“Well, I can only wish you well, young lady. Travel safe.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Marston.”
Esmeralda glanced over her shoulder and looked one last time at the old manor that she had lived in for nearly all her life. Orphaned at a very early age, she was under the care of the Marston family, friends of her late family. Now that she had come of age and with the few millions that she had inherited from her father’s estate, she felt she could help people less fortunate than her.
The old Ford her father owned was kept in good running condition and she had a few months of practice on it, driving around the estate. She tossed her only bag on the seat beside her and started the engine. It roared to life, ready to take her to the mountainside where life was hard and rough. She took a deep breath, convinced in her heart that she was doing the right thing.
After three hours and a few hundred miles from civilization, she eased the car as it groaned over the beaten path that passed off for a roadway. Before her a small shack loomed up. It had the word ‘Supplies’ written on a crude board over the wooden door. She stepped out of the car and walked inside. An old man in a bear skin coat looked up at her, his eyes narrow and swollen.
“What can I do for you, Missy?” He asked, spitting tobacco into a cup on the floor.
She stood silently for a while, eyeing him with wonderment. “Good Afternoon, kind sir.” She began. “I am looking to get to the small town of Shamrock Bells. Do you know the way to get there?”
“I sure do, young lady?”He nodded, “But let me tell you that is no place for a lady of refinement like you.”
“Thank you, dear sir, for the advice.” She smiled. “But I know what I have to do.”
“Well, darling, I don’t think that you do.” He said somberly. “But you seem old enough to make your own decisions.”
“Thank you, and is there anything I can get from here to help the people in town.” She looked around the small little shop.
“Why, sure,” The old man nodded, “We have all the supplies the poor folk in town would need… and how will you be paying?”
“I have gold… enough now for a week’s worth of supplies.” She touched the heavy purse by her hip. “And more for the future.”
“Another piece of advice to you, Missy.” He eyed the pouch. “Don’t go around saying you have gold on you… it’s not so safe in these parts.”
“Oh, I am not worried. “She smiled serenely. “I have the protection of the Lo…”
An eerie howl echoed outside and one of the broken windows shattered inward, spraying the remaining glass all over the floor.
“Whoever you said was protecting you; you’d best call to them now, Missy.” The storekeeper groaned and ducked under the counter.
“Why?” She asked, staring at him in surprise. “And who was that?”
“That’s the Rankler Boys, Missy,” He said from under the counter. “And you’d best be hiding away too.”
Before she could ask him anymore questions, a loud screech of brakes sounded from the outside, followed by a few howls and heavy foot falls. The door of the store flew open and four of largest, most mean looking men she had ever seen sauntered into the store. They were tall, gangly creatures, with unkempt hair, unshaven chins, and smelling of tobacco and manure. The meanest looking one, a head shorter than the other three, walked right up to her and stared her down.
“What do we have here?” He growled in a strange guttural, uncultured tone.
“Hello, kind sir.” Esmeralda looked up at him, a cold shiver running down her spine. “Are you from Shamrock Bells?”
All four of them threw back their heads and laughed crudely making her wonder if she had said anything amusing.
“No, wench.” The one she spoke to snarled. “Out of the new moon’s mist we come, from beyond the hills.”
“Are you travelers seeking to embrace the ways of our Lo…?” She asked and his large, callused hand suddenly clamped over her mouth.
“We have what we seek.” He growled. “You.”
Her eyes went wide with fear as he effortlessly threw her over his broad shoulder and stepped outside, walking up to a rusted Jalopy that looked ready to fall apart. His three companions whooped and howled as they followed him out. She noticed them grab up a few things from the store at will.
“Let’s take her home and feast.” One of the other’s howled, making her feel fear for her life for the first time ever.
“No, Jimmy, you fool.” The one carrying her snarled. “Do you want everyone to tear her apart there? She is ours and we’ll ravage her on Dark Moon Meadow.”
“Ravage?” Her voice almost cracked, realizing these brutes’ intentions.
She knew pleading with them wouldn’t do anything; instead she closed her eyes and prayed.
“Nice car.” One of the unkempt men looked at the Ford with greedy eyes.
“Take it, Robbie, and follow our rusty heap closely.” The leader carrying Esmeralda barked and jumped into the rattling jalopy with her still over his shoulder. “Let’s ride.”
The ride was long and bumpy, through the forested hills until they reached a clearing. Esmeralda’s heart pounded harder than it had ever done before. Her life of sheltered indulgence and prosperity had done little to prepare her to face the world she thought she could help.
“Hey, Lars…” One of her captors approached the leader as he leapt out of the Jalopy with her still over his shoulder. “You sure those bear fuckers aren’t going to be here… Dark Moon Meadow is their territory.”
“I know that, Kirk.” Lars snarled. “But it’s too early in the season for those lumbering behemoths to even be a hundred miles of here.”
