition. She knew it would be gone before she turned the corner. Sure enough it passed her going down the street and she smiled. The rent a cops being sent to bring her home would track the car wherever that guy dumped it.

Charlene was waiting for the phone call that told her that her daughter was safe.

Crystal walked into the Club de Sade, where it's said that Devon hung out. She asked and found that no one had seen him tonight.

Dominique listened to the report, someone asking for Devon? The girl in question was in the regular club, so she wasn't a VIP member. She tipped the waiter and looked at the young woman who was pointed out to her. Dominique sent for the woman and had her escorted into the VIP.

"I'm Dominique, I understand you're looking for Devon."

"Oh God. You're her. You told my mother off today." Crystal said in awe.

"Your Mother? Oh, your mother would be Charlene Mackenzie."

"Yeah. God that's awesome. There are so few people who aren't impressed by her." Crystal said gushing.

"As I understand it, your Mother told, or tried to tell Devon that he was to tell you that you weren't a submissive at heart." Dominique said.

"Yeah, she's tried that before. I thought she'd given up on it."

"If you don't call me Mistress in a moment, I'm gong to flog the skin off you myself." Dominique said in a low and threatening growl.

Crystal blinked and said. "Yes Mistress, I'm sorry." She lowered her head to show submissiveness.

"Better." Dominique allowed. "So you want to be a slave? A Devon trained slave no less."

"Yes Mistress." Crystal answered.

"Since your Mother was making first contact, I'm going to assume that your trust fund doesn't kick in for a few more years." Dominique said.

"Yes Mistress, when I'm twenty five." Crystal agreed.

Dominique breathed in slowly. "So you ran away from home to seek this mysterious Devon and beg him to train you?"

"Yes Mistress. Right now, the security people are tracking the car." Crystal agreed.

"So they'll be here at any moment to find you?" Dominique asked with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you were eighteen at least with the hand stamp."

"I'm nineteen Mistress, and yeah, I'm an adult. However My mother uses my allowance to keep me under thumb." Crystal said. "If I refuse to come home, I'm cut off and the trust fund starts de-funding." She smiled a wide smile. "I have no idea where the car is, I allowed it to be stolen in the Garment District. The security people are probably converging on a chop shop right now."

"Clever little shit aren't you?" Dominique asked keeping her admiration for the girl's determination out of her voice.

"Mistress, very shortly my trust fund is going to evaporate into nothing. I have a little money, not much. I've heard about the house slaves, and I'm hoping to beg Master Devon to consider me for it." Crystal said.

Dominique raised an eyebrow. "You're willing to risk your trust fund to follow this fantasy of yours?"

"Mistress. I'm a slave. I've always known that. I've only ever wanted this. No other master can take me, since they're susceptible to my Mother's power, and revenge. You're not, and Devon isn't." Crystal shook her head. "I don't care about money, I want this. I know I can be a good slave Mistress." A tear formed in her eye.

Dominique said. "What I will do is send you to Devon tonight. I'll even tell him you're coming, and ask him to interview you for a weeks trial for liking."

"Thank you Mistress." Crystal said.

"You understand your Mother will come looking for you."

"Yes Mistress, I don't care." Crystal answered.

Dominique smiled. "I'm actually looking forward to telling your Mother that we're breaking you in properly. I'll take great pleasure in describing the talents we're developing in you."

"She pissed you off huh?" Crystal asked smiling at the expression on Dominique's face.

"No. She annoyed me. I only get pissed at little slaves who forget to call me Mistress, like you just did." Dominique hissed at Crystal.

Crystal swallowed hard and said. "I'm so sorry Mistress. Please forgive me."

"Since you're untrained, I'll do that this time." Dominique then wrote directions to Crystal and sent her on the way. She phoned Devon waking him.

"You what?" Devon asked astounded.

"Devon, I can't order you, and wouldn't try. I'm asking you to try her out. One week, to see if she's a slave at heart. I'll call her Mother and tell her we're going to give her a trial. If she fails, then the Mother is right, and the girl is a little wannabe. If she passes, then we'll talk to mama and tell her the facts of the lifestyle." Dominique said.

Devon snorted. "Mama doesn't listen real well."

