Heroine of Zenina

by Giselle Marks

  The other replied “He’s been on Zenina over a month and thinks we’re all stupid. It’s hard to be polite to someone as rude as him.”

  Father Debenden walked on horrified but they were not interested in his thoughts, nor did they notice he had read theirs. He had a lot to think about as others around him had beautiful cheerful thoughts. He caught snatches of Zeninan poetry, songs and the gentle banter of young lovers and friends. He headed for the chapel and knelt down before the altar, taking his troubles to the Lord. And the Lord smiled down on him.

  He found as he had been incapable of hearing the mind voices of the Zeninans so he had shut out the voice of God. Perhaps it was the strange experience of wearing the helmet or perhaps God is a telepath, but Father Debenden listened to a still small voice within him. A voice he had heard as a small child. He listened and obeyed.

  The Father Debenden who greeted his congregation the next morning could not have been more repentant if he had worn sackcloth and ashes. His penitent mind begged forgiveness of each and every one present for his rudeness and stupidity. The priest preached the story of the talents not the hellfire and damnation sermon he had previously written. And for once his sermon did not jar with his audience.

  Debenden had learnt how limited he was in his understanding. He had learnt a little humility. Instead of fidgeting and being irked by his speech his congregation sat interested in what he had to say. There was a touch of respect for a man who discovering his own worth in the eyes of others had not hidden from it. He had the courage to admit his fault and to try to improve. No one expected more.

  When they stood to the mental sound of the organ he could hear the elaborate harmonies of his flock and his own faith was strengthened by his knowledge of theirs. They believed in his God and if they did not fully live their lives in the way of Bible times, they were as critical of themselves as he had been. They strove to do better but tried not to judge. Father Debenden found the rest of his time was full and although he took the helmet off to teach Floren, for he found the discovery of Floren’s relationship with Kazimira very unsettling. He wore it to the common room each evening and now no longer felt excluded. Some remarks were even addressed to him and he could join in a small way.

  Chapter Thirty-Four – Peckella

  There were only a few days to go before the Games and Marina was far from happy about her physical condition. She notified the Games Committee she would not defend all of her titles. Privately she doubted she would break any records.

  In Hemithea, Peckella had started, the usually tranquil streets full of people dancing, wearing outlandish clothes. The quiet was broken by laughter, music and the gabble of loud voices in alien tongues. Irzina’s police were at full stretch, the lock ups overflowing with tourists and foreign sailors who had started fights and caused damage, mostly under the influence of Zeninan produced alcohol, which was stronger and cheaper than the watered-down spirits sold on their planets.

  The Medical College was taken over temporarily by recuperating aliens suffering from the toxicity of Zeninan spirits in excess or falls and fractures from accidents whilst not in control of their faculties. Vellina opened extra wards to deal with injured aliens, which she annually complained was not the job of a brain doctor.

  The medical students dealt with simple fractures, concussions and knife wounds. They had taken no oath, so if after treating their minor ills, they bedded the best-looking of their patients, no one could complain. All aliens were fully warned of the toxicity of Zeninan liquor on entry to the planet.

  For the final days before the Games, celebrations at the Temple of Demina were continuous. The Temple and its grounds were full of entwined couples who were satisfying themselves in full public view as a sacrifice to their Goddess. These fertility rites fascinated the tourists who came to watch the Games and the two Inns whose balconies overlooked the Temple grounds did a roaring trade.

  Stalking through the writhing couples, Princess Zadina surveyed her realm, occasionally dropping a word of encouragement to one of her acolytes engaged in some complicated tangle of limbs. She wore the purple-trimmed pink skirt of the high priestess, her hair woven into multiple spiralling plaits around her head, garlanded with huge pink blossoms, the heavy musk of the flowers preceding her and remaining after she moved on. Prince Ga’Mikkal had moved out of the Embassy and into Zadina’s rooms at the Palace. He had been initiated into the rites of Demina, finding the public copulation on Demina’s altar that Zadina demanded of him both demeaning and embarrassing.

