Six Masters Island - The Cinderella Syndrome (14 page)

“She’s a bitch,” Kyle explained.

“All redheads are bitches, Kyle,” Daryl assured him.
 
“Did you hear about Liam?”

The men began unwinding the girl from her bound position, leaving the ring gag but removing the dildos.
 
Her exhausted, pleading eyes moved from Sloan to Daryl, but she was too tired to do more than moan a little.

“Yes, mother told me.
 
You think it’s the real deal for him?”

“I know he’s fucked up about it,” Daryl answered.

Sloan said, “Kyle, don’t give him any shit about it, okay?”

Kyle was going to spout a smartass retort, but the look in his oldest brother’s eyes stopped him.
 
One thing about living with a family of sadists, everyone held secret torments that were best left unspoken.
 
“I got it, Sloan.
 
I take it you’re patrolling me on this.”

“I told you, mother is busy with Orchid.”

Kyle’s head snapped up.
 
“
The
Orchid?”

Daryl smiled.
 
“Yep, and she and father have left us to practically train Belladonna by ourselves.
 
I bet they throw your redhead to us, too.”

“Well, that should keep my mind off of Liam, huh Sloan?”
 
Kyle smacked the girl on her bare ass.
 
“What do you think, Rusty?
 
Won’t it be nice to spend some more time together?”
 
Rusty hitched a miserable sob.

The door opened and Cynthia stood on the landing.
 
She had a wide smile on her lips and her green eyes sparkled.

“God, Sloan, she looks great,” Kyle whispered.

“I can’t take the credit, Kyle.
 
Daryl found her flower,” Sloan replied.

Kyle looked over at Daryl and smiled.
 
“Shit, Daryl, congrats.”

Daryl helped Kyle lead the wasted girl up the steps to their mother.
 
Cynthia leaned forward, kissed Kyle’s cheek, and whispered, “This has been such an exciting collection.”

Kyle smiled.
 
“When do I get to see your Orchid?”

Cynthia almost blushed.
 
“After you rest up… but, she’s nowhere near ready to be displayed publicly,” she said in a rush.

“It took ten years for your perfection in the outside garden, Mother.
 
No one expects your new bloom to be hurried,” Kyle said warmly.
 
She really did look great.
 
So passionately excited… and Kyle realized he was a little jealous he had not found the girl that put the look on her face.

Rusty was being ignored, other than Daryl adjusting his grip on her arm to keep her from falling.
 
Her senses were dulled and she watched the woman talk to her sons in numb silence.

Kyle asked, “Did Liam send you a picture of this angel of his?”

Cynthia shook her head.
 
“No.
 
I don’t need to see her, Kyle.
 
I hear her beauty in his voice.”
 
Now that the boys were together, she dropped the bombshell.
 
“Liam’s angel is albino.”

The brothers stood in silence, until Daryl whispered, “I guess he wins the bet, then.
 
You don’t get much blonder than that.”

Kyle asked, “Does she have red eyes?”

Cynthia scowled.
 
“I didn’t ask, but I doubt it.
 
Now, they’ll be here in a few days.
 
I’m going to want the garden contained until we get the girl settled, and anyone who embarrasses our family in front of this girl stays home for the next collecting period.
 
Do I make myself clear?”

Sloan put his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes.
 
“Mother, there is no possible way that any of us could not fall in love with someone who fits in with our family.
 
I think you should trust your sons a little more.”

“You’re right… of course you are, Sloan.”
 
Her eyes looked as though they would fill.
 
“It’s just that, well, he’s my baby.”

Kyle finally stammered, “Right.
 
And Daryl brings back your Orchid, Sloan gets to keep me in line and train Belladonna, you ignore my real redhead with practically no freckles… and Liam is
not
the baby.
 
I am, by nine minutes,” Kyle reminded her proudly.

Cynthia cupped his chin and smiled affectionately.
 
“So you remind me constantly, Kyle.”

Kyle realized belatedly that he had set himself up for the slight insult.
 
He decided it was better not to try to match wits with her.
 
“I’m sorry, Mother.
 
I guess I’m a little overtired.”

“Well, let’s get a look at your flower.
 
Sloan, I want you in charge of her training with Daryl and Kyle as backup.
 
You’re doing a good job with Belladonna, but she hasn’t been exposed to Kyle’s methods yet,” Cynthia said.

Kyle was somewhat pacified that his mother recognized he did have a unique brand of training.
 
He stood a little straighter, until his mother looked Rusty up and down.
 
“For goodness sakes, Kyle.
 
The girl has cum dripping out of both ends of her.
 
And her pussy…” Cynthia walked to the girl’s back and spread her cheeks, “and bottom are raw.
 
What the devil did you do to her?”

Rusty looked at the woman with almost gratitude that she recognized the abuse she had been subjected to.
 
