“It’s all right,” she said, “You don’t have to be afraid.”
His eye fell on her hand, and then down to her body as she stepped closer to him. She could feel the warmth of his flesh between them and saw the swelling hardness beneath his flimsy loincloth.
“We’re not supposed…” his voice rasped, “…not supposed to touch.” His voice was soft and afraid, and heart-breakingly earnest.
Something about this trembling boy made Tanys want to gather him up in her arms and protect him, but then, looking down at his body, she knew he was no mere boy. The growing needs of a man now strained tightly against the gossamer cloth between his legs.
Tanys smiled at him, forcing her eyes not to focus on the horror of his face. “Don’t worry,” she said, “You aren’t breaking the rule. I’m the only one touching.”
The young man’s breath grew shallow and caught in his throat as Tanys knelt on the floor before him. His hands balled into fists at his sides and released. Then he thrust them both together behind his back to keep from touching her as her fingers went to the knotted cord that held his loincloth to his narrow hips.
Tanys tugged the gossamer cloth away, freeing his turgid member, already wet with his desire. Tanys blew a soft breath across the tuft of downy blonde fur above his erect phallus, and he moaned in response, the head of his member bobbing up, almost touching her lips.
Tanys stroked him, cupping his heavy stones in her palm and lifting his eager cock to her softly parted lips. She kissed him, tasting the sweetness that ebbed forth on to her tongue. She probed him gently, wrapping her tongue around his hardened shaft and then pulling away, purring with delight as she blew a cool puff of air across his throbbing purple head.
He tried to pull away, gasping in despair and fear, but Tanys held his balls tightly, squeezing them as she pulled him back into her hungry mouth. She sucked and tugged, the fingers of one hand clamped like an iron ring around the base of his cock and balls, the other clenching tightly to his right butt cheek, preventing him from escaping.
Tanys moved her head back and forth, driving him deeper into her mouth with every thrust, even as he ceased to struggle against her. Instead, he now pushed his hips against her face, feeding himself to her.
He cried out, a wordless moan of anguished pleasure as his cock throbbed and pulsed inside her mouth. Suddenly, hot seed jetted into Tanys’s throat, and the boy shuddered, his hands on her head as he staggered and slumped, trying to pull away.
She held him there, moaning in pleasure as she drank him dry, the tip of her tongue dragging the length of his shaft, milking him. She massaged his balls as though she hoped to squeeze every last drop from his body. He sobbed in utter release, his fingers dragging through her thick, dark hair.
At last, she released him, pulling back to admire his dangling, glistening cock, resting in the palm of her hand.
He pulled his hands away as though he had been caught stealing. Tanys smiled and leaned forward to plant a smoldering kiss upon his softening manhood.
She grinned up at him, no longer afraid of looking at his ruined face. “I think you needed that,” she said.
A rasping noise answered from the young man’s throat.
“Was that a laugh?” Tanys asked, leaning back, still on her knees before him.
This time, she was certain that he laughed.
“Well,” she said, crossing her arms across her chest, “did I at least earn a name from you?”
“Vael,” he said, stooping to retrieve his discarded loincloth from the floor. He met her gaze with the skittishness of a frightened deer.
Tanys's eyes fell to watch his fingers work as he laced the cloth around his waist. When he finished, she took his hand between hers and turned it over to examine his palm. She traced the outline of a slim bulge beneath the skin of his palm with her fingertip.
"This is how you open doors, isn't it?" Tanys said.
Vael said nothing.
Tanys slowly rose to her feet, still holding his hand. "Is it some sort of stone?" she asked.
"No," he whispered.
"What is it then?"
"I mean don't think about escaping... please," his free hand lifted to his ruined face, "You will be... punished."
"You tried to get away?" she said.
Vael nodded.
"And they did this to you because of it?" Tanys said.
Vael's eye moved to the door as Naietta keyed it open. "You... you have to go now," he said, "I... thank you... for..."
Tanys smiled and looked down. "You looked a little tense," she said, "You just needed some... release."
"No," he said, "I mean, thank you for... touching me."
