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Chapter 148: Vitale, Part 8
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The Master's Child Chapter 149: Vitale, Part 9
KlempnerNightmares...The world spinning...A face... Juliana, grinning at me... Her teeth sharp and pointed, like a cat's.Pain... Something gnawing at me, some monster biting at my ankle.I know I'm in a nightmare, but I can't jolt myself out of sleep. Sickeningly, the world spins and wavers around me. I want to retch, but my sleep-bound body won't let me.*****Harsh white light filters through my lashes to stab at crusty eyes. The world still revolves. Or is it me that's turning?Consciousness returns only slowly, one sensation after another settling enough to make sense of them.The spinning around me slowly dies and my world settles. I'm chilled and numb. Pain stabs behind my eyes and as I move, my stomach threatens rebellion. Gradually, it comes to me that, while my shoulder muscles burn, my hands are free.A male voice: "He should be awake now, shouldn't he?"A female voice: "Yes. I didn't give him much. He should be awake by now. He's probably faking it.
The Master's Child Chapter 150: Vitale, Part 10
Five minutes later, the light clicks off. For one mind-numbing moment, I think she's left me in the dark, but as my eyes adjust, the light is merely very dim: blinking green from the activation light of the camera.I'd thought my stomach was empty but, as it turns out, I've not done yet. As Juliana's footsteps dwindle to silence, my gut heaves. I have just enough time to react by throwing myself to the edge of the water channel before my stomach relieves itself of the last of its burden. The piquancy and fragrance of Portuguese street food were good on the way down, but chilli and spices are less appealing on the way back up.Retching and puking, I let my body do its worst. Part of me knows this is the monkey brain acting: fear and panic running their course. Another part, the human brain, sits in the passenger seat, waiting calmly to take the wheel again.And now, with the immediate freak-out passing albeit with muscles still twitching and dancing the adrenaline fandango, I sit
The Master's Child Chapter 151: Vitale, Part 11
KlempnerMy resources: The clothes I'm wearing. A notebook and the stub of a pencil: A book on herbal toxins. A small supply of sweet water. An infinite supply, for any practical purpose, of foul water, slime and garbage. And of course, one small potato.I'd like to give in to despair. There's something alluring about despair, something seductive. Perhaps I should simply not play Juliana's game; let her kill me.But if I'm dead...Mitch...My beautiful green-eyed Mitch. So alive. So energetic.So full of courage.So vital.Vitale...Stay alive...So, eat the fucking potato...I prise it out from its bed of sludge and slime with a slight sucking sound. It's small; perhaps half the size of my fist. On the other hand, adhered muck aside, it seems sound; firm, mid-brown, no sprouts or green parts. I have a vague idea that I've read that green potatoes are unsafe to eat.Hauling myself up from my concrete seat, lifting my chain in one hand, with the other, I ho
The Master's Child Chapter 152: Vitale, Part 12
KlempnerShe's back, and behaving as though our previous meeting never happened.The day's fashion statement consists of a tight geisha-style dress in green silk, heavily embroidered with gold dragons. It's too loud against the curly, mid-brown hair and subdued, flesh-tone lipstick. But I'm not about to pass comment.How the hell did you seduce so many men?Must be a fucking wow in the sack..."So what are we going to talk about today, Larry?"I shift my position, trying to sit a little more comfortably, straightening up against the wall. "What would you like to talk about? My packed social calendar?"I shift again. My tailbone is rubbing and I move to ease the pressure. It works, but now my weight is on my backside and I was never bulky. There's not enough flesh there to cushion me against the concrete.Lips pressing, she snaps, "You're not paying attention.""It's not easy to pay attention with concrete rubbing a hole in your ass.""Poor baby. Aren't you comfy?" P
The Master's Child Chapter 153: Vitale, Part 13
