Author's Notes: This story includes elements of the following: anal sex, BDSM play, group sex, lesbian sex, mind control, and nonconsent/reluctant sex. This story does not present BDSM in a realistic manner - it's fantasy, folks. I want to thank my wife for editing, her guidance, insight, and suggestions. I also want to thank Ann for her support of this project. One more chapter left!
Alex walked out to the living room, where Sarah, Nevada, and Melissa were watching television. "Look who's out of bed!" Sarah said with a sad smile.
"Yeah. I'm restless. I mean, it still hurts to walk, but it's not as bad as it was a few days ago," she said.
"To progress!" Nevada raised a bottle of wine in the air and took a swig, all without turning to look at Alex.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," Melissa said. "Can I get you anything?"
"Um..." Alex looked at her. Then she looked at Sarah, who wasn't even paying attention to the television. Nevada was gazing at the image on the screen as if brain-dead and took another swig of her bottle. Alex sniffed the air; the scent of sex that had usually filled the air had dissipated. "Has anyone spoken with Layla?"
"She's been holed up in her room since, uh, you know, the thing," Melissa said.
"Not completely true!" Sarah said. "She came out
maybe
three times to get food and said
maybe
a word to us each time."
"But Caliban. We haven't seen a trace of his murderous misogynist ass," Nevada said. "So, celebration?" She again held up her bottle of wine, then brought it to her lips.
"Okay -- I know I've been out of it, but why didn't anybody tell me it was this bad?!" Alex asked.
"You were healing," Sarah said.
At that moment, the elevator bell rang. Alex turned to see Lilith exit, carrying an arm full of groceries. "I'm back!" she said. Nobody greeted her.
"Uh, Lilith, I know I've been really out of it the last couple of days but, why haven't you all worked this shit out yet?!" Alex yelled.
"Because it'll work itself out," Lilith said with a pained smile.
"NO -- it won't! You're the mistress! Why aren't you just letting..." Alex growled and got up, "why are you letting Nevada drink up every bottle in the fucking penthouse? Why are you letting Layla hide out, ignoring everyone she loves? Why the hell are you acting like this isn't a problem?!"
"Because it's not my place," Lilith said as she took a bottle of orange juice from the bag. "Layla is the Matron -- or should be -- and until she does something, my job is to keep things from getting out of control."
"Pft! Like either of you have any say over me," Nevada spat.
"You should be talking to her, Lilith. AND SHE!" Alex points to Nevada, "is the definition of out of control!"
Nevada smashed her half-full bottle of wine against the wall-mounted flat-screen TV. The screen now displayed a distorted image around the edges of a spider web of cracks. "AND WHY SHOULDN'T I BE OUT OF CONTROL, PRINCESS?!" she yelled. "This is the second fucking time in my life I'm going to be kicked out with nothing to my name -- I might as well fuck some shit up on the way out! FUCK YOU ALL!" She flashed her middle fingers to the whole room. "Especially you,
lover
," she sneered at Melissa, "for convincing me this was a good idea in the first place!"
Nevada stormed out of the room as Melissa burst into tears. Sarah got up and placed a hand on Alexandra's shoulder. "Both Lilith and I have tried to talk to her and Caliban. We've all tried, Alex -- neither of them are coming out," she whispered.
Alex's face hardened with determination. "Not everyone has tried," she corrected as she turned to Sarah. "Which room is she in?"
"Third one, down the hall," Sarah pointed.
Alex marched towards the door and pounded on it. "Open the fuck up, Layla, or I'll kick the door down."
A small voice came from behind the door. "You'll tear your stitches, Lexy."
"At this point, I don't care. Open the fucking door or be prepared to take me to the emergency room because one way or another, we're having a heart to motherfucking heart."
Alex heard the door unlock and immediately opened it to see Layla fall back into her bed. "Well?" Layla said. "You've got my attention..."
"Why are you hiding from this? I mean, I get a day, but this is ridiculous!" Alex said.
"I just... can't be around them," Layla mumbled. She flinched as she heard something being thrown and yelling from down the hall.
"What do you mean, you can't be around them?"
Layla sighed and sat up. "You know how I puked when Caliban left the room?"
"Yyyees?" Alex looked at Layla expectantly.
"It wasn't because I felt sick; it's because everyone else felt a little sick, and I felt it all at the same time," Layla explained. She cringed as a distant 'fuck you' was screamed. "I can't handle their emotions right now -- and it's such a jumbled mess that I don't know which emotions are mine and which are someone else's."
