Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Greer did not fancy himself as the sort of man who could be moved by the bonds of family or sentiment. He’d been hardened against the idea of family from the first time his father had beaten him to a bloody pulp at the tender age of six while his mother looked on, doing nothing to help.
Despite that, or perhaps because of it, as he watched the care and affection which Penny lavished on his sister, Greer’s usually stony heart softened.
“Be prepared to be denied entrance,” he warned Penny as the hack he’d hired at the edge of Whitechapel deposited them in front of The Zagreus Den deep into the darkness of the night.
“I did not forewarn anyone that you would be coming, and as you will see, my friends are strict about who they admit to this club.”
“I see,” Penny said with a nod, glancing up at the ordinary brick edifice of the club.
Greer could tell by the confusion in Penny’s expression that he had already underestimated the world Brutus and Titus had built.
He even sniffed a little as he looked up toward the upper floors, then all along the street.
He did not say anything, however, which Greer took as a positive sign.
Penny would do well to reserve his judgment until they were inside the club.
As Greer expected, they were only admitted into the foyer at first.
“Are Brutus and Titus expecting your company?” Caius asked Greer, failing to offer to take either his or Penny’s coats and hats.
“They are not expecting anything,” Greer said. “But if you tell them I’m here and that I’ve brought Percival Frey with me, I think you’ll find we will both be admitted.”
“Very good, sir,” Caius said, then left them there as he ventured deeper into the house.
Penny glanced quickly at Greer with a slightly bemused look as Caius turned a corner. “Percival?” he asked.
Greer smirked at him. “That’s your given name, is it not?”
“It is,” Penny said, his smile warming. “I wasn’t aware you knew that.”
Greer stepped slightly closer to him. “I think you’ll find that I know a great deal more about you than you realize,” he said, brushing his fingers down the length of Penny’s sleeve. “Such as what you sound like when you come.”
Penny sucked in a breath, staring at Greer’s mouth. If Brutus and Titus refused to allow Penny into the Den, Greer had every intention of taking the man back to his rooms to fully have his way with him at last.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately in the grander scheme of things, Caius returned shortly with a mild smile.
“Mr. Frey has been granted permission to enter,” he said. “Brutus and Titus await you in the banquet hall. Though you may want to advise your friend on the sort of entertainments the Den offers before you reach the hall,” Caius added, blushing, then cleared his throat. “It is a very busy night.”
“I will,” Greer promised, sharing a grin with Caius, then gesturing for Penny to step into the main part of the house as Caius resumed his position on a stool by the door.
“What sort of entertainments?” Penny asked in a quiet voice as they walked on, though judging by the spark in his eyes and the smirk on his full lips, he had at least the beginning of an idea.
“The Zagreus Den is a particular sort of social club,” Greer explained, slowing his steps so he would have enough time to prepare Penny before they reached the banquet hall.
“To be honest, it is a particular sort of brothel where likeminded men of differing ages can engage in entertainments that might be out of the ordinary at the sort of brothel you might find in Whitechapel.”
Penny stopped halfway down the hall, his expression suddenly serious. “Does this mission your friends wish to send us on have nefarious intentions? Are we being sent to kidnap someone for their entertainment?”
“No! Not at all,” Greer said, grasping at once where Penny’s thoughts had flown off to. “Quite the opposite.”
He was concerned about the degree of wariness in the man’s green eyes as well. It was a fear that very well could have been brought on by bitter experience.
“Brutus and Titus can explain what this place is better than I can,” he said as they walked on, “but I can assure you that everyone in residence here, including the submissives, are here very much of their own free will.”
Penny’s eyebrows flew up at the word “submissives”. It was enough for Greer to feel confident that he at least knew the sort of activities that were implied. “Lead on,” he said in a small, still concerned voice.
Despite Penny’s hesitation, Greer smiled as he gestured for Penny to continue down the hall.
The Zagreus Den was never what people assumed it would be.
It was so far beyond description that to categorize it as a brothel or a club of pain and pleasure would fail to capture even a fraction of its essence.
So when they stepped into the banquet hall just as a quintet of young, nubile, naked, and erect dancers, if what they were doing could even be called a dance, entwined their bodies together while musicians played a lurid accompaniment, Greer couldn’t help but grin at Penny’s reaction.
