It wasn’t until the tour had concluded and the Mistresses were preparing to leave for the reception that Lady Wraith’neck finally noticed her priceless brooch was missing.
“Oh!’ she gasped, looking down at her sleeve. “Where is it? Where is my Timbrian emerald brooch? It’s the birthright of my family!”
“Don’t know, Mistress,” Thorn drawled, looking unconcerned. “I think you had it when you came in.” He was relieved she’d finally noticed—he’d been afraid he would somehow have to bring it up himself, which would have looked fucking suspicious.
“Of course I had it when we entered the Library! I was showing it to Lady Rest’well!” she stormed. “I must find it! Help me look for it at once!”
If it had been any of the other Mistresses belonging to the Sacred Seven who had lost some valuable trinket, especially one so vital to their standing in Yonnite Society, Thorn was certain all the rest of the group would have offered to stay and help look for it. However, Lady Wraith’neck was not well liked. Her coarseness, cruelty, and abrasive personality were plainly disgusting to her colleagues. Not even Grande Dame Thrust’much, who had appointed her to the position, wanted to stay and help her.
“Well, Malisha,” she said, shrugging in apparent unconcern. “Your print and scan are keyed into the system. You can stay and hunt for your lost brooch as long as you like—just be certain to lock up the Library of All Knowledge when you leave. We’ll see you at the reception.”
“But it will take ages to search all by myself!” Lady Wraith’neck pouted. “This place is huge.”
“I’m sorry, Malisha—I would leave you one of my body-slaves but they’re both needed during the reception,” Grande Dame Thrust’much said, frowning. “I’m afraid you’re on your own.”
She turned without another word and the other Mistresses turned with her. Leaving a fuming Lady Wraith’neck behind with only Thorn for company, they exited the Library.
“Hmm,” Thorn remarked as the vast double doors clicked shut behind them, “Seems like they might not like you very much, Mistress.”
“Shut up!” Lady Wraith’neck tugged hard on his leash again. “Just help me find the brooch!”
Thorn searched diligently, like an obedient body-slave, taking his time to make certain the crowd around the Library had time to clear off to the reception in the next atmosphere dome. His Mistress continued to fume in silence and vent her feelings by yanking as hard as she could on his leash. Thorn endured this treatment stoically, biding his time and waiting for the right moment.
At last he was certain they were completely alone—the noise of the crowd outside had died to complete silence and there was no sound but the hush of the air purifiers which kept the data stacks clean and Lady Wraith’neck’s own angry breathing.
“Mistress,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Do you see that? There’s something bright over there.” He pointed towards the data stack containing the Hive’s information.
“What? Where?” She jerked her head up like a hunting canine, intent on finding its prey. “Where is it, you idiot? Show me!”
“Here.” Thorn led the way, though she kept a tight grip on his leash until they were standing in front of the tall, thin data tower which rose to the vaulted roof. “I believe it’s right under that stack.” He pointed to the place he had hidden the brooch.
“Well get down there and get it then, slave!” She yanked down hard on the leash, trying to pull him down to floor level.
But this time Thorn held his ground.
“I wonder if you realize, Mistress,” he growled. “That the leash you’re yanking on isn’t attached to any kind of a pain collar.”
“Of course I know that,” she snapped. “That idiot Neh’sanna forced me to sign a contract saying I wouldn’t use one on you.”
“I think you’re missing the point.” Thorn leaned in close, pushing his face into hers. “Which is that you have no way to control me. No fucking way.”
“What are you…are you threatening me?” Lady Wraith’neck drew back, a look of outrage mingled with uncertainty on her long, bony face. Clearly she was so used to being in charge and doing anything she wanted to slaves who didn’t dare complain, she didn’t know how to handle this situation.
“Most certainly not, Mistress.” Thorn gave her his most intimidating grin. “There’s no need to threaten you because you’re going to do exactly as I say.”
“I will not!”
Lady Wraith’neck started to walk stiffly away from him—even now she didn’t seem to realize the danger she was in—but Thorn caught her by the back of her gown, spun her around and unclipped the leash from his collar. With quick, economical movements he tied her hands securely in front of her while she struggled and screamed. Then, for good measure, he lashed her to the long support spindle of the data tower.
“No—how dare you? Let me go at once or I’ll have you beaten! I’ll beat you myself, come to that!” she shouted angrily.
“Shut up,” he said harshly, giving her a quick shake so that her teeth clicked together sharply. “Just shut up and this will all be over before you know it.”
“All be over? You…you’re not going to penetrate me, are you?” Her yellowish eyes were wide and her mouth trembled.
Thorn felt his stomach do a slow forward roll. What a disgusting idea! In the first place, he was no rapist. And in the second, he couldn’t think of another person in the entire galaxy he would rather have sex with less that the evil Lady Wraith’neck. Still, if the idea kept her in line…
“How many male slaves have you penetrated against their will?” he demanded, shaking her again. “How many, Mistress?”
“I d-don’t kn-know,” she stammered. “None that didn’t deserve it. Males are the inferior species—they’re meant to serve and be used as we deem fit.”
