by Garth Ono
"Yeah, like that's going to happen," I sneered. Then one of them pulled out a collar that was glowing a pale blue. I remembered the enslaved centaur chick, and panic consumed me. "Hell no!"
Even with my hands bound behind my back, I surged to my feet and started kicking. I kicked them in the face, between the legs, upside the head, anywhere I could reach. The little muggers were reeling, falling back with cries of alarm. Until a pair of kobolds came up behind me and tackled my ass back to the ground.
I kicked, whipping my head around, bucked, and wiggled. They still got that collar around my neck and buckled it down nice and snug. Intense cold flowed through my body. That evil magic came out of the collar and numbed my head, stilled my thoughts, and finally relaxed by body.
I laid there perfectly still, mind empty, eyes closed. I was at peace.
"I am your master," the top goblin said. "You must obey me."
My eyes popped open. Rolling to my knees, I looked him up and down. Goblin. About five feet tall. Scrawny little guy. He was a dark greenish color, wearing a brown tunic and mustard yellow trousers. No shoes. His nose was long, narrow, and pointy, just like his chin and elongated pointed ears. His greasy black hair was pulled up in a topknot.
Krukker. Goblin gang leader.
Such love and adoration filled my heart. I wanted to please him in every way imaginable. Lifting my chin to expose my throat, I bowed my back, and gave him a sultry, hungry look.
"You are my master. I obey. How may I please you, master?"
My heart raced, while my belly grew tingly and mushy hot. I might've squirmed a little, so eager to hear his darkest desire so I could fulfill it. My mind filled with images of me and him, tangled in sheets, all hot and sweaty sexy. But he just attached a six-foot long chain leash to the collar and stepped back.
"Stand up, human," Krukker said.
I stood. He turned and led me away. I followed, eager to please by being the perfect docile little slave girl. If that was what he wanted from me, then that was what I'd give him. The others encircled us, watching me warily as we headed up the street.
We passed other humans, orcs, and goblins as we moved through the narrow, twisting streets of that medieval town. Others gave us a wide berth, and no one tried to help me. Not that I wanted to be saved. I was quite happy being their slave. It felt right.
We stopped in front of a squat stone tower. It was about three floors high, round, with battlements atop it. My master used my sheathed sword to pound on the door. The little window opened after a few minutes.
"We got a slave to sell, Mick," my master said. "Human. I think she's pretty by human standards."
All I could see was a pair of dark eyes checking me out. After a moment, the little window slammed shut and I heard the click and thud of locks. Three men emerged, all looking stocky, unwashed, and very suspicious and unsavory.
Mick. Human slave trader.
Slavers. VR human traffickers. Oddly, I had absolutely no feelings one way or the other towards them.
"Does she have any injuries?"
"Bumps and bruises. Nothing major."
The leader of the slavers stepped up close. He looked me over, walked around me as he groped my tits, butt, and crotch. He even ran his fingers through my long hair. Mick pulled my shirt open, popping some buttons off. Since the corset didn't cover my boobs, he got a good view of them.
"I'll give you twenty gold for her."
My master cried out in outrage. So was I. That was only four hundred dollars. I was worth a thousand. Ten thousand. Just look at my tits. They're big, firm, and gorgeous!
"She's worth fifty! Look at her, Mick. Young, great body, big fat tits, great ass. Hell, she's worth sixty!"
"You're right, Krukker," the slaver said. "But that's what I'd sell her for. I have overhead, so I can't pay full price. Why can't you stupid goblins remember that?"
"I got your stupid goblin right here," Krukker said, grabbing his crotch.
They haggled for a few minutes, and my master got my price up to twenty-nine gold. I did the math in my head, converting that to dollars. A silver coin was a dollar. A gold coin was twenty silver. So all I was worth was $580? Seemed kind of low, but that was wholesale price.
Money exchanged hands, and I was ordered to kneel. I dropped to my knees without protest or thought. Obedience was everything.
"Take that, human," Krukker sneered as he unbuckled my collar. I swooned when it was removed. "If you hadn't fought us, you wouldn't be a slave now. Have fun."
