This is the story of how Cassy met her Master and the events that led to him to send her to the clinic in the series "Finding Home." If you have not already read "Finding Home", I would encourage you to read those stories as well. Enjoy. Xantu.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
In the cab Cassy's mind was a kaleidescope of images and feelings. What did he mean? What did he want? He said he desired her, but what did he desire? The books were awash with violence and sex. Did he mean he would spank her, whip her? Would there be endless punishments without reason? And would he use her sexually with that same careless disregard? He said he would not take that she had to give, that she had to plead with him to accept her power. The images in her mind were compelling... terrifying... irresistible.
He said it was her decision. Cassy knew that if she did not find a way to escape her bleak existence the bridge would call her again.
She became aware that her hand was in her mouth, her tongue exploring the ragged edges of her nail. A thought electrified her. It would be his fingernail. She jerked her hand from her mouth. In that instant, she knew what her decision would be.
Cassy looked at herself in the small dirty mirror. The blue satin top draped softly over her breasts. A wave of nervous shyness swept over her.
Her eyes slid from the mirror and slowly looked around the tiny apartment. It was just a single room with a tiny bathroom attached. A mattress with a tangled nest of dirty blankets lay in one corner. Empty Coke cans and discarded clothing littered the floor. The few dishes she owned sat unwashed, soaking in cold gray water in the small sink.
Cassy wondered idly if she would ever see this place again. She hoped not. There was nothing here she wanted. She would rather go to the bridge and give herself to the wind.
She pushed a few books into her back pack. She would sell these back to the store. Once more she caught sight of herself in the mirror. The shimmer of the of the satin top out of place in this ugly lonely place. She hunched her bare shoulders, feeling exposed and vulnerable. She sighed and pulled a uniform polo from work over her head. She would take it off when she took the band aids from her finger tips.
Cassy did not read on the way to Mr. Landauer's this time. She found herself looking at the houses, the stores, the people. She felt like she was leaving all this behind. Her emotions felt curiously muted, not happy or regretful, only a mild feeling of curiosity. It was like she was seeing all this for the first and last time.
As the town and its restless energy fell away, it was like she was shedding her past. Already the people, the bookstore, her apartment were fading into shadows in her mind. Only the bridge stood bright and solid in her memory.
As the cab pulled into the long drive Cassy began to discard the band aids from her fingertips one by one, dropping them onto the floor of the car. Last she pulled the shirt off dropped it in a wadded ball among the bits of plastic.
This time she did not hesitate as she walked up to the door. It still loomed above her, still seeming to grow taller as she approached but today it was a portal to a new world, a single step across that threshold and she would be lost just as surely as if she had given into the embrace of the wind.
Once more the door opened almost before she could knock. He stood there silhouetted it the soft light from the rooms behind him. She could feel his eyes on her, reading her, peering into her mind.
"Have you made a decision?"
Cassy nodded.
He stepped back and gestured for her to enter. Cassy felt her heart lurch as she stepped into the house.
"Leave your backpack here." She hung her bag on a hook in the hall closet.
There was no chair or pillow in the library, only his chair. Cassy cast a nervous eye around the room and then stood still waiting.
"So tell me what you have decided."
Cassy's voice was trembling. She tried to speak up and it felt like she was almost yelling but all she could hear was a whisper. "Please, I need to be owned by you. I need to surrender."
"What have you to offer?"
Cassy felt a shiver of confusion and fear. She had nothing. She felt like she was transparent, a ghost, a wisp of smoke on the wind.
"Offer?"
His voice was impatient. "Yes, offer. What do you offer in exchange for my trouble."
"I have nothing."
"Then go." His voice was flat and rejecting.
Cassy felt a wave of terror. She fell to her knees. Her voice quavered, "I can't. I can't. Please take me. I want to be something, something else."
"Would you give me everything?"
"Yes, everything."
"I would take it. I would take you and strip you bare, strip you to your soul and I would take that too."
"Yes." The word a breath on her lips.
He prowled around her, his eyes devouring her. "Every part of you would be mine. I would tear you to pieces little girl. I would take you apart and reassemble you."
"Oh yes."
"Stay there. Don't move" He walked out of the room. He left her alone for what seemed a long time.
Cassy became aware of her body. She was breathing in short nervous gasps, her heart racing. Long nervous shivers were shaking her. Gradually her breathing eased and her heart slowed. Her knees and legs were aching from kneeling.
She could see him as he came to stand in the door of the library. Almost instantly her heart was racing again. A long shiver shook her. He moved to stand in front of her and knelt down looking close at her face.
"What is it you are so afraid of child?"
"I am afraid of emptiness."
"Emptiness?" His voice was surprised.
"I have always been so empty, alone, meaningless, anonymous, filled with nothingness. I have been so lost. All I had left was the bridge and the wind. You are the only light left in the night. Please don't send me away."
He reached up and touched her face, his fingers tracing her features. He stroked his finger tip across her eyelids, pushing them down. "Close your eyes child. Close them and leave them closed."
His voice was soft and deep, so close she could feel his breath on her face. "There will only be obedience."
She could feel his fingers tangle in her hair. "Whose hair is this?"
"Everything is yours."
"You give me your hair?"
"I give you everything."