--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?”…" description: "\"“After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?” “Yeah?” “What are those markings?” His frowned and flicked his eyes over to her, thinking, as if she didn’t know? ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/j-r-ward-148_black-dagger-brother_after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-wha_260084.jpg" --- # After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?” “Yeah?” “What are… ![“After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?” “Yeah?” “What are those markings?” His frowned and flicked his eyes over to her, thinking, as if she didn’t know? But then . . . well, she had been a human. Maybe she didn’t. “They’re slave bands. I was . . . a slave.” “Did it hurt when they were put on you?”…” quote by J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/j-r-ward-148_black-dagger-brother_after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-wha_260084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/j-r-ward-148_black-dagger-brother_after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-wha_260084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/j-r-ward-148_black-dagger-brother_after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-wha_260084.jpg) > ““After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?” “Yeah?” “What are those markings?” His frowned and flicked his eyes over to her, thinking, as if she didn’t know? But then . . . well, she had been a human. Maybe she didn’t. “They’re slave bands. I was . . . a slave.” “Did it hurt when they were put on you?” “Yes.” “Did the same person who cut your face give them to you?” “No, my owner’s hellren did that. My owner . . . she put the bands on me. He was the one who cut my face.” “How long were you a slave?” “A hundred years.” “How did you get free?” “Phury. Phury got me out. That’s how he lost his leg.” “Were you hurt while you were a slave?” Z swallowed hard. “Yes.” “Do you still think about it?” “Yes.” He looked down at his hands, which suddenly were in pain for some reason. Oh, right. He’d made two fists and was squeezing them so tightly his fingers were about to snap off at the knuckles. “Does slavery still happen?” “No. Wrath outlawed it. As a mating gift to me and Bella.” “What kind of slave were you?” Zsadist shut his eyes. Ah, yes, the question he didn’t want to answer. For a while it was all he could do to force himself to stay in the chair. But then, in a falsely level voice, he said, “I was a blood slave. I was used by a female for blood.” The quiet after he spoke bore down on him, a tangible weight. “Zsadist? Can I put my hand on your back?” His head did something that was evidently a nod, because Mary’s gentle palm came down lightly on his shoulder blade. She moved it in a slow, easy circle. “Those are the right answers,” she said. “All of them.” He had to blink fast as the fire in the furnace’s window became blurry. “You think?” he said hoarsely. “No. I know.”” [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A former slave recounts trauma, confronting past pain and the lingering effects of oppression. **In simple terms:** A slave shares his painful past and healing. Key Takeaway Listen to survivors and acknowledge trauma. Themes trauma redemption memory Mood empathetic reflective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - counseling - support groups - creative writing - education - activism Key Concepts psychological healing historical oppression Questions to Reflect On - How does sharing trauma aid recovery? - What responsibilities do listeners have? A Different Perspective Narratives may oversimplify complex histories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black dagger brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-dagger-brotherhood/) [Blood Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-slave-1909238/) [Hurt Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-slave-2566057/) [Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mary/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-used-2566058/) [Slave Zsadist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-zsadist-2566056/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) [Zsadist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zsadist/) ## Related quotes > [“Oh, by the way, Phury's here again, and he brought that Chosen with him. Figured you'd want to know in case you see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/oh-by-the-way-phury-s-here-again-and-he-brought-that-chosen-with-him/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [The warrior (Zsadist) rolled his black eyes. "Come on, man. What does it matter to me? You, Tohr. Britney Spears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-warrior-zsadist-rolled-his-black-eyes-come-on-man-what-does-it/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“And mortal terror in a female was Z's favorite turn-on. He got off on it like most males favored crap from Victoria's Secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-mortal-terror-in-a-female-was-z-s-favorite-turn-on-he-got-off-on/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Go 'head." Those freaky-ass black eyes had stared at Butch with the intensity of a shark. "Crack open that door. Run your little heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/go-head-those-freaky-ass-black-eyes-had-stared-at-butch-with-the/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [...Bringing the very heavens close enough to touch. It was Zsadist. His eyes closed, his head back, his mouth wide open, he sang. