> In the News Today: Reclusive billionaire, Roger Grainer, wowed Cincinnati’s morning commuters with a stunning display of aerobatics. The local FAA office was not impressed and are compiling a list of charges.
Jason pulled a chair out from the kitchen table and plopped down. “Heck, Mom, I don’t even know where to begin.”
“You can start by sitting up straight. I’ve seen damp washcloths with better posture.”
“Ah, Mom,” he protested. “Give me a break,” but he sat up straight and put both feet on the floor. How old was he again? Would he ever not jump when his mother commanded it?
Mom nodded her approval. “Much better. Now, how did all this start?”
“Stephanie’s mom called the other day and told me what really happened…”
Telling the tale took longer than he expected. Watching Mom’s reactions made him realize how far over the line he’d gone. The penalties for breaking and entering and illegally copying proprietary data were nothing to scoff at. Not only had he put himself at risk, but he’d put Stephanie’s safety at risk. If anything happened to her, he’d never forgive himself. For her part, Mom listened without comment until he finished. “…and Stephanie ran home.” The story sounded crazy.
“With everything you knew about this Roger person. Why didn’t you call us for help?”
“Why would I? Dad’s a jerk; you saw how he was tonight.”
Mom bristled; she and dad always had each other’s back. “Your father doesn’t react well to surprises. It’s not his best trait. If you’d have called me, I could have brought him up to speed and avoided all the drama. I swear, Jason, you and your father are so darned stubborn, I’m surprised the earth doesn’t stop turning because of your combined resistance to change.”
“Dad says it runs in the family.”
“You don’t even know the whole story. Your great-grandfather defined the word stubborn. He—” Mom shook her head. “That’s a story for your father to tell.”
Jason needed to get the conversation back on track. “Mom, Grainer beat Stephanie. There are scars across her back. There’s a real dungeon, with whips and stuff, in his basement.”
“Ugh,” Mom grimaced. “I don’t understand Stephanie’s father. How could a man sell his daughter? And what about Natalie? Why would she put up with it?
“Mr. Timms is a genie peddler. Stephanie and her mom have tricky genetics.” Jason did not want to explain the loyalty gene to his mother.
Mom shook her head. “There’s more going on. But just so you know, I’m proud of you stepping up and doing the right thing. No matter how stupidly you went about it.”
“Hey, if it's stupid, but it works, it isn't stupid.”
“No, once something’s stupid, it stays stupid.” Mom glared straight into his eyes, but Jason refused to yield. A few heartbeats later, she sighed. “How’s Stephanie?”
“She has some memory issues. When I got there, she didn’t even recognize me. I had to trick her into trying on the necklace you picked out for her. After she put it on, Stephanie said it felt like I poured someone else’s memories into her.”
“Oh, dear, she’ll need therapy. I’ll talk to your father and see if we can get her some help.”
“Hey, Mom, Dad threw us out, remember?”
“Don’t be a smart aleck. Your father didn’t mean it. Go to bed. You look exhausted.”
“I’ll wait up for Stephanie.”
“Alfred can wake you if anything changes. Go. To. Bed.”
Jason sighed. “Yes, Mom.”
***
Natalie perched on Stephanie’s old twin bed and listened while her daughter repeated Jason’s story, word for word. Before winding down, Steffi added that it was all her fault. She had no right to ruin Jason’s life, and he’d be better off without her.
Blah, blah, blah. All the stress from the last twenty-four hours had turned Natalie’s tough-as-nails daughter into a drama queen.
The drama wouldn’t last. The bond would see to it. The itch would drive Stephanie back into Jason’s bed. If she managed to hold out longer, and Roger found her first, Stephanie would get what she needed from him. Once that man recovered his play toy, he’d make damned sure she never ran away again.
Natalie traced a finger over a faint ridge of scar tissue on Stephanie’s upper arm. Yet another thing she hadn’t anticipated. Her youngest daughter had always been so brave, “No, Mom, it’s about us.” She’d gotten Stephanie into this mess; she would get her out. It was time to get involved.
Or so she thought. Speaking with Jason had been easy. Yevgeny’s command regarding him had been, “Stay away from that little punk next door.” Well, the little punk was no longer little or a punk. But every time she tried to call the little punk’s mother; Yevgeny’s compulsions proved more potent than she expected. After several minutes of mental acrobatics, Natalie realized that no matter how the conversation might begin, she couldn't do it if her intention were to speak the truth. Each time she tried, her lips clamped shut, and her thoughts scattered like birds.
Natalie did what she always did when faced with a problem, she made a pot of tea. The familiar ritual helped to settle her mind. While the longleaf tea steeped, Natalie considered what she knew about compulsions.
OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, was the MacDaddy of all human compulsive disorders. The takeaway for her was how some humans self-medicated with alcohol to lessen the compulsive drive. Could she self-medicate as well?
She pushed aside her tea and reached for the peach schnapps. Where was her glass? The hell with it, Natalie pulled the stopper and drank straight from the bottle.
After several deep swallows, Natalie put her genie mind to work. Best damned brain Pavlo could afford. After several attempts, she ran through an imaginary conversation without Yevgeny’s order forcing her to stop. The mental gymnastics, coupled with the alcohol buzz, left Natalie lightheaded. She glanced towards the com panel. “Alfred?” she called.
“Yes, Miss Natalie?”
“Make yourself useful and get Jason’s mother on the phone, and Alfred, make it a video call.”
***
Shirley Thomas sat at the table in the small suite she shared with her husband. Outside on the deck, Robbie sat staring off into the evening sky. From the stubborn set of his shoulders, his sense of legal propriety warred with his love for their son. Not for the first time tonight, she thought about helping him sort out the mess. But he’d called Stephanie an animated sex toy, and for that, the man could stew for a good while longer.
