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A Slave to the Servants Ch. 03

By: DoctorWolf



No real sex in this chapter, just story - fair warning!  DW

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I knelt on a pad in a small room filled with hanging clothes as the men dressed around me.  They talked and laughed as they fitted themselves with white linen shirts and brown leather pants.  Each of them had several sets of boots and they seemed to pick out the nicer pairs to wear.

I recognized the symbol they each pulled across their chests.  Thick leather criss crossed them and a metal breast plate held a replica of the mark I carried everywhere.  I wondered if the intricate design had meaning past the simple explanation they had given me.

From a cabinet inside the room they pulled out weapons.  Each of them took out a wicked looking sword and put it in a scabbard at their waist.  Master Christof also had several small knives that he placed in the small of his back.  Master Bane carried short knives in holders that strapped tightly around his thighs.  They each were armed like they were going to battle.

I wondered what I would wear.  They never addressed the issue.  The men just finished and directed me to the door that led out of their rooms.  I stood naked and shocked as they opened the door.  

"I can't go outside without clothes, Masters," I said hoping someone would appreciate I had pointed it out.

"You have no need for clothes, Ciara," Master Damien patiently explained.  "We are going to purchase ornamentation for you.  Come, we must leave."

"Like this," I shrieked.  "I can't go out like this.  Everyone can't see me like this.  I'm, I'm..."

They looked baffled by my refusal to step out the door.  Tears started down my face again.  I couldn't bear the shame of my nudity being displayed.  

"Ciara, I do not care that the other Warriors look upon you.  They will not touch you as long as you follow our rules.  We will shield you from the eyes of the greedy shopkeepers with a cover.  There is no reason for all this fuss," Master Damien said looking exasperated.

"No!" I pleaded, "I can't walk outside naked!  Please dress me in something.  "A shirt, Master Damien," I begged, "please, just give me a shirt."

Fear battled with my shame in my mind and shame was winning.  I screamed and fought as Master Damien started to pull me out the door.  He stopped when I resisted, perhaps I had won this round.  

Master Evan spoke as they stood and watched me, "I do not wish to carry an out of control slave through the courtyard.  We are a respected regiment, our discipline is legendary, such behavior from our slave would bring dishonor," he said harshly crossing his arms.      

The rest of the men agreed with him.  They didn't want to carry me kicking and screaming through the yard.  For a moment I had hope and then Master Bane raised his arm.  

My uncles had hit me before, so had my mother.  Suddenly I remembered how strong these men were, my whole being cowered waiting for the blow.  I was a slave and I was being an idiot.  Now the beating would start.

The hit never came and I opened my eyes to look at Master Bane.  

He spoke to me.  "We will never hurt what we own.  If you continue to act this way we will have to punish you, though."  

He had only run his hand through his short hair in frustration.   

Punishment scared me and I figured that they could do anything they wanted.  If they weren't beating me yet, I should do what they asked.  I stepped out the door and wiped the tears from my face.  My will to fight wasn't nearly as strong as my will to survive.    

My arms sought automatically to shield my most private places.  This displeased Master Damien and he demanded I stand straight and carry my hands at my sides.  He and his brothers never cowered.  I would never stand with such dishonor.  

Thanking him politely for the rebuke I dropped my arms and straightened my back.  Shame was not as important as survival, I tried to tell myself.  I'd learn to deal with the nudity.  

Their lodging was on the fifth floor.  There was a single metal rail that ran along the edge of the walkway in front of the door.  Beyond that I saw a girl about my age in the middle of a group of five men down in the courtyard.  

I stared at the girl.  She was dressed, sort of, with a panel attached to a chain at her waist.  It covered the apex of her thighs to about half way down her legs, another panel covered her buttocks.  Her hips were bare and so was her top.  

Master Damien walked to me and I looked up at him.  "I will walk in front, you will follow me.  The rest of my brothers know their place.  Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered quietly. 

"You will look at no man save us and speak to no man except us.  This is an important rule.  Do you understand?" he asked sternly.

"Yes, Master Damien," I softly replied.   

I followed Master Damien down the steps and through the courtyard looking down.  I used what my Uncle Bob had called my 'peripherals' to check out everything around me.  The courtyard was full of men.  They didn't seem to pay me much mind.  Apparently a naked woman walking around wasn't such a big deal here.  

There didn't seem to be much vegetation in the courtyard just a couple small patches here and there.  Otherwise ,it looked like it was very dry here.  The walls to the courtyard were all lined with something though.  It grew low to the ground and looked pink.

Despite the bright sun light the smooth cobblestone under my feet wasn't hot, which surprised me.  I had expected searing heat on my feet, but it was just mildly warm.  Since I was obviously not going to be getting shoes, I was grateful for that.  

Master Damien was stopped by a large man addressing him in the center of the courtyard.  They started to talk, but I didn't look up.  The men shifted suddenly and two tiny feet appeared in my frame of vision, "Hello, cousin," she said.  

A small cushion for my knees was dropped at my feet.  A similar cushion was laid down for her.  The men stood talking in a tight circle around us.

"Kneel, Ciara," I heard Master Bane command.

"It's okay, cousin, you can talk to other slaves, they don't mind," the girl said as we knelt down.  

I looked back and found the feet of my men behind me and looked up hesitantly.  Master Evan reached down and patted my head.  I was ready to cry I was so happy.  I turned and looked into bright aquamarine eyes.  She blinked and her eyes closed side to side.  It was a little disorienting.

"You're human?" she asked me.  

I nodded but couldn't manage to talk, she just continued to speak.  I was fascinated as wispy bright red hair fluttered in the light breeze.    

"My name is Fuji," she said. "Is this your first day cycle here?"

"Yes, where are you from?" I asked her.  

"Oh, we didn't have a name for the whole place.  The village I lived in was called Batra.  The slavers came and paid money to the men for their extra female children.  My people got more for me than sending me to another village.  Did your people get more for you?" she asked.

"I don't think anyone got anything for me.  I just walked into a bright light and woke up at the auction.  I fell asleep there and ended up here."  

"You look sad.  I have human friends.  You look like they do when they say they are sad," she said taking my hands.  

Her hands were cool and I noticed her skin glittered in the light, all of her skin.  Besides the engraved collar and cuffs, Fuji only wore several shiny gold chains around her waist and a bright purple sash over each shoulder.  She was essentially nude.      

"I'm not sad.  I'm scared.  I don't know what's going on.  These men are all so large and strong.  Are they going to hurt me?" I whispered to her.  

"Ciara," Master Damien sighed above me.  "We have already told you; we will not hurt what we own."

God, did they have supersonic hearing, too?  "Yes, Master Damien," I answered him quietly.

Fuji threw her arms around me and the cold feeling got more intense.  She was like an iceberg.  

"This is called a 'hug' according to my friends.  It will make you feel better.  You were free before, yes?" she asked me.  

I choked up a moment before I answered.  I had made a point not to think that word yet.  

"Yes, I was free," I answered her.

"It was different for me.  I am allowed more liberty here than I had at home.  The treatment is better also.  I cannot understand how it must be for you.  When you come to the Keepers you will meet other humans.  They will understand," she said.

A male hand came down and tapped Fuji on her shoulder and she bounced up.  I felt the same tap and tried to rise as quickly.  Fuji knew how to act, so I wanted to copy her.  

In my haste to rise my gaze went up and I locked eyes with one of Fuji's Masters.  I was stuck; he looked more terrifying than the men that had bought me.  I felt a hand on the back of my head forcing my eyes back down.  I flushed pink in embarrassment.   

"I'm sorry," I stuttered out.

"Walk behind me Ciara and keep your eyes down," Master Damien ordered.  

I felt awful for not doing the right thing and making them angry again.  I was paranoid they were going to punish me.  The whipping post had been brought up once, I wasn't sure they wouldn't do that.  They could do anything to me.  

My breathing etched up another notch when I realized they could just resell me if I displeased them.  I couldn't go through being sold again.  That was the worst feeling ever.  Nausea started to overwhelm me.  I always got nauseated when I got nervous.

My steps faltered and I stumbled slightly.  I wrapped my hands around my stomach and pressed my nails in.  Anything to distract from the horrible sense of dread I was feeling.  If they let me, I would curl up and die right here.

Being owned was awful, being sold to new owners would be worse.  At least these strange men seemed to care about my well being.  If I was sold again, there was no telling how bad it could get.

I followed Master Damien's heels until I almost ran into his chest; he had turned around.  I looked up and we were standing in a round alcove at the edge of the courtyard.  My owners literally surrounded me.  

"What are you so scared of Ciara?" Master Evan asked harshly pulling me to face him.  "You are radiating fear.  Our slave should be proud and defiant, not nearly falling over itself in the middle of the courtyard."

"I'm afraid you'll whip me or sell me, because I looked at that other man.  He looked terrible.  Please don't sell me, Master Evan," I begged him.   

"You fear that we would sell you Ciara?" Master Damien asked.  "Do you believe we would make such a mistake as to buy the wrong slave?"

"There is no right answer to that, Master Damien," I answered him honestly still trembling.

He appraised me silently for several long moments with an unfaltering stare.  I started when I felt Master Kein and Master Bane inspecting the small wounds I had made with my nails.  When I looked up again Damien was softer.

"You have harmed yourself due to your...upset.  That is inappropriate.  We would discipline you for this infraction, but I feel it would not have the intended effect," he said thoughtfully.  "Instead I will tell you this, we will not sell you.  My brothers and I choose you and we will keep you.  We will only discipline you physically when it is clear you need more guidance than mere words provide."

The other men murmured agreement.  

They softly admonished me not to cause myself harm with my nails.  If I insisted on doing that they would wrap my hands.  I would only get one warning, so I best not do it again.  

I apologized like I felt a good slave should.  The men petted my hair and shoulders in response.  They weren't unreasonable, I soothed myself.  I just had to learn the rules before they reached their limit.   

I breathed easier and followed them to the main gate feeling more relaxed.

They dressed me to go to market.  Why they couldn't have done this upstairs, I could not discern.  I would not have fussed at all if they put me in this to walk downstairs.  

The brown outfit they put me in was handed to them by a man at the large stone entrance.  He placed their mark in the outfit, because it was theirs now.  They would put it on me whenever I left the Warrior's compound, they told me.  

Getting into the outfit was complicated.  The first thing they did was strap my kneeling pad around my waist with a tie.  Next, soft dark brown covers were laced up each leg to my knees.  Master Evan slipped soft fingerless mittens on my hands that reached my elbows.  A bulky dark brown tunic was pulled over my head.  Lastly, a hood with a long veil was fitted over my face.

The outfit I was in went down to my feet and the sleeves covered my hands. Oddly the fabric was cool inside, I didn't feel overheated. From inside the veil I could see very well.  It was like having on sunglasses, which I didn't mind because it was bright in the sunlight.  I imagined I must look like a brown lump from the outside.

"Ciara," Master Damien said facing me, "outside these walls are others who will not appreciate you.  Having a slave is a privilege, most cannot afford it.  Speak to no one, including us.  You will be punished severely if you speak in the village.  Can you do this?"

"Yes, Master Damien," I said.

We walked out a thick door nestled low in the wall.  The men allowed me to follow Master Damien out and then took up positions.  The men were on either side and behind me; I was surrounded. 

The way they moved and the tight grouping they held told me two things.  First, I couldn't run from them out here.  It wasn't like I had anywhere to go anyway.  The second thing was that no one else on this street was going to touch me.  Since running was out of the question and I felt safe, I was able to just look around.  

The area was alive.  There were men everywhere standing outside the large buildings that lined the narrow streets.  Everything looked like it had been made out of putty colored sand.  Strange paintings adorned the outsides of the buildings.  I wondered if that wasn't their language.  

I had shopped a lot at flea markets and it felt like that.  The street itself was crowded with tent vendors outside the main buildings.  No one said a word to our entourage.  I made good use of my 'peripherals' and noticed almost all the vendors held something out toward my owners.  It was a silent request to look.  They never got in our way or spoke to us.  

One man up ahead with a stand had what looked like earrings and they got my attention.  Despite my circumstances, I still noticed the beautiful jewelry.  Shiny things always grabbed my eyes.  My mom had teased me about that.

I tried not to turn my head as we passed the earring vendor's cart and sort of succeeded.  One pair had a silver loop with a blue stone floating in the middle.  I liked those.

From behind me Master Bane made a sound and Master Damien stopped.  He came to a stop in front of the vendor's cart and my owners rearranged themselves around me.  

"Point to what you are looking at," Master Evan said gruffly under his breath.  

I had tried to be sly, but I must have been obvious.  I quickly gestured with my mittened hand to the set I had seen, but retracted it quickly.  The salesman had looked curiously at it; like he wanted to touch me.  

Master Damien bartered with the man and handed him several pieces of stone from inside his belt.  He retrieved the earrings from the salesman and passed them to the back of our group.  Master Christof placed them in a small pouch at his waist.    

As we walked away Master Evan quietly asked Master Damien, "Do you know what we just bought, brother?"

"No, but it does and the things are in our colors," he answered and kept his brisk pace through the vendors.  

We came to a large wall and Master Damien didn't even have to knock, it just opened to us.  I followed him past the guard at the gate.  We were in a courtyard with what seemed like little shops all around.  

I saw other groups of armed men present with little brown bundled creatures in their midst.  It was quieter here and only Warriors with slaves seemed to be present.  These shops must cater to them, I thought.

The guard relaxed a little around me as we walked toward a large storefront.  Light colored fabrics blew in the breeze outside.  Now I was sure those symbols were a language.  They looked different on every building.  

We entered the store with all the fabrics and Master Damien was warmly greeted by an older man inside.  

"So you finally gave in old friends.  I wondered when you would," he laughed grabbing Master Damien's arm.  

The room was full of fabrics and shiny metals.  It looked to me like a woman's shopping paradise.  

"So this is better than the life of a Warrior, Fredrik?"  Master Evan asked curiously looking around.  

"Ah, there is peace here for my brothers and I.  No more raids, no more fighting, and we spend all day with our Mia.  It is a blessed life, cousins," the man said. 

As the man talked to my owners a brown bundle approached me with an outstretched appendage.  I wasn't sure what to do, but Master Evan encouraged me to go with the other slave.  

We went into a little room in the back.  It was opulent.  There seemed to be a sitting area around a little stage.  The little brown bundle took off her robe quickly and revealed a very humanoid looking creature.  

She had huge oval eyes in a dark face.  Right away I noticed she was bald.  The woman wore a collar like mine, as well as, wrist and ankle cuffs.  She smiled broadly at me, but I was too stunned to speak as I took her in.  

Her clothing was all yellow gauzy fabric.  Two strips passed over her shoulders and covered her breasts.  On her waist hung an ornate golden chain, it held up a panel that covered the apex of her thighs and her buttocks. The same yellow gauze started at her waist and cascaded down her legs in strips that gathered at the ankles.  Each time she took a step a beautiful dark leg came between the fabric.

"Do you speak, cousin?" she asked politely, starting to remove my covering.

"Yes, who are you?" I asked her.  

"I am, Mia, the slave of these shopkeepers.  They serve the Warriors and the Administrators.  I have never seen your Warriors before, so you must be new.  I will help your Warriors pick out ornamentation for you," she explained as she rapidly removed my gloves and boots.  

"Thank you," I said as she pulled my body covering over my head.

The last thing to go was my kneeling place which she threw beside one of the chairs in the room.    

I went from feeling totally dressed to totally nude.  When I heard the men come in the room, I moved behind Mia instinctively to shield myself.   I had the feeling it was a blunder.  I just couldn't stop myself from doing it.  Mia cooly covered it up by turning and leading me to the stage.  

"Don't be so shy human, I'm sure they have seen all of you already.  My Masters have seen every slave in the compound," she whispered.  "They will probably buy ornamentation to partially shield the places you would want covered.  If you have pleased them, they will try to keep you happy."

I knew she was correct but the fitting was still horrible.  I stood on a little lighted platform as Mia wrapped me in different blue, silver, and white fabrics.  It felt like I was back at the auction as I modeled the filmy fabrics Mia wrapped me in.

The shopkeepers were five friendly men that rushed in and out of the room bringing in samples.  They offered articles of translucent fabric and shiny jewelry to my owners.  If the object was approved then Mia would take it and dress me in it.  The shopkeepers never touched me, but I didn't like them looking.  

Nothing was ignored.  Ornate pins and combs were used to decorate my hair.  Mia demonstrated how it could be pulled and designed.  For a creature with no hair of her own, she knew what to do with it.  


A Slave to the Servants Ch. 03



I did well most of the time and reigned in the unnecessary panic of being exposed like this.  During short breaks the men would pull me to kneel next to them.  Master Kein started to feed me a sweet liquid that made me a little giddy.  I figured that was the purpose.      

Eventually, I didn't care about much of anything anymore.  I was so relaxed they could have dressed me in a clown outfit complete with red nose and I wouldn't have noticed.  It took everything I had to follow Mia's directions.  Even understanding her was becoming difficult.    

Just before we were to be done Master Damien asked Master Christof for the package we had bought outside in the street.  He got up and handed me the earrings and asked me what they were for.  I giggled like a schoolgirl and put the loops in my ears.  

I was feeling really good by then, so I shook my head flirtatiously.  The metal was light and the little stones had a perfect weight.  They were honestly the nicest thing anyone had ever bought me.  

I threw my arms around Master Damien's neck and kissed his cheek, "Thank you Master, they are beautiful," I slurred out.  

The men surrounded me instantly and I felt their hands pulling me away.  

"No, no wait," Master Damien said placing his face back in front of mine and my arms around his neck.  "It was a kiss.  Do it again, Ciara," he commanded.  

He was a ruggedly attractive man that had spent the morning fucking me; I didn't need any further encouragement.  Grabbing his shoulders I pulled him closer and planted soft kisses across his cheeks, over his eyes, and lastly across his lips.  I closed my blurry eyes and concentrated on nibbling and sucking at his lips.  

Evidently Master Damien liked it.  I felt his organ thicken against my stomach and I giggled, stroking him through the fabric of his pants.  He groaned and closed his eyes, his hand followed mine as I slipped it up and down over his length.  

"Ah, yes, my slave told me you had bought it a gift.  I would like to know where you got these.  They are quite hard to find, you know.  Many of the slaves from Earth have places to hold these ornaments.  We had Mia's ears prepared for it some time ago, though she is not from Earth.  Some have several places to put the ornamentation.  Does this one?" he asked looking at my ears.   

Master Damien didn't seem the least bit bothered that the shopkeeper had caught us.  I blushed furiously through my blurry haze.  

"Ciara, how many places do you have for this type of decoration?" Master Damien asked.  

I felt my ears and tried to remember how to say the word in their language.  It wouldn't come, so I held up two fingers.  I felt a little confused.

Master Evan inspected my ears and I shuddered at the light touch.  It wasn't really obvious I had tipped back and Master Bane was holding me until I looked up.  The faces above me looked really worried, but for some reason I couldn't care less.  Voices wove through my pleasant feelings and in no way disrupted them.  

"Ah, yes," the shopkeeper said picking up Master Kein's jug.  "Some Earth slaves are quite sensitive to the root drink.  It is something they can get used to, but it takes time.  No more than a couple of sips for most of them when they are new."

"It is like this from the root drink?" Master Kein asked incredulously.  "We take it all the time..." 

"Yes, my friend, we are different you see.  A bit of cocker dust will have it feeling much like itself in a moment.  We sell it, by the way.  Quite a few things are nice to have around when you are keeping a human."

"You'll need to feed it now, though.  The dust will make it uncomfortably hungry.  Maybe you could come back and shop more later.  I will have what you have ordered delivered, of course," he mused and then called out, "Geoffrey, a sample of the cocker dust to Mia, please."

A moment later, Mia poured the nasty dust on my tongue.  I tried to spit it out, but Master Evan held my mouth closed.  It was disgusting, like rotten dirt.  It cut through delirium quickly.  I was blinking at the men and absolutely ravenous.  My stomach growled.  I felt headachy I was so hungry.  

I was placed back in my brown outfit and followed Master Damien outside.  He crossed the courtyard and led us into what looked like a small eatery.  We entered into an alcove where several brown outfits were hung on the wall.  As my brown outer layer was removed I was relieved to see they had left me dressed in something.  

Much like Mia, I had two strips of blue virtually see through fabric that lay over my breasts, a piece of thin silver attached the fabric to my collar to keep it in place.  A single piece of the fabric hung at my waist attached to a shiny silver chain.  It stretched from hip bone to hip bone and went halfway down my thighs.  Looking at my butt it was covered in similar fashion.  My hips were left bare.  On my feet were delicate sandals that tied up my legs.    

The inside of the place we had walked into looked like an old pub.  The walls looked worn as did the tile floor.  Lots of empty tables were scattered around.  Several groups were seated and eating.  A feminine creature was at all of the tables, kneeling inconspicuously between two men.  We took an empty table in the back. 

My cushion was placed between Master Bane and Master Kein.  I kneeled obediently and prayed they would feed me soon.  The men talked amicably amongst themselves as Master Bane petted my back and shoulders.  Their touches had been good all day.  Truth be told, I didn't mind all the attention from the four of them.  

It struck me suddenly that Master Christof had never touched me.  I heard my Uncle Eddy's voice in my mind wondering if he was a queer.  I had hated Eddy from the day he moved in.    

Uncle Eddy had been horrible to live with.  The fact I didn't date a lot meant he frequently asked my mom, while I was present, if I was a lesbian.  Just because someone wasn't obsessed with the opposite sex didn't make them homosexual.  

Eddy had been merciless with picking at me.  He made my personal life a topic of conversation with all my uncles when they sat and drank beer in the front yard.  Before I moved, it had gotten to a point I snuck out my window and walked around the back of the house when I went anywhere.  The constant jibes and hurtful remarks were too numerous to take.  

I was scowling and staring at the floor when I felt Master Bane pinch a nipple.  I looked up at him shocked.

"Ciara, what are you thinking about?" he asked curiously offering me a piece of food that had obviously been delivered while I was daydreaming.

Oh God, I couldn't tell them what I was thinking about Master Christof.  That could be really offensive here.  I stammered out an answer about a creepy relative of my mother's that this place reminded me of.  That seemed to satiate them.  

As we ate I took the chance to look furtively around the restaurant.  I glanced at a girl at a table near ours that seemed to be human.  She was sitting like I was, but she looked up at the men that sat around her.  

It seemed she never took her eyes off of one of them.  Her attention seemed odd to me.  Staring at someone openly like that, I would consider rude.  Perhaps that was the right way to act, though.

I did take careful note of her appearance and attire.  She didn't look the way I thought a slave should.  Her skin was clean and blemish free.   She was wrapped in satiny orange strip of fabric.  Long, blonde hair was bound in a bun at the back of her head.  It looked thick and cared for.  Her entire appearance seemed to exude health.

Looking down at my own hands I was embarrassed for some reason.  Despite that strangely effective cream, I still had cracks on my palms and thick callouses on my fingers.  Comparing myself to the beautiful creature at the other table I felt lessened for some reason.  Hopefully, my skin would heal quickly. 

I glanced back at the woman and she was still staring at the men she sat with.  She seemed to spend a little time watching each of them, whether they were talking or not.  It was very strange behavior.  

When Master Bane pinched my nipple this time he also gave it a sharp tug.  I looked up and my owners were staring daggers at me.  

"What are you doing, Ciara?" Master Damien growled.

"The girl in orange," I stammered, "I was watching her, the way she acts.  I'm sorry, Master Damien."

Master Damien and his brethren all turned to look in the direction I had been looking.  They did look less angry when they turned back to me.

"That is not a girl or a she," Master Damien informed me.  "That is a slave.  You will notice it only looks at its owners, as is appropriate."

"Yes, Master Damien," I said quietly vowing to keep my eyes on them in the future.

We continued to eat and I continued to be fed.  I made a point to watch my owners and that seemed acceptable to them.  Again, I was offered food and drink until I thought I would pop.  

"Ciara, you must eat more," Master Evan chastised from across the table.  

"I can't eat anymore.  I'm full, Master Evan," I said as I choked down another mouthful.  I was frustrated and confused with their desire to feed me.  "Why can't you just feed me until I am full, Master Evan?"    

"Humans do like to question, don't they?" Master Kein said under his breath.

Master Damien raised an eyebrow at me and laid his hands on the table, "Slave, are you telling us what is best for you?" he asked calmly.  

It was the first time he didn't use the name they had given me.  The change terrified me.  

"No, I'm sorry.  Please forgive me, Master Damien," I begged.  

I cursed myself for forgetting that despite their kindness, I was still their property.  I couldn't get used to it.  Looking down at the floor and I prayed I would be forgiven.  I still wasn't sure what punishment would entail here.  

"Ciara," he said calmly, "you will lose mass here.  You will waste away if we don't give you enough to eat.  We could not stand to watch this happen.  You are ours."

"Yes, Master Damien," I said obediently taking food as it was offered to my by Master Kein.  

I didn't know how much more I could eat, but I'd keep trying if it kept them happy. 

After a while I had to pee.  I was restless it was so bad.  I was almost ready to ask.  Master Damien looked at Master Christof after eyeing me.  

"Take it to the facilities.  Clean it afterwards," he said.  

Master Christof dutifully rose from his place and took my arm leading me from the table.  I was sure they knew what I had been thinking about before.  Master Christof was going to do something horrible to me.  I glanced at him and he looked like he was touching me just by sheer force of will.  

Master Christof lead me through the tables into a small room.  It had five lacquered pots like I had sat on before.  Master Christof closed the door behind us and then removed the chain from my waist.  The covering of my sex went with it.  

"Sit," he commanded pointing to the pots.  I started to sit facing him and he said, "No, face the other way."

Straddling the pot and facing the wall wasn't uncomfortable, it just felt weird.  In a way it gave me a sense of privacy and it was easier to do my business.  I'd have to remember that for the future.  

When I was done, a warm wet cloth was used to clean me.  I started to get off and Master Christof said, "No, stay there."  

He moved my hands to a bar in front of me and quickly bound by wrists to it with a leather strap.  I wanted to turn my head around, but thought better of it.  Breathing slowly, I convinced myself not to panic.  He could do anything he wished to me; I would have to wait and see what he wanted.  

I felt his hands run across my backside and between my legs, without the cloth this time.  He explored my pussy and ass completely using water to moisten his fingers.  His breathing was heavy and it filled my ears.  I heard him stand behind me and his clothing rustled.  

I had heard my uncles masturbating enough to know what he was doing.  I didn't turn my face from the wall.  Soon, I felt the warm ejaculate land on my bare back as he groaned.  A damp cloth softly wiped it away and a second one dried my skin.  When Master Christof was done he asked me to stand and he took my arms off the bar.  He re attached the chain at my waist to cover me.    

I didn't look at him; I just stared at the floor.  What had just transpired felt odd.  Considering how today was going for me that was really saying something.

"Thank you, Ciara," he said in a strained voice as we left the bathroom.

That was a shock.  No one had thanked me for sex today.  He didn't really even use me and he said thank you.  That made me feel guilty for thinking he was weird.

"You're welcome, Master Christof," I said as we made our way back to the table. 

No one mentioned how long we had been gone and the table continued with light conversation.  The men got really excited when a small dish was brought out.  The man bringing food to our table scooped five spoonfuls of granules onto the plate.  

Master Kein carefully picked up the small plate and brought it to his face.  "Watch Ciara," he commanded.  

He stuck his tongue out and a little of the stuff on the plate stuck to it.  I was just glad he didn't snort it up his nose.  He lowered the plate to my level and I copied him.  

I saw colors shooting in front of me.  The walls of the restaurant seemed to be breathing with me.  I grabbed onto Master Bane and Master Kein and held onto their legs to steady myself.  If they hadn't taken me to the bathroom before, I would have pissed myself right then.  I still had my presence of mind, but my senses were all screwed up.  I felt like I could taste color and see flavor.  

Thankfully, the feelings didn't last long.  They were fading as I saw Master Kein offering me the plate a second time and I risked angering them.  

"Masters, I'll eat anything else you want but not that.  I don't think it's good for humans.  I feel all screwed up when I taste it and my mind isn't right.  Please, Masters, anything else," I begged.   

"Doesn't it taste good, Ciara?" Master Damien asked, folding his hands and looking at me.  

"I don't taste anything, Master Damien.  The walls move and it feels like my eyes are exploding.  I promise Master, I'll eat anything else," I repeated my plea.  The room was still spinning around just a little bit.  

Master Bane tilted my face to his and requested I repeat what I had just told Master Damien.  I did and he sat still watching me intently for a moment.  

"Perhaps it isn't good for humans.  We should get something different for Ciara," Master Bane said taking the plate from Master Kein and tasting it again.  

They brought me a slippery thing that Master Bane had to feed me from the bowl.  It reminded me of the time I had flan at a Mexican restaurant.  It did not make me high and I enjoyed it, if not for that reason only.  

Walking home with my owners the streets were much quieter.  A few salesmen were still out, but it looked like everyone was packing up.  I was surprised when a man stumbled out of a door way and directly in our path.    

The man now blocking our way was angry.  He had a healing cut across his nose and a nasty look on his face.  He clenched his fists and looked like he wanted a fight.  

Master Damien calmly took stock of the situation.  His brothers held their positions and seemed to be waiting patiently.  When the other man didn't speak, Master Damien did.

"Move yourself, cousin, we have no quarrel with you," he said simply.

"Weaklings!" the man spat out taking a step toward us.  "Do you not need our women now, Warriors?  Will you leave us, the shopkeeps and the lowly men to them?  So what if they take our brothers, eh?  No concern of yours anymore is it?  You have a precious little slave to tend your needs," he sneered.  

The men surrounding me didn't even flinch during the man's rant.  I glanced at Master Kein, who stood beside me, and his face looked neutral.  They didn't even seem to be agitated.  

"We take our turn with the women just as you do," Master Damien answered calmly.  "If you have lost a brother, we will search for him, just as we always have.  The slave is not your concern.  Now move out of our way."

The aggressive man took another step toward us and my men did not move.  Master Damien spoke to him again.  He instructed the man to desist, picking a fight with Warriors would only end up getting him hurt.  

Whoever this strange man was seemed too upset to really understand what a bad idea this was.  Looking between the men it was easy to see who would win a fight.  The men surrounding me were built and toned.  The aggressive man, although he was tall, didn't seem to have the same muscular physique as my companions.  

The angry man rushed at Master Damien quite suddenly.  I cringed expecting a brawl.  There wasn't one.  Instead Master Damien brushed the man's flying fists away and shoved him back several steps.  

"Draw your weapon, coward!" the man screamed running forward again.  

The process repeated with Master Damien delivering a resounding open palm slap to the man's face this time.  He never drew his weapon and he seemed intent on not harming the crazy man.  This enraged the already upset man.  

The third time the man approached Master Damien I barely saw the motion that snapped the man's jaw to the side.  Stepping groggily the man seemed much less angry and just dazed now.  That punch would have shattered my face; I was sure of it.    

"I have no wish to harm you, cousin," Master Damien said calmly.  "If you try to fight with me again, we will take you to the Administrators."  

Suddenly, two other men showed up at the aggressor's sides.  They cajoled him and pulled him back inside the building.  They apologized and bowed their heads to my companions as they stepped away.  We continued our walk home without further incident.  

As we walked back to the compound, I wondered about what the man had said.  Thinking back on the day, I didn't remember seeing anyone that would have passed for female that wasn't a slave.  By what I'd seen, all the slaves seemed to be aliens here.  Where were the native women?

I heard my mother's voice in my head, in one of her few sober moments, recommending I be patient.  "All things in good time," she would say to me.  That seemed like good advice for now.  

Back inside the Warrior's compound I felt much more comfortable walking around in my outfit, even if it was mostly see through.  Master Evan nudged Master Damien and pointed to a group of men standing by the wall.  Master Damien turned and walked toward them calling out a greeting.  

I remembered before and kept my head resolutely down.  I was a little disappointed when I didn't see a little set of feet with the men.  I would have enjoyed talking to someone.    

I was distracted by the pink plants lining the wall.  A little silver thing shaped like a fly was zooming around them.  Without warning one of the plants shot out a tendril and caught the fly.  The tendril dragged the bug into the depths of a tiny pink vase.  It was fascinating.  Bugs seemed to like to land on the leafy base of the pink plant, but if they flew above it; they got nabbed.

My new name was suddenly booming into my ears and I jumped up turning around.  Master Evan's roguish face was inches from mine.  Inadvertently, I had crouched down to watch the funny little plants; when I bounded up he was leaning over me.  Any closer and I would have been kissing him.

He reached forward and pulled the strips of fabric back over my breasts, making a point to brush my nipples.  He smiled down at me impishly.  

"You are irritating Master Damien by not listening to him, go apologize," he whispered in my ear.  




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 03



I snuck a glance past Master Evan's shoulder to see Master Damien standing several feet away looking annoyed.  Everyone else also looked a little put out.  I walked toward them with my head down and thought about what to do.  They didn't like it when I acted scared, so I had to act apologetic without being wimpy.     

I remembered what Master Damien had told me.  They wanted me to touch them without fear.  It was decided, I would do what they wanted.  

I looked up into Master Damien's eyes as I approached him and put my arms lightly around his waist.  

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, Master Damien," I said leaving my face tilted to his.  

I prayed he wouldn't strike me or push me away.   

The men from before were still standing around and they commented as I touched Master Damien.  I just left my eyes on him.  He kept his arms folded across his chest as he leaned down.  

"Apologize to my brothers, just as you have to me," he said and returned to his former position.  

I apologized to Master Bane and Master Kein the same way.  I approach Master Christof, slower.  There was no way not to do this now.  I slowly wound my arms around his waist and looked into his brilliant purple eyes; they looked wild.  

"I'm sorry, Master Christof," I said quietly and stepped back.  

He had looked like he wanted to hit me.  

Master Evan was right in front of me when I turned away from Master Christof.  "You didn't apologize to me, Ciara, and I had to go get you," he smirked.

I put my arms around his waist and looked up to find his face inches from mine again.

"Why do you put your arms around us?" Evan asked. 

"You don't like me to use words from my first language," I stuttered slightly unnerved at how close his face was.

"Just this word, then," he said considering, "tell us what it is." 

"It is a hug, Master Evan, it is a sign of affection," I told him.

He didn't move or say anything, so I apologized like I had to his brothers.  I tried to move away but he stopped me and grinned wickedly.  

"You should kiss me to prove you're sorry," he said with authority pulling me closer.

"Brother..." I heard Master Christof say and I could hear the warning in his voice.  

I had to get on my toes to reach Master Evan's mouth.  His lips were full and perfect for kissing, so I did.  Master Evan's blue eyes looked a little surprised when our lips touched.  I loved the look of shock when I ran my tongue over his bottom lip, he wasn't the only one that could taste.  

I felt Master Damien pressing up against my back as he wove his fingers into my hair and pulled my head back slightly.  "We were going to play a game of chuke, Ciara.  You will come and watch us.  That is, if you are done apologizing to my brother."

"Yes, Master Damien," I said smiling.  

The look on Master Evan's face was priceless.  Women must not kiss them I surmised.  

The men walked me out of the courtyard and into a vegetated area.  It resembled grass, but was lighter in color.  They left me kneeling in a small tent with several other slaves.  I was told to stay on my pad in the grass. 

The men all stripped, leaving their clothes in piles.  The only thing they wore out onto the field was a small cup over their privates.  Oddly, I didn't see anything holding the cup on, it just stayed there.  The twenty or so men already on the field cheered their arrival.  

"Hello again, cousin," came cheerfully from my left.

I grinned, glad to see a familiar face.  "Hello Fuji, it's nice to see you again." 

"Cousin, you can talk with us, but keep your eyes on your Warriors," the warning came from my right.  

I readjusted my gaze to see Master Bane looking over at me.  He went back to the game a moment later.  

Furtively, I took in my surroundings.  I could make out tall walls on every side of us.  We were in a field, but still inside their compound.

"Caution, cousin," a voice hissed from my left, "you cannot run from this place."

"They watch us," another voice whispered, "if you keep looking around, they will come over here."

"They like us to watch," Fuji instructed.  "When your men make a point you should cheer with them."

I couldn't run inside a walled compound.  Since I was on an alien planet, running at all was seeming like a foolish thought.  Instead I concentrated on what Fuji had said.

"How do I know when they make a point?" I asked watching the confusing display in front of me. 

 It looked like there were multiple balls in play and the men were running all over the place. 

"Just cheer when your men cheer," was the answer from farther right, "I've been watching this game for ages and I still don't understand it."

All the women in the tent laughed at that.  Suddenly, Fuji rose up and jumped around, when she was done she knelt back down.  Some men on the field had also been cheering.  

I saw a ball pass to Master Evan and he threw it in the air shouting.  The rest of my men also made a lot of noise.  I'd played drums in the marching band, so I'd cheered in many football games.  I hooted and hollered like back then. 

"Perfect," the voice from my right said, "they loved that!  I'm Rose by the way."

"Rose?" I asked questioningly, "Didn't they re name you?"

"Yes, they asked for the name of the most beautiful thing on my home planet and that was the first thing that came to mind.  I was so scared, it's a wonder I didn't end up with some horrible name.  What did they call you?" she asked.

"It used to be Rachel, but I guess it's Ciara now," I answered her relaxing.

"Oh," Rose sighed, "whatever you do, don't say that again.  They get really angry if you talk about your home planet."

"Yes, thank you," I answered staring blankly ahead.  

Survival may be more difficult than I thought.

The conversation was pleasant with my new counterparts.  I didn't look over so I only knew Rose, Tamia, and Shi by the sounds of their voices.  Out of the five of us only Rose and I were from Earth.  

I learned being from Earth had protected me from being sold onto a planet where slaves were worked to death.  That didn't take long for a human.  Earthlings were too frail for most other planets.  Our needs for oxygen and water made us difficult to keep.  

Planets like Pateria would pay huge prices for us.  We were everything they wanted in a sex slave.  Weak, intelligent, mostly hairless, and with compatible sex organs.

The men hadn't been lying about me never going home.  The dimensional portals the slavers used had trouble operating on earth, something to do with the atmosphere.  It was getting harder and harder to acquire an earthling.  

Pateria had developed a similar shield against the portals.  At one point, before the shield, the slavers had tried to steal slaves back.  Rose shuddered when she talked about it.  The Warriors were fearless and deadly.  The slavers that came had been massacred. 

As we talked, I watched the game and dutifully cheered when it seemed appropriate.  All the screaming was making me thirsty.  I was relieved when I saw Master Evan come striding toward me with a jug.   

He made an impressive site.  His broad shoulders and narrow hips covered in flexing muscle.  His skin was glistening with sweat in the falling light.  Master Evan was the kind of guy I would have had wet dreams about.  Back home a man like him never would have looked at me twice.

He fed me a long drink of the cool liquid while grinning down at me.  I nearly choked when I got a good look at his mouth.  His teeth had grown into long deadly looking sabers.  He noticed me staring and set the jug on the ground.  

Crouching in front of me he continued to grin.  His mouth looked wicked and I couldn't stop gaping at it.  

"Do I frighten you, Ciara?" he asked teasingly running a finger down my arm.  

I lied, "No, Master Evan," as my breath caught in my throat.  

He brought his face to within an inch of mine.  "Will you kiss me now, human?"

I caught the dare in his eyes and just couldn't back down.  I placed my lips against his and closed my eyes.  He didn't attack me, so I continued to kiss him.  

I forgot about my new friends sitting less than a foot away and got bolder.  I slipped my tongue between his lips and touched those evil looking teeth.  Master Evan didn't move so I continued to explore his mouth and brushed his tongue with mine.        

I pulled back to look at him and he was absolutely shocked.  Master Damien was behind him a second later asking if he was planning to come back to the game or not.  Still looking unnerved Master Evan followed him back to the field, throwing glances over his shoulder the whole way.  

"Oh," laughed Rose heartily, "you'll do just fine here, Ciara."

"I swear to you he grew a mouthful of fangs, I swear it!" I muttered back to her still surprised by Master Evan's appearance.

"That is what happens when they get excited.  They have a secondary set of teeth that grow," Fuji answered happily.  "Didn't they have sex with you today?" she asked curiously. 

I wasn't really comfortable discussing that with four new friends and they thought that was hilarious.  "If you haven't noticed they aren't really inhibited here, they are only wearing the cups to keep themselves protected," said Rose.

"Yes," I finally answered embarrassed, "but I wasn't looking at their mouths then.  They had me on my hands and knees facing away from them."

"Oh, that's rich!" laughed Rose.  "I had forgotten about how paranoid they are at first.  They think you're going to bite them.  They act like your nails are daggers.  It gets old really fast.  Just when you think you've got them cured, they go to a coupling and come back twice as crazy."

All the women were chuckling at the inside joke.  "What's a coupling?" I asked trying to understand.

"This is going to sound odder than anything else you've heard today, so be prepared.  The women native to this planet are...there isn't even a word bad enough to describe them.  They stand about nine feet tall and are covered in thick hair.  Those fangs you saw on your Master are nothing compared to what the women carry and the women's don't retract.  They also have vicious claws.  To top it all off they can fly.  They have these awesome leathery wings.  The women here terrify the men."

I sat watching the game stunned.  Master Damien's earlier comment made complete sense now.  He didn't mean I shouldn't be afraid of them.  His comment was that they could enjoy me without being afraid of me. 

When I didn't say anything Rose continued to talk.  "The men here take turns with the women.  Your Masters will leave you for several day cycles to go service the native women.  All the men have to go at some point, there is a schedule.  Sometimes the men here are kidnapped and held by gangs of women."

"The Warriors protect the village we are in from other villages, but also from women seeking to take men.  When a man gets taken the Warriors go look for them in the mountains.  When they find them, they always come back skittish," Rose finished and then rose to cheer her Warriors.

Master Christof had been taken, I was sure of it.  No wonder the poor man didn't really like me.  He had been taken and held by a gang of women who did who knows what to him.  His psyche must have been destroyed.  

"They took Master Christof, didn't they?" I asked

"He isn't quite right, then?" asked Fuji curiously.

I was suddenly not sure what to say.  If my Warriors found out I talked about them I may get in trouble.

"He's just more insistent I face away is all.  More nervous about my mouth, just those types of things," I stammered.

It wasn't really a lie, but it wasn't really the truth.  Telling them he could couldn't even use his cock on me was going to be far too much information.  

"My Masters say he refused to go the last coupling.  His brothers had to go without him.  It was a disgrace to them, but they won't talk about it.  He was punished for refusing to go, if he refuses again my owners say he may be killed," Tamia chimed in.

I saw Master Bane jumping up and down on the field so I clapped my hands and hooted.  This conversation had to end soon, obviously it wasn't something they wanted spread all over the compound.  

"You called them brothers, but they don't look anything alike," I said hoping it would change the subject.  

"Oh, no it's the markings they have that make them brothers.  It is probably the same mark they put on your stomach.  They think they must be born with it.  When the mothers bring the sons back they all have them.  When the Child Keepers notice similar marks they put the children together.  They grow up that way," Fuji answered.  

I was relieved to see the Warriors all heading back toward us.  I had enjoyed talking to the women, but the talk about Master Christof had bothered me twofold.  I didn't want to get into trouble mainly.  Secondly, he had problems, that much was obvious; being a big mouth about it wouldn't help.  I would never bring that subject up in public again. 

"Did you enjoy talking with the other slaves?" Master Damien asked as we walked back toward the courtyard.

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered politely watching his heels.

"Did you learn anything interesting?"

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered again keeping my head down but trying to use my peripherals.  There seemed to be a lot of people milling about.  

He turned to face me and I ran into him.  None of the men had redressed after the game.  I was looking into his sculpted chest with it's sprinkling of dark hair.  I tilted my face up to look in his eyes.

"Ciara, what did you learn?" 

"The women here are mean and you have to have sex with them.  Your teeth grow when you're excited.  The slavers won't get me again.  I'm lucky I'm human or the slavers would have sold me a worse place..." I trailed off and Master Damien smiled.  

"We are going into the public bath.  When we get inside we will remove your ornamentation and you will join us.  You will bathe me," he said.  

I nodded unhappily.  I had gotten used to being sort of dressed in public.  He noticed the look and raised an eyebrow at me.

"I don't like to go without clothes in front of other people, Master Damien," I complained quietly.

"Are you disobeying me, slave?" he asked.  

I could feel his brothers surrounding me.  Now seemed like a bad time to make them angry.

"No, Master Damien," I said meekly looking down.   

We walked into a huge hall, the ceiling had to be up two stories.  The public bath was bigger than the public swimming pool at home.  It was at least half a foot ball field long.  There were Warriors already there, lounging and swimming.  Slaves were interspersed in the men.

The men stopped at a small enclave in the wall.  A symbol, their symbol, was above it.  Inside were several cushions and places to sit.  They laid their clothes inside and started to undress me.  

My care was evidently a group project.  Master Damien unhooked the chains from my collar that held my breast covers in place.  Master Christof removed my earrings.  Master Bane took the chain from around my waist, while Master Kein had leaned down to work on my sandals.  I thought I was done, but Master Evan reached out and removed a piece of metal from beneath each breast.

"What are those?" I asked looking at the thin curved metal.  I hadn't even felt them there.

"The support you asked for Ciara," Master Evan laughed placing them beside my sandals.  

Come to think of it my breasts had looked really perky underneath the gauze.

Once I was back in just my cuffs and collar, they removed the pieces covering their genitals.  Master Kein and Master Bane raced to the pool and jumped in making a splash.  I walked with the other men who took a more dignified entrance into the water. 

The water felt surprisingly good.  It was a little on the warm side, but very comfortable.  Remembering my instructions I wasn't surprised when a silky rag and a slippery bar were handed to me.  I stood in the water and did as instructed.    

