JoS/Henriette/31st Journal - Plaything

Rain's Hand, 23rd, 4E 203

If you enjoy bad things happening to me, boy are you in for a lot of fun!

Everything in the past week has been a bit of a blur. My head is like a jigsaw puzzle I haven't had a whole lot of time to put them together. I'm used to having my rights violated, having my freedom taken away from me, but apart from just few unlucky times, I've always had the means to fight back and defend myself, you know… Not this time, not for time being. The price I'm paying is heavier than I ever anticipated.

It began when Maven herself had dragged her ass down to the filthy Ratway to look at what kind of rodent her men had caught. She woke me up, calling my name, sounding somewhat angry, but mostly just flabbergasted. She wasn't expecting to find me behind the bars, and she scolded me. What was I thinking? How could I be so foolish? Above everything else, how could I betray her trust and disappoint her like this after everything I've done to impress me?

Honestly, I was feeling a little ashamed as well. It's not like me to fail a job like that. I was too careless, or rather, I'm way too used to working in my own way. Had I gone for the kill inside that house, I wouldn't be here right now. Then again, that would've created trouble for me as well as Maven wouldn't have taken it lying down. Karliah would've been royally pissed as well. Now they're just disappointed in me. Not actually sure what's worse; to anger someone, or to fail someone's expectations and have them be ashamed of me doing a lousy job.

For a lousy, botched job, there was going to be a steep price to pay. Slap on a wrist wasn't going to cut it, and any apology wasn't going to make it better. Maven has to set an example and make it clear that she's the last person on Skyrim you want to screw and whatever status I've acquired in the Cistern wasn't going to cut it. She's above the Guild and ain't nobody gonna help me get out of this mess.

She then grabbed a little stool and sat down. We had ourselves a discussion.

"My men told what you were after. A certain jewel… A stone of Barenziah… Worthless piece of junk to me, but invaluable to someone we know. Karliah hired you for the job, am I correct?"

"Yes, you are correct."

I had been quiet up until that point, so I didn't know what to expect when I opened my mouth. I guess my response was a little bit too tacky for her liking, or maybe she was just enjoying my little predicament. Oh, who am I kidding, she was definetily enjoying making me feel like a worthless piece of meat. Either way, she wanted me to address her more respectfully. I hung my head as I corrected myself.

"Yes ma'am, you are correct."

"What was in it for you, Henriette?"

"Two thousand drakes, ma'am, half paid up front."

Hearing the sum made Maven's eyebrows rise in shock. "Why would that bitch pay so much money for a worthless piece of jewelry is beyond me." Then, she leaned in and stared me square in my eyes. "Where is that grey-skin bitch?"

Maven's words confused me. Never mind the racial slur, which I wasn't expecting from her, Karliah had assured that not only would this job be a easy one, but also that Karliah would be able to deal with the fallout, but nothing that was unraveling before me suggested that was the case. Granted, I failed, as is already painfully obvious, but still…

Regardless, I replied as honestly and truthfully as I could. We were only missing two stones, so we split up. Karliah headed for Windhelm while I struck Maven's house. Maven nodded, and then spoke. "I thought it should've been clear even to a stupid brat like yourself, but just because I do not dwell in your smelly cistern doesn't mean I'm not your boss. You know, I know, everyone knows, I am your guild's true leader. Without me, there would be no Thieves Guild in Riften. Let this punishment of yours be a reminder of that. You're hereby excommunicated from the Thieves Guild, Henriette."

I felt like crying, not because I was sad or angry, but because I was just so ashamed and disappointed of myself, and of managing to fail like this. "Yes, ma'am", was all I could utter in reply.

"You disappoint me, Henriette", she said as she stood up with a hand inside her breast pocket. She whipped out a leather collar painted in red, padded with steel and connected to a sturdy chain. She then made it quite clear that I was powerless, I have no more rights, I could do nothing, I'm her property now, I'm a slave… She said it's over for me. She demanded that I drop the "ma'am" and address her properly as "mistress", and I did as was asked of me. The game she wanted to play was starting to unravel before my eyes.

"Even a failure like yourself can be useful", she said as she gestured at two of her mercenaries to come forward and open up the cell. "Stay still, dog."

As soon as the door opened, I started calculating my next move. I backed down, wondering if there was a way for me escape. In the end though, it was all in vain. Maven locked the collar around my neck and pulled on the leash. She ordered me to stay on my knees where I belong, and to listen closely, as she was about to lay down the terms.

"One full calendar year", she said, as she played with the chain. "That's your punishment. You serve your time in labor, working your ass off around the clock, seven days a week as a whore, a plaything for customers. No objections, no excuses, just blind servitude. Displease me, I'll add to your punishment. Understand?"

"Yes, mistress."

"Oh, and you're still free to try and prove me wrong my escaping my chains", she said. "Of course, I'm not expecting that to happen, so if you do manage, who knows… Maybe you can prove me wrong by showing me you're not as useless as I think you are…"

Challenge accepted, I thought. Add to my bounty, I don't care. I may be clumsy and careless at times, but there's nothing that can hold me back for good if I just put my mind into it. I'll shout and scream my way to freedom if I have to! During this week I've been in this predicament though, it looks hopeless. I've got no clue how to get out from here, apart from waiting and working my way out. I hope it doesn't have to come to that, because damn it, year is a long time.

• Xth Journal - WIP