  He now wore Zadina’s badge but was not her slave for no tattoo engraved his breast bone. He felt very insecure about his position, realising the Kurgian Embassy could not protect him and Marina would not. He still preferred to wear Kurgian dress, but Zadina’s preference in flimsier materials now dominated his wardrobe. He was personally uncomfortable in wearing clothes that displayed his body so blatantly but Zadina insisted.

  Zadina had begun to train him seriously and in the process of this training he experienced her lash upon his back. He found the experience frightening, even though she had been relatively gentle with it. He did not doubt she could do to him whatever she wished, whatever his wishes might be. He feared Zadina’s anger; it was his main concern to keep her happy and satisfied.

  He could no longer take any woman he pleased and was ignominiously loaned to one of Zadina’s priestesses as reward for some service rendered. The priestess was not fragrant in her personal hygiene. Nor was she gentle with Mikkal or respectful of his status. Mikkal was too scared to object or complain to Zadina. If she beat him just to improve his performance what would she do, if he opposed her in anything? Ga’Mikkal did not want to risk finding out. His loving attitude towards Zadina, if only surface, pleased her greatly, his terror pleased her more.

  Zadina was taking Mikkal’s training slowly. She was letting him learn his future position. She ordered his nudity in her rooms even when other people were present. She took other slaves to the bed they shared, ordering him to watch. She would not risk rushing his training and lose him to suicide. She wanted him so used to her domination he would accept any degradation. Zadina was enjoying turning the “Oh so proud Prince Ga’Mikkal” into her grovelling slave.

  His unrequited desire for Princess Marina actually made her relish his humiliation and debasement all the more. Sometimes he thought of Marina when he was in Zadina. In Zadina’s mind she found it made their coupling more gratifying. She found victimising Mikkal for his unrequited passion for Marina more pleasing than her dreams of torturing and mutilating Charles. She almost felt by dehumanising Mikkal she was revenging herself on Marina. Yet she knew Marina had avoided bedding Mikkal and the only time he had her body was when she was mentally elsewhere.

  Chapter Thirty-Five - Unnatural Acts

  If anyone suggested to Zadina that her hatred of Marina had the seeds of sexual love deep within it, she would have dispatched them speedily. Marina herself refused to admit it. Marina had been aware of the physical contact between her and her aunt as a child. Marina had liked how Zadina had touched her, but even in the sexual mores of Zenina, the sexual assault of a girl child by a grown woman directly related to her, was not common enough for it to be feared.

  Princess Marina had accepted her aunt slipping into her bed late at night after her nurse fell asleep. The probing of Zadina’s fingers and tongue had been her first awakening to her sexuality. The young Marina looked forward to her aunt’s visits and reciprocated them. Marina never mentioned her aunt’s nocturnal visits but sought her aunt’s company.

  Her parents saw this affection between them and thought it just that. For Marina was able to keep her private thoughts secret even then. There was much in Zadina to admire and Marina’s emulation of Zadina’s physical prowess was thought very touching. Then as Marina neared her twelfth birthday she became jealous of her aunt and resented her slaves and lovers, seeing them as rivals for her sweetheart.

  Marina’s twelfth birthday came and her party
was everything a Royal Princess could hope for, but Marina looked for one face that did not come. Zadina was delayed. The former High Priestess of the Fertility Cult had died and Zadina was seeking election to that office. It took much canvassing, bribery and promises of favours for Zadina to get elected over Calzina who was the most likely successor. In the heat of politicking Zadina forgot Marina’s birthday.

  Marina did not enjoy her party and when midnight fell Zadina did not seek her bed. Marina went to Zadina’s rooms openly. She was admitted but Zadina’s servants apologized Zadina had not yet returned. Marina said she would wait, undressed, slipping into Zadina’s bed. Zadina came home not long after and was told of Marina’s presence. She was drunk having been celebrating her election. Zadina was not prudent, she joined the girl. Marina was a little sullen at her lover’s forgetfulness but accepted her advances.