I gently scrubbed Master Damien he sat in the shallow water at one end.  He was powerful man and I felt the tension in some of the muscle of his back.  I rubbed a little harder and felt the muscle ease under my palm.  

"Lower down," he instructed, "do the same thing you just did."

Using the soap like massage oil I found the knot that must have been bothering him.  After a moment it released in response to the gentle massage.  

"Wash all of me like that," he instructed.

It was to be a full body massage, then.  I rubbed and cleaned him thoroughly.  On his right shoulder, I noticed the intricate mark he carried.  Comparing it to my the insignia on my cuffs it was virtually the same.  Except for scars, this tattoo was the only other mark on his skin.  

Once I was done with Master Damien, Master Evan demanded the same attention.  I started to massage him and he shook off my hands.  He just wanted me to bathe him.

"Rub me with soap and wash it off," he said brusquely.  

I did as he asked and gave him a perfunctory bath.  After washing him he also told me to wash his hair.  

I sat behind Master Evan on a step and cleaned his hair.  I remembered the one time mom and I had gone to a fancy salon.  The lady had run her nails over my scalp.  It had felt really good, so I did that gently.  

"More of that," came the soft response.

I started to massage the scalp in front of me and Evan groaned very low in his throat.  

"Like that," was the guttural comment, so I kept at it.

Evan moved only once as I worked on his hair.  He jerked me around so I sat on the bench beside him.  Flipping his legs up on bench he laid back with his head on one thigh. 

"You may continue," he said settling down.  

As I worked, I heard my other owners walking away.  A game was being played on the other side of the pool and it had their attention.

Eventually, Master Evan's hair was clean but he didn't move.  I just kept rubbing his scalp and playing with his hair.  The long locks were a temptation.  I spread them out over my lap and experimented with braiding them. 

I would put a complicated plait in and then take it out.  My skills getting better the more I practiced.  Mom had been a hairdresser, so I knew quite a few fancy braids.  

I was allowing myself to get lost in the repetitive activity.  Master Evan had his eyes closed laying in the water and looked completely relaxed.  When he spoke I jumped.

"To what honor do I owe the attention you are paying my slave, gentlemen?" he asked never opening his eyes.  

I started to look up, but stopped when I saw several sets of masculine legs standing at the edge of the pool beside us.  I stilled my hands in Master Evan's hair and waited.  

"Just noting how strange it is you all were permitted to keep a slave when your family cannot be trusted to follow the coupling schedule," the man said.  "Will Christof be well enough to accompany you this time or does illness still plague him?"

I could hear the sarcasm dripping over the man's words.  My heart went out to poor Master Christof, it wasn't his fault something terrible happened to him.  He had been kidnapped and probably abused.  He was too scared to even have sex with me.  All that and he gets crap from these guys, too.  

Men on this world were just like the men on my world.  They wouldn't give anyone a break.  Their attitude irked me.  

"Master Christof is fine," I said defensively without really thinking about it.  

Master Evan looked up at me with one eye open, "Who are you talking to, slave?"

"You, Master Evan," I said realizing my mistake.  

He continued to look up at me for a moment and then returned to his resting position.  "Christof will join us next time," he said closing his eyes again.  




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 03



I watched the men's feet as they moved away.  Slowly, I went back to playing with Master Evan's hair.  It entertained me and kept me from looking around.  

Water splashed up around us as Master Kein and Master Bane rejoined us.  The shampoo job must have been good because they made Master Evan move and I washed both of their short hair.  Master Evan stood casually by playing with a tiny braid I'd forgotten to take out.  

"Our slave is quite mouthy," he commented to his brothers.  

I'd forgotten about my little indiscretion, but he hadn't.  My face was hot and I let my hands drop in front of me when Master Kein turned to face me. 

"What did it say?" he asked.

"Andre and his brothers came to ask if Christof was well and our slave informed them that he was," Master Evan said.  

Glancing up, I could see Master Evan grinning ear to ear like a devil.  Master Damien was standing beside him now listening intently.  

"When did this happen?" he asked hotly.

"While you were talking to Basin and his brothers," Master Evan answered smirking broadly.  "Must have been quite a conversation to have so distracted you."

Time seemed to freeze for a moment before everything moved at once.  I found myself upside down and passing out the main entrance to the bathing hall before I knew what had happened.  I was slung over Master Damien's shoulder as he marched out into the cooling night.    

I tried to wiggle free, but it was like my waist was caught in a vise.  I made nonsensical pleas to him, but he didn't listen to me.  I tried to see where we were going, but it was getting dark and all I could tell was we were in the courtyard.

Master Damien jumped up about six feet and I screamed.  Before I could make another noise he had set me down.  I felt a body behind me raising my arms and binding them to posts on either side of me.  My legs were also separated and tied to the posts.  I was stretched as far as I could go.  It was like the auction only more uncomfortable.  

"You have defied us all day, slave," Master Damien said.  "We place you at the mercy of the compound and see how long your disobedience lasts.  When we find you more obedient we will return for you."

It took a minute for the situation to register.  I was outside, bound and nude, in the middle of the courtyard.  I looked up at my wrists and noted the lack of the metal cuff.  Looking down, the cuffs had also been removed from my ankles.  I moved my head around, I realized I didn't have a collar on.

Did this mean I wasn't a slave anymore? I wondered.  The answer struck me and was breathtaking.  I was still a slave.  I just wasn't being claimed by an owner.      

Master Damien and his brothers told me their mark protected me and now it was gone.  I wondered what would happen to me, although my exposed position spoke volumes.  Anyone could do anything to me.  

It took my eyes some time to get used to the gathering darkness.  I couldn't decide if it was lucky or unlucky that several torches lit the area.  I prayed nobody would notice me up here, but I knew that wasn't the purpose of this exercise.  

My situation seemed to be gaining an audience.  Warriors strolled past my platform and clucked their tongues at me.  Several brought their slaves out to see me.  

I was shocked when the first group of Warriors jumped up onto the platform.  They looked mean and still had their formidable weapons strapped to their waists.  The men twisted and pinched me everywhere.  I cried and screamed when they touched me between my legs.  I heard Master Kein speaking behind me and they left.  

It went on for hours.  My hands had gone numb and some point and every joint in my upper body was cramping.  Groups of men would come onto the platform and touch me cruelly until one of my Warriors showed up and shooed them off.   

The men that came onto my platform weren't hesitant or nice to me.  Thick fingers invaded my most private parts.  They were not gentle as they explored my body with rough hands.  Most of them laughed when I yelled at them.  Everything I did spurned them to be crueler and harsher.   

Eventually, I started to recognize the pattern.  The attacks usually happened when I looked at the Warriors down in the courtyard, which was hard not to do from my elevated position.  I closed my eyes and the attacks subsided mostly.  I stayed silent and finally they stopped coming up altogether.      

I felt warm bodies surrounding me, but I didn't dare open my eyes.  Looking at them definitely made the manhandling worse.

"Who do you speak to, Ciara?" I heard Master Damien ask me.

"Only to you and your brothers, Master Damien," I answered him keeping my head down and my eyes shut tight.  

"Is it wise to look at other men, Ciara?" he asked me pulling my feet away from the posts.

"No, Master Damien," I sobbed as my arms were released.  

It felt like lightening was shooting through my hands and I slumped into whoever was holding me.  

My owners carried me through the courtyard and up the stairs to their dwelling place.  The first thing they did was replace the metal encircling my neck, wrists, and ankles.  After that they laid me on the bed and massaged my sore joints.  Master Bane retrieved the cream from their bathroom and they rubbed it into my skin.  

My large breasts had been a favorite play toy of the Warriors on the platform.  They had pinched and tweaked the bouncy flesh in excess.  My nipples were raw and tiny bruises punctuated the orbs.  Master Kein was gentle as he rubbed the cream across the tender mounds.  It made them substantially less sore.  

The mistake was ingrained into my mind and I didn't want to make another one.  I was taken to the lavatory and permitted to relieve myself.  No complaints escaped my lips as I was cleaned.  They fed me and I ate until they said I was done. 

After dinner, the men went and sat in the lower part of the room by the fire.  Master Christof and Master Kein looked like they were playing a card game.  Master Bane, Master Damien, and Master Evan were all resting in separate chairs talking.  Master Damien noticed me and pointed to a pad on the floor by Master Evan's chair.  Walking into the room, I knelt down obediently.

Soon I was less kneeling and more sitting with my legs underneath me.  The day ran through my head and I tried to make sense of it.  I sat quietly and realized what I was now.

I was their pet.  When I pleased them, they would primp and fluff me.  If I misbehaved, they disowned me publicly and I would suffer.  The choice was mine.  

After the platform, I had no tears left.  I couldn't even sob as I realized that today was a death.  This was the end of my freedom.  I no longer had hopes or dreams, only prayers that my owners were kind.      

If I had more energy, I would have been having a breakdown.  As it was, I just slumped lower and found myself inadvertently leaning on Master Evan's legs.  My life was over.

My old life was over, a small voice whispered in my head.  I was not dead.  These men wanted a healthy, happy slave.  They didn't want to hurt me.  When I followed their rules, they treated me well.  It was not the same, but it was something.  

I had only one choice left to me.  The first option was to fight them every step of the way.  I could make it as difficult on them as it was on me.  The alternative was to make the best of what I had left.  Neither option was unflawed.  

Fighting was the honorable way to go.  I would be tortured however they wished for as long as they wished. If I kept fighting they may just kill me.  However, I could be proud I stood up for myself.

Submitting was the other option.  There was no honor in that, but I would probably live longer.  I wondered if it was worth it.  

The submission they demanded was complete.  I hated kneeling on a pad on the floor.  Eating from their hands was demeaning.  My brain rebelled against the ideas I couldn't even look at another male without being punished, but I wasn't ready to die yet.

I heard the men shuffling around and I looked up to find Master Damien watching me.

"Who takes care of you, Ciara?" he asked.

I knew they had put me up on that awful platform and I knew they would put me back if I did not please them.  Now was the time to make my decision.  Did I want to live like this or did I want to die?    

"You do, Master Damien and your brothers," I answered politely.

I would learn to live like this.  There had to be a way to find happiness here.  I just needed to look.    

Master Damien smiled benevolently down at me before he picked me up off the floor.  He walked into their bedroom, which was quiet and much darker than the main room.  Carefully, he placed me on their bed so I was laying on my hip.

"I'm glad you are learning, Ciara.  Our mark protects you because we protect you, never forget that.  You are worth nothing to the other men here.  They will use you as they want, without consideration.  Only your owners will care for you," he said as he moved away.

Two warm bodies came and surrounded mine.  Reaching out, I felt Master Bane's fuzzy chest.  I heard Master Kein's soft voice behind me as hands brushed down my back.  Both men told me to sleep well through the night.    

Blankets were pulled over me to keep the chill away.  I thanked them for the care and they seemed delighted.  I snuggled into the softness of the bed and listened to the men's slow even breathing.  This was my life now.  I pulled the covers around my body and knew I would do my best to make the most of it.  

********

Thank you for reading and for the comments.  I know it is different and I appreciate the forum to air my ideas.  Please vote and continue to let me know what you think!  DW



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 04



Thanks to everyone for all the comments. I know it's different and I appreciate the place to express the craziness in my head. If you're enjoying, please keep reading and let me know what you think. Thanks again - DW

********************************************

I woke up and it was still dark. Master Bane and Master Kein were both stretched out and sound asleep on their backs. As often happens when I woke myself up at night, I had to pee, badly. 

I tried to close my eyes but it didn't work. I couldn't sleep like this. Restlessly, I turned and was looking into Master Christof's bright eyes across the bed.

"Bathroom..." I started to say and he held up a hand to stop me. 

He got up and motioned me to get up, which I did. Looking back at the bed all the men had momentarily awoken. Once they saw Christof had risen with me four heads dropped back and I heard their snoring. 

I walked quickly to the bathroom and Master Christof followed. Once we were inside, I sat down facing the wall. 

Master Christof stood and used one of the receptacles next me. I had used the ladies room when other ladies were in there. It was different with a guy right next to you. 

Christof cleaned me silently. As we made our way through the kitchen area I pointed hesitantly to a jug on the table. I found my kneeling place and waited. Master Christof let me have a long drink and then took one himself. 

"Sit with me?" he asked quietly.

"Of course, Master Christof." 

I followed him into the lower level of the room. I admired him as he walked in front of me. He had a runner's body, long and lean. Above the linen shift he wore, he had several scars that sliced across his back. Life was hard for everyone here, I surmised. 

I noticed Master Christof kept his hair a little shaggier than the rest of the men, not quite long, not quite short. It would have irritated my mother the way it fell over his eyes on the left side. I smiled sadly thinking about mom. 

Master Christof sat down on a long chaise. I looked around for my kneeling pad. Chuckling softly, he pulled me to sit on the furniture with him. Master Christof laid back and pulled me to snuggle up next to him. 

We lay silently for a bit. Master Christof just idly traced patterns over my arms. Finally, he spoke. 

"You were very brave to speak to another man on my behalf, Ciara," he whispered into my ear, "thank you."

"You're welcome, Master Christof," I replied softly.

"I am sorry," he said quietly, "if I have caused you to fear me..."

I lay quietly and listened to his breathing for a moment before he spoke again. 

"I know you are female," he said so quietly I almost didn't hear. "After seeing you at the posts, I realize you are not dangerous. It would be simple to overpower you..."

I agreed, but didn't say anything else. It wasn't clear to me what I should say to him. He was right and I understood why he feared females. Fearing me was admittedly pointless. 

Master Christof wasn't like the others. He was afraid of something that had taken and used him. Honestly, I felt a connection to him.

He seemed different than he had been earlier today. He absently rubbed my arms down onto my hips. Master Christof was relaxed and, for some reason, I didn't mind the touching. 

It had been a long day and I drifted, half asleep. Slowly, Master Christof shifted so I lay on my back and he was on his side watching me. I didn't stop him as he ran a hand over my chest. 

Master Christof's fingers was explorative, tentative. He seemed to be gauging my reactions. I made no sound of protest as the contact became more sexual. 

He touched the entirety of both breasts before brushing his fingers over the nipples. I was arching into his hand by the time he reached the puckered tips. The pain from before was gone and his light wispy touching was driving me wild. When his hand strayed lower I spread my legs for him, accepting this as my duty here.

"You don't have to, if you don't want to," he whispered in my ear. 

His fingers were still over my pubic bone.

The choice surprised and excited me. I did not expect it, even from him. Looking up into his purple gaze I saw desire and uncertainty reflected back at me. 

"I don't mind, Master Christof," I said giving the permission he had so generously requested.

He ran his fingers down my outer lips and slowly stroked. He seemed pleased to find wetness in the folds and smiled into my cheek. 

"I did not pay as much attention as I should have to your care, Ciara. According to my brothers this should mean I am doing the right things," he said.

"Yes, Master Christof," I sighed as he continued with feathery light strokes.

"You don't need to call me Master when it is just you and I, Ciara," he whispered into my hair. 

I froze and looked at him in shock, as if the rules weren't confusing enough. He just grinned back at me. 

"If your brother found out I would be strapped back to the post, Christof," I murmured to him as he found the little bundle of nerves at the apex. 

My hips started to twitch as he stroked it.

"Then I wouldn't do it when he is around," he said increasing the pressure of his touch. 

I raised a hand to my breast and started to stroke the sensitive nipple. The other hand slowly reached down and moved his linen cover out of the way. I brushed his manhood with my fingertips. 

The wild look came back into his eyes and I retracted my hand. He sighed and changed his stroke on my clit now circling the tiny bud. 

"Touch me, Ciara, if you wish. I know you won't hurt me." 

Tentatively, I reached down and ran my fingertips along the length of him. He shuddered under my touch; it was empowering. I took a hold of him and stroked up and down the shaft. 

I hadn't had much experience with cock on Earth and this morning had been too rushed. I memorized him with my fingers. I ran my thumb along juncture where the tip met the base. Using the flat of my fingers I learned every ridge and vein. He lay still beside me letting me explore. 

Suddenly, Christof's hand left my clit and he sunk his fingers inside of me. In the faint light of the room I could see his teeth had grown.

"Christof," I sighed into his ear, "you can have me, if you want."

Christof hurriedly pulled off his cover and let it fall to the floor. He pulled me so I was underneath him and slowly drove his mighty length into me. Christof sank down over me and groaned. 

"It has been so long," he said sounding strained, "and never, never like this. You have no idea how this feels," he finished into my ear. 

I wiggled underneath him and ground myself against him. "I've heard it's better if you're moving," I whispered into his neck teasingly.

He pulled back and looked at me. He was smiling, but those teeth made him look ferocious. Christof pulled out and moved back in watching my eyes. I ran my hands over his back and traced the lines I had seen before. He shivered as I touched the marks.

My hips were rising to meet him as he plunged down. As he sped up our bodies made a steady slapping sound. I moaned softly and he covered my mouth with his hand. 

"I don't want my brothers to hear us," he whispered against my ear. 

I tried to stay quiet but the sensations were rising inside my belly. Every downstroke moved him against my primed body.

I felt him grow larger inside me and his movements sped up. The wild look was back in his eyes now, but it was a good thing. My hips of their own volition were moving restlessly against him. When the sensations exploded I buried my face in his shoulder to muffle the cry. A moment later he grunted and writhed over me. 

We lay panting for few moments. I felt a little chilled when Christof moved off of me. 

"Do you need to bathe?" he asked. 

"No, thank you, not every time," I answered smiling at him. 

He pulled a blanket from in front of the fire over me. It was warm from where it had been sitting. Christof wrapped himself around my back and pulled my body against his. 

"I'm sorry about this afternoon. My brothers would be very upset if they found out what I did," he whispered into my hair. "I hope I did not upset you."

"I won't say anything and I didn't mind," I answered him yawning. 

Frankly, I was too tired to be confused by the weird statement. Why would his brothers cared if he masturbated? It didn't make any sense, but I was already drifting off. 

His chuckling was the last thing I heard before I fell back to sleep. 

I opened my eyes and was staring into bright blue ones. "Good morn, Ciara, why are you sleeping out here with my brother?" Master Evan asked. 

Oh God, I should have known he was a morning person. I groaned and heard Christof laugh behind me. 

"Our bed is no longer good enough, brother?" he asked Christof as he pulled me to my feet.

"We were both restless last night Evan. I'm sure we won't spend every night out here. The bed is much more comfortable," Christof answered rising and stretching. 

Christof disappeared into the bedroom, as I stood waking up with his brothers. Master Evan ran a hand between my legs and found the sticky remains of last night. He showed it to the other three men and they all murmured. 

"You need to be cleaned before the morning meal, Ciara," Master Evan said pulling me to the bathroom. 

I was unaware exactly what he meant when he said cleaning. A shower and a teeth cleaning is what I had in mind. That happened, but I also received my first enema. Well, the first one I remembered. 

Master Evan did make a point to remind me this had already happened once. It was humiliating, but I complied without too much whining. I didn't want to be bound outside again. 

Master Evan pulled me to lay over him on a bench I hadn't noticed before in the bathroom as the other men came in doing their morning routine. With my ass in the air on his lap he inserted something into it. I tried to wiggle a little and he ignored me. Warm fluid was slowly poured into me. It felt weird, but not horribly unpleasant. It was the exposed position that had me more bothered than anything.  

Master Evan removed the plug he had used to pour the liquid into me and stood me up. Now I felt full and uncomfortable. I had to go. 

"The saleswoman said we should let the mixture sit for a little while. I will wash your hair while it does that," he said pulling me into the shower. 

"Master Evan," I complained softly, "it's not comfortable. May I please use the pot?"

He towered over me and I lost the urge to go almost instantaneously. "We were told humans would need explanations and constant reminders, but you are unbelievable, Ciara. Go into the shower and I will wash your hair, you do enjoy having it don't you?"

"My hair, Master Evan?" I asked grabbing it and pulling it over my shoulder. "Yes, sir. I really enjoy having my hair," I stroked a handful of it as he approached me.

"We let you keep it because we wanted you to be happy. If you cannot be agreeable we will have it removed," he said turning on the water and starting to soap my hair. 

"You don't like hair?" I mumbled as he washed my locks. 

They all had hair. I couldn't figure out what they had against my hair. 

"We like our slaves with as little hair as possible. Human slaves seem to be happier when they are allowed to keep theirs. We spoke to the other Warriors about it. Leaving you with yours seemed a small price to pay overall," he said rinsing me. 

My belly was howling it's need again, but I stood quietly shifting foot to foot. When he was done washing my hair he wrapped it in a cloth a patted the rest of me dry. I was hovering over the pot as soon as he pointed to it. 

Remembering my experience with Christof, I faced the wall. It was embarrassing to go with someone watching. I just hummed under my breath and pretended I was alone. 

Master Evan soaped and washed me in the shower after I had gone. Once he was done he asked me to lay back across his lap on the little bench. I did as he said, but wondered why. Was he gong to give me another enema? 

I felt the oil being rubbed over my pucker and I tried not to flinch. I felt a finger enter me, slowly moving in and out. The stretch got greater and it felt like he was using two fingers. I moaned at the sensations and buried my face against the bench. 

Master Evan continued to softly assault me with his hands before slipping something else in my ass. Whatever he used this time was thin like a finger initially and then got wider. I felt stretched to my limit when it narrowed slightly. Master Evan left whatever it was inside of me and stroked my ass with both hands. I felt stretched, but not painful. 

"Get up, Ciara," he said.

Standing up I wiggled a little and got used to the thing in my ass. I tried to reach my hand around to touch it, but a sharp look halted me. I would have asked about it, but I stopped myself. I didn't want my question be construed as a complaint, which is how it would have sounded. 

After Master Evan washed his hands, he looked pointedly at me and played with my hair. He gave me the answer I needed without saying a word, no questions about the plug. 

The strange purple cream was put on my skin and rubbed in. I marveled at the soft feel it left behind once the color faded. It was the best moisturizer I'd ever encountered. 

Once Evan was done I followed him silently into the kitchen and found my place, now between him and Christof. 

"Did it complain, brother?" Master Damien asked as he ate. 

"Questions, brother, forever with the questions, but very little complaining. You are learning, aren't you Ciara?" Master Evan asked me.

"Yes, Master Evan," I replied taking a bite from between his fingers. 

The talk at the table was pleasant and I was distracted from feeling the plug up my ass. I was dying to know how long they were going to leave it in. Obviously, my questions were annoying, so I just figured I'd wait and see. I hoped they would take it out eventually.

After breakfast I was dressed in a panel outfit and my earrings like the day before. There was a pad in the bedroom and I was instructed to kneel. I waited while they all got ready. The plug wasn't bothering me necessarily; I just wanted to know how long I was going to have to wear it. 

I looked mournfully at Master Damien once he was dressed but didn't say anything. He looked at me like he was waiting for something. The post experience was still forefront in my mind; I didn't want to go back there. Being shaved bald like Master Evan had threatened sounded awful, too. I just sat quietly.

As we walked outside, Master Damien addressed me, "The General will be giving an announcement today. You are to look at him when he is speaking. You may speak to him if he speaks to you. He has no patience for obnoxious slaves. If you treat him with disrespect, you will get much more than time at the posts. Do you understand me?"  

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered him as we made our way downstairs. 

The courtyard was a busy place this morning. I kept my eyes on the back of Master Damien's heels and followed him to a spot. I noticed their mark was on the ground where we were standing. He laid my kneeling place over their mark and they all stood behind me. I knelt down and waited. Except for the shuffling of feet it was quiet; no one was talking. 

Using my peripherals, I saw other groups standing around their slave. Only about one third of the groups had a slave. Considering the work they put into having one that made sense. The way they determined I needed to be cared for made having me a full time job.

The General's booming voice was hard to miss. He was on a tall platform in the middle of the compound. I looked up dutifully at him while he talked. According to him, women from the blue mountains were taking men from the village. He congratulated my Warriors on finding the last shopkeeper they had stolen. 

There was talk that sounded like strategy on how they would patrol. I wished I had watched more military shows with my uncles, I might have understood some of what he was saying.  

After the talk nobody moved. The General disappeared off the platform, but no one else got up to speak. I snuck a glance over and saw another slave sitting with her hands in her lap and her head down. I did that. 

With nothing else to do I inspected the panels the men had put on me. They were white today and bordered in silver blue thread. The stitching around the edges was intricate and detailed, whoever had done this had put time into it. It really was lovely, see through, but lovely. 

"So Damien, you and your brothers have acquired an Earth slave then?" I heard from right in front of me. 

The General's boots appeared in my frame of vision and I held my breath. His feet were enormous, the man must be a giant. 

"Yes, General we have," responded Master Damien politely.

"Let me see it," he said and I froze.

"Ciara, get up," Master Evan commanded from behind me. 

I rose and kept my eyes down. A massive finger lifted my chin until I was looking up at him. 

He was a large man with long slightly graying hair and a beard. His face had a nasty series of scars across his cheek. There was no humor in his eyes at all. He appraised me top to bottom. 

"Nice to look at, but Earth slaves are hard to train, have you had problems yet?" he asked.

"No, General," Master Damien said. 

I bobbed my head in agreement.

"What is it doing now?" the General asked releasing my chin.

"Ciara, what are you doing?" Master Damien asked.

"I'm agreeing with you, Master Damien. On my planet that meant, 'yes'," I stuttered out.

"Interesting, very well then, be sure to keep to the coupling schedule," he said before moving on. 

I sank back down to my resting place and thanked my lucky stars he hadn't been in the market for a new slave. 

After the General's talk the Warriors stayed in the courtyard to discuss what he had said. I walked when I was told to walk and kneeled when I was told to kneel. The thing was still in my bottom, but it didn't bother. The way it slid between my ass cheeks it felt like it still had oil on it. I would have thought it would have been dry and sticking to me by now. 

Several of the other Warriors we talked to had slaves. I heard a couple notice my earrings and ask Damien about them. Surprisingly the other men seemed to take no other notice of the nearly naked woman walking with Master Damien's family. I felt almost invisible. 

The rest of the day was relaxed. We took our meal upstairs and the men sat around playing a card game. Finally, I had to ask, despite my better judgement. 

"Master Damien?" I asked looking at him. 

He put his cards down on the table and looked at me. I had been kneeling next to him. 

"Yes, Ciara," he replied raising an eyebrow. 

"Sir, how long are you going to leave this thing in my bottom?" 

I barely got a chance to finish the question when the room erupted. Everyone was slapping Master Evan on the back.

He got up and pulled me to my feet, dragging me back to the bedroom. My outfit was quickly removed and he pushed me toward the bed. The men filed in watching us, they all seemed to think this was really hilarious. As I watched them, they all start to strip. I had a feeling I knew where this was going.  

"We're going to take it out now, Ciara," Master Evan said smiling deviously. "Usually we will put it into you in the morning and remove it before we go to the bathhouse in the evening." 

I backed away from him and slid along the side of the bed. I wasn't sure I wanted to do this right now. Fear started to coil in my belly as they stalked toward me. I stammered out an apology and it was ignored.

Suddenly Master Kein was behind me and grabbed me around the waist. Squealing, I instinctively struggled to get away. Being much stronger than me, he had not trouble holding me still. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 04



Master Kein had removed his shirt, but was still wearing his pants. His state of undress was typical for the room. Pulling my back flush against his bare chest, he stroked the soft tissue of my breasts, tugging at the tips lightly. 

I tried to cover my chest and prevent him from touching them. He just laughed at me. Both my hands were rapidly captured by one of his and pulled behind my back. Master Kein held me with one hand and the other took its time fondling my chest. 

The other men watched Master Kein, but didn't move closer to us. Since they had stopped stalking me, I felt less like prey and was able to calm down. Master Kein continued to roll and tweak my nipples. The restraining hand around my wrists loosened and I bravely stroked the long rod still in Master Kein's pants.

I had promised myself to not fight them. If they wanted sex, I would have to submit to them. Those magical fingers teasing and stroking the soft skin of my chest made it easier to want to do just that.

"Naughty slave, I lost the bet when you didn't ask before the morning meal," Master Kein whispered in my ear. 

Master Kein pushed me toward Master Bane next. I was thrust toward the wide hairy chest and put my hands up to stop myself from smacking into him. Master Bane took both my wrists in one of his hands and ran the other down my back.

The exploring hand moved expertly to the flesh of my butt. Master Bane took hold of the plug and pulled it lightly. My back arched in an attempt for my body not to feel the stretch of the thing's removal.

Master Bane didn't want to take it out completely. Instead, he slowly fucked me with the strange phallus. I allowed myself to loosen around the thick width of it and he had an easier time moving it in and out. 

It was such a strange sensation as he pulled and twisted the plug. It felt kind of like I had to go to the bathroom. In another way, it was deeply sexual. Moaning against Master Bane's chest, he chuckled and told me he had bet I would ask in the courtyard after the talk. 

The combined sensations of touching such an intimate place and my soft body rubbing against his coarse hair was stimulating me terribly. By now Master Bane had released my hands and I was pressed firmly to his chest. His palms were separating the bouncy round flesh around the plug as his fingers worked between them.

I still had enough presence of mind to be glad I didn't ask when he thought I would. This would have been awful in the courtyard. 

Everyone groped me and told me when they had bet I would ask. I was passed from man to man. They were still in various states of undress. All the attention had the desired effect. I was rapidly starting to want this as badly as they did. 

Master Damien was the last to grab me and he pushed me onto the bed with a laugh. Sitting on the butt plug wasn't comfortable and I got to my knees. Master Evan was behind me a moment pushing my knees apart and kneeling between them. 

Master Evan pushed with his hand on my upper back until my chest was flush with the mattress. 

"I choose here today," Master Evan said pulling my cheeks apart and tapping firmly over the plug. 

Nervousness started to set in. I was still anxious about anal sex and I remembered Master Evan wasn't small. He must have sensed my fear because he sought to calm me with long strokes over my low back and butt. 

Again the plug was pulled out and then slowly reinserted several times. The widest part got less and less uncomfortable with each pass. I was so embarrassed sprawled on my chest with my ass in the air. I struggled to get in a less exposed position and Master Evan told me to stay. 

The plug was gone completely quite suddenly. I felt empty at its loss, but not for long. The oil they used was being dripped over my loosened hole and then Master Evan pressed into me. 

Despite having done this the day before, I still expected pain. They were good and getting what they wanted from me, though. Although I thought I was tense, my ass was slack from their manipulation and slippery with the oil. The head of Master Evan's cock pushed into me, quickly followed by the rest of him. 

It was different from the plug, fuller and warmer. Thankfully, it was not a painful experience, though. Master Evan stayed still for a long moment cursing liberally. 

"Just like our women, Bane," he gasped.

Master Evan's hands stroked over my back and came to grip my plump buttocks, pulling them apart. Small, fast movements in and out was all he did for moment. His big thumbs dug into the sensitive tissue just beside where his cock moved. I looked back to see he was completely focused on what he was doing.

Through the utter humiliation at being watched like this, I realized it was arousing me. The thought of each of them watching me and then taking me was a sexual thrill. I longed for fingers on my clit or lips wrapped around my nipples. A little more stimulation and I'd be orgasming madly. The frustration made my hands grip futilely at the sheets. 

No one else touched me as Master Evan started to thrust into me with longer, less controlled thrusts. Embarrassingly, I missed the extra attention. I assumed that must have been part of the bet or perhaps that had been a one time thing. How shameful to realize I had liked it. 

Using my hair Master Evan pulled me to my knees so my back was flush with his front. His cock was still buried deeply locking us together. He licked at my sweaty neck and then spoke. 

"Tell me, Ciara. Do you prefer when my brothers take part or do you prefer for them to watch?" he panted in my ear. 

I wasn't sure what they wanted to hear and I told him that. 

"Preference, Ciara, there is no right answer. There is only the truth. Give me the truth now or we will put you back at the posts when we are done," he said into my ear continuing to hold me up and giving my head a shake.

Master Evan's hand had fisted in my hair at the base of my skull as he pulled me farther back, so I arched painfully in front of him.

Perhaps they were mind readers, at this point I didn't know. If I ever had to explain it to myself, that would be the excuse I used. There touches were magical when they worked together; I liked it. 

"I like to be touched, Master Evan," I whispered. 

I almost hoped they wouldn't hear me.

"We had hoped you would feel that way. Though convincing you would have been enjoyable," Master Damien said coming forward to pinch and pull on my nipples. 

Master Evan released me and I went back to leaning on my hands and knees. My face was flushed bright pink in embarrassment. He didn't notice and started to take longer deeper strokes into my body. 

The hands were back on my flesh, touching and exploring. I shuddered enjoying all the extra attention. 

"It is too bad, Ciara," Master Kein said reaching beneath me and touching the moistness between my legs, "that you only have two areas we can use for this."

"Three, Master Kein," I moaned as Master Evan continued to thrust into me forcefully. 

All action suddenly stopped and I looked around.

"What is the third?" Master Christof asked curiously.

"My mouth, Master Christof," I said self consciously. I knew they wouldn't want to use that, it had just slipped out. "On Earth men sometimes use the mouth, sir. You don't have to though. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Master Damien traced my lips with his fingers and nudged them apart. Master Evan had lost interest in the conversation and was back to restlessly moving his hips. I sucked Master Damien's finger between my lips and ran my tongue along it. His eyes looked alight. Through his lips I could see the hint of his fangs, he was tempted. 

I have no idea what made me think it was a good idea, but I looked up at him after he removed his finger and said, "I dare you, Master."

Master Damien's eyes got wide and I thought I had made him angry. I cringed, but had nowhere to go, stuck as I was to Master Evan's pole. My body tensed up and Master Evan stopped moving. They were going to hurt me, I was sure of it. 

All of the men were excitedly yelling words I couldn't understand. I wanted to stammer out an apology, but my mouth wouldn't work. Master Damien just looked down at me for a moment and then finished unlacing his breeches.

The thick mushroom tip of Master Damien's cock was presented to me and I relaxed. He wasn't angry; he was just taking the dare.

Master Evan must have wanted to watch, because he withdrew from my ass. The men all got as close as they could and watched. Master Damien had a grip on his cock and held it level with my face. 

My tongue flicked out and wetly brushed the flared head in front of me. Master Damien looked shocked and took a step back. I looked up into wide, confused eyes. 

Master Bane and Master Evan were laughing and yelling now. I couldn't understand most of it, but they did ask Master Damien if I had won. That comment seemed to steel his resolve. 

He stepped back toward me and only flinched when I took the head in my mouth. I ran my tongue over it like it was a lollipop and Master Damien groaned. Gaining courage, I pushed my mouth down over the length of him. 

I couldn't get it all in the first time and withdrew. No one said anything, so I tried again. This time Master Damien pressed forward and I felt him at the back of my throat. 

I'd heard other girls talk about gagging when their boyfriends did this. It had never been an issue for me before. I understood completely now as Master Damien passed well into my throat, but I suppressed the reflex to gag. I sucked as I withdrew this time and swirled my tongue along the length of him.  

Was I doing a good job? I wondered. 

I felt hands on the back of my head. When I reached the tip the hands forced me back on the shaft. The hands didn't give any reprieve and made me to take Master Damien to the root. 

I couldn't breath when he did that, so I held my breath. It was like being underwater. The hands pulled back now and I followed them. Breathing through my nose, I expected to be choked on the next stroke, so it didn't surprise me. 

Someone was behind me and slid into my ass with ease. I moaned at the stretch and Master Damien made and incomprehensible sound of pleasure.

"Again," he moaned a moment later.

I continued to groan and hum as I moved on the thick shaft. Looking up at Master Damien he was looking down at me. His fangs were enormous and the look on his face surprised me. He was fierce and intense. My teeth brushed his shaft accidentally and he grunted.

"Don't do that again, Ciara," he ordered. 

His teeth weren't comforting to look at, so I lowered my eyes. I concentrated on sucking and humming. 

"Look at me," he commanded and I did raising my eyes to vicious fanged beast fucking my mouth. 

He kept a hand on the back of my head, pulling and pushing for his pleasure. The other hand, in sharp contrast to the appearance of his face, cupped my chin gently. I took reassurance from the hand on my face that he wouldn't hurt me. 

Master Damien's hands weren't the only ones stroking me. Being aware of what he liked, I could now pay attention to the fingers strumming my clit and pulling on my nipples. My God, these men were magic when they worked together. 

My body moved easily between Master Evan and Master Damien. They had a rhythm set up between them. The push and pull were synchronized so perfectly it seemed they had trained to do this.  

Master Evan exploded in my butt with a bruising grip and a long stream of words. He fell to the bed beside me flopping on his back.

"Amazing," he said stroking my thigh with his hand absently. 

Master Damien wasn't far behind Master Evan. He nearly choked me with his length and I was gasping for air when he was done. I tasted his seed as he withdrew from my lips. It was a little tangy, but otherwise wasn't objectionable. I was glad for that, because Master Kein was approaching my mouth. 

The position I had taken Master Damien's cock in had been difficult. I asked very politely and they allowed me to kneel on my pad on the floor for Master Kein. It was a great deal more comfortable. 

The men didn't seem to mind just watching while I gave Master Kein the treatment I had given Master Damien. They did note I was using a different technique and they were right. Master Kein was very long and swallowing him was hard. I had to change my moves up some for him. 

Master Kein started out more confident than Master Damien had. He didn't pull away when I licked up his shaft. Unfortunately, his length was an issue. Taking him like I had Master Damien would be a feat indeed. 

"Why are you doing that?" Master Kein asked as I wrapped my hand around the base of his cock and started to stroke. 

I had been sucking and moving my tongue over the end of his erection. My mouth came off with a soft pop as I looked up at him. 

"To bring you pleasure, Master Kein. Do you like it?" I asked sliding my hand up and down the base of his member which was slippery with spit. 

Master Kein took a while to answer. I masturbated him with my hand while he thought about it. I kept changing my pressure and changing my stroke until I found what Master Kein seemed to like the most. Putting my mouth back over the tip and taking all of him I could into my throat he finally had something to say.

"I find it very enjoyable," he groaned. 

Master Kein's hand soon found the back of my head the same way Master Damien had. He liked a quick pace. At one point, he moved too quickly and I wasn't ready. I felt my teeth brush over the head of his cock. He moaned and jerked, ordering me to do it again. 

Men are strange, I decided as I allowed my teeth to just graze him occasionally as he slipped into my mouth. 

I watched Master Kein as his teeth started to elongate. He was looking down and me, grunting and thrusting into my mouth. My tongue was moving at a frenzied pace and my jaw ached, I prayed he was close. 

For his finale Master Kein pushed my hand away and pulled me to take him to the root. I grunted in surprise at finding I could, in fact, take him that deeply. The sound sent him over the edge. 

I didn't taste his seed at first, he was buried in my throat. The hot length of him was pulsing against my tongue, though. He pulled back slightly and the final spray coated the inside of my mouth.  

Swallowing him down, I continued to look up at him. Master Kein sank to his knees in front of me. 

"Ciara," he said panting, "you are a very good sex slave."

"Thank you, Master Kein," I responded smiling lightly. 

I didn't really want to be good at this, but I understood it was nice of them to say so. Technically, they owned me. It was not required for them to tell me I was doing a good job or give me any positive feedback. 

They moved me back to the bed and I lay down. My thighs splayed open waiting for the next of them. Neither Master Bane nor Christof had gone yet. 

"What are you doing, Ciara?" Master Bane asked sitting down between my legs.

"I'm waiting for you to have sex with me, Master Bane," I answered confused. 

My mistake hit me and I apologized as I tried to get in the position they liked. My old boyfriend had always had me on my back. Last night Christof and I had sex while I lay on my back, it was just habit. Several sets of hands stopped me from flipping over, though.

"The mouth is not dangerous," Master Damien said and the rest agreed. 

They sat and watched me for a moment as though coming to some sort of decision. 

"I want to do it like this," Master Bane said.

"Good," Master Kein laughed, "for a moment I thought you feared it."

"Bah, little brother," Master Bane huffed at Master Kein and then said what sounded like a long curse.

Master Bane crawled over me and I shivered as his coarse chest hair tickled my stomach and then my nipples. He lowered himself down over me and I lay very still. Automatically, I turned my head so I was watching the wall. I didn't want them to misconstrue any motion on my part as being aggressive. Obviously they were uncomfortable facing me for sex.

"Look at me," Master Bane commanded.

I turned my eyes to him and tried to look as non threatening as possible. Since I was in no way an actual threat to him, it was easy. I left my hands at my sides and tried to look submissive.

"It needs to be prepared again. It has not found it's pleasure, yet. We have to train it better than this," Master Bane said dipping his head and sucking on a nipple.

Master Bane shifted so he wasn't laying directly over me and I felt Master Kein's soft mouth descend over my other teat. Someone's hands were stroking my hips and thighs, forcing them wider apart. The reason for being opened was apparent when I felt hot breath on my cunt. 

Within minutes I was beside myself and begging for release. When Master Bane settled himself over me and aimed his length all the sexual tension crested. I shattered around his shaft and ground my hips against him. 

Distantly I heard Master Bane praising me for releasing. 

My mind swam with pleasure and I stroked Master Bane's back and shoulders, scoring him lightly with my nails. With each press of his flesh against mine I shuddered and clenched around him. I found myself kissing his neck and face, which he didn't seem to mind. In fact, Master Bane seemed to love all the attention. 

He had waited a long time for me. It didn't take him long before his movement sped up and his teeth were grown and sharp. When he finished Master Bane fell down over me. I felt his panting breath on my neck as he crushed me to the bed. 

"Master Bane," I grunted from beneath him. 

I couldn't breath with his weight over me. I saw Christof reach over and bodily move his brother off with a laugh. 

Suddenly and inexplicably embarrassed by my actions I rolled over on the bed and lay on my stomach. I wondered to myself what kind of a whore a woman has to be to enjoy being ravaged by this many men at a time. It was ridiculous.

The men in question had my attention before I could give it too much thought. They were encouraging Christof to have a go. I turned my head to watch him. Christof touched down over my back and buttocks smiling sadly. 

"Perhaps later, Ciara," he said gently pulling me to my feet. 

"Christof, why not now?" Master Evan asked clasping his brother on the shoulder. 

"I choose to wait. You saw evidence. I took my time last night. I will do so again," Christof said shaking off Master Evan's hand and leading me toward the bathroom.

"I wish to go down to the bathhouse," Master Bane called behind us.

"I will hurry brothers. We cannot take it down like this. It is a mess," he answered leading me into the showers. 

I didn't understand Christof's refusal. It made even less sense as we stood in the shower. Christof disrobed to wash me and his staff was erect and ready. He was certainly sexually excited. There was no way to tell why he didn't want to have sex with me. 

Christof washed me quickly. I was rinsed and the cream applied to several over exuberant marks. My hair was brushed and they pulled me out the door. My coverings were deemed unnecessary, since we would all be naked and in the pool. They didn't seem to see the need for coverings either and walked around me nude. 

The men were all in remarkably high spirits, so I thought one question wouldn't get me in that much trouble. Although I had made the choice to make the best of this; they had chosen not to beat me into submission. I wanted to know why they didn't just do that. 

"Master Damien, may I ask a question?" I asked hesitantly. 

He turned and I narrowly avoided running into his chest. We had stopped just before entering the bathhouse.

"Brothers, may Ciara ask a question? It seems the human enjoys its questions," he put to the group. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 04



A murmur of discussion went through them. If questions made me happy, they would tolerate them, the men finally decided. I had been a good slave today, I had earned a question was the consensus. Master Damien raised an eyebrow at me and waited.

"There are slaves on earth and they treat them terribly. I know you could hurt me if you wanted. Why don't you hit your slaves?" I asked rambling, part of me was scared what the answer might be. 

Master Damien let the little group file into the bath house and walked with me into a shallow part of the pool. He handed me soap and a silky rag, so I started to wash him. 

"We did beat slaves, in the beginning. They never asked questions and they always did what we said. They just didn't live very long."

"We are very competitive, as you've noticed. We started to try to keep our slaves alive. It became an honor, to see who had the oldest slave," he said and then continued with a warning. "Don't confuse not wanting to hurt you with a lack of discipline. If you continue to need reminders about how to behave, they will only get harsher." 

Promising to be good, I decided to keep going with my luck, so I asked him, "Another question, Master Damien?"

He sighed but seemed to be enjoying the soapy massage, "One more, Ciara, you were a very good slave today."

"Why do you feed me and bathe me. I can do those things myself. I CAN take care of myself," I said a little indignantly. 

"You told another slave you were free and the slavers took you, isn't that correct?" he asked.

I moved the rag between his toes as I answered, "Yes, Master Damien, I walked into a strange light and woke up at the auction."

"Were you able to fend for yourself, you would not have been kidnapped and sold. We care for you, because you are ours and it is our responsibility. Your illness would be seen as weakness on our part, that cannot happen," he said.

I continued to wash him, but didn't argue. It was good he had answered some questions. 

Other Warriors came and talked to him as I worked. Several commented I seemed more obedient today. Master Damien thanked them for their help in that matter. I was cringing while they talked, I recognized their voices from the platform. As I worked, I did not look up and kept at least one hand on Master Damien at all times. 

Once I was done bathing him, Master Damien sent me across the pool to go sit with Master Evan. It was strange to be told to go somewhere and not told to follow. I would have preferred if he went with me, there were Warriors everywhere. 

I walked across the cool stone with my head down to the spot Master Evan had been lounging in. Abruptly, my way was cut off by several masculine sets of legs. I tried to back up and there were men behind me. 

"Where are you going, slave?" a deep voice questioned me. 

Praying for my owners, I stayed silent and looked at the floor. There was nothing I could do, except wait for the torture. It would come no matter what I did. Tears started to form in my eyes, I was terrified. 