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/bringing-the-very-heavens-close-enough-to-touch-it-was-zsadist-his/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Rhage burning deep inside Uncontrollable Phury, unable to hide Trust me and I'll let my Wrath begin This Tohrment building up within My Vischous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rhage-burning-deep-inside-uncontrollable-phury-unable-to-hide-trust/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I'm sorry," he muttered. "If I... uh, hurt your feelings or something." She glared at him. "I'm not hurt. I'm pissed off and sexually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/i-m-sorry-he-muttered-if-i-uh-hurt-your-feelings-or-something-she/) [J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/) > [“He knew that no matter what, this woman, once his blood slave, then his greatest downfall, and finally his salvation would never fail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-stevens/he-knew-that-no-matter-what-this-woman-once-his-blood-slave-then-his/) [Erica Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-stevens/) > [“His breathing was heavy and he was somber. He shivered still, and when his hand found me it was unsteady. "Ah," I said smiling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/his-breathing-was-heavy-and-he-was-somber-he-shivered-still-and-when/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“His breathing was heavy, and full of life. He shivered still, his hand finding Katty unsteady and unprepared of what was going to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-d-skye/his-breathing-was-heavy-and-full-of-life-he-shivered-still-his-hand/) [Keira D. Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-d-skye/) > [Phury knelt beside him and stroked his face. "I've only ever had you to live for. If you die I have nothing. I'm utterly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/phury-knelt-beside-him-and-stroked-his-face-i-ve-only-ever-had-you-to/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [We don’t have to talk about Zsadist. That’s okay. He’s the most interesting part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/we-don-t-have-to-talk-about-zsadist-that-s-okay-he-s-the-most/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Although she was ashamed to admit it now, the darkness in him had been the largest part of his allure. It was such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/although-she-was-ashamed-to-admit-it-now-the-darkness-in-him-had-been/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Look, you didn't fail me. Because you can't fail at the impossible." -Zsadist to Phury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/look-you-didn-t-fail-me-because-you-can-t-fail-at-the-impossible/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Tohrment spoke. "Bella's brother called. He's tabled the sehelusion request and asked that she stay here for a couple of days." Z jacked his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/tohrment-spoke-bella-s-brother-called-he-s-tabled-the-sehelusion/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More by J.R. Ward > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Knock her dead, my man." "Oh no." Xcor shook his head."That shan't be necessary. This one I like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/knock-her-dead-my-man-oh-no-xcor-shook-his-head-that-shan-t-be/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this-he-whispered-in-her-ear-like-he-didn-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Fucking hell. "Did you guys plan that out?" "Yeah, and if you don't fight us"--Hollywood bit down on his grape Tootsie-Pop--"we'll do it again--only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/fucking-hell-did-you-guys-plan-that-out-yeah-and-if-you-don-t-fight/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Why ever are you here?“ she whispered, putting her hands to his face. “Because I love you.” In so many ways, that explained nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/why-ever-are-you-here-she-whispered-putting-her-hands-to-his-face/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Time to the face the music,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/time-to-the-face-the-music/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Rehvenge, I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rehvenge-i-m-talking-to-you-more-than-i-speak-with-my-mahmen-i/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [In his fantasy, he kissed his best friend again, pulled back, and… “I love you,” he said into the spray of the shower. “I……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-his-fantasy-he-kissed-his-best-friend-again-pulled-back-and-i-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [And love … love was worth dying for. Worth living for, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-love-love-was-worth-dying-for-worth-living-for-too/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“He had a weakness, though. All of us do, and those of us who think they do not are not being honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-had-a-weakness-though-all-of-us-do-and-those-of-us-who-think-they/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally…in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/because-i-was-and-i-remain-utterly-and-completely-and-totally-in-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) [Explore all 1,120 J.R. