DISCLAIMER: So, we finally arrive at the end of the story. Yes, the very end. This is the final chapter of the final installment of the Manor Series. Please read To The Manor Sold and By The Manor Owned prior to attempting to understand this story. It is VERY VERY DARK! Contents include but are not limited to physical abuse, psychological abuse, suicide, rapes, murders, ego destruction, reckless sex, sane sex, lots of sodomy, S & M, B & D, P's & Q's, political strife, hurt/comfort, pleasure/pain, life/death, taxes/loopholes, BBQ's, disturbing culinary choices, good folks getting hurt, bad guys loving every minute of it, sex between women and men and women and women and men and men and solo acts of debauchery and threesomes but absolutely, positively, no independent film making.
WARNING: If any of the above gives you the most remote sense of uneasiness, heart flutters, or red cheeks then, for the love of God, skip this story. Seriously, stop now. Turn back. You won't like what lies ahead.
FEEDBACK: Is welcome at p.phair@comcast.com
From The Manor Taken
by Phair
Part 6
The Conclusion
Tess kept a steady pace along side the Governor. The two of them looked like nothing more than a pair of the gentry out for a leisurely afternoon horseback ride. They wore comfortable combed cotton sweaters and sturdy leather pants and boots. Attire which covered most of Tess' healing injuries. Neither of them carried a weapon.
"How I just adore the smell of sweating horses and the dung they do drop," the Governor announced.
Tess remained silent. Her gaze was fixed on the horizon stretched out before them.
"Oh now, come on and say something, my sweet. If I become bored there is no telling what heinous little tantrum I might resort to. Or what kind of misery I can inflict on your lover when we return to our happy, wholesome home."
"Certainly, Master. What would you like me to say?" Tess responded immediately to the threat but kept her vision fixed on the road.
"Anything. Everything. Talk away. The podium is yours, so to speak. How very unlike you to need prompting. Oh, I remember well how you use to enjoy engaging me in petty squabbles when we were children. Liberty! Freedom! Equality! All that boring, silly nonsense. You were so fierce in your convictions way back whenever. Such a ferocious passion for the absolutely ridiculous. You'd always lose, of course, and suffer the back of your dear old Dad's hand but it was quite entertaining while it lasted. I must say that I enjoyed it immensely."
"Yes," Tess answered without enthusiasm, "I guess you would. Especially since you weren't the one getting the beating."
"Oh, I don't know about that," the Governor's eyes twinkled at the thought. "I might have really enjoyed a good spanking or two."
"You should have spoken up. I would have happily traded places with you."
"I bet you would have!" The Governor laughed. "Isn't it sad, though? Nobody truly appreciates their station in life. You for example, seemed to have gotten no thrill, no joy out of your confinement and bondage. Instead of probing for pleasure amidst the exquisite depths of pain, you merely suffered senselessly."
"If that's what you think, you should try out the other end of the whip," Tess dared to venture.
The Governor gave her a generous smirk but did not continue the discussion. They rode on silently.
"HOLD OR DIE!" A voice shouted from the hillside.
Several arrows followed the announcement. They embedded themselves in the dirt a few feet from the horses. Tess pulled her mare to an abrupt stop and waited. The Governor did not advance his horse but walked him back and forth slowly behind the arrow line. He scanned the hillside and tree line for telltale signs of snipers.
"Don't be cowards, show yourselves for goodness sake," the Governor yelled.
Ten armed men and women emerged from either side of the rode. They had their weapons at the ready. After a few minutes of posturing, a lone figure rose up from the tree line and walked slowly down the road toward the group. His smile and gait was confident.
"TESSA! If you aren't a sight for old eyes!" Vic called and waved from the distance. "We never thought we'd see the likes of you again in this lifetime or the next."
Tess turned with a sudden jerk and brought her horse hard to the left to come along next to the Governor. A well timed boot kick knocked him from his perch.
"Take him," Tess commanded.
