Jenny followed Anne with delicate footsteps, unsure of why they were going to the place they were. Anne hadn’t actually told her where they were going – Jenny supposed she just had some flair for the dramatic in that way, or perhaps she just didn’t care – but she had been in the mansion long enough to know precisely where they were going.

Anne was leading her right to the Mistress’ clothing storage room. The one they usually reserved for dressing up their playthings.

Jenny’s mind spun with thoughts. Why the frick – I mean, fuck – is Anne taking me here? She thought privately.

She didn’t have much longer to think, as Anne opened the door to the room, the lights above flicking on. Jenny stepped inside, eyes skimming over the rows and rows of dresses, outfits, costumes, and so much else.

Anne’s voice cut in through Jenny’s muted wonder, ‘Pick out something you like to borrow. Make sure it fits, I don’t want you accidentally tearing something that I have to fix.’

Jenny, still baffled, looked to Anne for any sort of explanation. Anne returned her stare, waving her off with her hand dismissively.

‘Go on. Unless you want me to pick for you.’

Jenny looked back towards the racks and racks of clothing, each row sliding across the spectrum of masculine, feminine, and everything between. As Jenny perused the racks, she called a question back to Anne.

‘So uh, this party. What’s it going to be like?’

Anne dismissively sighed as she leaned against the wall, ‘I suppose I should explain it. I’ve been tasked with acting as the dungeon monitor for the next staff play party tomorrow evening. From what I understand you’ve attended a few of them while you were working as part of the staff?’

A look of understanding came over Jenny’s face as she turned back to the rows upon rows of clothing as she gave her answer.

‘Yeah. Though I didn’t really play much with anyone. I mostly just hung around and watched other people play.’

‘Perfect. Then you’ve already got the experience,’ Anne smirked, ‘Just pick out something you think will work for the party. I just don’t want you showing up in that stupid jumpsuit.’

Jenny rubbed at the back of her neck, shifting clothes around the racks trying to find something that she liked. She supposed she could wear that dress Diana gave her, though for a play party it might seem comparatively plain.

As Jenny continued to peruse the racks, Anne spoke up again.

‘So what’s your story supposed to be, anyway? I mean, I know parts of it. You worked here before Jasmine and Diana had their big development a few months back. And now you’re basically a prisoner under a no-limits slave contract. Something less than a plaything.’

Jenny winced at the head maid speaking so frankly, ‘I mean, that all sounds about right. I don’t think it’s really, like, “no-limits” though. And Mistress was very clear that I’m not a plaything. Very clear.’

‘Sounds pretty much like an anything goes arrangement to me,’ Anne scoffed, ‘I had a look over it. You signed yourself over to follow orders of anyone within the mansion, no matter how humiliating or degrading. Sounds pretty close to something Jasmine made me sign.’

‘I’m … I’m not a plaything. If they wanted to do anything like that to me they would’ve. Anyone could have if they wanted to.’

Anne gave a thoughtful hum before speaking again, ‘And no one did. How do you feel about that?’

‘I dunno,’ Jenny shook her head as she started flicking through the racks again, ‘How’s anyone supposed to feel when they’re in my situation? You f- you mess up the head of the only friend you had in the world and it eats you alive, and you get a chance at maybe fixing it and all of a sudden it feels like everyone just wants to … talk about it! Just talk! Over and over again, like there’s nothing else to talk about! Like all of a sudden no one really knows what to do.’

Jenny found something on the rack, a quilted leather jacket, black and shiny, with chrome hardware and studs. She took it off the hangar and folded it over one of her arms as she kept looking.

‘And do you know what you’re going to do once you’re done here? Once your indenture’s over?’

Jenny groaned in frustration, ‘No. I don’t. Travelling was everything to me, that’s why I came here in the first place to work as a maid. But now after what happened with Precious I just feel like it’s not the same. I don’t know what to believe anymore. And I still don’t feel like I’ve…’

Jenny trailed off her words, staring blankly into the racks of clothing.

‘You don’t want to live with that guilt forever,’ Anne surmised, taking a few steps closer.

‘I want-’ Jenny started before sighing, the sound of Jasmine screaming at her still ringing in her ears even after all this time, ‘This isn’t about what I want.’

‘And if it was?’