"Well, that sucks. Have you figured it out yet? Because they're falling apart out there!" Alex snapped.
"I know but, what am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know! TALK TO THEM? That would be a good start. Maybe reach out to Caliban and see what stick got up his ass. I get that he feels guilty, but seriously, this shit went down before the first words of the English language were spoken; there has to be a statute of limitations on this shit."
Layla looked away, and another crash reverberated through the penthouse. "I don't think there should be..."
Alex took Layla by the shoulders and shook her. "Well, you're stuck with him either way, babe, so you better work this out -- one way or another!"
Layla nodded slowly. "Okay. You're right."
"I know I'm right." She stepped out of the way as Layla pushed herself off of the bed. "Now go talk to them!"
Alex watched Layla step out into the hallway. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate. She looked down the hall towards the main living room and then looked back down the other direction. Loud sobbing filled the hallway.
"What's wrong?" Alex whispered.
"Nevada," Layla stated. She started towards Nevada and Melissa's room, with Alex trailing behind her. She got within ten feet of the door when she fell to her knees and began sobbing in concert with Nevada.
"Layla?" Alex knelt beside her and saw her sneering with anger and pain as tears poured down her face and her body heaved with emotional turmoil.
"This is why I was staying away," Layla growled, "and you're making me face it." She turned to Alex. "I hate you!"
"No, you don't. That's just Nevada -- she's gone nuclear."
"I know my own emotions!" she snapped.
"Do you?" Alex asked blankly.
Layla considered Alex for a moment. Alex kept her expression neutral and reached out to Layla, placing one hand on her shoulder. "No. I don't," Layla admitted after a long moment. "You're right. I'm sorry." Layla pulled herself up and took the few steps needed to reach Nevada's door, then swung it open.
"GET THE FUCK OUT!!!" Nevada yelled. The room was torn apart. Nevada had broken both lamps, she had overturned the mattress, and she had flung the pillows to the far corners of the room. Their clothing was strewn around as if a hurricane had blown through and distributed them throughout the room. And in the eye of the storm was Nevada, sobbing and sneering.
"Whatever you did can be fixed," Layla said. She was shivering. Alex took Layla's hand and squeezed it. "Whatever it is that you said to Melissa, you can apologize -- I know she wants to forgive you. All you need to do is ask for it."
"NO! It's over. Don't you see? It's all over..." Nevada's voice quivered.
"I can feel all four of you right now, and I am telling you that none of you want it to be over." Layla let go of Alex's hand and stood next to Nevada. "We just all need to calm the fuck down, if only so I can think straight and talk it over." She hugged Nevada. "It's going to be alright. I promise you."
Nevada nodded. "I'm usually the strong one. I just -- I don't want to lose everything all over again."
"I know, and I get that. I can feel that you've been through a lot, but you
are
the strong one, and I need your help to get us through this." Layla helped Nevada up.
"Like you've ever needed anyone's help. You're his favorite -"
"I'm everyone's favorite, including yours," Layla interrupted. "Or did you forget that I'm Matron?"
Nevada sat down and sighed. "I'm sorry, Layla."
"I'm sorry, too. This is my first crisis as Matron, and I failed," she stepped forward and took Nevada's hand. "I'm going to try harder, but I need your help."
Nevada nodded and looked down. "I guess I have some crow to eat." She let out a groan.
"Yes, but I'll be right by your side as you do."
Layla led Nevada and Alex out to the primary living room. Sarah and Lilith were on either side of Melissa, consoling her. Lilith looked up and gave a sardonic smile. "Oh, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence."
Layla and Lilith locked eyes. "Uh huh. You weren't entirely sure I could learn to control my abilities before I was initiated."
"I admit, I was worried for a moment there," Lilith said with a genuine grin. "I'm proud of you!"
"Well, the joke's on you! I haven't. I'm an emotional wreck inside because of Nevada behind me and Melissa-in-front-of-me! Holy shit!" Layla's voice cracked as she hugged herself. "Nevada, please-go-apologize-before-I-bust-out-in-tears!"
Nevada rushed to Melissa and knelt in front of her. "I'm so sorry -- I'm so sorry. I had no right! I love you!"
"You convinced ME, Diana!" Melissa yelled as she hit Nevada in the shoulder. "Don't you ever blame me for your own decisions again!"
"I won't, baby. I love you, and I need you. I was so fucking stupid," she confessed as she placed her head in Melissa's lap.