In The Rough - The Chronicles of the Diamond Prince
Chapter 7 -- The Downward Spiral
Content warning:
strong language, graphic sexual content, BDSM/kink elements, intense emotional trauma, sexual non-consent/reluctance.
Declan woke to the warmth of Ava and Helen contrasting the cold of the floor and awkward position. He ran his hand over his Ava gently and tried not to disturb his Mistress. He didn't know what he had done, but he had obviously upset Master, but Mistress clearly disagreed. He was anxious about how to respond if asked to choose who to obey. He had never been in a situation in which he was torn between two free people, and he knew he should obey his true Owner, but he didn't know if Rick owned him solely, or if Helen also had claim to him legally, and it scared him. But everything was soothed when Ava stirred and clung tighter to him. He drew her up into his chest, curling around her on the ground, abandoning the hold on Mistress in a bold move.
Helen watched as Declan curled in on Ava and covered her with his body, despite the trauma he surely experienced yesterday. He surrounded her protectively, supporting her head on his arm to keep as much of her from the cold floor as his body would allow. Realization dawned on Her. That was love. Declan gave and gave, he did his job to his Masters, and yet he would still give his life for this little creature in his arms. Selfless wasn't even word enough to cover it. She watched Candy head upstairs and hoped she was able to avoid Rick, but Candy could hold her own.
Helen sat up, trying not to disturb the bodies on the floor, to no avail. Declan jumped, gently pushing Ava to the side, kneeling at his Mistress's feet. "Mistress." He declared, ready to comply with any request. He was determined to make up for any flaws he had presented. Helen's heart sank. Declan had come to them so lighthearted, so casual and carefree, and in one night he had stiffened into a compliant robot. Ava stirred, quickly following Declan's lead and kneeling.
"Sweethearts, I'm so sorry." She said, putting a hand on each of them. "It's ok, you did nothing wrong." Declan rested his head on Her leg, nuzzling into Her. She ran Her hand over his shoulder reassuringly. Ava leaned on Declan, gazing up at Her Mistress.
After a time, Helen convinced Herself to head upstairs, Her slaves in tow. She entered the (thankfully empty) kitchen and set the two to making breakfast. They worked on enough for five, even if they didn't know if Candy and Rick would appear. Mistress finally decided to go shower and change at the risk of running into Rick, but it gave Ava the chance to cling to Declan with abandon. He ran a spare hand over her whenever he had the chance while still cooking.
He knew that watching yesterday's punishment was harder on her than it was on him. He was sore, but she was scarred mentally. He couldn't believe how much she cared about him, and he was sorry that she needed to see what she had. He had been raised to know this was his fate, but this was new to her. He wanted more than anything to shield her from the pain of the life that was thrust upon her so recently.
Helen came out of the shower to Candy kneeling, holding out her towel. She smiled and pressed herself into Candy, giving her a knelt hug. "Good girl." She said, wanting to ask, but holding back for the girl's sake. Candy nodded and left. Helen was shaken, unsure how to approach her own husband. They needed to talk, and she was suddenly overcome with an urgent feeling of unbalance in her relationship.
For the first time, she was stuck with a feeling of injustice, inequality... like she understood for the first time that she was a prisoner of her own marriage. He could watch or fuck any slave he wanted, but the one time she had the chance to do the same, he exploded. And worse, he took it out on the boy who did nothing but follow orders. She became angrier than she had ever been in her life, and she stormed into her bedroom and began to dress in her best. Rick appeared in the doorway, and she refused to look at him.
Rick had the class to look ashamed and waited for his wife to finish dressing before speaking. "I'm sorry." He said quietly. Helen stilled.
"For what?" she asked, moving not a muscle. When Rick didn't answer, she continued. "Sorry for thinking I was wrong to use my own property?" she turned and gazed at him. "Sorry for being angry that I did the same thing you always do?" she stepped forward elegantly. "Sorry for hurting the boy that did nothing but what he was told, for the sake of your idiotic ego? If you wanted to fuck me, then do it. Why are you so pissed that I asked a slave to do it?" she spat again with venom. He paled, backing away from her.
"I... I didn't think..." he stammered, she glared and stormed out and down the stairs.
Helen entered the kitchen to both Ava and Candy dropping to their knees, and She exhaled mournfully. "No, it's ok girls. It's ok." When their eyes came to Her, She motioned for them to stand. "It's ok." She drew them both into a hug. "You are my family." She whispered. "You don't need to bow." The girls smiled in unison and hugged tighter. Declan entered and Helen quickly motioned for him not to kneel. "It's alright darling. Go on back to bed, we can take care of this." The three made breakfast together. When Rick entered some time later, the girls cowered again, and Helen scowled.
