Cassandra: Here She Rules: Book One

by Kat Brewer

  CASSANDRA

  HERE SHE RULES

  BOOK ONE

  Kat Brewer

  These books are dedicated to all women.

  Find the strength inside of you and let it burn.

  I write strong women because for too long we have been portrayed as victims, weak and easily overcome.

  We are not.

  We are the strong, the proud, and the warriors. The survivors.

  Copyright © 2010 by Kat Brewer

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental. This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment of the original purchaser only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this eBook and did not purchase it (or it was not purchased for your use only), then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Chapter One

  A hot wind was blowing lightly outside the Dojo when Cassandra Powell got into her car and pulled it slowly onto the deserted street. She was heading home after a long karate class and was very much looking forward to a long, hot shower and a glass of wine.

  The icy air blowing from the air conditioner was cooling her heated skin when she became aware of a strange glowing mass in the middle of the street, right before her vehicle. She slammed on the brakes as the mass seemed to grow larger and larger.

  Two hours of karate had taken it out of her that night, but she didn’t think she was that far gone, at least not enough to be hallucinating.

  She sat still, staring at the anomaly while her stomach did flip flops as she squinted at the eerie sight in front of her.

  The rift in space was rough and jagged as if someone had used dull scissors to cut into the fabric of the night. It seemed to be absorbing the light from her headlights, making it glow brighter in the darkness.

  Against her better judgment, she swung open the car door and stepped out, feeling the sultry Georgia night air hit her like a blow.

  As she walked carefully towards the strange light, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and a faint feeling of nausea hit her. She had almost turned back towards the car when she felt a compulsion to move towards the glowing rend in the fabric of the night.

  Always too curious for her own good, she reached out towards the strange light. Just as her hand neared, she felt an electric jolt followed by the sensation of being grasped around the waist, like she had been grabbed by a giant hand, and then she was sucked into the rift.

  The last things she saw as she lost consciousness were stars spinning around her as she was hurtled through space.

  Cassie’s eyes fluttered open to bright sunlight filtering through the trees above her. Pain ripped through her skull as she gingerly sat up, realizing it was full daylight and she was no longer in the city.

  “What the hell happened?” she asked aloud.

  Feeling like she had been run over by a truck, she rose slowly to her feet, staring in wonder at the verdant tropical foliage around her. The sounds of the forest penetrated the fog in her mind as she tried to grasp what exactly had happened to her.

  The memory of the strange glowing light in the street came into focus and she began to wonder if she had been in an accident and merely dreamed the whole strange chain of events.

  Perhaps she was still dreaming...dreaming of a beautiful forest filled with the songs of birds and the soft breeze that ruffled the hair escaping her ponytail.

  Cassie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as she opened her eyes again. The same gorgeous green splashed violently with vivid reds, yellows, and oranges.

  Setting her feet to the path in front of her, she began walking. She felt certain that at any moment she would wake up in the hospital, in the street, or anywhere but where she was.

  “This is a hell of a thing,” she said loudly, wondering if the sound of her own voice would be able to wake her from unconsciousness.

  The only response was the loud squawking of birds in the nearby trees.

  She looked more closely into the foliage and saw small, brightly-colored birds that looked a lot like parakeets. There were a couple of larger birds on higher branches, who didn’t seem to be looking too favorably upon her disruption of their naps.

  She walked slowly down the worn path, rubbing her temples with both hands as her headache slowly receded. She lost track of how long she had wandered down the path when she heard shouts and the clashing of metal up ahead.

  Instinctively, she ran towards the sounds, skidding to a halt before the edge of the woods where the path opened onto a larger road. Before her shocked eyes, a bloody battle was taking place.

  A large group of women dressed in leather battle wear were engaged in a very grisly sword fight.

  Cassie scanned the perimeter. She was certain she would see one of the multitude of camera crews and all else that went with the movie sets that were springing up all around Georgia recently, but no. It was all too real.

  Gore and copious amounts of blood poured from the wounds of the women who lay on the ground, either dead or moaning from injuries they had sustained.

  Closing her eyes again, she choked back the bile that rose in her throat as she covered her mouth with her hand. Opening her eyes, she looked in awe at the full-fledged battle being waged in front of her.

  To her right, she saw a blonde woman being attacked by two large, brutish women. Though the smaller framed woman was presently holding her own, her strength was obviously failing, and Cassie could was see that something was wrong with her shoulder.

  Certain she must be going crazy since she didn’t really know who the good guys were or what was going on, she ran to help the stranger.

  Approaching the largest woman, she drove a kick into the woman’s back with enough power to make her pitch forward into the grass. The other woman whipped around and swung a sword and Cassie dipped under the blade. The woman threw a backhand punch with her other hand that Cassie blocked before kicking her in the stomach. When the woman doubled over, Cassie kicked the sword out of her hand before grabbing her by the hair. She slammed the woman's face into her knee, breaking her nose and knocking her out cold.