The resort AI broke into her reverie. “Mrs. Thomas, I have an incoming call holding for you from Natalie, Stephanie’s mother.”
“Put her through, please.” A moment later, the woodsy outdoor print hanging to her left blinked, and she finally met Stephanie’s mother, face to face.
The reason for never having the time to meet in person became clear. “Well, this is a surprise. You…are Stephanie’s mother?”
Natalie chuckled. “I’m her mother. Please call me Natalie.”
“I will if you’ll call me Shirley. Jason said Stephanie was a genie, so you must be one as well. How is it you and your daughter are twins?”
“Pavlo, the man who paid for my design, wanted our daughters to inherit all my traits. It’s in my design document.”
“So, when Stephanie and Jason have children…”
Natalie finished the sentence. “They’ll look like me and inherit the rest of my traits.”
“That’s a lot to take in.”
“To be honest, I hadn’t thought past getting Stephanie free. My daughters and I aren’t very fertile under the best of conditions. Our grandchildren may never be an issue.”
“How many daughters do you have, and where are they?”
“I have three daughters by Pavlo, Tamara, Katya, and Alissa. They may still be in Ukraine. After Yevgeny stole me from Pavlo, there was only Stephanie. Natalie lifted a glass jug and took a gulp.
“Are you all right, Natalie?”
“Not really, my owner fixed it so I can’t ask for help. The only way around it is to get drunk.”
“Hold on, I’ll get a beer and join you.” A small refrigerator stood at the end of the counter. Shirley grabbed one of Robbie’s beers and hurried back. She had so many questions, but this one was the most important. “How’s Stephanie?”
“She’s upset. The last twenty-four hours have been difficult for her.”
“I can’t imagine what it must have been like. Jason told me about the scars.”
“Her owner turned out to be a sadist. Stephanie also has had problems reintegrating her memories. The addiction we have to our owners is quite unforgiving.”
“I want to know everything about this addiction, but first, Natalie, why did you wait so long to ask for help? Robbie and I would have done something.”
“You and your family might have been hurt. The people behind the genie trade are ruthless. Besides, your husband isn’t sympathetic to us.”
“Robbie isn’t unsympathetic; he’s a lawyer. The law is his career, but his family always came first. I bet Robbie already regrets his reaction. Later, I’ll push him towards the right decision.”
“What is the right decision?”
“That’s what we’re discussing, isn’t it?” Shirley finished her beer and ran to get a second. “You know,” she said on her return, “I used to think Stephanie would be the best daughter-in-law I could wish for.”
“And now?”
“I admit the genie thing has me concerned.” Shirley held up her hand to forestall any reply. “Only because I don’t know the details. It’s clear you and Steph are a good bit more than the genies we see on the Tri-D.”
“I’ll tell you everything.” Natalie sipped some more of her peach liquor and sat back. She wouldn’t skip or smooth over any details. “About fifty-five years ago, Pavlo Mogilevich visited the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow to commission my design. He brought a list of characteristics that defined his perfect woman.” Natalie pointed at her features in turn. “Dark red hair, peridot green eyes, an hourglass figure, and athletic ability. There’s more. You see, above everything else, Pavlo demanded perfect loyalty…”
By the time Natalie finished, Shirley was in tears. It had been impossible to hold back her emotions. “I’m so sorry, Natalie, but you and your daughters deserved a better life. The loyalty bond you mentioned rings a bell. When Robert and I met in college, I studied genetics. There was a controversial paper from a Russian researcher about the development of a similar phenotype. It was supposed to improve the ny subject's pair-bonding ability.”
“Was it written by Nikolai Vavilov?”
Shirley’s jaw dropped. “Yes, how did you know?”
“Nikolai designed me. In some respects, he is my father.”
“My class thought the paper was theoretical. None of us imagined the researcher followed through with it. How effective is it?”
“It’s similar in effect to an opiate addiction, but if I suffer withdrawal long enough, it’s fatal.”
Shocked, Shirley exclaimed, “Are you sure?”
“I have not put it to the test,” Natalie smiled to lessen any unintended sting, “but it was a key part of my design. Nikolai succeeded in everything else. Why not that as well?”
“And your youthful appearance?”
“Pavlo believed his perfect woman should remain young forever. I don’t know my life expectancy, but I haven’t aged past seventeen or so. I never get sick, and if hurt, my daughters and I heal fast.”
Shaking her head, Shirley said. “What happened to Pavlo?”
“Still in Kyiv, I suppose. The bastard had better have kept our daughters safe.” She’d already explained the deal struck by Yevgeny to keep her babies safe.
“There may be a way to find out. I’ll ask Robbie. He knows all that shady lawyer stuff.”
“If you think he’ll help.”
“Let me take care of Robert. He’ll come around if he knows what’s good for him.”
***
Upstairs in his bathroom, Jason brushed his teeth.
“Jason?” Alfred interrupted, “I have an update on our plan to ruin Roger Grainer.”
“Go for it.”
“Besides the funds in domestic banks and various stock market accounts, I've identified twelve different offshore accounts and several real estate properties. One such property is a cozy private island off Antigua in the Caribbean.”
“A private island?”
“After Mr. Grainer retires for the night, his phone will begin the file transfers. By morning, Roger will appear to have downloaded enough “material” to attract an immediate federal level response. Phase two will begin when the authorities take him into custody. The money will be in your accounts within twenty-four hours. Transferring the real estate might take a week or more. Property transfers must be handled by local lawyers.”
Jason couldn’t rinse his mouth fast enough. “Did you say, ‘My accounts?’”
“To minimize your tax liability and keep the transfers anonymous, we’ve established numbered accounts for you in Europe and Asia.”
