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Chapter 167: Natale, Part 5
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Master's Child Chapter 168: Natale, Part 6
Will she come?Charlotte sits at the breakfast table, hard-eyed. Scooping up mushrooms and bacon, she eats with a kind of gritty determination.She's barely spoken to me since yesterday."One egg or two, Charlotte?" Pan in hand, I hover by her."Two, please." The words are polite but terse.I return to my spot by the hob, Michael giving me an All-Boys-Together look of sympathy. "It'll come right," he murmurs.I swipe a hand through my hair. "Christ, but I hope so. This is just a mess."Bread-knife in hand, he pauses over a loaf, voice low. "Where's everyone else?""I asked Mitch, Richard and Beth to make themselves scarce. If there's any unpleasantness, I don't want them caught in the back-blow. Neither do I want any questions over why they are here."Michael sucks at his teeth, widens his eyes. "Mmmm... Quite..." Then, over his shoulder, "Would you like some more toast, Charlotte?"She nods, still chewing; curt, silent.The doorbell rings."I'll go." All but sp
The Master's Child Chapter 169: Natale, Part 7
KlempnerIt's mechanical work, boring and repetitive. It's not as though I have anything better to do, but it gives me time to think. After my initial celebration, the food ran out two sleeps ago and the ache in my belly reminds me that I'm working against a ticking clock. How long can I keep working without something to eat?It's odd the things one misses. While Juliana was alive, I spent most of my time in the weird green-tinted gloom of the camera indicator light. Now I have the harsh whiteness of the single overhead light 24/7...Not that 24/7 means much to me anymore...Bleary-eyed, my hands scraping and chipping into the cement, my mind is cloudy, my lids droop. How long have I been here?Must be weeks by now...Someone will have raised the alarm...Surely?Or was Juliana telling the truth? They already think I'm dead...Would anyone care? Or even notice?Mitch will...For sure...Definitely...Mitch...Christ... I'm hungry...That Christmas ta
The Master's Child Chapter 170: Natale, Part 8
KlempnerI stab into the cement with my steel 'pick', then thump at the shaft with my fist, hoping for that rotten-tooth-in-socket nudge that might say it's finally working loose.Nothing...My stomach twists and churns. Beyond hunger now, my craving for food is a constant, griping, gnawing ache that drains energy and spirit.I could just lie down and wait for the end.Fuck that...My shoulders ache. My limbs ache. I keep changing from one hand to the other for my work, but now, knuckles and fingers are a mass of small cuts and abrasions which spike painful reminders at me with every move I make.Sleep.Sleep will help.Creaking upright, I fill my cup, gulping down the water. It fills easily, more of a flow than the usual trickle, and I gulp down more, trying to convince my stomach it's being filled with something solid.There's an odd smell, sweetish...Disgusting...I cast an eye over the water channel. It ripples oddly, yellow foam bobbing, bubbles blupping u
The Master's Child Chapter 171: Natale, Part 9
JamesWhat can I do?The fickle mountain weather makes a joke of the supposed summertime and rain beats against my windscreen, the headlights making a tunnel of light ahead of me as I steer slowly and carefully up the winding road to our home.But despite the treacherous conditions, only half my mind is on the driving.Klempner...Time passes... And keeps passing...And my nerves are stretched taut, not helped by my guilt over the part I played in Klempner's death.If he is really dead...Juliana...Will she come back? Seeking revenge... Death and destruction in her wake...We're no closer to knowing.I'll call Will again.See if there's any progress...Fishing into my pocket, I start to tap in. Then, common sense reasserts itself, and I pull into a layby before dialling.Stanton is apologetic. "I'm trying, James. I've called the police department in Sao Paulo three times this week. All I get back is that there were a lot of other deaths in that explosion an
The Master's Child Chapter 172: Natale, Part 10
CharlotteMy Master has been thoughtful for some days. He sits, brooding in his armchair by the fire, his bad leg propped up to be bathed in the glow and the heat.I know what the problem is, occupying him...Well... one of the several problems...Should I say anything??Staying silent isn't helping...I pour two glasses of his favourite Rioja, then join him, pulling up a little stool to sit by his feet. As I offer him the glass, "How's Georgie doing now, Master? Staying over there, by herself in the hotel.""Thank you, Charlotte." He accepts the wine, his eyes briefly lifting, then drooping at the corners. "My daughter is... conflicted... I would say.""About what?""About my having proved that her mother lied to her all along, and that I'm not the Big Bad Bogeyman she'd convinced herself I am...""Surely she must be happier about that? About you?""You'd think, wouldn't you? But Georgie still doesn't want to accept the reality of your marriage to both me and
The Master's Child Chapter 173: Natale, Part 11
I wait for him; my Master. My Husband.I'm not wearing my wedding dress. I did consider that, but it didn't feel right. Instead, under the sheets, I'm wearing white... stockings and panties... satiny and soft, my negligee laces at the front. Not tightly. Not corsetted. But allowing my breasts to swing. To allow my Master to touch me, to cup me through the fabric. And to feel the warmth of my skin.A slender silver chain hangs around my neck, with a dewdrop in jade which rests in the cleft of my collarbone.Movement from beyond the door; the creak of footsteps; I sit up, arranging my hair to drape over my shoulders and breasts.He stands, haloed by the light spilling through. He has something in his hand, but I can't see what. "Charlotte?""Master." I hold out my hands, welcoming him.Wearing his suit and shirt, his polished shoes, he approaches me slowly, almost hesitantly, as though he's nervous...My Master?Nervous?... and as he moves into the glimmering circle of
The Master's Child Chapter 174: Natale, Part 12
JamesCharlotte bucks and convulses under me, her pussy contracting and clutching and squeezing. Flinging back her head, mouth opening wide, she moans her way through climax.She looks astonishing and feels better, massaging my flesh with her own; heated, liquid, tight...But the pure physical pleasure, ecstatic as it is, is only part of what I wanted, so much, for this occasion. More than the purely carnal. I wanted my Jade-Eyes to know, to feel in her gut, the utter certainty that I am hers.Then, I hiss...While I'm sure she doesn't realise she's doing it, I think her fingernails are drawing blood from my shoulders...Fuck me...But I resist the urge to speak the words, simply gritting my teeth against the pain.She looks so beautiful; her face contorted in the euphoria of climax; eyes squeezed closed, lips peeled back, her hair a riotous, sweating tumble which spills over her face and breasts.As I told her, I thought long and hard about this evening, how to give
The Master's Child Chapter 175: Natale, Part 13
JamesCara...I'm still not over the novelty of having a baby daughter again; my lovely dark-eyed, bouncy, bubbly, smiling daughter.I should be working, but Cara's face, with her gummy, gurgling smile, blowing bubbles, floats in front of me.I can spare a few minutes...I'll just look in on her...Dropping the lid of my laptop, I head up to the nursery.The handle turns with an almost inaudible click, and I hover. Sometimes, Charlotte falls asleep while she is feeding Cara. If that's the case, I don't want to wake her.Instead, I find Mitch. Her back turned to me as she rocks Cara's cradle. Not that it's unusual, but normally I'd expect to hear her humming or singing.This time, she's silent...There's a sense of wrongness...Is she trembling?"Mitch?"She jolts and semi-turns, but without properly looking back at me. "James... I didn't know you were there." Still, she doesn't look at me.Moving softly over the thick carpet, I make my way around, until I ca
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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
