A forward:

This is the second story I've written about Don and Terri. You should read "Taking Theresa," first.

I don't live in the BDSM community; however, I have some loving friends that have given me a glimpse of it.
Some times I envy them, and sometimes, they scare the sh*t out of me.

One of the first things I learned, when dealing with people in the BDSM culture, was to keep my hands to myself. Never touch anyone without invitation or permission.

It always amazes me that newcomers can't keep their hands off other people's property. Whether it be a slave, or a whip; if it isn't yours, don't touch. This is for the protection of everyone.

This story is dedicated to Luke, who died from AIDS, and his loving Mistress, Dianna.
Luke, I miss you, dude. You were the best friend a man could want.
Dianna, if you read this, call me. Please. My number hasn't changed. I miss you, too.

Open House

The party was definitely a success.

We'd invited every Master and Mistress I'd ever done business with and they had all been told they could bring one guest or slave each. This meant over sixty people over the course of the event's festivities.

The party was to debut my old house as a full fledged slave training academy. With a completely redesigned floor plan and a brand new dungeon in the basement, this was my pride and joy at least as far as inanimate objects go. Some of the rooms had been remodeled for scenes, like a school room, and a doctor's exam room.

I live next door with Margaret, the one who came up with the idea to remodel my house to turn it into the academy.

Margaret and I were mingling with our guests when I heard my slave, Terri, scream from the kitchen.

I dropped my glass and ran to find out why Terri had screamed..

As I entered the room, I saw Terri in supplicant position, on her knees, head to the floor, one hand extended. She was being whipped with a belt by a man I didn't know. She wasn't cowering from his strokes; she was begging to be allowed to speak by wildly pointing to her mouth.

"STOP!" I yelled.

I placed myself between Terri and the man, who was still trying to whip her.

"Just what the hell do you think you are doing?" I asked, in a deceptively mild voice, holding his eyes with my own.

Margaret, who, amongst a bunch of others had followed me into the kitchen blanched at my tone. She knew what it meant, and how angry I was.

"I asked the bitch a question, and she refused to answer me. She just pointed to her mouth and shook her head. I told her to answer or I'd whip her, and she just got on her knees. Since she still wouldn't answer me, I started whipping her."

I interrupted him. "And just how many times did you strike her?"

I don't know; I didn't feel the need to count."

"Mistress Margaret," I said, seeing her in the doorway, "Would you please see to Terri's needs? Thank you."

"Now, did you happen to notice, when my slave, Terri, pointed to her mouth, a red lipstick X across her mouth?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"She is my property and I have forbidden her to speak. To inform my guests, of that, the red X has been placed over her mouth. It IS a standard sign in our community. Just who are you, anyway?" I asked.

"Jack Tidwell if you must know."

"Mr. Tidwell, since this is my home, I really should know. I don't recall your name on the list of invitations. Therefore, I must presume that you are with someone."

"Yeah, I came with Reggi."

"Ahh, Mistress Regina. And where is she, right now?"

"How the hell should I know? I don't keep track of her."

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and Margaret whispered in my ear, "Terri needs a doctor. The bastard hit her eye."

I looked around at Terri. There was a thin line of a cut and a welt extending from the corner of her eye around almost to her ear.

I turned back to Mr. Tidwell, the hot anger that had filled me the moment I saw Terri on the floor, had suddenly turned to a cold and implacable rage. This man would not escape my wrath.

I took a deep breath, and let it out explosively. "Thank You Margaret. Master John, Master Thomas, would you be so kind as to secure this man? If he gives you any back talk, there is a gag on the shelf behind you. Please take him to the dungeon. I am calling for a Court."

John grabbed Mr. Tidwell's hands from behind, and had him cuffed faster than it takes to say it. Tom, had grabbed the ball gag, and was ready when the man opened his mouth to protest.

"Thank You, gentlemen. Does anyone know if Dr. Roberts or his Mistress is still here?

A young slave said she would get him. "Thank You Tina," I said to her as she ran from the kitchen.

"Everyone, I have called for a Court. It will be held in the dungeon. If Dianna is still here, could one of you ask her to come see me? Thank You all, we will be along in a few minutes. Please pass the word to anyone who is not currently here."

I grabbed an ice pack from the freezer, and went to Terri. She was still whimpering from the pain in her eye, which was terribly bloodshot. I sat down on the floor, and pulled her into my lap, to hold the cold compress against her face.

Terri kept trying to get back into supplicant position, and I kept pulling her back onto my lap. "Shh, quiet. You can speak later. Hug me, now." Terri put her arms around my neck, and her head on my chest, and cried. Her hard wracking sobs tore at my heart. All I could do was to hold the ice pack against her face and rock her.