“H-how much money?”
“It’s difficult to be exact because selling the stocks will decrease their value somewhat. Several hundred billion dollars is a good approximation.”
“S-several h-hundred b-billion dollars,” Jason stuttered while attempting to understand the amount. It was a good thing he leaned against the sink; otherwise, he might have fallen over. “I think the island is a bit much.”
“Oh, I don’t know. You and Miss Stephanie could work on your no-tan-line tans. There is an additional issue requiring your attention. Saved to Mr. Grainer’s phone are a number of media files. These files document the abuse of genetically engineered life forms.”
“Uh oh, don’t tell me—”
“Many of the files include Miss Stephanie. In fact, her videos and photographs account for sixty-eight percent of the—”
Jason raised his hand in a “Stop” gesture. “I get it. What are my options? Can you wipe these files without interfering with the file transfer?”
“I can wipe the files and defragment the storage. However, a forensic examiner will notice the changes.”
“The examiner will assume Roger wanted to make more space for the downloads. Is there anything else?”
“Mr. Grainer’s daddy-dom kink has a certain…synergy with the material to be downloaded. I suspect the authorities will use this when they compile their case.
***
The glass door behind Robert Thomas cycled open. Moments later, his wife leaned over and gave him an upside-down kiss. “I take it,” he said, “you’ve decided how much of an asshole I am?”
“Don’t be vulgar.” She stepped around to the railing and looked off to the distant Appalachian Mountains. “Besides, that’s never been a question.”
“So, you’ve said.” While he and Shirley presented a unified face to the world, they sometimes disagreed in private.
“Robbie, you’re wrong about Stephanie. She’s no more an animated sex toy than I am.” Shirley glared back over her shoulder.
Several quips came to mind and were dismissed just as fast. “I may have gone too far with that,” he admitted.
“It was a terribly hurtful thing to say. The poor girl has been through hell, and our son’s a hero for rescuing her.”
“There’s no telling how many laws he broke.”
“Stephanie’s ‘owner’ has a dungeon. He used to beat Stephanie. She has scars, both physical and mental, and all you did was set back her healing.”
Leave it to his wife to use an emotionally charged statement. “Shirl, I loved Stephanie too. But she’s not—”
“What?” Shirley interrupted. “Not human?”
This wasn’t a winnable argument. It didn’t help that Robert already regretted his earlier outburst. “Stephanie is as human as you or I.”
Shirl’s eyes danced with confusion. “Then, what’s the problem?”
“She’s not legally a human. There is a law against humans marrying genies.”
“That is a legal detail, and I know a good lawyer.”
Robert crossed his arms. “I’m retired.”
“Not if your son needs you.”
“What makes Stephanie and her family so special?”
“Come inside, and I’ll show you.”
“Said the spider to the fly.”
“Robert, if you come inside and look at all the information, I’ll do that little thing you like so much.”
Robert’s interest picked up, and he joined his wife at the railing. “You mean that thing you save for my birthday?”
“Uh-huh, but tomorrow, you have to call Stephanie and apologize.”
***
“Miss Stephanie?”
Stephanie woke. The blue AI presence light glowed from underneath the room’s video display. “Alfred?” The few hours of sleep had helped. She felt better, more like her old self.
“Jason requests you open your bedroom window.”
“My window? It’s got an alarm.”
“Never fear, Miss Stephanie, I control the alarm system. The latch and the window mechanism are beyond my reach I’m afraid.”
“All right,” Stephanie slid out of bed and smoothed her borrowed nightie. Mom’s nightwear had always seemed so glamorous. Now, compared to the crazy costumes Roger had made her wear, this chemise seemed tame. The night table blocked the way, but she moved it to the side and opened the window
Outside, Jason stood on what must have been the top of a ladder. “What are you doing out there?” she hissed. Even in the dark, the heat in Jason’s gaze caused her knees to weaken. But Jason’s presence also reminded Stephanie of one last obligation. Ten years ago, she and her mother had deceived the boy next door. She owed Jason the truth.
“We need to talk,” he whispered. “Can I come in?”
It felt like that scene in the ancient movie Animal House. A little angel competed with an equally minuscule devil for her attention. The little devil wanted Jason inside, right now. It didn’t specify where inside, but Stephanie thought she knew the spot. The angel, who looked a lot like her twelve-year-old self, didn’t want any part of this “bad daddy.”
Caught between two equally insistent but opposing factions, Stephanie chose a third path. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If you come in, we’re not going to do any talking.”
“Well,” Jason glanced back towards the entrance to the cul-de-sac. “If the police drive past, I’ll probably get arrested.”
Stephanie said, “Fine. But you’re not coming into my bedroom. Put your ladder away, and I’ll meet you on the back porch.” Instead of waiting for Jason to agree, she closed and locked the window.
Several minutes passed, and sitting on the top porch step, Stephanie wished she had worn a robe. This sleeping chemise was comfy and all, but it didn’t provide much coverage, and both she and her boyfriend needed to concentrate. Jason ran through the gate and stopped a few feet away. The cool night air brought a whiff of his sweat mingled with the residue of his body wash. He smelled like a snack.
Jason’s body posture screamed how unsettled he felt, and Stephanie patted the step next to her. “Sit. I’m better than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Then why are you so…distant? The last couple of days, we couldn’t have been closer. Now…” he settled into place and shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“I haven’t been myself for a long time.”
Jason opened his mouth to interrupt, but Stephanie interrupted his interruption. “Just wait. I’ll explain.”
He took a deep breath and, to his credit, visibly tried to relax.
