by Piper Stone
I bolted after her, having an advantage since I could see in the dark, but the female was quicker than I’d anticipated. When the alarm bell sounded, indicating a breach of the ancient facility, my blood ran cold. She’d found a way outside. Fuck. Fuck!
What she would find were treacherous conditions, including some of the most vicious animals within our world. Drakors were carnivorous beasts, only able to be controlled by the high-voltage force fields surrounding our cities. Even then, they’d grown very strong, capable of absorbing the electricity. I’d already been told just how dangerous they had become. They were feeding on the gas instead of succumbing to the poison.
No one could survive outside for longer than thirty Earth minutes. I had a difficult choice to make. Damn it!
“Leave her,” Greson stated, appearing out of nowhere. “She means nothing. The Drakors will feed on her.”
His ridiculous words were enough to fuel my courage. “Over my dead body. She is... important and I will die in order to save her.” I rushed toward the exit, pointing my finger at him. “Secure the door.”
“Oh, you better believe it,” he snapped, storming after me. “You’re the same fool, Draze.”
I’d been a fool years before in trusting him. Never the fuck again.
As I moved outside, I took a few seconds to stare at the stars without the protection of glass. I hadn’t seen them since I was a little boy. A whiff of the air and I was reminded of my duty. I had no time to waste.
I thought about the change in the Drakors’ actions over the last few years. A few stragglers had actually found two ways into our city and past every security system, able to abduct several of our precious children before the soldiers were able to kill them, closing down the both of the breaches. The toll on our people had been significant.
Our young were still vulnerable, especially the hybrids born of combined races. The ugly creatures enjoyed their tender skin more than anything. But humans were a delicacy. I’d heard of a few accidents occurring, slaves able to get away then lost to the beasts within minutes of their escape.
Casey would not be killed in that manner, or in any other. She was far too important. Not only to find out what the hell was going on but because a part of her was ingrained within me, my need for her increasing.
Getting to her was a necessity or she would be torn apart. The fact she’d been able to get out of my control was unacceptable and she would be punished severely.
But only if she survived.
I yanked my weapon into my hand, placing the laser on full charge. Anything less and the blow a Drakor received would only slow them down, also fueling their carnage. There was no time to waste. I weaved my way through the ugly shadows, already picking up on the sounds of a wild pack. They remained close to our populations in sheer hope they would be able to feed.
And sometimes they did.
We’d learned to shift centuries before, our abilities keeping us alive in the darkest of scenarios. However, so many members of our society preferred remaining human and had long before the deal made with Earth. We were a proud people, or at least we had been. Perhaps human bodies had qualities more vital than I’d originally been told.
We’d been to Earth dozens of times before, learning their culture and their language, also capturing females after the horrific wars had left our women mostly barren. This was something Earth hadn’t been told, a significant reason for the humans to ignore the terms of the agreement. We’d been told only recently by our scientists we might survive the elements by remaining in an altered form. They’d been wrong, thousands losing their life because of the lies. Then the protective cage. We were no better off than the females we’d captured, all living in fear.
I was able to tell the path she led, racing toward the very forest where known Drakor dens were located. Every muscle in my body was tense, the fuel from increased blood flow pumping to the point I had difficulty focusing. Between rage and fear for her life, the edge I was placed on would likely induce errors. That couldn’t happen.
I had to protect her.
As the growling sounds became louder, I picked up even more speed, cursing Greson for his departure. Every concept of respect I had for the soldier was long gone, but he’d obviously been required to bid on the human. Why leave? Insult from having my attachment, a threesome? The all-consuming anger added another layer of fuel.
When I heard her scream, I bolted into the forest. The darkness was overpowering, almost suffocating in nature. I was beginning to feel the effects of the atmosphere, my breathing becoming irregular, much denser within the bowels of the trees given the dampness. No one entered the forests for fear of their life. After the Drakors feasted, the remains of any kill were left for the other creatures and all of them monstrous.
Crack!
The hard crash of a series of trees meant the beasts had located her. I would have only a few seconds in order to save her life. Any mistakes and we would both be slaughtered or succumb to the gas. I raced deeper into the woods, my vision finally adjusting. I did everything I could not to breathe in the air, almost my lungs were screaming for nourishment. Within seconds, I realized that she was surrounded. There was only one thing I could do, my weapons unable to take every one of the beasts out of the equation.
The moment I crashed through a bank of dense foliage, I saw her. Casey was backed against a tree, the number of Drakors surrounding her even more than normal for a typical pack. I wasted no additional time, shifting into the creature so many in the galaxy feared.
Including these beasts who were no match for a Malzeon in true form. The transformation was more painful than usual, the time since I’d made the change counted in human years. Perhaps I’d learned to enjoy the skin of an Earthling far too much. My bones lengthened, the blood running through my system almost boiling from the amount of heat coursing through my veins. Anguish enveloped my muscles, twisting them savagely. I was tossed to the ground from the force of the change, gasping for air. The risk I was taking was significant, but absolutely necessary. As the terrain beneath me began to rumble, only a few of the Drakors seemed to react in any manner.
