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MISTRESS A-0002

Garden of the Gods

Colorado Springs underground facility

T o understand the basis of evil, you had to be evil. You had to live it. To surround and immerse yourself in the very essence of darkness. Had I not done that? Had I not been balanced between both sides?

My life was the epitome of right and wrong. My youth was textbook perfection. I was a star pupil. Early graduate. I was a prodigy and genius to my psychiatrist father, and the perfect little lady in my mother’s eyes. Even then, my light was tainted by shadows. I missed nothing amid the calculating elites that constantly visited our home. I hid in my earliest years, watching my father’s sessions. Playing secretly with my father’s friends. I became fascinated with his power and experiments. By the time I finished my residency, I had what felt like a lifetime of knowledge. I tested my friends’ loyalty. Their limits. Then came the lovers. Patients. Before the age of thirty, I had perfected my unique craft. In the eyes of society, I was a sensation. Elites paid big money for me to unlock their true potential. Businesses dropped fortunes to have me evaluate the leaders of their companies. I was unstoppable…and bored out of my mind. Until the Uppers delivered on their promise and brought me in.

I was meant for more. I had always been assured superiority, but they had no idea what I was capable of. Not really. What they viewed up to that point as prodigious, I saw as weak. But I gave them a glimpse. I took Elec under my wing. I showed them… some. My father always said not to expose all your secrets. Secrets were saviors. They were insurance to assure ultimate domination. I took notes. There was more they didn’t know I could do. So much more.

“There’s the Main Master. Jett, sit straight.”

“As if he cares to look our way.”

A groan came from my son as he rolled his eyes and pushed himself up in the lavish crème colored chair in our balcony booth. I didn’t bother to look back over at him. I knew he was glaring at Elec. Although Jett loved the human auctions, he didn’t care for the one man he envied. The one he should have idolized. He hated our Main Master, and he had good reason to.

“Masters and Mistresses, welcome to the third auction for the Garden of the Gods. This is our first themed event together, and I’m happy to see you all had fun with it. Very creative,” Elec said, pointing to the seats below.

“For those who didn’t make it to the first two auctions, I’m going to recap this as quickly as possible. Before you were permitted inside, you took classes to learn the rules. You underwent tests, and you’ve proven yourself worthy. Some of you are still in the Beta stage while others have moved up to become an Alpha. A lot of you have inquired why. I’ll sum it up right here. There can be many different reasons I’ve advanced a select few. Perhaps the auctions aren’t new to them. Maybe they’re more experienced and accepting of who they really are than others. What it boils down to is: they’ve put in the time, and I trust them to be our foundation. It is not an easy rank to obtain. For some, it may take years. Only when I’m satisfied by your progress will I move you to Alpha.”

“I’m sick of this,” Jett forced out, glaring my way. “Have I not proven myself, Mother? I’ve embraced this life. I’ve killed. Maimed. I’ve left slaves so scrambled and fileted, they were unrecognizable. I see no A attached to my name.”

“Nor will you. You’re too young.”

“Age shouldn’t matter. It’s such bullshit. All of it.”

I sat straighter, fisting my hands as I looked over.

“Watch your mouth. You may speak that way around your college friends, but I am not one of them.”

“Why should the Main Master decide my title? Why can’t you? You’re higher rank than him. You have more power.”

“ Enough . We all have our place. Listen."

But I wasn’t. I was memorizing everywhere Elec looked. I was taking in the seriousness of his eyes and the impatience he had as he looked a few balconies over from ours. I didn’t have to guess who had his attention. I’d seen her not an hour before when she arrived. I couldn’t stand it. My lids lowered the smallest amount at the thought as the Main Master continued.

“Aside from the A and B attached to your name, there is a number. You are a number. Your outside status got you here, but that means nothing inside the Gardens. Your identity exists no more. Here, you have no power, nor will there be favoritism. This world is mine. If you follow the rules, your wildest, darkest dreams can come true. If not...” He looked around the room, shrugging. “You’re dead.”

“For those joining us for the first time tonight.” Elec stopped. “And there are quite a new number of us: new members, old members I’m giving a chance. Previous Main Masters .” He glanced up to the level of balconies above us. To the balcony housing Gavin and Layla Draper. “I don’t think I need to go much into how this place is not Whitlock? i . The rules are different. The location is different.” Again, he glanced up. “I am not Bram Whitlock? ii . You cannot buy yourself out of trouble. You cannot buy me . I will die in this place, and I will never let the Garden of the Gods be taken over or fall. If you can accept that, welcome home . Just know, there is no special treatment nor any favors. I am no one’s friend. We have rules, and every single one of you will follow them.”

He turned, walking towards the other end of the stage. I followed his movements. Again, he looked at the balcony. My blood boiled at the thought of June and Rhett Rivera. They were newlyweds, but not necessarily by choice. Not that they knew that. It was all persuasion, mind bending, and all Elec’s doing, thanks to me . That didn’t stop him from lusting after June. He wanted her so badly that it drove me crazy. But he’d never fall into complete temptation and fuck her like he craved. I knew that for a fact from our therapy sessions where I took control of his mind and made him relive the scenes he hid away. He was too loyal to betray the love of his life, Vivia. Too devoted to a ghost.

Or so he thought.

“Now that we’re all clear, let’s recap bidding. First, we have the white, or w? iii ’s. These are the virgins. We also have the b’s: or blue? iv . Not virgins. There are the d? v ’s. These slaves are docile, trained, and good for those who are looking for a long-term slave. Lastly, come the black, or as we call them, the crows? vi . These are the convicts. The disfigured. The old. Repulsive .” He turned, making his way to the middle of the stage. “In this category, you’ll also find the breeders. These are through contract only and cannot be bid on unless you’ve already met with me. If you bid and you haven’t followed the rules, your bid will be revoked, and I will fine you ten thousand dollars. Breeders are special and are for only those I approve of.”