  Marina was missed. She was gone from her rooms for some time and her nurse went looking. The nurse discovered guards had seen her enter Zadina’s rooms. Marina’s nurse sought entrance, but Zadina’s servants refused and denied Marina was within. Zadina had instructed them not to disturb her, they were obeying her orders. The nurse sought the queen who went to see what was afoot. She pushed through Zadina’s servants and into her bedroom.

  The scene greeting her left her in no doubt of the nature of her daughter and sister’s relationship, nor of Marina’s willingness to participate. No explanations were sought and none offered. Marina was dragged out and Kerina flogged her mercilessly. Marina could not move from her bed for three days and during that time left childhood behind. The shock of her bleeding indicating she was now mature enough to bear children, left her worn and confused. The coolness between her and her mother that began with her defence of Father O’Flaherty deepened.

  Girls with Zeninan genes experience only a faint flow of blood at the onset of puberty. No monthly torment awaits them as they control the generation of their own egg cells. Most Zeninans reach puberty by eleven. Marina’s body was immature in developing possibly because she was already pushing it much harder in physical terms than other girls of her age. She assumed her failure to leave childhood was an indication of infertility and this supported her view of herself and her sexuality. So knowing she could bear children came as a shock, especially as a Princess in the direct line she would eventually have to.

  Marina was far from naïve, but pregnancy and what went before it disgusted her. Men, with the exceptions of her father, brother and Father O’Flaherty were a sub-species who she did not find attractive. She missed her aunt, who was packed off on a tour of the Empire, but sought out like-minded company in her place. Her parents hoped with Zadina’s absence she would seek the company of boys of her own age or even older men.

  Yet though she missed her aunt, she finally saw Zadina’s behaviour towards her was a perversion to most of Zeninan Society. The affair was hushed up; Marina knew her parents would never allow its resumption.

  After two years, Kerina despaired her daughter would ever willingly seek the bodies of men. Her son’s apparent homosexuality fuelled her disquiet. Marina would not be allowed to follow his bent. Marina was ordered to take a male lover. She refused. For a while there was stalemate but Kerina brooded on the problem. Kerina would not be thwarted. Marina was confined to her rooms and some suitable slaves were sent in ordered to serve her whether she agreed or not.

  The first two tried to force themselves on the fourteen year old Marina. She fought back, killing one, severely injuring the other. Kerina personally intervened once more. Marina was chained to her bed. A telepathic damping helmet was strapped to her and a fresh batch of slaves sent in. Still Marina struggled and resisted. Even spread-eagled her internal muscular control prevented her violation.

  Kerina forced a glass of liquid down her throat; Marina spat most of it out. The fluid contained Kurgian treacle combined with a tranquiliser. Even doped by this cruel combination, Marina rebelled. It took great anger on her part, but she fought the tranquiliser’s effect on her brain and kept her muscles taut against the slaves battering. The treacle she could only partially fight. She remained cold and un-stimulated by the bruising attacks but the symbiotes within her blood responded and her body began to shimmer against her will. This only served to urge the slaves to greater effort. All afternoon they tried to serve her, but failed. Eventually the slaves admitted defeat, accepting the floggings that were the price of their failure rather than persist.

  Kerina was advised of their failure. No she would not risk more drugs being used on her daughter. An unpleasant device was brought and inserted internally to forcibly part her. Fresh slaves were ordered and now began to succeed in raping her. Even now her body resisted them for in spite of Zadina’s nightly visits to her, Marina’s hymen was hard and unbroken.

  Her lack of co-operation and position made it harder for the slaves to complete her rape. Slave after slave were sent to ravish her, but she remained technically a virgin. It was suggested to the queen that her hymen be surgically removed. The queen refused. A huge Kurgian slave was sent in; he partially broke her hymen before retiring exhausted. Another giant was fetched and he succeeded nearly 20 hours after the beginning of her ordeal. Marina had not uttered a sound since being bound and drugged, her body continued to shimmer but she remained passive and unresponsive.

