The Ta'e'sha Chronicles: Daughters of Terra

by Theolyn Boese

  Paeten nodded. “A most respected occupation, I would enjoy seeing your work. I have not had the opportunity to spend much time with the ladies who have joined us.” He crossed his legs and watched his daughter talk quietly with Soren.

  “You are more than welcome to visit. I’ll show you my work room. Daeshen hung several of my pieces in our quarters, so there are plenty to show you.” She leaned back on a palm and followed his gaze to his daughter. “It must be hard watching them leave the nest.”

  He glanced at her. “I beg your pardon? What nest?”

  She smiled ruefully. “I mean watching your daughter grow up and move out.”

  “Ahh, yes it is, and she is the first ...” He smiled fondly. “But you cannot keep them children forever. I think it’s harder for the fathers when daughters leave. After all, I know what that young man is thinking.” He laughed when Soren darted a glance at him, paled and gulped.

  After a few more minutes of conversation Paeten excused himself and Soren and Kati drifted off in the water still talking animatedly. Thea had a brief thought of what their kids would be like. Talking nonstop and tripping over everything. Ye Gods.

  She watched the groups of people around her, noticing the differences in their builds and appearances. She gasped softly as a woman with pale blue-gray skin and hair swam past her. Her tail was moving from side to side instead of the up and down motion she was accustomed to seeing. The shape of her tail was like a shark. Looking more closely, she noted that the tails of the Ta’e’sha people seemed to be very similar to several different species of fish from her home. So, maybe they have different races like we do? She tried to match the shapes of tails to different places on her planet to pass the time while her husband was busy.

  Daeshen’s team left a bit later and he pulled himself up to sit next to her and began unbuttoning her blouse.

  “Hey! What are you doing?” Thea swatted his hands and held the edges of her blouse together.

  He smirked and tugged her blouse out of her hands and whipped it off. He attacked the buttons down the side of her skirt next. “I’m taking you to that pretty little spot in the center of the lake and I’m going to fuck that pretty little pussy of yours,” he whispered in her ear. Wrapping an arm around her hips he pulled her into the water with him and swam slowly toward the center of the lake, ignoring her grumbles and wiggles as she tried to get loose.

  “I am not having sex in public!” Her legs slid against his tail and she felt that warm melting in her loins again as he rubbed his chest against her breasts, which were barely covered by her see-through lace bra.

  He hummed softly and lazily weaved his way through a group of people caressing each other intimately. “Don’t you want to know how we make love in the water? No one would be able to see very much that way, lover. Besides, it’s perfectly natural for our people.” He licked the shell of her ear slowly, making her shiver. She looked so cute as she glowered at him.

  She looked at him and muttered, “That’s just mean! You know how curious I am! Can’t we go home and use the tub?” She nibbled on his chin enticingly. Her head came up in a rush when she felt hands stroke down her body as they passed a pair of men.

  Daeshen winked at the men, both of whom sent very complimentary comments about his wife’s pale skin and dark hair. Reaching a spot hidden in a thick ring of reeds Daeshen slowed and lolled on his back. He gently stroked her as she looked around cautiously. Sliding his hand up her back he released the clasp of her bra with a deft twist of his wrist.

  She laughed softly, relaxing against him. The reeds provided a semblance of privacy. She looped her arms around his neck as his hands slipped into her panties to caress her bottom. Sitting up, she straddled his lap and slid her bra off her arms and tossed it behind her.

  Several catcalls were yelled out beyond the reeds a moment later along with a few offers that made her blush.

  He laughed softly. “We are a bit freer about sex than your culture.” He leaned up and licked the soft skin between her breasts. “We occasionally take lovers if our mates don’t mind. I think a few of those men are hoping you’ll ask them to join us.” He caught a nipple in his lips and suckled gently, enjoying the way her back arched in response. His fingers slid into the sides of her panties and he quickly tore the seams. He slowly tugged them from between her legs.

  Thea moaned as the lace slid between the lips of her pussy and rasped against her clit. After several delicious moments it came free.