“For those looking for our programmable, ‘blank slate’ ? vii males and females, your auction is just through that door off to the right. These slaves are for those who want someone they can control. A bodyguard. A companion. A sex slave you can use or defile by any means possible that will not fight back. They have had a portion of their memories erased. They’re aware. They know who they are, but they only remember what we want them to. The best part is they obey every order. And I mean that. Every order.”

Elec scanned the front of the crowd, looking back and forth before continuing. Jett was sinking further into his chair but rose without even knowing it as I clicked my tongue and flattened my palm to face upwards, bringing my hand higher until I was satisfied with his position.

“For those who are new, pay attention. I’ve said this before, and I’ll continue to repeat it. What you buy is yours. You can do whatever you want with it. Fuck it. Kill it. Share it. Marry it. Love it. Eat it. Destroy it.” Hesitation. “I don’t care so long as you follow the rules. Your business is your own. Keep it that way or you may come to regret it. I can’t stress that enough.”

“Regret it,” Jett mocked. “He’s going to regret ever petitioning my admission. Do you know how insulting that is? I was made for this place. I’m a LaRoe. I have every right to be here. I’m not unstable . He just knows who’s going to take his place someday. That’s all.”

“Watch it,” I snapped. “You’re walking a very thin line. That sort of attitude will do nothing but get you into trouble if someone overhears. You won’t find me coming to your rescue again. It’s been one thing after the next and I’m sick of it. You’re nineteen. If you can’t behave and act like an adult, you’ll face the consequences like everyone else. I may be your mother, but down here, you follow the Main Master’s rules. Whether you like it or not. Do you understand?”

Jett crossed his arms over his chest. “I understand you have the hots for him. I see the way you look at Elec Wexler. I’ve seen it for years. He can do no wrong. Does father know?”

Should I have been afraid? Angry? Technically. I felt nothing for the ungrateful son who didn’t so much as increase my pulse with his threat.

“Ooh. Hit a nerve, Mother? Or maybe you’re just ready to admit what everyone here already knows. It’s embarrassing, really. You couldn’t even make it to the booth on time because you were too busy following him around.”

“Is that what you think?” I smiled, continuing to take in our Main Master. “I work, Jett. I do have patients here.”

“Oh, I know all about your patients and your little games. I’m not blind. Not today , anyway.”

I did turn my attention to him then, feeling my smile melt. My hate wouldn’t hide behind the calm, sweet mask I was so used to wearing. My silent attention had Jett glancing over, but I saw no son. I saw a hindrance. A regret. I saw an entitled child I should have broken years ago. Had I thought his rebellious behavior on holidays was bad? He was raised in schools. Raised by tutors and nannies, just as my daughter. But she wasn’t like Jett. Quite the opposite, not that I gave her much praise for it. I did my duty. They were here. I had thought that was enough. My mistake.

“There’s that nasty look. What’ll it be this time, Mommy ? I’ll forget how to talk? Walk? Maybe?—”

“ You’ll forget how to breathe .”

Jett’s eyes widened in horror as I kept his stare. His hands flew to his throat, almost as if he were choking. Full lips parted, and his mouth gaped, increasing only to decrease as he tried to will his lungs to take in oxygen. The pleading in his depths wasn’t enough. I’d seen it before. Jett was too much like me, but nowhere near as smart. Just a killer. Anyone could take a life. Not many had the courage to lose their own.

“You test me more than is safe, and I usually let you get away with it, but you’re not a child anymore. You’re grown. A man, or you’re supposed to be. You’re here: the best place in the world. Do you know what people would do to be invited here? Being at the Gardens is a gift. One I’m starting to see you don’t deserve.” His head shook, but I took my time. “When I said you’re going to behave, I meant it. With patients, I sometimes make them forget my orders. You won’t. I’ll never erase your memory. You’re going to know what I want of you. You’re going to know what will happen if you don’t obey. Do you understand?”

The chair scraped against the floor and just as he went to surge to his feet, I snapped my fingers. Large gulps sounded as the anger returned.

“I asked you a question.”

“Yes,” he bit out, coughing. “I heard you. Loud and clear. Best fucking behavior. Understood.”

My teeth ground at the curse word. “Good. Watch and be quiet.”

And he did turn back to Elec as the Main Master continued, but not because of any persuasion on my part. I hadn’t instilled as much discipline in my son as I should have. He physically resembled my pathetically weak husband. I used to love Jett’s determination and dominant personality that overshadowed my secret disgust for his looks, but something had changed, and I’d have to fix him if our name was going to stay untarnished. But did I even want to try? Did I want to invest my time when it was already so stretched? I had my own wants. But I did have duties…a reputation, not that I couldn’t find ways to change the narrative or the elites’ minds.

“If you look down the arm of the chair, you will see a button. That is how you will bid. Do not press that button unless you are sure you have the money. There is no lay-a-way plan or loans. If the slave is too much for you to afford, don’t bid. At the Gardens, there are no such thing as accidents. If you bid, you will buy. If you don’t have the money, I will take my payment from you from the outside world, and you can stay here with me and the slave you so desperately wanted. This life can be simple if you just follow the rules. They’re easy. Complete acceptance into the Garden of the Gods is not. Honor your contract, abide by it, and Alpha status will be yours.”

I stood, glaring down as Jett hesitated to meet my eyes. “I have business to take care of. I’ll see you for breakfast. You will be there.”

Heads turned to the back as lights ran the length of the room, traveling over the entrances where the slaves were lined up. The Main Master was already bounding down the steps of the stage, and I didn’t wait for Jett’s response. I had bigger issues than an ungrateful son. I knew exactly where Elec was headed, and I was going to be there to cut him off.