“Yes, Charles,” Sydney’s voice came through the speaker clearly.


“Hello Mistress. I have Lee on the line with us,” Charles rubbed his forehead.


“Hello Lee,” Sydney paced in the front yard.


“Mistress,” Lee replied.


“I’m sorry to disturb you however I have troubling news.”


“Where are my girls?” Sydney stopped dead in her tracks, rather surprised that her thoughts had immediately gone to her assistants.


Charles frowned. “They are here with me. They’re fine.”


“Hello Mistress,” The girls said in unison.


“That was only two of them. Where are the others?”


“Waiting outside,” Charles shrugged. “Mistress, the news of your relationship with Master Mark has leaked and rumors have been swirling. Some of the lower ranking Doms put up small struggle however we were able to sway...”


“Who needed swaying? Who the fuck are they to question me?” Sydney’s fingers began to tingle. In the distance, she just made out Mark and Sr. walking slowly towards the house.


“Mistress, I have taken care of everything however I will email you the list of names. I…” Lee interjected.


Sydney cut in, her hands tightened to fists. “You acted without my permission?”


Charles raised his hand urging the girls not to answer, knowing their futures hinged on their response. There was simply no way to defend their actions other than the truth. “You have trained us well. We knew what had to be done and we carried out duties faithful…”


Sydney shook her hands desperately trying to relieve the electric pulses, to no avail, her Dom was rising fast. “#1, I know you’re there.”


“Yes Mistress?”


“You went to Charles before contacting me?” she paced fighting the urge to explode in anger. They acted in my best interest, she told herself.


Her eyes were downcast. “Yes Mistress,” Her voice barely above a whisper.


“And you felt this was the right thing to do?”


#1’s chin quivered with uncertainty, she blinked away early tears. “Help me,” she mouthed to Charles.


He leaned forward to respond.


Sydney rubbed the back of her neck. “Don’t answer that. It’s obvious what you were thinking,” she interrupted. There was a heavy silence. She had to focus on the real problem: the Doms. The insolent Doms who dared to speak against her and Mark when their backs were turned. Her loyal circle, her guardian angels had squashed a rebellion before she knew there was one underway. They weren’t to blame. “They not to blame.” She told herself repeatedly. She needed a release and Mark was taking his sweet time walking up the damn road.


“Sydney, is everything alright?” Jane approached her face read of concern.


No not Jane. Not ‘milk and honey’ Jane. She was the last person Sydney needed to see. No innocent blood need be splelt.


Sydney held up a finger. “One moment please.”


No one on the other end of the phone dared move. They sat listening to Sydney breathe.


“You did the right thing,” Sydney scowled then sighed. “I am pleased,”


“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Lee murmured under his breath face down on his desk.


“Thank you Mistress.” Charles sat back with his hands in prayer position against his lips and the girls were on the verge of crumpling to the floor.


“It is you all that I should be thanking. #1, reschedule our flight, we’re leaving tonight and reserve a room at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines. I have some regression I need to relieve and have our itinerary send to the hotel ahead of us. Charles, you and #1 are to meet us at the airport. Lee, are you in Maryland?”


“Yes, Madame but I can be on your doorstep within a matter of hours.” Lee prepared to leave.


“I’ll be expecting you,” She saw Margret’s car pass Mark and Sr. “I’m guessing Greta hasn’t broken the news to Mark.”


“No, Madame. She hasn’t mentioned this recent development to Master Mark.” Charles attempted to sound upbeat.


Sydney wasn’t fooled. “She’s the leak. Leave her out of the loop for the time being. I will tell Mark,” she paused as Margret passed, her skin crawled. “Well done everyone. I am very pleased.”


“Thank you. I will be in touch,” said #1.


“Goodbye,” Sydney hung up, walking towards Jane.


"What happened? You don’t look well.” Jane pulled aside.


Sydney began shaking her hands again feverously and pacing in circles.


“Are you alright,”


“Yes, I’ll be okay. This happens when I am aggravated. I need to hit something.”


“Don’t look at me,” Jane raised a cynical brow at Sydney. “I didn’t do anything.”


“Rub my hands,”


Jane rubbed franticly, her eyes filled with confusion. “Sydney, you’re freezing. I’ll get Mark.” She ran calling for Mark.


Sydney stood waving her hands like she’d handled a hot potato.


“What’s the matter? Having trouble are ya,” Margret stopped on her way into the house.


“Not now, Margret.” Sydney walked around her. “You’re not safe.”


Mark saw their exchange and starting running with Sr. and Jane close behind.


“Freak,” Margret called out to Sydney.


Sydney came to a sudden stop and turned around. Her dark eyes widened then narrowed. Her face was cast in a deep shadow. “If you know what’s best for yourself, you’ll start running.”


Margret stepped closer, face to face, eyes locked with Sydney. “I think I’m perfectly safe where I am.”


Sydney lost control. Her first punch landed square on the bridge of Margret’s nose and sent blood splattering.


“Sydney!” Mark shouted, unable to reach them in time.


Margret fell to the ground; Sydney kicked her violently in the kidneys and rib cage. She felt Sydney’s cold hands around her throat as she sat on top of her, choking her with each horrifying blow she delivered. She gasped for air watching Sydney’s bloody fist charge at her face.


“Don’t you ever fucking disrespect me again,” Sydney commanded between each excruciating blow. “I told you to run! Don’t you know who I am?!”


Margret went limp, submitting to getting her ass whipped. Blow after blow rained down on her until Mark pulled Sydney off.


“Stop it!” he yelled.


Sydney elbowed him in the face with superhuman force sending him stumbling backwards. “Fuck!” he bellowed, blood poured down his face.


Sydney returned to stomping Margret. “You lower your eyes when you talk to me” She screamed in mono symbols, breathing heavily as she built up momentum.


Margret let out a great cry, dizzy and thoroughly beaten.


Regaining his senses, Mark put Sydney in a full-nelson and yanked her up off her feet.


She kicked wildly, landing a couple of heel shots to Margret's stomach. “Let me go, Mark! Put me down!”


Sr. and Jane rushed to Margret’s aid. She spat blood.


“Hell no, I’m letting you go,” Mark tightened his grip, surprised to find Sydney wiggling free.


“I’m fine! Let me go!”


“Stop fighting me,”


Helen ran outside with a hired hand in tow. “What’s going on out here?” Helen shrieked seeing two of her children covered in blood. She turned to Sydney, brushing her hair away from her face. “What did she say to you?”


Mark placed Sydney on her feet, leaving her in Helen’s care. Jane ran inside for the first aid kit.


“She called me a freak!” Sydney panted.


Helen’s eyes narrowed and she marched towards Margret’s battered body. “You bitch!”


Mark, Sr. and the hired hand restrained both Helen and Sydney.