Scarlet

Violet paled. What? Enormous membership fee? Karen said she paid a membership fee? Oh no . . .

"Karen, you don't want to do that." Violet blurted out her objection as she mentally castigated herself. Her daydreams had caused her to completely misread what Karen had been saying. Crap.

Oblivious, Karen continued. "Think about it. We could pal around all day. Go shopping after work. Hang out here whenever we want to. It'd be wonderful."

"No Karen," came Violet's more forceful reply. "You don't know what you're asking."

"But."

"No! Not you! Not this! NO!"

Karen looked up with hurt pulsing in her eyes. "What? Why? Don't you want me around? Is that why you don't come visit with me much anymore? Why we're here in this empty area while we eat? So you aren't seen with me? Are you ashamed of me? Of being with me? I thought we were friends Violet. Best friends. I thought you liked me."

The pain in Karen's voice propelled Violet to launch herself off of her chair to quickly kneel at Karen's feet. Spreading her knees wide with her hands behind her back, she bent and rested her forehead gently on Karen's white clad thigh.

"Please. Karen, no." Violet talked softly. "Please, no. I'm sorry. Please, no. Please. Forgive me. Please."

Shocked, Karen gently tipped Violet's head to the side and stroked the side of her face with the backs of her fingers.

"Shhh. Shhh. It's ok Violet." Violet's kneeling position made Karen feel oddly tender yet embarrassed at the same time. "You know I'm not really upset with you. You know that."

Karen continued to stroke Violet's face. At her touch, Violet closed her eyes, pressing her cheek harder into Karen's thigh.

Looking down, Karen noticed Violet's spread position. Violet's knees opening the front slit of her dress to reveal her crotch. "Uh, Violet?"

"Mmmm?"

"You know you're not wearing any underwear right? You're flashing everyone. Even me. Not that there's anyone around, but someone could come by and see you. They might tell your boss."

Violet rolled her eyes to look up briefly before closing them again.

"Violet?" Karen nudged her friend with a finger. "Violet?"

Violet stirred briefly. "It's ok. No one here will say anything. Even if they see me like this."

"But . . . "

"It's ok. Really."

"Ok to not wear any underwear?"

"Not allowed."

"Not allowed? Ok Violet, get up. I don't know if I'm just concerned or pissed off, but, you need to get up. You need to explain this to me."

"Karen, I can't." Violet rolled her face down into Karen's thigh again. "I can't. I'm not allowed."

"Bullshit. Get up girlfriend. On your feet. Or. I will be pissed. You know that when I get really pissed and angry I tend to wreck things."

Violet shook her head on Karen's thigh. "Please, don't be angry."

"Get up Violet. Please."

Karen was considering sliding off her chair to kneel with Violet on the floor when a soft, almost whispered, command came through the greenery around their table.

"On your feet Sub!"

Violet's eyes snapped open. Automatically she sprang to her feet. Whirling toward the unseen speaker she hissed under her breath; "Chasandra! You have no right!"

A soft chuckle passed through in concealing plants. "Not yet Little Sub, but some day." The unseen speaker's voice faded as if she had turned away. "Some day."

"Ok Violet. I am officially freaked out now." Karen was shaken at what had just happened. "If you don't sit down and explain everything to me right now, I'm going to leave and go to the police. Cameras in the women's bathroom, electronic spying, maybe stalking, no underwear, hidden microphones and everything else that must be going on to make you act like this. Hell, I might go to the police anyway even if you do explain it to me."

Violet shook her head wildly. "You can't Karen. Please, no. That would ruin everything."

"Then explain it to me. All of it! Why are you wearing expensive clothes that someone just gives you to wear for a job you've never mentioned before? Why are you forbidden to wear panties under them while at work? Why do you have to sit and talk with strange men as part of your job? Why are you 'not allowed' to explain?

"Wait! Are you being blackmailed for sex? Are you being forced to do this? To be a prostitute? Is that what this is? Tell me!"

Violet assumed a rigid standing position. Ramrod straight, head bowed with her hands once more behind her back.

"Not a prostitute." Tears dripped silently from Violet's cheeks. "Not forced. I'm not! Not allowed."

Karen's heart almost broke over her friend's situation. Getting up, Karen put her arm around Violet to lead her to her chair.

"Sit, Violet. It'll be all right. We'll make it all right. We'll find a way. If someone is hurting you, we can make them stop."

