by Peter Hartz
Sexual slavery was one of those crimes that most people shook their head at, and then looked the other way. What could one do? The bad men had guns, and would fight to protect their “business”. He seemed fearless, unconcerned at her plight, and confident that she would do what he said. Then he used the knife that seemed to materialize in his hand as he slashed, ripped, and tore her clothing from her, then he beat her, slapping and punching at her, holding her down while her screams and sobs at the pain went unanswered. When he was done with her, he stood and stomped out of the room, slamming and locking the door behind him as she lay in despair on the bed in the room.
Some hours later, the door to her cell opened, and she shivered in fear. The huge man stalked into the small, dark, dank, sparsely furnished room, and told her to stand up. When she flinched away and cried out in fear, huddling in the corner of the bed and didn’t respond, he began to bellow at her again. Svetlana suddenly looked up at him, and a new emotion came over her. Everything she had gone through in the last four days raced through her mind, and a new emotion welled up uncontrollably from deep inside her soul. For the first time in her young life, she was consumed with an unfamiliar emotion: rage. She gritted and bared her teeth at him, and a sound that could have been made by an angry predator came from her as she growled at him a guttural sound that had no language, only emotion. He just stood there and laughed mockingly at her, having seen it all before, knowing that he would break her, or she would die, just like all the others. Then he paused, for something new, something different, something he had never seen or heard of before, was happening.
Svetlana suddenly felt something; something warm, then hot, flowed over and through her, like a fierce wind from the south in summer time. She embraced it’s suddenly-energizing comfort, and felt a sudden answering current deep inside herself that welled up and joined the feeling coming to her from everywhere around her. She suddenly had an image in her head that she had seen once in a book when she was in school, and it almost felt natural to want to be that image, to want that image to be her, and her whole body shook heavily as she embraced the rage, the hot wind, the deep current inside, and the image all at once.
Alozar had been doing this a long while. He knew everything that could happen, and how to deal with it. The stock had always been broken or discarded in the end. Sometimes, both happened to the same cow. But this time, it was not going to be that simple.
The image of the slim, young, beautiful, naked, defenseless girl in front of him seemed to shimmer, and he found himself frozen and transfixed as the entirety of her eyes suddenly glowed red. Then her bared teeth changed, flashing into fangs, and the guttural growl started high like a puppy, but then it grew deeper. He gaped in shock, but whatever was happening to the girl in front of him didn’t seem to be stopping with just her eyes.
The pale skin he could see in the dim light suddenly changed to a scaly blackish green, and her shape grew and changed rapidly even while he watch. Then with an almost audible snap, the transformation was complete, having taken only a second or maybe even less. Alozar stepped back suddenly and let out a high-pitched scream like a little girl at the top of his lungs, as the form on the bed stood up on the floor in front of the bed. Where there had been a small teen girl, was now a huge, muscled, winged, tailed, fanged, clawed nightmare from the darkest pit of hell, standing so tall that the horns on its head nearly scraped the ceiling. Terror swept over him as he realized he was trapped in a locked room with an impossible creature that growled and glared at him for the briefest of moments, yet a minute part of his mind admired the sleek, otherworldly form in front of him, a graceful and symmetrical form that was a perfect apex predator, like the admiration a person might have for a full grown lion or tiger.
The blackish and greenish scaled form in front of him crouched slightly, spread its arms, and with them it’s impossibly huge leathery wings, and leaped at him. Needle-tipped claws on its feet ripped into his skin first as the massive form crashed into him, smashing him to the wall then down to the hard floor with a thud, and the fanged snout below those impossible glowing red eyes snarled in his face as razor-sharp talons from its fore-limbs tore into his chest.
Those huge fangs ripped out his throat as the massive weight pinned him to the floor, then those impossibly strong arms proceeded to rip his body apart piece by piece. As pain the like of which he had never known before overwhelmed him, and darkness began to close in, the weight on what was left of his body went away. He heard a snarling breathing, then rapid footfalls as the thing that ripped his life away turned and yanked open the door somehow, then ran out into the hallway. Even as his consciousness slowly fled, he heard it sniff the air as it paused outside the door, and with a snort, it ran off. Then blackness crashed down on him and he felt himself dissolve in nothingness forever.
Down the hall in the room used as a kitchen, three men, the other owners of the brothel, laughed at the muffled scream they had heard – it wasn’t the first time, and wouldn’t be the last, one of their playthings screamed. They shared crude comments about the new girl’s fate, and calmly went back to breakfast, talking and joking amongst them. A dull thud made them pause, then less than a minute later, they heard pounding footsteps rapidly approaching.
Before they could react, the door shattered with a huge booming crash, and pieces of wood showering the room. Reflexively, their eyes snapped to the impossible event, and a huge dark form with glowing red eyes, black-green scaly skin over massive rippling muscles, sharp horns on its head, and leathery wings on its back, charged through the shattering door and into the room, roaring like an enraged bear. It didn’t even slow as it looked around, spied the men sitting at the table who gawked at it in frozen amazement, disbelief and complete fear, and it’s path altered to where only moments before they had joked about the fate of their newest acquisition.