“Two days ago, when you tricked me into wearing this necklace,” she ran a finger along the delicate chain, “I was in full-blown Roger’s girl mode. The necklace triggered a flood of memories. It almost brought me back, but not all at once, and big chunks weren’t there yet. Then you seduced me and started a hormone overload.” She saw how he wanted to interrupt, but a touch of her hand settled him down. Stephanie continued, “I admit, I wasn’t playing hard to get, but you did everything you could to stack the deck.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Jason couldn’t wait and blurted out his defense. “Steph, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“I know you will, and I love you for it and for so much more. But there’s something you don’t know. I need to confess ‘cause ten years ago, Mom and I set you up.”
***
Ten years earlier:
He was outside again, that oh-so unremarkable boy, who happened to live next door. Stephanie first noticed him a few days earlier. He was tall and slim, but his shoulders were broad, and she really liked how his shorts hung on his hips. Now, she checked for him every chance she got.
A hand dropped on her shoulder, and she almost jumped out of her skin.
Mom said, “What are you staring at?”
“Nothing,” Stephanie squeaked, “It’s just a nice day outside.” She tried angling her body to block her mother’s view.
“Um-hmm,” Mom said as she shouldered her way to the window. “Oh…it’s a boy.” Mom used the same tone as if she’d found a moldy raspberry. “Studying the enemy?” Mom quipped.
Stephanie hoped Mom hadn’t noticed how intently she studied the enemy. “I’ve never seen one this close.” The boy walked in circles through his yard. Here and there, he’d bend over and pick up a rock or a branch fallen from the tree overhead. He’d hike up his shorts again and continue the search. His unruly brown hair made Stephanie want to try and comb it into shape. He’d look so much better….
“What do you suppose he’s doing?” Mom queried.
“I think he’s going to mow their lawn.” This proved to be correct. After clearing the yard, he shuffled into his detached garage and emerged, directing a lawnmower.
Mom was already bored with the boy’s antics and pointed towards the dishwasher. “It won’t empty itself.”
“Yes, Mom,” outside, the mower whined to life.
The near-constant drone of the lawnmower made it easy to keep the boy in mind, and Stephanie settled into the familiar routine of her daily chores.
At supper that same day, Mom expressed the beginnings of an idea. “You know, I was thinking about your boyfriend.”
“M-my what?” Stephanie sputtered.
“Your little friend,” Mom waved towards the window, “the boy next door.”
Still embarrassed from her mother catching on earlier, Stephanie’s temper flared. “He’s not my boyfriend, he’s just…” and there she stopped. She wasn’t sure what he was. How did Mom always read her mind?
“Sorry, sweetie, I shouldn’t tease you. It’s time for another real talk.”
Real talk was Mom’s term for a frank discussion of Stephanie’s future. That future would be upon them all too soon. Once Stephanie’s biological clock signaled her physical maturity, Yevgeny would put her up for sale.
“Okay,” Stephanie muttered. This wasn’t her favorite topic.
Of course, Mom started off with the survival strategy Stephanie hated the most. “I still think you should run away.” Then Mom’s twisted sense of humor kicked in. “Maybe that boy next door would hide you in his bed?”
Stephanie ignored the sudden butterflies her mother’s suggested hiding spot caused. She said, “Mom, you know what Yevgeny would do to you.”
“Well, I knew you’d object, so I thought of an alternative. It’s a long shot, but if it works, you’ll be free, and Yevgeny wouldn’t know what happened.”
Mom’s plans could be doozies. They tended to involve recent events, and that meant—
“That boy is the key to everything.” Then Mom explained, and it got crazy.
“When Yevgeny bonded me by force, it proved a loophole existed in our design. We’re going to exploit the same flaw and bond you, just a little, to that boy.”
“But Mom, he’s cute and all, but I don’t know if I want to have sex with him.” That wasn’t exactly true, but the less her mother knew of that, the better.
“That’s good because you’re not allowed to have sex. If you did, it might push you too far over the edge. You don’t want to go through what I did.”
The story of what Mom went through was chilling enough. Yevgeny chained her down and repeatedly raped her. It took weeks before Mom’s loyalty changed.
Mom continued to explain. “All you’re going to do is have a human-type romance. Just like in the movies. You’ll have lots of hugging and kissing and maybe even some light petting. It’ll be fun. Along the way, you’ll send a trickle of oxytocin to those receptors. Then someday in the future, that boy can knock on your door and take you away with him.”
Stephanie shook her head in a mixture of awe and disbelief. “Why would he want to come and get me?”
“Because you’ll make him fall in love with you.”
“How would I do that?”
All her mother did was raise a knowing eyebrow.
Not for the first time today, Stephanie felt her face flush. “You don’t mean—”
“Certainly not what you’re thinking, little miss.” Mom shook her finger to show she was in charge. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t work your wiles on him. By the time he’s hooked, you’ll both have a little addiction, only yours will be real, and his imaginary.”
“But I don’t have wiles.”
“What did I teach you about men, hmmm? Tell me what you remember?”
They’d gone over this so many times. Stephanie recited the list while counting each rule on her fingers. “Swing your hips to catch their attention. Laugh when they tell jokes. Touch them to show you care. Defer to their needs and listen to their stories. Make the man feel as though he is the center of your world. And never, ever complain.”
Mom nodded her approval. “There’s lots more. Let him be your champion. Lead him on before, regretfully, telling him no. Always, always, always leave him wanting more. But, before everything else, stay in control! Your biology will work against you.”
“And someday he’ll come looking for me?”
“When it’s the right time, I’ll tell him a tale of woe. He’ll charge to the rescue, and you won’t be some bastard’s property anymore.”
***
Stephanie waited while Jason sorted through her confession. It had to be a shock. The wind picked up and rattled the leaves. It had that incoming thunderstorm sound.