“You know, you might not want to say that while you’re tied up in the power of one of those ‘inferior males’,” Thorn growled. “You’re the inferior one now, Malisha. What if I decided you were fit for nothing but penetration and torture, as you decided about me?”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Her yellow eyes narrowed but Thorn thought he saw fear far back in their depts.
“I might,” he said casually. “It depends on if you give me what I want.”
“If you think I’m going to let you ram your filthy shaft down my throat—”
Thorn barked a laugh. “It always comes back to sex with you, doesn’t it? And since you don’t know anything about love or tenderness, all sex equates with torture.” He shook his head. “I’m actually sorry for you, Malisha. But no—I don’t want my shaft anywhere near your mouth. Or any other part of you for that matter. What I do want,” he continued. “Is for you to help me access the data in this stack.”
He pointed to the stack with the Hive information stored in it.
“What?” Lady Wraith’neck looked at the data tower uncomprehendingly. “I don’t understand.”
“I’ll make it simple for you. Help me get the information I need and I might not kill you.”
“But I—”
Thorn was tired of her talk. He took her firmly by the back of the neck and pointed her face at the irising aperture which did the retinal scan.
“Put your finger on the pad,” he instructed, nodding at her hands which he had bound in front of her. “And then step back and let me get the information.”
In less time than it had taken to tie her up, the information about the Hive was stored in the tiny transmitter chip he had implanted under his fingernail. He began the transmission – in just a few minutes all the information would be on its way to the Mothership.
“See now?” Thorn smirked at the fuming Lady Wraith’neck, who was still sputtering in impotent rage. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“You…you planned this!” she accused him at last. “All along! You pretended to be a slave but you’re not!”
“You’re smarter than I thought,” Thorn remarked dryly. “An
d you’re absolutely right, Mistress. I only came here to get this information.”
“You…I can’t believe you!”
Thorn barked a short laugh.
“You think I wanted to come here be some kind of Goddess damned slave for sadistic females like you?” he demanded. “Hell no, Mistress. This information was my only interest in Yonnie Six and now that I have it, I can’t wait to get the Seven Hells out of this fucking crazy place.”
There was a low gasp behind him. Thorn turned, startled, and saw Neh’sa standing there. Her large, dark eyes were wide with shock and betrayal.
Thorn felt frozen in place—he didn’t know what to say. He reached out a hand to her.
“Neh’sa, I –”
She didn’t say a word. She just shook her head and hurried away from him, heading for the exit. Thorn wanted to run after her and try to explain, but if he moved now the transmission would be canceled. He needed to make sure the information was on its way to the Mothership before he did anything else, he told himself – his mission was the first priority. He looked after Neh’sa feeling like his heart was about to burst – he would catch up to her in just a moment and explain the situation. He had to make her understand somehow.
Suddenly he heard low, ugly laughter coming from Lady Wraith’neck, who was still tied up on the floor with the leather leash.
“What’s so fucking funny?” he demanded, glaring down at her.
“Why you are, Thorn!” She sneered at him. “I thought it was all a big act – but you really do love her. And you’ve just exposed yourself as a fraud. Neh’sanna will never trust you again – not that she’s going to be in a position to trust anyone in the very near future. ”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Thorn snarled. “What are you saying?”
But Lady Wraith’neck didn’t answer. She just kept shaking her head and laughing nastily to herself.
“Tell me what you’re talking about – tell me, damn you!” Thorn grabbed her by the shoulders and shook hard.
“It’s just too delicious.” She was still smiling that knowing smile Thorn didn’t like a bit. “I mean, when I concocted the scheme, I just wanted to get rid of her so I could do what I wanted with you – so I could torture you. But now I can see there can be no greater torture than knowing that you’ve lost her forever.”
“I haven’t lost her,” Thorn denied, though the words tasted like dust and ashes in his mouth. “I can go after her, I can explain –”
“Maybe you could if you could find her,” Lady Wraith’neck said, raising an eyebrow at him. “But I think that’s going to be a bit difficult, seeing as how the Pirates I paid to take her promised to sell her in a distant galaxy where there was no chance of ever getting home.”
“You what?” Thorn demanded. “You wouldn’t…” But suddenly a picture of the three disreputable looking males he had seen in the crowd during the ceremony popped into his head. Goddess, they must be the ones Lady Wraith’neck was talking about – the one she had hired to kidnap Neh’sa.
Without another word, he turned and ran for the doors. Maybe he could catch them in time. Maybe he could save Neh’sa before she was taken away forever.
“Wait a minute! What about me? You can’t just leave me here like this,” Lady Wraith’neck shouted after him. Her hands were bound and she was still tied very securely to the data stack with the leather leash.
Thorn didn’t even bother to answer. She could rot in the lowest of the Seven Hells for all he cared. She would be stuck in the Library of All Knowledge until one of the other members of the Sacred Seven decided to come in and look something up. Until then she was going to get pretty hungry – unless, that was, she liked the taste of leather. He was betting it wouldn’t take long for the leather leash to start looking like a four course dinner.
Enjoy it, you evil bitch!
But enough about Lady Wraith’neck. He hit the huge double doors of the library running and shoved his way out onto the broad marble porch. He scanned the surrounding area anxiously, looking for Neh’sa and the three rough looking males he had spotted earlier. But the area was completely empty.
