by Alan Horn
"We looked into the dimensional stream and found signs of a transfer from here to Kush."
"Kush! Can you narrow the destination down any more?"
"We're working on it, but our most current map shows signs of a drift and we have to recalibrate. We should have a more definite locus in three hours."
"All right. Find out where he/they landed and in whose territory."
"Any idea why he was in Selections?"
"No sir. Nothing was missing. No records were accessed. Must have been scouting the building or looking for something."
"Or someone."
"What's been happening in Kush? I am not aware of anything that would cause them to go adventuring."
"Our agents have heard rumors of a dynastic struggle. The Ali Khan is in poor health - really just about to die. He's over two thousand years old. We don't know who's on top of the contenders. There are over 300 sons quietly fighting for power."
"Well, find out. We don't want their stupid fight spilling over to us."
"Yes, sir."
Selections
I reviewed 48 women today and rejected 7, all for personality flaws. My rejections had only been reversed by my boss, Alclesius, two times.
Alana was waiting for me in the foyer. I turned around and put my hands behind me. She locked them, put her hands on my shoulder, turned me around, and kissed me on the cheek. "Don't let this disturb you. The men are working on it. Now go home."
When I got home, Cotys, unlocked my hands and asked me, "What happened this morning. I heard the men talking and they sounded excited?"
"All I know is the a girl at work, Elmira, was found dead at her station. One of the men said it looked like a Drak attack."
"A Drak? I thought that was impossible."
"Cotys, I don't know. What does a Drak look like?"
"Like a tall, thin man with claws and fangs. Really ugly and scary. As I recall they are light, maybe 100 pounds or less . Low intelligence but fast. Run if you see one, although the masters should dispatch it within seconds of you seeing it."
"Cotys, how could one get into Selections?"
"Well, Draks are not smart, but they can shift among the dimensions just like our masters. But I understood the paths from Drak to here and Earth were locked down."
"Maybe he came from somewhere else?"
"Maybe."
We were all quiet that night. No one seemed to be in the mood for fun. We went to bed early. Attas was gone for a week. Everything grew friendlier, more relaxed when he returned. He chose me that night. I was honored beyond words. I glowed that night and had the best, longest orgasm of my life with him in me the whole time.
Several months sped past. I loved it here, chains and all. I was making friends. I had found a girl that went to he same college and we spent hours remembering our days there. We giggled a lot and laughed at the thought of what our classmates would think about us now. I developed new habits and ways of thinking. When I was concentrating on something I would shake my head, just a little, to make my bell chime softly. I think it meant I was happy.
I had moved up to second level at Selections. I now reviewed the girls that ten other women had passed up. Early in my shift, just after I had settled into my chair, a strange man appeared beside me. He was dressed differently than the other men here. He had a long hooked nose and wore a flowing robe and bright red turban. I just saw him for an instant then everything went black.
Chapter 9: Gorsht
I awoke in a dim room. It had a wood floor and walls. A little light filtered in through a small window with glass coated with the dirt of ages. I sat up and looked around. I wore my familiar metal collar and bands. The same chain linked my ankles. I was still naked. I felt a weight on my neck and found a long chain fastening my collar to a ring set in one wall. I stood up and tugged on my tether. No give at all. I found a waste pail in a corner and a pan of water in another. My chain was long enough to reach most of the room. There was a single door on the side opposite my fastening. I explored but found nothing interesting. The room was clean and felt old. I sat down and leaned against a wall. I waited. Slavegirls develop a lot of patience.
The door opened and a man entered. I covered my breasts with my hands. He looked me up and down thoroughly like I was a new dog he was unsure of. I made the first move. "Hello, my name is Julie. Why am I here?"
He said, in a guttural voice, "I Jan. You gift from Gods. Stand up."
I stood up and continued to cover my breasts. He stared fixedly at my pussy. I spun around and faced the wall.
"Go away. You're not my master."