Next to her, Jason rubbed his hands against his thighs. He sighed and said, “How are you doing with your addiction? Do you need a…fix?”
Surprised because she hadn’t expected this particular question, it took a second to think of a reply, “Mom likes to use old junkie slang. So, we call it a ‘fix.’”
Jason didn’t comment, and Stephanie rushed to fill the silence. “But no, I don’t need a fix.” Then, to try and lighten the mood, she added, “You’ve done a masterful job at keeping me satisfied.”
“Okay,” he stood. “In that case, I’ll wait until you get back inside and lock up.”
“You’re upset,” she stood as well. The few inches of distance between them might as well have been miles.
“Hurt might be a better word. Don’t worry, I’m not going to stop loving you, no matter the reason. You did too good of a job reeling me in.”
Ouch. “Jay, no matter how it started, once I got to know you, I fell in love with you for real.”
“I know, and it’s okay. Heck, even knowing the little bits you’ve shared, I have no idea how you held it together.”
“Are you gonna be okay?”
“Sure, it might take a day or two to sort this out. Unlike you and your mom,” Jason smiled, “I’m only human.”
Double ouch. “Is there anything I can do? Maybe something to help you fall asleep?”
“Hmm, it’s tempting, but no. Tonight, I need to think myself to sleep. Goodnight, Stephanie.”
There wasn’t anything to add. Stephanie nodded and stepped back inside. If a confession was supposed to be cleansing, why did she feel so dirty?
***
Jason hadn’t been inside for a minute before Alfred relayed a message. “Your mother said your father is going to call. You are to accept your father’s apology graciously.”
“Dad needs to apologize to Stephanie first.”
“Your mother anticipated your concern and said she has dealt with it.”
“Whoa, I guess Mom laid down the law.”
“As a cyber entity, I find it fascinating how your family is led by its women, even though the greater society is patriarchal.”
“Mom says that’s because our family is smarter.”
“Ah, that clears up everything.”
“Hi, Dad.”
“Son, I’m sorry. My words…I hurt Stephanie when she was the most vulnerable.”
“Thanks, Dad, but you need to apologize to her.”
“I know, and I’ll make it up to her, I promise. Have you spoken with her?”
“Yeah, we sat on her back porch, and she told me a story.”
“Oh, what kind of story?”
One I’d rather not tell you, Dad. “It was how before we met, Natalie caught her watching me cut the grass.”
“I wish I’d known what was going on over there.”
Me too. “Dad, that asshole who had her, he has a fucking dungeon. He whipped her.”
“We’ll talk about it when I get back. I want to know everything. Look, so you know, I’ll call Stephanie in the morning and apologize. If you two want to get married, I’ll do what I can to help.”
“Thanks.”
“I think it’s time to tell you the whole story about your great-grandfather. His birth family was pure trash, and he grew up in bad company. While still a young man, he made a tough decision and saved a group of good people. Those people became his new family. We don’t talk about it with outsiders, but this is what happened…”
***
When Stephanie shuffled into the kitchen the following morning, she didn’t notice her mother’s intense scrutiny. Nor did she notice anything unusual about the long brewed and extra bitter chamomile tea.
Natalie served up a high caloric breakfast of crepes with an assortment of sugar-laden jams and jellies. Poor Stephanie was so distracted, she ate seven of the carb-bombs before realizing it.
“Mom, how many of these are you going to stuff me with?”
“There’s two left, sweetie. Why don’t you finish them up? Look, you haven’t tried the elderberry jelly yet. Isn’t that Jason’s favorite?”
“I know what you’re doing,” Stephanie said between bites of her ninth crepe.
“You’re too skinny, and you want to look your best for Jason, don’t you? Now, why don’t you take a nap while I clean up?”
The carbohydrates and the tea did their work. Stephanie slept another hour and a half before Natalie woke her and laid a fresh outfit on the dresser. “Sweetie, get dressed. There’s someone on the phone who wants to speak with you.”
Stephanie brightened. “Jason?”
“No, it isn’t Jason.” At her daughter’s sudden look of fear, Natalie added, “It isn’t Roger either.”
“…and you’re not going to tell me who it is,” Stephanie grumbled loud enough for her mother to hear, but she dressed and brushed her hair before turning to the video screen.
The screen lit with an image of Jason’s father. “Mr. Thomas,” Natalie said, “as you requested, my daughter, Stephanie.” Natalie nodded towards the display and backed out of the room.
“Ah, Stephanie! Um, it is Stephanie, isn’t it? I can’t tell you and your mother apart.”
“It’s me, Mr. Thomas.”
“I want to apologize for my thoughtless remarks. My estranged son and I haven’t spoken in several years. Unfortunately, I allowed my emotions to get out of control. I want you to know if it ever becomes possible for you and Jason to marry, you’ll have my blessings.”
***
Natalie’s front door thumped open. Gene Timms, aka Yevgeny Timofeyev, shouted in a mock-cheery voice, “Honey, I’m home!”
Fear wrenched at Natalie’s guts. Roger better not be here as well! While she ran downstairs, her traitorous body responded to the sound of Yevgeny’s voice. Warmth coalesced in her belly and her nipples chafed against the inside of her shirt.
She met Yevgeny at the top of the entrance stairs. Long years of practice made her smile real. “You’re home early. Did you forget something?”
Behind her back, Natalie crossed her fingers. She didn’t believe in God, but if he existed and cared at all for genies, she needed him now.
Yevgeny spoke to the other man who entered the house next. “Go upstairs, Roger, the first door on left. If she’s here, that’s where she’ll be.”
***
Jason woke to Starfleet’s red alert klaxon. The wall-mounted com display flashed red and black.