  Daeshen threw it over her shoulder, setting off another round of catcalls.

  She giggled and hid her face in his shoulder. “I don’t think I’m ready for another one of you perverts yet.” She nipped his nose, making him laugh.

  He stroked her breasts again and pushed her up. Taking her hand in his he stroked her palm down his chest and over his abdomen.

  She slipped her hand free to explore his body. Her fingers slid over where his skin formed in scales. Tiny scales flickered in the sunlight. He was smooth and firm under her fingertips. His tail felt like a solid column of muscle. The scales were as smooth as glass. She stroked lower, brushing her palms back and forth over his hips. It was just so amazing to her that they could change shape!

  A slit opened over his groin and his penis slowly emerged. Heavy and hard it lay against his belly and throbbed.

  She grasped it firmly and stroked slowly up and down. With her free hand she tickled the opening in his body, making him squirm under her and the water lap along her hips. She smiled and placed her hands on his chest and rubbed herself along his heated length.

  He growled softly and pulled her down into his arms and took her mouth hard, devouring her sweetness. His fingers tested her wetness and he moaned into her mouth when he found her already moist and hot for him. “Gods, you are perfect, darling,” he breathed against her lips.

  He helped her raise herself above him and moaned as she sank slowly down upon him. He urged her hips into a slow up and down grind that he matched with slow undulations of his body. His hands slid up to cup her breasts and rubbed them with gentle circular motions.

  Thea held his wrists as she rocked and ground down on him. She barely lifted herself off him before sliding back down, the sensation of fullness was incredible. Her head fell back, letting her hair trail in the water lapping over her husband’s tail. Releasing his hands she leaned back, placing her palms on his tail behind her and began to work her hips in circles. The sensation was incredible, she felt so full and his trembling frills rasped along the walls of her moist sheath delightfully.

  Daeshen’s breath hissed out from behind his clenched teeth. “Oh yeah ... Just like that ... Harder now.” He twisted her nipples, making her jerk on him. He moaned in response.

  She came to a stop and smiled evilly down at him, causing his eyebrows to arch. Her sheath contracted slowly around him. She held her muscles taut for a moment then released them. Her fingers slid between their bodies and she stroked the sensitive opening in his tail. Contracting again, she smirked as he started to thrash under her and mumble hot, sexy words.

  He shouted and grabbed her, yanking her down onto his chest. Fixing his hands on her bottom he began thrusting frenziedly into her. He growled when she bit his neck and screamed. Two more thrusts and he felt her tighten and ripple around him. He let himself go and with a final thrust lodged himself deep and began pulsing his cream into her.

  She panted and rested against him for a moment. Sex with Kyrin and Daeshen always blew her mind. They found her limits and pushed, driving her to new heights every time. And yet, she always felt their affection and care. She sat up and let her head fall back as she breathed slowly. “Mmm ...” She stroked his chest in slow, lazy motions as she savored the last shocks of her orgasm.

  He caressed her hips, admiring her body. Twisting deftly, he levered them upright in the water and kissed her lazily. Lips gently stroking against each other as the last pulses left his body. Lifting his head he smiled wickedly. “How do you like the lake, d
arling?”

  She giggled softly, hiding her face in his neck. “I like it, brat.”

  * * * * *

  Two weeks later ...

  Thea frowned at the swirling letters in the oversized book in her hand. She rubbed her eyes tiredly. This stuff is hard on the eyes. “Soren, are you sure this book isn’t in the computer so I can read it in English?”

  Soren looked up from his own text with glazed eyes. They cleared after a moment. “No, besides you should practice our script anyway, you never know when you might need it.”

  She sighed and went back to reading. It was a book on Ta’e’shian marriage customs. “According to this you offer a scarf made in the same colors as the woman you are offering marriage to. Right?”

  He nodded and set aside the religious text he had been studying. “That’s right. If she accepts the scarf it means she accepts your suit.”

  “Okay, so it’s like offering an engagement ring.”

