The Maids' Passions Explode
Lance Hayward
I had made my decision. I would risk it all to rescue my mother. I could not let the Seductress who had corrupted her succeed in whatever foul plan the monster had. My hands clenched tight into fists as the fury beat in my heart.
Before me, all the maids had gathered. A diverse group all wearing their maid uniforms like armor. A few had little extra tidbits. Okay, two. Opal wore her bridal veil and Sister Martha Ruth her wimple and veil. The rest were just their gorgeous uniforms and their various hued garters.
Angela and Virginia clutched at each other while their "big" sister Kylie stood beside them, her face so fierce. She was not about to let our mother stay in bondage, either. Nor was Bella with her own mother beside her along with the other Concubine-Maids. Aunt Nancy looked ready to murder someone. It was her big sister missing. If she had a flogger or a belt in her hand, she would be smacking it into her open palm.
"Okay, okay," I said, "we have to figure out who is going with me and who is staying behind with Bella."
An outburst of shouts echoed through the ballroom. They all were so eager to go, including maids that I haven't even met yet, the three my Aunt Nancy had recruited and two that Ms. Docea had just returned with.
I held my hand and my maids went quiet. "Cali, how many maids are there."
"Not counting myself, there are thirty-two maids in the mansion," she said.
It would be thirty-three with Mom. Thirty-four with... My stomach went to ice. I had bred mom this morning. Did that mean... I didn't want to think about what had happened to our daughter.
"At least a third should stay behind, Master," Cali continued. "At least ten, counting Bella."
More eruptions burst at me.
"You should take all of my maids if I can't go!" Bella said, pregnant with our son. The heir to the Hayward family. That was why she had to stay behind in case... I didn't want to think about it in case. I was coming back.
"You need me and my fiery girls, Master!" insisted Aunt Nancy. "We'll be facing monsters beyond imagination!"
"Which is why some of your girls have to stay behind to guard the palace," Ms. Docea insisted, shooting Aunt Nancy a hard look. "At least one type of each maid should stay behind."
"I would like to stay behind, Master," Asuka said, the Japanese girl had a serious look on her face. "My algorithm needs a lot of work. I will be more useful here than over there."
"But we have to take Marsha and Abigail," Ms. Docea added. "They're experts in mythology and will be so useful, Master Hayward!?"
"We have to go, too, Master-Daddy!" both my daughters said as they stared at me with such pleading in their eyes. "Mommy needs us!"
Ms. Docea was right. One of each type at least had to stay behind, and more of others. I glanced at Bella with her Mother and started making my decisions on who would stay and go. "Bella, if you would stand over there. Take your mother. She's going to stay behind." I hesitated. "I'll take the rest of the Concubine-Maids, though."
Bella gave a satisfied nod while all the other maids wearing the green garters--Alice, Veronica, Carla, Felicity, Opal, and Mrs. Kenning--all smiled. They moved over to me and spilled around behind me, their skirts rustling.
I flicked my gaze to my aunt. "Pick one of your maids to stay behind."
"Deborah," said Aunt Nancy without any hesitation. "My oldest daughter."
"But Mo..." Deborah's protest died as she withered beneath the glower her mother shot at her. My Cousin-Maid squeaked and darted over to join Bella and my mother-in-law.
That meant Izzy, Alisha, Seo-Yun, Ji-Woo, and Deidre rushed behind me along with Aunt Nancy.
"Angela, you're coming with us for your healing breast milk," I told my eldest daughter, "but Virginia, you have to stay behind to take care of the other maids. Especially Bella. She's pregnant with your little brother."
"Yes, Master-Daddy," Virginia said, a crestfallen expression on her face. But she obeyed like the good girl she was. She marched over to join her step-mother.
"We're going to save mom, Master-Daddy!" Angela said as she darted up to me She rose on her tiptoes and kissed me on the mouth.
I smiled at her as she darted to join her place. My little sister squirmed. "Kylie, of course," I said. "Along with... Tabitha, Janiqua, and Ashley." I glanced at the other maids with the white garters. "Zeta, Rashimi, and Brenda, you're staying behind."
"Master, you must take at least myself, Abigail, and Marsha," said Ms. Docea. "And one other maid of mine. That will leave ten behind."
I believed Ms. Docea. If she thought those two were needed, and there was no way I was leaving her behind. I glanced at Mrs. White, Mrs. Johnson, and... "Sister Martha Ruth."
She had a fierceness in her eyes that inspired me. So Mrs. White, Mrs. Johnson, and Asuka joined the maids around Bella while the rest were with me. Twenty-two maids. Twenty-three with Cali. I assumed she would be joining us. It had to be enough to save my mother.
"Bella, while we are gone, do not leave the living quarters at night," said Cali, her voice cold. A chill ran through my blood. "Clean by day. Only leave the house for supplies. We might be gone... a while. Time does not work the same on the other side. Do not be alarmed if we do not return for months. Even years."
Years?
"I cannot say how long. It is not something that is... predictable." She stared at Bella. "You will know if Master Hayward falls."
Bella nodded, looking so resolute, but I could see the fear in the corners of her eyes. I moved to her and pulled her to me. I kissed my Maid-Wife. She pressed against me. I so wanted her to be with me when I went into the Otherworld. I wanted her at my side always, but...
She was carrying our son.
When I broke the kiss, she clutched to me. Tears clung to her eyelashes. "You better come back, Master," she whispered. "You better return, Lance."
"I will." I smiled at her. "I'm working on a big surprise for you. I have to come back to give it to you."
"Good." She hugged me tightly then released me.
"Retreat to safety," Cali said to Bella and the other maids. "We'll open the way once you're safe."
Bella nodded and strode out of the ballroom, the nine other maids following her. Virginia glanced back at me. I gave her a nod. She was a good girl and straightened her back. She would be an asset to her step-mother.
Nervousness rippled through me, but I bottled them in as I glanced at Cali. "How do we open a way through the Hay?"
Kylie burst into giggles. Everyone looked at her, even Cali.