Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Something About Him ❯ Ice Queen ( Chapter 15 )

Deangelised~~Another excellent catch! You are a terrific proof reader! Jason is trying very hard to deal emotionally with all his stress, and not let his pride get him in trouble, but noticing the dog treated better than him was the final straw for his over-stressed mind. Raythe is sweet, and gentle, but he's also the only person with the balls to stand up to Katan. You'll find he's a good one for speaking his mind, as well, societal manners be damned, if he doesn't agree with something he'll say so!

 

A/N: Since Jason is unconscious for most of this chapter I think it's pretty obvious whose mind we'll be inside. Just one chapter this time as well. Don't hate me!

 

Also I have a vampire story I'm working on, what do you guys think, post it now, or wait till I'm finished with this one?

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Chapter 15

Ice Queen

 

Katan's anger was begging to be unleashed. His muscles were trembling from the sheer force he was holding back, as he dropped Jason's limp form to the floor. Jon slipped in silently and began cleaning the alcohol and broken crystal from the floor.

 

“Katan, calm down.” Raythe said calmly.

 

“How can you tell me to calm down after an outburst like that?” Katan snapped.

 

“Because, no one was hurt, nothing was damaged that can't be replaced. But you'll ruin this boy's life if you sell him.”

 

“Ruin it? The way he sees it I've already done that.”

 

“Katan, patience, you have to treat him like you did Mark when he first came to you.”

 

“I don't think I can, Raythe. That person that I used to be is gone. I'm not nice, I'm not kind and patient like you are. Not anymore. My own fits of rage scare me…I mean, you saw what just happened…”

 

“You are a Vessel, Katan, more than that, you're a Vessel with a good reason to be angry. That anger nearly destroyed you once…but underneath all that rage, you're still the same person.”

 

“I don't feel like the same person.”

 

“You need to forgive yourself for your past. I'm worried about you.”

 

Katan sank bank into the chair with a sigh. “I know. I think I may need to go to counseling again. I don't know what it is about this boy that can just set me off so.”

 

“Really? Cause it's obvious to me.”

 

Katan raised an eyebrow at Raythe.

 

“Katan, you care about this boy, you want him to succeed, and you get angry when he disappoints you.”

 

Katan nodded. “I think you're right. I'm just too invested in the outcome.”

 

“Do you…like…him?”

 

Katan stared intently at the unconscious Jason. “God help me… I do.”

 

It was Raythe's turn to raise an eyebrow. “It's been a long time since you've liked anyone.”

 

“I know…”

 

“Quite the predicament for you, especially considering you don't believe in love slaves…”

 

Katan sighed deeply. “Do you know of any good trainers?”

 

“Katan…” Raythe began petting Jazmyn, “I had a dog once, most stubborn animal I've ever seen. I got so fed up with him that I called in a professional trainer.”

 

“Did he get the job done?”

 

“Yes, but that dog never would connect with me. He knew I had given up on him, I could see it in his eyes. He never saw me as his master, not in the true sense, not in the sense that he wanted to be loyal and protective of me. Only in the sense that he knew he was expected to follow my orders if he wanted to keep being fed every night.”

 

“Thank God people aren't dogs.”

 

Raythe sighed. “Katan, I'm telling you, you'll regret it.”

 

“No, what I'll regret is truly loosing my temper and killing him.”

 

“I have a number of a trainer. Supposedly one of the best.” Raythe said in defeat as he rose to his feet, “I'll go get it.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Raythe returned with a card, which he handed to Katan.

 

“N. Sydle. I've heard the name tossed around.”

 

“None stricter.”

 

“Probably comes with a nice price tag too…”

 

“Like that matters to you.”

 

Katan smirked, “True.”

 

“I still wish I could've seen Crane's face when you upped that bid.”

 

Katan laughed. “It was worth every penny.”

 

“Fair warning. He's been invited to my party.”

 

“I figured, as much attention as he's been getting lately it would be obviously deliberate if his name didn't make the guest list.”

 

“I hope that won't deter you from coming.” Raythe said apologetically.

 

“It may deter me from staying, but you know I wouldn't miss your birthday. I should, however, be getting home. The boy has a hell of a day ahead of him.”

 

“I still think you should reconsider hiring a professional.”

 

Katan patted Raythe on the shoulder as he walked by. “It'll all work out.”

 

Katan picked Jason up and carried him, using his powers to keep him unconscious.

 

*****

 

Once he was home, Katan sat in his office, drinking his night cap and absently playing with the card as he thought intently, weighing all his options.

 

There was a quiet rap on the door.

 

“Come in, Mark.”

 

Mark slipped through the door.

 

“How was he?” Katan asked, genuine concern in his voice.

 

“Disoriented, weak, scared. He's convinced you're going to sell him, he's very upset.”

 

“Did you get him cleaned up?”

 

“Yes. Master? You're…not…going to sell him, right?” It was now Mark's voice that was full of concern.

 

“No, I'm giving him another chance. I'm bringing in a professional.”

 

Mark shuddered. He had spent 2 days in the hands of a professional when he had angered his old master. They were experts at causing pain without harm, knew exactly how to get under your skin, how to push you to your limits.

 

“Maybe you should go talk to him, he is very upset thinking you're going to sell him…”

 

“Let him be upset. He should be. I will most likely not see him again until his training is finished.”

 

Which is good, it will give me time to get my head on straight. Try to break this boy's spell on me.

 

…the next day…

 

Mark and Katan were eating breakfast when Estevan entered.

 

“There is a woman here to see you, Sir.”

 

Katan and Mark exchanged confused glances.

 

“It's not Marie, is it?” Katan asked warily.

 

“No, sir, she says you're expecting her.”