I heard motion behind me, but no voice. A scorching, burning line crossed my back. I screamed and ran to a corner. and buried my head. Another terrible line of fire crossed my back. I yelled, "Please stop. I'll do what you want. Please don't hit me again."
He said, "Turn around."
I turned and faced him. He was holding a long, black, leather whip.
"Hands behind head."
I obeyed him. I was confused. This wasn't Olympus and he had none of the godlike powers of my master. But he was a man and I was still a helplessly chained woman. It looked like I was still in a place where women were property, not people. He looked me over carefully, touching me all over. He lifted each of my breasts in his hand, like he was weighing them. He opened my mouth and looked at my teeth. No cavities yet. He felt my arms and legs, running his hands up and down my muscles. He flicked his whip between my knees and I spread my legs apart, as far as my hobble allowed. He felt inside my pussy, stroking up and down my labia. That felt pretty good. He had me bend way over and he probed inside my anus with his finger. He treated me as livestock to be inspected. Maybe he was planning to sell me? Well, there wasn't anything I could do but wait and see what happened.
He produced a lock and secured my hands to the back of my collar. I guess the magic rings didn't work here or maybe he just had never seen them before. Its not something a newly arrived girl would talk about.
"You lay on floor. I fuck."
Well, at least this hadn't changed. I hoped he was a good lover. He helped me lay down. I spread my knees apart and pulled my feet back as far as I could. He lowered his pants. His cock was semi-erect and long. I approved already. He knelt between my legs and played with my pussy and one breast. I quickly became aroused and felt my juices flow down my crack to the floor. I lifted my hips toward him, hoping he would fill me soon. He nuzzled the head of his cock around my pussy, teasing me, never quite entering my tunnel. I moaned.
"Please master. Take me. Take me now."
He smiled benignly down at me. He lay forward, his weight crushing me to the floor and thrust into me. It was heavenly. The slippery friction of our boy and girl parts drove me quickly over the edge to a screaming climax. But he didn't come yet. He kept pumping me up to new heights. I came again and finally he came in a mighty gush of sperm. He filled me so completely, so wonderfully. His mouth found mine and he kissed me, hard. He lay on me a long time kissing me long and well as his cock slowly shrank within me. Finally, he lifted himself off me. I couldn't move. I was spent.
"Good fuck, slave."
"Thank you, master."
He left me there on the floor. Hands still locked behind my head and chained to the wall.
I eventually struggled up off the floor and returned to sitting against the wall under my chain. I was hungry and dirty and wanted to be back in Olympus. I wanted all sorts of things I didn't have. My violin, company, a girl to talk to. I wanted my old life back, no not in New York. I realized I didn't want that old life anymore. My life in Olympus was like living in a dream complete with superheros and castles, and magic.
Jan returned later with a bowl of food. He sat it on the floor near me and said, simply, "eat."
I knelt in front of the bowl and ate. It was some sort of grain with lots of vegetables and a meat gravy. Good, bland, filling. While I ate, Jan filled my water bowl. I finished and sat on my heels.
"
Master, may I have my hands freed?"
He unlocked them and I flexed my arms.
"Master, may I know where I am?"
He said, "Gorsht." Then he picked up the bowl and left.
Well, he must be a manager. His answer was concise, specific and useless. It was getting dark. I used the bucket and lay on the hard floor. I slept fitfully, but at least I didn't get cold.
I felt something touch my leg. I woke to see Jan looking down at me.
"Up," he said.
He didn't waste a lot of words.
I stood and he locked my hands to the back of my collar again. He unlocked me from my tether, took me by an elbow and led me out of the room. We emerged into a big barn and he kept me walking outside. We crossed a wide expanse of lawn and went into a nice-looking house. We passed a woman in a well furnished room. She was sitting in an upholstered chair and reading a book. She was fully clothed in old-timey clothes. Maybe 1890s or early 1900s on Earth. I didn't see any chains. She was free. Not every woman here was a slave. Where was I? When was I?