Master Bane's voice broke the silence and I breathed again. "Did it speak?" he asked. 

"No, Bane," the first voice laughed, "nor did it look at us. For an Earth slave, it learns quickly. We lost this bet, my friend."

They had tried to trick me into speaking or looking as part of a stupid wager. I was angry and couldn't keep the fire out of my eyes when I looked up at Master Bane. He laughed at me and got right up in my face. 

"Are you angry, Ciara? Don't lie to me," he commanded looking very pleased with himself. 

Smug bastard, I just stared at him. There wasn't a word bad enough in my new language to call him.

"Fine, slave, it's time to get wet then," he said in a growling voice as he picked me up and threw me into deep water. 

I twisted so I didn't take the water flat on my back and slid my feet in first. Underwater was quiet, so I looked around and saw where Master Evan should be. Turning underwater I swam in that direction. 

I was trying to reign in my indignation deep beneath the surface when a hand reached out and grabbed my leg. I kicked out and was pulled roughly to the surface. I was confused and afraid of looking at the wrong man. My head was pulled up and I was relieved to see Master Damien in front of me. 

My owners were surrounding me looking concerned, including Master Bane, who had completely lost that self satisfied look. Christof released my leg and Master Damien grabbed me looking hurriedly at my face. 

"Humans are like us and cannot breath water, Ciara. What were you doing down there?" Master Damien asked harshly.

"I was swimming to Master Evan. You told me to go to him, Master Damien," I said blinking water out of my eyes. 

The five of them let out a collective sigh of relief and pulled me into shallow water. 

"I like to swim Masters, I used to dive all the time at home. I can hold my breath a really long time," I said as they dragged me back to the shallows. 

Master Damien looked amused and Master Bane laughed. I got indignant. "I bet I can hold my breath under water longer than you can, Masters!" I said proudly.

Master Bane's eyes lit up, "To a contest then!"

The rules were simple, whoever broke the surface first lost. Master Bane went first and I easily bested him. Not wanting to show off all my skills I rose before I needed to. Except for Master Kein I could stay under water longer than any of them. It was fun, although losing to Master Kein hurt. Master Bane promised a swimming contest when the pool wasn't so full of other people.

"We will tell the Keepers you may go in the water, Ciara, we have no fear you will drown," said Master Damien. 

Noticing the question on my face, he spoke again. 

"When we go to patrol we will leave you with the Keepers. They often take you to the sea. They are not Warriors, they watch our slaves when we are otherwise engaged. You may speak to them and look at them. They will clean and feed you when it is needed," he finished.

"Why can't you just leave me at home when you go on patrol?" I mumbled to no one in particular. 

Master Damien started to reach for me with an irritated look on his face. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I understand, no more questions," I stuttered backing away from him.

The threat was in his eyes, I had pissed him off. "Come here, slave," he said bluntly.

Gulping down my fear I moved to stand in front of him. All the men were lounging on steps in the water. They watched me with interest, I must be better than having a TV. Master Damien looked calmly up at me while I trembled.

"Do not ever move away from me when I reach for you, do you understand?" he told me. 

I was learning that whenever he asked me if I understood that was something that would get me in trouble if I did it again. 

"Yes, Master Damien, it won't happen again," I answered watching him warily.

"Good, have a seat next to me," he commanded.

I sat and the men talked. They moved around, but I stayed in my spot. I hadn't noticed them move away slightly, it was a heated conversation about the campaign that had drawn them in. 

Water splashed up as new male bodies joined me on either side. I wanted to scream, but I didn't want to be talking to other men. I just sat quietly as the new men ran their hands over my body. They twisted my nipples hard and I didn't make a sound. One man bent my fingers back until they feared they would break, but I didn't even whimper. They pinched between my legs and drove their fingers deep inside of me. I fought hard not to cry out. 

The treatment was ten times worse than the posts, but I stayed silent. Another male body was standing in front of me, blocking my line of sight to my owners. Tears streaked down my face as I watched the hands torture me in the water. 

I heard the angry shouts when my Warriors noticed me. Damien was talking in a cold voice to the men, but I was too scared to understand him. The whole area had gone quiet watching us. The man was speaking harshly back to Master Damien. The aggressive conversation was the only speaking going on at the pool, everyone else was silent. 

Suddenly, one of the offending men had me by the throat pulling me out of the water. I felt his fingers digging into my neck above the metal collar. My air was cut off and I tried not to panic. Both my feet dangled over the pool. 

"If you cannot protect it, you shouldn't have it," he taunted Master Damien squeezing my throat tighter. 

My vision started to blur around the edges. I clawed at his hand, but he wouldn't release me. The way I was being held I saw most of the pool. All the Warriors looked pissed. Many of those surrounding us were shouting at the man holding me angrily. I started to fade out listening to them. 

The General's booming voice cut through the haze that was starting to invade my mind. My new captor heard it and dropped me. I never hit water or the side of the pool. Master Bane had moved from the beside us and caught me. I took a much needed breath and felt my pounding head start to clear. I pressed my face into Master Bane's hairy chest and gulped down mouthfuls of air.  

No one at the pool was talking and I looked up to see why. The General was having a staring contest with the Warrior that had been holding me. 

"You touched another Warrior's slave without permission. Am I to understand you did this because you do not believe Damien and his brothers can protect what is theirs?" he asked the other man. 

"I do not believe they can protect anyone. They should no longer be called Warriors. The shopkeepers go to meet the women and a Warrior refuses to go? It is an embarrassment to all of us. No Warrior lives in fear, they are not Warriors," he stated authoritatively. 

"You are presumptuous Andre, remember your place," the General said. 

He turned to look at us and I dropped my eyes down. I winced when I moved my head, my neck was really sore. 

"Give me the slave," I heard him say and my heart dropped. 

Master Bane stepped us out of the water and set me on my feet. 'Might as well get it over with', I thought to myself and took four confident strides up to the colossal man in front of me. 

The General examined my neck and passed his hands over my breasts. My light skin had already started to blacken where they had abused me. I saw a thin line of blood dribbling down the inside of my thigh. The General saw it, too and made an irritated sound.  

In what I considered a shocking move he put an arm around me as he addressed Master Damien. "Andre is yours to deal with as you see fit. No Warrior will ever touch another's slave without their permission." 

The Warriors let out a deafening yell. I took a chance to glance quickly at Andre and I thought he might have paled just a little. Not wanting to get caught I looked back at the ground and had to stifle a smile. Asshole deserved it. 

The General had his finger under my chin and caught the smile. "Follow me, slave," he commanded turning on his heel. 

I glanced back hesitantly at Master Damien, but followed the General obediently. 

My heart was pounding in my chest as be passed through the courtyard and up a wide set of steps. We entered into an opulent living area with a large fire burning. Four mammoth graying men sat around the fire and glanced up when we came in. 

"What was the commotion, brother?" one of them asked glancing at me. 

I looked curiously at him and then cursed myself. Master Damien would be so angry if he knew I had looked at these other men. 

The General spoke when he saw me look down. "My brothers are safe to look at and speak to, slave. We are Master of everything in this compound," he said leaving the room. 

When he returned he told the other men what had happened in the bathhouse. They chuckled and said it was about time. Apparently Andre had been trying to pick a fight with Master Damien for ages. 

"Perhaps this will encourage the Administrators to finally take care of this," one man said. "They cause trouble in the compound. The other men are agitated. This cannot be left to continue."

Nobody seemed to notice me standing and dripping on their floor. For safety's sake I continued to examine the tile under my feet. 

"Hersham," the General addressed one of the men in the room, "you know the human slave's needs. You were always attentive to those lessons, take care of this before Damien comes."

I jumped when one of the men wrapped me in a soft cloth and led me into the sitting room. In front of the fire, he dried me completely with soft pats. The other men made a sound of disapproval when he dried the blood from inside my thighs. The General watched his brother impassively from the side.

The large man that had me sitting on his lap must be Hersham. He had a small tub of cream like the one my Masters used. He covered my neck in the stuff, rubbing it in to the sore spots until they didn't hurt. 

I was bruised everywhere and sought not to flinch as this man touched me. Equal attention was paid to each breast and each bruise. Using a hand he opened my legs and put the cream everywhere 'down there' including inside me. By the end of his treatment, I was blushing profusely.

"I wonder how Andre is faring?" one of them asked. "An enraged Damien is a sight to see, much like you as a young Warrior," he said nodding to the General.

"Perhaps we should go take a look," the General said rising from his chair and moving to the other side of the room. He opened up a curtain and let out a chuckle.

"Ah, would you like to see your Warriors in action, slave?" he asked me. 

I nodded my head and felt drawn to the window. Peering out from around the General's shoulder, it took a minute for the scene to register. 

Master Damien was below in a yard I'd never seen before. He was beating what looked like a purple and red pulp into the ground. When I realized all the red was blood I lurched back from the window. The man named Andre was unrecognizable. I swore to myself never to make Master Damien angry again.

All the men were at the window now, commenting on the end of the fight.

"Brother, unless you want Andre dead, you should stop this," one of them said seriously. 

I backed into the sitting room as the General called down into the courtyard. I found a kneeling place and sank into it gratefully. My stomach wasn't weak, but I did feel queasy. I wasn't used to seeing quite that much violence. 

One of the men noticed me and came back with a small jug. He tilted it to my lips and told me to take a drink. I recognized the root drink and was glad for it's relaxing effect. As a took a second larger gulp, I felt it completely wash over me. I wondered absently when I would go home and if my Warriors would be angry with me. 

The General and his brothers sat and talked around the fire. It was starting to get late and I was sleepy, especially so thanks to the root drink. I found myself less kneeling and more sitting, leaning on the General. He didn't seem in the least perturbed by my position. He lightly stroked my hair and my back. 

"This earth slave is definitely sensitive to the drink. I will have to let Damien know," he said laughing. It was a strange sound out of such a stern man. 

I tried to lift my head when I heard a light rapping at the door, but couldn't quite manage. I was stunned to find Master Damien's face in mine a moment later. He and the General spoke before Master Damien lifted me up and handed me to Master Evan. 

It felt like I was floating across the courtyard. I played with a strand of Master Evan's long hair before he snatched it away. The next thing I knew I was in bed. Christof lay behind me and was soothingly stroking my back. Master Damien's angry countenance was in front of me. It was really confusing.

"I'm sorry, Master Damien," I tried to say to him, but he just looked at me quizzically. 

"Ciara, what language are you speaking?" he asked me.

I shrugged and tried to answer him. His half amused, half angry face was the last thing I saw that night. 

"Ciara!" I heard someone shout and I opened my eyes to peer at him. For a moment I didn't recognize who it was and thought I was dreaming. 

"Who are you?" I managed to get out between dry lips.

The blue eyed man looked stunned and left the room without another word. It took a minute for everything to come back to me. By the time it did Master Damien was stalking in looking very concerned. I shuffled out of the bed and fell to my knees at the edge of it. About that time the nausea hit and I stumbled out running for the bathroom. I barely made it. 

"Call the healer," I heard Master Damien say from the main room. 

The floor of the bathroom was cool, so it was a good place to lie. Master Kein picked me up off of it and the nausea hit again. He was nice enough to hold my hair back this time. 

I must have smelled something awful because they turned on the shower and washed me. The Healers came in and saw me in the bathroom. They looked me over and gave Master Damien a whole bag of things. I threw up again just thinking about what might be in the bag. 

The men fed me bits of things from the bag intermittently. It tasted like dried bits of root, but whatever it was settled my stomach. Twice, I tried to sleep on the cool floor in the bathroom, but they wouldn't let me. 

A basin was set beside the bed and I was told to lay on the bed. Small sips of cool liquid were poured into my mouth all day. I accepted their ministrations and tried not to whine. They seemed to be doing what the healer had told them to do, but caring for an invalid was not what they usually did. 

This wasn't how I expected to be treated. It gave credence to their words that my health was important to them. I was struck with how resolutely they stuck to their ideals. 

Master Bane was sitting with me, watching me rest. He looked bored beyond belief. My stomach was finally still and I was awake. I wanted to get up, but Master Damien had said no. Now he came to sit on the bed beside me and feed me more of the stuff from the bag. It was gross, but I took it willingly.

"Ciara, we forbid you to have root drink. Do you understand me?" he asked sternly.

"Yes, Master Damien, but what if it's the General or his brothers offering?" I asked him.

He sighed, "Must you always ask questions? The answer is the same. We forbade you to have it. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Master Damien. May I get out of bed now? I feel much better," I said hoping I could do something. I was starting to get stir crazy.

"Supposed to be a good chuke game starting in the arena," Master Bane said absently.

Master Damien looked at me like he didn't quite trust me. "I will not have the dishonor of a sick slave hanging over us," he said. 

By the look on his face he really wanted to go to the game. I swore I was well and promised I would call him if I started to feel ill. My commentary did not faze him. Master Evan said they could set me close to the game and check on me frequently. Finally, Master Damien allowed us to go. I was placed into my flowing gauzy fabric and followed them out the door to the field. 

"You are not to get up and cheer for us," Master Damien commanded after they set up the area I would stay in. "You will kneel or sit and you may clap your hands together."

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered as I took my place.

When the other girls got there they were dying to know what happened after we left the bathing hall last night, but we couldn't talk quite as freely this time. The place Master Damien had put us was a lot closer to the field. Warriors kept coming into our area to lounge with their slaves. 

I cringed when a male hand ran down my arm. "Warmer than you Fuji," the man commented. 

I started to tremble fearing it was going to be another experience like the bath house.  Screaming like a baby would probably be unacceptable, so I sat quietly and waited. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 04



It wasn't apparent I had been holding my breath until I let it out. Master Evan had come in and sprawled out beside me. He looked up into my face and noticed the tears. Before I could do anything else he had scooped me up and was walking toward Master Damien. I saw the rest of my owners coming toward us. 

"Is it ill, Evan?" Master Damien asked under his breath looking down at me.

Before I could answer Master Evan quietly told him I had been making tears again. I was surprised they remembered the word. 

"I'm sorry, Master Damien," I whispered to him, "another man touched me and it scared me. I don't like it when other men touch me. Please, make him stop, Masters."

Looking at the tent, Master Damien sighed and spoke. "That other man will be one of your Keepers when we are called out. We will return the favor by keeping their slave when they are unavailable. He will not harm you and he is permitted to touch you...when he keeps you."

"Now he just seems to be trying to rile Damien," Master Bane smirked.

"You did take a point from him, brother," Master Kein said referring to the game and evidently finding humor in the situation. 

"And this gives him a right to touch what is ours?" Master Damien asked stroking the tears from my cheek.

The other men's faces darkened at the thought and I knew they agreed with Master Damien.

"Evan talk to Stayne and remind him of the rules. Tell him he will not like my reminder," Master Damien ordered. 

Master Evan sat my feet on the ground and I followed him back to the tent. He told the other man not to touch what wasn't his. The other man, Stayne, acted mock surprised. The two of them joked for several minutes about what Master Damien would do if he kept it up. Stayne did relent fairly quickly which made me think everyone must have a healthy respect for Master Damien. 

The rest of the game was uneventful. I think my owners won, but I couldn't be sure. Being closer to the action didn't help me understand it any better. 

After the game we walked back into the bath house. I was wondering why they even bothered having a shower in their quarters, so I asked them. 

"More questions, Ciara?" Master Bane laughed at me.

"Convenience," Master Damien answered, "they are a nicety and a sign of our stature, but we prefer the bath house."

I washed Master Damien as usual. Once he was done, Master Kein slid in front of me on the bench along the wall. We sat in a shallow part of the pool. Almost everyone was in the deeper water, so it almost felt like we were alone. 

I ran the cloth over Master Kein's body and noticed there were a lot fewer scars. His shading was also different. Where Master Damien had thin barely visible stripes of gold and golden brown, Master Kein's stripes were thicker and darker. 

"You don't have as many scars as your brother, Master Kein," I commented.

"Perhaps I am a better fighter," he said teasingly pulling me to sit and straddle his lap. 

I continued to bathe him and ended up wrapping my legs around his waist. His length started to harden between us. I tried to continue the conversation to distract him. 

"You are a better fighter than Master Damien, Master Kein?" I asked. 

I had seen first hand what Master Damien could do, I never wanted to see it again. 

He laughed outright at me and ran his hands boldly over my body. "I am someone that sits quietly and attacks with stealth, Ciara. My brothers each have a skill, that is mine. Damien is much better at hand to hand combat than I am." 

"Your coloring is different, Master Kein," I said running a finger along his chest over a particularly dark line. 

"Better for camouflage, Ciara," he answered watching as I traced the marks.

"You hunt things, Master?" I asked touching down his arm. 

The muscles slid under my fingers and I was reminded how strong he probably was, how strong they all were. 

"So curious," he murmured, "about everything. Yes, I hunt things, Ciara."

"What kind of things do you hunt, Master Kein?"

His golden brown eyes appraised me as I rubbed the cloth over his neck and shoulders.

"Other men when they are lost or when they have attacked the village. Sometimes I hunt game to eat for dinner," he said pulling me tight against him. 

Master Kein was getting excited as I sat on his lap. His cock was pressed between the folds of my sex. The gentle currents in the pool had me shifting up and down, sliding along his length. In an attempt to stop the inevitable, I tried to disentangle my legs from around him. 

Master Kein clucked his tongue and me and placed a hand on each thigh. "I am comfortable, Ciara. Keep your legs wrapped around me," he commanded, "I wish to explore you."

He started with my mouth. Hesitantly, he traced my lips with his fingers. Considering what he had already put in my mouth his shyness was unnecessary and I told him that. 

"Always so brazen," he mused slipping a finger between my lips. 

I laved the flesh like it was his cock even touching my teeth to the tip. I gave each finger the same treatment. His breathing hissed in and out watching me. 

Master Kein's hands examined every piece of me he could reach. His touch was meticulous and thorough. He spent many minutes touching the weight of my breasts in the water. Combined with the sensation of his shaft rubbing up and down between my lower lips, I felt like I was on fire. My hands wound in the hair at the back of his neck, underwater my hips had started to shift restlessly against him. 

"May I kiss you, Master Kein?" I asked him hesitantly.

He thought for a moment and told me I could. I started with his neck, kissing and sucking the sensitive skin under his ear. 

"You are tasting me, as Evan has, although never with this reaction," he moaned.

"It is a kiss, not a taste, Master," I whispered in his ear and softly nipped at the lobe.

Eventually, I made it to his mouth. I kissed his lips softly and he copied my motions. It was a slow process, but I taught him how to kiss me. He was an avid learner and I enjoyed practicing with him. 

When a second warm male body press against my back I arched and moaned. Master Bane's chest hair tickled my back as he pushed his hands down my arms. 

"Brother," he addressed Master Kein, "take it to the sitting area." 

I was moved and picked up out of the water. The lust that had clouded my vision for the last several minutes faded. I realized how close I had come to begging Master Kein to have sex with me in the middle of the pool. Wrapping my arms around him I buried my face in his chest. I was really embarrassed. 

"You can release me now, Ciara," Master Kein laughed. 

I let go of his neck and he lay me down on soft pillows. I sat up and looked around. We were inside the little alcove where they laid their clothes in the bathhouse. Master Damien, Master Evan, and Christof were already there lounging. 

Master Bane followed Master Kein and I inside. Master Bane looked like the cat that ate the canary. 

"So, brothers, have they asked you already? I have been offered enough for two slaves," he said grinning. 

A roar went up in the tiny room. The men were slapping each other on the back and laughing. I was confused and looked at Master Damien, who was looking pointedly at me.

"We did not pay your asking price, Ciara," he said.

It's one thing to feel like you aren't worth anything, it's another thing to be told it. I dropped my head.

"We bid a great deal more, luckily. That display you and my brother just put on in the pool has reignited the bidding. We have been offered an enormous fund to sell you," he finished. 

"Are you going to-" I stopped myself from finishing the question. 

They had said they wouldn't, I prayed they wouldn't. The panic had to written all over my face. 

Master Evan's eyes were mischievous again. "It would pay us back for all the money to the healer, brother," he said.

I couldn't stop myself. My hand, of it's own accord, reached out and swatted his thigh lightly. Realizing my mistake I tried to pull it back, but Master Evan had it. He used it to drag me onto his lap. 

I struggled with him and ended up laying down, pinned between him and the wall. My heart was hammering in my ears when I looked into his blazing blue eyes. My stomach turned and I swallowed the vomit back down. 

"If I wasn't afraid of you getting ill again I would take you back to the posts, slave," Master Evan said menacingly. 

"Forgive it, brother," Christof said.

Master Evan's eyes softened and he released me, allowing me to sit up. 

"I'm sorry, Master Evan, that was foolish of me. Thank you, Master Christof," I said. 

My stomach had revolted during the wrestling match and I didn't feel so good. I wouldn't have done well at the posts. I continued to look at the ground and tried to breath through the nausea. 

"You will not strike us, Ciara," Master Damien said. "Tell me you understand this."

"Yes, Masters, I apologize. I will not strike you," I said watching the floor and holding my quivering stomach. 

A bit of the root from the bag was at my lips a moment later. I took it gratefully from Master Evan's fingers. He stroked my back as my stomach settled. 

"It's a good thing I interrupted you, Kein. Imagine what would have happened if you had jostled it too much in the pool," Master Bane laughed. 

"No one is to use Ciara this night," Master Damien said looking me over. "It will rest, so it is well tomorrow."

I was grateful to Master Damien, throwing up in the middle of sex seemed disgusting. 

The next day was weird. I was woken, cleaned, fed, and dressed. Much to my dismay the little addition was once again put in my bottom. 

The men all dressed in tough looking outfits with their crests prominently displayed. They strapped themselves with a terrifying variety of weapons. I kneeled on my little pad in the bedroom and watched with wide eyes. It looked like they were going to war. 

After they were done getting ready they walked with me outside to the walkway. A pad was floating in mid air, resting next to the walkway by our door. A man stood on the floating pad behind what must have been a small control panel. He greeted my companions. 

Master Damien instructed me to follow him. The railing at the edge of the walkway swung out to allow us to get onto the pad. Being afraid of heights I made a scene about stepping onto it. Master Evan unceremoniously slung me over his shoulder. I took my first ride upside down and screaming with my eyes shut tight. 

As the pad lowered to the ground I felt the movement and howled. It felt like my stomach was being left behind. When I opened my eyes and saw the ground I bolted off Master Evan's shoulder and jumped down backing away from the awful contraption. Wind was billowing up from beneath the platform, I figured that must be what kept it up.

My five Warriors stepped off the pad and came toward me, I just kept backing up. Master Damien's eyes were searing into me, he was really mad. I stopped when I backed into a wall. Master Damien stood beside me and knocked several times on the wall. He didn't say a word to me. He just glared. 

The wall opened and a skinny guy with dark hair greeted him. 

"Go in," Master Damien commanded. 

I was still shaking from head to toe, but complied and slid into the doorway. 

Master Damien followed me in and turned me to face him, "These are the Keepers, you will address them as such. They will feed and clean you while we are gone. You will obey them. If you cannot obey them, they will tell my brothers and I."

He turned to leave and then spoke to me one more time. "Your behavior on the travel pad is unacceptable, never act like that again," he said before stepping out the wall. 

I turned and looked around. The skinny man turned and left me. I was in a small courtyard surrounded by several large open doorways. Flowering plants lined the walls along with flags of bright pillowing fabric. I followed the skinny man through one of the doorways. 

Fuji was in my face a minute later, pulling me along with her. She took us to a group of females already there. We all sat on pillows arranged in a circle. Actually, thanks to the thing in my butt, I knelt down, sitting wasn't comfortable. 

I recognized the voices of the women from the chuke games. Rose and Tamia were both there. 

Rose had beautiful brown hair that cascaded in curls down her back. She was small woman with perfect pink tipped breasts and a tiny waist. She was dressed in bright flowing red fabric that sort of covered her. The thick strips of fabric all hung from her collar to her knees, when she moved they shifted around. She laughed when she saw me watching her. 

"I know, I know it's really pointless for them to put this on me every day, but my Masters like it. They just enjoy seeing me surrounded in their colors, they couldn't care less if I'm covered."  

Tamia laughed a high pitched giggle. She only had one eye, which was a little strange. She was dressed in panels similar to me. She said her owners originally just painted her in their colors. It didn't really bother her either way, no one wore clothes on the planet she was from. 

Fuji found the entire subject of clothing abhorrent for some reason. She loved the shiny chains her Masters wound around her every day, she said they accentuated her natural glow. The swaths of color over her shoulders were something her Masters wanted. She despised the idea of fabric on her skin. 

All in all, the girls were really friendly. It was lucky I liked them, the slaves I hung out with was determined by who my Warriors were friendly with. It made sense, I'd really only see people my owners took me to see. 

Fuji noticed me kneeling and laughed telling me I could just sit at the Keepers. My cheeks blushed crimson as I tried to think of a way not to say why I didn't want to sit. Rose just patted my arm and answered for me. 

"Her owners are preparing her. It's not comfortable to sit on at first," she said to the group. "You get used to it," she said more quietly to me. "Eventually, when they think you don't need it, they may stop using it altogether."

Rose and I sat talking and the other girls went to talk to a friend on the other side of the room. For a moment, it was just Rose and I. I took the chance to ask her about the chances of getting away from here. She shushed me quickly. 

"There is no escape from this place," she whispered, "and they will punish you harshly if you even think about it. Learn to be happy here and do what you have to in order to survive," she advised. 

I took her advice. From what I'd seen she was correct. If surviving meant staying put, that's what I would do. 

The Keepers didn't really care what we did, but there was plenty to occupy me. Frankly, it looked like a kindergarden class. I looked across the room and squealed when I saw what looked like a small set of drums. 

The rest of the girls followed me over to inspect them. They were different from home and definitely meant to be played with the hands. The tops of the drums were shaped like three small bongos. I tapped on them experimentally until I had a good rhythm going. 

Playing these little drums was complicated, but I loved music. The only part of high school I liked was band class. The pitch each drum made was different and that took some getting used to. I got engrossed in what I was doing. I looked up to see Fuji swiveling her hips to the beat. I spent the rest of the morning tapping out different beats on the drums while the girls danced.

A bell rang suddenly and everything stopped. Fuji started to run out. She turned around abruptly grabbing my hand and pulling me with her. 

"Where are we going?" I asked her trying to keep up.

"Our Masters are coming to feed us, they don't like to wait," she said.

I noticed my owner's mark on the floor in the room she took us into. A kneeling place was set up in front of it. A chair and a small table were in front of me. I followed Fuji's lead and kneeled down waiting, no one was talking. 

I heard the tamping of feet as the men started to come in. A set stopped in front of me, but I kept my head down.

"Hello, Ciara," I heard Christof say as he brushed my cheek. I looked up at him and smiled. 

Christof was dirty, it looked like he had had a rough morning. His hands were clean, though. He fed me from a bowl until I thought I would burst. I never refused what he gave me, I just chewed really slowly. Unlike my other owners he stopped feeding me and didn't fuss at me. 

Leaning down he laughed quietly in my ear. "Follow me," he said. 

I followed his heels out into the courtyard and out the door in the wall. 

"We're outside the Keeper's compound, Ciara. You can look around if you'd like to, none of the other Warriors come out here," he said.

"Are we allowed to be out here, Christof?" I asked curiously.

We walked into what I would have considered a forest at home, along a little path. The plants were all different and I looked at them fascinated.

"Yes, I can take you out here. Most Warriors just come and feed their slave a mid day meal. I thought you might be curious to see outside the compound," he said watching me with interest.

"Yes, I'd love to see this," I said inspecting a bright yellow leaf growing from the ground.

"I am curious, also," he told me.

I asked simple questions at first, the names of plants and about things around us. He didn't seem to mind telling me, so I got bolder and asked about the planet. 

"I don't know the whole planet, Ciara," he laughed. "The Administrators placed me in this village as a child and I have never lived another place."

"Where was the slave auction? Is it on this world?" I asked hesitantly. "Do you know how I got there?"

"My brothers and I took a transport to the edge of the mountains. There is a place there our leaders allow the portals. We took the one that leads to the slave auction. It is in center space on a small neutral planet. We were told the portals can make a human sick if they are awake, so my brothers made sure you slept," he told me.

He mused a bit on the second part of the question. "I have heard it is difficult to operate a portal on your home planet. They are often destroyed by Earth's natural defense. The slavers must have found a place the defense wasn't strong to take you."

Christof sat for a moment and watched me looking around.

"I feel as though we should not have taken you," he stated bluntly. "You should not have been made to be a slave."

All my resolve about just making the best of this broke and I threw my arms around his neck crying.

"Please, take me back. I don't want to be a slave. I want to be free," I cried brokenly.

Christof seemed stunned by the sudden contact and almost pushed me away. After a moment he wrapped me in his arms.

"The kneeling is horrible," I sobbed into his neck. "I know how to feed and clean myself. It should be my choice to have sex. Please, I beg you, take me back."

Christof stayed quiet for a moment before he spoke. 

"I cannot take you back. The portals do not open naturally on Earth and usually whoever is in them gets destroyed when they are forcibly opened on that planet. You must stay here with us. I will do my best to protect you. My brothers will not wish to harm you, they also wish to see you happy and well. Please understand, Ciara."

"It is all so demeaning," I told him still clinging to his frame.

"I will not demean you," he said softly stroking my back. "You do not need to kneel when it is just you and I. I will let you feed yourself. Sex with me will be your choice..."

We stood for a moment and I calmed down. I repeated to myself I had decided to make the best of it. At least now I had an ally. I tried to slow my breathing and focused on the joy of having someone to talk to. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 04



"Come, Ciara, I must walk you back to the compound. I must rejoin my brothers or they will come to look for me if I am late," Christof said pointing back the way we'd come. 

As we walked I took Christof's hand in mine. His presence was a blessing and I was glad for it. 

"Why are you doing that?" he asked looking at our joined hands.

"Because I want to," I answered grinning.

He pushed me gently against a tree and ran a finger under my jaw. "Does it mean something?" he asked watching my eyes.

"On my planet when two people hold hands it's because they like each other," I said watching him.

"I like you too, Ciara," he said grinning at me. His face turned to a frown quickly, "My brothers, when they come, will probably just feed you."

"That's okay with me," I said, "I appreciate knowing someone understands."

We walked back to the Keeper's compound holding hands the whole way. 

The other girls were dying to know why Christof took me outside. I lied and told them he had wanted to have sex. 

"He wanted sex out of doors?" Rose asked suspiciously. "They hate that. They all hate that, I thought. He really is strange," she mused

I hadn't known that would be a mistake and asked her why they didn't like sex outside, normally.

"The way the women take them is not comfortable for them. They like to use us privately in their places for resting, where everything is comfortable," she answered.

I didn't talk to her anymore about it. My gut instinct told me what Christof and I did at lunch didn't usually happen. It was best to keep it a secret.  

After lunch I had to pee, really bad. Fuji told me to go tell the Keepers. I wasn't permitted to go by myself. Much like at my new home I was watched and cleaned, it was weird. 

I was distracted from the strangeness of it all by our after lunch activity. The Keepers took us outside the back of the compound. We walked through sand and I was thrilled to see water in front of us. The sea, much like the sky was a shade of bluish purple. The Keeper's compound sat right on the shore. 

We were in a protected alcove with rock walls almost encircling a little bay. The beach was beautiful, it was a light coral color. The sand felt like sand at home. Little waves broke on the beach. I almost ran into the water with my outfit still on, Fuji stopped me.

"You have to get permission from the Keepers to be in the water and they will take off your panels. Your owners will get mad if it gets dirty," she said pulling me back. 

I went and asked the Keepers and they said I was allowed to swim. My owners had permitted it. They took my little outfit off of me and placed it to the side. 

When they undressed me I had tried to help them and they looked at me like I was strange. Despite my discomfort of sitting around nude with my new friends, I raged at the other women that I could take care of myself. Rose laughed at me. 

"It takes some getting used to," she said, "but this is the way they look at it. You can't do anything for yourself. It stems from the experience with their earliest slaves. They bought the ones that fought them, but broke them. They treated slaves horribly and the slaves lost the will to live. If they didn't do everything for them after they were broken they died faster." 

I shuddered and she continued, "The Paterians got competitive about keeping slaves alive. Eventually they figured out the slaves that were given less pain and more pleasure did better. They also learned the better they cared for their slaves the better they did. It became a sign of the men's training and ability to keep a healthy slave. The end result is you get treated like a prized pet."

I listened with interest, but was dying to get in the water. Rose shooed me and I ran to the shore, dipping my toes in the ocean. The water was cool, but not bad. Wading out into waist deep water I swam around. The water got deeper toward where the inlet was. I dove down and inspected the rocky shelves.

All of the sudden I came across a barrier. I reached out and touched it. It was a large metal grate that covered the opening to the inlet. It ended right at the water line. The grates weren't small, but I couldn't get through them. Little barnacle like creatures covered the metal from top to bottom. 

Swimming to the other side of the inlet under water I found a place where the grate was open. It looked like it must have gotten broken by something. There was a hole large enough for me to fit through. Surfacing, I looked back at the shore. The Keepers were busy with the other girls, no one was watching me. 

Feeling wicked, I slipped through the grate and explored the ocean outside the inlet. I surfaced just long enough for air. Not wanting to get caught I slipped back through the grate. Making a note, I decided I'd have to do that again. I swam around until I was called in by the Keepers. 

Much like kindergarden we were picked up at a specified time. A little bell rang and we all went into the courtyard and kneeled on our pads waiting. The Warriors came in and picked up their slaves, sometimes stopping and talking to the Keepers. 

No one came for me. I waited a long time after everyone else was gone, I thought I might have been left. Perhaps Christof had repeated what I had said and it had made them angry. I jumped when boots appeared before me

"Get up, slave," Master Evan said towering over my kneeling frame. 

I hadn't heard his approach. Looking up all my owners were standing there glaring at me, except Christof who looked amused. 

I followed them out the wall and balked when I saw the transport pad. My uncles all rode roller coasters, but I was too chicken. I'd never even been on an airplane. I hated heights.

"This eve will be very difficult or very enjoyable for you, depending on how you act," Master Damien threatened in my ear. 

Gulping back my fear I followed him onto the pad. It shot up like a rocket and I screamed, dropping to the floor. My eyes were shut tight as I begged them to please make it stop. When the thing started to move forward I grabbed onto the closest leg and cried. 

I felt hands removing me from the pant leg I was clinging to and Master Damien's voice was in my ear, "You will learn to stand and act respectable during transport. We are taking a trip tonight. It will only end when you stop this ridiculous behavior."  

They had the driver swoop the pad every which way. I screamed I would fall off and die crashing to the ground. They thought that was amusing. 

"Do you remember the currents that prevented you from moving at the auction?" Christof asked. "Similar barriers prevent you from falling off the sides of the pad."

"You should try them," Master Evan said pushing me with a quick thrust toward the edge. He was supremely annoyed.

I yelped but didn't go off the side of the platform. They were right, something was stopping me. The invisible barrier swooshed against my hand when I hesitantly tried to place it outside the bounds of the pad. Turning around I smiled at my owners. The operator of the pad acted like I wasn't present, most of the rest glowered at me.  

The anger on their faces was undeniable, except for Christof, who still just seemed amused. The lines of skin color that were usually so light seemed to darken with anger. They looked slightly feral and I made up my mind to overcome this fear immediately. 

Finally, I learned to watch the horizon and relax on the pad. It didn't matter if it went up or down, zipped left or right. I stayed in my position and kept my eyes open. The scenery was beautiful. Mountains were in the distance every which way and the ocean bordered on all other sides. In any other circumstance, I would have enjoyed the view. 

The sun had set and the sky was dark by the time the man dropped us off in front of our door. I waited patiently for Master Damien to open the gate and followed him off the pad. It felt funny walking on solid ground again, like when you get used to wearing roller skates. 

The rest of the evening was quiet. The men took me down to bathhouse with them after dinner. I heard several Warriors commenting on my morning ride. Evidently, everyone had seen that little fiasco.

The comments the other men made were upsetting to my owners. In turn, my owners were colder and less interested in me than they had been the last two days. I learned the lesson quickly, a good slave does not embarrass its Masters.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 05



Thanks to all those returning readers. Please vote and comment - good or bad. I really enjoy hearing what others have to say. Enjoy the story! DW

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Adjusting to the life of a slave was different. I would say difficult, but I guess my mind set made it easier in a way. Since I was determined to survive, I didn't concentrate on being unhappy. I made up my mind to make the best of this.

Christof made making the best of my situation easier. He came almost every day at lunch. He kept to his word and never treated me like a slave. We became fast friends. I felt bonded to him in a secret way. 

I did have to just verify one more time that escape was not an option. 

I cornered Fuji and asked about the odds of escaping. She was furious I talked to her about it, but she was informative. There wasn't a good chance of getting away. 

The whole of the planet kept slaves, if I escaped here I would be taken by someone in another village. She didn't know how to work the portals even if I could get to one. Besides that, portals on Earth rarely worked and being in one that was forcibly opened would probably kill me. Her advice was like Rose's: Learn to live like this and stop thinking of escape. 

I'd decided to survive and escaping home was not an option. My mind was set. Now I just needed to know what to do to make the most of this world. 

Staying where I was seemed safest. Christof would defend me. Master Damien and the rest seemed unduly interested in my health. I had to be exactly what they wanted, so they would feel no need to be rid of me. 

The duties my Masters had told me were mine were very simple. Daily sex was all they ever asked. It was my duty to be ready and to provide a healthy body for them to release into. 

I was knew I was more than a sex toy, so I tried to be industrious.  

I attempted to clean the apartment once, just out of habit. They chastised me and the posts were threatened for daring to step outside my role. There were men that cleaned the rooms during the day, my owners didn't need or want me to do that.   

Instinctively, I knew they wanted more. There was some part of our relationship I was missing. Whatever that was I had to find it. 

My obedience and zeal had nothing to do with a love of slavery. I hated what I had become, weak and subservient. The desire to fully please them came from a selfish place. Happy Masters would not sell their slave. The worst nightmare I could imagine involved the nameless, faceless creatures that would own me next.  

I started to watch my Masters. Any time we were together I paid all of my attention to them. It became my all consuming desire to provide whatever they needed. The only way to do that was to figure out what they wanted.  

Even Christof wasn't helpful. He told me the same thing the girls did. The men wanted sex; provide it, stay healthy, and they would be happy. 

I don't think they realized how intently I was watching them until a chuke game one late afternoon. They were playing with a group of men that did not own slaves; I was by myself in the tent. It allowed me to really watch the game without distraction.

The men worked together, but the part they all played was different. Master Kein darted between the larger players to move the different balls; he was difficult to catch. He tossed to Master Damien who made a giant pass to the other side of the field. Master Evan retrieved the ball and moved it with surprising accuracy to Christof. Master Bane knocked down the men in Christof's way and after a rapid sprint, they scored a point. 

The other men on the field didn't seem to have the diversity of talent my men did. My owners were each very good at what they did and unbeatable together. I really got into the game, even booing loudly over what I considered unfair interference. 

Master Evan loped over to me and crouched down.

"Why are you making that noise?" he asked.

"That man," I said pointing, "got in Master Christof's way and tripped him. He wouldn't have been able to stop him otherwise. That wasn't fair."

Master Evan panted for a moment watching me.

"Master Christof could have run that pass across the field before anyone caught him, but that man cheated and tripped him," I pushed.

Master Evan seemed stumped on what to say for a moment. He settled on telling me not to watch the other men and to only watch them. 

"I only want to watch you all, Master Evan. You're much better than the other men," I told him honestly. "In fact, your aim with the ball is far superior to any other man on the field. It's very impressive. I enjoy watching you play." 

He cocked his head to the side and looked at me for a moment before standing. 

"Only cheer for your Masters," he called back as he made his way to the field.

When the game was done I was sure my owners had won. The other men grumbled as they walked past the tent. I looked at the ground and smiled to myself. It had not looked like it was much of a contest.

"So you are an expert at chuke now, Ciara?" Master Damien asked sitting on the grass in front of me and then sprawling out on his side. 

"Tripping Master Christof-" I started to say and Master Bane laughed.   

"You were not offended when I tripped Rue, Ciara," Master Kein said.

"That was different," I argued. "He wasn't going to make it past Master Bane anyhow."

"And why was he not going to make it past me?" Master Bane asked sitting and watching the scenery absently. 

"Nobody makes it past you when you have a mind to stop them, Master," I said pulling at the filmy covering over my right breast.

A finger was lifting my chin and now Master Bane was watching me intently.

"Explain," he ordered simply.

Master Bane's eyes were boring into mine and I was afraid to look away. 

"You are very powerful, Master Bane. When you block the other men, they always fall before you," I stammered. 

"So I am the best chuke player?" Master Bane asked grinning.

I didn't want to agree or disagree, so I went back to playing with the coverings over my breasts and made a non committal sound.

"You didn't answer my brother, Ciara," Master Kein said crouching on my other side.

"I really don't know enough about the game to make such a judgement. It looks like you all play better than the other men," I said feeling brilliant. 

"That was evasive, Ciara," Master Bane said looking up at the sky. "Tell me which of us is the best chuke player, in your opinion."

I panted and my gaze went from man to man. Master Bane turned his head to watch my discomfort and his grin widened. I felt like prey again.  

Now they were all staring at me with those predatory faces on. This was a game and one I was sure to lose. It seemed wrong to choose one over the other. Instinctively, I knew it would get me into trouble. 

"You are the perfect team. I don't know who is better," I stammered and they started to close in on me.

"We said choose, Ciara," Master Kein whispered in my ear, "or we put you at the posts for your disobedience."

My eyes darted around and I found their feral smiles and narrowing eyes. Even Christof seemed to be enjoying the current fun. I hated the posts and I knew who would be the one dragging me up to them when the time came.  

"Master Damien," I barked out.

He was the one who doled out the punishment for the family. If I had to choose, I'd choose the one that was going to be my punisher. Perhaps he would be lenient. 

The men turned to look at Master Damien who was still sprawled out on the grass. 

"It isn't wise to lie to us, Ciara," he purred.

"I'm not lying," I squeaked. "You aren't as fast as Master Christof or as crafty as Master Kein, but your arm is stronger than Master Evan's."

"Although my aim is better," Master Evan said.

"Well, the conversation was to strength, not aim," I said bravely defending my point.

Master Bane smirked and twirled a blade of grass in his fingers, "What about me slave? How does Damien stack up against me?"

"You don't throw the ball enough for me to tell," I said desperately. "I get the feeling you'd rather be knocking the other men down rather than fight over the balls."

The men considered me quietly for several moments. They seemed lost in their thoughts as the sky slowly darkened over us. 

I started when I saw Master Damien had moved and was motioning for me to get up. Rising to my feet he bent and scooped up my kneeling place. 

"You are correct, Ciara," he murmured. "We are the perfect team." 

The next day at the Keepers, Christof came to feed me. We walked around outside and I plopped myself down in a clearing. 

"What's with your brother's obsession about me picking the better player last night?" I groused. "I don't like being forced to pick between you all. It seems like it will just get me in trouble with the others."

"You got their attention when you told Evan he had the best aim," Christof said settling beside me. "They didn't know you could tell the difference between them."

I sat and looked at Christof strangely.

"There are lots of differences between you all. How would they think I don't notice the differences between them?" I asked. 

Christof handed me the bowl of food and sat beside me with his hands folded over his knees. 

"We are all Damien's family," he said simply taking a bite of food from the bowl. 

"You are five different men. Each of you is unique. Why would they think I can't tell the difference between them?"

"We are a family, Ciara," Christof said as though that should make the entire point. 

"You are five individuals in a family," I amended confused.

Christof chuckled and encouraged me to eat. 

"It is so curious to me how you see things," he said brushing the hair away from my face. "To anyone else we are only Damien's family, a single unit. I know my brothers and I know there are differences between them. No one else really notices them that way. We all play a part of the family. We are all Damien's family."

"It's hard not to see you as five different men," I pondered. 

"They like you to see that. I like you to see that," he smiled and looked suddenly shy. 

"You are very hard to confuse you for one another," I told him, "especially you."

Christof seemed pleased and our lunch continued with quiet thoughtful conversation. 

I swam out my hole in the grate that afternoon and thought about it. That something I had been missing about my Masters. It was so obvious I had missed it. They wanted me to notice them. 

My head bobbed up and I took a breath before diving again. They liked to be appreciated for their differences. It made sense. 

That single thought gave me a plan and a purpose. They liked to feel special, so I would give that to them. Their happiness was the key to my survival and I was determined to live.   

In the bathhouse that night I washed Master Damien as usual. He seemed to like me to rub along his lines, so that's usually how I organized myself. I ran my hands over his chest and back softly massaging and cleaning. He was so well proportioned.

"Do you have an arm you favor, Master Damien?" I asked as I scrubbed down his left forearm.

He had been sitting with his eyes closed. Opening them, he looked quizzically at me. His expression seemed to be warring between curiosity and irritation.

"There is no end to your questions," he commented, "and no, I do not prefer either of my arms. They work equally well."

That explained why he was built so equally. He didn't preferentially use one arm when he trained and fought. My attention moved to his fingers and I cleaned each one. 

"The callouses are thicker on this side," I said running my thumbs over his left palm and fingers.

"Yes," Master Damien said looking slightly uncomfortable, "but I am trained to use both hands," he insisted. 

"But you prefer to use this one," I whispered watching his face carefully.

His features hardened slightly and I looked away. I hadn't meant to anger him.

"Wash me, Ciara," he said, "and no more questions."

Well, I had tried and I made up my mind I would try again. Evidently some things they didn't want me to notice. 

It was still on my mind when they put me to bed that night. I curled up on my side between Master Damien and Master Evan. There would be mistakes, I soothed myself, but they wanted me to notice them, so I should continue. 