Tanys sighed. "We all have scars, Vael," she said, "The skin you wear is just a mask. Remember who you are underneath."
Vael chuckled bitterly and looked away. After a moment, he dropped his head and whispered, "Be careful tonight, Tanys. The Master... he is in a dangerous mood. If he puts you in the ring... don't take the demon's mercy... no matter what he does to you, don't cry for mercy!"
Tanys could hear the fear in his voice, and her heartbeat quickened in her breast.
"Even this," he said, touching his face, "is better than that monster's mercy."
****
Tanys smiled as she entered the Master's chamber, bowing toward Vriene. Her blue velvet dress caressed her body with every movement, snug but not too tight. Her creamy breasts swelled between the velvet cups of her bodice, laid nearly bare by its immodest fit.
The pale ghast grinned back at her, inclining his head slightly in acknowledgement. He sat in his high-backed chair at the far end of the room, overlooking the central pit. On the lower tier of seats at his right hand, the Zhadeen princess sat, dressed in a high-necked gown of shimmering white silk. She gave Tanys a nervous smile with a flash of real joy in her tired eyes.
Across the pit, on Vriene's left side sat the Zhadeen nobleman Cranston, dressed in a red doublet with a golden coronet atop his head. He sneered at Tanys and looked away, taking a sip from a crystal goblet of wine.
"Greetings, Tanys," Vriene said, "You look absolutely delicious tonight."
"Thank you, Master Vriene," Tanys said.
Vriene gestured toward the center of the pit with his thin hand, "Please stand where we can admire you."
Tanys's breath caught in her throat, but she moved to the center of the ring as he commanded.
"Wonderful!" Vriene laughed, "Now give us a turn, and let us have a good look."
Tanys brushed her dark hair back behind her right ear and turned slowly, her hips swaying as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"She is quite beautiful, don't you think, Cranston?" Vriene said.
Cranston's lip curled again. "As you say," he replied.
Vriene feigned a look of shock. "Come now," he said, "She may be far beneath the standards of your race, but you must admit she wears the dress well."
Cranston's eyes settled on Tanys again, as though it sickened him to look at her. "It is... out of fashion," he said.
"I... I think it's pretty," Princess Anavaiel said, her voice little more than a squeak. Her dainty smile vanished at the look of displeasure on Cranston's face, and she said no more.
Vriene stifled a laugh as he looked from Anavaiel to Cranston and then to Tanys again. He let out a dramatic sigh. "Out of fashion, you say?" Vriene said.
Cranston brushed a crumb from his sleeve. "No offence intended, Lord Vriene," he said.
"Ah well," Vriene said, "This is the danger of living in exile... It is so difficult to keep up with the latest fashions."
"Indeed," Cranston said.
"We'd better have it off then," Vriene said, waving his hand at Tanys.
Tanys narrowed her eyes.
Vriene's face hardened. He stared down at Tanys. "Take it off," he said.
Tanys gave him a twisted smile and reached up to grasp the bodice of her dress at the center seam. "Yes, Master," she said. With an almo
st casual effort, she ripped the seam all the way down to her navel and let the ruined dress fall around her ankles.
Anavaiel gasped, covering her lips with her fingers.
Vriene raised his eyebrows in amusement, his eyes playing over Tanys's nude body as she stood before him. He laughed.
Tanys looked at Anavaiel and gave her a small, reassuring smile. The girl blushed, her eyes falling.
Cranston shook his head and looked away. "Filthy whore," he muttered.
Tanys took a step toward the man before she mastered her rage and turned her eyes to Vriene once again, all mirth gone from her face.
Vriene gave her a sly smile. "How are your studies going, my young student?" he asked.
"Quite well," Tanys said, her voice tense and quiet.
"Brynn is teaching you well?" he asked.
"Yes, Master," she answered, "I have learned much today,"
Vriene took a drink from his cup and leaned back in his chair. "I hear he had you bent over a table and yelping like a bitch in heat as he took you."
Tanys blushed and ground her teeth. Anavaiel made a little mouse-like noise, and Cranston gave a hissing laugh.
"Was he any good?" Vriene asked, leaning forward with a look of great interest.