  “I guess so.” He tapped the ring on her finger. “Is that an engagement ring?”

  She nodded, not looking up. “Kyrin studied our customs and had it made for me. Wasn’t that sweet of him?” She paused in her reading and admired her ring again.

  “Uh, yes. But, aren’t you already mated?”

  “Yes, by Ta’e’sha custom, but he wants us to be married by the customs of my religion as well.”

  “Oh.” He frowned. “So, why are you studying our customs?”

  A bit of color flushed warmly into her cheeks. “Oh, just curious ...” she said evasively and neatly turned the conversation to another subject. “I wish there was someplace where we could make small temples and chapels. I’d imagine the other women would like some place to pray.”

  Soren was quickly distracted by the mention of other religions, and started asking questions as fast as Kati.

  * * * * *

  Corvin stepped into Kyrin’s office, tapping a holoreader against his leg. “We have enough evidence to arrest Barik, Captain.” He set the reader in front of his captain and sat down heavily. “We have the testimony of the two women out of stasis, proof of his tampering with their cerebcoms, physical evidence from his sperm on their skin, and extreme vaginal ripping. He withdrew before his frills folded.”

  Kyrin winced and turned gray. The spines in their frills would have lanced the women’s vaginas and torn the length down. “What else?”

  The doctor rubbed his face; he looked haggard and haunted from his experiences of the last few days. “We will continue to revive the remaining women and interview them. Some will need surgery. The women mentioned specific tortures and verbal abuse. He was brutal, thorough and clinical. Elaine said she would have been able to accept the rape better if he hadn’t been so cold and calculating. She said it was like she wasn’t even important and just seemed to be someone he picked randomly, which we know is not the case.”

  Kyrin scanned the information on the holoreader and swallowed repeatedly. “I’ll have the security officers arrest him and place him in the brig. I think it’s best if he were placed in stasis until we get home and have the trial there.” He tapped a few keys on the holoreader to approve the order and sent it to security.

  A confirmation code of the arrest order logging itself in the ship’s computer and in his personal logs flashed on the screen a moment later. Security confirmed that they received the order and were currently attempting to locate the subject. They would contact him upon the subject’s arrest.

  Kyrin leaned over his desk and placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Go home, Corvin, give yourself some time, you don’t have to do it all at once.” He squeezed Corvin’s shoulder gently. “He’ll be in custody in a few minutes. You won’t do the women any good if you drop from exhaustion or become numb to what’s happened to them.”

  The other man nodded and rose from his chair. “I know, Kyrin, I just wish we could have prevented this. What he did ... How could I work with him everyday and not see that something was wrong?”

  “No one knew, Corvin. How could we?” Kyrin escorted him to the door. “It’s not your fault.”

  * * * * *

  Thea hummed softly to herself as she walked toward home. Her hand rubbed across her belly. She had felt queasy this morning when she woke up. I think I’ll ask Corvin to give me a pregnancy test tomorrow before I go to the temple. She smiled to herself; her husbands were going to be ecstatic. She was actually excited about the thought of being pregnant.

  Spending time at the Ta’e’shian temples had made her feel closer to her own Lord and Lady. Thea had always held the belief that you didn’t need a special place to be with your God or Gods because nothing was as sacred as holding them in one’s heart. And, as a direct result her mind calmed when she was there and she was able to work her way through the many things that had been happening to her. She was able to step back and look at Daeshen and Kyrin and actually see them. It was very easy to like what she saw, too.

  In fact, as she learned more of the Ta’e’shian culture the more she liked it. Equality between the sexes was such an established belief that it never crossed their minds to treat men, or women, differently. It was very interesting to her that there were no insults in their society based on sexuality. To them, sex was a very natural thing and not something to be mocked or ashamed of. She pondered the interesting fact she had learned from Kyaness today.

  Prostitution had no negative connotations in their society; it was considered a necessary service, performed by trained professionals. It was actually very common for parents to take their children to such a professional when they reached adulthood, ensuring that the loss of their virginity was pleasant and done with care. This was especially important to the young men, Kyaness had explained to her. Their frills could cause internal damage if they tried to withdraw too soon.