Allowing herself to be seated in the chair Violet shook her head but didn't speak.

"We will figure this out Violet. Just explain it to me." Karen pleaded with her friend. "Just tell me what's going on. Or should I call Dominick?"

"Dominick knows." The quiet whisper startled Karen. "He's coming."

"Coming here? Now?"

Violet gave a tiny nod without speaking.

"Ok. If your husband knows, it can't be terrible. So that means you can tell me what this is all about."

Violet shook her head again still refusing to look up. "Rule sixteen," she whispered. "I can't. Rule sixteen."

Sitting down again, leaning back in her chair, Karen touched her fingertips to her lips and thought for a moment about what Violet had just said.

"Ok Violet," Karen began gently. "I understand that you think that you can't explain because there are rules against it. That's ok. However, if there are rules, the rules themselves can't be secret. So what is Rule sixteen? What does Rule sixteen say?"

"No recruiting outside the House," came the whispered answer.

Karen paused a moment. "Is that what you think you've been doing? Recruiting me? For what?"

"Please. No," The soft whispering plea came again. "I made a mistake. I misunderstood. I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention. I thought you were going to be a member already when you said . . . when you said . . . " Violet was so upset she couldn't continue. She just sat there looking miserable. She was in big trouble. She'd broken the rules. They would punish her for that. The only question was going to be whether her permission to have a baby would be taken away or not. At the thought Violet's heart clenched. No, please not that.

Violet's anguish tore at Karen's heart. What could have hurt Violet to make her so upset pleading that she was sorry? Because of some sort of misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Who did this to her friend? Why?

"Violet, I'm sorry but I'm still confused." Karen began. "What did you misunderstand? What mistake do you think you've made? Did I say something wrong? Have I hurt you somehow?"

"No. My mistake. I misunderstood. What you said."

"Well, what did I say?" Karen asked gently. "When did I say it?"

"No, no. Rule sixteen" Violet began to shake her head again.

The voice from the speaker hidden inside the dividing potted plants intruded softly again. "You might as well tell her Little Sub. You've already broken most of the rules. Tell her."

"I can't Chas. I can't." Violet's voiced cracked as she spoke.

In the silence that followed those low spoken words, Karen pried Violet's small hands out from behind her body. Violets fingers were icy and stiff. Holding Violet's hands Karen began to gently rub some warmth into them.

"Yes you can Violet. Yes you can. You've told me every secret you ever had from the time we were just little girls. I know what you like. I know who you really are. What you need. How strong you are. How soft you are too."

Karen thought back to the early years of their friendship. "We grew up together. Kissed each other the very first time. Told our darkest secrets to each other. I know you. I really know you. You know I don't tell your secrets to anyone. You know I wouldn't do that with even this secret no matter how awful it might be. I love you Violet and I would never hurt you that way. You can trust me. Your secrets are safe with me."

Haltingly, with a lot of urging, eventually Karen got Violet to talk. How Violet thought Karen was changing her life and lifestyle. About Karen joining the club, but her membership was pending until Mitch approved. Karen saying she was being naughty and that Mitch was going to spank her. How Mitch sometimes tied her up. How Karen was trying to be more like her. How she'd mentioned being kinky a couple of times.

Karen nodded her head. "Yes, I remember. I said all those things. So what? I want to be a member of the club. Like you. What is there to misunderstand about that?"

"You're not a member of the club. I put all that together and misunderstood. I wasn't paying attention like I should have been. I should have realized that you didn't know. Couldn't know. I just want it so much. Please? But, you're not a member. My fault. You're not like me. Not like us."

"Of course I'm like you. We are friends. Best friends. Since forever."

"Not like me. Not a member of the club."

"I'm going to be a member of the club. GreenWood. This club."

"Not GreenWood." Violet's hoarse whisper sent shivers down Karen's back.

"What club are we talking about? What other club is there?" Karen asked quietly.

A pause, then Violet barely uttered a single hushed word.

"Scarlet."

Four

Scarlet? Who the hell is Scarlet? Karen rocked back, dropping Violet's hands. Violet quickly moved her arms behind her back after Karen released them. Catching the movement Karen reached to grasp Violet's hands again before noticing how much Violet was shaking. This is not good. Not good at all. No one seemed to be paying attention to what was going on either. Nor did it appear there was any help coming. Well, if no one else was going to help Violet, it was going to be up to her to do something about it.