  Marina was in great pain, the slaves had not been gentle, fearing the beating they would receive for failure. Kerina was not satisfied, Marina was not to be allowed to stay unresponsive. She would be a Zeninan woman and accept the pleasure men were designed to give. So the stream of slaves continued. Kabaneev who had been absent from Hemithea during the previous hours had been informed by Divak of his sister’s violation. He returned to the Palace in fury. He protested to Kerina about Marina’s treatment. Kerina’s only comment was if he did not shut up she would send him next. Kabaneev blanched and fled to the mocking sound of his wife’s laughter.

  Marina finally evaded her tormentors in unconsciousness. The slave upon her thought she was feigning and thrust ever more brutally. When she did not respond she was drenched with water. She did not awaken. Then her shimmer stopped and her vital signs began to fail. She was unchained and attempts were made to revive her. Vellina was sent for. No, she was not dead, but Vellina had seen enough to realise the enormity of what had happened.

  Marina was catatonic, her brain had removed itself from an experience it found unbearable. Vellina launched a full and explicit admonishment at the queen for her atrocity. She picked up Marina in her arms like a small child, transporting them both to the hospital. Vellina looked after Marina and did not deign to reply to inquiries from the palace. The queen attempted to visit but Vellina barred her entrance.

  Marina remained unconscious for a month and it was put out officially that Princess Marina was off planet with friends on a holiday. Vellina kept Marina in the spare bedroom to her own apartment and only two trusted nurses were allowed near her. Vellina tried everything she could think of to stimulate her brain out of its trance, but after a week admitted defeat setting up drips and feeding tubes. One month after her collapse, Marina woke and opened her eyes. The next day she got up, ate a hearty meal but refused to have her mother informed.

  Marina was determined to avoid her mother but a week later agreed to see her father. Kabaneev spoke to her kindly, expressing his great regrets for her ordeal but insisted she return to court.

  “I’ll remain in hospital and help Vellina with her work. I’ll cut my hair and become a doctor.”

  “Do not risk angering Kerina further, she’ll never agree to you renouncing your claim to the throne.”

  Kabaneev finally persuaded the reluctant tearful Marina to return to court. The matter was never discussed again, but Marina spent some time discovering the whereabouts of each slave that had defiled her and sold them off planet to male brothels. She never wanted to see their faces again.

  Eventually Marina took lovers of her own choosing. The short duration of her affai
rs and their frequent suicides at her termination of the affairs gave her a perceived glamour; pulling conquests to her like lemmings. The men knew she was dangerous yet her magnetism overpowered them. She took no man against his will, nor did she care for them more than for a pet dog. Zadina finally came back into contact with Marina but her tentative approaches to restart their affair were rejected angrily by Marina. Marina blamed Zadina for all she had suffered. Marina was no longer an innocent. The coldness between them changed to rivalry and hatred.

  The punishment and violation of her body she blamed on her mother and aunt equally. However Zadina was now High Priestess and Marina identified her degradation with the disgust she felt for the Cult and Zadina was now its leader. Looking back at her childhood she felt Zadina had torn it from her and she loathed herself for the love and jealousy she had felt towards her.

  While Zadina had been all to her, Zadina also spent time with men. She loathed the memories of their nights together and bound them with her rape in her mind. Her mature body now buzzed with her symbiotes as Marina began to enjoy her femininity and her power over men, she looked at her relationship with Zadina not as another part of her sexuality but as a perversion to be shunned at all costs.

  ***

  Zadina drove the memories of their forbidden relationship from her mind. They hurt too much, Marina’s rejection cut deep. The mere sight of her incensed her. Refusing to admit how much she still wanted her, Zadina had never wanted other women, but the young Marina had a bloom about her that made men die for her. From the time Marina was dragged from her bed, Zadina found little pleasure from the bodies of others. She buried the memory of the sweetness between them and subconsciously she blamed Marina for the loss of her satisfaction. She had striven to recapture her desire, but was only partially successful; Ga’Mikkal and his thoughts of Marina caused a revitalization of her libido.