“Yeah,” The one called Robbie walked up, leering at her as she hung over Lar’s broad shoulder. “Let’s have some fun with this perdy little thing, then let ‘er roam these woods and leave her here for them to find.”
“You’ve been reading my mind, Robbie.” Lars laughed and dropped her onto the green moss covered ground.
She groaned and looked up at them, her bosom heaving and nostril flaring. “What… what are you going to do… to me?”
“Lady, you sure ain’t got a clue, have you?” Lars sneered, holding his crotch. “Me and my wild boys here are going to light up your life… with these here candle sticks.”
She shivered as the other three howled with a frenzied look in their eyes. She hugged her knees close to her, but Lars grabbed at her again, pulling her up and close to him, pawing at her, looking over the expensive dress. She struggled against his iron grip but he laughed in her face and licked it with his rough, slobbering tongue. She looked over his ear as he sniffed her neck, sliding his snout along her skin as the three others looked on happily. The chill of fear descended over her and she closed her eyes to their brazen rudeness.
“Leave some for us, Lars…” One of them slurred.
“You can have her plenty, boy, once I get my fill.” Lars snarled and pushed her down to the ground again. “This is going to be a fun time, won’t it boys!”
The other three men licked their own lips, staring on with greedy, eager eyes. They thought this would be their greatest adventure ever…
Esmeralda sneered at their ugly faces; her screams were only frightened muffled sounds. The youthful girl closed her eyes, shutting them tightly, wishing to be home in her warm bed again… When she opened them again to the crude laughter of her tormentors, she gasped at the sight of Lars looming above her, a lewd twinkle in his eye that she didn’t particularly like.
She had never seen a man gaze upon her like this before. And it wasn’t something she cared to see again, not even from afar or even in any book or journal. And now there were four sets of peepers all peering down at her. She felt confused and even though terror seized her heart, she also felt a perverse sense of excitement that she couldn’t fathom. Why would the prospect of such a thing ever excite anyone, she wondered.
Lars was almost upon her, she could feel the fetid
air around her grow stifling. His hands reaching out for the object of his desire. The coarseness of his fingers clearly visible, without even being handled by them. She heard him laugh – a deep throaty thing.
“Oho, lookee here, boys.” He sneered. “We are blessed this day. This one is in heat… she wants a good pounding alright.”
“No, please…” Esmeralda found her voice, though it was small and inaudible. She hated the sight of these vile dogs. The way they saw her as a piece of meat, ready to be shared among the pack. It was vile, putrid!
“Go on boss, go on!” Kirk grunted. “And then we can…”
But then… the young man’s grip on her ankle loosened with a sudden jerk as the ground shook violently under them. It happened again, and then again. The three men holding her down let her go and fell to the ground, losing their balance.
Lars looked frantically left and right. “It can’t be… this isn’t…”
He couldn’t finish his sentence as Esmeralda’s left foot struck him hard in the face, throwing him off balance. He fell backward as she scrambled to her feet. Confused as to how she did that, the slim young woman let her instincts take over and leapt to her feet. But before she could get away, Lars was upon her in a flash. She felt his hot breath on her neck as he weighed her down, his hands grasping to catch hold of her soft skin.
Then, a dark shadow loomed over them and she felt Lars’ weight suddenly lift off her. When she turned over on her back, her mind reeled. Facing away with its back turned to her, a creature almost twice the height of a man stood upright, holding a struggling Lars in its massive claw-like hands. The creature moved with amazing speed that beguiled the enormity of its size and hurled the gangly man into his three cowering companions. Lars jumped to his feet instantly, red faced and seething. His eyes had a blood-mad glow in them.
For the next few minutes, Esmeralda thought she had gone mad or was in the strangest dream she ever had. Before her blurry eyes, the four men who were about to rape her changed into huge hairy wolfish looking creatures, their eyes red as blood and huge mouths lined with teeth that could tear flesh off a horse with ease. Her head swam, she couldn’t focus. The huge shadow between her and the four wolf-creatures let out an ear splitting roar and lunged at the four of them.
She crawled backwards, trying to get as much distance between her and the savage beasts fighting before her terrified eyes. She turned and her heart almost leapt out of her mouth. Another huge creature loomed beside her. It had soft, dark brown fur all over and looked just like a giant grizzly bear. Its dark eyes regarded her intently with a gleam of feral intelligence that almost reached her soul. Her knees trembled and she fell again, turning away to look at the first bear clawing and clubbing away at the four wolves. She shivered violently as, like a sudden rush of wind, the bear standing next to her moved away and joined the fight. She saw the wolves beginning to back off, her head felt heavy and her exhausted body gave in. The ground rushed up to meet her and everything went black.
The musical chime of water running downhill and the soft chirping of evening birds filled her senses as she opened her eyes to a star filled twilight sky. She sighed deeply at the beauty that surrounded her. A full moon cast a pale, comforting light all around the serene meadow and Esmeralda stretched her refreshed body. She felt good, strangely invigorated and a little hungry. She sat up and looked around her. She was still in the meadow though the sun had set and a pleasant chill in the air drifted over her body. She gasped softly, realizing that she was naked. Then the memories of her ordeal during the day came flooding back.