They’d grown stronger over the last few years, learning our failings and our strengths. They continued their advance, their sharp canines fully exposed.
“No. No!” Casey screamed, her attempt at climbing the tree futile. She finally turned her head in my direction, her chest heaving as I stood at my full height. There was almost no recognition in her eyes, only a heightened level of fear.
I threw my head back and roared, the harsh sound penetrating the night. Smaller creatures bolted, the sounds of their retreat mixing with the chomping noises made by the Drakors. I yanked the weapon into the air, firing off several shots as I raced in her direction. A solid dozen of them went down immediately, the others continuing their advance, now only inches away.
Suddenly, there were more of them, dozens advancing like soldiers of their own army. This was unusual behavior, even for these predatory creatures. I leveled my weapon as I turned in a full circle but the more of them I managed to shoot, the more took their place. Where the fuck were they all coming from?
“Arrr!” I screamed once again, hoping that someone would hear me. Another series of cracking sounds occurred, and I knew that at least one other of my kind had realizing my plight. As an entire group of Malzeons burst through a path of undergrowth, I bit back a different kind of cry. Greson.
He hadn’t been able to maintain being a coward after all.
In his hands were two weapons. As he began to fire indiscriminately, using his powerful legs to slam several of the creatures to the ground, I moved next to him. Together we fought the onslaught, even as at least two dozen other beasts appeared.
We outweighed them by two hundred pounds, able to easily crush several beneath our feet, snapping the necks of others without hesitation. Yet the battle went on, until finally additional assistance arrived, a solid two dozen of our kind taking positions.
&nbs
p; After another few minutes, the creatures were finally contained enough I was able to race toward her, bellowing as two Drakors managed to yank her into their clutches. The fear in her eyes was unlike anything I’d seen and as she reached for me, a moment of recognition settled in.
What surprised was that in her realization of who and what I truly was, the panic that had encompassed her before seemed to pass.
I tossed her over my shoulder, backing away, firing the weapon until the Drakors began to retreat, their heinous cries echoing in the night. I would task our soldiers to round up as many as possible. The method of their attack suggested they were prepared to make more, something we couldn’t tolerate as we continued rebuilding our world.
She slammed her hands against my back, still fighting the inevitable.
“Let me down. Please, just let me go. I’m not your enemy,” Casey insisted. “Where are you taking me?”
“To serve out your sentence. And to be punished.” I would ask her questions later, when she’d been subdued.
If what the king had mentioned was true, she could be our salvation. But why? What powers or secrets did she hold? Was that the reason I felt so strongly connected to her?
I realized two important things as the entire group moved out of the forest and into safety.
The female would never have another chance at escape.
And more important, I would die to protect her.
Chapter Seven
Casey
Nightmares.
I’d had them since I was a child, requiring a light to remain on in my room until I was almost fifteen. The creatures that had plagued me were similar in nature to the ones who’d appeared out from behind trees and from under bushes, chasing me through the wretched forest. I would never forget the sound they made, guttural yet gleeful in nature, the high-pitched short screams still echoing in my ears.
I remained in a fog, unable to dig my way out of the horrible visions. My breathing was also labored, a metallic taste in my mouth. The entire group of Malzeons had been almost desperate to get back inside, as if the actual surrounding air was as much a killer as the nasty creatures that had attacked me. I also had no idea how much time had passed but when I managed to open my eyes again, another round of panic entered my system.
I was in another cage, this one not large enough for me to move beyond a crouching position. While I could see no lock on the door, the latch remained strong, secured by some hidden force just like the shackles that had surrounded my wrists. While they’d been removed sometime after my rescue, I could almost feel them remaining in position. Shivering, I tried to make sense of where I was, the single dim glow located on the other side of the room.
I knew instantly that I wasn’t alone. There were a dozen other cages in the room, all a solid ten feet away. From what I could see, there were at least six other girls in their respective cages. The only different was they were all gagged, their hands secured to the tops of the steel bars. I was mortified, gasping for air. Why was this happening? Why were we being put through this kind of horror? What had we done as a species to deserve this?
My thoughts drifted to the pictures and evidence I’d found on the New World Order president and his menagerie. That’s what the pompous asshole called the women he kept supposedly locked away in his basement. I’d heard the men he employed and trusted had a number of pets as well. Did they learn their wretched behavior from the Malzeons? Were they instructed in ways of punishment?
If I had to venture a guess, I’d say no. Hell, maybe it was the other way around.
“Are you all right?” I managed, my voice raspy. I rubbed my fingers against the collar that had been placed around my neck, grimacing and tugging. The adornment was simply another method of highlighting ownership.
Only one of the girls lifted their heads, issuing a muffled sound around the gag. At least that minimal voice seemed strong. Another fighter. Only I had to wonder if she was an actual criminal or one of the girls I could swear was totally innocent.
I knew I’d never find out. I wouldn’t be allowed.
