Vengence is mine

CHAPTER EIGHT

       The Mistress went down into the punishment room, and walked over to where Don was crying. The bag was empty baring a few drops and the Mistress, bent down and turned off the electrode. “Belle clear away the CBT tools, and feed him, put him back in the frame, and he will be freed tomorrow.” She walked up the stairs and found Nathan coming out of the shower room. It had been the first time she had seen him since she walked away outside the lounge. “Why were you down the lounge when I walked out Timothy, and I call you that because it is your name?”

       “Mother spoke to me while I was cutting the wood, she told me that you needed comforting, and I knew that you now know it all.”

“Do you know who you are Timothy?”

“Yes, I am the Key Master and I hold the keys to all the doors, and without me they will never work. I open doors that you cannot see, but they are there all the same, without me the doors to hell would never be opened, and your work would be wasted. There are doors that I have not shown you yet, and they are never in the same place twice, they move like time, invisible to the naked eye, it is so the Devils agents cannot find them.”

“Why can’t the Devils agents touch you now, Timothy?”

“It is because I have been blessed in church. When my father died a large sum of money was placed in my bank, the funeral was paid for by the Charter House, but I didn’t know it then. It was at the end of the sermon when the priest blessed the coffin my father was in, then he walked over to me and blessed me, and his words at the end were protect Timothy from the Devils Agents, and he drew a cross on my forehead with holy water. It stirred memories but I had soon forgotten once more.”

“Where is my father buried Timothy because there is no record?”

“He is at the Charter House alongside my father, and I will take you there one day when you have more time.” Nathan was now sitting on the edge of the bed, and as he lay down waiting for Penny to begin her oiling, and the Mistress was walking to the door he said, “Donna Marie, there is no need to go to see Don this evening, he will be clean in the morning, and ready for home in the evening. There will also be one to bring back, but we will talk about that tomorrow.” As the Mistress watched Penny started her ministrations, and after she looked up at the Mistress and smiled. The Mistress said her good night’s and walked out.

That evening Don had just fallen asleep when he felt that familiar sharp stinging sensation, snap as the whip struck his genitals. He felt nausea and his body dropped and his wrist bonds were holding his weight, and then he blinked his eyes to see the dim glowing light that was coming from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. In front of him was the Mistress with the whip coiled in her hands, there was no expression on her face. His nausea had subsided and he put weight onto his feet once more, her eyes were staring at him and he feared her. Once again she threw out the whip, and Don closed his eyes in anticipation of the searing pain to come. Snap, “Open your eyes you miserable wretch, to be clean tonight you must face yourself, and see yourself as you are, and see yourself as you could be.” Snap, another stroke struck him across his breast, and his eyes sprang open. “Look in the mirror and see what you are now, as the evil flows from your body,” he was only glancing from the corner of his eyes, “Look I will tell you no more,” she shouted, “Now tell me what you see.”

Don looked straight at the mirror and watched in horror as the evil flowed out of his body, like puss from a boil. “I see myself with slime running from my cuts that you have put on my body, and my face is a deathly white, and there are no eyes only the sockets Mistress. His head had dropped and was now looking at the floor, and there were tears running from his eyes. I know I have done evil things and I am sorry, I have killed a baby and I am sorry, but I cannot replace it. I am so ashamed of myself is there no peace from the guilt I feel.”

“Your guilt is true and so too is your remorse, and you have seen what you will become if you revert back to your ways. There is one that you lusted for and it is she that will repair you, seek her out and fall at her feet, and seek forgiveness. Now look at the mirror and see how you are at present.”

“I am afraid, Mistress.”

“Do as I say.”

Don lifted his head slowly and looked at the mirror, he was normal once more, but he felt different.” Throughout your life the mirror will be your witness, the evil has drained from your soul, so don’t let it return because the mirror is the widow to your soul.” The Mistress walked up to him and he flinched, but she put her cool hand on his shoulder saying, “Relax, you torment is over,” and he felt his bonds being loosened by her, “Now unshackle your feet and walk to the table and sleep.” Don did as he was told and walked over to the leather table and lay down, and as soon as his head touched the table his eyes were closing. The lights went out and he was alone and asleep, and once again the mirror turned back to the panel.

The Mistress walked into her sitting room, and Belle turned on the CCTV, “Mistress, look he has escaped, now what are we going to do?”