  The first woman bellowed as she rose and lurched towards Cassie, who threw a round kick to the side of her head, dropping her onto the ground next to her compatriot.

  Breathing heavily, adrenaline pumping through her body, Cassie turned to check on the blonde woman behind her. The woman was down on one knee, her sword held loosely in her good arm as she stared at Cassie in astonishment.

  The sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention from each other, and Cassie called out to the approaching women.

  “I need something to tie them up with before they come around.”

  A tall, chestnut-haired woman reached them first.

  “There is no need,” she said as she and another warrior quickly dispatched the fallen two as Cassie gaped in shock.

  A sound from the blonde woman on the ground got her attention and she moved to help her up, but ceased immediately as she was quickly surrounded by a bevy of tall, strong, and well-armed women in black leather, their swords pointed at her heart.

  “Easy! I just wanted to see if she was all right.” Pale-faced, Cassie held up her hands to show she wasn’t armed and took a small step back. “There’s something wrong with her shoulder.”

  �
��Your Highness, are you hurt?” the warrior asked, kneeling down beside the woman.

  “Yes, Kara...but alive...thanks to this Lady.” The blonde woman’s voice was regal and richly toned.

  They all had accents that Cassie couldn’t quite place.

  Cassie met the eyes of the warrior in brown leather who stood in front of her and then she looked at the women who still surrounded her with their swords still drawn. She knew that assessing look; they were still unsure whether or not she was a threat to their Queen and were sizing her up as an opponent.

  Surreal was most assuredly the theme for the day.

  Cassie heaved in another deep breath.

  “Please tell me who we have the privilege of thanking for saving the life of our Queen,” one of the warriors in black requested.

  “My name is Cassie, um, Cassandra.” Cassie could feel her head starting to swim and tried to slow her breathing.

  In, out. In, out.

  “Could someone please tell me where I am and what is going on?” Her vision began to dim, and her head spun wildly, pain coming back in full force with its accompanying nausea.

  “Lady,” spoke the Queen, “you are on the borderlands of Erla, my Queendom. Are you lost?” The Queen looked more closely at the stranger with her odd white clothing.

  Cassie was definitely having a very bad feeling about all of this as she fought the urge to throw up.

  “Erla?” she repeated weakly. “I was on my way home when I saw what looked to be a glowing hole, a tear in space, appeared out of thin air right in front of me. The next thing I knew, I had been sucked into it. After that, there was a swirling mass of stars before everything went black...That’s all I can remember before I woke here in this forest. I really want to know what the hell is going on!” Cassie’s hands balled into fists, and immediately, the twenty-odd swords that had lowered were once again pointed at her heart.

  Hysteria was settling in as she tried to slow her breathing once more. She looked at the dozen or so dead women littering the ground and bit back the crazy urge to laugh.

  “Did you say you were brought here by a rift in space?” the Queen asked her.

  “I…I think so; it was the last thing I saw before I found myself here. . .”

  The warriors’ bearing immediately changed, and they looked at her with something akin to wonder.

  “Your Highness, the Portal must have opened again, bringing this woman through it!” a warrior spoke out, excitement tingeing her voice.

  The company of warriors looked at Cassie with more curiosity and much less hostility.

  “Welcome to Jiva and to Erla, Off-Worlder,” the Queen said. “We have been watching for the signs, but we did not expect you so soon. Thank you, great warrior, for your help in my time of need. My attackers were mighty fighters; yet, you vanquished them with your bare hands. I most certainly would have met my end here today without your assistance against the Trevian pigs who attacked me.” The woman cradled her arm in her good hand, trying to relieve the pressure on her shoulder.

  “Wait! You know how I came to be here? How do I get home?” Cassie swayed and stumbled a bit. “I don’t...feel...so...good. . .” As she began to crumple to the ground, she was neatly caught by the warrior whom the Queen had addressed as Kara.

  The woman placed her gently on the back of a horse while the others assembled a makeshift stretcher to carry their Queen back to their home.

  “My warriors, let us return swiftly to the Palace to care for our guest and get my physician to do something about this shoulder.” The Queen’s voice shook with pain. “Leave a detail to take back our wounded and bury the dead.”

  “Yes, Your Highness. It shall be done.” Orders were given, and the main body of the regiment turned and headed towards the distant city, that lay glittering in the sun.

  Chapter Two

  Cassie fought through layers of consciousness to find herself lying on an opulently draped bed in an elegantly appointed room.

  Her head ached unmercifully as she stared at the draping fabric above her until the soft sound of a door opening had her sitting up abruptly. The pain in her head intensified cruelly in response. She moaned and lowered her head into her hands, rubbing her temples.

  “Forgive me, Lady.” The richly toned voice was melodically deep and soothing. “I did not mean to awaken you. I only wished to see if you were well.” The words were spoken by the incredibly beautiful man before her.