Tanys responded with a thin smile. "Yes," she said, "Yes, he was."
"Excellent!" Vriene said, "You're in good hands then!"
"Yes, Master," Tanys said, "Thank you."
"Well then," Vriene said, "come and join our supper."
Tanys stepped free of the pile of torn velvet and then paused, looking for an empty place setting at the tables to either side of the pit.
"Oh, how careless of me," Vriene said, "I forgot to tell the servants there would be three guests tonight... What to do?"
A shadow of fear passed over Tanys as she froze, watching Vriene rub his chin in mock consternation.
His eyes moved from one side of the pit to the other. They settled on the Zhadeen nobleman. "Let her have your seat, Cranston," he said.
"What?" Cranston choked, his face going red.
"Your seat, Cranston," Vriene said, "give it to her."
"But... I," Cranston stammered, "Are you dismissing me... for this trash?" He gestured at Tanys.
"Dismissing you? Certainly not!" Vriene laughed, "You're the guest of honor tonight, my dear man. I assure you that I have no intention of letting you go."
Cranston went suddenly pale.
"Now take her place... in the center of the circle, if you will," Vriene said, his hand outstretched and a cold smile on his lips.
"I... I must apologize, my lord," Cranston said. His chair scraped on the floor as he rose from the table. "I am feeling somewhat... unwell. I must bid you all... good evening." He stumbled once as he hurried toward the door of the chamber.
Tanys moved to stand in the gap between the tables and the door.
The nobleman's eyes bulged as he faced the naked raven-haired woman that blocked his path. "Get out of my way or I'll have you whipped!" he hissed.
"You don't give the orders here, you little worm," Tanys whispered. She raised her eyes and voice toward Vriene, "Shall I put him in the ring, Master Vriene?"
"Tanys!" Vriene chided, "Have you no manners whatsoever? This man is like a god among your people! How dare you insult him so?"
"I'm sorry, Master," Tanys said, flatly, "Forgive me." She stepped aside, just far enough that Cranston was able to squeeze past. The man cringed as his clothing brushed against her body as thought she were somehow unclean.
"Thank you, Lord Vriene," Cranston gasped as he slicked his hair back with his hands and then moved quickly to the door. He fumbled about, looking for some handle on the smooth inside faces of the iron doors. He looked back at last in desperation. "I... I would like to leave now," he said.
"Take your seat please, Tanys," Vriene said.
Tanys wasted no time in complying, her bare bottom sinking deeply in the warm cushion where Cranston had sat only moments before. She stared down in disgust at the rouge stain on the lip of his goblet. She rotated the cup and took a drink from the clean side as she watched the doomed man pound his fists against the black doors of the foul chamber.
"Take your place in the center please Cranston," Vriene said.
"Please..." Cranston begged, "I really must be going... I..."
"Please!" Anavaiel cried, standing up suddenly, "Please, Master Vriene, don't hurt him!" The girl looked up at the leering demoniac with pleading eyes.
"Oh, my dear child," Vriene said, "Don't be afraid... I have sworn to this man that I will do him no harm. He has nothing to fear... from me."
Anavaiel gasped, looking down at the scorched stones of the pit. "Please, Master Vriene! Please let him go. He has always been so kind to me. He has always been my protector... I know he may seem cruel at times, but he is only doing what is best for me... He is a good man. Please let him go!"
"A good man?" Vriene chuckled, "I am afraid that you are somewhat mistaken in that regard."
"No!" Anavaiel cried, "He has been my ward since I was just a little girl. He is the most loyal protector I have ever had. He..."
Vriene cut her off with a laugh. "Loyal protector?" he said, "Cranston, you really have deceived this poor child! Where would she be without your protection? Where would she be right now? Wearing the crown of the Celestial Empress, perhaps... if you hadn't scheduled this little... detour."
Anavaiel's eyes turned to Cranston. "What does he mean?" she asked
Cranston backed against the smooth black iron of the locked doors. "I'm sure I don't know," he whispered hoarsely.