Remembering what Violet had said about security cameras, Karen stood to scan the immediate area. Spotting a black bulb on the ceiling in full view of their table, Karen turned until she faced it squarely. She pointed at Violet.

"Chasandra, or whoever you are, Violet needs help." Karen talked in a flat commanding voice. "She's in shock and she's cold. I am not going to allow her to continue to be miserable. She needs cleaned up and taken care of. I need a pitcher of cool water, a carafe of hot water, some clean towels, and a warm blanket if possible."

No sound came from the speaker hidden in the nearby plants. Karen waited a moment more before jabbing her arm toward Violet again.

"NOW! Chasandra or whoever. Or, I will find you and you will not like it when I do. I mean it. I swear. Get me what I ask for."

There was no sound from the speaker hidden in the planter. Karen stood with her hands on her hips glaring at the camera bulb on the ceiling. After a few more moments she turned to kneel next to Violet.

"C'mon love. We need to get you out of here to somewhere safe." Karen tugged at Violet's arm trying to get her to stand up. "C'mon. Those clods you work for don't care what they've done to you. I do. Let's go. Get up so I can take you home. Come on Violet, up. Try to get up."

Trying to get Violet on her feet and moving was a losing proposition. Violet was as responsive as a rag doll. Karen was seriously contemplating using her cell phone to call Mitch or Dominick to get them to come carry Violet out of there. Violet had said Dominick was coming, so maybe she should wait for him. Or maybe she should just dial 911. As she thought about it, a rattle sounded behind her. At the sound of the noise behind her shoulder Karen startled before glancing back.

Another red jacketed man was wheeling a cart in their direction. On the cart were two white plastic carafes along with a stack of white towels. Striding forcefully along behind was a very fit looking thirty-something-ish black woman in a sleeveless floor length black silk dress with very narrow red pinstripes. Black and red bangles on her bare arms made soft clicking sounds while gold and red earrings peeked from under her upswept hair. The front slit in the dress allowed the woman's legs to flash with each step revealing thigh-high black leather boots.

The boots, the woman's dark mahogany skin, her blue black hair, along with the dark floor length dress made her appear ominous. The muscles over her shoulders and arms only emphasized the aura of strength and power. Karen stood facing the perceived threat as the man parked the trolley at their table.

"That will be all for now Andrew." The black woman spoke to the man in the red jacket with a slight accent unfamiliar to Karen. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Mrs. Black." The server bowed in the woman's direction, looked at Karen and Violet before giving each of them his half bow, then leaving in the direction he and the black woman had come from.

The black woman looked down at the cart. She began to unfold a blanket from the stack of folded things on top of the cart. Karen stepped to position herself between her and Violet.

"There's no need for that." The woman flicked her hand at Karen. The bangles on her wrist clicking again with the movement. "I have everything you asked for and a few other things. My apologies it took so long, but getting the blanket delayed us a bit."

At Karen's stillness the woman looked at her again.

"Violet is my friend too, I won't hurt her. Here, take this." The woman held out the blanket to Karen.

"Who are you?" Karen asked the woman in black as she reached for the blanket.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Chasandra. I am also Mrs. Black today if you know what that means."

"I know what it means," Karen said warily as she took the blanket. "Oh! It's warm. Thank you!"

"We had someone run down to the laundry to grab one out of the dryer. It's why it took so long to get here with all of this. Here, let me help you put that around her." Chasandra, taking one end of the blanket, walked around behind Violet. Draping the blanket around the tiny shivering woman as she went.

At the touch of the blanket Violet moaned and slid off of the chair to a kneeling position. Holding her hands with her wrists crossed behind her back, she spread her knees apart dropping her head to stare at the floor.

Once again, Violet's spread legged position made it so Karen couldn't help but notice Violet wasn't wearing any underwear. This time, however, Karen also caught the shine of silver from Violets smooth hairless mound. She never told me she was pierced there. I wonder when she did it?

"What is she doing? Get up Violet." Ignoring Violet's blatant almost nudity, and the question of the erotic jewelry, Karen reached down trying to haul Violet up into the chair again. "She's shivering so much I can see her muscles shaking. But, she won't get up."

"It's a position of submission. It says she is willing to accept anything you want to do to her. I think she thinks she's done something wrong."

