A Firm Hand

“Do you know why your parents asked you to come over here Peyton?” Kathy asked, her voice hard as iron, watching the young brunette as she asked the question. She let the silence hang in the air, heavy and deliberate, forcing Peyton to squirm under scrutiny.

“They said you needed help with something.” Peyton shrugged in that way only a young girl can, her tone dull and disinterested.

“Well in a sense that’s true.” A smile crept onto her face, as she felt a little thrill run through her at what was to come. Hunger coiled in her gut, demanding control, she didn’t want to fix the girl; she wanted to break her. “But that’s only part of it. You’ve been causing your parents a lot of trouble lately.” Her voice hardened at the visible eye rolling from Peyton. “Something you’d like to say Peyton?”

Peyton’s jaw dropped, a whine forming in her throat, but Kathy shut it with a swift slap, cracking against Peyton’s cheek, leaving her stunned.

“You’ll be staying here with me until you have learned how to behave. Don’t think about running to your parents for help, they won’t believe you.” The words dripped with threatening menace.

Before Peyton could pull herself together, Kathy’s hand wrapped itself in Peyton’s long, dark hair, yanking downward until Peyton’s knees hit the floor with a heavy thud. She felt a surge of excitement at the growing sense of control, then leaned forward and kissed the shocked girl on her burning cheek. The scent of her fear filled Kathy’s nostrils, a heady perfume. She twisted her fist in the girl’s hair, yanking her head back until her neck was exposed and vulnerable.