My predicament slammed into me. Game or not, I was not going into that slave house with those three guys. They were the scariest men I'd ever seen. I didn't even want to think about what they'd do to me behind those walls. It would not be good, that was for sure.
"Krukker," I said, making him pause before leaving. Even on my knees, he wasn't that much taller than me. I held his eyes a long moment. "You fucked up."
Lunging forward, I went for my sword. Wrapping a hand around the hilt, I placed a foot on his chest and kicked him back into Mick. The sword zipped out of the scabbard, and I began swinging left and right. First thing, I cut down the two other slavers.
"I'm going to kill you all!"
Mick, big bad slaver dude that he was, ran back inside and slammed the door shut. I turned on Krukker and his gang when I heard the locks being thrown inside. The mugger gang was caught off-guard. I cut seven more of them down before Krukker rallied the rest. Even so, I slaughtered four more before they broke and ran.
"The bastards stole my purse," I growled. Krukker had dropped my sword belt, with the belt knife. But he didn't drop the purse. That was fifteen dollars lost. But it wasn't all bad. I looted the dead of their purses. "A hundred and seven silver coins. I made a ninety-two dollar profit, subtracting what they stole." I checked my HUD. It showed EXP 786. I cut an amused look at the slave house door. It wasn't a dungeon, so no profit in trying to break in.
"But I know where I can find a very valuable gem," I whispered. "The Heart of Aphrodite will be mine."
Chapter 6
I wasn't as hard as I feared. I found my way back to Titus's house. Jack was standing out front, looking smug and confident. I wanted to kick his face in. Well, I thought of a couple other things I'd like to do, too. It was hard to stay mad at an AI-controlled NPC.
After a little exploration, I found the alley that went behind the merchant's house. There was a large mule-drawn wagon next to an open door. Men were unloading firewood and taking it inside. I snuck up close, waited for my chance, and darted inside.
I found myself in a short corridor. The floor was stone, with unpainted walls to either side. There were four doors. The first door to my left was a stairwell down into the basement. The next two doors were opposite each other. One was the kitchen, and the other a storeroom. At the end of the hall was a closed door.
The men were unloading the firewood into the basement, so I hurried down past the kitchen and to the last door. That opened into another stairwell going up. I grinned like an idiot as I headed up, slowly and quietly.
"Holy crap."
Those where the steepest stairs I'd ever climbed. The risers were taller than normal, and the treads were so shallow even my stiletto-shod feet barely fit. One misstep and I'd be tumbling back down to the ground floor. Coming back down was going to be an even bigger bitch.
There were servants' passages going in both directions at the top, and the stairs continued to the top floor. The passages were dark and shabby, not intended for the merchant or his guests to ever see.
I peeked in through the door at the top of the stairs. It looked like some kind of parlor, decorated in crimson and gold. A dozen gorgeous young women lounged around in skimpy silk harem girl outfits of every color in the rainbow. They gathered in small groups, sipping wine and eating fruit off silver platters. All were dripping in silver, gold, and sparking jewels. I noticed a few similarly dressed girls had throats encircled with silver collars.
"Wow. Even the slave g
irls are hot chicks," I muttered. All of the slaves were moving around with silver platters, offering treats and wine to the harem girls. Every slave wore a bright red bikini top and a skirt thing. Really, it was a long flap of silk down the front and one down the back. Their outfits covered even less than the harem girls' outfits. Then a smile tugged at my lips. "Gives me an idea."
I hid there about fifteen minutes before one of the slave girls stepped through the door with an empty plate. She hurried down the stairs. It didn't take long for the pretty blonde slave to return with a full plate of sliced fruit. I was waiting in ambush.
"Excuse me," I said, darting out of cover to lift the all-important tray out of her hands.
A quick kick sent her tumbling back down the stairs. I cringed, strangely feeling guilty for hurting an innocent mob. I got over it quickly. I rushed down the stairs to find her moaning and groaning. So I hit her on the head with the pommel of my sword, knocking her out cold. After dragging her to the store room, I stripped and put on her outfit. It fit perfectly, but left me feeling more exposed than if I was naked. The silk was thin and translucent, and showed the world everything I had.