When the stupid ring was out of her mouth, she would really be able to tell the woman what a brute the man had been to her.

Kyle smiled and replied, “She didn’t like to give head… and now she does.”

“Oh, well as long as it was for a good reason.
 
I’m sorry I questioned you, Kyle,” Cynthia replied.

“Are you going to name her… or do you want her washed first?” Sloan asked.
 
He was proud that he was given the reins to work this one from the very beginning.

“Did you say that she had a rather feisty nature, Kyle?”

“Oh yeah.
 
If you weren’t busy with Orchid, you would have enjoyed her.”
 
Kyle tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
 
After Marigold, he had hoped to redeem himself.

Cynthia sensed her baby’s dejection, and that would simply not be tolerated.
 
She took his arm.
 
“Sloan, hold the girl up a moment, please.”

“Yes, mother.”
 
Sloan took the girl’s arm.

Cynthia led Kyle to her garden and she pointed a few feet in front of them.
 
“What do you think?
 
I only perfected the color this year.”

Kyle’s eyes widened, and he turned to look back at Rusty, and then at the flower.
 
“Oh mother, it’s perfect.”

“You do realize that she’ll need your special blend of training, Kyle.
 
With a name like that, she’s going to end up purchased by a more severe buyer,” Cynthia said.
 
She was pleased when his dejected shoulders straightened.

“Sloan and Daryl will help make sure we get it right, mother.”

Cynthia guided him back to the girl, pleased that the family was calmed.
 
“Sloan, let Kyle collar her please.”

“Yes, mother,” Sloan agreed.
 
“Kyle, can you do it before hitting the sack?”

“You and Daryl wash?” Kyle confirmed.

“No problem.
 
Daryl will show you Belladonna, too,” Sloan replied.

Even Daryl recognized that they were soothing the twin’s hurt feelings.
 
“What’s her name?” he asked.

Kyle grinned proudly.
 
“She’s naming her Snapdragon, after her new copper hybrid.”

Daryl whistled and said, “Oh boy, this one’s going to be fun.”

After she was collared and washed, Snapdragon was locked inside a cage.
 
Kyle had exhausted the girl so much that she barely reacted to her cleaning, and Sloan felt a little cheated.
 
He would make sure the new flower made it up to him later.

The household was busy getting the flowers into containers before Liam arrived with his angel.
 
As they would be staying in the guest house, it would not be long before the servants were freed to do their chores again.
 
Cynthia asked the cook to make something simple, because they would need her to also serve the meal.

Everyone was becoming slightly on edge.
 
It was obvious Kyle had not been successful in hiding his depression over his twin.
 
The boys had been practically inseparable since birth, and Cynthia finally had to put her foot down four years ago to get them to collect in different areas.
 
Sloan had been the one who had actually devised the ‘game’ that sent the four brothers in different directions.

Cynthia smiled up at her oldest son.
 
He was so very like his father.
 
He had Alexander’s looks, as well as his patience and calm wisdom.
 
When the time came, he would inherit the estate.
 
Cynthia and Alexander were already working on purchasing the neighboring properties for their other sons, though they had not told them their plans.

Chapter VII

“Are you sure I look okay?” Frances worried.

“You’re beautiful, Frances.
 
Stop fussing with your hair,” Liam chuckled.
 
He held her hand and gently rubbed her knuckles.

“I usually don’t wear it down like this.
 
I mean, I think it makes me look even more white and washed out.”

“You’re gorgeous, and your hair down looks like a halo or wings.
 
Mother wears her hair down most of the time, though she puts it up when we have guests,” Liam chatted.

“Maybe I should put mine up, then.”
 
Frances reached for her brush.

“Leave it alone, Frances.
 
I like it down like that, and I don’t give a damn what the rest of them think.”

They passed the tree line and the lit castle came into view.
 
Frances became impossibly paler.
 
“Oh god, Liam.
 
I can’t do this.”

“You were hitchhiking across four states to a concert when I found you, Frances.
 
I’m sure you can survive meeting my family,” Liam replied.
 
Luckily, calming her nerves had allowed him no time to think about his own concerns.
 
The hell with them.
 
If they don’t like her… well… well… we’ll just leave, that’s all.
 
I don’t need their approval.
 
The problem was, Liam knew that he did.
 
Their family’s ‘odd’ tastes, had kept them involved with a select group of people that Liam did not really want to give up.

He glanced over at Frances as he pulled to a stop.
 
She was his ethereal beauty, and he was sure they would adore her.
 
Liam had bought her a pale blue sweater and cream colored linen slacks.
 
He stopped her from putting on too much makeup to cover what she thought to be a ghostly face, and he had her put the barest tint of lipstick on.
 
He leaned over to kiss most of it off.
 
