Jack stared at Declan trying to decide whether he should be scared for his life or not. Declan had his back to him, looking over the broken glass and letting the vodka bottle slip from his hand. The bottle hit the floor at the wrong angle and shattered too, sending the clear liquid out over the tile floor around his bare feet. Jack forced himself to release the bedpost, taking a tentative step forward toward Declan. The 'clanking' noise of his collar must have given him away, because Declan quickly glanced over his shoulder to look back. Jack stopped, unsure whether to continue approaching him. Declan raised a hand, telling him in a low stern voice. "Stay where you are. There is glass everywhere". Declan's tone wasn't as hostile as he had expected it to be. Remaining where he was, Jack told Declan nicely. "Is there anything I can do to help"? Declan huffed sarcastically, muttering back. "Not unless you can go back in time". 

Jack shifted nervously, before saying lightly. "You want to talk about it? I hear it helps". Declan turned to face him, stepping on the glass without even flinching. Jack winced for him as he saw blood start to swirl in the alcohol beneath his foot. Declan never met his eyes, but asked him curiously. "I've seen the security tapes... Does he still haunt you"? Jack shrugged, answering unsure. "I don't follow you". Declan moved closer to lean his shoulder against the doorframe of the bathroom, his eyes staring distantly at the carpet as he answered dryly. "Rodger. I saw what he did to you here. Do you still see him"? Jack pressed his back to the bedpost, honestly answering. "I used to. I haven't for a while now. Who do you see"? Declan lifted his head to finally meet his eyes, telling him in a grim broken voice. "The better question is who don't I see... My life is filled with shadows. Trevor thinks he has it bad... He chose this life. I didn't".

Declan slide away from the doorframe and limped to a chair. When he was settled, Jack approached him slowly. Declan lifted his foot to see the damage, telling Jack numbly. "Go back to bed. Get some rest. I won't be sleeping for a while". Jack sank to his knees beside the chair, looking at the bottom of Declan's foot. There was a lot of blue glass from his bottle and some fragments of mirror. Blood dripped from his foot to the carpet, but Jack ignored it. Carefully taking ahold of Declan's foot, Jack began to remove pieces of glass. There was a weird silence between them for a bit, before Declan finally asked him. "How did you force yourself to stop seeing him"? Jack pulled another piece of glass from Declan's foot with a small smirk, answering sweetly. "The truth is that I didn't. I saw that motherfucker for months after the incident. The only thing that made his memory fade was Mark. Without him... I'd still be seeing him".

Jack pulled the last piece free, while Declan told him softly. "You actually love him". Jack put a cloth to Declan's foot, looking up to answer him. "Of course. Did you think I...". Jack let his voice trail off as he realized something. Sitting back a little, Jack asked Declan curiously. "You thought Mark took me from Orson. That like you, I was kidnapped and sold into this life"? Declan leaned on the arm of his chair, telling him casually. "I told you that I rescue pets". Jack let out a hearty chuckle, saying perplexed. "Wow. But your treatment of Trevor"? Declan's eyes moved to the door, before muttering out. "Orson twisted Trevor up so badly that his morals are backwards. I've been trying different methods to see what he responds too. I'm worried that I can't save him". Jack sighed, mumbling out. "Well... He is a rapist. I want to hate him... but I can't. Not entirely. I blame Orson for turning him into a monster. That poor bunny girl...".

A smirk pulled at Declan's lips as he said bluntly. "She is fine. Trevor never touched her. I set him up to scare him. He has been sneaking out to watch Ben". Jack removed his hands from Declan, stating sternly. "That is cruel. You castrated him over a lie"? Declan locked eyes with him, seriously saying. "I did not. Trevor is locked in an old breeding room. He thinks he's going to be castrated, but I set this up awhile ago. I have to break him to fix him. It is hard to explain... but I'm trying to help him. If Trevor goes to prison... He'll never walk out. He has raped people and I have made sure that he has paid for that. One of many reasons why he hates me. He just doesn't understand what he wants". Jack raised a curious eyebrow, asking a bit rashly. "And you do"? Declan sighed, reaching out to touch Jack's steel collar, before answering softly. "Did you ever wonder why Trevor likes you so much? Why he is jealous of Mark? Why he has been getting hostile whenever Ben talks about you"?

Jack tried to piece it together, but Declan leaned forward to outright tell him. "Trevor has outgrown being a Submissive. He doesn't relate to the other Subs anymore. He knows how to be a good dog... but he's not happy being one anymore. I've seen enough pets to know the signs. He's ready to be a Master, but has no one willing to train him on how to be one. Mark never learned either and that is why-". Jack shook his head, cutting off Declan as he interrupted curtly. "Hold on a minute. Mark was trained. Kate trained Mark how to be a Master after he left Orson". Declan's eyes narrowed on him in a confused expression, leaving Jack to add in softer. "You didn't know that either... Well, then... It seems we have a lot to talk about". Declan smirked, putting his foot down as he asked him calmly. "It would seem so. This the same Kate that I took the academy from"?