If Penny’s jaw had dropped more than it did at the sights and sounds that met him in the banquet hall, there was a chance the lower part of his face would have detached from his head entirely.
He glanced at the flushed dancers as they rubbed and stroked against each other, at the vivid artwork on the walls, and at the toga-clad young men serving food and drink to the gentlemen members of the club who sat around the perimeter of the room.
It was late enough in the evening that several couples scattered throughout the room were already enjoying more than the sight of the dancers or the food.
At one point, Penny glanced twice at a gentleman who was reclined on a curved couch while a lad with dark, curly hair supped and slurped on his cock.
Neither of them seemed to be in any hurry to get on with things.
Not far from them, a pretty young man with soft, brown hair had the bottom half of his toga thrown up over his back and was balanced over a separate couch while the man with him thrust wildly into him. Both seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“This is what I was told to warn you about,” Greer said with a smirk, nudging Penny’s arm.
Penny did not react at all the way Greer anticipated he would. “Georgie Jones?” he asked, taking a step toward the young man who was being expertly fucked.
The young man in question, who Greer could have sworn was named Erastos and not Georgie, lifted his pleasure-glazed eyes at the sound of Penny’s voice.
Recognition flared bright in his eyes before the gentleman penetrating him picked up his speed, then let out a loud, long moan as he reached completion.
The gentleman in question reached under Erastos, and for a few seconds his arm moved frantically until Erastos rolled his eyes back and let out the most delicious sound as he orgasmed.
“Perhaps you should give them a moment before you reintroduce yourself to your old friend,” Brutus said, stepping out from behind the head table at the far end of the room and coming to greet them.
Penny’s mouth still hung open, but he closed it quickly and turned with a snap to stare at Brutus.
Greer hurried to make introductions. “Penny, this is Brutus, one of the founders of The Zagreus Den.” Since Titus had also stood and was heading toward them, he extended his gesture and said, “This is his brother, Titus, the other owner and founder.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you in person at last, Mr. Frey,” Brutus said, holding out his hand. “We’ve heard so much about you.”
Penny looked as though he believed he’d crossed over into some sort of dream land.
“That’s Georgie Jones,” he said, glancing back to where Erastos and his gentleman were nestled together.
The gentleman appeared to be petting and praising Erastos, and the younger man was beaming.
Penny blinked, then turned back to Brutus.
“Georgie went missing back in the winter.”
“Yes, he was caught by the police and taken to a workhouse. The place did not agree with him, so we recruited him for The Zagreus Den toward the end of March,” Titus said as if talking about a clerk who had been hired for an accountancy firm.
“We all assumed he’d died,” Penny said, his tone accusatory.
Greer touched a hand to his arm in an attempt to calm him. “As you can see, he is perfectly well.”
Penny glanced back at Erastos. “You’ve made him into a whore.”
Greer couldn’t puzzle out whether Penny thought that was a good thing or a bad one.
“Yes,” Brutus said carefully. “But you must understand that all of the young men you see serving tonight have joined The Zagreus Den willingly.”
Penny whipped around to stare at Brutus and Titus again. “The Zagreus Den? I’ve heard those words several times now, but I’ve no idea what they mean. What is this place?”
And so the questions began. Greer smirked, knowing Penny would prove a challenge to Brutus and Titus, who weren’t ordinarily used to being challenged.
“Come, sit and have some refreshment with us. We will explain,” Brutus said, pivoting back toward the head table and inviting Greer and Penny to follow.
“I did try to prepare you,” Greer whispered in Penny’s ear as they walked across the room, avoiding the dancers.
Penny humphed. “Nothing could have prepared me for this,” he said.
As soon as they reached the table, Valentine rushed forward with an extra cushion for Greer.
He placed it between Brutus’s place and the end of the table.
“If you’d like,” he said in his friendly voice, looking at Penny, “I could take you to our changing room so that you’ll be more comfortable serving your master. ”
“Oy!” Penny barked, loud enough to startle the dancers and to break apart a couple at the far end of the table who had been kissing passionately. “I am my own master, thank you kindly.”