“You look beautiful, Frances.
 
Come on.”

Liam opened her car door and led her up the steps.
 
They were met in the dimmed foyer by the whole family, and Liam felt Frances begin to tremble as he held her arm wrapped in his.
 
The welcome Cynthia planned froze on her lips and she stared at the girl.
 
Unfortunately, this gave Kyle time to speak up.
 
“You could use a little sun on your cheeks, girl.”

Liam had forgotten to mention that he was an identical twin, but Frances recovered quickly from the surprise and shot back, “At least I’m original enough to have my own face.”

Daryl leaned across Sloan and looked at Kyle.
 
Except for their mother, no women ever challenged them.

“Okay, Liam, she can stay,” Kyle grinned.
 
He walked forward and held out his hand, and instead of a shake, he pulled her into a hug.
 
He leaned down and whispered, “Don’t hurt him, okay?”

Frances was overwhelmed.
 
Though most people could not tell the boys apart, she instinctively knew that she would always see the difference.
 
“Never, Kyle.
 
I will never do that.”
 
He hugged her again, and stepped beside his brother.

“Oh, my,” Cynthia finally managed.
 
“When Liam told me your were his angel, I didn’t realize he meant it so literally.”
 
She stepped forward and took the girl’s pale hands and turned them over.
 
“You are positively exquisite, Frances.
 
Welcome to our home.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Venetia.”
 
Oh my god… talking about beautiful.
 
Frances was surprised she had not fainted.
 
Liam was tall, but she thought it came only from his father.
 
She had to arch her neck to look into his mother’s eyes.

Cynthia took the girl’s arm and led her over to her husband.
 
“Please, call me Cynthia.
 
This is Alexander.”

Alexander was still stunned.
 
It was as if a ghost-like fairy had come into his castle.
 
“It’s so good to meet you, Frances.”

“Thank you, Mr…”

“Alexander, Frances.”

“Thank you, Alexander.”

“This is the oldest, Sloan.”

Sloan could only manage to smile and take her hand.
 
He leaned over and kissed it.

Daryl barely managed that.
 
His mouth was practically hanging open.
 
“Um… welcome.
 
Um… welcome, Frances.”

Kyle was still standing by Liam, and he whispered, “God, Liam, she’s beautiful.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Liam said proudly.
 
He was feeling relieved that his family apparently recognized Frances’ allure.

Cynthia led Frances into the lounge, and the tall woman stood at the entrance of the brightly lit room in horror.
 
“Oh god, Frances.
 
I’m so sorry.”

Frances smiled and pulled her sunglasses out of her pocket.
 
“For emergencies,” she smiled.
 
“Thank you for your consideration, though.”

“No, please,” Cynthia said.
 
“Boys, please turn down some of these lights.”

“Shit,” Daryl said.
 
“Sorry, Liam, I didn’t think about it.”

Frances was amazed when the men ran around either sliding dimmer switches or turning off lamps.
 
The room had a golden glow, and she took off her glasses.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
I know it’s a little awkward, but I always keep sunglasses on me, so please don’t worry about it.
 
I try to protect my eyes, because my vision has always been good… though, I think my dad’s has suffered from trying to read in the shadows,” she laughed softly.

Cynthia led her to a small sofa, and Liam sat across from them in a chair, resolved that his mother was going to procure
his
little flower for a while.
 
When the women sat, the sleeve on Frances’ sweater slid up, and Cynthia’s eyes immediately narrowed on the light bruising on her wrist.
 
She looked into the girl’s pale eyes and Frances smiled calmly.
 
She had already felt the same heated passion that flowed through the family like a single pulsing.
 
“I assure you, I did not get hurt.”

Cynthia saw the girl glance at Liam and blush.
 
Blushing was something the girl could not hide.
 
Cynthia gave her almost a questioning look.
 
Frances let her eyes travel around the room.
 
Things the family took for granted were quite obvious to the girl.
 
The portraits and statues all featured erotic scenes, and there were pillows beside chairs on the floors as well as some bolts secured in curious places.
 
The whole family is into the same thing Liam and I enjoy,
Frances realized.

She thought about Liam’s reply when she asked him about his work.
 
“Cynthia, Liam tells me you are quite an avid flower collector.”
 
She looked around the room for reactions.
 
Daryl coughed, Sloan froze, and Kyle almost spat out his beer.
 
Alexander smiled at her warmly, with almost an excited approval in his eyes.
 
Frances was encouraged as she realized her outrageous deductions about this family were looking more and more as though they were accurate.
 
“I think I would like to see them sometime.”

“Oh, shit,” Liam whispered.

Cynthia stared into the girl’s eyes, and Frances gave her a slight nod.
 
“Daryl brought me a special Orchid I’ve been working on.
 
