We entered, what appeared to be Professor James' office. His office was different, it was too vacant. The interior was similar to Headmaster Alexander's.
Same mahogany coloured table, and the french window that invited the sunlight to flood the office. My hands weren't loosening the grip on William's arm. I  couldn't understand what I was feeling myself. I gazed up at William, his eyes were fixed on Professor James. His posture was stiff.

Professor James' sat on a brown couch near the fireplace.

"William. You should begin with the punishment, we don't have all day."

William broke free from my grip and walked to a shelf towards the corner. I couldn't see anything clearly. I quickly looked down to the floor as I realized I never got the permission to look around.

After a minute, William walked back with a broad wooden ruler in his hand.

"Standard position Annabeth"

Why is his voice so cold?
Is he angry?

I pushed my thoughts away and knelt down with my hands in my lap. He kept the ruler on the table and his hands pulled my palms up.

"If you close your palm, we will start over"

Knelt at William's feet I received swats of ruler until I wasn't able to take anymore. After my eight's swat I threw my hand behind my back crying in pain.

"Annabeth"

William warned me in a cold tone but I kept shaking my head and rubbing my hands on my cotton skirt trying to rub off the pain from them. My tears weren't stopping.

After a great reluctance I raised my palm back in the air. "Please..master..I'm..sor-- Ow!"
Before I could finish another swat landed on my hand. I broke into painful sobs, shaking my palm frantically and hiding my other palm.

"That was ninth Annabeth. Raise your palms back"

"Please..please master" I kept pleading and hiding my palms.

"Perhaps it's a harsh punishment for a little girl" Professor James' voice mused from somewhere behind.

"Maybe nine is enough with ruler, we couldn't transfer the rest of punishment else where."

"What would you suggest William?"

"I would continue with the punishment assigned" I gazed up at William with pleading eye but he wasn't looking at me.

"But I would have applied only 6 swats, the more fairer punishment considering the scenario and Annabeth's pain limits"
He continued speaking looking at Professor.

"Ah so her limits are stretched this evening." Professor stood up from his couch. "Yes sir" William responded to his statement.

"Will you punish her later for this infraction?"

"Yes sir"
Punished at school
Punished at home...

My mind recalled William's rule of punishment.

"Alright then! Both of you are dismissed" He came near me and bent down on one knee, till his face was infront of mine and raised my chin with one finger. His hands cupped my face brushing my tears away with his thumbs.
"I don't want to see you punished again Annabeth. Ever."
He voice held genuine concern as if he was guilty of punishing me. I broke into tears again and before I could think twice I leapt my arms around his neck and hugged him, crying in his arms. My hug caught him off guard but he hugged me back after few seconds. I forgot where I was and just cried on his shoulder.

I realized what I was doing when William cleared his throat behind me. I parted myself and apologized.
William ordered me to stand up. He left me standing in my place and went to talk to Professor James.

I looked at my palm. They were red and swollen. Tears swelled up in my eyes looking at them. I quietly pushed them back and placed my hands flat back infront of my skirt. After few minutes William returned back and I followed him out of the office. We quietly walked out of corridor. I wanted to look up but I was too tired to even lift my head, zoned in my own thoughts I didn't realize William had stopped walking and I bumped into his back.

He turned around, I immediately straightened my posture expecting him to say something but he just pulled me into his arms and I landed on his chest. My hands flung around caging his shoulders, I felt his hands pulling my waist closer to his body and hugging me. The warmth of his body and his breath fanning my neck made me realise how badly I wanted this. I lost control on my muscles and melted in his embrace. My tears started flowing down before I could feel them. I don't know which thing was hurting me more, the incident with Ivan, the harsh punishment from Professor James or seeing William so restless.

His hands travelled lower and gripped my lower back, I instantly wrapped my legs around his waist and nuzzled my face in his neck. He started walking with me in his arms, carrying me like a baby. He stopped with his back resting on a stone wall and his scrunched down with me straddling on his lap.

"Stop crying Annabeth. I can't bear to hear it anymore"
He spoke right in my ears, his voice husky and tired.

"I'm sorry for what Ivan did to you.
Did he touch you?"

His voice made me realize how nobody asked me this but decided my punishment.

"No master " I shook my head wiping off my tears. A sharp hiss left my lips when my tears met my palm. I bit my lips to stop any further sound.

"Annabeth. I felt out of control today.
I..I don't like being out of control Annabeth"

I kept looking in his eyes not knowing what to say. His breathing was shallow. I ran my hands nonchalantly across his chest. I could see the sadist inside his mind which was being captivated.  It needed to be released of else it would eat William up. I started to touch his neck, tracing my fingers on the exposed skin above his lapel.

I knew this was a bad idea but..

"Punish me..Master"