After hogtying the unfortunate slave girl, I gagged her and folded my clothes. I left my clothes and weapons there. There wasn't anywhere I could hide a knife, much less a sword, while wearing that outfit.
"Tom would pop his wad if he saw me in this," I muttered. "Maybe Charlie, too."
Last, but not least, I removed the collar from around her throat. It was pure silver, rather heavy and solid, too. There was a silver dog tag hanging off it with "Property of Titus" on it. With some reservations, I snapped it around my throat. It was nice and snug, and really made me feel owned.
I got a sweet little tingle all inside. My nipples grew erect and sensitive. A few deep breaths finally calmed me down, before I hurried back up the stairs and picked up the silver tray of fruit treats. And then, after steeling myself against it all going wrong, I stepped into the parlor.
A dozen eyes turned on me. No one seemed alarmed or outraged. Curiosity and speculation seemed to be the rule. Okay, a couple gave me come hither looks. Wow.
A gorgeous Asian beauty approached. She was in the red slave girl outfit and golden collar. Did that make her the top slave girl? In my opinion, though, she was the most beautiful woman in the room. The slave was lean with sweet curves, and shiny black hair down past her knees.
"New girl?"
"Yes, I was just delivered and told to come up here," I said. She looked doubtful. So I shrugged. "This is not my first rich master. I've been a slave for five years, though the last two were in a brothel down by the river."
I don't know why I threw that last bit in. Maybe just because I like to say "down by the river." Since they didn't have vans, I couldn't mention that. But it got me a sympathetic look.
"I've worked in brothels before," she said. "I'm named Jasmine by our master. You can call me Jas."
"I'm Ari, but haven't been named by our master," I said. "So, what should I do? Any rules I should know about?"
Jasmine looked me up and down and shook her head. "You're quite a beauty. Everyone from the cooks, to the guards, to the master's concubines are going to drag you to bed. Good thing you've just come from a brothel. You'll need that kind of stamina." She glanced around. "See that blonde in black? That's Hermione. Stay as far from her as you can. She likes girls, ropes, and she plays rough." Jasmine pointed at a dark-skinned beauty in all shiny gold. She looked like an Indian Goddess. "That's Uma. She'll seduce you, wrap you around her little finger, and make your life hell." Then pointing at a redhead in blue. "Corinne is insatiable, and will keep you in bed for hours on end, and leave you too exhausted to work afterwards."
Of course, Corinne looked up at that moment. She caught my eyes, and beckoned me over. The harem girl had sapphire blue eyes and glossy red lips. She was so beautiful and sultry that I wanted to be with her. Just for a second. I hesitated, and glanced at the other slave girl.
Jasmine rolled her eyes and hurried away with a muttered, "Good luck."
Corinne was reclining on a pile of brightly colored pillows with two blonde concubines. One was in red and pink, while the other wore nothing but white stilettos and jewelry. The redhead's two friends were kneeling beside her while sensuously kissing and fondling each other.
"Jesus," I whispered. "I have a bad feeling I'm about to get my bi-curious freak on."
I noticed others smirking as I headed toward Corinne. Butterflies filled my belly and my heart began to race. A dozen ploys to escape the redhead popped into my head, and each was lamer than the last. After all, my current ploy to pretend I was a slave girl is what got me into that predicament. And the lust in Corinne's eyes didn't help my mental and emotional stability.
When I reached her, I bowed and extended the tray. "A fruit treat, mistress?"
"Mmm, yes. I want to squeeze your kumquats and taste your…"
"I don't have kumquats, mistress." I stepped back. "I'll go ask the kitchen…"
"No, no, sweetie. You stay right here with me," Corinne said, a fierce edge entering her eyes. "Kneel, slave."
"Yes, of course, mistress," I murmured. Dropping to my knees, I bowed my head and asked, "How may I serve you, mistress?"
"Much better," Corinne purred. She slipped off the pillows and slowly walked around me twice. The clack of her stilettos sounded so ominous. The harem girl stopped in front of me and extended one foot. "Kiss it."