“Red alert, Jason. A limousine has dropped off Miss Stephanie’s father and Roger Grainer.”
Jason jumped up and peeked around the curtains. “Shit! Alfred, how did those assholes slip past you?”
“It is possible Mr. Grainer removed the battery from his phone. As for Mr. Timms, without access to his phone or a similar smart device, I cannot track him.”
“Shit! Can you warn Natalie? Maybe Stephanie can slip out the back?” Jason turned towards the video display. “Show me Steph and her mom.”
The display came on in split-screen mode. On the right, Stephanie sat on her bed, animatedly speaking with a video image of Jason’s father. On the left side of the screen, Natalie stood immobile at the top of the entrance stairs. On the lower landing, Yevgeny Timms and Roger Grainer entered the front door.
Poor Natalie, Jason thought. Except for a slight tremor, she stood like a statue.
“Alfred,” Jason said, shifting his gaze to Stephanie, “we need to get Stephanie out of there. Can you talk to her?”
“I can use the video display in her room.”
Thoughts whirling, Jason had an idea. “Tell her to crawl out onto the roof and, if possible, to close the window behind her. I’ll get Dad’s ladder and climb up to get her.” Jason pulled on his clothes and ran downstairs.
***
Without warning, Stephanie’s video display split into two sections. The image of Mr. Thomas moved to one side. A silver-haired man wearing a black, three-piece suit with a burgundy tie, occupied the other.
“Who are you?” asked Robert Thomas and Stephanie at almost the same instant.
The individual on the screen spoke. His South-London accent made him instantly recognizable. “My apologies, Miss Stephanie, Mr. Thomas, you’ve not seen me before, but I am Alfred.” Alfred's image focused on Stephanie. “Miss Stephanie, you are in grave danger. Master Jason wants you to exit through your window and step across the roof to his side of your house. He will meet you there with a ladder.”
“B-but…” Stephanie stammered.
“There is no time. Your father is downstairs, along with your former owner. Out the window now and be quick about it. Do try and close the window behind you. I shall attempt to stall.” Alfred’s face shimmered and became a perfect copy of Stephanie’s.
“Alfred?” Mr. Thomas asked. “When did you become capable of generating an avatar?”
“It’s a long story. However, there is much going on, and I must concentrate.” Alfred cut Mr. Thomas’s connection, and his duplication of Stephanie filled the display. To his right, Stephanie crawled through the window and closed it from the outside.
Footsteps on the stairs redirected Alfred’s attention. A quick scan of the Timms’s local area network gave him access to Miss Stephanie’s bedroom door. He commanded it to close and lock. From the hallway pickup, he observed Roger’s surprise when the door slammed shut in his face.
After gathering himself, Roger tapped on the door.
“Who is it?” Alfred said in perfect mimicry of Stephanie’s voice.
“It’s Daddy, snuggle muffin.”
For a moment, Stephanie’s face dissolved back to Alfred's. The avatar’s lips pursed in distaste. He grumbled, “Snuggle muffin?” The face returned to that of Stephanie’s. “I’m mad at you. Stay away!”
***
Finally! Roger almost crowed his relief. His nightmare was finally over. Timms, the paranoid bastard, had made the case that if his wayward daughter were with her mother, that he would be unable to control her. Not only was Roger’s presence required, but he also had to disable his phone and only use the travel arrangements Timms provided. Finding his pet here made all the inconvenience worthwhile.
The prince and his people might have to wait another week or two because Roger planned to beat the little slut to within an inch of her life.
But until that joyous moment, he continued to follow Timms’ advice. He treated his pet like the immature animal she was. “Why are you mad at daddy, sweetums?”
“Because you made my tummy hurt.”
Didn’t she understand how pregnancy worked? “But that’s because you’re going to have a baby.”
Through the hallway pickup, Alfred watched Roger attempt to force the doorknob.
***
Closing her bedroom window from outside took some effort. It didn’t want to slide back down, but Stephanie gritted her teeth and pushed. The window slid shut with a thud. She turned away, intending to sneak across the peak, then hide on the back of the roof until Jason arrived. For a genie with her coordination and sense of balance, it should be easy. But as her head turned, the edge of the roof, and the view beyond came into sight, Stephanie’s arms and legs froze.
Through the window, Stephanie heard Alfred’s impersonation arguing with Roger. She needed to get out of sight. If she made it to the side of the dormer, maybe Jason could come and find her? First, Stephanie concentrated on what was safe. Focusing on the roof’s shingles brought control back to her limbs. Slowly, carefully, she crawled to the side of the dormer.
***
Half-way up the ladder, Jason’s mobile phone buzzed. Alfred spoke through the device’s speaker. “Your father is calling. I suggest you take it.”
“Put him through.” He didn’t have time for an argument. If Dad didn’t behave, he’d cut the call.
Dad’s voice came next. “What’s going on?”
“Steph’s dad and the asshole who thinks he owns her are here. I’m going to bring her down off her roof. Then we’ll hide.”
“How confident are you this will work?”
Jason spotted Steph crouched on the roof. “Pretty confident. I think she’s waiting for me.”
“All right; get on with the rescue but don’t hang up. If there’s a problem, I’ll call the police.”
“Dad, you can’t—”
“It’s better if they’re in police custody than the alternative. Besides, I know a good lawyer.”
A weight Jason hadn’t realized he’d carried vanished. Having Dad’s support meant a lot. “Thanks.” Jason slipped the phone into his shirt pocket.
With Steph’s abilities, it wouldn’t have surprised him if she’d already jumped down. Heck, it wouldn’t have surprised him if she’d summoned an invisible airplane and flew down. Instead, she huddled against the outside of her bedroom’s dormer window. Was she hurt?