 

Katan, still puzzled, rose from the table and followed Estevan into the sitting room, motioning for Mark to stay and finish his breakfast.

 

As Katan entered the room, the woman rose to her feet. She was tall, standing at nearly the same height as Katan without her high-heeled boots, but with the addition of those, she stood a good four inches above him. She had short black hair that framed her face in loose curls. Her stern features and harsh expression were set off by high cheek bones, and a strong nose that was slightly up turned at the end. Her skin was nearly translucent it was so white, and she took him in with piercing green eyes.

 

After a few moments of Katan staring, dumbly taking in her appearance, she extended her hand.

 

“Mr. Ashford, I presume?”

 

Katan cringed slightly at the name as he shook her hand. He had long since gotten used to people associating his uncle's last name with his own. He didn't bother to correct them anymore, the name was tied to the money, and the money was all people knew him for. It was a truth he accepted.

 

“Katan, please.”

 

“Alright, Katan, then, I am Natalie Sydle.”

 

“N-Natalie!” Katan exclaimed in disbelief.

 

“Yes. What, are you surprised that I'm a woman?”

 

“Well, no, it's just that your reputation precedes you, and I've never heard anything about you being female.”

 

Natalie smiled slightly.

 

“It is one of my stipulations that if you are pleased with my work you not tell anyone of my sex. People tend to have misconceptions about female trainers.”

 

“I see, well then I must be correct in assuming you have a 100% success rate since I've never heard of your gender, only your skills.”

 

“Yes, that would be correct.”

 

“Well you'll certainly have your work cut out for you with Jason.”

 

Natalie smiled smugly. “We shall see. Usually it ends up that the masters who employ me are simply not good at training. Especially you Vessel types. You tend to be spoiled, and when things don't work out the way you want you give up.”

 

Katan raised his eyebrows, taken back by her boldness.

 

She better be worth the money I'm paying her.

 

“So tell me a little about this slave, what seems to be an effective discipline for him.”

 

Katan shrugged. “You tell me, I've tried several things, but nothing seems to stick. He's very proud.”

 

“Well he'll soon learn there's no room for pride in a slave. Now, has anyone besides you gotten to know him?”

 

“My other slave, Mark, they have become pretty close.”

 

“Bring him to me.”

 

Katan nodded at Estevan who disappeared, returning shortly with Mark.

 

Mark entered the room, his eyes locked briefly with the woman's fierce gaze, and he quickly let them drift to the carpet.

 

“I have to ask you permission to perform a memory scan on him. I need to know what he knows about your unruly slave.”

 

Mark's heart skipped a beat at these words. He had experienced a mind scan once before. All the memories he repressed would travel to the surface, it was as if he was experiencing them all over again. It was also very intrusive. Having someone know your most intimate thoughts and moments, it left one feeling vulnerable, and exposed.

 

“His name is Jason, and I will not grant permission. Ask Mark anything you like, he is honest to a fault.” Relief washed over Mark at the resolve in Katan's voice.

 

Natalie let out an exasperated huff. “Very well, Mark, what is it that…Jason…dislikes the most?” She made sure to accentuate Jason's name in such a way that it told Katan she saw it as unnecessary to allow slaves names.

 

“I'm not sure. I know that he is claustrophobic, and he said he hates being cold…”

 

“Excellent.”

 

“I'm not comfortable with you using his phobia against him, though.” Katan interjected.

 

“No, I wouldn't dream of it. My goal is to train him, not to cause him mental distress. The technique I plan to use does involve him being confined to one room, but that room may be as large as you like. We will monitor him carefully for any mental distress, and will abort it at the first signs. Is that agreeable?”

 

Katan nodded his agreement.

 

“Good. I will need access to your surveillance rooms to set up my equipment, and you should have your servants clear out a room, preferably a bedroom. It needs to be completely empty, not even a bed.”

 

“I…actually already have an empty one.”

 

Natalie gave Katan an incredulous look but decided against asking about it. “Excellent. I'll need the climate controls to that room, and I'll have my team set up the required equipment in there. If you'll point me to a phone they can be here in 20 minutes.”

 

Katan nodded and motioned for Estevan to show her to the phone.

 

Mark followed closely behind Katan as he walked somberly to a closed door next to his own bedroom. Katan paused with his hand on the door knob.

 

“Master?”

 

Katan took a deep breath. “It's okay, Mark.”

 

Katan opened the door slowly, and despite the emptiness of the room all he saw in his mind's eye was an ornate crib in the corner, and piles of baby toys, everything decorated in cheerful pastels.

 

Mark saw the vacant look in his master's eyes, and knew that he was seeing not what was in front of him, but a flood of painful memories. He remembered the excitement and the energy that went into the decorating of this room. The baby's room had been prepared with everything any child could ever dream of, clothes, toys, furniture. And when his wife had miscarried, and was diagnosed with cancer, everything was given to charity, and the room had remained empty ever since. Mark reached out and timidly touched Katan's hand.

 

“Master?”

 

Katan snapped back to reality, seemingly anchored by the hand that he now squeezed tenderly in his own.

 

“I'm alright. Please show them into here when they arrive. I'm going to go help Natalie set up in the control room.”

 

“Yes, Master…” Mark paused, meeting Katan's eyes, and giving his hand a little extra squeeze, “Thank you for not letting her scan me.”

 

Katan placed his hand gently on the side of Mark's face, smiling gently as his eyes softened. “I would never subject you to that, Mark.”

 

Mark tore his eyes away from Katan's intense gaze looking away so that he wouldn't see the blush that crept to his cheeks.

 

Katan sensed his slave's embarrassment, and without another word, turned and walked away.