Klempner"Here..." Juliana places something in the ground... a flat something... "I'm not giving you a cushion, but you can have that."On the end of her shoe, she toes it toward me and across the white line. A fragment of paint breaks from the edge of the line. Stiff-jointed, I stand. It's not easy. Every movement scrapes flesh and bone against the concrete and I resist the urge to simply roll forward and crawl towards whatever-it-is.So, I stand: unravelling myself: piece by piece, joint-by-joint, unfolding my body until I'm upright. Then I take the three or four steps to what has become the edge of my world.Stooping with exaggerated care for my stiff spine, I examine her flat-packed offering. "A cardboard box?""It'll get your ass off the concrete.""In this damp, It won't last long."She shrugs. "Then, I might give you another. If you behave yourself.""You mean if I grovel and entertain you."She gives me a hyena grin. "That's the spirit."*****"Can I as
The Master's Child Chapter 154: Vitale, Part 14
KlempnerWithout warning, the light flicks from dim to bright, and grunting, I raise a hand to shield my eyes for a few seconds. By the time I'm blinking back to normality, the click-click of stiletto heels is drawing close.She has her usual bag, stuffed with God-knows-what, and as usual, colour-co-ordinated to her outfit. "Good afternoon, Larry. How are you?"She's in red today; very gaudy, very Latin. The dress fits too tightly and the lipstick is too bright for her. Although that might not show on the casual glance."Why do you wear sunglasses underground?""It's a fashion statement." Her voice is airy. I don't bother to get up. Sitting with my knees up to relieve the strain on my fettered ankle, hands loosely clasped around my legs, I do shift a little, moving my weight from one side to the other. I've almost ceased to notice the cold striking up from the concrete, but it still rubs, being in contact with the unyielding surface all the time.She's gone for the whole
The Master's Child Chapter 155: Vitale, Part 15
KlempnerArranging herself on her seat she takes a plastic container and a brown paper package from her bag; a hold-all in a pale beige that, as ever, matches today's outfit.Unclipping the container she takes out a length of sausage and a knife, slices a neat inch from the end of the sausage and pops it in her mouth.Chewing, she speaks through her food. "I thought I'd join you for lunch again today, Larry." Stooping to her holdall, she rummages inside then produces the usual potato, then tosses it at me. I catch it mid-air before it lands on the uncertain hygiene of the concrete, cradling it like some precious thing in my palm.Don't fall for it...Nonetheless, it's isn't easy to stop my eyes following her hand as she slices off another bit of sausage before popping it back in the box.She watches me, eyes glinting. "Not hungry? Perhaps I'm overfeeding you." Her gaze remains steady as raising the potato to my mouth, I bite in.She gives a crisp nod and takes a small pac
The Master's Child Chapter 156: Vitale, Part 16
CharlotteBehind me, hands are peeling apart my butt cheeks, opening me. Something chilly presses at my rear entrance.Leaning over me, close by my face, my Master speaks, his voice hissing, the hardness of his groin pressing to my hip. "I think we'll explore all the options on this occasion, shall we."Something cool and fluid splashes at me, trickling between my buttocks. Fingers probe, then rub, lubricating delicate skin. Briefly, a chill finger enters me, then withdraws. My Master's arm swivels at the shoulder, flexes at the wrist, and inexorably, something pushes at me to the rear. "On our last occasion downstairs," he says, "I thought Richard's gift rather suited you. I've never really favoured butt-plugs as jewellery, but perhaps I was mistaken."The plug twists behind me, pressing ever inward. Slowly it penetrates, opening me ever further, and I fling my mouth wide, my breath coming in short snatches..."...When you've worn that for a while," murmurs my Master, "Yo
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The Master's Child Chapter 193: Natale, Part 31