Neh’sa was gone.
Chapter Twenty-four
“There she is!” a rough male voice shouted. “Get her!”
Neh’sa looked over her shoulder in surprise and was shocked to see three huge males bearing down on her. None of them wore a pain collar or had the look of slaves about them. They wore tight fitting leather trousers and loose, colorful shirts of turquoise and green and gold. One of them—the leader she thought, since he was leading the charge, had a black cybernetic patch over one eye.
She vaguely remembered seeing them during the first part of the ceremony and wondering who they were. Maybe some kind of strange emissaries from a distant planet that Mistress Thrust’much had invited? She did, occasionally, reach out to worlds where males were considered equal to females but only when she felt they had something very rare or important to offer in the way of trade or information.
Now Neh’sa wondered how she could ever have thought such a thing. Clearly these males were no emissaries or diplomats. They were pirates or slavers or something of that sort and they were coming for her!
“Get back!” She had to fight to make her voice strong. Tears still stung her eyes after the stunning revelation she’d had in the Library. Thorn…wasn’t who he’d said he was—he wasn’t even close. He was some kind of a spy, sent here to rob Yonnie Six of knowledge. He had no interest in her or in submitting to a Mistress—in submitting to her.
No interest in loving you, you mean, whispered a mean little voice in her head.
Neh’sa tried to shove it away and concentrate on the matter at hand. She had to get out of here! Get back to her ship before it was too late!
But still her stubborn brain continued thinking about the big Kindred. Was his name even Thorn? Was the tragic story he’d told her of his past true or was it all one big, elaborate fabrication?
“Get her!” one of the pirates shouted.
Automatically, Neh’sa reached for her piercer—and came up short. With a start, she realized she’d left it in her ship. She usually carried the tiny but deadly weapon with her everywhere when she was between body-slaves but she hadn’t believed she’d need it on the small moon where only Mistresses with their trusted body-slaves and foreign diplomats were allowed to land.
“Looking for a weapon? Don’t think so, girly.” The male with the eye patch grabbed her by the arm. “You’re coming with us.”
“No! Let me go!” Neh’sa demanded, struggling with all her might—but of course he didn’t listen and his grip was like unbreakable plasti-steel.
She looked wildly towards the landing area where the various ships of all shapes and sizes were parked. But there was no one she could call for help—no one but a tall, scaly Horvath who was leaning against the shiny silver side of a moon-duster and licking his eyeballs with a long, forked tongue.
For some reason the lizard-like alien looked familiar.
“Help!” Neh’sa called to him. “These males are taking me against my will!”
The Horvath shrugged his scaly shoulders.
“Thisss isss nothing to me,” he hissed.
Knowing well that Horvaths only cared about wealth, Neh’sa tried again.
“I’m a prominent Yonnite Mistress—I’ll make it worth your while. Help me!”
At last the Horvath began to look interested. He straightened up from his slouching stance against the shiny silver ship and looked at her speculatively. For a moment, Neh’sa thought he was going to draw some kind of a weapon.
“I don’t think so,” the man with the eyepatch growled. He nodded at one of the other males who drew a handcannon blaster and jabbed it in the direction of the hesitating Horvath.
“Keep your place, my friend,” he growled.
“The lady is ours to do as we please with,” the leader with the eye patch said. “Don’t interfere—no matter what she
offers you, it’s not worth the price of your life.”
The Horvath appeared to consider this, then he nodded and allowed himself to slump back against the silver ship again.
Neh’sa understood what that meant—no help there.
“Help!” she shouted, raising her voice as loud as she could, trying to attract attention from the next atmosphere dome over, where the reception and party were being held. “Somebody help me! I’m being kidn—”
A heavy hand clamped over her mouth and an arm wrapped around her waist at the same time.
“That’s enough of that, girly,” the male with the eye-patch growled in her ear. His breath reeked of some strong, almost medicinal liquor, and his arm around her waist was horribly powerful. “You’re coming with us and no more caterwauling,” he informed Neh’sa. “Now come on.”
And before she could say or do anything else, he was forcing her up the plank that led to a later model star hopper. She wanted to fight—to resist. But all three of her captors were armed to the teeth.
“Say goodbye to Yonnie Six, Mistress,” the pirate growled in her ear. “Next stop, Berroff Prime. The Supreme Krine is going to love you—you’re just what he’s been looking for.”
Berroff Prime? Neh’sa stomach felt she’d swallowed a lump of ice as the name registered. There were stories about Berroff Prime and its ruler, the Krine. Stories about his son and the things that had befallen him on Yonnie Six…
But no—surely not! Those were just stories…weren’t they?
Neh’sa had no answers and the pirate captain shoved her roughly up the plank. Before she knew it, she was inside the cramped interior of the pirates’ ship in what appeared to be a cargo hold. The door clanged shut behind her with a finality that made her heart drop to her shoes.
She was trapped and there was no getting out again.
* * * * *
“Did you see her? Did you see my Mistress?” Thorn demanded, rushing up to Greed’lik, who was leaning against the ship waiting for him.
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