  Jet black hair tumbled across his shoulders as luminous golden eyes observed her shyly before he gracefully dropped to his knees on the floor beside the bed, head bowed.

  “It’s all right. I was awake. Who are you?” she asked.

  “I am called Mika if the name pleases you. If it does not, I will be called by whatever name gives you pleasure.” His head remained bowed. “Our Beloved Queen Nera has sent me to be yours, a gift for your valor.”

  “A gift . . .?” Cassie swallowed convulsively.

  “Yes, My Lady. If I may say, it is an honor to belong to so brave and beautiful a Mistress. Truly, Mistress, I am very happy to be yours,” he said.

  “Mika, you know I am not from this world, don’t you?”

  “Yes, My Lady. You came to us from the Portal,” he replied.

  “On my world, things are very different from how they are here,” she said, and he nodded slightly, still kneeling and looking at the floor.

  “Then, tell me, is it customary for people to own other people here?”

  “Yes, My Lady. In this country, the men and lesser females are the chattel of the Dominant Females as it is in other female dominant countries.” He briefly felt curiosity about her world, but quickly shrugged it away.

  Cassie decided it was best not to comment at the present time; she didn’t want to commit a social faux pas that could possibly be her undoing.

  If any of this was even real.

  She briefly contemplated the potentially delightful ramifications of a country ruled by women with beautiful men serving them and providing for their every whim.

  Alrighty then...

  She puffed out a breath, becoming more and more certain she was hallucinating or was actually lying in a hospital bed with a concussion, in a coma, or something else to that effect.

  She suddenly looked down, realized she was naked, and snatched the sheet up over her bare breasts.

  “Mika, where are my clothes?”

  “They are being laundered, My Lady. But Her Highness, Queen Nera, has foreseen your needs and has sent clothing for you. She charges me to say that if you need anything else, anything at all, you need only to say so, and your needs will be met immediately.” His voice, warm and silky, was creating sensations in her belly.

  “Okay. Well, will you get them, please? I would like to dress.” She hadn’t finished speaking before he gracefully jumped to his feet and moved to a dresser on the other side of the room, quickly returning with a silken pile of clothing.

  He stopped beside the low bed, held up a short, deep red tunic that was cut in Grecian style and looked at her expectantly.

  Cassie swallowed; she wasn’t comfortable being nude in front of a stranger, even one that was apparently now her property. She gathered her courage and dropped the sheet before rising to her feet beside him.

  Mika gasped silently. His new Lady was beautiful beyond his hopes. His eyes surreptitiously ran down the length of her body, taking in her curves and defined muscles gained from years of martial arts training. Her hair was a deep brown, shot with red highlights, and her sparkling blue-green eyes captivated him.

  She was so beautiful and powerful that he could not believe his good fortune. Excitement at the thought of lying with her had his pulse racing.

  Cassie was aware she was considered a pretty woman. Since her husband’s death though, she hadn’t felt very attractive or sexy. The combination of adoration and desire in this man’s eyes, however, was making her feel absolutely gorgeous.

  She felt a pang of guilt.


  This man is a slave...human property. How can I exist in a world where people are enslaved? Maybe this is all just a very kinky dream or hallucination.

  After Mika had finished dressing her, she admired the fabric of the tunic she now wore. It fell just to mid-thigh, her arms were bare. There were no underwear garments, something that would take some getting used to.

  Mika slid golden bands up her arms to rest on her biceps. They were etched with stylized, fire breathing dragons. When she asked about them, he told her it was the mark of the Queen’s Defenders, an elite force of warriors whose duty was to protect the Queen from danger.

  Cassie frowned, not understanding why they had been given to her. Apparently, she was now some sort of musketeer.

  Her eyes landed on the bare skin of Mika’s chest, and he straightened his tall frame under her scrutiny.

  Unable to resist, she reached out and touched his tawny, satiny flesh.

  Her hand glided across his muscled chest, and she bit back a moan of sheer female appreciation. His breathing increased under her hand, and she had the distinct pleasure of watching those golden eyes turn molten.

  “You are so beautiful, Mika,” Cassie said, smiling into his eyes, and he quickly lowered them, but not before she saw his look of pleasure.

  “Are all of the men of Erla like you?”

  “My Lady, the men here maintain themselves for the pleasure of their Ladies.”

  “So, all of you have amazing physiques?”

  Mika flushed deeply, his eyes still fixed upon her feet.

  “I believe I am considered handsome, My Lady. But there may be others you may find more pleasing than I. . .” There was a catch in his voice at the last, and a fearful look appeared upon his downcast face.

  Cassie lifted his face with her fingertips, and his eyes met hers.

  “Don’t be afraid, Mika. I believe I am well-pleased with you so far.” A broad smile covered his face at that, and he was so compelling that she felt a strong shaft of desire.