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More Black dagger brotherhood quotes > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Rehvenge, I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rehvenge-i-m-talking-to-you-more-than-i-speak-with-my-mahmen-i/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Okay. Right. Horror meets romance meets erotica meets fantasy meets hip hop. Throw in some leather and some Miami Ink shit, stir with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/okay-right-horror-meets-romance-meets-erotica-meets-fantasy-meets-hip/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I'm not into sluts. Our tradition says you honor your body by sharing it only with someone you are halved with. Guess I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/i-m-not-into-sluts-our-tradition-says-you-honor-your-body-by-sharing/) [J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/) > [After a moment, Wrath turned to John. "This is Lassiter, the fallen angel. One of the last times he was here on earth, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/after-a-moment-wrath-turned-to-john-this-is-lassiter-the-fallen-angel/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“You're some freaky shit, my brother. You really are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-some-freaky-shit-my-brother-you-really-are/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Then you would hold me up, wouldn't you." He traced over her features with his fingertips. And as he did, for some strange reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/then-you-would-hold-me-up-wouldn-t-you-he-traced-over-her-features/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Holy Christ! There was a frickin' melee in the alley. Lessers. Brothers. Two civilians crouched and quivering in the middle. And big bad Butch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/holy-christ-there-was-a-frickin-melee-in-the-alley-lessers-brothers/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Will you live over there?" Phury asked. "Live over where?" Butch cut in. "You mean you won't be able to fight with us? Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/will-you-live-over-there-phury-asked-live-over-where-butch-cut-in-you/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [A book unopened alters not the ink on it's pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/a-book-unopened-alters-not-the-ink-on-it-s-pages/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“But isn't it... ugly?" "No. Not to me." She pressed a kiss to his chest. "It's fearsome and terrifying and powerful and awe-inspiring. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/but-isn-t-it-ugly-no-not-to-me-she-pressed-a-kiss-to-his-chest-it-s/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“They don't fit you?" V asked his roommate. "Not the point. No offense, but these are wicked Village People." Butch held his heavy arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/they-don-t-fit-you-v-asked-his-roommate-not-the-point-no-offense-but/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“V grabbed him by the lapels and yanked him up against his body. The brother was trembling from head to foot, his eyes glowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/v-grabbed-him-by-the-lapels-and-yanked-him-up-against-his-body-the/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Someone put opera on inside the house. Someone changed it to hip-hop, thank God. Someone started a shower. Someone vacuumed. Again. Life. In all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/someone-put-opera-on-inside-the-house-someone-changed-it-to-hip-hop/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Beth,” he whispered. “Come back to me.” He brought more of his blood to her. “Damn it, don’t you die!” Candles flared in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-2/beth-he-whispered-come-back-to-me-he-brought-more-of-his-blood-to-her/) [J. R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-2/) [Browse all 86 Black dagger brotherhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-dagger-brotherhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?” “Yeah?” “What are those markings?” His frowned and flicked his eyes over to her, thinking, as if she didn’t know? But then . . . well, she had been a human. Maybe she didn’t. “They’re slave bands. I was . . . a slave.” “Did it hurt when they were put on you?” “Yes.” “Did the same person who cut your face give them to you?” “No, my owner’s hellren did that. My owner . . . she put the bands on me. He was the one who cut my face.” “How long were you a slave?” “A hundred years.” “How did you get free?” “Phury. Phury got me out. That’s how he lost his leg.” “Were you hurt while you were a slave?” Z swallowed hard. “Yes.” “Do you still think about it?” “Yes.” He looked down at his hands, which suddenly were in pain for some reason. Oh, right. He’d made two fists and was squeezing them so tightly his fingers were about to snap off at the knuckles. “Does slavery still happen?” “No. Wrath outlawed it. As a mating gift to me and Bella.” “What kind of slave were you?” Zsadist shut his eyes. Ah, yes, the question he didn’t want to answer. For a while it was all he could do to force himself to stay in the chair. But then, in a falsely level voice, he said, “I was a blood slave. I was used by a female for blood.” The quiet after he spoke bore down on him, a tangible weight. “Zsadist? Can I put my hand on your back?” His head did something that was evidently a nod, because Mary’s gentle palm came down lightly on his shoulder blade. She moved it in a slow, easy circle. “Those are the right answers,” she said. “All of them.” He had to blink fast as the fire in the furnace’s window became blurry. “You think?” he said hoarsely. “No. I know.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.R. Ward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-what-are-those-markings-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black dagger brotherhood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-what-are-those-markings-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/j-r-ward-148_black-dagger-brother_after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-wha_260084.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/j-r-ward-148_black-dagger-brother_after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-wha_260084.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/j-r-ward-148_black-dagger-brother_after-a-while-mary-said-zsadist-yeah-wha_260084.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After a while Mary said, “Zsadist?” “Yeah?” “What are those markings?” His frowned and flicked his eyes over…” — J.R. 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