The People v. Eleanor Warwick
In The Gutter

The crowds filter out of House Morneau as its public hours come to an end.

Penny’s subs scurry about, clearing tables and vacuuming carpets. The Mistress casually saunters through the club area of her House. She sips at a glass of wine and watches her people work. It’s been quite a crowd and they have a lot of work to do.

Pulling the band out of her hair, her ponytail falls apart and her rosy locks drop to her shoulders. Jeremy follows close behind, occasional admiring the view her skintight latex pants and high heels combine to provide.

Handing her glass off to a passing submissive, Penny takes a seat at one of the already-clean tables. “Jeremy, my neck is tight.”

“Not for long, Mistress.” Gently brushing her long hair aside, he rubs his Mistress’ neck and shoulders. He looks up from his duties momentarily when he feels someone watching him. No. Glaring at him.

Lisa’s brown eyes burn into him from across the room. She dutifully clears away used glasses and wipes down tables. Jeremy holds her gaze for a moment before ignoring her. He focuses back on Penny’s slender neck until her phone rings in his pocket.

Quickly fishing the cell out of his breast pocket, he glances at it and nearly groans. “It’s…Eleanor Warwick, Mistress.”

Lisa looks up from the table she’s cleaning. She stares at Penelope, almost willing her Mistress to take the call. Penny taps her fingernail on the table for a moment. “Isn’t it sweet of her to finally call?”

Lisa smiles.

“Hang up.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Jeremy answers.

“No, Mistress!” Lisa protests, dropping her towel. All eyes in the House turned to her. She ignores most of them. The shimmering green gaze of her Mistress is her only concern.

Unfortunately, said gaze does not appear pleased. “Excuse me?”

“M-Mistress…I…you should take the call, Mistress.”

“Oh, I should, should I? And why is that exactly?”

Looking down, Lisa starts to regret her outburst. As she considers what to say, she comes to understand why Jeremy is doing this. He cares about Mistress Penelope, so he did what he felt he had to in order to protect her. She’s about to do the same thing; protect someone she cares about, even at the risk of their wrath.

“Because she’s been trying to call you for weeks, Mistress! Jeremy’s been editing your call log!”

This is a moment Jeremy has prepared for. Instead of denying, he remains quiet. Lisa will dig herself a deeper and deeper grave and he won’t have to risk lying to Mistress Penelope.

Penny glances his way before looking back to Lisa. “That is a ridiculous notion. The simple fact is- .”

The phone ringing again temporarily halts the conversation. Jeremy looks down at the device and then locks eyes with Penny.

“Hang up,” she commands.

With a nod, Jeremy obeys. Lisa wrings her hands as she glances frantically back and forth between them. Her Mistress stare at her with narrow, piercing eyes. For a moment, Lisa’s voice fails her, but she reaches down and finds the courage to press on. “Mistress. Please take the call.”

“Lisa. You have one chance to shut your mouth and return to your work before I decide to take exception to you questioning me.”

She knows she should obey. Disobeying never turns out well for the offender. Reaching down and collecting her towel, Lisa prepares to follow Penny’s command. The phone ringing again stops her. This time the sound doesn’t attract the Mistress’ attention. She continues to stare at her mouthy sub.

“It’s her again,” Jeremy informs her.

“Then hang up again,” she answers.

Lisa steps forward. “Mistress, please!”

“Enough!” As Penny rises from her chair, Jeremy steps back and many of her submissives drop down to their knees. Lisa’s eyes widen as her Mistress strides toward her. Nearly a foot taller, Penelope stares down at her. She knows she’s supposed to kneel, but fear paralyzes her.

“Before I decide what to do with you,” Penny begins in a cold, threatening voice, “I have to know; why do you care whether I speak to Eleanor or not?”

Lisa stares blankly for a moment before her eyes begin to water. “She saved your life, Mistress.” Penelope’s brows twitch slightly, but her expression holds in the face of Lisa’s emotional voice. “She gave you back to us.”

Fearing the girl’s plea could sway his Mistress, Jeremy finally speaks up. “That was more Mr. Willard than her.”

“Willard would have been too late,” Lisa answers without looking away from Penny’s green eyes. “Ms. Warwick was the one who stopped that man. She risked her life to save you.” A tear runs down her cheek and her voice wobbles. “He was going to kill you, Mistress. And leave you in the gutter like trash.”

Penelope remembers that night. The smug sound of Hines’ voice. The feeling of her knees on the cold concrete. The horrible torment of the burning arcane chains. She was out by the time Eleanor arrived, but Henry informed her on what happened. Eleanor was in the nick of time. She was moments from death when she intervened.

Her stern countenance softens slightly as she looks around the room. Her submissives tend to avoid eye contact unless she requests it. Yet in this particular case, protocol takes a holiday. Many look at her with eyes that make it clear they agree with Lisa.

Turning back to the girl, the Mistress reaches out and gently wipes the tear off her cheek with her thumb. Lisa is confused until Penny offers a slight smile. With a small sigh of relief, she smiles back.

Jeremy watches the scene with growing concern. He wants to step in but feels increasingly outnumbered. When the phone rings a fourth time, he feels a tightness in his stomach. Penny spins on her heels and storms toward him. “Mistress…,” he starts before trailing off, having no real idea as to what to say.

Penny snatches the phone away and quickly answers it. “Eleanor?” The room falls silent as no one dares make a sound while she listens. Jeremy watches her brows furrow. “I see. I’ll be there as soon as I can. One more thing, Eleanor; how many times have you tried to call me these past few weeks?”

As Eleanor’s answer reaches her ear, Penny’s eyes burn as she turns them on Jeremy. He holds her furious glare for a moment before looking to the ground.

“Mmhmm. I’ll see you shortly.” Lowering the phone, she stares at her host with silent fury. She wants to yell and scream at him but can’t quite find the right words. He is her closest submissive and his betrayal stings her.

“Mistress, I-.”

Penny cuts him off by snapping her fingers and pointing to the floor. Jeremy drops into a kneeling position. He feels his Mistress’ glare burning down on him. “You are very lucky I don’t have the time to deal with you right now. When I get back, however long that may be, you had better not have moved an inch from this spot.”

“Yes, Mistress,” he answers meekly, his head hanging in shame.

“Lisa.” She perks up at the mention of her name. “Get dressed. You’re coming with me.”

As Penny makes her way out of the room, Lisa stares in disbelief. “Mistress?”

Without turning to face her, the Mistress snaps, “Now!”

“Yes, Mistress,” the girl chirps as she scurries away.

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Eleanor drops her phone into her pocket. “She’s coming." Snatching her satchel from the rack, she hastily throws it onto her shoulder.

Henry raises an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

“Penny’s going to need to get in here.”

“Yes, but what- .”

Eleanor heads for the door before turning back to her mentor. “Save her, Henry. Whatever that takes. Please.”

Henry cocks his head to the side. “Of course, but where are you going?”

Turning back to the exit, Eleanor takes a deep breath. “I’m going to give Grey something to do.”

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