Jan led me into a kitchen where there were several women preparing food. All were naked and chained. The one cooking had an apron, but all the others were completely naked. All wore what looked like heavy iron collars and shackles. Mine were positively svelte by comparison. I didn't notice the weight of my chains but these women must be carrying 10 pounds of metal each. None of them were belled. Jan steered me over between two slaves and unlocked my hands.
"This is Julie." He pointed to the cook and said, "This is Aiyal. You do what she tells you." He left the room.
Aiyal looked at me and said, "I've seen a collar like yours before on a girl that said she was from Olympus?"
"Yes, I'm from Olympus."
"Do all women there have nose rings?"
"Yes, we do. Not our choice. Our masters put them on us. We can't take them off."
"Good. Slaves should have no choice. Like us."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Go to sink and wash dishes. Do you know how?"
"I've done it before." I walked to the sink full of dishes. "Where should I put them when they are clean?"
She pointed. "On that table."
I started washing.
"Can we talk as we work?"
"Yes."
I saw a woman in the house who was free. What do I call her?"
"Mistress or madam."
"Are many women here free?"
"Yes, lots in Gorsht. We were captured in war. All women not from Gorsht are slave."
"How come you all speak English?"
"What English. We talk Gorshti. So do you, but you talk funny. Use too many words."
I thought about it. I started to say something, but stopped. I wasn't speaking English. I was translating into Gorshti. It must have been something the teaching chair did to me. I've never been good with languages, but I was speaking a language not even from Earth. Shit.
I finished the dishes and saw I was being ignored by the women. I looked around and saw a door with a window that led outside. I walked boldly to it and went outside. I was terribly conscious of the chiming of the bell on my collar. I tried to move as smoothly as possible, but it chimed anyway. No one seemed to notice my exit from the house. I stood on the porch for a moment and listened. I heard no commotion. I lifted my left hand to my throat and cupped the bell in my fingers. I walked down the steps to the ground my ankle chain clattering softly. Still nothing. I walked to the barn and went around to the back. I saw no one. I could escape. I was still naked and my ankles were hobbled. Anyone that saw me would know I was an escaped slave. I would almost certainly be caught and punished. But maybe Master would find me. I had to try. I hurried across a field and into some woods.
I snuck through the woods, trying not to rattle my ankle chain. It was tiring to hold on to my bell. I changed hands frequently. After ten minutes or so I dropped my arms and just tried to move as quietly as possible. It was impossible. I chimed and clattered on almost every step. It was getting dark and I thought about trying to climb a tree when I heard a rustling in the brush. Suddenly two large dog-like creatures jumped out in front of me and growled. I froze and they padded silently toward me. They had six legs and were big. They sat down and watched me. I reached a hand behind me to balance against a tree. Both dogs stood up and growled. After a little while they sat again. Every time I moved a muscle they stood and growled. Soon, Jan walked into sight and called the animals to him. They obeyed.
He said something to them and gave them some sort of treat. He walked to me and said, "you foolish girl. There is no escape. Where could you go?" He locked my hands behind my back then took a piece of rope out of his pack. He tied my elbows together, tightly. It hurt. He took out another piece of rope and tied one end to my nose ring.
It was a long, painful trip back. He walked and I followed docilely. My arms hurt terribly. The pain took all the fight out of me. He took a break after an hour or so. I asked him nicely to untie my elbows. He laughed at me then said, "You hurting, you give me no trouble. You bad girl." We walked through the dark on a dirt road. Eventually we got back to his house. He chained me in the barn, in the same room I had woken in. He didn't untie my elbows. I slept fitfully, I tried every way I could think of to get comfortable enough to sleep. but my arms hurt no matter how I lay. I cried myself to sleep a dozen times. I gave up trying to sleep when the first light brightened the gloom. My arms didn't hurt as much when I sat up.
I was so sorry for myself. I wanted my master. This was a slave's lot I knew. To have no control, no choices. Others decided what I could do. No, not others. Men decided what I could do. I remembered the strange man who had plucked me from Olympus and put me in this primitive place. I had never seen him before.