Rick put His hands up placatingly and spoke quickly.
"No, it's ok... I'm sorry." He said, watching as all slowly, and skeptically relaxed. "I was... I wasn't thinking." He said with a drop of His shoulders. "You've done nothing wrong." He said, in place of what He knew He should have said. A long silence followed. "...where..." He glanced around, hand going to his own neck guiltily. "Where is... Declan?" His eyes meeting no ones. Helen was the one to answer.
"Downstairs, in bed." She spat. "Recovering." Her eyes glared with a look that even Candy was unfamiliar with. If possible, Rick deflated further, picking up the plate meant for Him and a glass of juice, heading quickly for the basement.
Rick stood watching Declan's sleeping form, his sharp features outlined by the sparse light of mid-morning. The boy really was beautiful. He sat on the sofa, delaying the coming discomfort. He warred with Himself, unable to decide the best approach. On one hand, He had been harsh and took out his emotions on the boy unfairly, on the other hand, it's the boy's job to be whatever his Master needs in the moment, and he had done just that. In the end, He opted for a safer, placating approach to mending his wrongs.
Declan stirred and upon his eyes landing on his Master, flew out of bed and knelt at His feet. Rick swallowed his guilt. "You did very well last night." He said stoically.
"Thank You, Sir." Declan said, equally as devoid of emotion.
"You are perfectly obedient, and I'm proud to call you mine," He said attempting to convey His apology through praise, rather than admittance.
"I am Yours to use, Sir." Declan stated, again determined, but void of emotion. Rick nodded and stood, turning back towards the stairs.
"Eat, and rest." He said gesturing to the plate on the coffee table, before making his way back up.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Helen and Rick's relationship remained strained and they grew apart. Rick spent more and more time out of the house and Helen grew closed off and depressed. Ava and Declan spent much of their days together as Candy kept her Mistress company. Rick still took Declan to work with Him on occasion, and their relationship remained awkward, if not professional.
One night, Rick was once again absent, and Helen had a feeling he wouldn't be home until very late, as he often was these days. Helen sat alone at the kitchen table, a glass of wine in front of her, her fourth of the night. Thoughts and ideas were stirring in her unusually intoxicated brain, and she soon made a decision, with conviction. She called for Her entourage, and they arrived promptly. Helen stood on slightly unsteady legs and walked over to Declan. She steadied herself with a hand against his chest and looked up into his eyes. He held a hand out beside Her, just in case She needed extra support. "Are You alright, Mistress?" he asked gently. She huffed out a laugh.
"I'm fantastic, thanks to you." She said with a wide grin. "You were so good to me that night."
"Of course, Mistress, it's my job to take care of You, You deserve it." He said, knowing exactly what She was talking about, and meaning every word he said.
"You're such a good boy." She said with only the slightest slur to Her words. She patted his chest and moved on to Candy.
"My darling, I know what you've been through the past few years, having personally experienced it myself." Candy nodded with questioning eyes, taking Helen's hand in hers to steady her. "And you deserve better than that, and tonight, you'll get it." She said with strong conviction.
"Mistress...?" Candy questioned. Helen turned to Ava, still holding Candy's hand.
"You wouldn't mind dear, if I asked our lovely man to show poor Candy what she's been missing out on being stuck here with Rick?" Ava blinked a few times, trying to understand, and then it dawned on her.
"Oh! No, of course Mistress. He is Yours to command." She said with a genuine and understanding smile. Her eyes flicked to Candy, and she smiled wider at the look of disbelief on Candy's face.
"Declan!" Helen called, a little louder than She meant to. "Please take care of Candy like you did for Me, and Ava and I can order some delivery and watch a movie."
"uh, yes, of course Mistress." Declan said, eyes moving to Candy, who returned his confused stare.
Fifteen minutes later, Ava and Mistress were cuddled up on the couch, covered in blankets with a romantic comedy movie started and food on the way. Declan found himself sitting on the couch downstairs across from a mildly distressed looking Candy. He averted his eyes and fidgeted. "Look, if you don't want this, I will tell Mistress that I fucked your brains out, and we can just take a nap." He said, much to the protest of his training.
"No!" Candy spit out almost immediately. "I mean, it's not that I don't want to.... It's just.."