Jack nodded with smirk, answering lightly. "Ya. She was using me as an example to show the other Sub's how a...". Jack trailed off for a second, smiling brighter. He had an idea. Taking a short breath, Jack added in informatively. "She was showing Sub's how an S&M lifestyle works. I was learning from her as I helped her. I wonder though... Has this academy ever been run by two people"? Declan raised an eyebrow at him, saying simply. "Now, why would you care about that"? Jack slowly climbed to his feet, saying in a gentle voice. "What I mean is... Have you ever thought about teaching not just people on how to be Subs... but how to be Masters? Kate is a respected Master and knows how to train Subs well from what I have seen. While you claim to say that Trevor is struggling, because he doesn't realize that he wants to be a Master. Maybe you could let the Subs decide for themselves what they want to be. Whether a Master or a Submissive. What do you think"?

Declan pointed toward the bed, telling Jack in a soft commanding voice. "I think you should go to bed. I've got a lot to think about". Jack couldn't tell if Declan liked the idea or not. Reluctantly, he started to turn to head for the bed, when Declan took ahold of his wrist. Declan kissed the back of his hand, giving him a small warm smile before waving him off. Jack wasn't sure what that meant, but he had a good feeling. Climbing back onto the bed, Jack watched Declan mess with his iPad in silence. He wanted to know what Declan was thinking and doing, but the longer he laid there doing nothing... The faster he fell asleep. The next time Jack awoke it was to the sound of Declan talking on a phone. The whole conversation was in Russian, but it sounded pleasant. Jack stretched, wondering if Declan had been up all night. Did the man ever sleep? Or did his nightmares keep him from sleeping too long.

Declan hung up his phone, noticing Jack was awake and telling him commandingly in a happy voice. "I need you to get up and get dressed. You're going to help me with something". Jack's heart leapt in his chest in surprise. What could Declan possibly need his help with? He seemed in a good mood... So, chances were that whatever it was wasn't bad... Right? Jack slipped off the bed to slip on his pants and gathered up his play gear. Declan moved to the door and gestured for Jack to join him. Jack walked to the door, when the collar cinched up on him to keep him in the room. Declan walked up to stand before him, whispering in a soft loving voice. "If I remove this... Can I trust you"? Jack thought about his answer, before honestly replying. "I won't cause trouble. I promise". Declan pulled the key from his pocket and carefully unlocked the collar.

Declan waited to see if he would run or try something. When he didn't, Declan told him happily. "I'm taking you to see Mark. We all have a few things we need to discuss. It should be quite interesting". Jack grinned brightly, happily following Declan out into the hallway. Jack did his best to remember his training. Keeping his eyes low and staying a step or two back from Declan. They didn't really come across any other Master or pets on the way down. The few they did, Jack didn't dare to look to see if they stared at them. He was going to be on his best behavior. Mark was so close that the more he walked the faster his heart raced. He couldn't wait to see him. Declan lead him to a door on the first floor, that when opened, it appeared to be a conference room. Jack was struggling to keep his eyes low, until he heard Mark's warm voice call his name.

At the sweet sound of Mark's deep voice, Jack looked up to see him. Mark rose from a chair and hesitated to walk up to him. Mark pulled Declan's ring from his pocket, sliding in across the table to Declan, pleading softly. "I did what you asked". Declan picked up his ring, slipping it back onto his finger. Jack swallowed nervously, holding back his desire to run to Mark. Declan glanced at Jack, stating calmly. "You did and I am a man of my word". Declan jerked his head in Mark's direction and Jack took that as permission. Dashing into the room, Jack removed his dog mask and practically jumped into Mark's strong embrace. Feeling his warm skin and smelling his familiar scent, Jack relaxed. Mark's arms tightened around him, his breath panting out against his bare neck. "Are you alright?! Did he hurt you?! God! I was so worried"!

Jack chuckled against Mark's neck, muffling out to him happily. "I'm good. Even better than good now that you are here"! Jack kissed Mark's neck, not wanting to let him go. The conference room door closed and Declan told someone, calmly. "Good. You got my message. Now, I think we all should have a seat. We have a lot to go over". Mark's embrace loosened a bit on Jack as he curiously stated out. "Kate? Why are you here? What's going on"? Jack kept his arms around Mark's neck, but turned to look. Kate gave Mark a shrug and slipped into one of the seats, propping her heavy steel toed gothic boots up on the table. Declan lowered himself into a seat too, telling them seriously. "I think it is about time we cleared the air and made some changes around here". To Be Continued...