The Mistress looked at the screen and smiled, “Take him a breakfast and a drink Belle, because we don’t want him to starve, and make sure he goes to the toilet, and I will be down with Nathan shortly.”

“Is it safe Mistress?”

“Perfectly, so just do as I say, because he will not touch you.”

It was after breakfast when the Mistress walked down the stairs into the punishment room, she walked over to where Don was sitting, and he immediately began to shake. “You have no reason to fear me Don, because your punishment is at an end, you know what life is all about. I expect Nathan will be down to see you before you go, and he will be informing you of how you will return.” Then she turned and walked back out of the punishment room.

When the Mistress walked into the lounge, she walked over to the window and looked outside. Belle had walked to her side; they looked out at Nathan sitting on the tractor and trailer, he was driving out towards the wood for more wood, sitting behind him on the rear seat was Penny with her arms wrapped around his body. Donna smiled, “They really are good for each other Belle.”

“Yes Mistress, she follows him around like a little puppy, she is always by his side.”

The Mistress looked at Belle and said, “We will have to talk soon as there will be a lot of changes around the house.”

It was an hour later when the Mistress heard the tractor return, and she looked out of the window. She saw Penny get off and then Nathan, and after they had spoken to each other, she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. The Mistress and Belle watched as Penny walked off towards the house, and as she walked away Nathan was smiling as he unloaded the wood.

It was twenty minutes later when the Mistress and Penny walked out with his cold drink, he had finished unloading and walking back from putting the tractor away. A few seconds later Penny offered him the drink, “The shed is almost full, and another couple of days should do it. It might be best if I come in and talk to Don before he goes home, I have to put him in the right frame of mind.”

“This one that has to be picked up, we have no idea where she is or how to find her.”

“There is no need to worry about where her whereabouts are, because she will be brought to you at the stroke of midnight, there is no escape for this treacherous bitch. She with her conniving ways is worse than Don ever could be, and she is strong, much stronger than her partner in crime. However it is not her fault, she is possessed and has never been in control of her life for many weeks. It is not evil inside her but the Devil, he has come to test you, to see if you are up for the challenge, mother will be watching, but you will be on your own. Belle must be told of your new vocation, not that you are a white witch, but that you now do the work of the Charter House.”

“What makes you so sure that Belle will keep this secret, Timothy?”

Nathan smiled back at her, and the answer shocked the Mistress, “Belle will do all you say, because she is a transvestite him/she and your lover and slave, she will also be the father of the next Mistress of Chrystal house.”

The Mistress looked at Penny that was looking back and smiling, “But what about Penny, she has heard this whole conversation.”

“Do not worry about Penny, she will be blessed and so will Belle, it has to be to keep them safe. They will both be blessed tonight by the agents of the Charter House at midnight, and you have the rest of the day to explain to Belle. Penny has to be blessed because she will soon be my wife, and over in the woods there is another dwelling, and it has been looked after by the Charter house, it will be there that I make my home. Through the sessions with the girl I will always be with you. One other point I would like to make, you must at some point today go to the secret room and bring down the picture of our parents, then it can be hung in its rightful place in the lounge.”

       She was going to ask why he could not do it, but looking at his face, she knew that there was an ulterior motive. “I will go and see to what you have told me now Timothy, sooner is better than later. Tell me Timothy, I can only presume that Mother has told you all this that is about to happen, but why the girl?”

       Nathan was still looking at her when he smiled and answered, “Once the pages of time have been written, they cannot be changed.” Nathan was as mysterious as their mother’s work was, but he seemed to know what he was talking about.  Then without saying anymore on the subject she walked away with Penny at her side.

It was over an hour later, and long after she had spoken to Belle, that the Mistress went to the secret room. The room was now spotless and all the dust had been swept away, even the glass in the ceiling was clean once more. After stepping over to the desk, that she noticed a new journal on the desk, with nervous hands she opened the clasp and pulled open the cover. On the first page was written in beautiful writing, Testimony to the work of Donna Marie Chrystal, for the St David’s Charter House. The pages were blank and she closed the book and sealing the clasp, and after she had picked up the picture, she walked back out and down to the lounge. She closed the door to the secret room, and after hanging the picture up where a fixture was already sitting, she walked up to her rooms. Belle was there waiting with her meal, “Bell I want no one to enter the lounge any more, not unless I am with them, that must also include you Belle, but with the exception of Nathan.”