The band of armed men and women set upon the fallen Governor at the command. Kicks and punches were thrown liberally. The thrashing more than subdue the stunned man.
"Restrain him and let's get back to your camp in case we were followed by his soldiers," Tess ordered as she checked over her shoulder.
"No worries, Tess," Vic stated. "I've got soldiers lining the road. If his men tried to follow you then they're dead by now"
"Good planning, my friend," Tess gave a grin.
* * *
Tess sat near the glow of the fire. She studied the happy faces surrounding her while warming her hands. She truly thought she would never see many of then again. Never mind be in the middle of staging a coup with them.
"Master, you seemed troubled," Stewie observed.
Tess shook her head, "No, I'm not your Master any more and I'm not troubled. I'm just trying to figure out how you all managed to survive the chaos at the Manor."
"Survive and Conquer!" A cheerful female voice joined the circle around the fire.
The tall, dark woman sat down next to Tess. She offered a jug. Tess accepted it. She could smell the intoxicating syrup before she even took the a swig.
"Strong," Tess coughed. "Even for slave brew."
"It's free brew now," the woman chuckled.
"So it is," Tess laughed. "Tell me, why do I have the feeling like I should know you?"
The group began to laugh as the woman stated, "Perhaps, you're shorter than you use to be or maybe I'm taller."
"She's grown at least two feet since you last saw her," A voice called out from the group.
Another teased, "And her ego has grown about five feet!"
The crowd continued to laugh as the woman explained, "You didn't know me too long. I was new to the Manor staff. I'm Kacia."
"I thought I sent you across the river. Vic, care to tell me what happened?" Tess was stunned as much by the girl's growth as her presence in the war party.
"Not to worry none. We all did go across the river," Vic squeezed into the circle. He refused the offer of the jug which made Tess smile. "We built a strong fort. Almost five thousand free slaves and west tribe members joined us that first winter. It was a struggle but by spring we numbered over eight thousand."
"Tess, you should see the fort. It'd dwarf the Manor," Stewie stated with pride.
"I'm telling a story," Vic tisked. "That spring we heard from the free village. They had survived as well and beaten back the attack from the Governor's soldiers. Their numbers had swollen from thirty to two thousand but they were hanging on by the barest threads. They were cold and hungry. We immediately set out with supplies."
"Seeing as I was on that end of things, can I explain the next part?" A nod from Vic gave Stewie permission to continue. "They came and helped us build our own fortification and plant and get our stores in order for the next winter and more people came to join us..."
"It was the gathering foretold in the Constitution." Kacia said, "We the people..."
The group bowed their heads in reverence. There was a brief silence at the group honored their faith.
"Oh blah blah blah boo boo boo blah fucking boo fucking who the fuck!" The Governor broke the respectful moment. "You wimps! Just wait until my men free me. Tess, I'll just bet your little slave girl, Jordan, is so sorry she ever met you! Too bad for her...,"
Tess looked over her shoulder at the bound man. "What are you talking about? What have you done to Jordan?"
The Governor's split lip cracked and bled anew as he smiled broadly, "I instructed my bitch to have the Royal Guards rape her and then he could have his way with her and then he was to strangle her. I didn't tell him to defile her corpse but I'm sure he'll think of it on his own."
Vic was on his feet and reaching for his gun when Tess stopped him, "Hold back, Vic."
"But what he had them do to her. We...you can't let him get away with it. Like he got away with everything else his whole life! Please let me put him out of his misery."
"No," Tess turned to face the Governor. "How would a bullet in his brain serve to balance the scales against Jordan's suffering? Snuffing his life out in less than a blink of an eye does not create justice."
The Governor lay on the ground smirking. He always knew Tess was a sentimental fool. He was sure she was going to imprison him for life or some such length of time which would give him a chance to gather his forces to rise up against her.
