“I think I agree with Sam, that even with your minimal experience, your situation would be more adaptable with the rest of us. Besides, we’ll all be squabbling for your attention to prove our methods are best… at least until you visit my estate, and then the matter will be settled.”
“If we are voted in, we would have to do something with the house.” Thomas looked at their lawyers, who nodded, and then back at Constantine.
He was still stroking the girl’s head and looked around the room. “How many acres are included?”
“The tended grounds around the house are only five, but there is another ten acres out front that we’ve let turn back to forest for privacy, and one hundred and thirty acres out back that has been left to grow. Our nearest neighbor is three miles away, and the townsfolk are easily dissuaded from intruding… any ruse would work.”
“We don’t have an estate in this part of the country, so I think this would work. We would set up two of the released slaves to reside full-time, but your home would become part of the holdings of the island. Naturally, a fair price would be deducted from the cost of Chayton’s estate, because when we buy off-shore holdings we all share in their use and cost… including you, should you be chosen.”
“It seems odd to be contributing to the cost of buying our own house, but I think I understand what you’re saying,” Thomas stated.
“We have several homes all over the world to house us on acquisition trips, and as owners you will be welcome to use any of them. We also offset the cost by renting them to other Masters that have estates on neighboring islands. Individually, they don’t want the expense and upkeep of places on the mainland, which is another advantage to the owners on Six Masters.”
The questions and discussions went on until late into the evening, and when they finally concluded, Constantine left to present the twins’ case to the other Masters on the island. Jeremy received the e-mail stating they had won the decision a week later, and that they would also take the Kinsey Plantation. The move was planned for early spring, and Jeremy worked to transfer finances out of their accountants’ hands while Thomas worked with Constantine to arrange the transfer of the estate.
A few weeks before they were scheduled to leave, an older couple arrived to help Anna pack. It was only the Master’s personal things they were taking, like the portrait of Sarah, and everything else would be staying with the house. The woman seemed nice, and after Anna showed her around the kitchen, she wanted to do all the cooking.
Anna visited her in the kitchen while she made dinner, and as the woman talked, the move began to finally seem real to her. “You’ll like it on the island. I was there for more than thirty years… the last ten of them working in the hub with Jackson. Of course, it’s quite an honor to be chosen to run one of the off-island estates, but I’ll miss the weather.”
“It’s a little scary to be leaving here,” Anna admitted.
The woman walked over and took her hands. “It just seems that way now. Once you get there, and you see all the other people like you, it helps you to become even prouder of your Masters and your new home. And they’ll be adding more people to help you and keep you company.”
The things they were taking were shipped to a hangar at the airport in Alden. Plans were already underway to add a small airstrip to the property at the back of the house, but it would not be ready for over a year. Anna had overheard the Masters talking about transporting her to the airport in the trunk, and she panicked and risked punishment by begging.
Mistress Sarah was the one who came to her rescue. “Master Thomas, I think she’ll be fine for the ride. The only stop is at the toll booth leading to the private hangars, and I can’t believe they would not have prepared for problems that might arise.”
“I’ll be good, Master Thomas,” Anna cried. “Please… please don’t close me in the trunk.”
“Thomas, it’s possible the trauma could really upset our work,” Jeremy considered.
Thomas stared at her. “Well, it seems I’m outvoted. If you cause any problems…”
“I won’t, Master Thomas. I promise.” Anna was already rubbing her bottom unconsciously, so he knew the threat was noted.
When Thomas collected their legal papers to close out any business with the lawyers, they informed him everything with the estate had been settled. The two-woman clock was gifted to Sam.
Anna was wearing one of Sarah’s old uniforms, and she stared at the strange person in the mirror. The cloth was scratchy and confining, and she realized how much more comfortable it was to just be wearing her cuffs and collar… and the corset, when the Masters let her wear it. She always wore her nipple whips. Mistress Sarah called to her, and Anna looked one last time at the small bedroom that had been hers for the past year, closed the door, and dashed downstairs.
She was glad it was nighttime, because it was frightening enough to look at the distant lights of the buildings from the highway, and she refused to watch the passing cars. Sarah thought her reaction was odd… as if she was refusing to believe there was another world out there. She was shaking, and Sarah put her hands over the girl’s to calm her.
Thomas’ other surprise might throw the girl over the edge, and yet, when Jeremy told him the slaves on the island were named… to avoid confusion… Thomas explained it to her and she seemed to accept it with no qualms. The lady that had taken over the estate had already told her, and at first she was mad because being named had always made her feel special. She had not mentioned to her Masters that she knew.