Of course, I’m only a week into training…”

“I’d love to see your new flower,” Frances said.
 
She understood there would be no turning back.
 
Either way, she was sure that Cynthia knew that she was aware of their secret.

“Alexander… do you think?” Cynthia questioned.

“I think Liam’s little angel has extraordinary capabilities and intuition,” Alexander chuckled.
 
“I’ll go fetch your Orchid.”

Liam cleared his throat.
 
“
The
Orchid, mother?”

“Only your
angel
is prettier, Liam,” Cynthia assured him.

“If I were a flower, what would you name me?” Frances asked curiously.

“That’s easy,” Cynthia answered.
 
“Calla… for my slender white calla lilies.
 
Even though they’re not as exotic as some other species, though I have managed some interesting hybrids, they have a serene grace, beautiful curving white lines, and they used to be a favorite of my mother’s.”

“Is that where you learned gardening?” Frances asked.

“It’s where my love of gardening was inspired,” Cynthia agreed.

“Mother, are you sure?
 
I mean, Frances and I have not discussed…” Liam was unsure how to proceed.
 
He had counted on a few days in the guesthouse to figure out a way to discuss things with Frances.

Frances answered, “Liam, do you remember telling me that you thought your mother and I shared a kindred alliance?
 
Trust your instincts.
 
I promise, this won’t break me either.”

“But, Frances, you don’t understand.”
 
Liam began to panic.
 
This is a mistake.
 
She’s going to despise us… she’s going to despise me.

“Understand what, Liam?” Frances asked gently.
 
“That the ‘flowers’ you and your brothers collect for your mother… are women?”
 
Frances saw the almost pained expression on her lover’s face.
 
“I think I began to realize yesterday, when you started getting nervous and making excuses.
 
Today, I almost had to put my foot on the pedal to get us here in time for dinner.
 
Any slower, and we would have been going in reverse.”

Frances turned to Cynthia.
 
“Naturally, I assumed it was because he was embarrassed to introduce me to you.
 
That’s a scenario I’m familiar with.
 
I slowly began to realize that he had begun to think of differences in his family that might make
me
uncomfortable.
 
Then, there was the suggestion we stay in the guesthouse, instead of the main building.
 
There were a few other things he said, but when I looked around your room… you have no flowers in here.
 
I would expect vases or portraits of bouquets from such an avid collector.
 
Instead, all the artwork is of beautiful women… in some rather unusual situations,” Frances added.

She looked at one picture of a woman tied to a bed with silk scarves and blindfolded.
 
There was a naked man kneeling beside her, and another standing by the foot railing.
 
“Liam, I think I like that one the best.”
 
Frances had no idea why she felt so at ease with these people, and so completely confident and accepted.
 
The nervousness had left the brothers’ faces, and they were looking at her with almost the same intense warmth Liam usually had in his eyes, though she could see that Liam was still ready to grab her hand and bolt.
 
“A slipper for every foot,” Frances murmured.

“What?” Cynthia asked.

“Oh… it’s just something mother used to say to make me feel better.
 
She’d read me Cinderella, and when the prince placed the glass slipper onto her foot, she told me that is what my life would be like.
 
That I should be patient, because there would be a perfect fit for me somewhere in the world.”

“Liam, did you tell her?” Cynthia asked.
 
She had paled slightly.
 
The secret was held in the family, because this feeling of unaccepted inadequacy was her only weakness.

Frances turned to Liam and asked, “Remember when you picked me up in the middle of nowhere?”
 
She turned to Cynthia and said, “It really was the middle of nowhere.
 
At the last minute, I decided to go to a concert, and for the first time in my life, I hitchhiked.
 
I mean, obviously with my limitations, the entire idea was dangerous.
 
My first ride was from a truck driver who left me off on some back road.
 
Two trucks passed me in three hours, and then Liam came along, buzzing down the back road in his sport car.
 
When he stopped, I couldn’t believe it.
 
I was quite a ridiculous sight, I imagine, with my floppy hat, flannel shirt and sunglasses covering half my face.”

“I thought you were beautiful,” Liam admitted.
 
It was all that he seemed to be able to manage.

“We started talking, and you kept trying to get me to take my sunglasses off.
 
When I finally did, I expected you to ditch me at the next stop.
 
Instead, you told me how girls should have been envious… how men should have actually wanted me.
 
At first, I thought you were making fun of me, but I began to see that you were serious.
 
It reminded me of my prom… or rather, my ‘should have been’ prom.”
 
Frances stared at her lap in painful memory.
 
“I ended up finding the brightest star outside my window, and actually wishing, maybe begging, for my fairy godmother to come rescue me.
 
Little girls can hang a lot of dreams on fairytales.”
 
She looked up at Cynthia.
 
“I hadn’t thought of that in years, until Liam picked me up.”