“I understand Mistress.”

The evening meal had been eaten and Nathan and the Mistress walked down to the punishment room. Don was sitting in the same place that he had been all day, and he had been given food before he was to be taken home. When he saw Nathan he stood up and tried to back off, but Nathan said, “You have no reason to fear me, your punishment is over Don, and from now on you can only punish yourself.”

“I have ruined a lot of lives and I will have to go away, I cannot stay in my home town now. I know that it is not very much considering, but I am so very sorry about all that has happened. There is so much blood on my hands now, and I feel so dirty.”

“I am sending you back to your home town, and Carman will look after you, and she knows of your coming, she has already been informed. You will both have to start again, as you are both to partly to blame for all that has happened, but considering all the facts that I know, the pages of time had only one way to travel.”

“I understand now, what you were telling me when I first came here, and what you were talking about, but I have to ask. When I look into the mirror from now on, what will I see?” Nathan could see that he was shaking.

“You will only see what you are now, what you were before you came here was destroyed and taken away by the mirror of your soul. Only you have the power of making sure it never returns.” Then Nathan put his hand out and said “Goodbye Don,” and as he returned the hand shake, he felt the jab in the arm.

When the girls had carried him to the car and he was on his way, the Mistress asked Nathan, “Who told Carman about Don.”

“The Charter House saw to his needs, Carman has been given enough money by them, and with the joint card she had with me, they will live comfortably while they find their feet. You still don’t understand do you Donna Marie, this was all planed long before either of us was born, and we are just carrying on with what is written in the pages of time. Don Masters was part of the plan, so was Carman’s friend, and so too was Penny. Penny knew about me long before I arrived, mother had been speaking to her and explaining her role. I have told you once before, that once the pages have been written they can never be changed. You must always have me in the room when you carry out your tasks, you cannot do them without me being present; do you understand Donna Marie?”

“Yes Timothy and I would not wish it to be any other way.” 

“One other thing, have you told Belle of her new task, because the girls cannot go to the punishment room from now on. As you know the punishment room is sound proof, and there is no reason to worry about your guests. I have taken you and shown you all that happens with the mirror, but until you are of age in four days time, it is dangerous for you to be down the basement alone; and even then I must be with you.” Then Nathan looked at her as if he was expecting an answer.

“I promise that I will not go down there alone Nathan.”

“Belle pulled up at the door and woke Don up, “Wake up sleepy head.”

He opened his eyes and looked about, and then he began to tremble a little, “I can’t do it.”

“It will be alright Don, I will come up to the door with you, and she is expecting you.” The two of them walked up to the door, and as Belle was about to knock, the door opened.

Carman was looking back at them, Don stuttered, “Carman I am sorry, I... I.”

“Walk through to the lounge Don we have a lot to talk about,” she stepped back and he walked in, looking at Belle she asked, “How is Nathan.”

“He is fine, and his scars are almost gone, you have no need to worry about him anymore, he is being well looked after.”

“Please give him my regards and tell him sorry.”

Belle smiled, “You had better get it right this time around,” then she turned and walked back to the car, in the car she saw Carman close the door.

Back at the house once more and three hours later, Belle and Penny were up in the lounge, and both were wondering what was going to happen. The door opened and a priest walked in, and he was wearing his full regalia, there was another priest behind him and one carrying a cross, and the first ones badge of office showed that he was a cardinal. For five minutes he spoke to them in Latin, and then after painting a cross on their foreheads in holy water, he prayed a little longer. Then he crossed himself and walked out of the room, Nathan then walked in saying, “You may go to your rooms now, I will be a little while Penny, do not wait up.” As she followed Belle out of the room, she kissed him on the cheek.

Nathan looked at the Mistress and said, “You have a charge to meet, the hour is almost here.” The two of them walked down to the punishment room and he locked the door behind them, the Mistress was about to ask how the girl would be brought through a locked door and stopped? Then she remembered that he was the Key Master. There was no clocks to look at and she was also wondering how they would know when the agents were about to arrive. Then without warning Nathan walked over to the opposite wall, and with his outstretched hand he pulled back an imaginary curtain, and an open doorway appeared in the wall. Seconds later three people walked through, two priests with their heads facing the ground, and between them was the girl. They walked her over to the cross, and after they placed her back against it, they fastened her bonds, nothing was said and the Mistress at no time saw the priest’s faces, they turned and walked out of the room the same way as they came in. On the way out they did a curious thing, the Mistress watched as each priest placed something in Nathans hand as they walked past. Once they were inside the wall Nathan dropped his hand as if he was releasing the curtain, and the doorway disappeared.

