(From (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=98323.msg4955354#msg4955354))<br/><br/><hr/><br/><br/>After leading the way to Adi’s room, Atticus returned to his own. He threw open the window, and looked down at the street, his hands shaking slightly. It was too quiet. He didn’t want to think. He had failed. He’d not pleased the client. The Master was going to be so angry...<br/><br/>He shut his eyes. The Mistress of The Briars had done such ugly things to the disobedient whores. She’d had everyone watch as she and her man Hunter did things that left the victim on the brink of death. They had driven it deep – nothing the clients did was as bad as what they could do to them. He’d never failed so badly as to warrant something like that, but to be the reason why a session was ended? And not even because he’d asked, but because he’d been disrespectful and unworthy. “Fuck, fuck!” he hissed, and slammed his fist into the wall. The flash of pain helped. Not much, but some.<br/><br/>Don’t damage the House. He’d broken that creed. He wouldn’t make it worse.<br/><br/>He left the window wide and went to his writing desk, opening a secret cubby and fishing out a green-papered cigarette and a book of matches. He then left, rather quickly, heading  down the stairs.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>(To (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=98856.msg4955611#msg4955611))