It's cold outside, but Klempner sits on the low terrace wall wearing no more than a thin pullover."Want one of these?" I proffer a coffee, heavily laced with whiskey, topped with thick cream.He startles, but then, "Thank you, James." He doesn't smile. His eyes are soft with melancholy as he stares down, watching October mist curling over the lake."Will you visit the grave?""Yes." The single word isn't followed by any others."When will you go?""Sooner rather than later." He breathes steam and fragrant alcohol. "I'm making arrangements now. The Canadian winter arrives early and in force. It'll be under six feet of snow there very soon, and for the next several months.""Would you mind some company?"He twists to face me. "You want to come?""I'd like to pay my respects to the brave woman for whom my daughter is named."He blinks, nodding as he casts his gaze down. "Thank you, James. I appreciate that.""Charlotte wants to go as well."And now he smiles. I
The Master's Child Chapter 192: Natale, Part 30
JamesFamily...All gathered together around the breakfast table: Michael to the left of Charlotte, I'm to her right, bouncing Cara on my knee while Charlotte takes a break to get some food down her throat. Beyond Michael, Beth feeds Adam, Richard flanking them.Klempner and Mitch sit side by side. She's turned discreetly away, feeding Vicky. Larry watches, still wearing that slightly spaced-out expression...Man-in-shock?For all the right reasons...Charlotte is very quiet. She eats, but her gaze sweeps the table and back again.Once she had nothing...Briefly, her eyes lock with her father's. He cocks his head, eyes full of question, but then her gaze moves on.What's he thinking?It's not hard to figure. Right from the time Klempner arrived back with us, although he's clearly content to be here, he's had an air of... waiting...The Rat-Tat! of the front door rattles down the hall.Michael pushes his chair back. "I'll go." A half-eaten slice of toast in one h
The Master's Child Chapter 191: Natale, Part 29
RichardMy intercom buzzes. "Yes, Francis?""I have the police commissioner on for you, Mr Haswell. He... doesn't sound very happy."I can guess what this is going to be about. I've been waiting for it. "Thanks for the warning, Francis. Put him through please..." The line clicks and reconnects. "Richard?""Good morning, Will. What can I do for you?""I think you can guess why I'm calling you. I'm hearing rumours I don't like. Disturbing rumours.""I believe, Will, that I know which rumours you mean. I've been wanting to discuss them with you. Perhaps you would like to meet for lunch to discuss the matter? Somewhere quiet? ""And away from the office? Yes, I think so."*****The waiter sets a plate in front of each of us, steak in pepper sauce for Will, a prawn souffle for me. He tops up the glasses of Cabernet. "Is there anything else, sir?""No, thank you. That's perfect." I wait until he is out of earshot before I speak. "So, Will...These disturbing rumours?
The Master's Child Chapter 190: Natale, Part 28
KlempnerThe view is restful. Living in Mitch's small apartment, hidden away from the world, does...... I suppose...... constitute 'domestic bliss'. But that's at night. For much of the day, we spend our time in the main family home of Jenny's Triad. The women chatter and gossip. The men alternate between business and banter. One or other of the babies always needs attention...It's exhausting.But when it comes to it, that's not the root of my problem.Retreating from noise and activity and 'family-fun' to the sanctuary of the terrace, I let the view wash away the anxiety gnawing at the back of my mind.It's always the waiting...Give me action and some lunatic with a gun every time...Stay calm...Mist curls over the lake far below. On the slopes close by, every blade of grass is etched with a rime of frost that will thaw to dew when the sun crests the mountain. Further down, the individual blades meld into a smooth sheet of silver that merge into haze and wa
The Master's Child Chapter 189: Natale, Part 27
Two coffeepots later, we've run out of croissants and moved onto toasted muffins. James slices one in two, dropping the halves into the toaster. He pauses, "Another one, Beth?"She's sitting up against the headboard, next to Charlotte, the two propped up against each other, eating from a shared plate. Beth slathers butter and blackberry jam onto what she has. "Thanks, but I'm fine with this, James. I'll not eat again 'til suppertime.""Charlotte?""Mmmm..." She nods, mumbling through a mouthful, wiping a smear of melted butter from the corner of her mouth. She swallows, then holds up half a muffin - minus two bites. "What is it about muffins and bad weather? I always want more of them."James rolls a look at her, then to me, shaking his head...A wise man says nothing...Richard sucks jam from his fingers, lips smacking. "On a complete change of subject... Elizabeth and I were talking..." Beth falls still, her shoulders slumping... "... Please don't take this the wrong way,