It was Nathan that moved first, and he walked over and stood in front of the girl, he looked into her eyes and said, “Yes it is me and I am back, I am also far stronger now than I was when I left, you have no right to be here, and with my help the Mistress will send you back to the depth of hell. Remember this, I am here to stay and I hold the keys to all the locks, and there is only one door open for you, and it is the way back to hell.” Nathan pointed to the wall panelling, and the Mistress watched in amazement as the mirror turned to face them. He then stepped aside so that the Mistress could see her.

The Mistress walked up close and looked into the girl’s eyes, and she could see another pair of eyes looking back at her, but they were not the girl’s. These eyes were in the eyes and they were evil, it startled her but she never showed it, her expression never changed, she knew when she came into the room to expect the unexpected. The girl was looking back at her with a sly expression on her face, and there was also a smile, but not an ordinary smile but a sinister smile. The type of smile that says, I know something you don’t know smile, and the Mistress instinctively knew this was a silent one. She was close to the girl, but not too close that she was in any danger, and she could feel hands holding her shoulders, and then the girl screamed, and it was so sudden that she nearly went back, but the hands were holding her firm. Then the girl laughed out loud and spit at the Mistresses face, but she saw the tell tale signs well in advance and stepped aside. Then she stepped back a few paces watching the girl at all times, and turned to walk towards the door that Nathan had open.

Up the stairs they walked, and the Mistress said “Come to my rooms Nathan, we must talk.” In the room she pointed to a chair and told him to sit. Belle asked if she should leave, but Nathan told her to stay where she was. “Mother could go there on her own Timothy, why is it I cannot?”

“It was something that never occurred before, our mother had you but because of her illness you only had the powers of the Mistress, she had to have another child to open the doors. It is me that has the white witch magic, and it is you that has the power to send the evil away and back to hell. Did you feel mother’s hands on your shoulders, Donna Marie, because she was standing right behind you when the girl screamed, and I could see her just like I can see you now? She knew what was about to take place, and she did not want the evil to see the initial fright. They will do that on many occasions, and I am sorry that I never warned you, but it is done as a test, and by not moving you showed the evil one, that you were ready for combat. Tomorrow it will be different, she will be docile once more, but don’t be fooled by her cries because she is a faker. She shows all the signs of a silent one, but she is a faker all the same. Cry’s of mercy on each stroke of the whip, but at the end she will laugh in your face. I will tell you now Donna Marie, that it will be you that will be sweating before the evil has flowed from her soul.”

“Why are you telling me all this Timothy?”

“It is because I have half the powers, if you had inherited them all you would know all this yourself.”

“That is why mother had written in the book, and that without you there would be no Mistress of Crystal House. It is also for that reason why you were sent away, because you were more important than me.”

“In a way yes, but for the only reason I could do both your work and the Magic, but I could never reproduce another Mistress of Crystal House. Now you understand the reason why you can never go down there alone, it is getting late.”

“Belle, tomorrow when you go to the punishment room, you must go alone. You cannot be harmed by her, because of the blessings this evening, so there is no time that you should be afraid. You will go behind her and you must rip the clothes from her back, you must never take any sharp instrument down with you. It will be a hard task but you will have it completed before the Mistress gets there. Under no circumstances must you try to unshackle her, put cotton wool in your ears to hide her pleas. I will be going down there with you, to be doubly sure, because the Mistress will never have another charge as dangerous as this one. I will take my leave and see you at the top of the punishment room stairs at eight, and good night to you both,” and he went to walk out of the room.

The Mistress asked “What did the agents give you Timothy.”

“Oh yes, I nearly forgotten, you had better put these with the rest.” And he walked over with his hand outstretched, and her hand was ready to receive, and he dropped two sovereigns into her open palm. “Good night Donna Marie Chrystal.”

“Good night Timothy, but how did you know my full name?

“I know all the secrets Donna Marie,” and he smiled.

Back at his room he stripped off his clothes, and then while standing next to Penny’s bed, he bent down and kissed her on the cheek, she opened her eyes for a fleeting moment, then after smiling up at him they once again closed.