He had to get her, but he had to be careful. Right under the roof was the Timms’ great room. Even with the insulation, anything but the most careful footsteps would sound like drumbeats.
Even with the slow and careful steps, it didn’t take long to reach her. “Hey,” he whispered.
“Hey,” she whispered back. “I can’t walk up here; it makes me dizzy.”
“Close your eyes, and I’ll carry you.”
“Goof, I’m too heavy. We’ll fall.”
“Then we crawl. No hurry.”
They made it to the ladder without any problems. Jason even helped Stephanie turn around and back up to the ladder. Once there, she balked at stepping onto the ladder.
“I can’t do it,” she hissed.
They were out of time. Jason had an idea. If it worked, Stephanie might not like it. If it didn’t work, the consequences couldn’t be borne. He stepped from the rooftop to the ladder, then reached underneath her skirt and rubbed her butt. This wasn’t an aimless butt rubbing. It was purposeful and deliberate—the kind of butt rub that comes with confidence and experience.
Stephanie quivered. After the first second, she pushed back just a little. “What are you doing?” Her voice had that dreamy tone.
“Distracting you.”
As usual, Stephanie figured things out super-fast. “Can you keep it up while we climb down?”
“You’re kidding, right? After this, getting it to go down will be the hard part.”
Of course, she understood his meaning, “You’re terrible.” But she straightened her right leg. “Guide my foot.”
“Got it,” he paused his ministrations long enough to put her foot on a rung. A few caresses later, they climbed down the ladder.
At the bottom, Stephanie said, “I have never been so turned on in my life.”
Who’d have figured his girlfriend got frisky from scary butt rubs? “I’ll take care of you after I put the ladder away. Get inside, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Stephanie ran. Alfred opened the kitchen door and closed it behind her.
Jason tilted the ladder up and pulled the rope to release the lock. He needed to lower the extension without making a racket. The problem was the ladder’s locking mechanism. It jammed if the extension wasn’t lowered fast enough. It might have worked—if Jason hadn’t been impatient to catch up with Stephanie. The lock jammed open, and the ladder retracted with a loud series of clangs.
***
Like a shark smelling blood, Yevgeny circled Natalie. His redheaded djinn quivered with each step. This was the best. Nothing else gave him this sense of power. He stopped just out of her view and reached around to cup her breast. Through the thin cotton, Natalie’s erect nipple slipped between his index and middle fingers. “What have you been up too, Nat?” Yevgeny’s fingers pinched and twisted.
One of her hands reached back and squeezed his crotch. “Missing this,” she said in answer to his question.
She did miss it. Yevgeny knew that for sure. If he slipped a hand inside her panties, she'd be sopping wet. He’d fuck her soon enough. But there was a little mystery to solve first. His fingers tightened on Natalie’s breast, and he jerked her back against his chest. “What do you know about Stephanie running away?”
“Ahhh,” Natalie gasped. “W-what do you mean?”
“I think you knew about her running away.” Yevgeny brought his left hand around and wrapped his fingers around her throat. “You’re a conniving little bitch, and I’ll have the truth out of you.”
While age made it easier for Natalie to separate her thoughts from her body's demands, she didn’t know if she could refuse to answer his questions.
***
“No, Daddy, don’t come in here!” Stephanie’s continued defiance both confused and aroused Roger. Had his little vixen returned to her old teasing ways? Would she continue to resist and make things even more enjoyable? He renewed his efforts, twisting the doorknob harder and putting his weight against the door. Suddenly, the stubborn doorknob turned, and Roger flung himself into the room.
The empty room.
His eyes swept over the tiny bedroom. There weren’t many places to hide. She was either inside the closet or under the bed. Anticipating the reward for finding his pet, he kept the teasing daddy facade going. “Where is Babygirl hiding? Daddy’s going to want a prize when he finds her.” He flung open the closet and found nothing. A quick peek under the bed revealed only dust bunnies. Unnoticed behind him, the door swung shut. The lock clicked. Surprised, Roger turned back. He tried the knob, but it wouldn’t budge. Damn her. The little bitch must have hidden behind the door. Stressed beyond belief, Roger screamed in frustration and pounded on the door for help.
***
Even in Yevgeny’s presence, Natalie couldn’t keep from flinching when Roger screamed. The scream was closely followed by a steady rhythmic pounding. Her daughter couldn’t defend herself against her owner. With Yevgeny here, there wasn’t anything Natalie could do to help.
“Sounds like a little bitch is getting what she deserves.” Yevgeny’s voice crooned in her ear. “If you don’t start talking, you’ll be getting the same.” His hand squeezed and cut off her breath.
Slowly, deliberately, Natalie did something she’d never contemplated. She pushed her full awareness of Yevgeny into the single private spot in her mind. The space she reserved for her secret hopes and dreams. As her mind cleared, Natalie’s right hand curled into a fist.
A rapid-fire, metal-on-metal clanging echoed through the neighborhood. Whatever caused it must be right outside.
Yevgeny snarled. “What the fuck is going on now?” He released Natalie and spun towards the front door, then stopped. Turning back, he issued a command. “Don’t move a fucking muscle, we ain’t done.” With a smug smile plastered across his face, Yevgeny stormed out of the house.
Alone now, Natalie’s worry for her daughter fought against her genetic programming. Beads of sweat broke out across her forehead. With a titanic effort, Natalie managed a single step towards the stairs to Stephanie’s room.
***
With Miss Stephanie safely back home, Alfred checked the rest of the Timms’ home. On the first floor, Natalie struggled to move towards the stairs. Even with the cheap security camera, it was clear the woman experienced an elevated heart rate with labored breathing. Sweat dotted her brow. Perhaps she worried about her daughter? Alfred considered telling her about Stephanie reaching safety. But a picosecond before he spoke, another possibility occurred to the AI.
