by Prax Venter
“Abby,” Mark said, and her wide eyes snapped to his. “We were ambushed at Thomellia’s recall charm landing zone. You and I were drugged by poisoned darts while Sasha and Jezebel saved our lives by jumping on this musical airship.” He swung his legs off the bed and felt a surge of residual sedation give a strong argument for unconsciousness, but he pushed it aside and continued.
“I also just woke up and still have a lot of questions myself. First, would someone please tell me what the hell is going on outside this small room.”
“I don’t know,” Jezebel said. “We didn’t speak to the captain long. You were both unconscious, and we didn’t know if you’d ever-” She stopped short, and Mark felt a flash of anxiety from her. “We didn’t ask a lot of questions…”
“One of Abby’s pilfered gems rented us this cozy cabin,” Sasha added from behind him, “and we’ve been keeping you both warm ever since.”
Jezebel put her hands on Abby’s shoulders as she squeezed around her toward the desk with her backpack and armor.
“I’d like to find out more about our destination,” the strawberry-blonde satyr said as she pulled open their inventory. She handed out their cold-weather gear, and while they all got dressed, Mark filled Abby in regarding Sasha’s “accidental” murder and why people might be after them. The scowling abyssal horror moved closer to Sasha and vowed to be more vigilant in the future.
Mark kissed the smooth black hair on the top of her head.
“Me too,” he said before Jezebel opened the warped wooden door to their tiny cabin. Mark thought he was ready for anything, but as they moved down the long hallway, the words of the song became comprehensible.
“Fuck your fucking faces!
You’re naught but tits and air!
I’ll pass your nests, you sexy pests. Oh- on this I solemnly swear!”
Mark’s brow came down hard, and he wondered what kind of merchant ship had a live band with amplifiers. Whoever was singing was fairly good, and they really put their heart into the words that seemed to be completely improvised.
The four of them moved single-file down a long, thin corridor of wooden doors before Jezebel led them to a stairway that rose up to the open deck. A cold breeze hit him first, and he saw that the rich orange sun was just giving way to a purple twilight. Above, the forest of wooden propellers chopped through the air in time with the eerie music, and Mark saw two figures on the prow performing under a collection of glass-covered oil lamps. The larger one was doing the singing, and he had a ladybug-like shell with human legs. The eerie melody was coming from a cranked stringed instrument he held that sounded like a mix between the rich tone of a violin and the constant droning of bagpipes. Next to them was another insect, but much thinner. She looked like a slender, half-dragonfly lady with two sets of long translucent wings that beat in time with her mallet strikes on a single leather drum. They both faced away and seemed to be performing for the open sky ahead. Mark looked around for some huge speaker somewhere that amplified their strange yet pleasant performance, but nothing jumped out at him. Other than the whirling propellers keeping them airborne instead of sails, they appeared to be standing on a medium-sized wooden galleon.
Movement to his right drew his one good eye, and he noticed shadowy figures darting through the air around nearby floating islands. Each hunk of hovering dirt was a different size, from miles wide to only a few yards. He could make out the crumbled earth outlines and roots hanging down past their bottoms in the fading light but saw no real reason why they should be suspended in the air as if they were clouds.
The bug-like Captain Duard seemed busy, so Mark veered off toward the wooden railing at the edge of the airship, and his Enthralled followed him. He felt Abby’s smooth tentacle worm between his fingers, and he looked down into her yellow irises as he took hold of it.
Between the wind, the propellers, and the mysteriously amplified freestyle performance, talking was impossible, but he could feel her unease tingle through their bond. She was still confused and groggy from the knockout dart, and this loud madness wasn’t helping.
He gave her a reassuring smile and then wrapped his arms around her sweater-covered chest. The petite abyssal horror pressed her body back against his, and they just took in the view. Between the floating islands, Mark could see the distant landscape slowly passing underneath, and guessed that the airship had to be at least a half-mile in the air.
“Burn, you fucks, ‘til none can name your remains.
Oh- not your mum! No! Not your pa!