I started when I felt Master Damien wrap around my back. He pulled me flush to his chest and was breathing into my ear. When he spoke his breath tickled.

"My brothers know I prefer my left arm to hold my sword," he whispered into my ear. "No one else has ever seen that."

"Yes, Master Damien, I apologize," I said softly. 

It wasn't really the appropriate response, but I wasn't sure what was. 

He was silent behind me for a short while, but he didn't release me. 

The arm across my middle shifted and he started to lightly pluck at my nipples. I bit back the moan in my throat as he fondled my chest.

"I find," he said low into my ear, "my left hand to be more accurate for detailed work...like this. Other men have no such preference. My brothers have no preference."

Squirming under his ministrations I grasped at his arm and felt the play of muscle beneath my hands. 

"You are very talented with both of your hands, Master Damien," I whispered. 

The chuckle rumbled from his chest and into mine and that tormenting hand thankfully ceased it's chore.

"Go to sleep, Ciara," he said tucking the blankets around us.

I sighed and settled down quite satisfied with myself. Master Damien wasn't angry I had noticed, perhaps it would even make him happy I paid them that much attention. Tomorrow I would continue at the task I had set myself. It was a plan.  

It was strange, but it was the little things they liked me to see. They wanted me to notice the details of their lives and personalities. It was like they wanted me to read their minds and react to whatever they were feeling. 

I understood why the girl in the restaurant had been staring at her owners. It was the only way to keep up with them. With five to look after, their changing moods and desires, absolute attention was necessary.

Once I learned what the men needed to be happy with me, life settled into a rhythm. Being at my new home in the compound was consuming, but I enjoyed my time at the Keepers. It was my time to relax. Most days were like that: relax at the Keepers during the day and please my owners at night. 

My musical talents made me very popular when I was at the Keepers because the other girls really liked to dance. Fuji told me we would probably end up entertaining our men together. Her men loved to see her dance and she wanted to make them happy. 

Fuji said I should dance, too. She started helping me practice while someone plucked at a stringed instrument. It seemed the right thing to do, although dancing embarrassed me.  

I did have some experience. Mom and I had taken a belly dancing class for exercise one year. It was one of those New Year's Resolutions about losing weight. I'd never been particularly good, the teacher said I was too shy. I loved the feel of the moves, though. 

When I showed Fuji belly dancing I thought she'd hit the roof she was so excited. We worked on it every day, since I started to practice I got a lot better. I wasn't as shy about my body and that made a difference, too. 

Still I preferred to dance with just Rose and Fuji. They thought my modesty was kind of silly. Considering what was expected regularly of me when I was home, I knew they were right. Modesty was something I no longer had the luxury of.  

At home, I was the embodiment of sex. For the men that owned me, I was a living, breathing sex doll. It was obvious I was their favorite toy. 

My owners were meticulous in caring for me. I had my daily vitamin drink, which I had heard them say was expensive. They washed me with the finest soaps and rubbed my body with creams, so my skin was soft and pliant. 

Thanks to their care I looked like a different girl. My hair was healthy and shone in the light. Even my palms, which had stared out looking so bad, were now satiny to the touch. They spent money and time on me the way no one ever had. 

My care did not stop with that. Although my outfits were mostly gauze and see thru, I had a limitless supply of them. The room they stored their clothes was now packed with my flimsy ornamentation. Every day I was dressed up in a different outfit and paraded around like a prize. They took good care of me and were proud I belonged to them. 

They shared in all my care and my use, except Christof. He seemed to keep to himself and didn't fit in with the other men. The difference was most apparent during sex. He didn't use me with them. 

Christof never took part in the wild group sex I was the focus of. He would wait and watch quietly, deferring when they asked him to join in. It upset my other owners, but they couldn't seem to talk to him about it.   

Instead, Christof would awaken with me in the middle of the night and 'take his time' as he said. He was so sweet and gentle; it was like he was my boyfriend. We spent hours on the chaise cuddling, talking, and sometimes making love. What we did was always my choice and I loved Christof deeply for giving me that. My time with him at night was my favorite time.   

Lunch was my second favorite time of the day. Most afternoons Christof came to feed me. We had completely given up eating in the lunchroom and instead walked in the forest. It had become so common the Keepers left my kneeling pad in the courtyard and I waited for him just inside the wall.  

Just like at home, Christof didn't treat me like a slave, but like an equal he could talk to. When we were alone together, we were just friends. I fed myself from the bowl and usually chose what direction to walk in. He just accompanied me as I explored different places in the forest. Christof just seemed to need someone he could relax around.  

I got comfortable with Christof. He encouraged me to talk about home and listened curiously to all of it. Stories about my prior life intrigued him. How humans lived together, males and females in the same place, it amazed him. 

Christof never minded my questions and told me all about this world. One day he showed me how to hold a sword. I had to use a branch, I couldn't even lift his sword off the ground. We played 'warrior' with the branches frequently.  

"Who do you fight with?" I asked swinging my branch the way he had taught me to.

"Lighten your grip," he instructed before answering. "Too tight a hold and you lose maneuverability."

Once I had fixed my hands and released my death grip he answered my question. 

"Men from the other villages close by. Sometimes there are raids and men come to take things from the shopkeepers. It is our job to protect them," he told me. "We patrol around the surrounding area to keep the raiders out."

"Sounds stressful," I commented wrinkling my nose.

"It's fun!" Christof laughed. "I love it when the other men come. We train hard to best them. The skirmishes are exciting. My brothers also look forward to them." His face darkened and he looked different suddenly, "We enjoy fair battles we can win with skill and strength. 'They' are not all like that."

I tried to ask about the last comment, but Christof distracted me. It was an odd comment and I wasn't sure who 'they' were. He didn't want to talk about it, though. Instead, Christof asked about my mother. He knew he could distract me by asking about her.  

I rarely spoke to him long about my mom. The subject made me too sad and I would cry. I could never resist talking about her, so despite the tears that came, I spoke freely.

As I talked, I remembered the good and the bad times. That still confused Christof greatly. He had never understood family the way I described it. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 05



His family was his brothers and they got along perfectly. I told him how my family kicked me out of my bed and sometimes ate all the food. I explained the unkind remarks and the many beatings they had given me. The idea of having a family that hurt you or couldn't be trusted baffled Christof. 

I talked a lot about my mother and her struggles with alcohol. He didn't really understand that either, but he listened. Even with all her failings she was still my mother. The more I talked about mom, the more I missed her.  

Christof didn't understand missing a mother, the mothers here dropped the sons off after they were very small. The men that raised them were called Child Keepers. He did say he knew what it was like to miss someone. He often spent so long consoling me we were late back to the compound. 

We agreed about other things and that was kind of cool. When it was just us he was sympathetic to my argument that I wasn't an it. If my sex didn't matter they would have bought a male earthling.  

"I have female parts," I said stubbornly making him laugh. "Your inability to put a child in me doesn't mean I'm not female."

He said he didn't care if I said that around him, but it would make his brothers upset. I grumbled a little, but agreed with him. It would have to be our little secret. 

I adored Christof and I did everything I could to show him that. As much as I could I talked to him about romance. He allowed me to hug and kiss him. Soon, he started to hug and kiss me without any prompting. It made me feel nice and normal for a change. 

However, the more I got to know Christof the more he worried me. I could tell something was eating at him. Finally I decided to ask him about it, I just had to take the chance. Gathering my courage, I took a good guess about what might be bothering him.

"You might get mad at me, but I just wanted to know. Did the women take you?"

He sighed and took a piece of food from the bowl for himself. "Yes, I was sent by the Administrators to patrol a section along the mountains. My brothers and I were ordered to split up to cover a larger territory. The big one picked me up and flew off with me. She took me and kept me for a long time," he answered. "She and her sisters needed female children and I seem to make those most of the time."

I shuddered, "It must have been horrible. Were you able to talk to your brothers about it?"

He laughed and started to hit a bamboo like tree that was sitting next to us, "My brothers know nothing of my capture and, for the record, I was only treated poorly the first several days. During that time I was kept in a cell by myself, but she moved me to a place with other men after a very short while. She had decided to keep me in the mountains long term."

"How did you get away?" I gasped.

"I thought I could escape from them. Finally, the woman in charge told me they owned me; I would never escape. The only men my brothers and I found were men they released because they no longer needed them. I still tried to get away, that's when she beat me. I was miserable." His face fell as he talked.

"She wanted me to live and be happy. My owner, Nu-reeh, said they had decided to take my brothers to be with me, the Administrators would send them on a job like I had been sent. I stopped being able to get erections; the thought of my brothers living that way upset me and I told them that," he sighed. 

"I told them if they sent me back, I would do what they wanted. I would keep to an increased coupling schedule, give them as many girls as they needed. They just couldn't do that to my brothers."

"The women told me if I did as they asked they would leave us alone. They told me to explain the new rules to my brothers. If I started trouble, the women said they would destroy me." 

I sat in stunned silence 

"Your brothers will protect you, Christof," I said pulling him to face me.

"They can't protect me. No one here can protect anyone. We are owned by the women. We live at their discretion. I am as much a slave as you are. When they find I will no longer perform for them I will be deemed useless. They will destroy me," he said starting to walk back the way we'd come. 

"Well, you're not useless, you can have sex with them. You have sex with me all the time," I said trailing after him trying to process.

"You don't understand, Ciara. I was raised to believe I was free, but they let me see the inner workings of our world at least a little of it. I listened to the other males they keep in the mountains. They control everything."

"The women mine and sell the ore that make us a rich planet. They mark us when we are born, put us with others they sense we will get on well with. As we grow, they watch us to make sure we do the job they set out for us. The Administrators and the General talk to them and hand their edicts down to us," he continued at a brisk pace back talking angrily. "I cannot preform for them, I cannot live like this. Let them destroy me."

"Wait a God damned minute," I said stopping.

Christof turned to look at me quizzically. "You are speaking the wrong language, Ciara," he said.

"I'm cursing you," I shouted angrily in his language, "I'm sorry it's not good enough for you, but sometimes that's how it is. You can't just lay down and die because you don't like it. How would you feel if I said that to you? I am a slave, I was raised free, and I'm doing just fine. You can't leave me. I care for you. Your brothers care for you," tears were streaming down my face by now. I knew a coupling was coming up for them. "You have to talk to your brothers," I cried to him. "You have to do what you are supposed to. Please, don't leave me."  

We were almost back to the compound and I could hear the other Warriors. The voices were coming toward us. I dropped my head as they came through the brush. 

"Christof," I heard one say, "we heard shouting. Is everything as it should be?" the man asked. 

"Yes, all is well. Come Ciara, your mid day meal is over. You must go back," he said addressing me. 

He went to take my arm and I moved away from him and stalked toward the compound. A masculine chest I didn't recognize was in my face a moment later. 

"All does not look well, Christof," the voice in front of me said.

"It is an earth slave, Basin. These things happen," Christof said taking my arm and leading me away. 

The rest of the afternoon stunk. I swam out my private hole and spent hours in the deep water outside the inlet. I barely was back in time for the evening bell. The other girls asked what was wrong because I was acting so off. I told them I missed my family. Which come to think of it I really did, that made me more upset. 

My owners took me to the bathhouse and I was unusually quiet and subdued. I couldn't believe Christof had decided just to give up. Life without him would be unbearable. He was the only person in my life that I felt loved me and I wasn't enough for him. 

Master Damien noticed my mood and asked me about it at dinner. I also told him I missed my family. He forbade me to think of them. He said if they had cared for me in the right way I would not have been enslaved. That made me feel worse. 

I knew he was right, my family hadn't cared for me. At home I had been a burden and in the way. They were only too glad when I left and lived at that dingy motel. I bawled at the table and couldn't stop. Nobody had every loved me. 

"I have had enough of this," Master Damien finally said scooping me up. "You will preform your purpose now."

He carried me toward the bedroom. I really wasn't in the mood for that and struggled hard. They seemed to find my efforts amusing, that infuriated me. 

I screamed and cursed at them in English, I didn't know bad enough words in their language. Flailing my arms and legs I struck out at them, but they were faster than me and just grabbed the writhing limbs.  

They lay me on the bed and opened my legs wide. I screamed that I would pee on them if they got near my sex. Master Evan laughed at me.

"I have tasted your fluids before. They are not objectionable to me," he said settling between widely spread thighs. "Although if you leave water on the bed, we will make you stay in it until morning, even then we may not see fit to clean it off."

My eyes got wide when he said that and I allowed them to spread and restrain me. I didn't want to sleep in a puddle of urine.  

"Should we use the bindings?" Master Bane asked holding both hands above my head. "I find this better," he continued using his other hand to torment a nipple. 

"No bindings tonight then," Master Damien said holding right leg as Master Kein held the left.

Master Bane forced my face toward his and I closed my eyes. 

"Open your eyes, Ciara," Master Damien said calmly. "We wish to watch you respond."

I wouldn't answer him. I would not open my eyes. Let them do what they wished. 

Tonight, I would not be participating. For all I cared they could put me out at the posts. 

It would just prove to me what I really meant to them. 

A hand pinching my nose and covering my mouth surprised me so badly I opened my eyes to see what they were doing. Master Bane grinned cheekily down at me, removing his hand.    

"They are open now, brothers," he said as Master Evan started licking my dry center. 

His tongue felt so good, his lips were warm and soft caressing each inner fold. The hands holding my legs weren't still either. Master Kein and Master Damien were rubbing my calves and the bottoms of my feet in slow, steady circles. Master Bane's free hand weighed each breast as his fingers played over the tips. Despite my best efforts I started to relax. My body was responding like they knew it would.

"Stop," I cried to them looking around, "please, you don't care about me. Please stop this. Get the oil if you want. Just use me and have sex with me." 

I struggled against their hands again and it was of absolutely no use. 

"When have we not cared for you?" Master Damien sighed as his hand ran down the back of my leg to caress my buttocks. 

Master Kein followed Master Damien's lead and soon they had pulled me open to further allow access to Master Evan's searching tongue. Master Evan licked and nibbled at the sensitive skin between my anus and my vagina for several minutes. It tickled a little, but overall felt very good. I wanted him higher or lower and tried to move my hips to get him to choose a direction. 

Lost in the sensation I shut my eyes again. Master Bane chuckled as he commanded me to open them. 

"The centers indicate it is ready now, brothers," he said looking deeply into my eyes. 

"What centers, Master Bane? What are you talking about?" I moaned. 

Master Evan had chosen to go lower. I knew now he wouldn't get sick tasting my ass, but it still made me feel sexy and dirty all at once.

"We know your responses, Ciara. Your body has many ways of telling us when it is ready for us," Master Kein answered as Master Evan climbed up my body.  

"How is it you believe we do not care for you?" Master Evan asked slowly grinding his hips against mine. "We feed you and bathe you. Every day we make sure you get enough activity at the Keepers. Each night we bring you pleasure while we use you for your purpose," he said as he eased the head of his cock into my opening.

The fullness entered me a little at a time. I groaned and bit my lip in an effort not to feel the pleasure of it. He leaned down and licked at my ear and I arched into him.

He pulled back and pressed forward, grinding his pelvis against mine. An involuntary moan stole past my lips. He was so big and so long, it was always almost too much. 

I couldn't argue with him. The steady motion of him sliding in and out of me was too much to ignore. I moved my hips to meet his thrusts, but was otherwise held immobile on the bed.   

"Tell me, Ciara," he commanded, "explain to me how you are not cared for."

"It's not about the things you do," I struggled to explain with panting breath. "It's how you feel, Master Evan. You feel nothing." 

Master Evan slid a hand into the hair at the nape of my neck and pulled my head back slightly. He placed his lips over my fluttering pulse for a moment. "Right now I feel your racing heartbeat due to your excitement. I feel your slick walls gripping me."

"I feel the flush of arousal on your skin," Master Bane said reaching between Master Evan and I to fondle a nipple. "I feel the blood rushing to the tips of your breasts."

Master Damien and Master Kein agreed that they felt the same things. I obviously had no idea what I was talking about. I felt fine, better than fine, in fact. 

I wanted to argue with them. They had it all wrong, but Master Evan was making it difficult. He bucked against me, plunging down with enough force I felt pinned to the bed.   

Master Evan's teeth started to grow and I watched with fascination. His hips continued to grind into mine for several more minutes before he found his release.  

Master Evan switched with Master Damien and they allowed me to wrap my legs around his waist. Master Damien explained he felt the smooth muscles underneath my skin. The ones I got by swimming in the ocean each afternoon.

"While we go to protect the village every day we leave you in safe place. We care for you even when we are not with you. The Keepers provide you with companions, entertainment, and exercise. You feel healthy," he explained. 

That wasn't the point of what I had said. However, I had been so close to orgasm when Master Evan was above me. Master Damien had a way of moving that brought me back to the peak and left me teetering on it. He pushed his hips in a tiny circle each time he bottomed out inside of me. 

The climax tore through me and I tried futilely to free my arms. My Masters just stroked my sensitive skin and praised me for taking the pleasure they offered. They didn't let me loose, however.

I wanted to hold Master Damien still with my legs, but they were separated and held by Master Evan and Master Kein.  I couldn't stop the quaking tremors that rocked through me each time Master Damien ground down on me after that.  

He didn't stop moving until he swelled and exploded inside of me. I sensed each little burst coating my inner walls. I was so sensitive, so stimulated. Master Damien removed himself and leaned down to nibble on my breasts.

"You have never felt this good," he said bringing his face beside my ear, "this cared for. That is why you do not understand it and it upsets you."

I couldn't disagree with him, because I didn't remember the argument anymore. 

Master Kein slipped between my legs and felt the oil being pushed and rubbed into my tight dark hole. The plug had been removed before the bathhouse, as it always was. I stretched around Master Kein's fingers, bucking my hips against his hand. I craved these sensations now.  

I knew the stretch and the cramp, they were always followed with the deep pleasure. Master Kein knew I liked it. He pushed the head of his long tool into the tight opening and then withdrew completely. He repeated several times. Shifting my hips up I sought to stop him from pulling away from me. I begged him with my eyes, not willing to say it out loud. 

"We have taught you to feel pleasure here, where you only expected pain," he said pushing his entire length into me. "This feeling was our gift to you, to enjoy each time we ask it of you." 

I moaned and let my head roll back. My eyes were shut as he slid in and out of me. It was a sinful indulgence. One I had been told multiple times on Earth was wrong and dirty. The knowledge that it was forbidden made it sweeter and more potent. 

"Open your eyes, Ciara," Master Bane commanded. "We wish to watch you respond." 

I opened my eyes and focused on the man above me. Master Kein's beautiful face contorted with his pleasure and I was glad it was me that caused it.  

My mind felt dulled and clouded. When Master Bane took Master Kein's place, I left my arms where he had put them. There was no energy left to resist them.  

Master Bane used his fingers to spread fresh oil around my well used backdoor. He slipped into me easily. He stretched and filled me to bursting. As he towered above me, I crashed into my second climax around his shaft. 

Once he had finished with me, Master Damien picked me up. 

"How do you feel, Ciara?" Master Damien asked me as he carried me to the bathroom. 

I was a little hazy on how the conversation had turned out this way, but I knew the answer he wanted. I felt sure I wouldn't be up for another round of convincing. 

"I feel cared for, Master Damien," I told him.

Once I was clean and dry I took my place on the bed between Master Evan and Master Damien. I was tired, but still worried. The men had no such concerns and fell fast asleep. I lay still and waited for the middle of the night when Christof usually woke to walk me to the bathroom. 

Looking in Christof's direction for the hundredth time, he was finally looking back at me. I got off the bed and he followed me. In the bathroom I pulled him down to my level and begged him.

"Please, go to the coupling," I whispered in his ear, "just try for me. They don't understand me like you do. I couldn't survive without you, please."

He sighed and his hair fell in his eyes. I pushed it back and looked at him beseechingly.

"I will try, Ciara," he said stroking my shoulders. 

The next twenty days were hell for me. The coupling was getting closer and closer. I was worried Christof wouldn't go, worried he wouldn't be able to preform, and worried the women would take him again. 

As often as he came to the Keepers I talked to him about it. He always said not to worry, he would go. I didn't believe him. The look in his eyes was one of defeat. Christof just wasn't going to argue about it, but he had chosen to die. 

Overall, I wasn't sleeping and could barely eat. Now when they fed me too much I vomited on the spot; I just couldn't hold anything down. To make matters worse, I was jumpy. Master Evan thought that was funny initially, but tired of the game quickly.  

The only benefit I noticed was my hips were slimming down. My tummy was flatter also. I didn't have a mirror to look in, but I could feel it. My panels hung a little lower, too. 

I'd never been so stressed it made me lose weight before. Usually I had the opposite problem. Unfortunately, another problem arose also. The last problem made my owners pay attention to everything. 

Master Evan pulled me onto the bed and went down between my thighs one evening. He loved to taste me and I really enjoyed it also. Master Damien was caressing my neck and Master Kein was nibbling at my breasts. After several minutes Master Evan stopped and propped himself up over my belly. I ran a hand lovingly through his long hair. 

"What's wrong?" Master Damien asked him looking up.

"I don't know, brother, but it is not responding as it usually does. The taste is different and there is no lubrication," he said continuing to watch my face. 

"No matter, Master Evan," I tried reasoning with him, "use the oil." 

"I have seen illness in the eyes brothers. Look at them, they rest farther back," Master Bane said from across the bed. 

"No, no, no," I argued trying to pull Master Kein back to my breast and pushing on Master Evan's head, "everything is fine. I just need more time. Use the oil if I'm taking too long Masters."

"It is losing mass," Master Kein noted touching my hips. "The vomiting is not normal and it is not passing. I have talked to Basin and his brothers, they also keep an Earth slave. This one is ill."

"Call the healer," Master Damien said sitting up.

I couldn't beg them out of it and my solution of using the oil was ignored like it didn't exist. They wouldn't listen when I told them women on earth sometimes needed a little help. I begged them to use the oil.  




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 05



Since my purpose was now on hold, I felt real fear. I wasn't sure they would keep a slave that was not responsive; that seemed important to them. I followed Damien and tried to coax him back to bed. My terror wasn't lost on him and he stroked my head as we waited for the Healers.

"You will not stay ill, Ciara," he soothed. "We will care for you and you will be better. My brothers and I do not wish to worsen your malady by forcing your use."  



I wasn't sick; I knew that much. Without spilling Christof's secret, there was no way to explain that. It wasn't clear to me what they would do to fix a non existent illness. Wow, how I wished they had listened to me and just used oil. The healer's advice was disgusting.

At the next meal after my usual vitamin drink the first thing Master Bane offered me was a slimy green worm about six inches long. It wiggled in his fingers as he held it. I backed off of my kneeling place and stared at it from the wall.

"Master Evan, that's not funny," I said addressing the most playful member of the group. If this was joke it had to be his idea.   

"Ciara," Master Damien chastised, "it's not a joke. These are very good for humans. It will stop the illness and the weight loss. Kneel back down and take your sustenance."

I continued to watch the thing move around and refused to move back to my place. Out of habit I was shaking my head 'no'. At least they finally understood what I meant when I did that. 

"Ciara, if you do not kneel down and take your meal from my brother I will hold you down while he puts it into your mouth," Master Evan threatened. 

I continued to refuse and Master Evan had me around the waist before I could blink. They laid me across the table and I screamed at them, in English I think. They did exactly what they threatened and it was positively the worst experience I have ever had. 

They force fed me the worms. Master Damien pried my jaws open as Master Evan and Master Kein held me down. Master Bane chewed the worm and then spit the chewed up remains into my mouth. They would hold my mouth closed until I swallowed. By the third worm I swore to them I would eat anything they wanted. Christof asked them to let me try again. 

Shaking head to toe I kneeled down and took three more of the disgusting worms. It was like eating blood mixed with rubber. Afterward Master Bane fed me the slime from the bowl they had been in. I gagged on it, but took it all. The salty ooze was also supposed to have healthful properties. 

After the worms I was asked to eat a little of the meal they were having. Fearing it would be delivered like the first two worms if I refused; I took all they gave me. Master Kein commented what an effective way to feed me that had been and I just glared at the floor. I couldn't stop the question from popping out in response.

"Why can't they at least be cooked?" I asked to no one in particular. 

"Who are you speaking to, slave?" Master Damien asked pleasantly. 

My eyes got wide as I realized my dual mistakes. I hadn't addressed them as Master and I was asking too many questions. 

"I'm sorry, Master Damien. I was wondering why the worms can't be cooked, Master Damien?"

"The creatures lose the nutritional content when they are cooked. They must be eaten the way you just did. We will feed them to you frequently. I do not suggest you argue with us about this again," he stated. 

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered him defeated. 

The next day the men were scheduled to leave for their coupling and I was a wreck. They took me downstairs and gave me to Fuji's Masters. They would be my Keepers while my Masters were away. Master Damien quietly told me to behave for them. I heard the threat in his voice. 

Fuji was excited I was there with her. She said she had asked her Masters to get us a set of drums so I could play and she could dance for them. It was hard not to be happy spending time with such a perky person. 

We sat and talked quietly while her Masters got ready for their day. A commotion outside got everyone's attention. Fuji's Warriors opened the front door and asked a passing man what the problem was. 

The man said Christof had refused to go to the coupling again. The General had been alerted. I panicked and bolted out the door. 

I felt Fuji's Warriors behind me and one of them grabbed me. I screamed bloody murder and fought him. 

"I have to talk to him!" I screamed at the man holding me. "He will die if he doesn't go. Please, Keeper, let me speak to him."

Shockingly the man dropped me and let me go. I felt him follow me, but he didn't interfere.   

I ran as fast as I could up the stairs to our dwelling. There was a swell of Warriors outside the front door. I wove between them and dashed into our apartment. Master Damien, Master Evan, Master Bane, and Master Kein were standing in the main room looking frustrated. I could see Christof in the bedroom. 

Master Damien yelled at me to stop and come to him. I ignored him and rushed into the bedroom, pulling the leather door cover closed. The last thing I saw was my Masters' faces go from shocked to furious. I didn't have long.

"Christof," I panted, "you promised me. Don't do this. We all need you. I need you. Think of me, you can get through this. Life is awful sometimes and you have to work through the bad parts to get to the good parts."

"Ciara," he said looking a little stunned, "shouldn't you be downstairs? How did you get up here?"

"Doesn't matter, I love you. Please just accept your life isn't what you thought it was, but it's still good. There are still things you need to live for. You won't win or prove anything doing this-" 

I stopped talking when Master Damien's enraged face appeared in the door way. 

The covering to the little room was thrown back and Master Damien stalked toward me. I remembered Andre and cringed. "It was worth it Master Damien," I heard myself say. "Some things are worth a beating."

"I will not touch you, slave," he ground out, "the General will take a lash to your back until we feel you have had enough," his face was indescribable it was so angry.

"Not now, brother," Christof sighed from behind me, "we don't want to be late for the coupling."

Uncertainty flitted across Master Damien's features. He hadn't been expecting that. Christof strode out of the room and called to his brothers to hurry up. Master Damien stood watching me for several long moments. I didn't back away, but I flinched when he reached for my arm. He passed me back to Fuji's owners as we walked by them on the walkway. 

As we went downstairs I chanced a glance up and saw my Warriors talking with the General. I watched them finish their conversation and head out the wall of the compound. With all my staring I got the attention of more than a few Warriors and they started toward me. Fuji's owners forced my head back down as they escorted me back to their apartments. 

The Keepers compound was subdued that day. Rose had seen the General administer one lashing and she didn't want to talk about it. All the other slaves looked at me with a mixture of shock and pity. Fuji paced around and prayed in her native language.  

All their concern was nice, but it didn't change anything. I would be beaten, probably within an inch of my life and Christof might still not come back. When the lunch bell rang I was glad for it. At least no one could talk about it for the next little while. I was wrong. 

Fuji's Masters came to feed me and all the Warriors were talking about the morning excitement. Christof's refusal to go and the reason for it, my strange behavior, and exactly what a beating from the General would entail. I had no appetite, so it didn't really matter when they fed me the worms. 

"Eat up, slave," the Warrior feeding me laughed, "you'll need the strength to heal once the General is done with you."

I started to retch a little and held it down. Getting sick wouldn't make this any better.

After lunch the Keepers took us to the beach. Straightaway, I went into the water and scooted through my secret hole.  I spent the afternoon diving deep outside the inlet. If I was going to be lashed I doubted I would be enjoying the water anytime after that. 

When I went really deep I felt a strong current. I always managed to stay just above it. It was exciting and distracting to let it pull me a little. The fun almost made me forget the horror that was coming, almost. 

Fuji's Warriors came and picked us up and transported us back to the Warrior's compound. They poked fun at me and made little comments; I didn't let it bother me. There was a good reason to act like I had this morning. I'd take the lashing if it meant that I got to keep my friend.   

We went to the bathhouse as a group, but I wasn't asked to wash anyone. I just sat on the little steps by my Keepers and kept my head down. That didn't mean I didn't get attention. 

Groups of Warriors would come over intermittently to inspect me. They didn't touch me, thank goodness. They watched me and tried to get me to respond to them. Most commented on my scene that morning. 

I was relieved when we finally left the bathhouse; perhaps my day was finally over. That was not to be. Fuji's owners wanted to see her dance, she had promised them. 

The men had little drums in the apartment, like the ones I played every day. Dutifully I played the drums with a sensual, wild beat. Fuji moved her hips and swung her wispy hair every which way. Her owners looked like they were in heaven. 

It wasn't surprising when one of them got up and threw her over his shoulder. I could see the erections grow as Fuji had danced. Sex was the obvious outcome, but Fuji's reaction was unexpected.  

My calm, demure friend screeched and fought the Warrior who held her. I'd never seen Fuji fight. She cursed him in their language and said she wanted to finish her dance. My hands were stopped in mid air over my drums. 

Her owners laughed and started walking toward their bedroom. One of them pulled me to my feet and followed. I was too stunned to resist him. The large man thrust me onto a kneeling place inside the room and went to join his brothers on the bed. 

The men held Fuji down to the bed and she continued to scream. One man got between her legs and started to lick her feet and suck her toes. Two other men held her arms and played their fingers across her cool skin. I didn't want to watch my friend get raped by her men, but I knew I couldn't stop them. In defeat, I dropped my eyes.

All too soon the screaming from the bed turned to moans. I chanced a glance up and saw Fuji writhing in the hands that held her. She looked like she was in the throes of ecstasy as a man with long dark hair grunted and thrust into her. She squealed beneath him and protested, but it didn't sound real. Her hips moved in time with his and I could hear the wet slapping they made as they joined. 

The men passed her around, but whenever they let her go, she started to fight again. She wanted to dance and they were a series of words I couldn't understand. I'd never seen this side of Fuji, not that I really wanted to. 

She was restrained and ravished by every one of her men. I wouldn't have thought to ask if her kind could orgasm, but by the sounds of it she did, over and over again. The scent of pungent sex filled the air and I tried to ignore it.   

Eventually, everything quieted down. They wiped Fuji with a cloth and gave her a long drink. Once they were done, I watched them tuck her exhausted body into the covers. 

One of the men came over and brought me to the bed. He forced me to lay down, which I wasn't comfortable doing at all. I tried to sit up and he got behind me and pulled me down. He brought my back flush to his front and wrapped strong arms around me.  

"No more running," he said pulling me tight to his body as the covers were draped over us. 

Inside me was a panic. I imagined all the horrible things these strange men could do to my naked body. Much to my dismay I'd seen what they'd done to Fuji and I did not want to be next. 

After a while the sensation of fear faded because nothing was happening. The man holding me sounded and felt like he was just going to sleep. I lay still and listened to the man's breathing, slow and even. I felt his staff behind me, it was completely flaccid. There was absolutely no danger of this man being interested in me. The worry melted away and I sunk into the strange embrace.   

We rested like that for a while before he spoke again. "I don't know what you did this morning, slave," he whispered quietly, "but it is why we let you go and I'm glad you did it."

A murmur of consensus went around the bed. It did make me feel a little better that the Warriors weren't all mad at me. I yawned loudly and started to slide toward sleep. 

Sleeping with strange men should have been impossible, but I felt oddly safe with them. Master Damien would not have left me anywhere I would get hurt. That was abundantly obvious now. I slipped into a sound sleep almost immediately.  

I woke in the middle of the night like I was accustomed to doing. As I was restlessly trying to back to sleep with a full bladder, the man next to me woke up. 

"Slave, what is wrong?" he asked sounding concerned.

I told him and he walked me to the bathroom. Once I was done he walked me back toward the bed.

"They will have to punish you, you know," he said softly before we entered the bedroom. "Such defiance cannot be left alone."

"Yes, Keeper," I answered dutifully.

"I do not understand what you have with Christof, but it must be important. He needs to share his bond with his brothers, though. It is essential," the man said as we laid down. 

I was so tired the comment didn't make any sense. Before I fell asleep, I wondered if I should ask the man what he meant. Unfortunately, the thought was lost as I drifted off again. 

Fuji's bright eyes were in my face when I woke up. She was bouncing happily around the bed teasing me about being so deeply asleep. I let her lead me to their bathroom, where I received my morning cleaning, my entire morning cleaning. 

It was bad enough that I had to accept the enemas and the plug from my Warriors, this was so much worse. I was blushing from head to toe and wishing it wasn't happening. Fuji touched my face as I lay over her Warriors lap and asked why it was that color. I shook my head and looked away while her Warrior laughed. 

"Earth slaves think this is embarrassing, don't you slave?" he asked me finishing up. 

"It's where I make waste, sir. On earth only dirty men would touch it," I said shifting around. 

It always took me a while in the morning to get used to the plug. They had removed it before we went to the bathhouse the night before. 

"Hmm," he said lifting my chin, "are we dirty men, slave?" he asked. 

"No, sir," I stammered out terrified.

The rest of the morning meal consisted of the Warriors discussing whether they were what I called 'dirty men'. I was terrified they would tell my Warriors, who were mad enough as it was. 

"Please Keepers, I didn't mean it that way. Please, don't tell Master Damien and his brothers," I begged. 

"If you were to behave the rest of the time they are gone, we may forget to tell," one of them offered. 

I nodded and pleaded with my eyes. Fuji interpreted and told them that meant 'yes'. I kept forgetting. 

When we got to the Keepers I couldn't wait anymore to ask her. I pulled a confused Fuji aside and asked her, "Why do your Warriors hurt you at night? Are you all right?"

Fuji bounced around and laughed, "They weren't hurting me, they just like it when I fight them a little. Native coupling for them is very violent, they have to battle the woman they are mating with. It makes it more real if I fight them. You worry too much, Ciara."

She told all the girls about my concern. I made a mental note that Fuji can't keep a secret. Rose and Tamia agreed with her. Even Shi who was usually quiet agreed, the Warriors liked a struggle. Fuji did make a point to say they only liked it when they were not fresh back from a coupling.

That conversation was quickly replaced by Rose's fretting over the lashing. Rose's family on earth had hit her with a belt and she talked about breathing through the pain. 

"I'm not sure if it's better to scream or if there is a set number of lashings," she mused pacing back and forth. 

"Why would screaming make a difference?" I asked her.

"Do you remember the posts?" she asked incredulously. "Your Warriors watched you the entire time, they stood out of sight. They choose who went up after you, if you panicked too much they tell their friends to stop. Your Warriors will never cause you pain directly, they will only ever be the one to stop it."

"That is so weird," I mused remembering that awful night. 

The torment had only stopped when one of my Masters called a halt to whoever was harassing me. The torture had ended with Master Damien and his brothers taking me home and caring for me. 

"Right, so I don't know if it would better for you to panic and have your men call the General off or if there will be a set number of lashes," she said back in planning mode. "If they want to see you scream, you need to wail. If there are a set number of lashes, you need to control your breathing and get through it. Your Warriors will feel better about you if you act strong, I think."

We spent the rest of the morning practicing what I would call Lamaze breathing with Rose. She seemed so mature, but she didn't look any older than me. I asked her finally.

"Rose, how long have you been here?"

"Well, what year was it when you left Earth?" she asked me. 

"March 28, 2011 was the day they took me," I answered.

Rose's eyes misted over a little and she took a deep breath. "Well, it has been quite a while then. They took me in March of 1956; I was twenty then."

I sat and stared at her in shock. I did the math quickly in my head. Rose didn't look or act like a seventy year old woman. She was calmer than I was, but otherwise was like a teenager. 

"Things work different here," she said stroking my hair, "just breath."

"But on Earth..." I stammered.

"You mustn't talk about it," she warned cutting me off. "They do not like us to speak of our home planets. We must only think of our Warriors now."

The lunch bell was a much needed distraction when it finally rang. I went in the lunchroom to look for my little pad, but it wasn't there. I rushed to ask the Keepers and they pointed to the courtyard. I nearly didn't make it to my place before the Warriors started to come in. I guessed the Keepers did not know my Masters were gone.

One of Fuji's owners stood in front of me a moment later. He motioned me up and picked up my kneeling pad. Confused, I followed him out the gate into the forest.

Eventually, he found a spot Christof and I frequently stopped in. The man lay my kneeling place on the ground and proceeded to feed me. He sat on a stump in front of me. It was a place I liked most of the time, now I felt a little edgy. 

The man cleared his throat and pointed out a yellow plant clinging to the soil. It grew sparsely around the trunks of the larger plants. 

"That," he told me, "is called a pana plant. The leaves can be used to make a calming tea. The shopkeepers collect and prepare it. The preparation is complex. It is very expensive to buy."

He offered me a bite and I took it looking up at him strangely. 

"Christof told me he talks to you and tells you about this world. He said you are curious and ask many questions. My brothers and I wish to be a happy slave when your owners return. If this practice makes you happy we will continue it," the man said matter - of - factly. 

I swallowed and took another bite, still not quite understanding this strange happenstance. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 05



"Ask me questions," he demanded.

I had to grin at him. He had the stance of a fighter waiting for a physical blow. Knowing how much Master Damien hated questions, I could only imagine how this man felt. Here was a mighty Warrior stuck with the most annoying babysitting job on the planet. 

"Could you tell me about you and your brothers, Keeper?" I asked shyly.

The man grinned and relaxed. He didn't mind talking about his family. My curiosity was strange, but it was a topic he adored. 

He and his brothers had originally lived across the sea, a long way away. They were sent here by the Administrators when he had just reached Warrior status. He told me about the other village when I asked about it.  

Fuji's owners had not been happy in the other compound. There was another family there they fought with constantly. When they were just boys they could be kept apart, but as adults they had the freedom to seek each other out. It had been a constant battle between the two groups. 

This village was better, he told me. The men were more agreeable and less temperamental. He liked the other Warriors. While he enjoyed fighting with the bandits, discord in the compound was unpleasant. The Administrators had been good to them and sent them a nice place. 

I pondered this strange piece of information. The Administrators worked for the women. The women must have not been happy this man and his brothers were upset. They moved them so they would fit in better. 

The whole story was very paternalistic or in this case maternalistic. 

As we got up to leave he looked at me quizzically, "I do not understand, slave. Have you been made happy?"

I looked around the little forest and remembered my friend. Being here made me feel closer to him. "Yes, thank you Keeper, I enjoyed my mid day meal."

We went back to the compound and I thought about Christof. I hoped he was doing well. Worries started to crawl around my brain, I stumbled over a root because I was perseverating on him. The Warrior I was with steadied me as he looked in my face. 

"I have a sense for things, slave. I know you are worried about Christof. He will be fine. I do not understand what has happened to him. You must stay well while your Warriors are gone. I know humans become ill when they worry," he said leading me back to the compound.

"Yes, Keeper," I answered dutifully. 

I went into the ocean as usual in the afternoon. I slipped through the grate and explored the deep water. The pull of the current was phenomenal deep down. I got caught in it and it pulled me a good way out. I made it back through the grate just as the Keepers were starting to pull everyone together. I chastised myself for almost getting caught. 

As I pulled myself out of the water Fuji screamed. I jumped back and stared at her. All the girls were staring below my waist. I looked down and saw a bloody gash down the front of my right thigh. When I had gotten caught in the current I had slipped against a rock ledge, I didn't realize I was cut that badly. The wound was pouring blood.  

The Keepers lost their minds, to put it simply. I was carried, despite my objections, back to the compound. They cleaned the jagged cut and started to apply a thick paste over it. Usually the men that cared for us were calm and distant; now they were nearly hysterical. 

When the Warriors arrived I saw why. I jumped in between the two groups because Fuji's owners had drawn their blades in anger. They were approaching the Keepers with deadly intent. 

"Please, it was my fault," I begged with hands extended, "I'm really clumsy," I begged. 

They looked like Master Damien looked the last time I saw him. I was trembling in fear. It kept escaping my attention I was someone's property and they didn't want me damaged. 

"Slave Keepers," the leader of Fuji's owner addressed the other men, "show us how to care for this until we get it to a healer."

The wound had started to drip blood the minute I stood up. The daytime Keepers showed Fuji's owners how to clean a human's wound and packed it with the thick cream again. My whole thigh was wrapped tightly in a piece of cloth. I wasn't permitted to walk to the transport pad and was carried like a child. 

Healers came to see me and didn't mention we were already acquainted. Much like on earth they used something to numb the area and then used a needle to close the wound. Thick cream was applied over the top again and my leg was wrapped. 

I was laid on the bed and fed my dinner there. By now, my leg was really starting to throb. 

"Keepers, I'm very sorry, but is there anything for the pain," I whispered looking down. I doubted there was and they still looked furious. 

The man from lunch returned into the room with a small tub of foul smelling goop he spread over my chest. At first I thought the smell would nauseate me and then I didn't care. My leg didn't hurt and I was so tired. 

They let me lay down and one of Fuji's men lay next to me. I watched his face and it seemed to distort like in a carnival glass mirror. Reaching out, I wanted to touch his eyebrows, which appeared to be walking across his face. 

After my third thwarted attempt to touch him, my wrists were tied to the beam in the center of the bed. I didn't really care and drifted to a weird dream filled sleep. 

Fuji woke me up cautiously the next morning; her cool fingers were drifting over my face. Once I was up her owners carried me to the bathroom. The men sponged me off and let me relieve myself. They placed me carefully back in the bed afterward. I was glad to get out of my full morning 'cleaning'.

"We get our own Keepers this day," Fuji whispered to me. "My owners don't want us to go back until you are well. They say your Masters may kill the old Keepers, anyway."

I groaned and tried to reason with Fuji; she didn't really see a problem with their logic. Her Masters didn't want to listen to me and found my reasoning obtuse. Master Damien and his brothers would punish the Keepers as they saw fit.  

Fuji and I spent the day on the bed playing card games. She brought in the little drums and we played with those too. The Keepers we were left with regularly put the smelly stuff on my chest, so I also slept a lot.

When the Healers showed up to look at my leg I was really surprised. It was completely healed. They removed the stitches and placed a thin sheen of cream over the scar. 

By my standards the line was almost invisible, but when the Warriors saw it they all clucked their tongues. They commented how large a scar it was and how it marred my skin. Panic overtook me as I realized my owners may not want me if I had a new flaw.

"Are they going to get rid of me now?" I asked Fuji's owners while fussing over the thin white line.

It didn't make me feel any better when her Warriors told me there would be another buyer if that was the case.

I was judged well enough to walk and followed them down the bathhouse. They didn't want me in the water and left me in their alcove. I found a deck of cards and played what I considered a game of solitaire. 

I kept my head down, but there were a steady stream of men that walked by appraising me. Several commented amongst themselves what they would bid if Master Damien was agreeable. The scar was present, but it would not overly detract from my use they believed. 

Perhaps my owners wouldn't want me with this new scar, I feared.  

Fat tears were running down my face when I felt a finger lift my chin. I resisted the finger and closed my eyes. 

"Ciara, why are you making tears?" I heard Christof ask, sounding concerned. 

I bounded up and threw my arms around his neck. He tensed and I felt his brother's hands pull me away. I sobbed my apologies and dropped to my knees in front of them. I heard Master Damien sigh as he stood me up. 

"There was no kneeling place beneath you, Ciara. Come and wash me," he said.

I looked at my owners and was shocked at their appearance. They were definitely worse for the wear. Jagged marks ran across their chests and there were several obvious teeth marks. Master Kein walked with a slight limp favoring his right side. None of them ran into the pool, they all entered slowly. 

I took up the rag and the bar and gently cleaned Master Damien. He didn't want me anywhere near his privates, so I just skipped that area. I cleaned each of the men the same way. They seemed to just get relaxed with me touching them and then I would hit a sore spot. I was as gentle as I could be with them. Even Christof flinched when I cleaned his neck.  

"Show me where you were injured, Ciara," Master Damien said sounding tired. 

I stood in front of him while he sat in shallow water and let him examine the leg. 

"I'm sorry Master Damien, please don't get rid of me," I begged.

"We have already told you we will not sell you, Ciara. You must learn to listen to us," he sighed brushing his fingers over the scar.

"Will you kill the Keepers? It wasn't their fault. I was playing around and was clumsy. Please don't kill the Keepers, Master Damien," I continued quietly.

"They allowed you to be injured, Ciara. I have every right to exact the price from their hides. They are well compensated to keep you safe while we are away," he said examining the mark. 

Master Damien didn't sound like he wanted to listen to anymore from me, so I stayed silent. He motioned for me to sit beside him and I did quietly. The water stopped just over my thighs and I played with my new scar under the surface. I was distracted from this when Master Evan lay down across the seat and placed his head in my lap. 

Tentatively, I stroked his hair, which he had thrown between Master Damien and I. He seemed to relax in the water and I brushed his face with my fingertips. I felt something nudging my shoulder and I turned my head. A man's hairy leg was right behind me, his toes were touching me just barely. Master Damien grabbed my head and forced it back down when I started to look up. 