"She will to me. Especially when I threaten to flog the skin off her darling daughter if she gets an attitude with me."

Devon agreed and then notified security. Expect Crystal Mackenzie in an hour or so.

He picked up the radio. "Diane you have the duty tonight right?"

"Yes Master, everything's quiet now."

"I know. We're expecting a guest in an hour or so. Put her in a guest room, and tell her to sleep for a while, we'll be down to get her for breakfast and then we'll talk." Devon instructed.

"Yes Master." Diane replied.

"Tell her if she insists on waking me, I'll chain her and beat her until she's nothing but a huge barely breathing bruise."

"Yes Master." Diane said obviously confused.

Devon laid the radio down and went back to sleep, confident that his instructions would be carried out.

The cab pulled up and the guard let her in after getting her name. At the door a young woman wearing a very transparent beach type of dress met her.

"Welcome, Master Devon told me to expect you. I'm Diane, and I've got the duty tonight."

"The duty?"

"Yeah, we've got a student in sleep training, and someone has to be awake in case there's any problem." Diane explained. "Master Devon said to put you in a guest room so you can get some sleep. We'll wake you for breakfast and talk afterwards."

"I need to see him now. You have no idea how important this is." Crystal said.

"Master Devon also said if you woke him up, he'd beat you until you were a barely breathing bruise from head to toe." Diane said. Then she turned to Crystal. "I wouldn't wake him if I were in your place."

Crystal swallowed hard. "Would he do that?"

"I've never woken him up. I'm supposed to if there's a problem, but if I just woke him up for something like this. Well, I'm certain that he'd start flogging you in that case."

"Guest room huh. OK. I'll do what he says."

"That's always the best way." Diane agreed and showed Crystal to the guest room. "These are set up for Visiting Masters, or VIP's. Staff sleeps upstairs."

"OK. So someone will come get me?"

"Yes. Probably Jeannette or myself." Diane said. "When Master tells us to."

"Jeannette. Oh God, wait you said you're Diane. I've heard so much about you." Crystal said. "I'm Crystal, and God you're famous."

Diane bit her lip and said. "I don't know why. I just do what Master tells me."

"You were his first slave, here I mean."

"Yeah, well I'm a slave here, that's all. The famous one should be Jeannette. She's the lead slave. Then there's me, and Geneva. We've got Josh in the sleep training right now."

"You don't understand, you guys are all over the Internet. Slaves are talking about Devon and Jeannette and you Diane. They say you're all awesome, really setting the standard for Dom's and Subs." Crystal looked at her in absolute awe. "Just being this close to you gives me tingles. Oh, I've dreamed of doing something like this."

"What are you a groupie?" Diane asked with a confused look on her face.

"No, I'm a slave, it's just that I've really wanted to do this all my life. I'm Crystal, and I'm sure we'll be good friends."

"Look, no one here's like that OK. We're just here doing our thing. Devon is the lead Trainer. He outlines the training, participates in some of it. The other Masters oversee the daily training. We clean house, get our own classes when there's time, and do whatever we're told." Diane shook her head. "It's hard work, day and night. You have to love serving Master to even consider it."

"I do. I really do. I swear it." Crystal said. "I'm sorry, but you have no idea what I've gone through to get here."

"You act like we're rock stars or something." Diane said. "We're not rock stars, or famous, or anything like that. I'm a slave and they're the Masters. That's all."

"Would you leave?" Crystal asked, already suspecting the answer.

Diane didn't hesitate. "Nope, this is home for me." Her little radio beeped and she sighed. "Josh tried to roll over again. I got to go." She was off down the hall gliding along barefoot in the few security lights as Crystal closed the door.

She was here. She had found Devon. He was sleeping just above her.

Diane jotted notes on her conversation; this was too weird not to report to Master Devon. Crystal, whoever she was, acted like a groupie not a slave. Diane underlined the part about being famous on the Internet.

Devon slept and didn't sleep well. He was disturbed by visions of perpetual and never-ending meetings with Charlene Mackenzie.

Crystal finally slept; the excitement of being here, at the Academy was almost more than she could stand. She wondered if she should kneel or something when Devon met her. Perhaps she shouldn't. The books and other masters online all agreed that you shouldn't do something until you'd been told, or shown, how to.