Alfred knew a lot about Natalie’s design. He’d overheard everything and deduced quite a lot. He knew about the loophole she and Stephanie exploited. Because the loophole worked once, there was no reason it couldn’t work again. It would take some finagling to put all the pieces in the right spots. One thing was sure: the old Alfred would never have attempted anything like this.
A scan of the Timms’ network gave Alfred the address of the living room’s Tri-D display. Fortunately, Natalie remained in the foyer with a clear view of the screen. The display lit with a pore-perfect replica of Yevgeny Timofeyev.
“Natalie!” Alfred shouted in a perfect mimicry of Yevgeny’s voice.
Natalie spun to face the display; her expression matched that of fear with a ninety-five percent certainty. “Y-yes?”
“Listen, you little bitch, and follow my orders. You will do exactly what I say.”
Alfred monitored Natalie’s vital signs via the camera. Within seconds of her owner’s impersonation appearing on the screen, her vital signs relaxed back to those of a trance state.
Natalie nodded her acceptance of the order.
The avatar licked its lips and smiled. It was the indulgent smile of an apex predator. “When I say go, you will exit through the front door and sprint to the Thomas’ house next door. You will not stop for anything. The door will open, and you will enter their house. Now, one more thing. Once you are inside, you are free of any bond to me. You will never, ever, follow another of my orders.”
Natalie’s mouth gaped. Even in a trance, she couldn’t believe her master’s orders.
“Now go, Natalie! GO!” Alfred shouted the last word.
Natalie opened the door and took off at a full sprint. Even with the surveillance cameras at their highest frame rate, her image blurred.
***
Natalie didn’t stop until she stood in the Thomas’ foyer. The door closed and locked behind her. As the bolt clicked into place, the part of her mind that had been filled with constant thoughts of Yevgeny became muted and distant. “Oh, my G—" Towards the rear of the home, she heard Stephanie crying.
***
The crash of the Timms’ front door slamming shut was all the warning Jason had. He had no time to get clear, so he spun the ladder around and leaned it against the side of his parent’s house. Moments later, Stephanie’s father stomped into view.
The last time they met, the older man dominated the conversation. Other than the man’s sneering voice and dismissive manner, Jason remembered little. Now, as an adult, Jason, who’d since met a slew of aggressive assholes, this old man in baggy clothes didn’t impress.
Timms approached, careful to stay on his side of the property line and stopped several feet away. His eyes flicked up and down, taking in everything about Jason. “I remember you…boy.” The last word came with a chuckle. The fake kind of laughter a winner might gift to someone he’d bested.
Jason’s hatred threatened to boil over. Not trusting his suddenly dry mouth, he didn’t reply.
“You used to cut my grass,” his brown eyes never ceased in their examination. “When you weren’t trying to diddle my daughter.”
Jason’s calm façade slipped, and the old man latched on.
“You think I didn’t know? Kids are stupid.”
Jason shrugged, trying did his best to appear unfazed. “Hey, Mr. Timms, what can I say?”
Timms grinned and inched closer. His gaze followed the ladder up to Jason’s roof. “Cleaning gutters?”
“Yeah, just got done. There wasn’t anything up there, but you know my dad, he doesn’t take chances.” Jason gave Stephanie’s father his best smile. Neither do I, you piece of shit.
The old man nodded and turned away before spinning back, like a schoolteacher trying to catch a misbehaving student. “Have you noticed anything unusual going on? Noises, anything like that?”
Honestly surprised at the question, Jason shook his head. “No, but I don’t pay much attention to anything that’s not my business.”
“Ah, you remembered,” Timms nodded.
“Mr. Timms, good advice is good advice. It’s served me well.”
Chuckling, Timms turned and walked back to the front of his house.
Jason waited until Stephanie’s father turned the corner, then he ran the ladder back to the garage. Before stepping back out, he lifted his phone. “Still there, Dad?”
“I think,” Dad replied, “we got lucky.”
“When her dad came around the corner, I almost shi—” Jason cut off what he’d intended to say.
“Me, too,” Dad commiserated. “I think you and Stephanie might be safe, but I’ll call a friend at the police station and ask him to swing a patrol car past our house tonight.”
Jason took a breath. What he needed to do next didn’t come easy. “Dad, about Alfred; I kind of gave him an upgrade…”
Minutes later, Jason slipped into his house. The ladder was locked up and Dad would calm down eventually.
To his surprise, he found Natalie with Stephanie in his parent’s kitchen. “Alfred?”
“Yes, Jason?”
“Lock the house down. Full perimeter scans. Prepare to repel boarders.”
“Aye-aye, Captain. Shall I update your father?”
But Jason had already wrapped his arms around Stephanie. “Sweetheart, I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“I’m sorry,” Stephanie cried and wrapped him up in a rib-cracking hug. She was still on an emotional roller coaster.
In between Steph’s sobs, he caught enough breath to cry for help. “I…can’t…breathe,” he gasped, not joking in the least.
“Mom thinks I still need time to recover.”
If she didn’t let him go, he’d need to recover. “Steph…?”
It might have been his red face, but Natalie stepped in. “Sweetie, you should let Romeo breathe once in a while.”
He gasped when Stephanie relaxed her hug. “Natalie? How?”
“My owner kicked me out.”
“Oh?” Jason grinned, “That’s great.” He took in the shocked expressions on the two women. “What’s wrong?”
Stephanie looked Jason straight in the eyes. “Mom will die if she can’t bond to someone else.”
All Natalie did was nod.
Jason’s mouth went dry. Stephanie’s mother needed to bond, and he was the only man available.