"Damien," Master Evan said quietly, "it appears Andre has yet to learn not to touch what is not his." 

I recognized Fuji's Warriors by their voices approaching us. They weren't happy either. I rolled my eyes and shook my head wondering if Andre and his brothers would ever learn. 

Master Damien had stood up and turned to face Andre. The rest of my Warriors were all also standing around me. Andre was busy insinuating they hadn't really been to a coupling, they didn't look bad enough. He even threatened to bring the General down to inspect them. 

If they had lied, he told them he would take me the first chance he had. My Warriors may have paid money, but they hadn't earned the right. In fact, they weren't tough enough, he said.

I made a little exasperated sound and kept my head down. This guy was such an idiot. Next thing I knew I felt hot breath in my ear. 

"Did you say something, slave?" Master Damien asked me.

"No, Master Damien," I answered honestly, "I was just frustrated and blew my breath out loudly. I'm sorry, Master Damien."

"Why are you frustrated, slave?" he asked me sounding menacing. 

"You already beat him once and he's still harassing you. I just wondered how many more times you have to turn him into a bloody mess before he gets the message, Master Damien," I said trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. 

Master Damien was angry and I didn't really want any attention from him when he was mad. 

He laughed though and stroked my cheek. Master Damien addressed Andre with humor tinting his voice, "My slave seems to think you aren't learning your lesson, Andre. You may bring the General if you so choose, we will speak with him. I fear it will only serve to make you look a fool, though. If you require me to repeat the lesson my slave is referring to, I would be happy to. It would be a pleasure anytime," he finished. 

I heard Andre turn behind me and leave. Master Damien watched for a moment and then sat back down in the water. He pulled my ear right to his lips and warned me, "Do not speak to other men, Ciara. You do not like the consequences."

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered him relieved his voice just sounded stern and not angry anymore. I did not want to be strapped to the posts again. 

The men played around in the water for a while. The talked to several other groups of Warriors about the coupling. Andre hadn't been lying, evidently they didn't look that bad. The women had been less aggressive. 

The stress had come when they swooped off with Christof, but they returned him fairly shortly afterwards. From the way they were talking, I knew Christof hadn't told them what had happened. I hoped he would take me to lunch the next day and talk to me about it. 

We went upstairs a little while later. I was given a drink and we headed for the bed shortly after. The men laid me in the bed between Master Evan and Master Damien. I looked at the ceiling and tried to relax. Pretty soon, I was sound asleep.

I woke myself up as usual in the middle of the night; I had to pee. Most of the time Christof would walk with me to the bathroom. I looked over at him tonight and he was dead to the world. A frustrated sigh escaped me a moment before a hand clasped over my mouth. 

Master Damien was eyeing me and rose out of the bed motioning for me to follow. We went to the bathroom and he let me relieve myself. He cleaned me and I headed for the bedroom. Master Damien stopped me and led me down to the living room. He took a seat in front of my pad. 

As I kneeled down, I noticed how tired Master Damien looked, worse than before we had gone to bed. I doubted he had slept. He leaned toward me and spoke quietly. I had to listen really hard to hear him.

"I think my brother, Christof, has told you what happened to him. He has probably told you why it upsets him so. It is important he shares that information with my brothers and I," he said seriously.

"We share a solemn bond. There can be no walls between us. Any walls represent weakness, that weakness will be exploited until we are destroyed. Andre is only the first to notice our vulnerability. It will continue and it will get worse."

"I know I could force the secret from you. I could break you before my brothers awaken at the moon set," I shuddered and agreed with him internally, but he continued. "That would solve nothing. I need my brother to trust us again. He must share what upsets him. I have seen the emotion you have for Christof; you do not wish to see his end. It is your responsibility to help him, that is why you are here. He must rejoin my brothers and I. Do you understand?" 

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered him but he must have seen the uncertainty in my eyes. 

"If you do not wish to leave us, then you must make this right. Andre is correct. He will take you if we are not strong enough," he said.

I shuddered and followed him back to the bed. I finally fell asleep, but was restless the remainder of the night. 

I was startled awake just before the sun rose. I'd been dreaming of Andre's malice filled face above mine. To my left Master Evan's bright eyes were open and he was appraising me. No one else was awake. I glanced to my right, even in his sleep Master Damien looked exhausted. I turned my head back and Master Evan was right in my face. I could feel his warm breath on my cheek.

"The day will bring you pain, Ciara. Let me bring you pleasure first," he said slipping his body over mine and dropping between my thighs.

I'd never been treated to his tongue as I woke up and it was surprisingly exciting. He licked from my knees up to my center and spread me open. His warm, wet mouth took its time to explore. He sucked each labia into his mouth and tasted them until they were plump and sensitive. Now, in their hairless state, it was easy to watch them flush as I became excited. 

Using his big thumbs he peeled my lower lips apart and started to stroke my ripening cunt. Lazy laps at my entrance soon had me panting and twisting my hands in the sheets. I didn't want to wake everyone up, but I wanted his mouth up a little higher. I reached down to grab his head and found my wrists bound to the pole at the center of the bed. 

"He won't like to be grabbed after spending the last two day cycles with our women," Master Damien explained as he idly drew patterns over my chest. 

"I'm sorry I woke you, Master Damien," I panted. 

I tried to ask him if he wanted to go back to sleep and couldn't manage it. Master Evan had started to suck and flick my clit with his tongue. Wantonly, I dropped my legs open and pressed myself into his face. 

Master Damien found a nipple and began to pinch the tiny bud. The tissue puckered under his attention. Driving me wild would, as usual, be a group effort.

"I would like to see ornamentation on these as well," Master Kein said languidly stroking the other breast. 

As I watched he started to pluck, pulling the nipple to an erect state.

"Master Kein," I panted out, "that would hurt." 

I couldn't get anything else out as Master Evan had started to nibble on my clit. His fingers slid just inside my entrance before retreating. It was making me crazy. 

"I have seen rings that hold a tiny replica of the Warrior's crest. They would stand so proudly here and here," Master Bane said stroking my left and then my right tit. 

Master Damien was stroking down my sides, tracing the line of each rib. "It would not hurt for long, Ciara. The lashes on your back will hurt for longer," he said.

I was so crazy with Master Evan's tongue the idea of being whipped and pierced for their pleasure suddenly seemed erotic. Thrusting my soaking pussy into Master Evan's face I screamed as I came. It was in English, but I begged them to fuck me, to pierce me, and to whip me. 

I came down from my high slowly. The men were all lounging on the bed talking. Master Evan sat between my spread legs, so I couldn't close them. My arms were still stuck to the post above my head. Straining my head I looked around to see Christof peering back at me. His eyes looked haunted. 

Christof reached forward and released me from the post and rose from the bed. "Come, Ciara," he said, "you need to be cleaned." His voice sounded a little dull.

I unwound from Master Evan and was confused. They had never just given me pleasure before. It was always a build up, never the main event. 

Master Evan grabbed me as I got off the bed and pulled me back down. "You didn't say 'thank you', Ciara," he said smugly. "And, I'd like to know what you were saying when you climaxed."

"Thank you, Master Evan," I said, "I was saying that I felt good." I smiled and hoped he'd believe me. He didn't look like he did and almost said something. Lucky for me Christof came around and grabbed me to pull me with him.

I was right, Christof was acting strangely. He cleaned me and gave me my usual morning treatment, sans the plug, but he didn't really speak to me. Once he was done and we were alone, I touched his face and he flinched. 

"Christof, what's wrong?" I asked him in a whisper.

He pulled me close and spoke into my ear, "The General will hurt you today. I can't stand it. I've begged my brothers, but you ignored them in front of the other Warriors. They won't let it go. I can't help you. I'm so sorry," he finished and released me. 

I took a chance to do what Master Damien had asked me to do. "It's time to stop keeping this secret. Your brothers will help you if you let them. If they had known, you could have talked to them and not needed me to come get you," I said quietly. 

Christof looked at me, but didn't respond. 

We walked out and took our breakfast quietly in the main room. Much to my displeasure my entire meal consisted of those nasty worms. I could think of few worse ways to start the day. 

I was dressed oddly. A single leather panel was draped over the apex at the front of my thighs. Otherwise, I was left nude. I assumed that was so the General had access to my entire back for the punishment. A full body shiver encompassed me when I realized that. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 05



Master Damien walked us into a part of the compound I'd never been in before. He led me up a ramp and attached my wrists above my head to a wide wooden post. My breasts were forced against the grain of the wood and wrapped around either side of it. I was glad for the leather cover. Rubbing my mound on the wood would have been uncomfortable. 

Master Evan braided my hair and moved it so it hung over my shoulder. He had tied it with a thick leather strap that weighted it down. I guessed getting your hair caught in a whip was miserable. After they were done, they all left. 

I stood with my head against the wood and waited for forever. I felt the sun as it changed position and rose through the sky. Warriors and their slaves must have been wandering through the courtyard. Several men threw taunts at me daring me to look at them. I'd learned my lesson on that front, my eyes stayed closed. 

The excitement in the yard grew as the hour got later. It sounded like more and more people were coming and less were leaving. Peaking through mostly closed lids I saw a yard full Warriors. Some had slaves, some didn't, but they all looked like they were there for a party. 

I knew the main event was coming when the yard got quiet. No one ever talked when the General was around. I tried to remember that breathing technique Rose had talked about. It seemed like I was just hyperventilating right now. When a hand moved down my back, I flinched. 

The General spoke from behind me, "Slave, you took twelve steps away from your Masters after they told you to come. I will administer a lash for each step you took. Think of each lash as a footfall and remember this next time you decide not to listen," he said. 

Rose was right, I thought, time to breath through the pain. The sound of the whip cutting the air was electric. It cracked across the left side of my back and I was too shocked to scream. The pain was enormous. There was the burn along the length rapidly followed by the deep ache. A cheer went up from the Warriors. 

I thought of Rose's face behind my closed eyes and tried to imagine her coaching me on my breathing. I should have counted the blows, but I didn't think about it quickly enough. Before I knew it, my nose was running and tears were dripping off my face. I tried not to scream and not to panic. Focus on the steady in out of the breath, think about Christof, how he was worth it. 

I lost control at some point and the first scream came out. The General had laid the whip across a mark he had already made. The torture was unbearable. My legs weren't holding me up anymore and I sagged against the bonds at my wrists. I tried to get my composure back, but it was too late. 

The next lash was delivered on fresh skin, but it didn't matter. I couldn't stop the shriek of pain. I pressed my face against the wood and breathed in the scent. Before I could rearrange my focus the next lash came. My cry was muffled by the post. 

My back was on fire. I didn't know how much more I could take when Master Damien called a halt to the General. Fighting for some amount of dignity I tried to stand, my back just hurt so much. I couldn't tell what part felt worse. It all just felt like an inferno. 

As my hands were lowered from the posts I stifled a scream, moving was unthinkable. I partly walked and partly was dragged back down the ramp. Hands held me under my arms. I just prayed they wouldn't touch my back. 

The hands supporting me dropped me into a kneeling position on a pad. I sat there dazed, as the tears and snot were cleaned off my face. My whole body was wet with sweat and they also attempted to clean some of that. 

I heard Rose's voice in my mind and I tried to regain some composure through breathing. It worked somewhat. The pain was still near unbearable, but at least I could focus on what was going on around me. 

I heard Master Damien call my name and I looked blearily up at him. He was standing several feet away looking imposing with his arms crossed. All I could think was how grateful I was to him for stopping the General. 

"Yes, Master Damien," I croaked out. My voice was hoarse and cracked. 

"Come here, Ciara," he ordered. 

It took a minute to organize my limbs, but with some assistance I got up and took three shaky steps toward him. I came to rest in front of him.

"Were those difficult steps Ciara?" he asked me.

"No, Master Damien," I said. 

"Were the nine lashes you took to your back difficult?" he asked looking at me pointedly.

I didn't have to think about that at all, "Yes, Master Damien."

"Next time I tell you to come to me, I suggest you just take the steps toward me and not the lash. Do you understand?" he asked. 

"Yes, Master Damien." 

I knew I'd take the lashing again, I'd do it for my friend. There was absolutely no way I was going to tell Master Damien that though. 

Master Evan laid my kneeling place down and I sank back into it. Master Kein put a jug of water to my lips and I drank. Other Warriors wandered over and stood talking to my owners. I stayed silent and tried to steady my breathing. 

Someone commented it had taken six throws for me to start screaming. Several of the Warriors had laid money on when I would start making noise. A lot of them had lost their bets. After watching me at the posts they thought I would have cried out sooner. I'd have to give Rose credit for that. 

When the Warriors with slaves came over the slaves knelt in front of me. The ones I knew took my hands. We never said anything. Rose came over and laid her cheek on mine. She looked like she had been crying, so I hugged her. We sat like that until her owners took her away.  

The fire in my back had muted somewhat to a dull burn and an ache. Absently, I wondered if the marks would scar or if I was bleeding. Without thinking I turned my head to look at my back. The movement re-ignited the fire over one side and I flinched. Glancing at the shoulder I could see thin lines of blood. Some of the slashes had left shallow open wounds. 

They had marked me and I would scar. Honestly, I was in too much pain to give it much more thought than that. I just stared at the dirt in front of me and tried to escape the pain.  

A hand reached down to stroke my head and I looked up at Christof. He looked absolutely miserable. As much as I'd worried about him the last couple of days, it looked like he had been worrying about me. Again, I had to think he was worth it. No one else treated me the way he did.  

"It's still early brothers," Master Bane announced, "some of the other Warriors have a game in the arena if they can get enough families."

A murmur of consensus went through the group and we made our way to the grassy area they played in. We stopped at a place inside the compound first and Master Bane picked something up. 

When we made it to the slave's tent Christof fed me what they had bought. It tasted like dried meat, but at least it wasn't worms. He offered me a long drink of something cool and then went to join his brothers. He still looked tormented.

I tried to find a more comfortable way to hold my back, but that was impossible. The dull ache was a constant and the intermittent burn when I moved wrong made me crazy.  

Fuji and Rose showed up and I was glad for their companionship. They asked if there was anything they could do to help me. I laughed and asked them if they had an ice pack.

"Don't get caught," I heard Rose whisper as Fuji scooted closer to me. She had laid her arm across my back. I tensed at first, but the cool helped a lot. I seconded Rose's opinion though.

"Fuji, it's not worth it. If you get blood on you and they'll know what you are doing. You'll get caught and then there will be two of us like this. I couldn't stand to see anyone else miserable.  It's bad enough watching how bad Christof looks."

Fuji didn't move her arm away, just moved it to a new spot. "First, the blood is dried and second what do you mean he looks bad?" she asked.

"He didn't want them to punish me and he feels guilty about it," I answered, carefully watching the game for any sign the Warriors had noticed her. 

The girls sucked in a collective gasp and I glanced at Rose, she looked shocked. "He doesn't agree with his brothers? That isn't possible. Ciara, watch the game they are looking at us," she commanded. 

I looked back and could see Master Damien's head turned in my direction. When he turned away I begged Fuji to stop, they were going to find out. 

"My Warriors did not instruct me not to do this and yours don't know what I'm doing. You worry too much, Ciara. You have to explain it to us though. How is it that Christof feels differently from his brothers? They think with one mind," she said curiously.

"Oh, no," I moaned dropping my head in my hands, "please don't tell your Warriors what I said. I didn't know that was weird. I don't know how to help him. I'm just so frustrated," I said. 

Fuji's arm moved away from me and Rose was whispering for me to look up. I was too late. Master Damien was in my face a moment later. 

"Are we not interesting to you, Ciara?" he asked cooly crouching before me 

"I'm sorry Master Damien, it won't happen again," I stuttered out. I prayed he wouldn't take me back to the whipping post today. 

"You did not answer the question, slave," he breathed ominously in my ear.

"You and your brothers are very interesting to watch, Master Damien," I said with a faltering voice. 

He strode out of the tent without another word. The girls acted like he hadn't even come in. 

"I won't say a word to my owners about what you said Ciara," Rose promised as Fuji slid closer and put her arm on my burning back. "It isn't normal though and I'm not sure what you can do to help him. Do you know what happens when their bond is damaged?" she asked.

"Master Damien told me it would weaken them and I would be taken away," I answered honestly. 

"I've only seen it one other time and it was awful. The men lost the will to live when they couldn't depend on one another. The women came and picked them off one by one from inside the compound. What happened that damaged them?" she asked.

"I'm afraid to talk about it," I said honestly. 

"If you want to help them," Rose said, "he has to re-bond with his brothers. I'm not really sure how they do that. Most of the bonding happens when they are still very young."

We talked about what the bonding meant for the rest of the game. Fuji had cooled my back down significantly, so it felt a little better. The girls said they would ask their Masters how they bonded. I would ask my owners, also. 

Fuji and Rose didn't know my owners, but they knew their Warriors were friends with them. The girls were worried their Warriors would be upset if mine were taken. It was strange to realized how much we all cared for these men. I wondered if, other than Christof, they felt anything for us.  

I walked quietly behind Master Damien pondering the strange situation I found myself in. He led us into the bathhouse and the men stripped me of my little cover. The water stung my back as it sloshed over it, but I tried not to make any noise. As usual, I bathed Master Damien first. Master Bane settled in front of me next. 

As I washed him, I noticed everyone else had wandered off to watch a water game on the other side of the pool. Boldly, I sat on Master Bane's lap so he couldn't follow them. The water went higher over the marks and it took a minute to get used to. He looked at me curiously. 

"May I ask a question, Master Bane?" I asked wrapping my arms around him to wash his back. 

He moved me so I straddled him and said he didn't mind at all. Men could be so predictable. 

"How do you bond with your brothers, Master Bane?" I asked brazenly. 

The water had sloshed higher on my back and I arched toward him at the pain. He watched me closely as he answered. 

"It starts when we are very young. We learn to sense one another. My bond with my brothers is stronger because of what Evan can do. Not every family has a member like Evan. We are very lucky," he finished.

I continued to stroke him and let his hardening length slide between us. "Tell me what do you mean when you say you sense your brothers, Master," I said hoping my tone wasn't too pressured. 

It wasn't clear how much more time I had before the others came back.

"I sense how they feel about things, my feelings follow similarly to theirs. When we make a decision, we make it as one being," he said. 

A look of understanding came across his face and his brow furrowed. 

"Don't be angry with me, Master Bane. I only wish to help," I whispered in his ear. 

Cautiously, I watched his face. If they were angry I was asking I knew where I would end up. 

"He has to trust us again, Ciara. It will destroy us if he doesn't. We cannot survive with just four; we need our brother," he said quietly.

"You don't feel him anymore, do you Master?" I asked playing with his chest hair.

"No, Ciara, not since the women took him," he answered. "Something happened when they had him and the connection was broken."

"Why did you buy me, Master Bane?"

He told me softly the Administrators thought it would help. Other families had gotten better with the addition of a slave. We seemed to be something the men could reestablish their bond over. 

Sloshing water behind us brought me flush against Master Bane. The whole of my back was unbelievably tender. He held my hips tightly against his and appraised me.

"Brothers, I am tired of the pained look and I do not wish to permanently mar the flesh," he said directing the comment over my shoulder. 

Master Evan stroked the side of my neck and agreed. 

We made our way upstairs and I was glad to see the bed. I doubted I'd sleep, but it would feel good not to move for a while. Every piece of my back was in pain, I couldn't even turn my head without feeling it. 



The men had me lay on my stomach and Master Kein brought in the little tub of cream. I begged them not to touch my back and they shushed me. Every mark was rubbed with the cream from top to bottom. At first, it was like having the whipping again. Slowly the pain started to fade.

For the first time all day it didn't hurt to move. 

I watched from my prone position as the men got ready for bed. Master Damien caught me watching him and spoke. 

"The General can hurt you and we can heal you as many days as we need to until you learn," he warned. 

"Yes, Master Damien, I have learned," I answered humbly. 

For the moment, I had learned my lesson. Never disobey in front of an audience. Keeping Christof alive was going to take a lot of effort at this rate. I prayed I could find a way. 

The men crawled into bed around me and settled down. 

I've never been a stomach sleeper, but for tonight I was. I drifted off quite soundly listening to their slow even breathing. 

**********************

Love the comments - even if they're that this sucked! I'm always curious to know what the readers think. I appreciate any votes and any time you take to let me know. 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 06



The bed beneath me bounced and I my eyes shot open. The sun was already shining light across the room. Master Evan lay down and stared at me. 

"Humans would make a terrible Warriors, Ciara," he said. "You sleep much too deeply. Really, it's not a wonder the slavers took you. I imagine it was the easiest catch they had during their hunt."

I rose slowly expecting pain, but my body was just a little sore. Looking over my shoulder I saw fresh skin. The marks were a faint pink and nearly healed. The ache was just residual. 

Master Evan pulled me along for my morning routine. I guess I was getting used to it now. I just did as he said. 

The men were quiet at breakfast. Master Damien still looked tired. I wondered if he was sleeping much at all. After what Rose had said, I understood his concern. 

Everyone at the Keepers was excited to see me, except the Keepers, who looked at me askance. My accident had evidently gotten them in trouble, but not killed I was glad to see. The other girls were ecstatic to see me. Out of sight of the Keepers, they examined my back. 

Rose was particularly relieved. My lack of scarring proved the Warriors still wanted me. The last beating she had seen had been much worse. 

The girl they had lashed was from an aggressive planet where the women were Warriors. She had tried to kill her owners as they slept. Rose had feared any lashing from the General would be that bad, but apparently what you did made a difference. Unlike me, that other girl had been sent back to the slavers. 

Once everyone else dispersed we were able to talk more freely about the other problem. Fuji and Rose both told me when the Warriors did things together it would help the bond grow. 

"Right, they do everything together," I said, "I can't help them with that."

The girls glanced at one another and then Rose looked at me, "Does Christof join his brothers where you are involved?" she asked hesitantly. 

They both knew I was shy about discussing what my owners did with me. 

I thought back on it and the answer was definitely a no. Christof would sit to the side when my other owners had sex with me. He took his time with me late at night after he walked me to the bathroom. 

That wasn't normal they told me. The men took on the native women as a group. They subdued them together, if that could be done. One of the group would have sex with the woman, depending on who the woman's mating smell attracted. Sex was the ultimate group effort, it should be that way with me also. 

When the lunch bell rang my stomach was in knots. I wanted to talk to Christof, but I still wasn't sure what to say to him. When I saw my kneeling place had been left outside I knew he would be coming for me. I fiddled anxiously with the hem of my panels as I waited for him. 

"Come, Ciara," he said softly when he arrived. 

I rose and followed him through the little trail in the forest. We stopped and he handed me my bowl as usual. He never fed me, he just let me eat what I wanted. 

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to watch, but they made me," he said dejectedly.

"It wasn't that bad," I lied and he looked at me like I'd grown an extra head. 

"I've been lashed before Ciara and I saw you up there. You don't have to be brave for me. I know you took that beating because of what I did. I can't stand to see that happen again."

I saw an opening and took it. "It doesn't have to, Christof. If your brothers had known the way you felt about the women they would have helped you. You only needed me because you aren't depending on them."

Christof's face darkened as he turned away from me. "Can you imagine how they would react if they knew we were slaves here? It would kill them to know that our entire lives have been built on a lie. It's better this way," he said viciously pulling the leaves off a neighboring tree.

He needed to talk and vent, so I just listened as he spoke. 

"I know the women will come take me again, probably to kill me. They were furious I didn't keep to the coupling schedule. When they took me this time the leader cited how valuable we are to them, all of us. Evan's talent, Damien's strength, and my ability are all highly treasured. You know, they even went easier on us this time to prove to me that we hold worth to them," Christof finished his rant and walked around the little clearing we were in. 

I followed him silently until he turned to look at me. 

"Do you think this isn't affecting your brothers?" I asked touching his arm. "Have you looked at Damien lately? He isn't sleeping. They can't bear the thought of losing you."

He turned to walk away from me and escape what I was saying. I followed him and just continued talking. 

"I'm a slave just like you and I'll tell you the truth. If it wasn't for the support of those around me, I'd feel horrible. Everyone I get my support from knows where they stand here and we just depend on each other. I'm sure your brothers will be upset at first. You can help them get through that part. In the end, they would rather have you."

The argument continued through lunch. I forgot to eat I was so busy talking. I got back to the compound and kind of wished I'd had something. 

The girls knew what I had been doing during lunch and didn't bother me when I got back. When the Keepers released us at the beach I swam straight out my little hole. Being in the ocean calmed me some, but I was still so frustrated. It didn't feel like I was making any headway at all. 

I was distracted and cranky when the Warriors came and picked me up at the end of the day. Headaches always gripped me when I was hungry and I was starving. My stomach rumbled noisily all the way back to the Warrior's compound. I tried tapping on it and sucking in my breath to make the noise stop. It was a little embarrassing. 

When we got home Master Damien turned to me and asked, "What did you eat for your mid day meal?"

"I can't remember," I answered honestly. I had not even looked in the bowl Christof brought with him. 

"Have you forgotten how to address me, Ciara?" he asked in a low voice.

"I'm sorry, Master Damien. No, I haven't forgotten how to address you. It was a mistake, Master Damien," I said startled.

"What did Christof feed you today?" he repeated looking at me with that scorching gaze. I hated that look. 

I squirmed and desperately tried to remember what had been in the bowl. I got the feeling Master Damien really wanted to ask Christof. I was just a more acceptable target for his irritation. Christof answered him finally. "I fed it nothing. We talked the entire time," he said.

Master Damien looked between the two of us before turning and pulling me to a kneeling place by the table. He took out a bowl of worms and started to feed me. 

"You will eat now and you will eat later," was all he said. 

Master Damien sounded angry and frustrated. I ate what he gave me gratefully and didn't complain it was too much, which it was. 

I gagged on the slime like always and Master Damien slammed the bowl on the table. He glared at me and I wanted to sink into the floor. I tried to remember him telling me he wouldn't hurt me. The look on his face currently said differently. 

"It is not Ciara's fault, Damien. Your anger is misplaced," Christof said taking his seat across from Master Damien.

"Christof," he said calmly, "it is important it is fed regularly. It will become ill if it is not. What was so important you neglected to feed Ciara?"

The request was met with silence. I'm sure it was the same silence that had been going on for a long time. I could not lose them. This had to stop. 

I looked at the floor and studied my hands in my lap. 

Against my better judgement I whispered, "You should tell them, Christof."

Master Damien jerked me to my feet and started to remove my coverings. "I will take you to the posts until you learn to address us properly," he fumed. 

Christof stopped him. "I told it to address me as such," he said putting a hand over Master Damien's.

"Brother, what is wrong with you?" Master Damien asked exasperated.

Master Damien had threatened the posts and I knew I should stay quiet. I waited and watched their boots as the two men stared at one another. 

Tentatively, I reached out and took Christof's hand in reassurance. He could do this. I had faith in him. 

Christof spoke finally giving my hand a squeeze, "I spoke about the women. Ciara argued with me. It thinks I am being foolish to not share what I know with you. I do not wish to see you destroyed the way I have been. I do not know what to do."

Master Evan broke the next silence as he came to stand next to Master Damien, "We are being destroyed as it stands," he said addressing his brother. 

I felt really uncomfortable and released Christof's hand. This was their family, I was just a visitor. It would have been better if they had just put me in the bedroom, but they didn't. Master Damien pulled me to kneel in the sitting room. 

"Tell us," he commanded sitting down, "all of it. You may surprise us but you will not destroy us."

Finally, Christof let it spill. He told them everything; how the world worked, how the women were in charge. Christof even told them how they had wanted to take all the brothers to live in the mountains. He told them he felt the bond break when the women told him that; it stressed him too much. There were things he told them he'd never told me. 

The life in the mountains was much like it was here. The men worked in jobs the women chose for them. Women would mate with them at their discretion; which sometimes meant daily. Many of the men liked living in the mountains, some did not. No man ever left them without permission, though. The women exercised absolute control. 

"I saw slavers when I was there," Christof told them. "The women choose which slaves would be suitable for us. If they really want a slave, they pay for it themselves ahead of time. What we use for money is worthless. The true payment is made by the women before or after we have left. The slavers are not allowed to give us the option of certain races. The slavers seemed terrified of our women. I was whipped because I saw that; I had snuck out of my place."

I thought back to the auction. It was a blur of fear, but I seem to remember only stopping in front of men like my owners. There were other creatures there, but I only stopped in front of Paterian looking men. A flush lit my cheeks when I realized I was pre-paid. It was an odd honor. 

There was silence for a little while and I was glad Master Damien had fed me. My stomach growling would have been very distracting now. The only sounds in the room were the gentle crackling of the fire. 

"Once," Master Kein said quietly, "we were on a hunt for a lost man. I was hiding, staying in one place; I had heard the women's wings nearby. They landed less than a body's length from me, but didn't see me."

The men murmured and Master Kein continued. 

"Do you all remember? I stayed very silent and watched. They laid the man we had been looking for on the ground. They put a little jug of water beside him. He was sound asleep. Once the women left, I went to him and woke him up. He told me he had run away, he seemed very confused. We'd never seen anything like it."

Master Evan was the next to speak. "The marks on our shoulders, do the women place those?" he asked.

"Yes," Christof answered hesitantly, "I think so. That is what the other men told me."

"I thought as much," Master Evan said confidently. "The marks do not taste like us, they taste of something else. I have always wondered. Do you know why the women place them?"

Christof seemed relieved to be talking and more relieved by the reaction he was getting. I glanced up and the tension I had always seen marring his features was slowly dissolving. 

"The men in the mountains seem to think the marks are more complicated than we understand. If you know how to read them, they can tell you who our breeders were. I have studied ours, while they are all similar; there are differences."

"Yes," said Master Bane contemplatively stroking his mark, "I have noticed the same thing."

"You all aren't upset that we are owned and controlled by the women? I was furious when I realized. How is it you all are not upset by this?" Christof asked sounding shocked.

"We are together, brother. You remember we gain strength from that. Perhaps it would not have been so bad for you had we all been there," Master Damien said as Master Bane reached over and clasped his shoulder. 

The men continued to talk amicably and I was just stunned. They weren't acting at all like Christof had thought they would. It was like they all expected this was the case. I shook my head at the ridiculousness of it all.

A hand was running down my back and I looked up at Master Evan. He looked playful. 

"We need to work on our bond brothers," he said. 

Christof looked unsure. It took me a minute to realize why I was suddenly part of the conversation. Once it hit me I realized what my responsibility was in this matter. 

They needed to re-bond with Christof. From what Rose had said group activities helped the bond. Excluding Christof, I was always a group activity. 

I walked across the little room to Christof and got up in his lap. No one stopped me, they all just watched. Kissing up and down his neck, I tried to murmur encouragement in his ear. I felt his hardness growing against my leg, so I knew I was doing a good job. He picked me up and carried me toward the bedroom. The rest of the men followed while shedding clothes. 

Christof sat me on my feet as Master Evan and Master Damien pulled off my minimal coverings. It was a little nerve racking; they all looked ready, very ready. Nothing in the prior conversation had made me feel that way. I wasn't sure what had them feeling like this. 

I stroked Master Evan's arm and whispered in his ear to please use the oil. He just laughed at me softly. Hands pushed me back onto the bed and Master Evan knelt between my legs. He covered me with his body and pushed his staff against my dry opening. My body tensed waiting for the pain. 

I felt lips on my neck running up to my ear. 

"Have we not proven since the first day cycle we would not cause you pain? We know your human body better than you do. You will be ready when we wish you to be," he said sliding his hand across my full breasts.

Master Evan was a domineering ass and somehow that made him all the more sexy. As he licked and sucked his way down my body, I begrudgingly had to admit I'd be wet by the time he got where he was going. 

I was irritated. Before he could get down to my center, I scooted out from underneath him and flipped onto my stomach. 

I slipped quickly across the bed and made it to Christof. He thought it was funny and lay down watching me. A yelp escaped me as Master Evan bit my exposed ass. Thankfully he didn't use the fangs.

"Stay," Master Evan ordered gruffly grabbing my hips.

"No," I said crawling over a laughing Christof.

"You are really irritating my brother, Ciara," Christof said.

My answer was cut short as Master Evan started to lap at my cunt. I loved it when he did that. Still hovering over Christof's chest I allowed myself to be explored. Christof pulled me down for a searing kiss as Master Evan paid attention to every part of me except my aching clit. I moaned as he removed the plug, I'd forgotten it was still there. Then he put his tongue where the plug had been. 

"No, stop, that's gross, Master Evan," I begged dropping my hips until my wetness lay over Christof's cock.

"And you love it Ciara. You make more lubrication when I do that, don't deny it. I'd know you are lying," he said arrogantly.

"Is it ready, brother?" Master Kein asked winding a hand in my hair. 

I was irked by how easily they seemed to get me worked up. I huffed and raised myself over Christof. I aimed his length and slid down over it. 

"Yes, I'm ready, Master Kein," I said starting to shift my hips.

"What are you doing, Ciara?" Master Damien asked watching me curiously.

I didn't have a good answer for that. I was doing what we always did, I was just on top. Christof groaned and answered for me. 

"Ciara is bringing me great pleasure, brothers. I do not mind the position," he said gripping my hips fiercely.

I placed my hands on either side of his shoulders and started to canter my ass seductively up and down. I hoped the group behind me was enjoying the show as I slid on Christof's staff. On each downstroke I ground myself against him. 

Breath in my ear and heat at my back surprised me. Master Kein was looking down at Christof.

"You do not mind it is on top?" he asked.

The idea of finally being in control of one of these wanton sessions had me feeling empowered. I looked back over my shoulder at Master Kein and answered for Christof.

"If you think someone should be on top of me, Master Kein, get on." 

He looked a little startled and a lot confused.

I had learned a few cuss words from Fuji. In the past I'd been very careful not to use them. Fear it would make my Masters angry had stifled my creative spirit. Right now I didn't think they would take me down to the posts.

"Put your cock up my ass and fuck me," I whispered back to him. 

A collective gasp came from behind me. Christof seemed to think it was funny; he laughed. The voices behind us were discussing whether what I had suggested was possible. They hadn't asked about doing that together.

Christof allowed me to slow down while fingers explored me from behind. Finally I stilled over Christof and relaxed toward him. There was faint sheen of sweat over his chest and I licked at it. I adored the slightly salty taste of him. 

Over my shoulder I watched Master Kein cautiously approach my ass. I wanted to move. 

"Hurry up. Stick it in and fuck me," I commanded. 

That was more brazen than I had ever been with them. I hoped they wouldn't be angry.

Master Kein obeyed without much fanfare. His length seared into me and I hissed through my teeth. There was pain mixed with the pleasure. It was so good, it was too much; I couldn't decide.

My noises were ignored as the men intently watched one another. It was awkward at first, but soon they had a rhythm going. I wasn't a terribly active participant I just offered myself in the direction of whoever was moving. 

My ass burned a little with the stretch, but Master Kein's moans of pleasure were so beautiful I ignored the slight pain. He was muttering words Fuji had yet to teach me in my ear. I couldn't understand him, but it sounded like he was thrilled. Christof for his part looked relaxed as he stroked my breasts and thighs. He seemed happier than I'd ever seen him. 

Licking my lips I looked up from Christof's face and saw Master Damien watching me intently. His erection was rock solid and ready. Erect he was eight inches of fury and thick. I loved feel of him pressing between my lips. Often he allowed me to suck on his magnificent staff while someone else took me from behind. I tried to use my eyes to offer him that now. When he didn't respond quickly enough, I got braver.

"Come feed me your cock, Master Damien," I purred. 

He came toward me slowly stroking that awesome rod. Their semen was pinkish and I could see a little clinging to the tip. Flirtatiously, I licked that off first. His member pressed between my lips and I sucked on him. Using my tongue I swirled him around my mouth and tasted him like fine wine. Soon I had relaxed my throat and was taking him as deep as he wanted. 

It seemed like this much sex would be impossible, but they were so considerate of one another it was really easy. Somehow I rocked between the three of them accepting their cocks with ease. My clit, caught as it was, rubbed continuously on Christof. I was quickly approaching orgasm. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 06



Master Evan and Master Bane were not to be ignored at the sidelines, they stroked my breasts and my sides. Master Evan's hand continually drifted to the back of my head, forcing me to take Master Damien deeper. 

As one being the men sped up their rhythm. The faster they moved the more I was stimulated and pressed between them. I orgasmed hard, but made sure to keep from clamping down my teeth. Master Damien really hated to feel my teeth. I bucked wildly and sucked hard on the shaft my mouth. My inner muscles clamped down on the two cocks farther down. 

The sudden increase in pressure must have been too much for the men. In quick succession I felt them swell and heard them groan. 

Master Damien took too long in my throat and I couldn't breath, so I pulled back. As I did the last bit of his ejaculate hit my lips and dribbled down my chin. Master Evan caught it on his finger and fed it to me. 

It was weirdly erotic, but overall still a strange move. I looked a him a little confused. 

"Our seed is sacred, Ciara," he explained as I sucked on his finger. "It must be deposited in a living body." 

Master Kein moved away next and I was rolled off Christof onto the bed. Master Bane was looking longingly between my legs when Master Evan stopped him. 

"A moment brother," he said leaning down.

Master Evan rarely kissed me, not in a way I would recognize as a kiss. Master Kein and Christof often did, especially when I asked. They all knew what it was though. What Master Evan did now was like deep french kissing. He separated my lips and ran his tongue along mine. I responded in kind. 

I should have known he wasn't kissing, he was tasting. He ran his tongue out my mouth and over my chin. Almost laying across me, he spread me open and ran his tongue into my cunt. I squealed and had to ask.

"Master Evan, what are you doing?"

"I have never experienced my brothers like this. I think it will strengthen our bond," he said running his tongue into my ass. 

I wiggled and tried to get away, but he had a solid grip on my thighs. He was right, I did like it, but I still thought it was nasty.

Once Master Evan had finished he allowed Master Bane to settle between my legs. He was eager and pushed himself without pause into my dripping pussy. I groaned at the sensations. He was larger than Christof. He pressed into me and I felt my muscles stretch around him. Master Bane grunted and continued to thrust.

A prick was at my lips and I looked up to see Master Evan standing by the bed offering me his cock. They had all learned they could go much deeper if I lay on the edge and let my head fall back.

Rocking between the two men felt more like what I was used to. Soon hands were lifting my legs and spreading them, so I took Master Bane deeper. I would recognize Master Kein's hands anywhere as his long fingers fondled my nipple. 

Christof's hands were busy stroking my mound as Master Bane thrust harder and harder. It felt like he would split me down the middle, but I didn't care. I just wanted him to keep filling me up. 

The conversation between the men was starting to get my attention. Christof was asking about ornamentation for my nipples. He said it sounded like a wonderful idea to him. With Master Evan holding my ears and fucking my throat I was in no position to argue with him. Through the sexual haze it surprised me, though. Christof had never talked about piercing me. 

Christof's fingers were magical, drifting over my clit to flick it each time Master Bane pulled out. His hand retreated and then returned with each pull. My hips were moving unconsciously against the two men. Again, I felt the swirling low in my stomach. 

As the orgasm hit my eyes rolled back in my head. I moaned past Master Evan's cock and he slowed slightly enjoying the vibrations. Several more drives and Master Bane's thick shaft was releasing into me. Master Evan held my face to his crotch and I felt him pulsating in my throat. I hated it when they came right when I did. It was hard to hold my breath. 

As Master Evan removed his cock and leaned over me to taste his brother I took a moment to regain breath. As I panted, he rolled off of me and started to talk to the other men. My cunt was still convulsing intermittently. 

I laid on my side, facing away from them and slipped a hand between my legs. Pressing in the little waves of pleasure continued to spread through me. 

"What are you doing, slave?" Master Damien asked leaning over me.

"You all were done with me and I was just finishing..." I said as his fingers slid across my backside into my slick channel. His thumb pressed over my clit and the little bundle sent shuddering sensation through me. Finally it stopped and I lie still and sated as he withdrew his hand. 

"You belong to us," he said rubbing between my legs, "this belongs to us. Only we are allowed to touch it. Do you understand me?" he asked.

"Yes, Master Damien," I said quietly as he picked me up and headed for the showers. 

I really was a mess and he took his time cleaning me. After he was done bathing me he rubbed the cream in to all my sore spots. I thought he was done, but he took a tiny vial off a tall shelf and dabbed a little of the liquid on my neck. He looked very satisfied as he patted me dry. 

The stuff he had put on my neck smelled pretty and feminine. Usually I didn't ask questions, it really irritated them, but I was curious.

"What was that, Master Damien?"

"Something special, Ciara. Do you like it?" he asked grinning. 

The happy look on his face was a good change. 

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered still confused.

Dinner was a relaxed affair. I sat next to Christof and Master Bane, they fed me. I took my time chewing once I got full. Master Bane rarely noticed and Christof ignored me when I played that game. Since I'd only just eaten I was particularly full tonight. It surprised me when Christof looked down at me and frowned. 

"Ciara, if you can't chew and swallow I'm sure my brothers can help you," he threatened. 

That had been an awful experience. I quickly swallowed the bite I'd been mulling over and accepted a new bite from his fingers. 

For him to say that to me was totally out of character. It really bothered me. For the rest of the meal I dutifully took what they gave me and didn't play any games. 

After dinner the men got undressed and we all walked down to the bathhouse. They all were in a really jovial mood, which was terrific. 

At the bathhouse I washed Master Damien as usual. His other brothers slid in front of me and also enjoyed getting scrubbed down. Even Christof was still in high spirits and tickled me when I tried to wash him. 

I hoped the good times would last. My stomach dropped when I heard Andre's voice. He always meant trouble. 

"You all are on an accelerated coupling schedule. Why is that? Punishment perhaps. Do the women wish to tear you apart one at a time or will they take all of you out together?" he mused standing at the side of the pool. 

Master Damien laughed. I don't mean he chortled or chuckled. He laughed so hard he had to grab the side of the pool. Master Bane roared with laughter and sat on a bench in the shallow water holding his side. I looked around shocked at my owners. They were having fun, a lot of fun. 

I almost looked up at Andre; I was dying to see the look on his face. I didn't have to wait long. Andre plunged into the pool in front of me. He looked livid. 

Master Bane and Master Damien were between us before I could blink. The groups started to fight viciously and I backed away. An elbow dodged past me and I realized I'd be safer away from the fighting. 

Sliding under water I swam toward the other side of the pool. It was the quickest way to travel in the water and I didn't risk looking at anyone. I figured I'd get to the other side and just wait for someone to come get me. 

Before I could reach the other wall I was grabbed out and thrust toward Fuji's owners who were standing at the edge. Master Evan ordered them to watch me and then went back the other way. Glancing up I saw Andre and his brothers being dragged out of the hall by my owners. 

Fuji's owners took me over to a little alcove and instructed me to kneel. Rose was already there and she hugged me. 

"It is human, cousins," I heard Fuji's owners explain, "we aren't sure if it is hurt or not."

"We have not been asked to keep it, yet. We will do our best," a strange male voice replied. 

A man knelt by me and spoke to Rose. 

"Ask it if it is hurt," he said to her. 

Rose repeated the question to me and I looked at her puzzled.

"No, thank you, I'm fine," I said. 

"Ask it if it breathed the water," the man said to Rose.

Again she repeated the question to me. This was beyond bizarre. 

"No, I held my breath. My owners know I can hold my breath a long time."

"Tell it to stretch out and help us examine the body, Rose," the man commanded. 

I waited for Rose to repeat the command to me and I did as she asked. Rose's owners didn't touch me but they examined me thoroughly. 

"It should be okay if it didn't breath the water. It doesn't sound like a human that breathed water or was injured. You could wait and see if Damien wants to call a healer for it."

They thanked the man and I thanked Rose by kissing her cheek. 

Fuji's owners had to discuss the kiss, of course. Fuji wasn't from a planet that kissed. 

The men led me to their suites. They all put the linen wraps on their waists, but Fuji and I stayed nude. They asked me to play the little drums, which I did. Fuji danced for them and they seemed to really enjoy watching her. To my relief they didn't throw her on the bed. 

A knock at the door interrupted us. 

Master Damien and his brothers filed in, they were all dressed, so I assumed they had been home. They thanked Fuji's owners politely and then looked at me.

"What are you doing?" Master Damien asked coming to stand in front of me.

"I play the drums while Fuji dances, Master Damien," I answered him.

"Did you tell your owners you can dance while I play?" Fuji asked me. 

She knew I hadn't, I was still shy about dancing with the other girls. 

Fuji's owners chastised her for speaking in a way that could be construed as speaking to Master Damien. She looked appropriately contrite. Master Damien raised his brow and looked at me questioningly. 

"Tomorrow night," Master Evan offered, "we should have our evening meal as a group."

Fuji bounced up and down and told her owners she needed a stringed instrument. I really hated her right then. There was no way to get out of this now. 

We walked back to our suites quietly. Several groups of men stopped to talk to my owners about Andre and his brothers. Listening to them I learned Master Damien had dragged Andre before the General. My owners didn't know what the General planned to do. 

"There was talk of a transfer," Master Damien shrugged. "They are to be kept in a separate lodging until the decision is made."

That did not surprise me. Andre didn't fit in here and he made trouble. Much like Fuji's owners the women would probably move them. 

Once we were home the men all stripped down. I was placed in the bed between Master Kein and Master Bane. I just managed to thank them for not letting Andre touch me before they fell asleep. 

I stared at the out the window for a long while just thinking. The main moon here had rings around it. I watched it making a lazy perusal of the sky. I was curious about Andre, worried about their bond, and more worried about dancing for them. They were my owners, not my lovers, but I desperately wanted to please them. 

At the Keepers the next day I was in a tizzy. My owners had seen me do everything, literally. Somehow the idea of dancing seductively for them had me really nervous though. I paced while Rose and Fuji laughed at me.