I’d burn you black then bash in your blighted brains!
One of the shadows darting between the islands flew up to the ship, and Mark’s mouth hung open from what he saw.
Hovering before him was what looked like a mix between a dolphin, a hummingbird, and a nude supermodel. Her face was stunning. Sensually slanted neon-purple eyes dominated her features as short white hair fluttered in the turbulent altitude. Her body was well-endowed human until her navel, and there, thick gray skin took over until ending in something similar to a porpoise’s flipper. She had brightly colored pink and teal wings that beat so fast they appeared as one solid blur.
She gave Mark and his bonded beast-women a once-over and then flitted over to the front of the ship. He followed her movements and saw about twenty more just like her had begun hovering backward at the exact speed of the airborne vessel. There were males in the group as well, and each creature had separate colors and patterns to their wings.
“Hear my words, you fucking birds, I’m off to earn some coin.
But one of these days I’ll pass by this way and let ye suckle my groin!”
The captain continued making up lewd and abstractly threatening rhymes until the last exotic creature zipped back to whatever it was they did back on the floating islands behind them.
It was truly night now, and Mark could only see black shadows below and the scattered stars above. At the prow of the ship, both performers ended their song and began dimming the lamps around them.
“Shall we?” Mark said, stepping away from the guardrail.
“We shall,” Jezebel said, and the four of them turned to walk across the weather-beaten wood of the deck.
Now that the big bug guy was facing him, Mark saw he looked more human than expected. The captain had a chiseled face with black stubble coating his jaw, but the multifaceted eyes were far too big, and the two antennae poking out from his wavy hair made it clear this person was not human.
Next to him, his percussionist looked to be the same species with the same general features… perhaps a different race? Both were dressed in woolen pants with tightly tied blue aprons that covered their front half but left their relatively large insect wings exposed.
Captain Duard looked up when he saw Mark and his beautiful beast-women approaching and gave them a huge, toothy grin.
Mark decided he liked the guy right then there.
“The sleeper awakens!” the bug-man boomed in a deep voice that vibrated the whole ship. He held up one of his fingers as he pulled a necklace with a glowing blue stone over his head. The bug-eyed woman did the same.
“There,” he said at normal volume as Mark came to a stop in front of him. “Isn’t that better? How are you feeling, my friend Mark? Sasha says you lot had quite the celebration, but we all know that’s not true.”
He felt a flash of concern from both Sasha and Jezebel as whatever lie they gave this insect man failed spectacularly.
“Hi,” Mark said, deciding to shoot straight. “You must be Captain Duard. I’m feeling just fine. Thank you for your concern. And for helping us out when we needed it desperately.”
“Ha!” The dragonfly lady let out a short laugh that pulled Mark’s eye. She had long brown hair, full red lips, and eyes like a giant fly. “Did you give us much of a choice?”
“Now, now,” Duard said, looking down at his partner, “didn’t they pay the ‘surprise cargo’ tax already? I don’t care what caused your battle harem to end u
p on my deck, Collector, honestly. I just hate pretending shit’s what it isn’t.”
“Fuck that shit,” his partner agreed, nodding.
Mark couldn’t hold back the smile if he tried.
“I’m sorry,” Mark said, extending his hand out to her. “I didn’t catch your name.”
She grinned and took his hand instantly. “Denilla,” she said and shook once.
“Denilla,” Mark began, “I couldn’t agree with you more. Shit aught ‘ta be exactly what it is, and that’s all you’ll get from us from now on.”
“Didn’t I tell you they’d be nice folk?” Duard said, his huge grin back in place. If it weren’t for that honest, disarming grin, Mark would have been more unsettled by his huge bug eyes and thick, black antennae.
“Well… I had to say something,” Sasha said, her spade tail swaying behind her. “We’d just crash-landed a shapeshifted bear loaded with two unconscious people.”
“I am missing a lot of information,” Mark said, then looked down to the strange string instrument the captain held. “But I don’t want to interrupt if you’re busy-”
“What was that singing about,” Jezebel asked, unable to hold her questions anymore. “Was that some sort of ritual?”