She thought for a moment, ‘Absolution, I guess. Something big and like, meaningful. When I wasn’t spending time with Precious they just had me scrubbing toilets and spreading mulch and stuff. It’s hard work but I don’t feel like I’m making up for what I did. I don’t feel forgiven. It’s like they didn’t know what to do with me. Like they’re afraid to touch me. Like they’re lying to me, somehow.’

‘You don’t feel like you’ve been punished enough?’

Jenny was about to protest, but the words made sense to her. She nodded, embarrassed at herself.

‘Hm. And I thought Agatha was a glutton for punishment,’ Anne smirked, ‘That being said, it’s not really my place to punish you either. And besides, I need you to help monitor the party tomorrow night so it’d be stupid of me to mess you up now. Still, it might be worth bringing up the next time you get permission to speak to the Mistresses. Once they get back from Paris with their new project, or course.’

‘Project? You mean their receptionist?’ Jenny asked.

‘If they like her, she might not be a receptionist for much longer,’ Anne scoffed, ‘I swear, after Sierra quit they haven’t been able to keep a single competent receptionist. For god’s sake, Jasmine, it’s only been a month!’

Sierra? She must’ve been the old receptionist, Jenny thought to herself. She didn’t know much about her admittedly, Sierra mostly kept to herself and almost never interacted with anyone, often about as irritated as she was bored. Gave the desk a nasty reputation.

‘Anyway,’ Anne continued, plunging a hand into a rack and tossing a dress at Jenny, ‘I’ll put in a word to see if I can get the Mistresses to address your concern. Maybe if you just fucking talk to them like an adult you can figure this shit out.’

Jenny pulled the dress from her head – a flared navy dress speckled with white polka dots – and looked incredulously to Anne.

‘Th-thanks.’

‘Don’t mention it,’ Anne said dismissively, ‘I just hope you’ll turn out to be an actually competent receptionist. Because you will answer to me if you slack off.’

‘Yes Miss Anne,’ Jenny affirmed, trying to hide the grumble in her voice.

The sounds of slapping flesh, pleasured and pained moans, and the creak of leather, latex, and chains filled the air as Jenny struggled to keep her expression authoritative, but approachable. Maybe she’d be more comfortable if the dress Anne hadn’t picked out for her felt so discordant.

It had been a long time since she’d gotten the chance to look properly herself again. Her hair was getting way too long in her opinion, but she managed to style it into as close enough an approximation of a mullet as to look decent. Though her dyed hair was starting to get uncoloured at the roots even when she was in Rome, it was beginning to be much more pronounced now. She still lacked most of her piercings, but Anne had been kind enough to supply some studs – though insisted that they had to be returned after the party was over.

The mismatch of the vintage dress with the studded leather jacket and a dusty pair of sufficiently punk boots she’d found stashed away within the costume department. Part of Jenny wondered why the Mistresses even had them when they seemed to have such a preoccupation with heels, but she couldn’t truly complain.

Jenny kept watch over the half of the dungeon that Anne had assigned her. Fortunately everything seemed to be above board, most of the maids and staff of the mansion that were playing were keeping to the rules. A good thing too, she supposed, considering they all lived together.

Though something tugged at her, seeing this. She barely recognised anyone. It’d been so long since she’d been away that all the people she used to know were gone. Of course Nicole was a plaything now, but Liz was long gone. The only people she vaguely remembered was the little mouse-looking girl that was elbow deep in some guy with an admittedly very nice beard, and that moody chick that had more welts on her than anyone Jenny had seen before.

God, even the staff feel freakier than when I was here last, Jenny thought to herself. Or have I just gotten more prudish?

‘Enjoying yourself?’ asked the voice of Anne as she sidled up to Jenny from the throng.

‘Kinda, I guess,’ Jenny admitted.

‘Still got things on your mind?’

‘Hard not to,’ Jenny said bluntly, ‘Everything has been just … crazy. It’s only been a month and it feels like the whole time I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop. So much so that I’ve been considering asking for them to just hurry up and drop it.’

Anne giggled, ‘Wouldn’t be the first time Jasmine’s had someone beg to step on them.’

Jenny made a sour face, but busied herself with keeping watch over the party.

‘Speaking of,’ Anne continued, ‘The Mistresses have arrived back from Paris tonight. I managed to catch them this morning as they were coming in. They’ll be willing to speak with you tomorrow about your little concerns.’