She stood up quickly, still a little light headed. Her eyes darted from left to right and up and all around her. She didn’t see anyone near, no lanky men, no wolves and no bears. She sighed and leaned against a tree. The sound of the nearby stream reminded her that she was thirsty; she gingerly walked up to it, washed her face and drank deeply. As she peered at her reflection in the water, a face loomed up from behind her with dark intense eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Esmeralda turned around quickly and lost her balance. A strong hand grabbed her arm, keeping her from falling into the stream.
She looked up at the huge shadow that towered over her, her mind racing once again. The grip on her arm was hurting her and she winced. Her rescuer pulled her close; she felt the hard muscular body against hers. It felt like the body of a human, of a man. She looked up but it was too dark under the tree to see the face.
“Who are you?” She asked, reaching up to touch his face.
“I am Adam.” He said, in a clear accent. “And you?”
“Oh, er… I am Esmeralda, from the east.” She answered, pressing closer to him, feeling strangely safe in his embrace.
“Why are you here… on our ancestral land?” He moved away from the bubbling stream, leading her along with him.
“I… I was brought here by those… men… those things?” She stammered, as they moved into the moon lit meadow again.
She could see him now. He was taller than anyone she had ever met, almost close to seven feet and his heavily muscled body looked like a force of nature. She eyed him curiously and then gasped. He too was as naked as she, but he didn’t seem to care.
“They will not harm you now?” He said. “Their lives are forfeit for having broken their pact with us.”
“Us?” She looked at him searchingly; a cold chill ran down her spine.
“Yes, we are the keepers of this land,” He nodded, looking at with cold eyes. “And they have desecrated it with their foul deed.”
“But they were men who changed into something else… like wolves.” She ventured frightfully.
“Yes, they are werewolves.”
“Werewolf… oh, dear.” She sat down on an outcrop of rock, oblivious of her nudity and his. “And there was also these huge bear like things...”
“Yes, we are werebears.”
“What?” She panicked, holding up her hands in reflex. “You are one like them.”
“Yes.” He nodded and looked in the direction of the bushes near them. “Kane, you can come out now.”
The bushes rustled and twigs snapped as a huge bear, almost ten feet high lumbered out and roared softly at the full moon. Its great head turned downward and it looked at Esmeralda, licking its snout with a long, slavering tongue.
“No, please… don’t hurt me.” She covered her head with her hands.
“We will not hurt you, Esmer-Alda.” Adam said calmly. “Kane, shift to this form, please.”
The huge bear looked down at him, brooding like a colossal force of aggression. Then it suddenly made a strange gurgling noise and began to recede in size. Esmeralda watched with disbelief as the huge bear slowly metamorphosed into a young man, as tall and muscular as Adam, with hair as black as night and steel hard bronzed skin. He too was naked and made no attempt to hide it.
“This is my brother, Kane.” Adam looked at her. “He does not speak.”
“Oh, I… pleased to meet you.” She answered in a trembling voice, her heart pounding in her breast loud enough to echo in her head.
The one called Kane nodded at her and bowed slightly. His deep chest heaved as a rumbling sound emitted from this throat.
“Kane is pleased to me you to, as am I.” Adam went on. “You must be tired and famished; we have gathered some nourishment for you.”
“Oh, I… but I…” She looked around her in surprise.
Adam placed a few dozen fruits and nuts before her on a large leaf, beckoning her to sit with him. She was hungry and didn’t think much about how they got her the food; she just sat down and began eating the juicy peaches and rich walnuts.
“When you have gathered your strength,” Adam smiled at her, “you will conjugate with Kane and me to keep this sacred land at peace with the spirits.”
“Conjugate…” She almost choked on a cherry. “With the two of you… what in heaven…?”
“The vile ones who brought you here defiled this place with their intent to ravage and kill yo
u here.” Adam went on. “We will not compel you, you may leave if you so choose. But the land will be forever tainted and we shall have to leave it behind.”
Esmeralda looked up at the naked young man sitting on the moss beside her with a sense of bewilderment. His handsome face, chiseled and sharp, was framed by raven black hair that almost reached his broad, muscular shoulders. His deep chest, massive arms and thick, tree trunk like thighs emanated power she had never seen before. And then her eyes fell on the naked organ between his legs. She took in a sharp breath, her head spinning slightly. Her belly tightened and an unfamiliar pulsing sensation began between her naked legs. She felt strange, and a need to be touched filled her senses. Was it the food she ate, or was it this enchanting place, she couldn’t tell. All she seemed to desire then was the perverse need to be taken by this naked stranger before her.
Alien Masters (10 Book Bundle of Sci-Fi Romance Tales) Page 7