"What if they think I look stupid?" I asked plaintively. 

"You look beautiful when you dance Ciara, your owners will love it. Now stop pacing. Please tell me, what are you wearing that smells so wonderful?" Rose asked. 

"I do like the smell also," Fuji commented pressing her cool face against my neck. 

Touching my neck I remembered the stuff Master Damien had put there. I still smelled it, too. It did smell really good. I'd never known perfume to last that long. 

"My owners put something on my neck after they bathed me," I shrugged, "I don't know what it was."

"Well, you're very lucky," said Rose. "Perfume is really expensive here. It lasts for a long time at least. My owners put some on me when I've made them really happy. What did you do to make them so happy with you?" she asked knowingly. 

I groaned and told her. Both women were thrilled to hear the bond was being fixed. They said their owners had been concerned about Master Damien and his brothers for a long while. Feeling like a big mouth I begged them again not to tell their owners what was going on. 

"Ciara," Fuji said looking confused, "my owners already know the bond is being repaired. The way your Warriors fought with Andre and his brothers last night proved it. They haven't worked together like that in a long time. Everyone noticed, it's not a secret."

I felt better knowing I wasn't spreading rumors around. We practiced dancing the rest of the morning. I worked on my belly rolls until my stomach was tired. Despite the humor my friends exuded I was still really nervous about tonight. 

When the lunch bell rang I was hungry. My little resting place was in the main dining room. I waited patiently expecting anyone but Christof. I was surprised when he took a seat in front of me. He fed me and talked to other Warriors around us. 

As per normal, I was full quickly. I took the bites from him slower and slower. 

"Ciara," he whispered in my ear, "no games today. Eat what I have for you or I will ask the Keepers to help me feed you," he threatened. 

I looked up at him and didn't see the look of my friend. His face had no humor in it at all, he was seriously irked.

"Yes, Christof," I said dejectedly. 

"Address me as you address my brothers, Ciara," he warned into my ear.

"Yes, Master Christof," I responded feeling even more depressed. 

I assumed that Master Damien had gotten on him. There was no other excuse for his behavior. Eventually it would be nice if we could be friends again. 

I didn't stay on the beach with my friends after the mid day meal. I quietly swam out the little grate and explored. I noticed the current had changed a little, it was stripping off vegetation higher up the wall. Careful to stay above it, I explored until the Keepers brought us in. 

Out of the water I was nervous about my evening again. The girls tried to comfort me on the way to the Keeper's courtyard. I knelt down waiting anxiously on my pad for my owners. 

They would hate my dancing; I was sure of it. In my head I could hear them laughing at me and begging me never to dance again. 

I was sure they were all very well coordinated, they had to be to be Warriors. I had never been accused of having that ability. Tonight would just display for the world how much less than them I was. 

Another horrible thought tormented me, what if they didn't want a slave with no talent. Master Christof wouldn't stick up for me anymore, so I'd be sold. 

"CIARA!" Master Evan boomed standing right in front of me. 

I bounced up and nearly ran into Master Bane who had been leaning over behind me.

"Have you lost the ability to hear?" he asked sounding exasperated. 

"It still has ears, brother," Master Bane laughed, "I checked."

Master Evan continued to glare at me until Master Kein patted him on the back, "It looks contrite and quite afraid of you. Do not be cruel, brother."

Master Evan put a hand on either side of my face and kissed my forehead, which was an extremely weird gesture for him. In all the time I'd known him he'd never kissed me like that. "Please pay attention when we're speaking to you, Ciara," he said pleadingly. 

"Yes, Master Evan. I'm sorry," I apologized. 

We didn't go home first today. Master Damien had the transport pad drop us off at the bathhouse. The men stripped themselves and then undressed me hurriedly. I bathed Master Damien, as normal, but the rest of the men washed themselves. They had gathered their things and we were back in our apartment before I could blink. 

Right away I noticed a difference. There were more chairs in the sitting area and the table in the eating area was expanded. My stomach fluttered with apprehension as I noted the chairs in the sitting room arranged around an open area. Obviously that was where they expected me to dance. 

"Will that be enough room Ciara?" Master Damien asked when he caught me staring at it. 

I nodded mutely and he laughed at me. They were all in a wonderful mood. It was like they were looking forward to this. I wished I could have shared their anticipation. 

When they got redressed I asked them if I could wear something specific. They dressed me as I requested. I asked them to tie a piece of fabric around my waist in addition to my panels. 

When mom and I had taken the class we always wore what they called a hip scarf. The one I had at home had coins on it that shook when I danced. I was so nervous I told my owners all about it. 

I described the outfits the belly dancers wore in detail, right down to the finger cymbals or zills. Nobody stopped me from talking; it seemed I was already entertaining them. Master Bane even asked about why I did this dance at home. They found the entire story interesting. 

The food arrived in volumes right before Fuji and her owners did. The men greeted each other heartily and sat down to feast. I thought I'd be too nervous to eat, but the dinner was really good. 

Master Damien and Master Evan fed me, but it was all from their plates. No bowls of worms were to be seen on the table. If dancing meant no worms I had to think it was a good thing. 

After dinner the men sat and talked. Fuji's owners obviously didn't know the "campaign" against the women was a farce, because they wanted to discuss it. My owners debated strategy with them and never let on. I wondered if that was hard for them to know the truth and have to lie about it. I certainly wouldn't have enjoyed it. 

Fuji and I kneeled in front of one another. She had specific songs she wanted me to play for her and we had already discussed that. Again, she made me repeat them until she was positive I remembered. Fuji knew I was nervous and she also knew humans forgot things when they got nervous.

When the men got quiet I jumped behind the little drums Fuji had brought. Master Damien raised an eyebrow at me, but didn't say anything. Fuji quickly placed our kneeling pads in front of our respective owners. I thought that was an odd gesture. Fuji's owners called her to start dancing, which she did with flourish. 

I played the songs she had asked me to, in the order I was supposed to play them. It felt a little like being back at a music competition. The exact same feelings were all there. All that time in band had paid off, my brain was hard wired for music. This part of the evening I knew I wouldn't screw up. 

Fuji writhed and dipped, doing the traditional dances of her people. She swung her hips and her hair wildly. I relaxed as I played, I was used to watching Fuji dance. 

My owners were not used to watching a female dance. They looked at her with mouthes agape as she twisted and spun. Her knees went both forward and back, so she got herself in some positions I never would be able to. 

Once she had finished she kneeled on a pad in front of her owners. Apparently that was how I should finish, I noted to myself. 

Our owners let her rest for a moment and talked between themselves. I was right, Master Damien and his brothers had never seen anyone dance. They were enthralled with Fuji's movements. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 06



Master Damien complemented Fuji's owners on what a wonderful slave she was. Her owners took it all in stride and thanked Master Damien for his praise. They talked about how they had learned to play an instrument. Now they could play and watch her dance whenever they wanted. 

For her part, Fuji looked radiant. She loved to have her owners speak highly of her, it was the one thing in life that made her happy. From what I had figured out all women on her planet were essentially slaves. They were trained from birth to please the men that kept them. 

"Ciara," I heard Master Evan call and I looked up. He was motioning to the center of the room. Fuji picked up the stringed instrument she had brought with her and started to play. 

I moved into the open space and took a big breath. Looking at the floor I started to shift my hips side to side in time with the music. My feet knew the routine and of their own accord started to move. In my fear, I realized I wasn't moving my arms at all. Slowly, I started to make the sinuous movements I was supposed to. I had to look up when I did that, the men looked fascinated. No one in the room looked disgusted or amused. 

Slowly, I gained confidence. I shimmied my hips and started to roll my stomach up and down. My pelvis started to move in the staccato left right rhythm like it was supposed to. Inadvertently I found my fingers moving like they had zills in them.

As my movements became faster and more self assured, Fuji sped up the rhythm of her playing. Soon I was having a really good time, turning so they could see my ass jiggle as I shimmied and moving all over the little space. I spun and twirled putting myself directly in front of each of my owners as I danced for them. 

The covers over my breasts were barely there when I was standing still, now they were both off to the side. Not like it really mattered, it just meant they could see me moving all over the place. 

Finally, I started to feel winded. I looked at Fuji pointedly and she played me a nice exit. As the music stopped I dropped to my knees in front of Master Damien and looked up at him. He looked taken aback, but thankfully not like he thought it was funny. 

Fuji's owners rose to leave as they complimented Master Damien on me. My owners told Fuji's they appreciated the praise. Master Damien told them he would enjoy having them come over again.

The men talked at the door for some time. I used it to get my breathing back in order. It took me a long time to get winded, especially considering my afternoon hobby. I must have been dancing a really long time. Hopefully, it wasn't too long and I bored them. Except for accepting the other men's compliments they hadn't said anything about my dancing. I was concerned. 

"Ciara," Master Damien said sitting in front of me, "why didn't you tell us you could do that?" he asked.

I was surprised by the question. They were all looking at me expectantly, so I had to say something, "You never asked, Master Damien," was all I could come up with. 

"You've been able to do that since you first got here?" Master Kein asked pulling me to stand and touching my stomach.

"Well, sort of, we practice at the Keepers and I think I've gotten better, Master Kein," I answered watching him. He paced around me feeling my hips, like something about them might be different. 

The men made me do the dance moves as they laid their hands on my body. They wanted to know what it felt like. As I shook and shimmied in front of them, I watched their pants all start to look too tight. 

"We will get you an outfit like you described to dance for us," Master Damien stated as I rolled my stomach for him. "I wish to see you dance in the traditional costume."

I started to ask him how he planned to do that, but the hungry look in his eyes stopped me. Master Christof was the first to start removing my skimpy coverings. His brothers weren't far behind. 

Master Bane picked me up and walked quickly toward their bedroom. The men disrobed before they got there. As Master Evan pushed me onto the bed, I prayed they would let me get warmed up also. They surrounded me looking hungry and horny. 

Master Christof was in a mood to learn tonight. He knelt between my thighs and started to lick as Master Bane and Master Evan spread my legs. Only Master Evan really got between them like that, the rest just usually watched him. Under Master Evan's tutelage Master Christof proved he was a quick study. On his tongue I got so horny I was begging someone to fuck me, which they did. 

Master Damien was the last to climb on top of me and I was in a state. I was covered in sweat and my long hair was stuck to my face and neck. Evidently given the right stimulation I could have multiple orgasms. 

My body felt like it was a mass of live wires. I screamed curse words at Master Damien in English and in his language when he started to move. He just watched me impassively and moved slower until I calmed some.

"You have developed an interesting vocabulary, Ciara," he said quietly.

I grunted a response as my eyes rolled back in my head. The spasms in my belly had never really stopped. 

"You may not use those words outside this room," Master Evan said laying beside us and licking a bead of sweat off my neck.

I just stared lazily at him, which seemed to irritate him.

"Did you hear me, Ciara?" he asked.

"Yes, Master," I grunted.

He hardly looked satisfied with that response, but Master Damien was in the mood for completion not answers. He sped up his movements and whispered in my ear all the things they would do if I cursed in public. I groaned my answer into his neck as my spent body continued to twitch beneath his.

I think they bathed me after they were finished. Since I passed out once Master Damien was done with me, I wasn't sure. Considering how sticky I felt the next morning, they might not have, though.

I woke before anyone else and wandered out toward the bathroom. It was one of those mornings where I would have drunk coffee back home. I felt like a zombie. I was sitting on the pot before I realized there wasn't anyone to wipe me. As I reached for the rag on the counter, I was stopped. Master Christof laid his hand over mine and looked pissed. 

"What are you doing?" he asked. He towered over me the way Master Damien did when he was angry. 

"I'm sorry, Christof...Master Christof. I forgot to get someone to come with me," I stuttered.

He'd never been so harsh with me. As he picked up the rag and cleaned me, it finally hit me. 

"Your bond with your brothers is fixed isn't it, Master Christof?"

"We are bonded again, yes. It will take time to become as strong as it was, but it is fixed," he answered cleaning me. 

It was my own private horror. My friend was gone, lost into the chasm that was their collective mind. All that trouble to save him and I'd helped to send him away permanently. A single tear ran down my cheek as I stood up. 

"Why are you making tears, Ciara?" he asked curiously taking it off my face. 

"Sometimes humans make tears when we are happy about something. I'm really happy for you Master Christof," I lied. 

I don't think he believed me, but he let it slide. 

I was so depressed. The one person here that didn't insist I act like a mindless slave was now a mindless slave. I barely noticed when Master Damien let me choose between two different pieces of ornamentation to wear to the Keepers today. They'd never done that before, but I was too upset to give it much thought. 

The men were still in phenomenally fabulous states of mind. They didn't seem to notice my mood, which was a good thing. It would have been impossible to explain.

After all the exertion last night I was really thirsty. They had set me between Master Bane and Master Kein and I kept asking for a little more water during the morning meal. Master Kein must have gotten sick of me, he handed me a full cup and went back to the conversation. 

I just stared at him. Nobody else even looked at me. Tentatively I took a sip and looked up. They were still talking about a new sword someone had gotten. I drank the whole cup and handed it back to Master Kein, he filled it and asked if I wanted more. 

I shook my head 'no' and he laughed tousling my hair. It struck me to wonder if they could just stick to their own stupid rules. That would make my life so much easier. 

I was still down when we got to the Keepers compound. They weren't though. Master Damien kissed my cheek and told me to have fun. He said we would go for a fitting in the next couple of days. I needed to describe to the tailors how the outfit I danced in was made. They were all acting so off, I couldn't figure it out. 

The girls were sympathetic to my problem when I told them about it. They didn't really understand though. Even Rose had forgotten what it was like to have a special relationship with just one person. They tried to cheer me up, but it didn't really work. I was in a funk. 

Master Christof came to feed me for lunch, in the lunch room, of course. I ate what he gave me and didn't complain. He talked with the other Warriors about the campaign and who was going for a coupling next. They gave each other pointers on how to best subdue the women. He didn't seem at all upset to be lying out his ass. 

I missed him, the real him. I missed talking to him about how he was raised and what it was like to use a sword, all the stupid stuff we used to talk about at mid day. At some point during the meal I started to cry again. He brushed the tears away and looked at me questioningly.

Recovering quickly I told him I was thinking of my family again. He said the same thing Master Damien had, I wasn't permitted to think about them. They had not done a good job protecting me. In truth, I had to agree with him about that.

After lunch I swam out my little hole. I surfaced and saw the Keepers were busy with the girls on the beach. I was glad for the way they obsessed on us. It made it easier to disappear in the afternoons. They were always helping someone undress or walking them to the bathroom. It was stupid the way they acted like we were all little kids. 

I took a breath a dived deep. There were all these little yellow fish that hung out at the edge of the rock wall by the inlet. I chased them sometimes. I saw a cluster of them now. Swimming toward them, they scattered and then all went left. Weirdly enough, they all kept going and didn't go back to the wall, neither did I. 

I was caught in the current. I'd forgotten it was higher up now. The undertow sucked me along at a rapid pace. Back at home, I'd been taught never to fight an undertow, but I'd never been in one this strong or fast. I remembered an old lifeguard telling me to relax and use my hands to guide me to the surface. 

My lungs were burning for air and I couldn't tell which way was up. I let out a little bubble and watched it as I flew past it. I tilted my hands so they took me that direction. Slowly the light started to get brighter. I was going the right direction. Just a few more seconds, I told myself. Just hang onto your air just few more seconds. 

Gasping for breath I broke the water's surface and continued to be dragged along. I couldn't get out of the current and I watched the shore and the rocky inlet getting smaller and smaller. I screamed for the Keepers, but I was already so far out. Much to my dismay, I was being dragged out to sea. 

It took forever to get out of the current. Finally, I was dumped unceremoniously on what was essentially a large sand bar in the middle of the ocean. I looked around and realized I was in the middle of nowhere.

I couldn't see land in any direction. If I could tell which way home was I could swim toward it. The current had twisted me around for so long I wasn't even sure of that anymore. Not that I could fight the current to get back there anyway. 

My eyes started to tear up, I was going to die here. No one would ever find me. I fought for control of myself and it was a losing battle. 

As the sun set, the water started to rise. I had no idea how big the change in tide would be. By the time that awesome ringed moon rose into the sky the tide had risen significantly. There wasn't sand underneath my feet anymore, just deep dark water. I drifted aimlessly in the ocean trying not to panic.

I was thirsty, so thirsty. Televisions shows back home had taught me you can't drink salt water. This water tasted like the ocean on earth. I doubted drinking it would help me feel better. I'd seen some shows where drinking the ocean killed you faster. 

Finally, my survival instinct kicked in and I concentrated on scanning the horizon for land. These currents would dump me on a shore eventually, I reasoned, I just had to be on the lookout. Focusing my energy felt good. I was a survivor, I could live through this.

The first time I felt something brush my leg I screamed. Quickly, I realized it was my motion that was attracting whatever kept touching me. I floated on my back and tried to move as little as possible. I looked at the stars and did that breathing Rose had taught me. 

The panic started to crest again. My options were not looking good. I could drown, be eaten, or die of dehydration. Fighting hard, I concentrated on watching the stars and breathing deep. 

Looking to my right I thought I saw a light, so I moved and my feet sank into the water. I kicked a little to get higher. It was my imagination or the reflection of the moon. Nothing was out there, it was just me. 

The touch on my leg was firmer this time. I stilled all my movement, but it was too late. I screamed and thrashed as something wrapped around my lower leg. Slowly it started to pull me down. I took a big breath just before my head was pulled under. Some part of me realized it would probably be the last air I would ever take. 

I tried to fight, but it was useless. I was dragged deeper and deeper. Whatever was wrapped around my leg was thick as my arm and slimy. It had a hold on me like I'd never felt before. Little stinging pricks went around my leg everywhere the thing touched. 

Now I knew what would kill me, drowning. I fought the urge to breath; it was so strong. I needed air badly. That first breath underwater would be my last. I put it off as long as I could. 

I gave in to the urge and felt the ocean wash into my lungs. The pain was immense, but it would be over soon. My throat slammed shut and I struggled with the lack of air. My body writhed in the water. The blackness overtook me and I was grateful for it finally. 

I dreamed of Master Kein in that horrible abyss. He was in my face, his hair floating like a halo around his head. Next thing I knew he was forcing a thick piece of slime between my lips. The thing he stuffed in my mouth was gross. It was so nasty and it was moving like worms. This was a horrible way to die. Drowning while worms crawl into you. 

The worms were moving everywhere inside of me. They had long since forced past my gag reflex deep into my throat. I felt them in my nose, too. I tried to cough, but I couldn't. Really, I just wanted the worms out of me. 

My strength started to return, it felt like I was breathing again. Reaching up I tried to grab the slimy junk out of my mouth. Now Master Damien was right in front of me, his hair was plastered to his face. He shouted at me to leave it. He held me in an iron grip. 

My vision blurred and blackened for another moment. Master Bane was before me now feeling over my heart and shouting. I couldn't understand him. This was such a horrible, confusing dream. 

Wind was whipping past my face; there isn't wind underwater. I was laying on metal. In my dream I wasn't underwater anymore. A sharp pain got my attention and I looked toward my leg. A giant pink mass was wrapped around it and stuck to it. It's tail end flopped and moved down by my foot. I tried to scream or move away, but strong hands held me down.

I watched as a man I didn't recognize brought what looked like a fiery brand down over the pink mass on my leg. Pain rocketed through me and I saw the burned part fall away. The brand was reheated out of my sight and then he placed it back over the thing covering me. I'd never felt such burning as when he brought the fiery metal down over the mass, but each time he moved it away a little more fell off my leg. 

Looking up I saw my owners standing over me. They looked like they were all seething mad and soaked to the skin. The pain radiated up from my leg again and I watched the moon slowly fade out of sight. 

This was an awful nightmare, I just wanted it to end. Why couldn't I die like a normal person and not have a nightmare first? 

Finally, blackness took over and I welcomed the calm that it brought.

****

I was back in my owner's bed in the compound. My brain felt muddied and clouded. I was used to waking slowly, but this level of confusion was annoying even for me. Turning my head slightly I saw bright blue eyes and long blonde hair.

Master Evan was watching me with unfaltering attention. He lay on his side in the bed looking at me. He had his head propped up on his hand as though he had been studying me for some time. 

"So which horror is it to be this time, Ciara?" he asked brushing my hair off my forehead. "Though I know it serves no purpose, I will tell you again, you are safe and we are real." 

What a bizarre thing to say. 

I turned my head and saw the moon through the window. It was night. I couldn't figure how I got here or where I was supposed to be. I didn't remember going to sleep and no one else was in bed.

The men slowly came into the bedroom and sat around me on the bed. They were all dressed in their linen shifts. It must be bedtime. I couldn't figure out why I went to bed first. 

"What has it said this time?" Master Damien asked taking a sip from the cup in his hands.

God, I was thirsty, so thirsty. 

"Master Damien," I pleaded and pointed to the cup. My voice was raspy.

"It recognizes you, brother," Master Evan said as he helped me to sit up.

They held me up and let me drink. I felt weak and dizzy. Inside the cup was water, but it burned going down. I coughed and sputtered, but I wanted more. I clung to Master Damien's arm so he wouldn't take the cup away. They fed me little sips until the thirst had gotten better. 

I tried to move my leg and screamed as pain shot through me. Jerking the covers away I screamed again. My right leg was tattooed and raw looking. It looked like an intricate snake wrapping around my entire calf on the right. 

"Ah, it is to be the waking dream of the tentacle again," said Master Bane quietly. 

"It doesn't have you, Ciara," Master Christof said petting my shoulder. "We burned it off of your leg, there is no tentacle stuck to you. You aren't drowning. We cut the fleint's appendage and pulled you up," he said. 

"What are you talking about?" I grated out. "Why did you mark my leg like this, Master Christof?" 

They all just stared at me for a moment. "Is it awake?" Master Damien asked contemplatively. 

"Ciara," Master Kein asked, "where are you?"

"In the bedroom," I answered confused. 

"Do you know who we are?" Master Christof asked looking hopeful. 

"You are my owners," I croaked out. 

They cheered and slapped each other on the shoulders. It was an impromptu celebration going on around me. 

Master Bane leaned forward and kissed the top of my head, "Although I'd like to whip you raw before we take you to the village, I'm glad to see you back," he said smiling.

"Why do you want to whip me? Why did you mark me? Why are you so happy? What is going on, Masters?" I asked in rapid fire succession.

"Ah, the questions," Master Damien said laughing.

"And what's wrong with my voice? Why do I hurt? What happened today?" I continued to ramble 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 06



"Today?!" Master Kein laughed. "Ciara, you have been feverish and delirious for nearly two day cycles. Brothers, bring it more to drink and something to eat."

I sat in stunned silence as they bustled around getting me food and more water. I took what they gave me gratefully although my throat was really sore. I could not figure out what they were talking about.

My most recent memories were flashbulbs of nightmares: the deep dark black, a slimy pink tentacle, and their irate faces floating over me. It took a while for the memories to solidify in my mind. As a rush, the timeline came back to me. 

My eyes went wide when I realized. I nearly choked on what I had been eating. It hadn't been a bad dream. I had been in the ocean, way out in the ocean. Something had grabbed me. I had been pulled under and I had been drowning. 

Hurriedly I looked around and grabbed the closest man to me. He felt real. Master Evan felt like he always did, hard muscle and warm skin. He was looking at me curiously.

Tears started to streak down my face when what Master Bane said made sense. They were going to a lay a whip on me for what I had done. I retched and tried to keep the food and drink down. The root from before was presented to me and I took it.

"Please Masters," I whispered, "how many times will you lash me?" I was really crying now. 

Master Christof wiped my face before he answered.

"It depends on how honest you can become with us. If we are satisfied we may not lash you at all," he said cooly. 

My head bobbed up and down and they laughed at my gesture. 

"How did you escape, Ciara?" Master Damien asked.

I answered them with absolute honesty. I told them I liked to dive outside the cove to explore. Without missing a detail, I described the hole in the grate. They watched me stoically and I rambled on without thought. 

They heard about the current and agreed when I told them it had changed. As the ringed moon moved though its cycle in the sky, so did the current. Everyone in the room was already aware of that. 

Master Damien calmly asked how long I had been going out in the ocean. Their faces didn't change as I told them since the first day at the Keepers. I apologized profusely. They just ignored me. 

I asked hesitantly what the mark on my leg was.

Master Evan laughed, "You are like us now," he said pointing to the mark on his shoulder. 

"Yes," I insisted, "I understand we both have tattoos, but where did mine come from Masters?"

"You were grabbed by a creature in the ocean, we call it a fleint. It grabs it's prey and drags it down, consuming it once it gets to the bottom. It is shocking you were not grabbed sooner. They are everywhere outside the currents. The tentacle releases chemicals into it's prey. In you those chemicals must mark the skin," Master Bane answered.

"Evan has determined it is the same chemical the women use to mark us," Master Christof said absently.

"Tell me, Ciara," Master Damien commanded. "How did you avoid the fleint before we arrived?"

I told him I had felt them brushing my legs. They didn't understood floating, so I explained laying still and flat in the water.

"How did you find me, Masters?" I asked.

"You don't listen, Ciara," Master Evan said, "I already warned you I have a sense for creatures I have tasted. I followed my sense to you. We heard the scream and saw your bubbles rise from the water. We went down to find you," he finished stroking my arm.

I thanked him, kissing his hand. They made me thank all of them individually, which I did. 

"I breathed the water, Masters. How did you fix that?" I wondered out loud.

"You screamed about worms in your sleep. We assumed it was the creature I put in your mouth. It went deep into you and pulled out the water, pumping in air. They are quite useful. The Fishers that took us to find you had one they allowed us to use," Master Kein answered.

Master Damien picked me up and moved me into the showers indicating an end to my questions. 

"We haven't been able to get you near water in two cycles, Ciara," he explained setting me on the floor. 

My leg hurt too much to stand on, so he let me sit. Master Evan helped him and they washed me head to toe. I fought when they tried to wash my right leg, so the other men came and held me as Master Evan cleaned it. The leg was so sensitive it felt like they were washing me with needles. 

Once I was dry they laid me back in the bed. All the attention to my leg had made it throb. I whimpered as they pulled a thin blanket over it and Master Christof looked curiously at me. He left the room and returned with the foul smelling goop. He put a generous portion across my chest. 

The effects of the stuff was nearly instantaneous. I relaxed and watched the men crawl into bed around me. It didn't take long for sleep to take me again.

I wasn't sent back to the Keepers the next day or the day after. My owners barely allowed me out of bed. Healers came to see me and marveled over my leg. Living through the attack of a fleint was quite a feat. They congratulated my owners on my continued survival. 

As the swelling went down and the chewed on look got better the leg took on an exotic appearance. The marks started on the bottom of my foot and ran to just under my knee. Two parallel lines of deep black ran around my leg about 5 inches apart. Between them was an intricate swirling of lines and circles. Just under my knee it looked like the head of a snake, as the parallel lines got wider and semicircular. 

I had my own group of Keepers that watched me during the day. They barely let me turn over on the bed by myself. One of them watched me at all times. If I slept one of them would sit by the bed and stare at me. It was like they expected me to jump out the window if I got a chance. 

The second day the Keepers closed the leather door to the bedroom and I heard knocking around in the main room. They wouldn't tell me what was going on out there. I peaked out after they opened it back up. We must be expecting company, there were more chairs and the table was expanded. 

My owners arrived home early that night. They didn't go to the bathhouse, but instead showered in their quarters. They washed me head to toe. My leg had mostly stopped hurting, so I didn't fuss when they washed that. 

They dressed themselves in crisp linen shirts and new looking leather pants. I even noticed Master Christof shined his shoes. Stupid me, I should have known who was coming. 

The General and his brothers arrived at dinner time. After the food was delivered and set up on the table, Master Damien carried me out of the bedroom. He laid me on a floating pad in the middle of the main room. If I hadn't been so terrified of the General I might have been curious what held it up.

The General and his brothers were fascinated by my new markings. They touched all over my leg and explored it. The General even licked it. I would have thought that was odd, but Master Evan probably would have done the same thing. Eventually they were satisfied they had explored it enough. 

"I wish to feed it," the General said. 

My owners didn't hesitate and helped me off the floating table. I knelt obediently next to the General. He and his brother fed me thorough out the meal. I didn't play any games. I would have tried to eat the plate if he gave it to me. 

After dinner the men retired to the lower sitting area. Master Christof pulled me to stand, which was good because I needed the help. My leg was starting to ache. I didn't know how much longer I could kneel on it. Limping slightly, I walked with him into the sitting room. Thankfully, he pulled me to sit on his lap. 

"Your bond is repaired, I see," the General stated.

Master Damien told him it was.

"The slave was of use then?" the General's brother asked watching me. 

My owners all agreed I had been helpful. 

"The Administrators are pleased," the General said and then asked. "What do you plan to do about the slave's escape attempt?"

Surprised, I looked up. I wasn't trying to escape. With wide eyes I looked at Master Damien and shook my head. A hard look from him made the comment die in my throat. 

"We will take it to the village," he said decisively. 

I'd been to the village. It didn't seem that bad. I knew they wouldn't let the shopkeepers touch me, so I wasn't that worried. 

I should have known something horrible was going to happen. I might have prepared myself for it, but I wasn't thinking. When they didn't put the plug in the next morning, I was glad they forgot. They didn't dress me, but I didn't let it bother me. We got on a transport like every other morning but it went the wrong way. All of this should have alerted me. I might have had the chance to beg them, but I didn't. 

We went toward the mountains. I watched as mile after mile of dry rough countryside passed underneath us. I just considered the beautiful scenery and didn't wonder why we were going this way. 

After a long while a building broke the horizon, it was surrounded by the crumbling remains of a town. We drifted to a stop in front of the building. Like lightening, my collar and cuffs were off me and Master Damien pushed me from the transport pad. I stumbled down and turned to look at him.

The transport raised in the air so it hovered just outside of my reach. 

"You wished to be free, so here you are," Master Evan smirked at me.

"No collar to indicate you are owned, no owners to feed or bathe you," Master Damien continued. 

"Please, no," I said looking around. 

The area looked deserted. If they left me here I would die. 

"You may explore all you wish," Master Bane said in a hard voice.

"Careful of the Warriors that patrol the area," Master Kein warned. "You are nothing to them, just a tool to use and discard."

I paled and reached for them. They couldn't be leaving me to the others. 

"Perhaps if you are good enough one of them may choose to put their symbol on you," Master Damien sighed, "but I doubt it. They have no reason to take home and be burdened with what they can freely use here."

I screamed for them as the pad lifted off and they left. Dropping to my knees on the dusty ground I cried like a baby. I couldn't figure out why they would go to all the trouble to save me just to kill me themselves. 

*************

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the commentary. I really appreciate it. Knowing someone is reading and interested in the story encourages me. -- DW



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 07



Once the tears dried I looked around. This area once had been bustling, there were the foundations of innumerable buildings. A crumbling wall surrounded the entire area. I wandered toward the only building with a roof. There was no door, just an opening in the wall. 

I reached out and touched the pink brown stone and it crumbled a little under my fingers, this place was falling apart. I stepped into the doorway and immediately stepped back out. A skeleton lay against the far wall. It was most certainly humanoid. 

For a while I just stood and hyperventilated. The rational part of my brain decided to take over at some point. I tried to remember how long it would take for me to die. The lack of water would kill me first. If I was going to last I would have to find water here.

As I walked around the rocks on the ground dug into my feet. The smooth cobblestones I was used to were cracked and broken here. I tripped and stepped hard on a broken piece and it went deep into my left foot. 

I sat on a stump and examined the wound. Blood seeped slowly from the broken skin and dripped to the ground below me. The injury was deep and touching it hurt. With nothing to clean or wrap it with, I ignored it. 

I had to find water, so I walked around looking. The gouge was leaving bloody tracks where ever I went. I wandered all over and didn't see anything that looked like a well or a water source. Except for my sticky little footprints this place was bone dry. 

It was hot, warmer than the village I had called home. I was sweating profusely. The dust I kicked up was sticking to my damp skin and felt disgusting. Limping I moved back to the building with the skeleton. I crouched inside the doorway out of the sun and watched the bones. I wondered what she had done to get left to die out here.

I looked around the room and saw there was a small alcove off to the side. Wandering around the room I glanced into the recess, inside was a small jug that bore my owners' insignia. I hadn't been this thirsty since I was in the ocean. Glancing down I noticed several small bugs swimming in the jug. Picking up the dirty pitcher I looked closer inside and saw there was a small amount of water. 

The water teased me. It was dirty, I could tell just looking at it. The container was filthy and there were little silver things swimming in it. I placed the jug carefully down and looked for something I could pour the water into. If I had a cup I could pick the bugs out. 

I walked everywhere in the crumbling village, but there wasn't a cup or even another jug to be found. I did find more bugs. Swarms of the nasty silver things were everywhere. At some point I thought about the funny plants that lined the walls to the compound. They obviously had been placed purposely. 

When I returned to the building I went straight to the jug. I was parched and dry, bugs or not I'd drink the water. 

The jug was covered with the little silver things. The water was thick with them now. I sobbed and choked down the water, drinking a handful of bugs with it. They tasted disgusting. I wanted to scream and cry, but that wouldn't do any good. In fact, it would dehydrate me faster. 

I sat in the room with the remains and watched the sun's rays move across the floor. My foot was throbbing and I tried to ignore it. There was really nothing else to do. 

Just before sunset I heard the hum of a transport pad outside. I jumped up and ran out the door. My eyes locked with those of a massive blonde haired man. I ran back into the building and backed into the far wall. I couldn't stop watching as the men came toward me. Most of them were large and well armed, obviously Warriors. 

Five of the men entered the building and stalked toward me. I screamed for my Masters and jumped out a window on the wall. They were on top of me before I got ten feet away. It was a pointless struggle and they laughed heartily at me as they dragged me, by my hair, back into the building. 

"Who are you screaming for slave?" one of them asked me. "Your owners left you here. I'm not sure why they left their mark on you though," he patted the mark on my stomach. "Do you think you are worthy of them coming back for you?"

"Why would they come back?" another man spoke. "This thing has no sense, it looks right at us and dares the consequences. It doesn't learn. What would make such proud men take this stupid creature back?"

I continued to writhe and cry for Master Damien and his brothers. The men held me tight and fondled me everywhere. They even took the chance to fully examine my marked leg. 

I heard rustling as new feet came into the room. The Warriors currently man handling me held me so I couldn't see the new participants. When a sharp pain came from my tender left foot I shrieked and started to struggle anew. 

"We will beat you if you make that sound one more time," one of the Warriors warned me. 

The piercing pains in my foot continued and there was nothing I could do to stop them. It took every ounce of control I had to not cry out. Master Damien and his brothers had never treated me like this. I wanted them to come back for me desperately. 

I guess the new men didn't want me either. The nasty fondling stopped and they threw me into a corner of the room and left. Huddled on the dirty floor, I panted for several minutes. 

When I looked at my foot I was shocked. It was wrapped tight in a clean bandage. The top of the bandage had my owner's mark on it. 

Gathering myself I moved out of the corner and looked around. A small dirty water pitcher with my owner's symbol on it was just beginning to attract the bugs. Crawling across the floor I downed the contents before it attracted anymore insects. A bowl with their mark contained several worms crawling around in the slime. I was hungry and ate quickly, bugs and all, sucking down every bit of the liquid in the bowl. 

Expectantly, I waited by the door and watched the moon rise into the sky. Part of me was sure my owners would come for me. They never did. Exhausted, I lay down on the floor.

The floor was hard and grimy, even worse than a lawn chair on the front porch. The temperature dropped and I curled into a tight ball trying to stay warm. My foot was throbbing. To make matters worse the bugs found me interesting and crawled all over me when I lay still. 

All during the night I heard the hum of transport pads outside. Each time one passed it woke me up. My terror was two fold, when they weren't there I feared something prowling in the night. When I could hear the transports, I feared the men that would be on them. I slept a little, but was wide awake when the pad landed the next morning. 

I peaked out the doorway hopefully. It wasn't Master Damien and his brothers or the men from last night. Again, I looked right at them and that seemed to infuriate them. 

These men came toward me looking predatory and hungry. My foot ached and I couldn't run on it, so I hadn't even made it to the window this time. Once again, I screamed for my Masters. The men grabbed me and held me as I struggled. 

"It tries to escape; yet Damien and his brothers leave their valuable mark, fix it when it is injured, and feed it. This thing has no sense to be thankful," one man sneered pulling my hair back cruelly. 

I closed my eyes to avoid looking at them. That had worked before. 

"Thank you, Master Damien," I cried and one of the men slapped me hard across the face. I felt my lip split at the contact. 

The other man wrapped my hair around his fist until I couldn't move my head an inch. "You wear a mark but no collar, slave. If you speak to us we assume you think we are your Masters. Should we put our collar on you?" he asked. 

I kept my eyes closed and my mouth shut tight. I wanted Master Christof back. I wanted Master Evan and his arrogance back. I prayed they would come and get me.

"Why not use it for its purpose brothers?" one of the men asked. "It is not currently owned and we have been curious about the appeal of an Earth slave."

I screamed and tried to get away. My purpose was sex and I was not willing to have sex with these five strange men. I cried for my owners to stop these men. Of course, they couldn't hear, but I couldn't stop trying. My struggle was pointless. 

The men laid me on the floor and pulled my arms and legs apart. I tried to scratch, kick, and bite; it made no difference. They restrained me like I wasn't even trying. 

My eyes should stay closed, but I had to know what they were doing. Looking wildly around I saw the man between my legs had his pants down at his knees. He was oiling his cock liberally. 

I would not watch them rape me. I turned my head to the side and felt the hot tears leaking out. Willing my body to relax so I would not be hurt more, I gave up.

The man was laying on top of me now. His cock was pressed at the entrance to my womanhood. I felt his breath in my ear as he spoke.

"Were someone claiming you they would not allow this," he said quietly. "A slave that is owned can only be used by its Masters."

My own breath shuddered out and I opened my eyes watching the wall beside us. He was right. My owners, were they claiming me, would never allow this. 

The man pressed against me as I whimpered on the floor with tears running down my face. He was hard and large. The bulbous head started to slip into me and he stilled his movements. Some part of me was still lucid enough to be grateful he didn't just ram himself home in a single push. I wasn't ready and, oil or not, I would probably tear. 

A shadow passed on the floor from the direction of the window. I didn't look to see who it was, it didn't matter. When these men were done, the ones still outside would probably take a turn also. It would just give them reason to hurt me if I looked at them. 

"Too bad," the man on top of me said and pulled himself out. 

I lay still and waited for him to continue, but he didn't. The man just got up and I could hear him dressing. Suddenly my arms and legs were free, but I didn't move. Something had made them stop. 

The men were jovial as they left. They were busy talking about their next coupling. I was left, forgotten, on the floor. 

When I heard the hum of the transport glide away I pulled my legs up and wrapped into a ball. I felt gross and violated. My owners never left me feeling this way. 

I watched the dust dance in the light and thought about my circumstances. For all practical purposes I had been taken without my consent multiple times, but it never left me feeling like this. My owners were gentle and brought me pleasure. These men would have just used me on the hard dirty floor and left. 

Everything would have been about them. The oil was probably more for their pleasure than my comfort. I remembered my old boyfriend with the Chevy complaining because it chafed him when I wasn't wet enough. He'd brought Vaseline one time, because he hated the dryness. My owners were never like that.

Finally calmer, I took the chance to look around. The pitcher and the bowl were there again, but this time they had a mark I didn't recognize. I was so thirsty, but something was wrong here. 

If I didn't recognize the logo then it wasn't my owners feeding me. Master Damien had never said anything about that. I reasoned if I wasn't supposed to speak to or look at other men, I probably wasn't supposed to take gifts from them either. If I wanted to go back home, I had to prove I was loyal to my Warriors. Begrudgingly, I left the food and water to the flies.

By midmorning the insects had filled up the jug and the bowl. My parched tongue could ignore their taste if I just took a sip of the water, I kept thinking. That kind of idea was going to get me into trouble. The decision was already made, I would wait for my owners to provide for me. 

Desperate to distract myself, I set about recreating my owners' mark on the floor. Perhaps showing them how much I liked their symbol would make them want to forgive me faster. Outside I found a piece of white stone that acted like chalk when pushed against the floor. Using the design on my belly and foot as guides I did my best to recreate it. 

The stomping feet came out of nowhere and I hurriedly moved to huddle in the corner. I didn't look up at who was there. Praying silently they wouldn't want to use me, I just stayed very still. 

The feet walked all around the mark I had made on the floor, left, and then came back. They never spoke to me or approached me. Sitting in the corner had worked! I finally found what they wanted me to do here. 

When I dared to glance up the fly ridden jug and bowl were gone, but a fresh set had replaced them. When I was absolutely sure the transport was gone, I crept across the floor. 

The large jug that now sat in the middle of the room had my owners' mark on it. The water inside was clean and I gulped it down. A tiny cup sat beside the jug with that weird medicinal tasting stuff in it and I drank it quickly. A bowl of food sat beside the liquid and carried the same logo. I ate and drank my fill. 

After I had all I could take there was still water left in the jug. I didn't want the flies to get it. Apparently neither did the men who left it. A small plug was present and I used it to seal up the water. My owners were taking care of me. 

I had nothing but time on my hands and I could only do one thing that pleased them. I filled the floor with their insignia. After my "chalk" was exhausted I decided to put my message outside. Limping around I cleared a large area in front of the building and used stones to delineate their mark. 

My hands and body were filthy. I was slightly hungry and I ached all over. I missed being clean and comfortable. Overall, I felt awful. As I wandered back inside to sit with the skeleton I thought about what I had done to end up here. 

I wanted to be free, so I pretended I was. This was not a planet to pretend on. It was harsh and I was not suited for it. Without the protection of my Masters, I was as good as dead. 

It pained me to realize how much I needed my owners. I didn't know how to find water or which foods I could eat. The inhabitants on this planet obviously thought I had only one use. If they didn't own me, it didn't matter if I was happy about that or not. My survival was only important to one very small group of men and they had disowned me. 

I watched quietly as the sun travelled across the sky. Transports flew by quietly in the distance, but they never stopped. Eventually the fear waned some and I started to recognize the pattern. 

The transports were watching the village. There were six different transports as far as I could tell. They did regular sweeps in a set series. Someone was monitoring me, keeping me safe, with the exception of the near rape. 

I watched the sky and pondered that horrible experience with new eyes. My owners had said they disowned me and I was being left to fend for myself. Someone fed and watered me twice a day, though. They sent someone to tend my wounds. Master Damien and his brothers had not left me. 

'Too bad,' the man had said when he was over me. There was movement at the window and no one else ever came in. Someone had stopped him. My owners had stopped him. They were here somewhere, still protecting me. 

I smiled and leaned against the rough wall. My body ached, I was dirty, and I couldn't rest well, but there was a reason to be happy. I had not been left. I was just on a longer leash to demonstrate a point. 

It was a strange train of thought, but I suddenly wondered how far out in the ocean I had been. If I had to guess I'd say farther than I was from the village now. I wondered how my owners had found me way out there. Perhaps all that tasting Master Evan loved to do really did have some purpose. 

I remembered the times he'd tasted me, everywhere. I'd never seen him taste his brothers, except the one time. He'd probably done it long ago. 

A transport came close to the building, but didn't stop. I was getting used to the pattern; it was comforting now. There was just someone watching me. 

I lay my head back against the wall and continued to think about Master Evan and his sense. He had to be good to have found me. It was dark by the time they located me in the water and he obviously knew exactly where I was. 

A thought niggled in my brain. He hadn't been able to find Master Christof in the mountains. It was a shame. If he had they could have avoided all of that stress. One day when they were in the mood for my questions I'd have to ask them about it. When the men came later that night I got in my corner again. One came to stand over me, but I didn't look at him. It took them longer to leave this time. They started a fire in the fireplace before they left. Once they were gone, I found a new clean jug and food. 

Privileges, it felt like I was earning privileges. 

I slept in front of the fireplace and that seemed to keep the flies away from me. The floor was still uncomfortable, but I slept more than I had the night before. Every time I rolled over I felt a nagging soreness from sleeping on what was essentially concrete. 

"It is amazing humans manage to keep an entire planet to themselves," I heard Master Evan say. 

I thought I was dreaming and groaned as I sat up. The first thing I saw was several sets of boots standing around me. Shrieking, I dove to cower in my corner. 

"Ciara, come here," Master Damien said. 

As quickly as my sore body could I rose to stand trembling in front of him. Out of habit I looked at his feet. I'd spent the last two days learning not to look at anybody. 

"Look at me," he commanded.

I complied quickly and saw the deep frown marring his features. He looked as tired as I still felt. Evidently they weren't sleeping well either. 

"You have seen what happens to slaves that try to escape repeatedly," he said gesturing to the skeleton along the wall. 

"Yes, Master Damien, I won't try to escape again. I promise," I said meekly. 

Master Christof placed my collar back around my neck. The ornate cuffs were reattached to my wrists and ankles. Master Evan laid a kneeling place at my feet and gestured. I knelt down and took a long drink from him. They also fed me a large portion of the worms. 

Once I was done they stood me up and wrapped me in the bulky brown tunic. Master Damien motioned for me to follow him. I did, but the wound on my foot gave me a nasty limp. Master Evan slung me into his arms and carried me to the waiting transport pad. 

Once we were home they took me straight to the shower. I panicked when they removed my collar and cuffs, but they just wanted to clean underneath them. As they scrubbed and washed me Master Bane spoke up. 

"We know you did not try to escape from us in the way most slaves do, but it seemed that way. The compound demanded punishment for you. Don't ever do that again," he said seriously. 

"I won't Master Bane, I promise," I said quietly. 