Chasandra squatted next to Violet as she spoke. The front slit allowed Chasandra's dress to pool on the floor around her revealing the black boots again. The boots were tight with several buckles from ankle to knee. The top of the boots above the knee had two buckles to keep them closed. Along with the boots, quite a lot of Chasandra's smooth dark-skinned thighs were also revealed. Karen's eyes caught it all before sliding away at what she was seeing. Almost embarrassed, yet fascinated, she let her eyes return to look again at Chasandra's body.

"Little Sub, you've done nothing wrong." Chasandra crooned quietly at Violet while Karen looked on. "Nothing wrong. There is no punishment for you here today."

"What do you mean 'punishment'?"

At the words, Karen forcefully stepped between Violet and Chasandra. Her hand sliding into her pocket where she kept her can of pepper spray. No one was going to hurt Violet as long as she could prevent it.

Surprised, Chasandra stood and stepped back. The black dress sliding soundlessly into place concealing Chasandra's legs as she spread her hands with palms out toward Karen.

"Easy child. I mean her no harm."

"No one is going to punish her while I'm around." Karen fiercely gripped the spray can.

Chasandra gave Karen a piercing look. "How well do you know our Violet? How much do you know about her?"

Karen reached out touching Violets bowed head gently with her free hand. "I am her best friend. We've known each other our whole lives. I was there when she got married. I know about her first crush. Her first time having sex. I know all her secrets."

"All of them? Even the dark ones?" Another deep look from Chasandra made Karen uncomfortable.

"Yes." Karen tipped her chin up slightly to combat Chasandra's look.

A tiny lifting of one corner of Chasandra's mouth as she responded to Karen's lifted chin. "Very well. We need to get her off the floor. I will do it."

Another shift in position from Karen had Chasandra pause. "I told you. I mean her no harm. Unless you know how to force her to her feet, I am the only one here right now who can get her up. You must let me."

"Do not hurt her." Karen hissed aggressively. She would use her pepper spray if she had to.

"I cannot promise that," Chasandra said calmly. "I will need to control her. Control is what she is asking for. What she needs. Pain is what I may have to use to gain control."

"I don't understand."

"Then, you do not know as much as you claim." With a lifted warning finger, Chasandra continued. "Watch. Do not interfere."

Chasandra walked over to stand in front of Violet looking down at the tiny woman kneeling on the floor. Bending slightly at the waist, putting her fingertips under Violet's chin, she raised Violet's face to look into Violet's lidded eyes.

"Little Sub."

"Mistress," whispered Violet.

"Not today. Not yet. You know this. You need to get up."

Violet shook her head no.

"Disobedience? I said, get up Sub."

Once again, Violet signaled refusal.

Slowly Chasandra ran her left hand along Violet's cheek ending behind her neck to cup the back of Violet's head. It was erotically intimate. Combined with Violet's openly visible sex, the gesture made Karen very uncomfortable while watching it happen.

Violet closed her eyes, leaning into the caress. Chasandra looked again at Karen taking in Karen's stance and the concern in Karen's expression. An indecipherable look flashed across Chasandra's face. It was gone before Karen could analyze it.

"Do not interfere. Yes?"

At Karen's hesitant nod, Chasandra suddenly and aggressively fisted her hand in Violet's hair. Viciously pulling Violet's head back, Chasandra fully exposed Violet's neck and throat. The clip holding Violet's hair disappeared after it flew over the planters surrounding their tiny seating area. Swiftly with her other hand Chasandra grabbed Violets throat under her jaw. She squeezed. Karen could see the veins in Violet's neck swell from the pressure.

Chasandra moved in close placing her lips next to Violet's ear. Karen couldn't hear what she was saying, but Violets eyes snapped open to whip toward Karen. Karen could see the pupils in her green eyes expand, as Violet stared at her while Chasandra kept whispering in her ear.

More whispers as Chasandra released Violet's throat to slowly stroke her nails down Violet's neck. Down across Violet's chest, along the edge of the bustier top, across the small bulges of Violet's breasts before traveling back up again. Teasing. Enticing. Petting. Erotic.

As Chasandra stroked Violet's body Karen could see Violet's nipples stand up even through the heavy fabric of the bodice. She saw goose bumps form on Violet's skin. She could hear Violet's breath quicken. Unconsciously hers did the same until they were breathing in synchronization with each other.