Duard answered cheerfully. “Don’t you know of the skyfish? Sirens of the Skylands? Those fuckers’ll suck your nuts right through your pisser- followed shortly after by the last drip of hot blood in your body. But, and this bit be a trade secret…” Captain Duard tilted his head and seemed to look right at Abby, but it was hard to tell exactly. “You wouldn’t share my secrets, little grub, would you?”
Abby thrust out her chest and took a step forward.
“From what I’ve gathered, you’ve helped us. As such, I will flay the skin from any creature asking to divulge any of your secrets.”
Captain Duard made an O with his lips in response.
“You fucking hear that?” Denilla said as she looked up to her partner. “This one’s alright by me.”
The bug-man’s smile came back easily.
“No, no. It was a bit of a joke. Everyone knows already, and all think me mad for the route we chart. They’re right, but it shaves off half our flight, and ho! Ain’t coin always fucking tight?”
The dragonfly lady began to lightly bounce on her heels as she tapped her drum, and Mark was worried they were going to break out into song again, but thankfully, she stopped after a short flourish of intricate beats. Duard continued.
“Thing is, the skyfish will mesmerize anyone that comes close using their birdshit mind magic. After a… tragic misstep in my youth and a powerful bit of luck, I learned that singing loud enough will distract the fuckers instead of the other-way-round. Make sense?”
“I see,” Jezebel said nodding in appreciation, “and those magic necklaces amplify your voice somehow?”
“You want one?” he asked. “If yeah, I know a guy in Starglade that sells ‘em real cheap.”
“Uh, I don’t think so…” The strawberry-blonde satyr shook her head. “But could you tell us more about our destination?”
“Remember those days, love?” Denilla asked as she placed her drum under one arm and looped her other through his.
“Fucking, do I?” he responded with a short chuckle. “Off on adventures, jumping onto any old cargo airship with no care for its destination…Which is Starglade, if you must know. A grand big city for adventurers such as you four. Many well-off Everblooms sure as shit will pay for time-lost treasures.”
“Everblooms?” Jezebel repeated, an eyebrow raised.
Mark got a flash of discomfort from the captain, and realized his antennae dipped or stiffened depending on his mood.
“Er- don’t call them that,” he clarified. “You never heard of the Kalorplast? The Kal? I’ve heard some call them Star Elves. They’ve spread their seed all over this shit ball spinning below us.”
“Fucking everywhere,” Denilla confirmed, nodding.
“And they’ll give us quests?” Mark said, very much leaning to the idea of taking some time away from the stupid crystals and just collecting some guaranteed essence for a while.
Captain Duard shook his head slowly. “How can you already have three Enthralled and not know of the Kalorplast Questing Guild?”
“Mark’s a natural-born Lover,” Sasha purred as she pressed up against Mark’s arm.
“Captain,” Jezebel said, pulling his attention from the sensuous succubus, “you said passing through those sky islands shaved off half the flight time. When are we expected to arrive?”
“Early morning, if the breeze don’t come at us. We’re due to load up on fresh-squeezed Lagomorph milk, and them Kal only ship it off with the earliest buyers.”
Jezebel wrinkled her nose. “Rabbit milk, really?” She turned to Mark and the others and said, “Lagomorph is a scientific term for rabbits, by the way.”
Mark smiled. If she wore glasses, the satyr would have pushed them up her nose before flexing her database of knowledge.
“Wasn’t it nice chatting with you strange folk?” Duard asked rhetorically. “But we should let you and your Enthralled get back to fucking. Perhaps these memories of old times will get the Mrs. here in a mood, and we’ll get to fucking too.”
The dragonfly-lady beat her paper-thin wings as she used her palm to drum out a quick, and complicated beat.
“Please me, Du my dearest, and I’ll not eat your head after.”
“Gotta watch this one!” he said, and then the two of them disappeared down the flight of stairs that led back into the hull of the ship.
Abby moved over to Jezebel and snaked her tentacles around the surprised fawn-like satyr.