My blood ran cold. I cut a sharp glance to Hermione. Wasn't she the kinky one? Hermione was watching with some interest. Was I about to get my sweet ass passed around by a bunch of hot chicks?
If I exited the game, could I get back in at the spawn site? Or would that end my session? I wasn't even sure how long I'd been playing. At that moment, I wasn't sure of anything.
I placed the tray beside me, rolled to all fours and crawled the two feet to slowly lower my lips to the shiny blue toe of her strappy stiletto pump. I pressed my lips against the cool, smooth leather in something resembling a kiss. Surprisingly, that simple act made my pussy scream. I could feel it profoundly, and my juices were flowing.
I was trembling when I pulled away and sat back on my legs. My head was spinning. That had been the most demeaning act I'd ever done, utterly humiliating, yet my body was on fire. Corinne squatted before me, lifted my chin with a finger, and leaned in for a kiss.
"Are you sure you don't want a fruit treat, mistress?" I asked, leaning back and turning my face. "They're sweet and delicious."
"So you're going to play hard to get?"
"I… I… I am a slave, so I'm already gotten, mistress," I stammered. "Master Titus owns me, body and soul."
Yeah, I might've been pouring it on a little too thick, but that woman had me rattled. I don't know why. After all, I let an orc I'd just met completely trash my vagina, then gave up some ass to the front door guard, all because this was virtual reality, not actual reality. Yet, I couldn't cross that next threshold the game threw at me.
Corinne just looked at me with one raised brow.
I shrugged. "I prefer boys."
She laughed. "So do I, but I'm young and horny and Master Titus has way too many concubines and slaves to warm his bed." She winked at me. "I've adjusted to my situation. My sisters here have taught me so much, and I'd like to be your teacher."
She held out her hand. I placed mine in it, and I don't know why. Corinne led me to the pillows, all the while my body was going crazy. My insides melted into a hot mess, my pussy ached and throbbed, and my arms and legs became increasingly rubbery. Worse, my brain felt like it was wrapped in wet cotton or something. I couldn't form a coherent thought to save my life, or my sexuality.
Corinne removed her top before she crawled into the middle of the pillows. Her two friends were to my left, her right. She patted the spot opposite them. I looked at the two girls making out like there was no tomorrow, then at Corinne's perfect boobs, her full red lips, and finally her lusty blue
eyes. I started to remove my top, but couldn't do it.
"What's your name, sweetie?"
"Ari."
"A beautiful name for a beauty woman," she purred. "Come. Don't be afraid. I don't bite…too hard."
I looked around the room. Most of the women, free and slave, were watching us. I only enjoyed being the center of attention when drunk. I no longer even had a buzz. And this would be so much easier if I was drunk.
I crawled up beside her, and lay on my side facing her. Not that I wanted to look her over or anything, but I had to keep a close eye on her every move. Otherwise, I'd be the next notch in her bedpost.
"Have you been here long?" I asked.
"Six months as of tomorrow." She frowned. "I might officially be free, but Titus bought me from my parents. He owns me as much as he owns you."
Was she trying to endear herself to me via shared bondage? First, the life of a slave and a concubine were not the same. Secondly, I wasn't really a slave. I was just playing one in virtual reality, and maybe not much longer. But it was encouraging to know she was trying to seduce me, and not force me.
Yet.
"You don't sound happy about it," I replied. "After all, he is fabulously rich. Even before I came here, I'd heard of Master Titus. It is rumored he recently acquired one of the most wonderful gems in the world."
"The Heart of Aphrodite?" Corinne asked. I nodded. "True. I've seen it. But it's too large for jewelry, so what's the point?"
I stared at her a second. She made a good point. What use was a gemstone too large to be used in jewelry? It was like a painting, something to display. Yet, it wasn't art. Jewelry wasn't art.
"How big is it?" I asked. "I heard it was a large as a man's head."
That was a lie, but I didn't want yes and no answers. I wanted information, and Corinne was going to give me what I wanted, not the other way around.
Her eyes glazed over a second in thought. "No, it's not that big." She lifted her hand and curled her long, delicate fingers into a fist. "It's a little bigger than my fist, but still too big for jewelry. Maybe a king's scepter."