Dr. Roberts came rushing in, carrying the old fashioned doctor bag that he keeps in his car. Dr. Roberts is a tall dark man that looks like a natural Master. He is a master when it comes to the medical needs of our community, but he prefers being submissive to his wife who is also his Mistress. He has said many times, if it weren't for Missy taking control of him, the stress of being a doctor would have killed him years ago. He is the family doctor for many of us and is a close personal friend of mine.

Margaret followed him in a moment later with the big first aid kit from the dungeon.

"Let's have a look, then, shall we?" I hated his fake British accent, but it did help Terri stem her tears. "Ahh, Terri, Tsk, tsk.

"Master," he said to me, "I need to touch her, and I need her to talk to me."

"Yes, you do. Terri, answer Dr. Roberts questions fully."

"Yes, Sir," she said softly.

"Terri, are you injured anywhere else than your face?"

"No, Sir."

"Are you able to stand?"

"Yes Sir."

"Then let's get you on your feet to where the light is better."

We both helped Terri to her feet. She was trembling and in pain, but managing to stay on her feet.

He examined Terri's eye very closely, and then said, "Well, he missed hitting the eye directly, but there is some swelling in the socket. The skin and soft tissue damage is going to swell even more. I want to examine it again, on a continual basis, to check for swelling in the eyeball. If there is any, we'll have to get Terri to the hospital as fast as we can. For now, we'll put a dressing on it, and then the ice pack.

"Master Don, may I give her something for the swelling and pain?" While he was talking, Dr. Roberts was also doing. By the time he asked about medicating Terri, he was done and holding some pills from his bag.

"Terri?" I asked. This pain you do not deserve. Do you want relief?"

"No, Sir. I can stand it. If I take anything, I might not be able to feel my punishment for breaking silence."

Dr. Roberts said, "This is just aspirin. It won't do a lot for the pain, but it will help reduce the swelling. We need to keep any swelling down so you don't lose your eye."

I felt a chill run up my back. "Take the aspirin NOW Terri."

"Yes Sir."

I looked up, and noticed Margaret, with tears in her eyes. With a communicative look, I asked what she needed.

"Sir, Mistress Dianna is waiting for you. Everyone else is in the dungeon, except Mistress Regina. She is in the bathroom, throwing up. She thinks her "date" may have put something in her drink."

"Thank You, Margaret. Please assist Dr. Roberts for a moment, while I speak to Mistress Dianna." Margaret took my place, holding and comforting her daughter.

Dianna had been listening at the door. She poked her head in, and asked if she could enter.

"Please, Mistress," I said, walking towards her. "I have called for a court. I would be honored if you would preside."

"The honor is mine," she replied. "Shall we begin now?"

"By all means," I replied

"Margaret, if you would escort Mistress Regina, as soon as possible?" I asked, as I took Terri back into my arms.

"Yes Sir."

Dianna said, "Dr. Roberts, you may be called upon to explain your findings."

"No problem, Mistress. I may have to stop proceedings because it is important that I examine that eye, often."

"Rest assured Doctor, that will not be a problem."

I hugged Terri to me, and whispered into her ear, "I am so sorry that I wasn't here to protect you. I will make it up to you. I love you, Terri."

"I love you too, Sir," she replied, and I felt her melt against me. "Sir, This.."

"Sush, now," I interupted. "You'll get your chance to tell me all about it."

"Thank You, Sir," she whispered. A very bold thing for her to say since I'd just told her to be quiet.

I picked Terri up, and carried her down the stairs and into the dungeon. A collective gasp was heard when Terri's face became visible to the crowd. I sat Terri on a low table, and told her to be still. She gathered herself into her basic display pose and waited.

Looking around, I saw Margaret and Regina had followed us down. All were now present.

"Ladies and Gentlemen."

The room went silent, except for the muffled noises Mr. Tidwell was making. Everyone was waiting for me to speak. After a moment, I said, "I have a grievance. I have called for this court, and asked Mistress Dianna to preside."

Dianna stood, and said, "Is there any one that objects to my presiding?"

No one said a word.

"Then I accept the responsibility of presiding over this Court. Sir, state your grievance."

"Madam, my property has suffered damage and injury at the hand of Mr. Tidwell. Mr. Tidwell did, by his own admission, touch my property and attempt to engage my property in conversation, without my or her permission.

Indeed, Mr. Tidwell never attempted to request my permission. He did not bother to inquire who my slave's Master was. He punished my property, without my or her consent when she failed to respond verbally to him. She was properly marked with the red X upon her lips, to signify the command of silence, as is the common custom."

There was a groan from the people watching. One never talks to a slave without the owner's permission. One never touches anyone else without invitation. These concepts are so basic that we hardly ever think of them, and violations are a total shock to us.