Something hitched deep inside Jenny’s heart, as she realised just what she was getting into. Speaking her mind to the Mistresses was a terrifying concept even with the best of intentions. But with what she was planning to say … she wondered if they’d just throw her out on the street for even bringing it up.

‘So if you don’t mind me asking,’ Anne said, brushing a length of hair out of her face, ‘What’re you going to ask them?’

‘I’m going to ask them to stop holding back,’ Jenny said, ‘Even if they think they haven’t, it feels like they have. Actions speak louder than words, I've always thought that much. Maybe I just don’t believe them when they say stuff and then not act on it. I’ve had enough of empty promises. And empty threats.’

‘You sure about that?’ Anne asked, leaning in as her voice lowered, ‘You realise what you’re getting into when you dare them like this, right?’

‘It’s not a dare,’ Jenny said firmly, ‘I mean it.’

Anne looked at her for a moment, as if scanning her face for any sign of insincerity. Jenny turned back to Anne, connecting her gaze to the Head Maid's.

‘You’re serious,’ Anne said with a creeping smile, ‘Well then, that changes my opinion of you. I’m going to really enjoy hearing about what they do to you.’

Jenny nodded tersely, turning her attention back to the party. Anne did much the same, surveying the dungeon with a mild curiosity.

Jenny still felt a tension in the air, more so than the usual background radiation that kept her from truly relaxing. She really didn’t know where she stood with Anne, whether or not she respected her or not. Then again, it probably didn’t matter if she did or didn’t. All that mattered right now is just what the hell Jenny was going to say to Jasmine and Diana.

The sudden switch of the light going on as Anne strode into Jenny’s room unannounced set Jenny on edge immediately. She sat up in bed, trying not to let the sheets fall from her chest as she saw Anne, with that ever-present smug grin on her face, pointing towards the clothes rack.

‘Get up. The Mistresses want to see you. Now.’

‘I’m up, I’m up…’ Jenny groaned, rolling out of her cot and reaching for the familiar jumpsuit, ‘What time is it?’

Anne gave only a snicker, ‘Wouldn’t you like to know? Now hurry it up. They don’t like being kept waiting.’

Once dressed, Anne led Jenny through the mansion. It must’ve been dark outside, but that still offered no real indication of time. With each step of her bare feet, the panic in Jenny’s chest began to deepen. But from her memorised layout of the mansion, she knew where they were going at least. There was a specific tea room that Jasmine and Diana liked to use for interviews. Jenny couldn’t really forget it. It was the same one she’d first been interviewed in when she came here all but begging for a job.

The innocuous wooden door soon loomed before her. Her Mistresses were inside. She and Anne stopped just shy of the door as Anne turned to address Jenny.

‘I have some other tasks I must attend to. I’m sure you know the way from here.’

‘Sure,’ Jenny said, rubbing the back of her neck cautiously, ‘And … thank you for this. I owe you one.’

Anne adjusted her glasses with a sharp expression before turning on her heel to leave.

‘Good to know…’ she said, the malice in her voice evident as she disappeared down the hall.

As Jenny turned back to the door, she bunched and unbunched her hands against the sturdy material of her jumpsuit. Standing in front of the door, she recited the words in her head she’d been repeating in her head since the prior play party.

She was about to ask them to violate her brain. To do whatever they wanted to her mind and body in some misguided attempt to find forgiveness in herself. This would go so terribly wrong. She could just end up traumatising herself – if they even accepted her request at all.

Pressing her hands against the rich wood, biceps and forearms tensing not out of strain, but anxiety. If she opened these doors, she would be throwing away her life for who knew how long. She wouldn’t be herself anymore. She wouldn’t have any freedoms any longer.

But then again, hadn’t she thought the exact same thing when she came back to the mansion?

Jenny pushed open the doors to the tea room.

Jasmine and Diana sat attentively, watching Jenny as she entered. Dread settled in Jenny's heart to think that she'd made them wait. Maybe not for long by how little of their tea they’d drank. The “World’s Okayest Boss” mug Diana had described as belonging to Jasmine was not in front of them, as they both were given the standard fine china. The pair of them looked … relaxed. Happy, even. As close as Jenny had seen them to being at least. Maybe that was a good thing.

