It was a glorious morning, a crisp day that promised much for me. No one was up as yet. By that I mean master John, Mistress Julia or even little Ceres, who snored away like the baby she acted like at times. Okay, a just turned eighteen year old girl, but a baby to my grown up twenty four year old self. Why was I creeping around at five in the morning, when all self respecting people were asleep, tucked under their covers? Both Ceres and I had uncompleted chores to do, immediately, before our owners awoke. Owners, you ask? Is this one of those eighteenth century Deep South slave narratives? No, this actually takes place around the turn of the twenty first century, in modern day America, land of the free, home of the brave, and those of us living the alternative lifestyle where we chose to be submissive. For those who are not familiar with it continue reading.
“Ceres… sweetie… wake up,” I said loudly, shoving her shoulder to get her up. Sometimes she slept like she was dead. It had been a late night we had before, but those chores were not going to get done by themselves. We really had to do them, like yesterday.
“Ta-Taliya…’ she yawned. Her breath could kick butt before she brushed. I turned away hastily. “What time is it?” Her eyes were barely open; she turned on her right side, pulling the covers over her head. I yanked them back.
“It’s about five in the morning, Ceres. Get up: we have chores to do now!” I said, a frantic note creeping into my voice. Ceres wasn’t budging.
“Liya! Calm down! OKAY!” she almost shouted angrily. Damn! Why did she have to be so loud. I… we needed to get a move on our chores. I knew what would happen if didn’t, and that was not what I was looking for today. Being subtle was not working. I grabbed her covers, ripping them from the bed. Grabbing her arm I dragged her sleepy ass out of her damn bed into the hallway, smack into… Mistress Julia. Shit! Her hawk-like gaze gave me chills. Ceres didn’t appear to notice. She was almost asleep again on the floor.
“Taliya, what are you two doing?” she said between clenched teeth. I know she was playing stupid, or maybe just crazy. But I could only think that. She was my mistress, after all.
“Our chores, ma’am. We were getting an early start, and didn’t mean to wake you.” I said, my head lowered. Why was she playing dumb? She knew what the real deal was!
“This is too damn early! Get your asses back to bed now, do you understand me?” Mistress Julia stormed, almost spitting in rage. We skirted back in fear.
“Yes ma’am,” we said in unison. Ceres lost no time in running her mouth.
“I told you, Liya. You don’t fucking listen. You almost got us in trouble!” Mistress was still in the hallway, making sure we returned to our respective bedrooms. She made her authority known again to us.
“Ceres?” she said.
“Yes ma’am?”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Yes ma’am,” Ceres said meekly. Getting up from off the floor she shuffled back to her room, anxious to retreat to the warmth of her thick quilt. I had something else on my mind as I continued towards the stairs. Mistress Julia stepped out of Master’s bedroom into my path.
“Didn’t I tell you to go back to your bed?” I turned, looking her straight in her eyes.
“Yes Mistress, you did, but I don’t wanna get in trouble with the Master.” He was not a nice man to me.
“I’ll make sure you won’t, okay? I will take your punishment. Now, off to bed,” she said, pushing me gently back towards my bedroom.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said. I quietly walked into my room. I just knew that Master John would storm-trooper his way in, busting down my door in the process. I paced around the bed nervously. He and Mistress Julia had been arguing for an hour, ever since I was returned to my room. They didn’t seem to be letting up and I really wanted to talk to Ceres, but I couldn’t risk leaving my room to sneak over to hers. Besides, she was probably sawing logs in her sleep, enough to build a large cabin. Based on the last time I tried to wake her up I wasn’t going to risk that again.
I heard my door knob turning slowly. Fearfully, I crouched in the furthest corner when I saw Master John’s outline framed by the doorway. He had thrown a birthday party for me yesterday, the only requirement being that all I had to do was clean up afterwards. Unfortunately, it ran later than expected so Mistress sent both Ceres and I to bed before I could fulfill my end of the agreement. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t appreciate his gesture. I’m not very comfortable around him, and it shows. By not obeying him my unintentional gesture said, ‘Thanks for the party but clean the mess up your own damn self!’ Not very respectful at all. Inviting himself in he sauntered over to my bed, surveying it with his icy blue eyes, then chose a spot to sit on my bed. Fixing his gaze on me he spoke.
“Taliya…. Something you wanted to tell me?” he said calmly. I shivered.
“No, Master. I don’t think so.” Again he peered at me with his icy blue eyes.
“Your chores. Did you do them last night, Taliya?” Breathing deeply I tried to avoid his gaze.
“No Master.” Stomach churning I thought I was going to vomit. Let’s just get the punishment over and done with, I thought to myself.
”Why didn’t you do it, Taliya?” Master John asked, through clenched teeth, his jaw muscles working overtime. I felt my sphincter muscles spasming. Time to tell the truth, because I had no idea if Mistress Julia was backing me up as she had promised earlier. Some people will say almost anything then renege when their ass was on the line. I had a feeling this was one of those times.
“Mistress told me to go to bed, so I obeyed her, sir.” His eyes grew arctic cold.
“What did you say, Taliya? You are now choosing whom to obey? I AM THE MASTER IN THIS HOUSE! I give the orders! You obey! Is that clear?”
“Yes Master. I apologize for getting lazy, Master. May I attend to my duties now, Master?” Inside I was seething with a burning rage for allowing myself to get played by my mistress. She lied on me, to me, about me and nothing I said or did was going to change that.
“No, you may not. Sit down here, beside me. Now!” Patting the bed beside him I scurried out of my corner to where he indicated I was to be. Feeling very uncomfortable I sat as far away as I could without seeming to offend him. Pulling me closer to himself his hands started to make themselves very familiar with my body, setting off negative alarms in my brain.