"In the course of punishing her, by whipping her in an uncontrolled manner, He struck my property very close to her eye. Dr. Roberts has said that she might yet lose sight in that eye."

I nodded towards Terri, who was being examined again by Dr. Roberts as I was talking.

"Is Mr. Tidwell present?" asked Dianna.

"Yes, Madam, he is being detained by Masters John, and Thomas."

"Very well, we have heard the charge, now we will hear the answer."

Master Tom quickly removed the gag from Jack Tidwell's mouth.

"Turn me loose, you assholes!"

"Quiet." said Diana. Years of command presence as a Dominant showed in her voice.

He shut up.

Dianna looked at him for a moment and then asked him, "Did you hear the airing of Master Don's grievance?"

"If you mean did I hear him bitching about my hitting his cunt, yeah."
Mr. Tidwell was not making any friends, here. He didn't seem to understand how serious a situation he'd put himself into.

"And how do you answer his complaint?" asked Dianna.

"My answer? My answer is, yeah, I hit a slave, so what?"

Dianna sat thinking for a moment, and then said, "Guilt has been admitted, so the only judgment shall be for punishment of the offense. I need more information, before I can determine what may be suitable."

Dianna continued with "Who sponsors this man?"

Regina stepped forward. "To my shame, I did." she said.

"What do you offer in mitigation?" asked Dianna.

Regina, one of the stronger Dominatrices I'd ever known, went to her knees, bowed her head to the floor, and offered her hands. "I offer a year and a day," she said.

A collective gasp arose from the entire room. We expected an explanation of why she'd brought Tidwell to the party, and Regina had only submitted. We all wondered just what was going on with her, and the asshole she'd sponsored. By submitting, she avoided having to tell the story; for now.

"Do you accept?" Dianna asked me.

"Yes Madam I do." I said. "Margaret, bring me a collar."

I felt Margaret kneeling against my leg. She must have already had a collar at hand.

I knelt next to Regina and buckled the collar onto her neck. Standing and then pulling Regina to her feet, I said, "For a year and a day, by your choice, you are mine"

She bowed to me, and knelt to one side, next to the low table Terri was kneeling on. Regina rested her head against Terri's thigh, and whispered how sorry she was. Terri snuck a hand to pet Regina's hair, a gesture of comfort.

"Mr. Tidwell," Dianna said. "What do you offer in mitigation?"

"I don't offer a damned thing. I didn't do anything wrong. I punished a disobedient slave. Ain't nothing wrong with that." The man was just about too stupid to live.

There were grumbles coming from the crowd, and Dianna held up her hand to regain silence.

"Do you offer recompense?" She asked.

"Hell no."

She turned back to me, with a knowing smile and asked, "What would you have?"

I pondered a moment, thinking about Mr. Jack Tidwell, his actions so far and whether he might actually have some sort of intelligence. "I offer a choice, one million dollars or punishment."

"Your choice Mr. Tidwell," Dianna said. "Which shall it be?"

"I don't have that kind of money. I wouldn't pay it if I did. If you want to punish me, you're welcome to try."

"It seems Mr. Tidwell has chosen punishment, Master Don. What form do you have in mind?"

I smiled, coldly. "Again, I offer a choice, Madam. A choice between branding and an equal number of strokes as my property received at his hand." I paused for effect. "With my bullwhip"

Another collective gasp from the crowd and numerous whispers of "Take the brand." I am rather famous in my community for my skill with a bullwhip. Growing up on a cattle ranch, using one for moving livestock while on foot or horseback develops that skill admirably.

Dianna asked, "How many strokes did your slave receive?"

I do not know. When I asked Mr. Tidwell, he said he hadn't seen any need to count."

Judging by the noises the crowd was making after that statement, Mr. Tidwell was in a heap of trouble when he got out of here.

If he gets out of here.

Judging by the sweat he had started to show, he was beginning to get an idea how badly he had fucked up.

"May I inquire of your slave, what occurred?" asked Dianna.

"Madam You may. Terri, report to Mistress Dianna and answer her questions to the fullest extent possible."

Terri, slid herself off the low table, and walked over to Dianna, a bit unsteadily. I silently forgave her for her slow gait.

She knelt before Dianna, then assumed the supplication position.

"Tell us slave, what occurred," Dianna commanded.

Terri sat back up on her heels, and in a clear, quiet voice, said, "Mistress, this slave was preparing a cheese tray for the guests, when the man came up to this slave and began stroking her neck. He asked if this slave was for sale. This slave shook her head in a negative manner, and pointed to the mark her Master placed on this slave's lips to show that this slave was forbidden to speak. The man then said, he'd asked a question, and that he expected an answer. This slave again pointed to the mark her Master had placed upon this slave. Then the man began fondling this slave's breasts, squeezing her nipples and said that this slave should leave with him. This slave refused, and again shook her head in a negative, and he said that if this slave didn't say something, he'd beat her until she did. He removed his belt, and struck her across her shoulders. This slave went to her knees and supplicated, but he continued to hit her, until her Master stopped him."