Jenny's posture once again defaulted to the carefully maintained stance she learned during her years as a maid. It was just another proof that what she was going to ask was just a logical conclusion to everything that was already crowded into her brain.

As she stood next to the couch and waited for an invitation to sit, her eyes settled upon a leather briefcase which sat next to Jasmine’s seat. Her eyes widened and her breath hitched. Jasmine typically used only two briefcases. The first, made of thick brushed aluminium, was used for her daily business with her company. The second, this leather one, contained the slave contracts for their harem whenever they had to be moved. Why the hell did she have that with her?!

‘You may sit, Jenny,’ Diana said, summoning back Jenny’s attention as she complied.

‘Anne has told us that you wished to speak with us. Which I suppose is fortunate, as we wanted an opportunity for the same,’ Jasmine said, taking up the leather briefcase and flicking open the shining brass latches, ‘An amendment to the responsibilities and limitations of your contract.’

Jasmine deposited a manilla folder which contained the indenture contract Jenny had signed onto the table, before closing the briefcase and placing it back on the floor by her chair. Jenny’s eyes were glued to the folder, as if sensing the direness of the emotions and memories bound by the unassuming cardboard.

Diana gently cleared her throat, once again drawing Jenny’s attention.

‘We've been happy with the work you’ve done during your indenture, but due to some changes of circumstance with Agatha, she has elected to vacate the position of our receptionist and become our apprentice,’ Diana explained, hints of a smile playing around her face.

Jenny nodded, at least somewhat satisfied to get confirmation that Agatha was becoming a plaything. Meaning that she’d likely start running into her a lot more. Though what the hell they meant by “apprentice” was still to be seen.

‘This is only a temporary arrangement, however,’ Jasmine added, ‘If, after her apprenticeship, she chooses to return to her prior position or part ways with us, that will be addressed when it is necessary.’

‘But this still means that we have a position open for an inconvenient time frame that we can’t hire an entirely new staff member for,’ Diana smiled, ‘Which, Jenny, is where you come in.’

Jasmine continued, ‘But considering your other circumstances, and the nature of your debt to us, we feel that if you accept this role, it would mean the conclusion of your indenture.’

Trying to subdue her shock, Jenny looked between Jasmine and Diana with utter bewilderment. End her indenture?! Had she really paid her debt? That didn’t make any sense!

‘I … I don’t understand.’

Diana and Jasmine, surprised at Jenny’s small words, bid her to elaborate.

‘What do you mean by that, Jenny?’ Diana asked.

‘Why are you giving this to me? I haven’t … done enough.’

Jasmine arched an eyebrow, ‘Don’t you think we should be the ones to decide that?’

‘Yes Mistress, I just,’ Jenny searched for the right words, ‘You really mean it’s over? Even if Agatha becomes your receptionist again I won’t suddenly be indentured again?’

‘Correct,’ Jasmine affirmed, ‘Working as our receptionist will be inclusive of all the benefits you would be used to while working as our maid. However the role may also have other demands we believe you may be suited towards.’

‘Travel, for one,’ Diana offered, ‘On occasion we require a rather personal touch when it comes to retrieving purchases, such as art pieces we have acquired. On one such instance we had sent Precious out on such an errand.’

Withering regret curled in Jenny’s gut, but she tried to press it down as Diana continued.

‘While it borders on the impossible that something should … go awry again, we believe that having an escort for our playthings while they ensure the smoothness of our arrangements should be an ideal safety measure. And your personal experience with travel, it should permit you both to have little problems.’

‘That does make sense,’ Jenny said numbly.

‘In a practical sense, this will also allow you to rebuild your own finances and independence. We’ll have to draw up a new contract for the agreement of course,’ Jasmine said, but turned her head to the side, ‘But I sense you may have some reservations about the idea?’

‘I know I don’t have any room to make demands but,’ Jenny said, scrunching down all her fear and apprehension down into the deepest part of her, ‘I’ll only accept on one condition.’

For the first time, Jenny saw that both Diana and Jasmine looked genuinely surprised. Maybe a little confused.

Diana leaned forward, eyes not leaving contact with Jenny’s own.

‘Which is?’

Jenny couldn’t let her words escape her. She had to say it. Now or never.