He did not look like the other Olympian men. Taking me was part of a plan. I had no power in Olympus soy theft was likely intended to persuade some action by the Olympians. I had no idea what, but I hoped whatever they did included taking me home.
Home. Strange how easily girls are changed. Put me in chains. Take away any choice. Force me to do what you want. Whip me. Love me. Teach me the violin. Show me magic. Shower me with incredible sex. New York was not my home any more. I wasn't a lawyer and I wasn't free. I was the property of Attas and I would do anything I could to return myself to his control. I was a slave, pure and simple. I was so broken to heel. He owned me, body and soul. And how I missed him.
Jan came in before full light. He gave me a bowl of food. When I had licked it clean, he unlocked my collar from its tether. The rope was still tied on my nose ring. He used it to lead me to the house. He tied my leash to a ring on a bathroom wall. He untied my elbows. The pain of returning circulation was harsh, but it felt so good to have them loose again. My hands were still locked together so I just rolled my shoulders. "Thank you master. I'm sorry I ran away. I will never do it again."
He didn't say anything. He left the room and returned a minute later with two slavegirls. He told them, "Clean her, brush her hair." One of you come get me when she's ready." He left me in their hands. They got to work with soap and warm water. They handled me like livestock. They didn't use words, just moved me around. I didn't care. I wondered what would happen to me next.
One of them fetched Jan. He untied my leash from the wall and led me outside. He led me up to a short, thick wooden post in front of the house. It had a chain attached to its top. He made me walk over it until my ankle chain snubbed my steps. He pulled my locked hands back from my body and made me kneel so the post passed between my arms. When I was on my knees he locked the post's chain to my collar. I was now chained, kneeling around the post. I wasn't moving any part of me until he unlocked me. He left me there. The rope still dangled from my nose ring. Occasionally I would shake my head to scare away a fly. I enjoyed the ropes sway for a few seconds afterwards. Slavegirls had few amusements in their rigidly controlled lives.
Chapter 10: The Coffle
Much time passed. I heard a
faint noise. It sounded like sleigh bells. It got louder. Soon the source of the sound came into view. I saw a man riding out of the woods on a pony or mule, walking slowly down the road. A rope or chain stretched out behind him into the woods. As he walked on a girl followed him out of the woods. He was leading her by that rope. Then another girl appeared in single file with the first. As He walked his mule toward me, girl after girl appeared. They were naked and joined single file by the neck. As they got closer I saw their right wrists were also linked by chain. Their left wrists were free, but effectively useless.
It was a slave coffle of ten girls. They were all young and fit. They must have walked a long way. The last girl was followed by another man on a mule leading a couple of pack animals. Each of the girls had a steel collar on her throat. It was linked by two four foot chains to the necks of the girls in front and behind her. I finally saw the bells. Each girl had a bell on the front of her collar. The right wrists of each girl bore a cuff. It was chained to the leading and trailing girl's wrists.
Jan went out to talk to the man on the lead mule. They talked for a few minutes then the man dismounted and both walked over to look at me.
The slaver said, "she looks good. I like the ring in her nose. The bell's a good idea too. You do that? How long have you had her?"
Jan replied, "only one day. She tried to escape. She came with the ring. It just looks like gold. I tried to cut it and it broke my cutter. She's too much trouble so I'd like to sell her."
"Well, I've spent all my funds on this lot. If you want I'll sell her for you in Gorvin and only take a ten percent commission."
"Ten percent? Emil only charges me eight."
"Yeah, but Emil doesn't take good care of the stock and has to sell them in bulk. He gets rock bottom prices. I take care of my stock and sell them at auction. I get top prices. This one looks like quality. I see she's got fine jewelry. Sturdy but elegant. Can you open them?"
"I tried before she woke up. I couldn't find any way to open them. They look permanent. The ankle chain looks delicate, but I couldn't even scratch it with a file. They're on her for good. Its my locks on her wrists and holding her to the post, so I can open them."