"How many times did he strike you"

"Thirty seven strokes, Mistress."

"And at what point did you scream?"

"Mistress, on the twenty ninth stroke, the man hit this slave's face on her eye."

Terri turned in my direction. "I'm sorry Master, I tried so hard to remain silent!"

"Pay attention to the Mistress, slave," I replied, gruffly.

Dianna spoke, "That is all, slave. Return to your Master now."

Terri came back to me, and I pointed at the table. She resumed her place.

Dianna then resumed with "Thirty seven strokes delivered by bullwhip Mr. Tidwell, or branding what is your choice?"

I knew what he was thinking. Branding is permanent, a whipping though, will heal with time. I hoped he'd choose the whip and NOT because the marks will heal, eventually.

There are two ways to use a bull whip. The first is to swing at your subject so that the lash winds around them, and the tag hits with a strong sting especially as the wrapping action actually increases the tags speed. You can flay skin with this method and it can hurt terribly.

The other way, is to "crack" the whip when you strike. The trick is to have the tag hit your victim straight on, as the tag cracks the sound barrier. Over seven hundred miles per hour, subsonic gun rounds travel slower than that. The problem is control with either method. It's always about the control.

"The whip," he said.

As the word whip sunk in there was a visible shudder from most in the room along with wide eyed shock. Hushed mutterings such as, "No!" "Take the brand." and "Holy shit," could be heard from all around the room.

Dianna asked, "Are you certain?"

"Yeah, I've been whipped before."

"Very well, you've made your choice, and this Court accepts it as a fitting punishment," said Dianna.

Holding her hand out to Thomas and John, she said "Masters, if you please?"

John and Thomas immediately hooked Jack's handcuffs to a cable hanging from a pulley hung on the ceiling joist above them and cranked the winch to hold him just off the floor by his wrists. Then they cut his clothes off. When they started that, he began screaming all sorts of threats and obscenities.

"Gag him," ordered Mistress Dianna. Again Mr. Jack Tidwell found his mouth stuffed with a ball gag.

I retrieved my twelve foot whip from its hook. Mostly it is for display, but I have won numerous first place and champion ribbons at county fairs and rodeos with it. I can take a fly off a horse's ear without bothering the horse. I can also dig a chunk out of an animal's hide. Bullwhips were originally made to control bulls. I made a lot of money in my younger days, betting on how well I could use my whip. It's how I made the down payment on my first house.

I looked at Dianna, and she got the message. She addressed the people watching.

"I have accepted responsibility for presiding over this Court. I must stay until it is concluded. Any of you not wishing to witness this punishment should leave the dungeon. Please do so now."

Dr. Roberts made his way over to me and said, "How bad." It wasn't really a question.

"He wouldn't live to twenty." I said, quietly. "I'll stop when he loses consciousness. He's going to need you, though."

"A shame I won't be here then. I am off to search my car for a missing cigarette that I desperately need right now." Dennis said, looking towards Terri. "By the way, I've had to fix his messes before." He looked me fiercly in the eye, and continued, "He almost killed one sub, because she wouldn't give up her ass." When he saw that I understood, his face softened. Looking back at Terei, he said, "The sooner I look at Terri's eye again, the better."

"She needs to see this, so that she knows I'll always protect her," I replied.

"I know that, as soon as you can though."

And he left.

Looking around, I saw that most of the people had gone back upstairs. I said, "Margaret, please go see to our guests."

"Yes, Sir," she responded, and left to do my bidding.

As Margaret closed the door behind her, I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. I let the cold rage take control, and uncoiled my whip.

After the first two falls hunks of flesh marked where his nipples used to be.

He must have been a closet masochist, at least until the seventh fall when his erection was instantly rendered a limp bloody mess.

The tenth fall landed on his forehead causing him to pass out completely.

Thomas looked at me, with a question in his eyes. Even though the rage was not fully sated nor could it be, "I'm done," I said.

He nodded and lowered the winch cable.

I gathered Terri, and took her up to have Dr. Roberts check her again.

I left the trash for others to take out. I'd done it for them in the past, I knew they would do for me, now. I didn't know how they'd handle it, but I didn't care, either.

***

News reports said that Mr. Jack Tidwell, driving his car at a high rate of speed down the mountain, went through a guardrail and plunged over one hundred fifty feet to a fiery death. I wonder how that happened. He was the only one to leave the party early. We all are on a video that proves it.

My thanks to Fire God for the great editing.
Any remaining mistakes are mine.
There were enough of them, that no one could have caught them all.