It was over almost as soon as it had begun, then the heavy thudding footfalls continued up the stairway past the kitchen and through the door at the top of the steps to the alley behind the illegal brothel, where a huge winged form took flight into the dark evening sky.
◆◆◆
“Oh God,” Koren moaned. “Help me!”
It was Saturday afternoon, and his sentencing hearing was now only two days away. The days seemed to all turn into mud together. There was none of his previous daily milestones of school and his part time job to help him keep track of the ebb and flow of the days and weeks. Lately, though, he couldn’t avoid counting down to the day he would learn how long his freedom would be taken from him for something he knew he didn’t do.
He was totally unprepared for what happened next. A slight wind began to blow, and he thought heard the sound of a wolf howling way far off in the distance, followed by other wolves answering faintly. The smell of trees and the woods suddenly came to him, and with a minor crescendo in the sound of the wind, a person, a tall woman dressed in leathers and boots, appeared before him. The winds died down, and in the silence that remained, he was certain he could hear the pounding of his heart.
“What is it you wish of me, mortal?” The sound of her voice was unlike anything he had ever heard before, with an almost bell-like clarity and a harshness that seemed to convey steel and challenge all at once.
“Wh… who are you? How did you get in here?” The shock of her appearance had paralyzed his whole body slightly, and his voice was no more than a strained whisper. He could hear his pulse pounding in his head in the almost supernatural silence that covered the small holding cell.
“I am Diana the Huntress. I head your cry to the Gods, mortal. Calm yourself. If you are an innocent, you have naught to fear from me. I hunt wrongdoers, and bring them to justice. I come and go as I wish on any mortal plane, when one such as you calls me.” She spoke with a calm confidence that was almost overwhelming, but his pulse slowed as he realized that someone had answered his call. Maybe this would be alright after all.
Diana looked around the small cell he was held in, and frowned. “For what
reason are you held in this cage, human? What did you do for your fellow mortals constrain you like this? And what is your name, mortal child?”
“I am Koren Daniel Davis. Most people call me Koren. The police and the prosecutor think I killed someone. I have already been found guilty. In a couple days, I am being sentenced for something I didn’t do. I will probably spend the rest of my life in prison for this shit.” The last word came out in a harsh grunt. He was almost overwhelmed just talking about it, but made it through without tearing up again. Almost.
Her eyes bored into him, and he could almost feel something sifting through his mind as the memories of his entire life flashed before his eyes. He could only hold still and wait, unable to move or speak as the being in front of him went through his mind looking at everything she could find.
At last she was done, and he had no idea how much time had passed as he stared into those green eyes, transfixed by his experiences. She looked at him once again, and snorted in disgust.
“You are certainly guilty of harming no one. Indeed, you are a good person, the likes of which should be lauded. And just as clearly, this ‘prosecutor’ seems to not have bothered with finding the truth. He chose to ignore your explanations and press for your guilt. And your advocate could do little to protect you. I find this all distasteful.” The last five words were spoken with an emphasis that reassured him. Maybe this would work out after all.
“I must deal with this injustice that is about to be visited upon you, young Koren. I would be remiss in my oaths and my honor if I were to allow this to go forward. From what I have seen, you will momentarily be taken into this courtroom, where that judge will decide how long you will be locked up. I will not let this happen.” The sound of wolves howling faintly came to him once again.
“I will give them but a moment to do the thing that true justice would accept. If they do not, then I shall deal with the situation as I see fit. Do you accept my intervening in your justice, Koren Daniel Davis?” The last sentence came out almost like a ritualistic chant, and he nodded firmly.
“I have done nothing wrong. I accept.” With that, she vanished, but he heard her voice in his head.
“I will wait until the moment is right. Fear not. You will not be imprisoned for this thing you did not do.”
◆◆◆
Here and there around the world, a few strange events happened. There was no predictable pattern to the events, and most were not witnessed. The few witnesses seemed to look away, their minds denying the impossible events, locking away the memories from consciousness, and tried to go on with their lives as if nothing happened. But something had. And as their subconscious minds wrestled with events so alien to their version of reality, denial set in in an attempt at protecting their sanity. A blissful yet uneasy calm settled over their conscious thoughts once again, filled with the mundane aspects of their normal lives. For the moment.
Chapter 14
The queen looked over the three remaining men in front of her. The fourth had been bound hand and foot, and returned to the city jail cell, under heavy guard, after his wounds had been seen to. She was as shocked as anyone else witnessing the altercation and Allison’s deft response to the mayhem which occurred, but a part of her was also secretly pleased. The events clarified her thoughts nicely: Allison had only been reacting to the situation. The human man had initiated everything, which spoke scrolls to what path she would follow. Allison also clearly seemed to be protecting her, in spite of her guardsmen, who were between the queen and the human brigand.
The remaining three had been forced to the floor. Their legs were also bound, preventing a repeat of the action that had driven away her calm and inner peace. Then they were stood up. The head guard had stepped forward and cast truth-speak on them. Now all that remained was for the queen to ascertain what these three’s intentions were, and what to do with them.