They had just passed through the tollbooth, which turned out to be unattended and merely required grabbing a ticket that would be paid by Jackson when he drove the car back to the Plantation.
They pulled to a stop by a sleek jet, and Anna’s legs almost buckled as she followed them out of the car. She watched with wide eyes as a huge black man helped two other strong men load their belongings into the bottom of the plane.
A tall man came bounding down the steps, with big muscles and black hair that almost went down to his waist, flying behind him. A smaller blonde haired man, and a woman who looked a lot like Anna, followed him over to the Masters.
“Thomas… Jeremy.” He shook their hands while Anna gawked up at him. “I’m Chayton, and these are my twins, Alyssa and Ayden. Helo, Terrant, Diablo and Arturo are just about finished loading your things, so let’s get you all settled on the plane.”
“Anna,” she blurted, and immediately wanted to sink into the tarmac.
Chayton noted her reaction of staring up at Thomas and covering her bottom. Alyssa still did that sometimes, when she screwed up. “I’m sorry, Thomas. I didn’t realize you had named her.”
“Constantine made an impressive point about how impossible it would be if they were all called ‘slave’, but Anna was named quite some time ago. We never named the other slaves, so she is quite proud of her achievement,” Jeremy excused.
Chayton’s twins were standing quietly, in matching jeans and sweaters, with their hands folded behind them, feet spread, and looking down in silence. Anna looked at them… the good slaves that knew how to behave and not embarrass their Master… and she tried to copy them, after shrinking with Master Thomas’ glare. Chayton smiled, arching his brow as she corrected her feet a few times. “Your Masters have given you a fine name, Anna.”
Oh god, now he is speaking to me. She was sure she was supposed to acknowledge him, but she had no idea what to do. “Thank you, Master Chayton. This has been a little disrupting to her,” Mistress Sarah said.
“Master, can Ayden and I take her to get settled in the back of the plane?”
Anna looked up at the soft voice. The girl was smiling at her, and it made her feel a little better.
Thomas and Jeremy figured this might be best, rather than risk her embarrassing them further. “Anna, go with the twins.”
“Yes, Master Thomas.” The twins reached out and both took a hand and led her to the plane.
“Constantine told me th
at you used Sam’s books to train her,” Chayton smiled.
“Well, I hope this doesn’t tarnish his reputation,” Jeremy replied.
“Nonsense. The girl is obviously trying to comply, and that is most of the training. She respects you, and immediately recognized her mistake. It just takes time and patience. My little Alyssa was quite a handful to tame, and she still lets her imagination run wild and work her into fits. I’ve never been able to break that out of her.”
They walked to the jet and settled into the comfortable seats for the flight, and Diablo served drinks as the plane flew off into the clear star-filled sky.
EPILOGUE
Dawn was splashing its colorful wash of colors over the island, while Anna knelt with anticipated excitement between Chayton’s Twins, looking out of the small window. Alyssa pointed out the different estates on the plots that resembled the spokes of a wagon wheel. “That’s it… that’s our old estate,” she said excitedly. “It’s nice having a whole island to ourselves, but I really liked it here.”
“And everyone else is a slave like us?” Anna asked, totally awed by the enormity of the situation.
“Well, except for the other Masters, trainers and people like the Medics. It’s almost like a big family,” Ayden replied.
“It’s beautiful,” Anna gasped, as she watched waves softly crashing on the beaches surrounding the island.
“It sure is,” Alyssa agreed.
After the plane landed, Chayton spent the day showing the Masters and Sarah the estate while the Masters let Anna discover her new home with Chayton’s twins. Alyssa and Ayden sat on the window seat of their old room, hugging and looking out on the pool, and remembering the many nights Chayton had stood by the door in the darkness, watching Ayden brush Alyssa’s long hair.
Anna stared in fascination at the ponies. Chayton was leaving them in the stables with their trainers because the facilities were not ready on his new island and he wanted Pretty Baby in top form to race against Preston’s new mare. Constantine had been right, and Thomas was already planning.
Throughout the day, the other Masters made their way to meet the new owners. Thomas and Jeremy tried to hide their feelings of intimidation as Camille and Preston, Sean, Constantine and Julienne, who was every bit as eccentric as Constantine had suggested, all arrived. The Masters vied for top position with the twins, expounding their superior qualifications and methods.
Thomas and Jeremy looked into each other’s eyes, and smiled and silently nodded.
THE END
Six Masters Island - Perverse Intentions Page 17