"I have no intention of letting you put him out of his misery. In fact, I'm going to make sure his misery consumes him! Stewie, Vic, prepare a barbeque pit. We're going to roast this pig alive!"
* * *
"Really Tess, you've made your point. I'm a monstrous creature. What I've done, what I did to you and Jordan can't be forgiven," The Governor was being slowly turned on a spit over an open fire. "But, you can't become as vile as me..."
"Why not?" Tess stood next to the pit staring at the Governor's blushing skin.
"Well, it's...it's wrong. I'm sure this goes against your Constitution. Besides, Jordan isn't dead. I was kidding. Trying to get your goat," The Governor was babbling.
"You got it."
"Tess, come on! You can't kill me in cold blood!"
"Not cold. Hot. Very hot," she replied.
"Tess!"
"Don't worry, I'm here. I'm staying right here until you turn golden brown."
* * *
"Riders approaching!" A guard on the wall shouted.
"Open the gate!" Tess screamed as she rode toward the Governor's palace. "The Governor is not well!"
The large gates opened wide to admit both horses. The soldiers began to back away from the foul stench that followed the pair.
"God woman, what happened. What's wrong with the Governor?" The Captain of the guard choked out.
"He's not well," Tess reached out and pulled back his cape. "In fact, he's well done!"
With that pronouncement, the ESA raced the gates. A full battle was underway before most of the soldiers could tear their gaze away from the Governor's charred remains tied on top of his horse. An apple was wedged in his mouth.
Tess ignored the battle. She rode straight for the palace. She would take out the last of her revenge on her brother. Only then would she stop and grieve her lover. She bounded down the corridor toward the great hall. When she burst through the door her heart nearly stopped. Jordan was naked and laid out across the plush pillows of the dais. A sob escaped from Tess.
"I don't remember you being a cry baby. At least, I never saw you cry after our whore of mother got what she had coming to her," Tosca stepped out of the shadows to face his sister.
"Mother loved you."
"No, if she loved me she would have drowned me at birth instead of letting Togo get his hands on me. You too. Tess, it would have been better to die before we knew what the world was about," Tosca gave a gentle smile. "I'm sorry, Cory did not survive. What of my Master?"
"He's dead."
"I assumed as much but it is still terrible to hear. You know, I really loved him."
Tess merely nodded and side stepped the man. She walked over to Jordan's body. Tears stung her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to die right there. She reached out and caressed her lover's face. The skin was warm. Tess frowned in confusion. She placed two fingers to Jordan's throat and felt a strong, steady heart beat.
"She's still alive," Tess whispered.
"Of course she's alive. You'd didn't think I'd let her get killed did you?"
Tess was bewildered, "The Governor said..."
"Oh, he told me to kill her but how could I do that after you spared my life. No, I might be a terrible person but I'm not ungrateful." Tosca stated firmly.
"Thank you."
Tosca stepped away. He knelt back down in the original position Tess saw him in only the day before. He re-chained his collar to the dais. Tess couldn't help but notice how hard his erection got.
"What are you going to do?"
"My Master had a special collar made for me. If has a suicide default switch. It will slowly strangle me to death while I enjoy some final moments of carnal bliss by whacking my prick."
"Tosca, there's no need for you to die," Tess tried to argue.
"No, there's no need for me to live. My lover is dead. The world I revealed in has passed away. And, the weight of my guilt is too great," He reached for his collar and a low hum began. "If you don't mind, I'd like some privacy."
Tess turned away. She lifted Jordan into her arms and headed out of the great hall. She never looked back.
"Tess," Jordan stifled a yawn.
"Yep, it's me."
"What's going on?"
Jordan squinted as they stepped outside. There was an eerie silence around them. Dead and dying bodies littered the ground. The ESA stood victorious before Tess. When they saw Jordan was alive a cheer went up. Tess grinned.
"Did we win?" Jordan asked.
"Yes, we did."
"What happens now?"
Tess chuckled, "Now, we live happily ever after."
THE END