Just Rewards

By Donna and Abby

It had been a long night for the girls of the House of Pleasures. Since the loss of two of their number, they hadn't been able to take as much time off as before. Consone grumbled that Grayson had gone soft, allowing the girls just to leave whenever they felt like it, but Grayson stood firm. 

"It all boils down to good business practices," he told the Spaniard. "An unhappy whore is bad for business. A happy one is good." He stood up and walked out of the House, effectively ending the conversation.  

Just outside, he was surprised to see someone he had met once, and did not think he would ever meet again.  At least not as long as he was good to the girls.  Standing there, as if waiting for him, was the Old One. 

"Greetings," Grayson said, wondering why he was there. "Are you here to see your daughters? They are all in bed right now, resting after last night."  

"No, I came because I wanted to give you something." 

Grayson looked up, surprised. "What is it?" he asked, now glad that he had handled the situation at the mine as well as the releasing of the two girls the way he had. The Old One didn't look displeased!  

First," he said, "yes I am pleased with the way you handled things.  And because you let my girls go without a fight, I am replacing them."  He raised his hand and two girls, both naked, came forward.  One was redheaded, very much like Naiad, and he introduced her as Narissa.  The other was very exotic looking, and he called her Hotari. 

"I.. I am thankful," he said, "and grateful! As long as I have any say, your girls will be well treated here. It would be bad business to not do otherwise!"   

The Old One smiled.  Nodding, he raised his hand again and a beautiful girl with dark hair and cobalt blue eyes stepped out.  "This is Indigo. She is. . . your reward for doing as I've asked." 

Grayson's mouth dropped, and for a moment he was speechless. In the recess of his mind, he could hear Darius telling him that here on Edan, he had an opportunity to change for the better, if he only made the effort. And now that he was married to a wonderful woman, perhaps he had changed without him even realizing it. "I don't know what to say. I really don't. Thank you." He bowed his head in respect.  

"You continue to treat them right, and let them live their lives, and you will not find yourself in want."  Then the Old One kissed each of his beautiful fae and turned them over to their new keeper.  As he left, they turned expectant but obedient eyes on the Immortal. 

"Come, girls," he said. "Let's go in the house, and get you situated. Your living quarters will be in a different section of the building, away from the rooms where you will be conducting your trade." He ushered them into the house, and took them straight to the costume room, giving them free rein to dress as they liked.  

Of course Narissa wanted to dress young!  Grayson was pleased with this - he had not liked losing Naiad.  Hotari dressed in sheer but sparkly clothing; it was not until afterward that Grayson learned her name meant "firefly".  Indigo, of course, chose blue. 

Three very different women, with three very different styles. Grayson was pleased. Very pleased. "Are you hungry?" he asked. "Or would you like to choose your rooms now?"  

"It is too early to start work," said Hotari with a smile, "so we will settle into our rooms and then eat." 

He took them upstairs, showing them the area of the house that the girls called their own. Each girl had a suite of rooms including a bedroom, a small sitting room and bath. "This one was Naiad's," he said, opening one of them up. "The one that Ula had is at the end of the hall. There are several others that are unoccupied on the next floor. If you like, once you have settled in, I'll have Candi give you a complete tour of all the facilities we have here."  

"We'd like that," said Narissa looking around Naiad's room.  Clearly, she meant to keep that one for herself. The other two girls went to look at Ula's - and whatever extra room they could find. 

After they each had chosen one, Grayson gathered them in one room. "My rules are just this. Keep the customers happy. But if you feel uncomfortable or frightened by something, tell Candi or me. You won't be forced to do something you aren't ready for. And, your off time is your own, as are the rooms you chose. If you have a favorite that you want to see on your own time, feel free to do so."  

They seemed to like that idea, though of course none of them had met *any*one yet.  Indigo was kind of aloof, standing behind her sisters and taking it all in silently, but she smiled at this. 

"Get some rest then," he told them. "The rest of the girls will be up and about after lunch. Let them teach you the ropes. If any of you would prefer to be initiated by someone in particular after you have met the other partners and our regular customers, let me know. Or, if you like, we can auction off your first time to the highest bidder. Some of the girls really got off on being put on display like that, while others didn't want to do it. Your choice."  

Hotari's eyes glowed, and Narissa giggled.  Indigo stood even more aloofly.  He thought he had his answer.  The three went to their rooms, hugging before they parted; they could not wait to meet their sisters later, and start their new lives.