“Thank you for saving us,” she said with her face pressed between Jezebel’s shoulder blades. “I have no memory of your bravery, but I now owe you many debts.” Jezebel turned around in Abby’s arms and looked down into her huge yellow eyes.
“Oh, you’re so adorable,” the satyr said as she pulled Abby tight against her chest.
Mark looked out into the nebula-splattered sky and took a deep breath of the crisp air. It felt good to be seeking new lands after bouncing uselessly around where they started.
“So,” he began, “I was thinking we check out this Quest hub and see if we can’t collect a few tanks of essence for you badass babes before we seriously look for more Heart crystals.”
Sasha aggressively pressed her soft breasts against his side. “Perfect plan,” she said, popping her p’s and the sweet vanilla fragrance from her hot breath made his cock stir in his silk pants. A tingling echo bounced from him along all of their interconnected bonds, and as one, all three of his Enthralled locked their eyes on his.
“Sasha,” Jezebel began. “Refresh my memory, didn’t Mark promise Abby that you and I would both kiss her holes at the same time?”
“Yes,” Abby said immediately. “This promise was made!”
“I don’t know…” Mark said, playing along. “I heard our little thief stole a pile of gems from that Vulpath demigod while she was busy attempting to crush my pelvis.”
“Gems and gold coins,” Abby corrected then reached under her arm and plucked out a small disk of metal with her deft tentacle. “Besides,” she added after showing off her treasure. “The golden intruder stole it from the Vulpath royalty, which itself is derelict. I argue that the treasure’s chain of ownership was muddied and therefore morally forfeit.”
They all blinked at her once before Sasha put a hand over her mouth and let out genuine laughter. The kind she only used around them.
Mark sighed as a warm smile spread on his face. He was joking about the stolen gems but started thinking anyway that she might be right about how they should “play” this virtual world.
“You make a damn valid point,” he said. “Now, as you were promised, I want to get these two rooting their tongues around in your holes.”
He turned to head back toward their room.
“Tongues… inside?” Abby asked
quietly as she followed behind him.
- 7 -
“Good,” Mark said after the satyr spread her furry legs further apart. Her hooves made small clacking noises on the wooden floorboards as they hung off the bed.
“Now, Abby,” he said. “I want you to get up there and put your pleasure hole on Jezebel’s perfect lips.”
“Eagerly,” the petite abyssal horror said as she climbed up on the bed. She was fully nude as well, and her smooth skin pulled Mark’s eye as she got into position. Her long black hair hung in front of her face as she straddled the satyr while attempting to watch what happened as she did so. Abby’s green ass almost interlocked perfectly with Jezebel’s curled horns, and when contact was finally made, Jezebel began gently licking the abyssal horror’s hairless crotch.
“Ahmm,” Abby moaned as she settled into position.
Sasha’s spade tail wrapped around his side as they both stood at the foot of the bed and watched Jezebel munch on Abby. Mark turned to look into her vivid blue eyes and shuddered under their lustful hunger.
“Abby,” he said, never taking his eyes off Sasha. “I want you to order this succubus to put her lips where you want them.”
The abyssal horror’s eyes rolled back from under her lids to focus on him.
“M-me?”
Sasha exposed her fangs as she licked her lips, and she unconsciously sent Mark an emotional pulse representing an approving nod before she turned to the green-skinned woman resting her pussy on Jezebel’s wide lips.
“You, sweetie. Tell me what you want me to do.”
“I was promised your kisses… on my anus.”
Sasha took one step past Mark toward the side of the bed, then stopped.
“Tell me what you want me to do,” Sasha repeated, playing out Mark’s intentions.
Abby shuddered as Jezebel slowly parted her green labia and slid her tongue up to lap inside.
“Ohmmm. I… I require you to stimulate my asshole via your pretty pink tongue, now.”
Sasha’s tail swayed once before she moved to climb on the bed behind Abby. Mark stepped up between Jezebel’s hooves and found the satyr’s thick brown mound was already drooling.