  She turned down a corridor. It had become her habit to walk the living sections corridors home because there were fewer people in them to bother her. It gave her time to absorb what she had studied that day and think of new questions she wanted to ask.

  She was absently aware of the hiss of a door opening behind her. She smacked her neck when she felt a faint sting on it, catching a hand. Her legs gave out when she tried to turn as a strange tingle sped through her limbs, leaving a burning, aching paralysis behind.

  Barik’s face leaned over her. His lips stretched in a macabre smirk as he quickly picked her up and carried her into the cabin she had passed moments before.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Captain, we are unable to locate the subject. His cerebcom is not responding to our queries. We will begin a search of the ship immediately.”

  Kyrin frowned and rubbed his forehead. It had just begun aching, along with a general ache all over his body. The message that he had just received didn’t help. “Very well, keep me updated on your progress. And find out why his cereb is not responding! That shouldn’t be possible!”

  * * * * *

  Daeshen rubbed his shoulder. Ow, am I coming down with something? His legs and chest began to ache as well. His stomach lurched evilly for a moment and then steadied. Sweat broke out across his brow.

  * * * * *

  The top of Sya’tia’s neck tightened and throbbed. She looked around predatorily. That sensation always preceded something bad happening.

  After several minutes of nothing to explain the sensation she rolled her shoulders and neck to loosen the muscles and continued questioning people as to whether they had seen Barik.

  * * * * *

  Thea screamed in her head. Not a single muscle responded when she tried to move and it felt like she was burning from the inside. Terror rose inside her like a tsunami.

  Barik dropped her carelessly on the floor and stalked around her, inspecting her. Suddenly he knelt down and grabbed a hank of her hair and pulled her head up. He traced a nail along the markings on her cheek. “Chosen by the Lithen ...”

  Her cheek exploded in pain as he suddenly, viciously, slapped her. Her he
ad landed on the floor with a thump when he let her hair go. She saw his leg cock back and whimpered.

  He landed a vicious kick to her midsection. The force slid her several feet across the floor.

  Agony burst in her abdomen, but all she could do was pant. My baby! Please Lady, Lord! Help me! Wetness seeped between her legs and began to soak into the dark fabric of her pants. Nononono! Please, no! She watched as he approached her, lifted his foot and kicked her again, across her chest. Her breath whooshed out, and in her paralyzed state she was unable to regain it. Her mind scrabbled furiously, like a terrified animal.

  Barik snarled his hand in her hair and dragged her dead weight across the floor and into the next room. “They won’t want you when I’m done, your mates will turn from you in disgust and you’ll never want to show your face ever again.” Dropping her again he knelt and stroked her cheek gently. “This isn’t about you, female. It’s restitution. Justice for our women and my sister.” He brushed her hair from her face. “They don’t care about them anymore, you see ...”

  Black dots swam before Thea’s eyes. Her breath was starting to come back to her slowly. A deep, tearing cramp clenched her abdomen. Tears trickled from her eyes. Please stop, please stop ... I never hurt you ... My baby ...

  He drew a knife from inside his uniform and pressed the blade against her cheek. “Does the venom hurt? Does it burn? I asked the other women, but, of course, they couldn’t answer. I hope it does.” He slid the knife inside her shirt and cut it open with a quick jerk. “You were so nice ... Except those eyes ...” he crooned softly. “Could you see into my soul, Theadora? That’s how it felt. I’m going to cut them out, you know, those too seeing eyes.” He tossed the knife aside and tore the shirt from her body.

  “But not yet. You have to see what I do to you. You have to hurt more. Take the pain. Share it with our faithless Gods. Let them look on your scarred and blind face.” Balling his fists he began to slowly and methodically beat her.

  She couldn’t move. She couldn’t fight back. All Thea could do was accept the pain and feel her child’s life stream from her body in a trickle of blood.