"Come now, don't be modest," Vriene laughed, "How much did they pay you to lose the princess, Cranston? I mean you paid me quite a handsome sum to sink your ship, it had to be far more than that. How much was it?"
Tanys watched the dawning realization spread across Anavaiel's face, winning out against her disbelief. Tanys pitied the girl, but the princess needed to hear these words, no matter how much they hurt.
"Lies!" Cranston hissed, "Don't listen to him, princess!"
"Think of it," Vriene sighed, "Why would a Zhadeen princess, on her way to the most important ceremony of her life, take such a dangerous route? Why would the two of you travel alone, without guardians or retinue? Only two of the Celestial Children, alone in the darkness. Who would be left to tell the tale? What happened to that poor little princess out there on the midnight sea?" He paused to laugh again. "And they call me a devil."
"Cranston?" Anavaiel's voice cracked. Her eyes glistened with tears.
Cranston trembled, his shoulder against the door as if he might force it open by will alone. He did not look at the princess.
"Enough of this!" Vriene said, "Cranston, you've seen what happens next... You've seen what I do. In a few moments there will be only one place in this room where you may safely stand. I care not whether you are in the ring or outside of it when the Traveller arrives, but arrive he will. I suggest you see to your skin, if you wish to keep attached."
Cranston's eyes went wide and he turned to pound at the door once more with frantic desperation.
"As you wish," Vriene said with a shrug. He lifted his ruby-topped cane from beside his chair as he rose from it.
Anavaiel looked up at him with sick horror. "No..." she whispered.
Tanys felt sick to her stomach. She considered trying to plead with Vriene for the man's life. No one deserved to face that thing. No... he wasn't worth the risk. For the moment, she lived at Vriene's whim, and that too was Cranston's fault. She took another sip of wine, and it tasted bitter in her mouth.
Cranston cried out as a sheet of golden flame suddenly covered the face of the iron door before him. He snatched back his singed fingers and stumbled away from the door, turning to realize that he was now sealed within the outer circle of flame that stood between him and the others. With a moan of fear, he ran toward the center of the stone pit. Just as he reached the inner circle, the flames of the violet ward
leapt up around him, shielding him from the outer ring.
Vriene laughed and then brought the cane to his lips, whispering as he pressed his lips to the ruby atop it.
Again the rancid smell of the demon filled the room, and Tanys forced herself to watch the place where the shadows began to coalesce into a stooped, shadowy figure.
"Take it away, Lord Vriene!" Cranston cried, "Please! I beg of you!"
Vriene settled back in his chair, smiling as he watched Cranston fall to his knees in terror atop the ragged ruins of Tanys's dress.
The shadows at the edge of the outer circle shrank into solidity, and the demon lifted its sooty head. "Why have you called me?" it rasped in a voice like a bag of broken bottles.
"For amusement, dear Traveller," Vriene laughed, "for amusement."
"Do not toy with me!" the demon hissed, "Too often you have called without payment... You risk much."
"You misunderstand me, Traveller," Vriene chuckled, "I meant that I have called you for your own amusement. Look and see what I have brought you."
"No, Vriene!" Cranston yelled, "I'll pay you... I'll pay you twice what I already have! Just send it away!"
"Twice?" Vriene said, "Well, at least we know that your life was worth a thousand pieces of gold to your enemies, princess."
Princess Anavaiel looked sick.
The demon took a step toward Cranston, a drop of molten glass drooling from its shattered jaws.
"Three thousand!" Cranston screamed, "The whole sum... You can have it all! Just send it away!"
"Three thousand gold? Just to murder one little princess?" Vriene said, "They must see her as quite a threat."
Cranston's lips pulled back over his teeth as he took a step away from the demon. The back of his coat touched the wall of violet flame behind him and scorched at its touch. Cranston yelped, wide-eyed and trembling.
"Who was it?" Princess Anavaiel cried, her voice breaking, "Who paid you to... to kill me?"
Cranston looked at her and his face twisted into a desperate sneer. "Which one?" he scoffed, "My dear girl, they took up a collection!"
Anavaiel crumpled in her chair, shaking her head gently. "My friends..." she whispered.
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