Giltreas approached the throne, and spoke quietly. “Your Majesty, these humans all speak a tongue I have not encountered before. I would offer my services to cast Learn Language for you to be able to speak with them. I would humbly submit that you finish the spell with Allison or Michelle.”
She looked at him for a moment, then nodded for him to continue. He cast the spell on her, then she looked to the two women. Deciding between them, she spoke out.
“Allison, would you approach me? I wish to complete the Learn Language spell with you.” The head guardsman stiffened for a moment, but held his tongue. He clearly was not happy with the thought of a human capable of such violence near his liege, but was wise enough to not argue.
Allison saw the guard’s reaction, but nodded to the queen, and walked slowly towards the throne, her hands down calmly at her sides. She was not certain, but felt that she should not step onto the raised dais that supported the throne, and stopped there.
The queen stood, and approached the edge of the dais as Allison stood there. Then she calmly held out her hand to Allison, who took it briefly. She felt nothing, but the queen certainly did, because she started, as if lightly shocked. She then dropped Allison’s hand, and turned to take her place on the throne again. Allison calmly returned to the side of the room where Dave and Michelle stood, and waited to see what would happen next.
The queen gathered her thoughts, then spoke in English to the three bound men standing before her. “Which of you is the leader, or was it that unpleasant being that was removed earlier?”
She was met with silence. “Will no one speak for you?”
Bill spoke up. “I don’t have to say anything. I know my rights.” The others nodded, and she cocked her head.
“This is my realm. You have no rights here but what I grant you. If you will not speak, then I will deal with you as I see fit. Is that your decision?”
They nodded at her, mute once more, and she sighed internally. “Very well. You shall remain in my jail until such time as one of you decides to speak for you all, or all of you decide to speak for yourselves. Guards, return them to the Minotaur. We shall see if your tongues are loosed in seven days.”
They stared at her in dismay until they were led from the room.
The queen turned back to Allison, Michelle, and David. “The action of one of them undertook in my throne room, and their unwillingness to speak, have said all I need know for the moment. Perhaps later their tongues find themselves loosed,” she said in Elvish. “I find in your favor, in the absence of any dissent from those you accuse. It will take much to change my mind, especially since David has answered under spell for you three.”
She then turned to Giltreas and spoke fondly. “Step forward, my faithful subject.” Giltreas readily obeyed the command.
“You shall be my eyes and ears amongst these humans. I wish to know of them many things. Why do they dress so differently? Act so unseemly? My guardsmen speak of an amazing black war wagon that is in my stables, and a smaller one that David is said to own. They love their companion animals, as do rational peoples anywhere, so I can see much to their character in that stead. But I wish to know more. Go with them with my blessing, Giltreas.”
He bowed, and said, “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
With that, she stood, and walked to the back of the throne room, to a door covered by a tapestry. As the cloth was pulled aside, she turned back, and said, “Come to me, my son, and bring your companions. I wish to speak with them and you, and get to know my guests better.”
With that, she turned, and walked out, and the fabric covering the doorway fell back to cover it again.
Dave, Michelle, and Allison all turned to Giltreas in surprise, and he blushed lightly. “Yes, I am the son of the Elvish Queen of the Wood.” He turned away slightly in embarrassment.
Allison spoke up tentatively. “Does that make you… a prince, or something?”
“I hold no noble title or dignities. That is the way of it as a bastard child. It matters not to me. I wish not to speak of it.”
Michelle nodded her head. “Then we won’t bot
her you with questions.” She glanced at Dave and Allison to her right, and they nodded back to her. Sadie, on the other hand, pulled herself over to Giltreas and licked his hand, wagging her tail as she looked up at him. From her smile, she had her own opinion of him, no matter his protestations. “Good-noble-person.” He laughed, and petted her on the head.
“Sadie, you are a queen amongst dogs.” He bent down and hugged her close for a moment, petting Max and Abby as well as they pulled forward to get in on the attention, then stood. “We must be off to the Queen’s antechamber. She wishes a private audience with us all. This way.”
◆◆◆
Daniel picked up the phone, and called his best friend and neighbor next door, trembling with excitement as the pen slowly spun in midair at his prompting.
Jimmy picked up the phone after seeing the caller ID. “Hello?”
“You gotta come over here! Quick! You’re not gonna believe this!”
Jimmy responded, “Ok, be there as quick as I can.” he hung up, and turned to head to the door.
“I’m going to Daniel’s house, mom!” He yelled as he made his way to the door.
“Wait!” She poked her head out of the kitchen and stopped him with a yell.
He nodded. “Are your chores done?”
“Yes, mom,” he said impatiently, shifting from foot to foot. He had been waiting for Daniel to call all day, and the urgent tone in his voice agitated Daniel, as usual.
“If I check and you haven’t done them completely, you and I will talk later.”
“They’re done, Mom. Can I go?”
She nodded. Sixteen was such an impatient age. “Be home before dinner. Your father will be home soon. We’re having meatloaf tonight.”
“Ok, mom, sounds good. Bye!” and he was out the door.
Moments later, Daniel opened the back door below the deck on the lower level of his house where his bedroom was. “You gotta come see this!”