"It is not safe for you outside our care, Ciara. We will take you to explore if that is what you wish to do, but you cannot go alone," Master Christof advised.

"Yes, Master Christof."

"You understand we treated you better in the village than any slave has ever been," Master Evan said pulling through knots in my hair.

"Thank you, Master Evan," I said automatically.

"We were very upset when Randolf struck you and more upset when he tried to..." Christof didn't finish and his eyes closed for a moment. He had looked horrified. 

"Although you did speak to him," Master Bane reminded me, "we had not given him permission to strike you or to use you. He overstepped your punishment. Damien beat him for that infraction." 

"Thank you, Master Damien," I replied watching the dirty water drain away. 

"We would not let them handle you after that," Master Kein explained kissing my shoulder. "We could not bear to see them touch you. Your pain affected us deeply..."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 07



It had been them watching me. I had been right. 

"Oh," I said instead and added a little embarrassed, "I thought it was because you liked my designs, Masters."

"We adored your designs, Ciara. That gave us plenty of excuse to remove you from that place," Master Damien said. 

They treated all my sore spots, including my aching foot and my bruised jaw. My eyelids started to droop during the care and I started yawning. Afterwards, they laid me in their bed. It felt like heaven it was so soft.

"We do not sleep in the daylight," commented Master Kein. 

"Do humans sleep in the day?" Master Christof asked curiously. "You seem to be fading toward sleep."

"Yes, Master, sometimes, if they are tired," I answered already falling asleep.

"We will let you rest today," I heard Master Bane say just before I dropped off.

They let me sleep, but woke me up when the food came. Master Evan carried my groggy body to the table and sat me on his lap to eat. I didn't make any complaints as they fed me. It was enjoyable just to be able to have a meal without worrying over those stupid flies.

We stayed in for the rest of the day and evening. Master Christof had taken me from Master Evan and put me on the chaise next to the fire where I dozed. They played card games and talked about their next coupling. 

I kept getting woken up by tapping at the door. A steady stream of Warriors came to visit. They seemed to have a million reasons to want to see my owners. When it came down to it they were all there to see my tattooed leg. 

Master Damien and his brothers were really angry other Warriors were looking at me. Their agitation was thick in the air. 

"It is ill. It cannot walk. I can't tolerate having this disgrace over us," Master Damien fumed. 

My foot had been rewrapped after my shower and I looked down at it. I wiggled my toes and noted the pain was much better. Experimentally, I lay it on the ground and put a little weight on it. 

"Ciara," Master Damien growled at me, "what are you doing?"

I froze and looked up at him. "It didn't hurt and I was just testing..." the look on his face made me stop talking. 

"We will tell you when it is well enough to walk on," Master Bane explained coming over and putting my leg back where it had been. 

I looked quizzically at them, but didn't say anything. 

"Ciara," Master Christof explained watching my face, "it is very evident to us you cannot tell when you are injured."

I started to speak and then stopped. Arguing with them was a bad idea. "Yes, Masters," I said instead. 

"One half day in the village," Master Kein said irritably, "and the Warriors on patrol tell us there are bloody tracks all over the area. The slave is bleeding."

My mouth was running before I thought about it, "I stepped on a rock and cut myself Master Kein. It wasn't my fault."

"How did you survive on Earth, Ciara?" Master Bane asked incredulously. "There was still rock in the wound when the Healers cleaned and stitched it. You are completely unable to care for yourself."

"Be forewarned," Master Damien said looking straight at me, "we will not leave you in the village again. You are too weak for the village and we cannot control the circumstance. We will use the lash next time we need to discipline you. We will allow you to suffer until you have learned, do you understand me?" 

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered huddling on the chaise. 

"But you will learn quickly and not need that sort of discipline," Master Christof said laying and wrapping around my back.

Master Bane crouched in front of me and looked at me very seriously. "Promise us you will learn quickly, Ciara," he said. 

"I promise to learn quickly, Masters."

They kissed my lips and made me promise over and over again to learn quickly and to not need the whip.

Later that night Master Damien unwrapped my foot and prodded it experimentally. He called the Healers and they told him I could walk on it. It was still a little sore, but I didn't limp. Master Kein told me I would go to the Keepers the next day. He also told me I would be wearing something to keep me out of trouble in the water. 

As promised the next day I was taken to the Keepers again. I noticed right away it was different men than before greeting us. I turned to ask Master Damien but he was already striding out the wall. Turning back around it was a little shocking. Every girl in the compound had walked outside to see me. 

Rose approached me, cautiously eyeing my leg. "Did they do that to you?" she asked.

"No, the fleint marks it's prey. My owners said it was like this from the tentacle that grabbed me."

"You have to tell us what happened," Fuji demanded pulling me inside. 

I sat inside the circle of women and told them exactly what had transpired. There were questions from them I would not have expected. The most remarkable were asked when the Keepers weren't around. 

Some of the other slaves wanted to know if escape through the ocean was possible. I told them honestly I didn't think so. Several girls told me they could drink the ocean water, it didn't make them sick. I described the fleint and how many of them there were. Nobody should have to go through what I did. I begged them not to try. 

Fuji shook her head at the questions; disobeying her owners would be unthinkable to her. 

"Where would you go?" she asked the other girls. "My owners are from across the sea and the life there was like it is here. If you get away from here, you'll just get taken there."

Some of the other girls wouldn't stop talking about escape and it made Fuji really mad. She finally started speaking angrily in her native language and showed her sharp little teeth to them. I'd never noticed her teeth before, they looked like a cat's. Rose pulled her back, but agreed with her. We were treated well and escaping did not work. 

The weird uncomfortable conversation continued until lunch, although my friends and I stayed out of it. When the bell rang, I was surprised to see my little pad not in the lunch room. Looking out hurriedly I saw it in the courtyard. Warriors were already coming in, so I made my way to it with my head down. 

A man was suddenly in front of me. I stopped and waited for him to go around me. 

"I'm proud of you for not speaking or looking," Master Damien whispered in my ear. He motioned for me to follow and picked up my little pad on the way toward the exit. I followed him to the area Master Christof and I used to talk in. 

He sat on a stump as I knelt down. "Did you fight at home?" he asked offering a me a piece of what was in the bowl. 

"A little, Master Damien," I answered and I took the food into my mouth. 

He made me explain that fighting at home was really just me getting beaten up by my drunk uncles. It was nothing very exciting or Warrior like. 

"Do you fight here?" he asked offering another bite.

"No, Master Damien," I answered confused.

"Why did Christof teach you to hold a sword then?" he asked. 

I blushed and wasn't sure why Christof would have shared this with Master Damien. "I was just curious about what you all do. I told him I didn't know how to use a sword and he showed me a little. I had to use a branch, because his sword was too heavy to pick up." 

"Here, use this stick. Show me what you learned," Master Damien commanded. 

Master Damien fed me throughout, but made our lunch into a training session. It was fun like Christof and I used to have. He laughed heartily at my approximation of a Warrior, but helped me get a little better at the fundamentals. 

At one point he handed me the bowl and told me to feed myself while I watched him. I ate heartily and watched him demonstrate some of their moves. He made a really impressive site. 

When lunch was over he walked me back to the compound along the sheltered trail. I was absolutely stunned when he reached down and took my hand. Suddenly he stopped and looked down at me. His other hand cupped my face in a gentle gesture.

"We were very unhappy when you were in the village, Ciara. It bothered us a great deal, more than we thought it would," he told me looking uncomfortable.

"It was awful, Master Damien. I won't do that again. I promise I wasn't trying to escape," I pleaded my case again.

Master Damien chuckled softly and pressed our lips together. It wasn't a short peck, which I had expected. He nibbled my bottom lip and teased my mouth open with his tongue. My legs felt weak as he expertly kissed me senseless in the middle of the forest. Despite my shock, I responded in kind. 

Breaking the kiss he pulled my ear to his mouth and breathed heavy for a moment, as though composing his thoughts. "We miss this," he said finally, "when you are not here. This is important to us." 

I was confused as he hugged me close. Master Damien had never come into the forest with me, only Master Christof had. They were bonded now, though, I suddenly realized. Whatever that strange attachment was, it must affect all of them. 

Hugging Master Damien, I whispered words of love to him. It was what I would have done with Christof. He responded and it floored me. 

"So soft, so sweet, and so curious," he murmured into my ear, "you are so important to us. You must not leave us like that again."

It was a generous sentiment; a personal and heartfelt plea. I never expected to hear something like that from Master Damien. Pulling back I looked deeply into his eyes and he smiled ruffling my hair.

"Come," he commanded, back in the no nonsense tone I anticipated, "you must get back, so I can be on time to my post."

In the afternoon I sat with Rose and Fuji on the beach. There was a new grate that rose above the water line protecting the inlet. Despite the added barrier, a chain was attached to my collar. 

The new Keepers informed me I could swim all the way to the grate, but no farther. My lead was attached to a metal ring sunk into the sand right by the water line. When I sat on the beach it kind of made me a trip hazard. 

I didn't really care about the chain, though. The water scared me; I didn't want to go into it today. I told Rose that and she looked concerned. 

"Your Warriors will be upset to know you fear something," she said seriously. "They do not wish us to be fearful creatures. They like us to have a little bit of attitude, even if it means occasional punishment. They will not be happy if they know you fear water now."

I nodded to her and quickly changed the subject. "What happened to the old Keepers?" I asked Rose instead.

"When you didn't surface at the bell one of them went to look for you. He came out of the water screaming for his brothers. He had seen the hole in the grate and you weren't on the bottom inside the cove. They thought something had come in and gotten you," she said shaking her head.

Fuji continued the story, "They had a transport pad at the compound. They just ignored us and gathered up their things. Before the Warriors got here, they were gone. We got our kneeling places and waited for our owners."

"The Warriors showed up angry and yours already knew you were not here," Rose said shaking her head. "We told our owners what the Keepers had done and they were furious."

Fuji continued the story, "Your owners must have known you were gone long before they got here. A water transport arrived and they paid the man to take them to find you. We didn't know what happened once your owners left until you told us."

Rose interrupted her, "When the other Warriors realized which way you had gone it turned into a hunt; lots of them joined the search."

"That was nice of them," I mused.

"No, it wasn't nice," corrected Rose. "Whoever found you got to keep you or sell you, whatever they wanted. You were a run away slave, your owners had no rights to you until they found you."

I shivered and stared at my friends. This could have ended up much worse for me. 

Rose and Fuji drifted off to a game being played on the beach. I was tired, so I lay down in the sand. I liked the noises of the water, but I had not inclination to go into it. Eventually the Keepers woke me and I walked back to the compound.

My owners came and picked me up as usual. I was still a little sleepy. Master Evan absently flicked some sand off of my shoulder as he commented, "Your hair is dry."

"Yes, Master Evan," I answered. 

"Did you swim?" Master Bane asked.

"No, Master Bane."

"Why not?" Master Christof asked curiously.

"I didn't want to, Master Christof," I said looking at my feet. 

Nothing else was said until we arrived at our dwelling. I followed my owners obediently off the pad and waited inside. They stripped off my little covering and took out my plug before we went down to the bathhouse. 

As we walked downstairs I started to think about that deep pool of water. It was always so busy. It would be easy to miss a body floating at the bottom. My hands started to shake and I held them together to make it stop. 

At the bathhouse I hesitated in the doorway and shuddered looking at the water. Most places I could see the bottom, but in the deepest parts I barely could. For the first time that frightened me. Master Bane tugged at me to get me to follow them inside. 

I kept my head down like I was supposed to, but I noticed we were getting a lot of attention. Warriors seemed to be coming toward us from all angles. From what I could hear they were curious about my leg. I prayed my Warriors would not pass me around to them. 

Being passed around should never have concerned me. Master Damien demanded the other men leave us alone in strong forceful tones. My owners surrounded me in a tight circle until the other men left. 

Master Damien pulled me to follow him into a shallow spot. He sat on a bench in the water and demanded I wash him. Reluctantly entering the water I sat on the bench beside him and did as he wished. The water only came up to my waist that way. To wash his long legs I had to move from beside him and into the water, which I did unenthusiastically. 

My hands were shaking again. I was so afraid and the water only came up to my waist. I fumbled the slick little piece of soap Master Damien had given me and it went to the bottom of the pool. Like an idiot I stood there and stared at it. 

Master Evan splashed me with water. I hadn't heard them talking to me. 

"Get the soap and finish washing my brother, Ciara," he said sounding exasperated. 

I tried to reach down and get the little bar without dunking my head, but the current from everyone in the pool made it move to slightly deeper water. My legs felt frozen to the spot, I didn't want to be in deep water. 

"Ciara," Master Damien said and I heard the frustration in his voice. 

It wasn't that bad, the soap was under maybe four feet of water. I persuaded myself to just get it over with. I took a deep breath and let my head go under. 

A moment later I was up. I found myself clinging to Master Damien's chest and gasping for air. The darkness had surrounded me the minute I'd put my head beneath the surface. Master Damien held me as I desperately tried to calm down. 

"Please, no water," was all I could manage to sputter out. My owners stood in a tight circle watching me pant and cry.

Master Christof reached out and stroked my back gently. "Tell us why you are acting this way," he said.

"I got soap in my eyes," I lied. Rose had said my fear would anger them. I couldn't risk it. "It hurt," I finished and looked up at him.

"Ciara, do not lie to us," Master Evan said in a low threatening voice. 

My eyes flicked the deep pool in front of us and I shuddered. "I'm afraid to go under water. I'm afraid I'll drown," I admitted. 

They didn't seem angry, but they didn't seem to understand either.

"You will not drown in front of us," Master Kein said. 

"Please, Masters," I begged, "can I get out of the water? Please, don't make me stay in it." 

Tears had started to run down my face and I couldn't stop them. If it wasn't for Master Damien's grip I would have been quaking with fear. 

"This is intolerable," Master Evan huffed and everyone seemed to agree. 

"I would prefer," Master Christof said, "not to do this here and now."

The men relented and sat me on the edge of the pool. I curled my legs up beneath me and waited for them to finish. My fear seemed stupid now that I wasn't sitting in the water. I watched them bathe themselves and felt ashamed. That was usually my job. 

We made our way back upstairs and I was just glad to be away from that whole water situation. I made up my mind to go into the water at the Keepers and get over this problem. Rose and Fuji would help me. I just had to face it head on. 

When we reached the front door I noticed my owners all looked happy. They also looked excited. They had gotten used to our nightly romps and I had been indisposed for the last several days. It was time for payback. 

Master Kein flung me over his shoulder as we entered the door and headed for the bedroom. The rest of my owners weren't far behind him. I hated that intent look they all got right before they made a meal of me. It was intimidating. 

Master Kein laid me on the bed and covered my body. Before I could react his tongue was in my mouth. He slipped to the side and someone was between my legs, licking and sucking. Master Evan, I'm sure it was him, was sucking on the ear Master Kein wasn't pulling on. His tongue kept snaking in and out. 

By the time Master Bane entered me, I was soaked and ready. As he started to glide in and out above me, I saw a cock being offered to my lips. Wiggling around, I allowed my head to fall off the edge of the bed and took Master Damien as deep as he liked, for a moment. 

Suddenly, I was drowning. I couldn't breath and I panicked, pushing against them and writhing. Inadvertently, my teeth clamped down on the cock in my mouth. Master Evan separated my jaws as Master Damien removed himself. Bane nearly bounded off me and knelt staring at me. I rolled on my side crying and apologizing.

One look at the ferocity on Master Damien's face had me cowering and pleading. 

"I'm so sorry, Masters. I thought I was drowning," I stammered. "Please don't get rid of me, let me try again. I didn't mean to hurt you." Tears ran down my face as I reached for them. 

Master Damien's fierce look changed to one of confusion. He wiped a tear off my face and continued to look quizzical. 

"The idea of teeth on my member is disquieting, but yours are harmless. Why did you think you were drowning?" he asked curiously. 

"When you do that it cuts off my air, Master. It didn't used to bother me, I just held my breath," I answered. "Now it reminds me of drowning and I'm afraid I won't be able to breath again." 

"Tomorrow," Master Christof said and the rest agreed.

I got hysterical and begged them not to take me to the whipping post or the posts. In the back of my mind even I knew I was out of control. They got irritated with my rambling and that made me more paranoid. My owners were going to do something awful to me tomorrow. 

My friend wouldn't hurt me so I begged him. I got on my knees and entreated Master Christof not to let them harm me. Master Damien picked me up and fell back to my knees.

Eventually, Master Evan pulled me on the bed. He made me lay still by wrapping his arms around me and holding me against him. I offered to have sex with him, with all of them, if they just wouldn't hurt me or sell me. 

"Ciara," Master Christof huffed in front of me, "have we ever hurt you? We aren't going to hurt you tomorrow. We will help you get over this fear. You are not acting like normal at all."

My terror wouldn't stop, it was like a freeway pile up. It just got worse and worse. I knew I was being a terrible slave. I thought about Fuji and cried they were going to trade me in for a slave like her. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 07



The Healers showed up at some point. I heard them discussing with Master Damien in the main room as Master Evan held me down. Humans do this all the time, they said. My owners were lucky it wasn't the first day, that's what usually happens. I heard them give instructions to Master Damien on how to use the calming creams. 

Master Damien came back in with two tiny jars in his hand. I apologized for the money I was costing them. I told them I'd get a job and pay them back. Master Damien looked at me with the oddest expression.

Master Evan held me tight as Master Damien brushed a heavy amount of the stuff across my forehead and cheeks. He took a second jar and brushed some of it over my neck. It burned strangely. I bucked in Master Evan's arms and tried to get free.

The creams sunk in and I stopped struggling. My mind was foggy and my body went slack. Whatever had me so upset a moment ago no longer mattered. 

I looked around the room and found an unusual amount of humor in everything. A giggle passed my lips and I turned my head to look at the man holding me so tight. His concerned expression was comical and I laughed out loud. 

Master Evan released me and I rolled languidly onto my back watching him. I still felt damp between my thighs and told them they could have me now. Incredulous looks was the only response I got. 

Dinner was a relaxed affair. I couldn't kneel because I kept toppling over. Instead, they sat me on Master Christof's lap and he fed me. 

I guess they didn't have drunks here, because my ramblings were very amusing to them. Despite my best efforts I couldn't stop talking. I said all manner of things I shouldn't be saying and they encouraged me. It was like a huge show for them. 

After dinner I quieted down and they played a game in the sitting room. They allowed me free reign of the room until I tried to touch the fire because it was pretty. After that I was placed beside Master Damien and not allowed to move. 

At some point they put me to bed and I passed out. The last lucid part of my mind wondered what they were going to do with me in the morning. 

I woke up looking at Master Evan, as usual. I felt fuzzy and weird. When I tried to talk to him my speech was slurring. At first he thought I sounded silly and then he started to look concerned. He called his brothers in and it took them a long time to understand me. Master Damien sent Master Bane to get the Healers. 

After a while my voice seemed to be working more normally, but I was so confused. I struggled to remember what I had done yesterday. There were snapshots of things happening, but no timeline. It seemed I had lost something. 

While we waited for the Healers Master Kein sat beside me and I asked about the day before. It felt like I was missing something crucial. 

"Do you remember what you told us?" he asked curiously.

"No, I don't remember much of yesterday at all, Master Kein. I remember being at the Keepers a little. Fuji showed her teeth and they were really sharp. I can't remember why she did that. What happened to me?" I asked getting more scared.

Master Bane burst back into the apartments breathing hard. 

"It was the cream, brothers," he called to them. "I talked to Basin and the Healers. The cream can affect a human's speech and even movement the next day. It is not ill. We just used too much."

"It cannot remember," Master Damien said looking toward Master Bane.

"The cream affects their minds. Some forget days at a time and never remember it, especially if the use is heavy," Master Bane told him. "That's why the Healers don't encourage us to use it." 

"I spoke with the General last night. He and the other Warriors are expecting a report," Master Damien said looking at me. "We will have to give him the name of the other one it spoke of. That is the best we can do."

My walking didn't seem to be too adversely affected. I was a little more heavy footed, but nothing horrible. Master Damien determined I would go with them, he didn't tell me where. 

My owners seemed solemn as we dressed. They became quieter as we walked out the door. I followed them downstairs and through the courtyard into a large room filled with Warriors. My breath left me in a rush and I wanted to run out. I had no idea what they were going to do to me. 

The General was standing in front of the room and we walked right to him. I only knew it was the General because I saw his boots, the man had the largest feet I'd ever seen. 

"Damien, tell us what you know," he said gruffly.

Master Damien told the General and the other Warriors that several slaves wanted to escape through the ocean. He said I had talked about it under the influence of calming cream. Due to the effects of the cream, I could no longer remember who wanted to escape. 

"We could use the lash and make the slave talk," a man called out. 

A cheer went up from the Warriors surrounding me. I huddled slightly closer to Master Evan and prayed silently. Strong hands pulled my back to Master Bane's chest as Master Kein muttered what sounded like a long curse from the other side.

"You do not have an Earth slave, Ibith," the General said. "Their minds are weak and very affected by the creams. Many cannot speak the day after it has been used."

"The slave spoke of one named Fuji who became irate at the mention of escape," Master Damien offered.

"Bring the one they named Fuji," the General called out. 

I felt really awful for starting this mess. Fuji's owners went and got her, bringing her back in front of the General. She dutifully told the General who had wanted to escape and how they planned to do it. 

After she was done the General excused my Warriors and her Warriors.

As we went back upstairs I was quiet. Thanks to my big mouth I had just gotten four girls in a lot of trouble. 

My owners got re-dressed, rather casually I thought. I was dressed in my dull brown tunic. I had never been dressed like that in our rooms, only when we went to the market. The change scared me slightly and I watched the men cautiously. 

We loaded onto a transport pad and sped in a direction I had never travelled with them before. Curiously, they brought several bags with them. They always travelled light, so that was a surprise. 

I'd never been in the direction we were going. We passed huge fields of something that looked to have been intentionally planted. Obviously someone farmed here. Other fields were full of huge horned beasts. They walked on two legs and ate the leaves out of the trees around them. 

Soon we were flying closer to the coast. I looked out at the endless ocean and cringed. Had Master Kein been a moment later, I would have been floating dead in that large space. Suddenly the pad dropped and I almost made a sound. 

We were between two rough hewn canyon walls, beneath us was a wide expanse of deep blue water. Far to my right was a massive gate rising out of the water, blocking the entrance to the sea, to my left was a long winding river.

The transport lowered until we were level with a small floating platform. Master Damien stepped onto the platform and Master Bane pushed me to follow him. Beneath the hood of my cover I was quivering in fear. 

A slight whirring stirred the air and the transport pad glided away. As it left, my owners started to strip my brown cover off of me. I looked up at the direction the transport had gone and prayed it would come back. 

Soon, I stood naked on the smooth wood as my owners undressed themselves. The little platform bobbed and rocked under my feet; it was only about ten feet by ten feet. Tiny waves lapped at its edges and pushed rivulets of water over the sides. 

I watched with trepidation as Master Damien looped a coil of rope around a post on the platform. My body was frozen with fear as he approached me. With a couple deft moves of his fingers he had slipped the slender rope around my neck and tethered me to the platform. 

"Can't have you getting away now, can we?" he asked playfully. 

Like an idiot I continued to stare up at him.

"I say it's time for the swimming contest," Master Bane said happily rubbing his hands together. "First to reach the other side wins," he continued.

"I have a better idea, brothers," Master Kein interrupted. "Give the human a head start and see who reaches it first." 

I looked out at the dark water and shook my head back and forth. I wasn't going into that again. I'd spent enough time in the ocean for a long time. 

"If we catch you before you reach the other side, Ciara," Master Kein said. "We'll put this into you and hold you under until you aren't afraid anymore," he said holding up a slimy squid like creature that writhed in his grip. 

"It will breath for you, Ciara. You won't drown and you'll get over your fear," Master Bane added happily. 

I remembered the feeling of something slipping down my throat and into my nose. The thing Master Kein was holding had multiple slimy tendrils off its main body. I was torn now, I hated that thing and I was still terrified of the water. Master Evan stepped toward me with a wicked grin on his face and I was decided. 

The water closed over my head and I had a moment of panic. Quickly righting myself I swam toward the far wall. Far behind me, I heard splashing as the men hit the water. Adrenaline kicked into high gear as I sped away from them.

The rough stone had just touched my fingers when I felt a hand wrap around my leg. I was dragged back from the wall and water rushed up my nose. Sputtering and coughing out the salty water I yelled at them.

"I touched the wall! I made it! You promised you wouldn't put that in me if I made it to the wall."

"Did we promise?" Master Damien asked playfully while treading water in front of me. His brothers surrounded me.

"I'm not sure it was really a promise," Master Bane said, "and how can we be sure it touched the wall?"

"I'll go underwater and stay as long as I can by myself," I pleaded. 

Having made my argument I plunged beneath the surface. I had to hold onto them to stay down, but I did. 

Underneath the water was peaceful as always. Just before I had to come up for air, I saw the funny yellow fish I liked to chase. I watched them so long I had to gasp for air when I came up. Master Evan was eyeing me curiously. 

"I like to watch the little yellow fish," I panted to him.

The men looked at one another and then Master Evan dipped under the surface. I watched him swim; it was fascinating. He didn't kick like I did with two feet. His body undulated and zipped through the water. Breaking the surface he held his hands out to me. A little yellow fish was struggling vainly against his grasp. 

I touched the slimy little thing and marveled at it. Once I was done Master Evan released it and I watched it go rejoin its group a few moments later. 

"What are they called?" I asked Master Evan and then gasped. "I'm sorry, Masters, I didn't mean to bother you with questions."

They laughed at me and Master Kein told me all about the little fish. "We don't mind your questions anymore, Ciara," he told me. 

Frankly, I wasn't sure I believed that. They were always irritated with my questions. Except for Master Christof, they had never encouraged me to be curious. 

They seemed intent on showing me things today, though. We explored every aspect of the canal we were in. To further my exploration, Master Damien removed the rope from my neck. 

"We thought you had swam farther out into the ocean. That was evidently not the case. You are quite ungainly in the sea," Master Damien told me while kissing my head. 

I was glad to be off the leash, but a little perturbed at the comment. I'd never thought of myself as particularly graceful, but the way he made it sound I should be wearing water wings. 

The place we were in was used by the men that harvested the worms. Master Kein took me deep under the surface and showed me where the worms lived. About ten feet down you could see them clinging to the surface of the rock and flowing with the current. If you got to close to them they dipped into the crevices of the rock and hid. 

Master Kein caught several worms and brought them to the surface. They were each coated in a thick layer of that horrible slime. The men each ate one and commented how much better they were fresh. Frankly, I couldn't tell a difference, the worms were just nasty. I didn't want to be the odd man out, so I agreed with the men. 

"Ciara," Master Damien chastised, "don't lie to us. We have been too lenient and it is now a habit for you."

We were all sitting on the wooden platform and Master Christof was pulling some food out of the bags they had brought. They all stopped and stared at me, waiting for a response. 

"I wasn't..." I started to say and five sets of eyebrows raised in tandem. "I don't like the worms. They are awful. They're just saltier here," I finished defeated. 

They all just laughed and returned to what they had been doing before. 

"Master Damien?" I whispered. 

I had to know how they knew I was lying. I was afraid to ask, but they hadn't gotten mad at my other questions today. I settled for looking pleadingly at him for a moment.

"Your breathing changes and your eyes move in a specific pattern each time you tell a lie," Master Evan answered the unspoken question. "We spend a great deal of time training to recognize all your human reactions."

"You will help us train others that wish to keep an Earth slave one day soon," Master Bane said. 

All of them were staring at me, as though waiting for a reaction.

I started to ask another question, "How would I...?", but stopped short. 

I wasn't sure I wanted to know. 

Master Evan laid out a small pad and gestured for me to kneel. Master Christof brought out bowls of food and set them down before he responded. 

"We will take you to the tent. Those that wish to learn about Earth slaves will come into the tent and be trained by us. We have been asked many times to take you, but have resisted. Now the Warriors are all very interested to see your leg. Even the General has asked us to put you in the tent for a day to quell the curiosity," he explained.

My eyes were wide and I wasn't sure this was something I should be scared of or not. I searched their faces for an answer, but none came. They all just continued to look at me.

I was surprised when Master Evan laid a hand over my heart, which was beating wildly in my chest. 

"It is afraid," he said simply. 

"Of course it is afraid," Master Kein said irritably. "It fears our cousins."

"They will not hurt you in the tent, Ciara. They are there to learn," Master Damien soothed.

I nodded numbly and tried to relax. I watched the little waves in the blue water.

"We could tell the General no," offered Master Christof handing out the bowls of food. 

The men all murmured in consensus and my head shot up.

"You'll make him angry, Master Christof," I responded feeling shocked. 

"We do not wish to see your pain," Master Bane told me as he offered me a chunk of food. 

"Are they going to hurt me?" I asked. All day at the mercy of other Warriors sounded terrifying. 

"No, we will be there and they will not touch you. Slaves are not caused pain in the tent," Master Damien responded.

"You will be there, Masters?" I asked to the group. 

"All day, Ciara," Master Bane told me as he pressed food to my lips. 

I didn't want to eat, but that upset them, so I did. During the meal they discussed anything but the tent. I tried to focus on the conversation and ate what they gave me. I forced myself to relax and the knots in my stomach untied. 

What I wanted to do was ask Rose about this new practice. I hoped the other girls would still be talking to me after what I had done. There was no way to fix it now.

After the food we rested on the platform for a while. I dangled my legs in the water.

"Is there anything like this on earth?" Master Christof asked me.

It was a thing the old Christof would have asked, but never in front of his brothers. I stuttered for a moment before telling him there was. 

Master Kein wanted to know all about the ocean on earth, so I told him what I knew. When I asked they told me things about the sea here. The discussion was open and it was really a nice change. 

"May I ask a question about you, Master Evan?" I asked hesitantly. "I don't want to get in trouble if it is a bad question."

"Ask, Ciara, we do not mind," Master Evan assured me. 

"You found me in the middle of the ocean. I don't understand how you couldn't find your brother in the mountains. Please forgive me if I shouldn't ask, Master Evan," I pleaded looking down. 

"There is something in the mountains," Master Evan said tilting my chin up, "that disrupts our ability. We cannot feel each other as strongly from a distance and I cannot track using my sense. It is very strange. We have always believed it was because the air is different in the mountains, but I am not sure."

We talked about the mountains, then. They would never take me there, because it was too dangerous. That is where the women lived. Master Damien talked like the mountains were an unpleasant and difficult place, even for them. I couldn't imagine how bad it would be for me. 

They asked if I had mountains on my planet and I told them I did. I had lived by the sea most of my life, but my mother had taken me to the mountains to see them once. The hills and valleys were beautiful on the television, but going to them was another experience all together. 

Laughing, I told them about the awful trip mom and I took. She got drunk and wrecked the car, our only transportation, late one night. We had to take a bus all the way back home and it took days. 

The memory made me sad and I tried to brush away the tears before they noticed. I hated to think about my mom, I still missed her. They didn't chastise me for being sad. Master Bane just pulled me onto his lap and let me cry quietly for a moment. 

"Why do you make tears, Ciara?" Master Damien asked.

"I miss my family, my mother and my uncles," I told him honestly.

"They did not make you happy when you were there, Ciara," Master Kein said. "I do not understand why you miss them."

"How do you know that?" I sniffled. 

I'd never told Master Kein about my family.

"We share what we know with one another. You have spoken to both Christof and Damien. You told my brothers they beat you and did not feed you. They often left you no good place to sleep. How is it you miss these other humans?" he asked. 

It was a hard concept to try to explain to him, but I did the best I could. As a group we talked a long time about family. Surprisingly, it was an interesting discussion and distracted me from being sad. 

When the sun started to set the men dressed me back in my dull brown outfit. I stood silently watching the sun set over the horizon as we waited for the transport pad. The sun setting over the water was beautiful, but the men didn't seem to notice. I chuckled a little at that, when did men ever notice things like a sunset?

Master Evan pulled the head covering off of me and watched my face. My smile faded quickly. I hadn't meant to get their attention. 

"What's so funny?" Master Kein asked from my other side. 

I rambled out an answer that sort of made sense, "The sun setting is pretty and you didn't notice. Men from Earth never notice things like that either and I was laughing because you don't watch things like that."

"We have seen the sunset many times, Ciara," Master Damien said, "almost every day, actually. It is hard to miss."

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered quietly as Master Evan replaced my hood. 

I still disagreed with Master Damien, but I wasn't stupid enough to tell him. It's one thing to see something, it's another thing entirely to appreciate it. They didn't seem to get esoteric ideas like that. After trying to explain feelings to them, I figured I'd leave that discussion for another day. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 07



As we rode back to the Warrior's compound I watched the scenery. This really was an amazing planet. It was harsh and the landscape was certainly unforgiving, but it had a certain beauty. I would gladly experience it, as long as I wasn't left naked and to fend for myself. 

A nudge at my mittened hand surprised me. Master Damien wrapped my hand in his as he looked out over the land. On the other side Master Bane did the same thing. We rode back to the compound like that and I wasn't really sure what to think about it. 

A huge sign etched into rock suddenly got my attention. I had not seen it on the way to the inlet. It was an arrow, actually two arrows with a symbol carved in the rock between them. We were going in the direction on the arrows.

I craned my neck to watch the sign as we flew past it. Master Damien noticed my attention and leaned close to me. 

"You saw the travel sign?" he asked and I nodded.

"Signs like that tell men that travel these routes that they are protected by Warriors from our compound. It also reminds them the correct direction to the compound," he said.

I wasn't sure I should speak in my brown outfit, so I just nodded again and Master Damien looked away. 

I wondered what type of men would travel to the compound. Perhaps traveling salesmen I thought, but I could not be sure. 

When we got back home the men undressed me and we walked down to the bathhouse. I walked confidently into the water and cleaned Master Damien like I was supposed to. He made me go underwater to wash his feet and I didn't have any trouble with it. 

After the bathhouse we didn't go back to our rooms right away. The men had brought clothing with them and had changed into their outfits in their alcove. They didn't bother to dress me. Not that it made much of a difference, the clothing I typically wore was almost see thru anyway. 

I kept my head down as we walked, but I recognized the wide steps to the General's quarters. Master Damien approached the door and politely knocked twice. The door creaked open and I recognized the voice of the General's brother. I could hear the General's booming voice in the background. 

"Greetings, Hersham," Master Damien said politely, "we only came to tell the General we plan on using the tent tomorrow, if it pleases him." 

"He will be happy to hear it. Did you accomplish what you wished today?" the man asked. 

"All is well, Hersham," Master Damien said as he stepped back.

"You are welcome to visit, Damien," Hersham said and I heard the door open further. 

Two huge boots appeared in my frame of vision and I knew they didn't belong to my owners. A moment later strong fingers were lifting my chin. I shut my eyes reflexively. 

"Look at me, slave," the General boomed.

My eyes shot open and I drank in the burly man in front of me.

"I had heard it was injured in the village," he said looking me over.

"Only the foot General," Master Damien replied tersely, "and it is well now."

The General patted the side of my face with his massive hand and smiled a little. "Tell me slave, will you be escaping again?" he asked. 

"No, General," I replied honestly. 

"You have a coupling soon," the General addressed the men. 

"We will be ready," Master Damien said.

I was glad when we left the General's house and went back to our own lodgings. The men changed out of their outfits and into their nighttime clothing. They put me in the bed and lay down around me. No one was really talkative tonight. I figured they were tired. 

My nighttime routine was usually not to fall asleep until after they did. I'm not sure why. I just liked the sound of their breathing when they were relaxed. Laying quietly, I waited, but they stayed awake. 

"I am surprised the women let us keep these slaves," Master Kein finally said.

They were quiet and eventually fell asleep. After considering the implications of what they had said; I finally fell asleep, too. 

************

Love the comments, they keep me going. Please let me know what you think and don't forget to vote. DW 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 08



I woke up and was groggy, as usual. Master Evan was straddling my waist and looking down at me. He pinched my nipples firmly until they were puckered and tight. 

"One day these will hold our crest," he said pulling me out of bed and toward the kitchen. We ate breakfast first today and then Master Evan took me to the shower. 

He cleaned me completely and had be me lay back across his lap. This was usually when he inserted the plug. Today he was in a playful mood. He had oiled his fingers and stroked my tight pucker. Alternating between long slow penetration and shallow two fingered stretching, he had me bucking back against him.

Using a slightly different smelling oil he spread it all over my butt. It had a slightly sweet smell to it. He massaged the meaty pieces and then pulled them apart so I was completely exposed to him. I felt him blow air onto my anus and it clenched at the odd sensation. 

My body was responding, getting ready for a marathon sex session with my Masters. My clit ached to be touched and my cunt was slick with moisture. I grasped the edges of the bench I was on and tried to get control. He didn't want sex, I told my body, he was just playing around. 

I heard the other men come into the room and was for some reason suddenly embarrassed. It wasn't like they had never seen me fucked before, just never in the shower room. My face flushed as Master Bane knelt beside me to look into my eyes.

"You have to do the entire body, Evan," he said watching with piqued interest, "not just that piece. Although it is ready, it is always ready for us."

"I like to see it like this," Master Evan said. "It is so docile and doesn't fight. Our women would never allow this."

"This is not a woman," Master Kein stated and I heard Master Evan sound flustered for a moment. 

I almost thought he was about to argue with Master Kein when he stopped. Looking back at him I saw a moment of utter confusion on his face as he looked at me. Master Damien shook him out of it when he reiterated we had to get ready.

I felt a brush pass through my hair which was quickly wound into a bun at the top of my head. Once that was done their hands were everywhere. 

The men massaged the sweet oil into every piece of my body. They had me flip over on the bench and Master Evan moved so I was flat on my now oiled back. They massaged me completely, even my face and in between my toes.

When Master Kein reached my weeping cunt he stopped. "It is already wet here," he stated. 

"It must be marked completely. Oil that part, also," Master Damien said working over my breasts. 

I had taken all the stimulation I could for one morning. As Master Kein's fingers oiled my lips and clit, I came hard arching my back off the bench. 

"Please fuck me," I begged hoarsely as my body convulsed on air. 

"Such language," Master Evan chastised looking down at me with an evil expression.

I put my feet together on the bench and spread my legs wantonly. "Please, Masters, I need you inside of me," I said huskily watching Master Evan's amused face. 

The men laughed at me as they watched me twitch. Despite my sensitivity Master Kein was thorough and coated my private area in the substance. His long fingers even delved inside coating my walls with the oil. 

I lay panting on the bench as a small floating transport pad was brought in. I wasn't allowed to stand, probably because I'd slip on my slick feet. They transferred me to the pad and then showered themselves off. 

The pad was comfortable. It felt like a firm bed underneath me. There was even a built in pillow under my head. 

As they washed I watched them quizzically. I couldn't figure out why I was covered in a thin sheen of this stuff. It wasn't unpleasant, just strange. Master Damien saw the look on my face and interpreted it correctly as a question. 

"The oil marks you as off limits to our cousins today," he said rinsing off. 

I nodded my understanding and rested on the platform. Looking down at myself I realized there was no mistaking I was covered in something. My skin was glistening. I was asking before I had realized my mouth was open.

"Why am I off limits, Masters?" I asked and then inwardly cursed myself. 

I just couldn't stop being curious. 

Master Evan's face was above mine a moment later, so close I almost had to cross my eyes to look at him. 

"We will train our cousins to use you for your purpose this day. Do you wish them to practice on you?" he asked mischievously. 

I started to scramble off the floating pad and was restrained. Despite the oil they had no difficulty holding me on the table. 

"You're going to teach them how to have sex with me?!" I shouted. 

"Yes," Master Bane said, "but only we will be touching you."

As though that made it any better. I panted on the table, but couldn't move. They were still holding me down.

"We have seen Earth slaves that must be restrained during their days in the tent. We had hoped you would not need that," Master Damien said watching my face.

Part of me wanted to scream and cry this was wrong, but I was a slave now. A slave with Masters that fed and cared for me very well. I didn't want to disappoint them. I relaxed on the table.

"I'll be good, Master Damien," I whispered.

The men pulled me on my floating trolley to lay in their room while they dressed. I tried to think of things to distract my mind from the rest of the day. They didn't seem particularly bothered by anything and were finished quickly. 

As they pulled the little pad out the door Master Damien looked down at me. 

"You should close your eyes, Ciara. You are not permitted to look at anyone or speak to anyone unless we tell you to. If we find you looking, we will remove the oil and put you at the posts," he warned.

"You will not need that, will you?" Master Christof asked cautiously. 

"No, Masters," I whispered closing my eyes. A six headed dragon could fly through the sky today and I wouldn't look at it. 

It turned out closing my eyes made the experience a little easier. As we made our way down to the courtyard I could hear how crowded it was, but at least I didn't have to look at anyone. I heard the men murmuring about my leg and how odd it looked. They all sounded excited to see it up close. 

The light went from bright to muted and I assumed we were inside the tent. 

"How is best?" I heard Master Evan ask. 

"We should display the marked leg," Master Bane said.

An air current like I had felt at the auction billowed up around my right leg. It was bent at the knee and then held in the air. Much like the last time I experience these currents I couldn't fight them. 

Master Damien went outside the tent and talked. I could hear his authoritative voice booming out. I shuddered thinking I had been left alone here and then I heard Master Christof's voice beside me. 

Master Christof stood next to me whispering calming words in my ear. I asked him what was going to happen in a whisper. The men that just wanted to look at my leg would come in, look at it, and leave, he told me. The men that wished to be trained on keeping an Earth slave would come later.

The sound of feet filled the tent. Men commented on my leg and asked to touch it. Several asked to taste it.

"Slaves are not touched in the tent," Master Bane said casually.

The men surrounding me insisted they really wanted to explore that leg. My owners continued to say they could not touch. I relaxed knowing they would not deviate from what they said they would do. 

My body jolted when I felt a brush on my leg and then it sounded like a fight had broken out. I could hear the sounds of fists crashing into bone and yelling. I wanted to look, but that would only get me in trouble. It wasn't like I could have moved away from a stray attack anyway, my leg was tethered to the table.  

"Cousins," I heard Master Damien say authoritatively, "slaves are not touched in the tent. Do not try our patience."

"I am here, Ciara," Master Bane whispered in my ear from my right. 

Master Christof said the same thing from my left. I relaxed completely knowing they surrounded me. 

The activity continued with a bit of grumbling. The other Warriors didn't want to risk the wrath of my owners again, but that leg was such an anomaly. They still wanted to touch and explore it. 

I wondered suddenly what my owners thought of the markings. Did it turn them off? Did they think I looked gross now? It didn't sound like they were trying to sell me to the men that were looking, but what if that was what they wanted to do? I had never thought to ask them any of those questions. My brows furrowed as I thought about it. 

Warm breath was caressing my face suddenly. 

"Ciara," Master Kein whispered, "what are you thinking about?"

"My leg, Master Kein," I answered softly. 

"Look at me," he commanded.

I opened my eyes and his face was just above mine. My peripherals took in the line of men filing past me on the other side. 

"Ciara, look at me," he commanded again and I focused on him.

Master Kein used a finger to turn my head toward him a little. That was probably a good idea. I was tempted to watch everything else that was going on. 

"What are you thinking about your leg?" he asked.

"Do you think it is ugly?" I blurted out. 

Master Kein looked confused, but answered that no, he didn't think it was ugly. He looked at me like I was strange for a moment longer and told me to close my eyes. 

It seemed like every Warrior in the compound came out to look at my leg. I was glad I was used to walking around everywhere nude or this would have been just awful. As it was most of these men had probably already seen me. 

Once the curious were done, the sounds in the tent changed. It sounded like men were coming in and staying. They were talking casually about the prices of slaves and how much they should pay. I heard debates about what species of slave was best, some argued for humans, some argued against. 

The cost of an Earth slave was certainly a detriment and then there were the daily costs. The nutrient drink we needed every day was pricey, as were the worms. Other types of slaves did not require such specialized care. 

My upper back was a stiff from laying like I was. I tried to shift around a little and relieve the pressure, but my leg and foot were still elevated. That prevented me from moving around too much. I couldn't find a better position 

I felt the wind holding my leg up relax and lower it back to the table. Master Bane's voice was in my ear a moment later. 

"Roll onto your stomach, Ciara," he told me.

I rolled over and got comfortable resting on my arms. I heard Master Damien start to talk. It sounded like a lecture on health. The topic could have been, How to Feed and Care for a Human. 

A hand came down and started to caress my back. The oil still had my skin feeling slick. It was relaxing, like a massage. I peeked through my lids and saw Master Bane leaning on the floating pad while he petted me. 

I marveled at what a good looking man he was. His short beard covered a very attractive jaw line. I wondered what he'd look like without the extra hair. He didn't seem to notice me watching him. 

I closed my eyes and felt breath in my ear, "Don't do that again, Ciara," Master Bane's voice warned. 

Master Damien went over every aspect of my care. It was interesting to realize what they noticed and I started to listen closely. My weight, the speed at which I moved, and the way my skin looked all were part of determining my overall health. 

They were very specific about my grooming needs; especially the way my hair should be treated and cared for. Several men in the audience snorted and said they would take it all off. Master Damien advised against that, humans were obsessive about their hair. It would make the transition worse. The men murmured amongst themselves for a while before Master Damien continued. 

My eyes were a very important indicator of how I was feeling, Master Damien told them. He taught them how to watch the centers for fear, anger, happiness, and arousal. When I was ill or not sleeping well the eyes became sunken. The way he talked, they had watching me down to a science. 

At some point I was told to sit up on the table, which I did. 