The Master's Child Chapter 188: Natale, Part 26
MichaelIt's dark...What woke me?Somewhere down and beside me, the sound of whining. "Scruffy? You need to go out, boy?"At this hour?What the hell time is it?I'm snug and comfortable, draped with a thick duvet. Charlotte, warm and fragrant, sleeps tucked in beside me. Through the curtains, it's pitch-black.Scruffy whines again, this time scratching at the bed.Wonder if he's eaten something he shouldn't?Stretching an arm blindly out beyond the cosy comfort of the blankets, I pat across the side-table, hunting for the light switch. When I find it, as it turns out, it's not Scruffy's habit of eating every bit of rubbish he comes across that is at fault. The clock tells me it's half past seven and my rag-tag mongrel is making a perfectly reasonable request to be let out to relieve the pressures of the night.But outside, there's no sign of daylight and, joys of joys, rain lashes against the window.Goodbye to summer...Scruffy's whining ups by half an octave
The Master's Child Chapter 187: Natale, Part 25
JamesAn orderly tries to block the way, arms outstretched in front of the door. "Sir, you can't..."Klempner simply brushes by him.From beyond, Mitch's voice. "Let him in..."The orderly spins, mouth open. "What? All of them?""Yes!!!! Ah... Fuccckkkk...."The monk's feet skid uselessly over the polished floor as he tries to resist his inexorable forward journey into the delivery room. His voice rises to a wail. "But I'm not a priest. I can't do this." Klempner growls, "I don't care if you're a priest, a rabbi, an imam, or if you ran the Bring-and-Buy at the church garden party. The lady here wants our child born in wedlock. You're going to marry us."Klempner turns his attention to Mitch, lying on her back on the delivery table, yelling her way through another contraction. She flings out an arm, grabbing at his wrist. He winces, but lays his other hand on top. "We'll just let this one pass..."The midwife, checking a bleeping monitor, flashes a look at Mitch. "Yo
The Master's Child Chapter 186: Natale, Part 24
RichardMy mobile bleeps: James.Landed. at airport now. home approx 90 mins. Tell Mitch he's keenElizabeth grins at me as I tap in the reply.don't go home. come city hospital. Mitch in labourThere's a short pause...Elizabeth holds up her hand, counting down silent fingers: Five... Four... Three... Two...... and my mobile bleeps again.When M go into labour?3 hrs doc and midwife say early but all normal all goodWith you ASAP K got taxi flying on wings of fire*****The corridor is painted the required institutional off-white, scraped black in long stripes at trolley-bed height. The lighting is the compulsory harsh fluorescent white. One strip blinks on and off. Signs point off down apparently identical corridors: Intensive Care... Reception... A & E... Chapel and Prayer Room... Radiology... Cardiology... Breast Screening...How many ways is it possible to be sick?Footsteps echo along the corridor; marching footsteps, almost stampeding footsteps.A
The Master's Child Chapter 185: Natale, Part 23
KlempnerAt last, I get some privacy with her. James ushers out Jenny, protesting all the way. Michael leaves too, turning as he exits to give me a kind of approving nod.Haswell poured glasses of champagne, passing them around at their side of the screen, although I did notice that he poured for Mitch from a different bottle. The top of the flute is just in view, spitting the odd bubble over the rim."Are you alone now?"She looks sidelong, off-screen. "Yes, they've gone.""What's Kirstie doing there?""I'm fitting her for her wedding dress. They've set the date for Christmas, remember.""I didn't know that.""Oh... no... Of course you wouldn't." She takes a sip of her bubbly, looking away. "It's been so long. They said you were dead. The police said there was a body.""There was, but not mine."She peers into the screen, searching my face. "How are you? What happened?""I'll tell you sometime, but not now. What's important, is how you are and..." I nod down, bel