‘I want you to hatefuck me,’ Jenny subconsciously braced for the jolt from her jumpsuit, ‘For just … for one night. Make it feel like that contract meant something. Stop holding back and just do it. Don’t treat me like a person – you can even hypno me if you want, or whatever you call it – just … once it’s over we can start fresh. No more hiding resentment, no more hard feelings. Just get it all over with.’

Jenny, almost exhausted from the effort of saying words that didn’t even feel like they came out of her mouth right, watched Jasmine and Diana as they heard and digested what she’d said.

They didn’t seem upset, at least. Diana steepled her dainty fingers as she spoke.

‘Anne did seem to be quite emphatic that you had something important to say. I hadn’t expected it to be something like this.’

‘I for one am curious as to what you mean by “make it feel like the contract meant something.” It feels like,’ Jasmine glowered, ‘You’re trying to provoke us.’

A nervous laugh slipped out from Jenny, struggling to keep her composure, ‘I guess I am. But Anne made a good point. You put me in a situation where you could do anything you wanted to me, and I accepted willingly. And then you did nothing. Just paraded me around, like you just did it to prove that you could.’

Jasmine’s face twitched, but a gentle hand resting on her knee from Diana settled her. Even so, Diana also looked intense. Her own glare was icy, but calculated. Jenny knew that even though Jasmine could be quick to anger, she wasn’t impulsive. But Diana could be. And that made her controlled rage even scarier to Jenny.

‘You realise the seriousness of what you’re asking of us, Jenny? You won’t have any safety net. No safeword, no chance to back out. No mercy. And all that, for what? Catharsis?’

‘No,’ Jenny said, breathing shaky as she spoke, ‘Nicole told me something that stuck with me, that day in the library. She could see it in me before I could. She knew that words wouldn’t be enough for me. I have to be shown. That’s why she … she hurt me. Until I started to fight back. Until I started forgiving myself. Forced me to realise that maybe I could.’

Jasmine’s face cleared of emotions, the businesswoman sitting back in her seat with the satisfaction of solving a puzzle.

‘You want us to tear you apart and put you back together again. Find that smallest bead of forgiveness you have and give it space to grow,’ she said, musing on the idea.

‘That’s right,’ Jenny said, finally looking away from the Mistresses to stare at the coffee table to try and hide the tears in her eyes, ‘You didn’t bring me back to do all your chores and call that redemption. Every time I thought about it, it felt like you were just … holding back. I was helping Precious, sure, but  there’s still resentment there. I can’t take it anymore. I don’t care if it’s messed up, I need this. I can’t forgive myself just like that. If I could I … I would have tried to run in Rome when I first saw that note on my windshield. And believe me, I fucking tried.’

Jenny grimaced as another shock from her jumpsuit stung her body. Silence hung in the air. Jenny held her breath, straining to keep herself contained. She feared that if she tried to even take a breath she’d whimper like a pathetic dog. That she’d cry. Never mind the tears that threatened to spill down her face already.

This was stupid. It was fucked up. This couldn’t be healthy. She needed fucking therapy, not whatever the hell this was. Hell, she should be in fucking jail for what she did. And yet she was begging two of the people she hurt most to give her some fucked up sexual gratification? What the fuck was she thinking?!

Jenny felt a hand gently touch the side of her face. Almost jumping from the subtle contact, she looked up to see Diana, face unreadable, looking down at her. When had she gotten up? Did she just not notice?

‘Jenny,’ she said with an unreadable tone, ‘You are to go to your room. Alone. Now. We will discuss your request. You are dismissed.’

Diana lifted her hand away, sending an electric shiver through Jenny’s body. As her Majesty turned away, casting an icy backward glance at Jenny, she stood and – with a curtsy that she wasn’t entirely sure wasn’t just pure muscle memory – she hastily left the room.

Closing the door behind her and walking three paces, Jenny’s breath began to show the panic she felt. She just … she really asked them to … and they didn’t…

Jenny felt totally off balance. The knot in her gut wasn’t going away. What the hell was going to happen? What were they going to do to her? Why the hell did she listen to Anne?! She was clearly a sadist, leading her into a terrible decision like this, and Jenny had actually thanked the bitch for it!

But … Jenny realised that Diana let her go back to her room unsupervised. Another freedom afforded to her. What had she done to deserve that?

Jenny, still misty eyed from suppressing her tears, walked through the hallways of the manor. She doubted she’d ever understand these people.