I wanted to hate Draze, but my instinct told me that he was as much a pawn as I was, although I refused to commit to the thought entirely. He’d been less than forthcoming, his actions exactly as I would have expected. Still, there was something in his eyes that told me he wasn’t the brutal alien the others seemed to be.
Or maybe I was simply a fool.
I gathered my wits, rubbing my aching arms and legs, stretching them out as much as possible. Why had I been left untethered? I’d been the one to try to escape. Maybe these girls had done much worse. Or maybe they were simply awaiting another auction. I looked down, running my fingers over my skin. From what I could tell, the forest creatures hadn’t injured me. Thank God for something.
However, I’d been stripped of the makeshift dress and in my nakedness, I felt more humiliated than I ever had before. My throat was parched, my lips sticking together, and I could tell I’d been crying.
Get it together. Suck it up.
As if thinking those few words would help in any manner. I wrapped my hands around the bars, half expecting that I’d receive some sort of an electric shock. All I felt was the cold steel biting into my hands. The Malzeons were true barbarians, no different than the type of criminal I’d been accused of being. How could any decent person shove a human being into a cage?
Except they weren’t human in any way, shape, or form.
I’d seen that with my own eyes.
The beast that had fought the ugly little creatures was massive in size, even larger than the Malzeon men I’d seen in the medical facility. Then again, their human appearance was merely a type of skin they’d worn to try to force us into believing they weren’t monsters. What a lovely little trick. I snorted, biting back an agonizing moan. At least the monstrous alien had saved my life.
Draze. I recognized his massive physique even in the darkness, the luminescent glow of his eyes incredible, drawing me in. For a few seconds, I’d been able to read his mind even as he’d destroyed so many of the creatures. He was a killing machine. No heart. No conscience. That had been easy to see.
Then why save me? Because he won some freaking auction?
No, there was something else. I was certain of it. However, the connection we shared was fleeting. The moment he looked away, all thoughts were gone, replaced with an ugly reality. I was still in a cage, a prisoner of another species. There were no freedoms. There was no recourse for a human female.
I bit back a cry building in my throat, refusing to give in to my emotions.
Shifting, I realized the cursed anal plug was still inserted inside, a requirement fulfilled, and I hadn’t even been checked by the great king. I wanted nothing more than to rip it out, tossing the damn thing at the assholes when then came to retrieve me.
What if they didn’t?
What if I’d angered them with my escape attempt enough so that I was going to be left here for an extended period of time? I almost panicked, terror skipping down my spine. They wouldn’t do that. Would they?
No. No. What I’d seen in Draze’s eyes had been fear of his own, anxiety that he wouldn’t be able to save me. That had to count for something. Right? I’d simply reacted to the auction, seeing a split-second chance to get away. As if I could ever get off this damn planet. I laughed bitterly even as tears slid down both sides of my face. My impetuous behavior would likely get me punished.
Get a grip. Think. Think!
I began to rock, trying to remind myself that I was a cop. I needed to keep my eyes and ears open. The bidding war had been an odd experience and I could swear I recognized at least four of the women who’d been captured and sent to the auction.
Why did I have the feeling that everything was too well planned, specific in a manner the Malzeons had no control over? I was missing something. I was... Overwrought.
A few of the contestants were girls who’d disappeared, all of them professional and well-respected wom
en. Was their capture a product of Malzeon desires or an effort to toss them away? Oh, God. I closed my eyes, trying to control my nerves, shaking so badly my teeth chattered.
I took another good look at my surroundings, my eyes able to focus in the dimness. The room was expansive, gray walls matching the ugly gray floor. The entire four walls were devoid of anything but what appeared to be medieval torture devices, implements of all kinds attached in various formations. I was shocked at the collection. Straps in various materials and lengths, some created out of a substance I knew I’d never seen before. Paddles in several sizes. Canes that I could swear had blood covering them. Then there was the metal collection. They created another round of shivers that left me feeling dead inside. I was also able to catch a glimpse of gags and muzzles, anal hooks, and dozens of shackles.
“Oh...” The moan escaped my mouth before I was able to stifle it. Was this Draze’s personal collection or a communal room?
I crawled, turning in a full circle, now shaking like a leaf. There were various wooden and metal benches and stockade-style clamping apparatuses that were horrifying. What in God’s name did they do to people? To their pets?
The heaviness of being auctioned off like a slave hit me hard and I crumpled as far down onto the cold metal floor as possible. I wanted to sob uncontrollably but what good would that do me? My entire world had shifted in two days.
You’re a prisoner. You need to get used to it. Play along. Don’t fight them.
What good would that do? There was no way off this planet. There would be no returning home and even if I could, what would I find there? More pain, perhaps death. At least I was alive. If you call this living.
Seconds later, I heard the clamor of a metal door, the sounds of footsteps moving in my direction. Two pairs of them. I scuttled against the back of the cage, the plug even more uncomfortable than before. I folded my arms over my naked breasts, crossing my legs. As if that would do any good. As I lowered my head, I realized I was making myself as small as possible.