"You will open your eyes and look straight ahead, Ciara," Master Damien told me. "I will ask you questions. If I want you to lie I will tell you and you will lie. If I wish to hear the truth you will tell me the truth. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Master Damien," I whispered. 

On his command I looked out into a sea of faces and my head jerked down reflexively. Master Evan lifted my chin and told me to look out. The Warriors were all watching my face intently. I preferred not to look at them, so I stared at the back of the tent. 

Master Damien asked me a series of simple questions and told me to tell the truth. It took a while to find my voice, but once I did it was not hard. That part was easy and the questions were all straightforward. 

After those questions he told me to lie to him. At first it was hard, I knew they didn't like it when I lied to them. I made a game of it in my mind and that made it better. I lied fluently. 

After we were done Master Damien discussed with the men how I looked and sounded when I told a lie. It was terrifying to realized they knew each time I told the truth and each time I did not. The way they spoke it was the most obvious thing in the world. I felt more naked than I ever had on this planet.  

The next part of the tutorial was the part I had been dreading. Master Evan instructed me and I lay back. My legs were spread like I was in stirrups at the gynecologist office. It was the air currents that held me, so I couldn't move out of that position. I tensed waiting for the horror of this to start. 

Master Damien said he was glad to see the tension, he pointed it out to the surrounding men. If they used me now, I would find it painful. I wasn't like the women on this planet, my flesh was tender in my sex organs and I may even tear. If I received a tear in those areas it could take a long time to heal properly and I may never get over the fear. 

Master Christof whispered soothing words in my ear and Master Damien repeated to the crowd what he was saying to me. It was bizarre, but despite that I did start to relax. They had never hurt me and they weren't going to today.

The men asked questions while they must have watched Master Christof calm me. Did they have to do this every time? How long did it take? Was it worth the time investment?

"This morning my brother prepared the slave for its day and it became ready for us with just the simple touches necessary to clean it," Master Bane explained. "Earth slaves are very simple creatures. Once they learn you cause them pleasure, they ready themselves for it automatically. It is only afraid because we are in a crowd."

I disagreed internally that what Master Evan had done today just constituted cleaning, but I had enough sense not to argue. They were right in a way. I did expect pleasure from their touches and I had no problems when they used me. They had trained me, although I hadn't noticed it at the time. 

Master Christof went from soothing to stimulating as I relaxed. Much to my dismay I was ordered to keep my eyes opened. Men clustered around as Master Christof continued his gentle seduction. 

During this highly embarrassing procedure Master Damien pointed out what Master Christof was doing as he stroked down my sides and kissed my fingers. I watched the ceiling of the tent. He explained in cold calculated terms the mechanics of arousing me. Despite my discomfort with our audience I felt myself getting wet and ready. 

The men went over the topic I dubbed, Touching for Arousal, in an organized fashion. Start away from the sex organs, Master Damien told them. A human would be upset to be touched there first. Instead, they started with my head. 

According to Master Damien, my head had lots of places I liked to be touched. I enjoyed having my ears fondled, my owners had learned that the first day. That was particular to me, Master Damien told the group. Master Evan demonstrated how they pulled and sucked on my ears. 

The conversation went to my mouth and kissing. The Warriors were uncomfortable with the idea of getting near my mouth. Master Kein explained how much I liked to kiss and how it was not dangerous. I tensed back up when one of the Warriors asked, "Can you remove the teeth?"

I panted with fear. Hopefully my owners wouldn't want to do that. Master Evan told him it would be difficult to get enough nutrition without my teeth. He also explained they weren't very fearsome. From across the room Master Damien told me to open my mouth and I did. A finger slipped between my lips. 

"Bite me, Ciara," Master Evan commanded. 

I froze and then obediently bit down lightly on his finger. He laughed at me. 

"Bite me as hard as you can, Ciara," Master Evan said. 

I didn't react fast enough and Master Bane pinched a nipple. 

I sunk my teeth into Master Evan's finger as hard as I could. My face clenched with my effort. He laughed and removed his finger. My teeth clanked together at the loss. 

"As you see, not even a mark," he commented.

The display made the Warriors more comfortable with my mouth. Master Kein spent an eternity demonstrating kissing me. He kissed lightly and softly, at first. Those kisses could be meant to comfort or greet, Master Damien explained. Master Kein kissed me deeper tangling our tongues and I missed that explanation. 

The men in the audience asked about the other things on my face: my eyes and my nose, could those be stimulated? Master Damien told him the eyes were painful to touch and could be damaged easily. Humans found stimulation of the nares uncomfortable because we used it to breath, much like they did. 

The sensitive skin on my neck over my pulse was exploited for the benefit of the Warriors present. They placed their lips there to monitor my pulse and I also seemed to like it. I groaned as Master Bane softly bit my neck. 

When they reached my breasts Master Kein took over, again. They pinched and pulled at the sensitive tissue until I was moaning. Master Evan demonstrated how much I liked to have lips and tongue on my breasts and I nearly came. 

It didn't matter how many men were here. I wanted one of my Warriors inside me now. Much like this morning my hands were gripping the edges of the table I was on. This was just show and tell, not sex, I tried to tell my body. They were going to drive me insane this way. 

When fingers trailed down and started to stroke my slit, I gave up the pretense. Shutting my eyes, I begged them. 

"Please, Masters, please fu-" the words were cut off as fingers plunged into my mouth. 

I sucked on the fingers and teased the tips. I wanted the owner's cock to replace it. I felt lips at my ear and heard Master Damien's voice.

"We will punish you if you use those words in public, Ciara. Thank me for stopping you," he whispered and withdrew his fingers.

"Thank you, Master Damien," I said and he placed his fingers back in my mouth. 

Fingers in my lower lips spread my moisture around and started to flick and rub over my clit. Distantly, I heard the men describing what they were doing. The audience was now focused on my glistening pussy and they asked all about it. My owners explained my moisture was in preparation for them. 

"Oil can be used if the creature cannot be made to make lubrication, but we have never had to do that with this hole. We have trained it well," Master Bane said proudly. 

Fingers dropped lower and discussed my anal opening. Here they had to use the oil, Master Kein told them, I could not make lubrication for this opening. They explained how it could be painful if not properly prepared. They went through a very thorough lecture on anal sex. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 08



My owners explained how they cleaned and stretched the area, so they could use it. The stretching could be started at the auction if the Warriors paid or they could start it at home. My owners recommended having the auctioneer do it first, so the slave was ready when they were brought back to Pateria. 

"You will not want to wait once you realize how much it feels like our women," Master Bane said placing his fingers inside me back there. 

The sensations were too much and too little all at once. I had fingers in my mouth and my ass. Someone's fingers were strumming my clit. I exploded and writhed under their ministrations. When Master Damien removed his fingers from my mouth, I begged them to fill me and touch me using polite words. 

My body came down slowly and I became aware of where I was and what I had done. I was humiliated by my wanton behavior and blushed deeply. Trying to hide my shame I turned my face to the side. Long fingers stroked the hair at the back of my neck as I caught my breath. 

My ears perked to the sounds the men around me were making. I wondered how hard they had laughed at me and how stupid I must have looked. 

"It wants you?"

"What was it like, the first time it asked you?"

"It encourages your touches?"

"What reward do you give it for this behavior?"

The voices sounded awestruck. Not that I had just orgasmed in front of them, but that I wanted my owners. I had gathered the women here did not particularly want the men. Evidently they were impressed something craved what they had to offer.

"Would you like me to fill you now, Ciara?" Master Evan asked from my right. 

"Yes, Master, please," I said reaching out toward him. I hoped they wanted me to answer like that. 

Judging by the praise their peers gave them, it was the right response. Master Evan took my hand and kissed me full on the lips. 

"My brothers and I will fill you until exhaustion tonight, Ciara," he promised in my ear. 

They always kept their promises and I shuddered at the proposition. 

The wind billowing around my legs finally let up and I stretched out on the table. I'd been held like that for too long to be considered comfortable. I felt fingers running down the lines of my body as I stretched across the floating pad. 

The conversation continued for a while longer as I lay there. Master Christof told me it was time to close my eyes again, which I did obediently. Watching the men analyze me had been humiliating. I felt hidden with my own eyes closed.  

I heard a man offer a game of chuke to my owners. Master Damien said they had to feed and clean me before they could come down. 

"Ah, the down side of ownership?" the man asked.

"It is not an unreasonable price," Master Damien answered.

After the last group finished with their questions I was told to lay still. I had the sensation of motion as my little floating pad was pulled into the sunlight. 

As they pulled me upstairs I thought about what I had done. If more Paterians were interested in humans, more would be kidnapped. If I had been thinking, I would have done things so they wouldn't want human slaves. The idea upset me. 

"Tell me, Ciara," Master Damien said from beside me, as we went up the stairs. 

I knew I couldn't lie to him anymore, not unless I got better at it. A large part of me didn't want to upset him, for reasons I didn't clearly understand, but that didn't mean other humans would want to be enslaved. 

"It will make you mad and you won't understand, Master Damien," I told him honestly. 

The light changed and I figured we were in their rooms. 

"Open your eyes," he commanded and pulled me to sit up. "Tell me what you were thinking just then and don't give me any excuses."

We were in our rooms upstairs. They had pulled me into the bathroom and were looking at me, waiting.

I took a deep breath, "If I did a good job your cousins will want more human slaves and the slavers will kidnap more women. I love you, but other women will not want to leave earth," I pushed out in one breath. 

It didn't strike me I had told them I loved them until I finished my statement. I blushed deeply, but they didn't seem to notice and pulled me under the spray of the showers. 

"You will react to us the way you were trained to, every time," Master Evan said starting to scrub me off.

"And whether we want Earth slaves or not, they will still be taken," Master Bane said. "If we do not want them, they just go other places."

"Although we are curious what you mean when you say the word 'love'," Master Kein told me. "You are not bonded to us."

Now I was really blushing furiously, I hadn't meant to say that. 

"It means I like you, Masters, on my planet you didn't have to be family to those you loved," I told them.

The men debated as they watched me. That didn't make any sense to them. 

"It means I like you a lot and I worry about you, Masters," I clarified wishing I had never had the original thought. 

It's not like loving them made any sense anyway. Christof I had loved, but he was not himself anymore. In a way, I saw parts of him in all of them now. Maybe I did love all of them then. 

I looked up at them as they talked amongst themselves. If what I felt for them was love, it only went one way. I was just a thing that they bought for pleasure. It would be foolish to think that they cared for me the way I cared for them.  

The men seemed oblivious to my inner turmoil and they accepted the answer finally.

"Of course you love us, Ciara," Master Damien told me confidently. "We care for you better than you have ever been cared for. We are the most important creatures in your world."

I was glad they had their own opinion on the matter, because the way I felt confused me. 

The men fed me a hearty meal and then we went down toward the arena they played their game in. I sat by myself and watched them. I guessed the men they were playing with had all been at the tent today. That meant they weren't slave owners. I made the best of it, but it was boring without my friends. 

After the game we made our way back to the bathhouse. Some of the men they had been playing with walked with us. The conversation was about the game, so I didn't pay it any mind, at first. 

"Would you sell it?" one of the men asked. "It is so well trained, we would pay you three times what you bid at the auction."

I kept my breathing even like Rose had taught me to do. They had said they would not sell me, I had to believe that. 

"No," Master Damien said, "we have grown to enjoy it and do not wish to sell it."

"We could watch it for you when you go on your next coupling," another man offered.

Master Damien chuckled, "And what incentive do you have to return our property unharmed. If you had a slave we would be asked to watch, we would allow you to keep it. That is the only way the trade can be even."

I felt dizzy I was so nervous, despite my breathing technique. Thank goodness I was considered valuable property and not passed around the compound. 

Master Damien walked us into the bathhouse and I waited for my owners to undress me. Master Evan whispered in my ear as he removed my breast covers.

"Do you feel empty, Ciara? Know that it takes all of our control not to fill you here. You would take it from us. Take all we had to offer and still beg for more, wouldn't you?" he whispered.

My face flushed hot all the way to my breasts and I was wet before he stopped talking. Master Bane laughed as he cupped my mound and stroked the smooth flesh. 

"They are correct. It is well trained," he said to the group. 

We filed into the warm bathwater and I was glad they were talking about their coupling. I'd had about all the public sex I could stand for a while. 

After the bathhouse we walked casually back to our rooms. The men were talking about a new technique to bind the wings of the women.

"You don't want them to get away, Masters?" I asked curiously.

"No, Ciara, we do not wish to be cut by the edges. They are very sharp at the tips and the women wield them like a weapon," Master Kein told me. 

"That's awful," I commented shaking my head. 

"You shouldn't worry about them tonight, Ciara," Master Kein told me.

"Why, Master?"

"You will need all of your energy to worry about us. All day you have begged to have us inside of you. We have shown great restraint, but do not plan to control ourselves much longer," he said smiling. 

We walked into our dwelling and I followed them inside. Master Damien turned around sharply and I walked into him, stepping on his feet. 

"Who did the clumsy slave ask first today?" he presented to the group.

"That would be me, Damien," Master Kein said happily.

"And me a mere moment later," Master Evan said. "How about we share Ciara, brother?" Master Evan asked Master Kein and he agreed.

I had no idea what they were talking about as Master Bane picked me up and sauntered toward the bedroom. 

Master Evan lay on the bed and motioned for me to come toward him. I started to walk up to his head and he stopped me. 

"No, Ciara, get on the bed and crawl over me," he commanded.

I did as he asked and ended up straddling his erection. I was no where near ready for them right now, but I knew they would take care of that. 

"Do you like my kisses, Ciara?" Master Evan asked pulling my lips down.

"I like your kisses, Master Evan," I whispered brushing my lips against his. 

As I started to kiss Master Evan deeper I felt lips on the backs of both thighs. The wet mouths were heading toward my center. I tilted my hips to give the mouths access to my most private places. 

The wet, flicking tongues lingered over the curve of my backside. I forgot to breath when one set moved to take firm lick up my plump labia on one side. His partner copied him a moment later on the opposite side. Both deliberately avoiding touching me where I really wanted them. 

My hips were squirming, trying to find a little more stimulation. The mouths continued to torment, adding gentle scrapes of teeth as they nipped and sucked. When a face finally pressed against my waiting cunt I pushed back against it. The owner's tongue lapped persistently until I felt the moisture pooling out of me. 

"Ciara," Master Evan said disengaging his lips from mine, "I feel you are not giving me any attention. Is something distracting you?" he asked playfully. 

I attacked his mouth with renewed vigor. It was almost impossible to ignore those hot, wet lips on my cunt and ass. I sucked on Master Evan's lower lip and made my way across his jaw to his neck. 

"Please, fuck me, Master," I begged him in his ear.

"Naughty Ciara," he told me playing with my nipples, "my brother will go first and he isn't ready yet. You have been ignoring him."

My mind was muddied with desire and I had no idea which brother he was talking about. 

"Who, Master Evan?" I asked desperate to have someone at this point.

"Kein, of course, Ciara," he said pointing behind me.

Scrambling off of Master Evan I found Master Kein sitting on the edge of the bed behind me oiling his long prick. He was grinning happily and didn't look upset in the least. His tool was hard and looked plenty ready to me, but I didn't want to argue. 

On impulse I got on my knees off the bed and started to rub his oiled shaft between my large breasts. My own fingers were stimulating my large nipples with each move. I held my tits together so I cradled him and took the tip in my mouth as it emerged each time. 

"Is it on a kneeling place?" Master Damien asked in a strained voice.

I continued to slide Master Kein's pole up and down and looked over at Master Damien. By the look of it, he was enthralled by the sight in front of him. I licked at Master Kein's flat stomach and gave Master Damien the sultriest look I could. He shouldn't be thinking about kneeling places at a time like this; I wanted to make him forget about the rules. 

"No, it is not," Master Kein answered and pulled me to get back on the bed. "I will have it kneel in a better place. Go back and get on Evan again, Ciara," he ordered. 

I moved over Master Evan, but tasted him as I went, flicking my tongue over his thighs, stomach, and chest. He seemed to enjoy the attention and pulled me to kiss him when I reached his mouth. 

Master Kein knelt behind me and started to slide his fingers into my tight ass. I hadn't had the plug all day and there was certainly a difference. He took his time stretching me, but I still groaned when the head of his cock entered me. 

Master Kein was a considerate lover and let me adjust to his size. Master Evan distracted me by playing complicated games with his tongue in my mouth. It was a familiar cramp when Master Kein moved his entire length inside of me. I moaned and rocked my hips, feeling Master Evan's length twitching underneath me.

"Take my cock now, Ciara," Master Evan commanded. 

I wanted to tell them it would have been easier if the one below went first, but I was flush with desire. I struggled to move around enough without dislodging my lover from behind and finally succeeded. Master Evan thrust his length home in one motion and I nearly fainted I felt so full. 

I grunted and screamed as the men rocked me. It was still so much when they took me like this. My body felt pulled and pushed in so many directions at once. I closed my eyes and concentrated on relaxing my flesh around their bodies.

"Open your eyes," Master Bane ordered. "Do you feel pain?" he asked me.

"So full, Masters," I grunted as Master Kein licked my back.

"You did not have the plug to ready you today," Master Damien commented stroking my breast absently. "We will not let you go unprepared again."

I groaned and closed my eyes; I hated that stupid plug. Master Bane ordered me to open my eyes. He was sitting and leaning casually against the pole in the center of the bed, clearly enjoying the show.  

"I don't like the plug, Masters," I complained sounding whiny.

Master Evan laughed beneath me. "It is good for you, Ciara. Besides that I like knowing it is in you. It reminds you all day that this," he said grabbing my ass cheek, "belongs to us."

"Yes, Master Evan," I whispered. 

His lips were such a temptation, even when they were spouting his annoying banter. I kissed and licked at them for several moments. He moaned softly and pushed hard into me. 

Master Kein and Master Evan pumped me slowly between them for a near eternity. Neither man seemed intent on this getting anywhere anytime soon. Master Damien sat beside us and played with my nipples, now slick with the oil from Master Kein's cock. 

When I came to a shuddering climax no one seemed to notice and they continued with a leisurely pace. After a fashion they sped up their thrusts and spilled into me. I rolled off of Master Evan and panted on the bed. 

Master Damien pulled me to my knees and stroked my buttocks. I felt his fingers stretching my anal opening. 

"I have never taken you here, Ciara," he told me. "My brothers usually do, but tonight I wish to ride you and hear you scream for me as I impale your tightest hole."

Master Damien was always so proper, so it surprised me to hear him talk like that. I turned to look at him and his fangs had grown. He gripped me roughly and speared into me with a hard thrust. He seemed to have lost his usual control. 

I yelped and moaned at his aggressive behavior. He would force himself inside of me quickly and then slowly withdraw until just the head was still holding us together. At some point I realized what he wanted to hear and I started to chant his name in between the moans.    

Master Christof lay on his side and watched me. His fingers stroked my soaked slit and played over my clit. He found a way to rub that made my already weak legs shake like they were made of rubber. Master Christof chuckled when I came again and moved to help Master Damien hold me up. 

Once Master Damien had finished the men generously offered me a drink. I kneeled before them for the water. I didn't have the strength to move my body back onto the bed after my drink. They placed me on my back with my head right at the edge of the bed. 

Master Christof moved to lay between my thighs and Master Bane asked me to open my mouth. They took me like that and I just moved like a rag doll between them. When Master Bane came I nearly choked on the copious thick ejaculate. I don't remember Master Christof finding his release. 

My owners hadn't lied. They used me until I couldn't walk to the bathroom under my own power due to exhaustion. After they cleaned me, I curled up between them and fell asleep almost instantly. 

I was taken to Rose's owners the next morning after my meal and cleaning. My owners were going to a coupling. 

"Your schedule is increased from ours," Rose's owners commented to my owners. 

"It appears that is how the Administrators scheduled it," Master Christof answered. 

Master Damien stood in front of me and held my head as he kissed my forehead. "No cuts, no running away, and no lies while we are gone," he said looking into my eyes. 

"Yes, Master Damien."

I felt a stranger's hands on my arms and flinched. "May we use the posts if it misbehaves, cousins?" 

I looked at Master Damien with terror. I hated the posts. 

"Not this time, Basin," Master Damien said. "It will behave for you. I am sure."

I nodded in agreement and my owners smiled as they left me. 

Roses' owners liked to shower in the mornings and we knelt on pads in the bathroom while they cleaned themselves. I couldn't tell if she was angry at me or not. She just watched her owners expectantly while they bathed themselves. 

Once we got to the Keeper's compound I was ready to burst. I wondered if she would continue to ignore me or if that was just an act for her owners. My answer came quickly once the men left through the wall. 

"Act normally," she whispered quickly in my ear. 

We went and sat in our usual spot. Fuji was already there. I looked cautiously around and didn't see the four girls that I had tattled on. 

"They are in the village," Fuji said under her breath. 

"Oh," I said as several girls started toward me. 

"Did you tell on them?" a dark skinned girl asked me. She had only one eye and it looked angry. 

Rose interrupted before I could answer. "Didn't your owners ask you if you wanted to escape?" she asked sounding exasperated. "My owners questioned me for an entire evening, Fuji's spent a morning asking her. All of our owners became suspicious when Ciara was caught. Those girls should have hidden their thoughts better."

The girl wasn't deterred. "Did you tell on them or not?" she asked again. 

"Not intentionally," I answered her and that was a mistake. 

The girl looked furious and swung her fist out toward me. I didn't have time to flinch when the Keepers were dragging us both away. She had never even made contact with me. 

I was shoved into a small room with my back flush to the wall. My arms were held out to the sides and my legs were separated. My strange restraints consisted of a strong wind I couldn't resist. It reminded me of the auction. A wall in front of me slid up and blocked my view of anything in front of me. 

The girl from before was still screaming at me. Just before the partition moved past my face I had seen her. She was held just like I was on the opposite wall.

"Slaves are not permitted to fight," one of the Keepers said as he walked out and I heard a door close.

"You had no right to repeat what they told you!" she screamed at me.

"I know," I told her laying my head against the wall.

"Did you think it would make you a better slave than the rest of us? Did you think you would get a reward?" she screamed.

"You are right," I answered her. 

"Then why did you tell on them?" she asked. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 08



Not like it was going to make any difference, but I told her the truth. "My owners put a calming cream on me, because I panicked about something. It made me feel crazy and I talked too much. I don't even remember what I said to them," I told her. 

"I have loyalty to my friends," she told me. "Everyday they spend in the village, you will spend in here."

We stood like that for hours. The girl occasionally cussed me, but I didn't say anything to her. My arms were sore and my feet hurt. I regretted having said anything, but in a way I felt I had gotten what I deserved. Standing here with this angry girl in this boring room was my punishment for talking. 

The partition dropped and Rose's owner was standing in front of me. He laid a kneeling pad on the floor and released me. Once I could move enough I knelt down and he fed me without saying anything. Afterward, I was allowed to relieve myself and then reattached to the wall. 

The day passed very slowly, but I imagined it passed slower for the girls in the village. My companion reminded me of that frequently. She was right, the village probably was worse. I certainly hadn't enjoyed it. 

Rose's owners came at got me at night. She didn't say anything to me, but held my hand on the transport pad. The look on her face said everything for her. 

In the bathhouse that night we finally had a chance to talk. Her owners left us sitting in the water and were discussing strategy with some other men. 

"Don't complain to the Warriors," she said. "Their solution to any problem with slaves is to whip both the trouble makers until they stop the behavior."

I nodded and she kept talking, "Fuji and I have a plan," she told me just before her Warriors came back. 

During dinner one of Rose's owners turned to me and asked, "How was your day slave?"

I couldn't lie, because they would know, so I answered honestly. "I stood in a room, Keeper." 

"I asked you how the day was slave, not what you did," he said pleasantly. 

"The air was comfortable, Keeper. I had food and drink. I have had worse days and I have had better days, sir," I replied.

I hoped he didn't push me any farther. Complaining would get me whipped, at least according to Rose. I would be lying if I said the day was fine or good. Both answers would get me in trouble and I knew that. 

"Karis, you are upsetting our Rose with your questions," one of the men at the table said as he stroked Rose's head. 

Rose looked at the man that spoke gratefully, but she didn't say anything. There was fair amount of grumbling, but the man stopped asking me questions and just fed me. 

After dinner the men played a game I had never seen in their sitting area. It looked a bit like chess. 

Rose sat quietly by them and sewed. Occasionally, she looked up and commented on the game. I was fascinated by her sewing. I had never seen anyone do the intricate stitching she did. 

"It is for my Masters," she said smiling toward them when I asked her what she was doing.

"I would like to learn to do that," I told her softly. 

"You will need your Master's permission," she said. "If you pricked yourself with the needle and bled they may become upset."

"Of course," I told her stroking the faint scar that I still wore on my leg. 

My goal while they were at this coupling was not to get any new scars. I'd never gotten so many injuries in such a short time before. Contemplating all the new dangers in my life, I wondered what tomorrow would bring. Hopefully, no one else would want to beat me up. A bruise would probably be just as upsetting as a scar. 

I was distracted from my musing when Rose stood up. Curiously I watched her walk across the dwelling into a dark room that was probably where they slept. Her men followed and I cursed inwardly. Did I really have to watch this?

The last man pulled me to stand as he walked by. I didn't resist as he pulled me into their bedroom. Everyone else was already there, stripping themselves of whatever they were wearing. 

There was a kneeling pad by the door and I rested on it. I wondered if they would notice if I scooted it outside the bedroom, but quickly lost that idea. Of course, they would notice. I stayed quietly where I had been put.  

I concentrated on the floor. They were climbing on the bed and I did not want to watch. It would be impolite to watch Rose have sex with her owners, even if they didn't seem to mind. 

"Are you hungry for us, Rose?" a male voice asked. 

He was the one that sounded hungry in my opinion and I glanced up. A man was standing behind Rose rolling her nipples between his thick fingers. It was the man in front speaking and this time he demanded she answer him. 

Her breathy voice seemed to stir them up more when she answered how much she wanted them. 

I tried to look away, but it was such an erotic scene. The man in front reached down and picked up Rose's legs. He pulled them around his back. The man behind her steadied her as his brother entered. 

Guessing from the sounds she was making she was beyond ready for them. The man behind her licked and sucked at her neck, while playing with her breasts. Rose was vocal in her appreciation of the attention. 

They caught me looking and I blushed hard. There was no judgement or censure in their gaze, but I felt watching them should be wrong. I stared at the floor for the rest of it.  

As each man took her Rose continued to scream her pleasure. She told them she loved them and that they were the most important creatures on the planet. It sounded like what my owners had told me I should be feeling. Evidently that was what they wanted to hear. I'd have to remember that. 

After they were done one of the men walked by me. He was carrying a very drowsy Rose in his arms. As they walked out I heard her ask him to use a certain soap, because she liked how it smelled. He told her he would be happy to. 

I looked back to find the man named Karis looking down at me. 

"Rose is a good slave," he told me. "You would do well to act as it does."

"Yes, Keeper," I replied quietly as I stood up.

My continued antics here had not been missed by the rest of the Warriors. I must be the worst slave they've ever brought back. 

He pointed to a spot on the bed and told me to lay down, which I did. 

"Christof told me you will need to relieve yourself in the middle of the night," he said stretching out next to me. "You will wake me by tapping on my arm and I will take you."

I lay quietly as they brought Rose back and tucked her in on the other side of the bed. She sounded like she was already asleep. The men all lay down and got comfortable around me. I was used to the nighttime routine. 

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. I wasn't all that tired. Frankly, I'd done a lot of nothing all day, except stand. My feet were sore and I was restless. Suddenly, warm breath was on my cheek and I opened my eyes.

"Why don't you sleep, slave?" Karis asked quietly. 

"My feet are sore, Keeper. I apologize for keeping you awake."

The man grumbled a little and got off the bed. I went to follow him and was pulled back down by the man on the other side of me. My insides were all bunched up wondering what they were going to do to me. 

Rose was sound asleep. I could hear her steady light breathing from the other side of the bed. Why couldn't I do that?

Karis returned into the bedroom and sat on a stool by my feet. I had horrible images in my head of what they were going to do to me. Hopefully I'd just pass out from the pain. 

Taking my right foot in his hand, he started to rub it. Massaging gently and slowly the dull ache from standing in one position all day got better. When he finished with the right he moved to the left. I was almost asleep when he rubbed the healing cream over both of them. 

I didn't wake up at all the rest of the night, which was weird for me. It was surprising when I opened my eyes and the sun was up. Rose walked into the bedroom and sat on the bed beside me. 

"Fuji said you were a deep sleeper," she laughed. 

I expected the morning routine from this time, so it wasn't a surprise. I still didn't particularly like it that I was being touched like that by anyone but my owners. At least they were quick and efficient about it. 

Unlike most days, I dreaded going to the Keepers. If the girls were still at the village, which they probably were, I would be stuck in that boring room again. I sighed and stretched a little on the transport pad. It wouldn't be long before I was stuck to the wall. 

Rose's owners left us inside the Keeper's area and I saw the girl from yesterday heading toward us. The Keepers must have expected it, they were watching from the side. 

"You stupid bitch!" Rose yelled in English and swung her hand out to strike me. 

I only had time to flinch before the Keepers were dragging the two of us into the little room. I was put on the wall again and I saw Rose on the opposite wall. The partition rose in front of my face.

"Slaves are not permitted to fight," the Keeper said before he closed the door. 

"So," Rose said brightly, "what did you talk about yesterday?"

"This was your plan?" I asked her feeling shocked.

"Sure, Fuji and I couldn't talk the girls' friends out of leaving you alone, but we thought at least we could keep you company in here," she said. 

"This isn't a fun place to be," I told her. "Your arms will be sore and your feet will hurt."

"Decision's been made, Ciara," she answered. "I would love to hear you talk about Earth, though. Since I am already being punished, I feel now is a good time to ask. My owners have forbidden me to talk about my home planet. It has been so long and I would love to know what it's like now."

"But I guess we have the day to ourselves," I laughed leaning my head on the wall. 

"Yup," she said in English, "it's just us Earth girls."

We spent the morning talking, part of it in our native language. Well, I did most of the talking. I told Rose everything about life in America now. Eventually we found it was easier to talk in our new language. It had been a long time since Rose had spoken English. 

Rose had been from a small town in Kansas. I couldn't tell her much about the state particularly, because I wasn't from there. I kept the discussion general. She seemed to enjoy it. 

I told Rose everything I could think to about Earth. We talked about the technology that was there now. I told her about drugs and war. We talked religion and politics. Everything seemed interesting to her. 

When the partition lowered I was shocked. Rose's owners, all of them, had been standing and listening for who knew how long. 

"Basin," one of the men asked, "do these seem like slaves that are fighting?"

"No, no I don't think so," the man named Basin answered. He turned to Rose and stroked her face. "Tell me, my Rose, why are you and your friend standing in this room? Why did you try to strike it after we left?"

"We were trying not to involve you, Master Basin," she told him in a pleading voice. "There are slaves here angry that my friend told her owners about those who wanted to escape. They have promised to keep it here every day the other slaves are in the village. I thought it would be better for my friend if I was here to keep it company." 

"Do you know what we do to slaves who insist on fighting with one another?" Basin asked her. 

"Yes, Master Basin, that's why I didn't want to involve you. I will stay with my friend until the other slaves come out of the village. There is no reason for you to become involved," she pleaded. 

"We do not want to see you whipped, my Rose," he told her pulling her away from the wall. 

"Yes, Master," she answered hugging him. 

One of Rose's owners faced me and crossed his arms. I was still stuck to the wall and panting with fear. I hated the whip with a passion. Once had been enough for a lifetime. 

"Did you hit our Rose?" the man asked me. 

"Never," I gasped.

"Did you hit the slave yesterday?" he asked.

"No, Keeper," I answered. 

"Ciara did not try to touch either of us on either day," Rose pointed out. "She was attacked and did not fight back, Masters."

"If we leave the slaves here they will end up getting whipped," one of Rose's other owners said.

"I do not wish to see our Rose taste the whip," Karis said.

The men looked at one another and then took me off the wall. 

"Follow," they ordered. 

The men walked us out of the compound. I could see, using my peripherals, that all the other girls were eating lunch. We strode out the wall onto a transport pad. 

Rose's owners took us back to their place and fed us. Before we were done a group of Keepers showed up. 

"We will leave you both with these Keepers," Basin told Rose. 

She rose up on tiptoes and kissed him on his lips. Each of her owners demanded the same treatment from her and she obliged, thanking each of them. 

We sat in the afternoon and Rose taught me to play the card games the men were always playing. After losing for the fifth time, I set my cards down and looked at Rose. The Keepers were playing a game across the room and ignoring us. I spoke quietly to her in English to hide what I was talking about. 

"Why did you try to hit me? Why not just tell them what was going on last night?" I asked. 

"My Masters love me. They don't care about you that way. I knew that if anyone complained the Warriors would have demanded the Keepers fix the problem. That would mean a whipping for every slave involved. My owners would hate to have me whipped, so I had to involve myself. Now they will probably try to fix it themselves by talking to the other slave owners," she said confidently.

"And what if it doesn't work?" I asked her. "You are willing to take a beating over this?"

"My owners swore to me I would never be whipped. The idea upsets them terribly. They love me; they won't let it happen," she said.

"They told you they love you?" I asked. 

My owners acted like that wasn't possible. 

"Oh no, of course not, the men here don't understand what they feel. I know what it is and I know what I feel. By the way they act, I know they feel the same way," she told me smiling. 

I wished I had Rose's confidence and knowledge about this place. 

The Keepers spoke to us after that. They didn't like it that we were talking in our native language. Rose apologized and I followed her lead. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon with Rose teaching me about the games the men like to play in the evenings. She said her men thought it was fun sometimes to let her play with them. If I got good my owners might let me play with them, too. That gave me plenty of incentive to pay attention. 

Late in the afternoon Rose's owners came home. They took us to the bathhouse and then fed us. They didn't say anything about what had happened this morning. The men acted just like they always did. 

As I lay in bed later that night, I thought about my owners. I wondered how much longer they would be gone. Hopefully the women wouldn't hurt or keep them this time. 

When sleep finally took me I was worrying about the women. My sleep was fitful and full of horrible nightmares. When I awoke I was glad to be out of my dreams, they had been awful. 

Rose and I didn't go back to the Keeper's the next day. We stayed in her owners' apartment with our own men to watch us. In the late afternoon she sewed and I watched out the window. 

"How long are the men usually gone for a coupling?" I asked Rose.

"It depends," she told me, "two or three days, usually." 

"So, it isn't odd mine aren't back yet?" I fretted chewing on a fingernail. 

"Ciara, the women rarely kidnap men from a coupling. Honestly, that's when they are least likely to be taken," Rose said watching me. 

"Are they really that bad?" I asked her. "Are they really stronger than the men?"

"Without a doubt," she told me and shuddered. 

"How did you see them?" I asked. 

"I was with my Masters while they played a game of chuke," she said quietly. "Two women swooped out of the sky and grabbed a man right from the field. They were about to fly away with him when another larger woman attacked them. The women seemed to be fighting over the man. The larger woman forced the two smaller women to drop the man and then chased them away." 

"The larger woman protected the man?" I asked her.

She shook her head, "I don't know what they were doing. We all waited thinking the man was going to be taken again, but he was not. I'm not sure what they were doing."

I held my tongue in check and watched Rose go back to her sewing. The larger woman was probably protecting a man she owned, just no one knew it. He must have had some talent to have been the target of a nearly successful raid. None of that was something I could share with my friend. 

Despite my concern over my men, I made up my mind to think of nice things before bed. I didn't want to have nightmares again. Thankfully, I had good dreams all night. 

Rose and I were delivered to the Keepers' compound the next day. The girls from the village had been returned and their friends didn't attack me. They were all smiles, happy to be together again. 

The four that had gotten in trouble didn't talk to me or even look at me. Frankly, I was fine with that. I had a core group of friends and I didn't need to hang out with people that would just get me in trouble. 

When we were in the bathhouse that night before dinner I sat with my Keepers and chewed on my nails. It was a bad habit I thought I'd broken years ago. I was just so worried my owners would not come back. 

"Didn't we tell you to feed it, Basin?" I heard Master Evan ask from behind me. 

I slipped my finger out of my mouth and chanced a glance up at my owners. They were battered and bruised. Master Bane had fresh teeth marks over one shoulder and Master Christof couldn't open his right eye. They all looked at me expectantly. 

"I'm so glad to see you, Masters. I missed you all so much," came out of my mouth in a rush. 

The men all smiled at me.

"Come, Ciara," Master Damien commanded, "I want you to wash me."

I got up quickly and followed them to a shallow part of the pool. 

The wounds were worse this time. Despite the flinching, I cleaned all of the bites and scratches thoroughly. After the last time I expected the unease with my nearness.

Rose's owners wandered over while I was finishing washing Master Evan's hair and just gently massaging his scalp.

"How many groups did you entertain?" Karis asked pulling Rose onto his lap. 

"I believe there were three distinct groups this time," Master Damien told him.

"It seems to me we are more often outnumbered these days," Basin commented.

"Our offerings are much smaller with so many groups to service," Master Christof said flexing a bruised wrist. 

The men continued to talk and I sat quietly. Rose's owners wanted to talk to the Administrators. They thought they could send troops to limit the number of women at each coupling.

"Perhaps with a large enough guard, we could scare away the groups of women we don't want," Basin told my owners. 

Master Damien agreed with him politely, but even I knew that wasn't an option. The Administrators worked for the women. No extra guard would ever be sent unless the women wanted it that way. 

Once they were done in the pool the men walked slowly back to their rooms. They were exhausted and I was giddy. I tried to reign in my enthusiasm at having them home.

"Ciara," Master Kein asked, "why are you walking like that?" 

I realized I was almost skipping and walking on the balls of my feet. 

"I'm just so happy you are home. I was so worried about you all," I told them.

"There is no reason to fear our couplings, Ciara," Master Damien chastised.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 08



I disagreed internally. The women were dangerous and could take my men at any time. There was plenty to be worried about. 

We had finally made it to their rooms and Master Damien let us inside. Master Bane stoked the fire up and the men all sat down watching it. I found my kneeling place and rested next to them. They were spent, it was obvious. They hadn't said a word since we'd come inside.

Master Damien's big feet sat beside me and I tentatively reached out and stroked the top of one foot. He looked down and raised an eyebrow at me. 

"Would you like me to rub your feet, Master Damien?" I asked him.

His brow crinkled a little as he looked at me. "Why would you do that?" he asked curiously. 

"It feels good for humans, you might like it, too."

"Please go on," he said motioning to his feet.

Starting with the bottoms I rubbed and massaged. When I was about done and ready to start on his legs he told me to go and do it to his brother, pointing to Master Christof. 

I made my way around the entire room. By the time I was done with the last man they had all stretched out on their chairs. Their eyes were all closed and they were breathing like they were asleep. 

Never in all the time that I had been with them had they slept in chairs. I wasn't sure if I should just let them sleep or wake them. Their positions didn't look uncomfortable and the room was warm. 

I opted to leave them be. Stretching out on the rug by the fire, I laid my head on my kneeling place. I guess we'd sleep out here tonight. 

**********

I'm so addicted to the commentary - even if you didn't like it! Let me know what you think, because I absolutely read all of them. Thank you! DW



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 09



A million thanks to a gloriously picky reader turned proofreader, Steve150177. His work has definitely improved the finished product.

As always welcome complaints, comments, and whatever is on your mind. 

English words are italicized when they appear. 

Enjoy the chapter! DW

*****************

I felt a warm hand on my arm and heard Master Christof's voice. "It is cold, Brothers. Give me the blanket," he said as I opened my eyes. 

The room was mostly dark as Master Christof wrapped me in a blanket and picked me up off the floor. I was chilly. The fire had burned lower and the room wasn't so comfortable anymore. 

My stomach took that chance to remind me it had not had anything since lunch and rumbled. Master Christof walked us into the table area.

"Did you eat an evening meal, Ciara?" he asked.

"No, Master Master Christof," I answered snuggling into the warm blanket. My never dressed state did not allow me to be comfortable in a cool room. 

"It will become sick if we are careless," Master Kein commented wrapping his hands around my icy feet. "It should be in the sleeping room after the sun has set or at least in a room with a stoked fire." 

His hands were warm and felt good, rubbing briskly he took the chill out of my feet. 

Master Bane took something out of a cupboard in the kitchen area. The men all took some to eat. Master Christof held me in his lap and fed me. It tasted like smoked meat and quelled my restless stomach. 

I looked up at Master Christof's face and was surprised how much better it looked. Across the table I could see Master Bane's wounds were also smaller. They healed so quickly. I commented on it and Master Damien smiled.

"Perhaps you are just a slow healer, Ciara," he told me popping more of the meat into his mouth.  

"I'm not sure how we would survive the women if we weren't fast Healers," Master Evan said.

The question was leaving my lips before I could stop it, "Why do they hurt you at the couplings? Do you force them to have sex?"

"Force them?!" Master Damien asked, "They come for sex, but they enjoy fighting us almost as much. They separate us and take whichever man they want. They sometimes pretend to let us bind them to reduce our injuries, but not often."

"I don't see how the shopkeepers survive it," Master Kein said.

"I think," Master Christof said, "they treat us differently. I could not be sure, but I heard the large woman that owns us speaking to other women while I was in the mountains. She told them it was young shopkeepers at the coupling and to be gentle."

"Are you owned by just one woman, do you think?" I asked him. 

"No," he told me, "we are owned by a group. I believe our services at the couplings are sold to different groups of women. Sometimes we service our owners and sometimes the women they loan us to."

"A big one with a vicious scar across her forehead named Nu-reeh is our main owner," Master Bane said moving his wounded arm around. "She stopped a particularly nasty one from taking off my arm this time."

We moved into the bedroom and Master Christof laid me on my back on the bed. It was so much more comfortable than the floor. Lazily, I stretched out on it. Master Christof had left me wrapped in the blanket and it slowly slid off my breasts, exposing me. I started to pull it back and was stopped by Master Kein. 

Master Damien and Master Evan were both standing and staring at me. Master Christof, Master Bane, and Master Kein had sat around me and were also watching. I didn't move. The way they were looking at me was so strange. 

"We are exhausted," Master Damien said.

"Yes, Master Damien, you look tired," I answered.

"You are meant to sate our thirst, not ignite it," Master Bane insisted authoritatively.

I wasn't sure what to say to that comment and just lay still watching them. 

"We should not be feeling this now. It is time for resting," Master Evan stated running a hand through his hair. 

They looked so confused, so perplexed. I wanted to help them, but I wasn't really sure what their problem was. I pulled the blanket back over myself a little and they seemed to relax. 

"We need to rest, Brothers," Master Christof declared and everyone seemed to agree.

The men all put on their linen shifts and covered me with a larger blanket. A moment later they crawled onto the bed around me. The men stretched their sore joints and found comfortable positions. I listened to them settle on the bed and soon it was quiet.

Looking at the ceiling, I completely relaxed on the bed. It was so good my owners were home, I'd been worried about them. Sleeping with other men was not nearly as relaxing as sleeping here with them. 

It was late, but I had my habits. I waited for them to go to sleep. They were all still, but they didn't sound like they were sleeping. 

Looking over at Master Evan I saw he was looking at me. I turned my head and Master Bane was staring at me from the other side. 

"Am I upsetting you, Masters?" I asked quietly. 

"We are fresh back from a coupling, Ciara, we do not need to use you," Master Bane explained, although that didn't make anymore sense than what he had said the first time. 

"Yes, Master Bane," I answered him confused.

"However, we want to use you," Master Damien further explained.

I felt flattered. They actually wanted me.

"I'm tired, too, but I want you also, Masters. I'm glad you're back," I said quietly and to no one in particular. 

Admitting how I felt about them made me nervous. Usually I was sure they didn't reciprocate the feelings. 

"Of course you want us," Master Evan told me, "but you must rest now. We left you on the floor and without food too long."

Snuggling deeper into the warm, soft bedding my body continued to relax. Despite my habit, I think I was asleep long before they were. 

I woke up the next morning and the sun was shining across the room. It was later than they usually let me sleep. Master Evan wasn't in the room, so they must not want me up yet. My bladder had determined it was time to get going though. 

I glanced at the door to the bedroom and the leather flap was closed. Beyond the doorway I could hear voices in the main room. It sounded like my owners were talking to someone. If I hadn't had to go so badly I would have just stayed put. 

Walking across the floor I peeked out the doorway. The men were standing and talking to a man I did not recognize. He looked like the villain from a pirate movie. Shaggy black hair and a series of cuts on his face gave him a fearsome appearance. I let the flap fall closed and just listened. 

"You will have to touch it, Blain?" Master Christof asked.

"Yes," the stranger said, "it is better that way. I have done this many times and it seems better if I do it."

"It doesn't like to be touched by others," Master Christof said sounding troubled.

"You are sure you could not train us?" Master Kein asked. "My hands are very steady."

"I have done that before, but I can't guarantee the result under those circumstances," he said. 

The door cover jerked opened and Master Evan was in front of me grinning. I jumped back and yelped lightly. I hadn't heard him walk up. 

"It is up, Brothers. Ciara, why didn't you stay in bed until we woke you?" he asked.

"I had to go to the bathroom," I said quietly. 

Now I really had to pee. 

Master Evan took me to the bathroom and I heard the man comment it would be an easy job.

Master Evan let me use the bathroom, but then walked me back out into the main room. I kept my gaze on the floor, until Master Damien lifted my chin so I was looking in his eyes. 

"Have you looked at this man?" he asked.

"Yes, Master Damien," I whispered.

"If you behave this morning, I will not take you to the posts for your disobedience," he promised me.

"Yes, Master Damien," I said feeling relieved. 

My owners laid me down on a floating table and told me I could look at the man named Blain while he was in our rooms. I watched with trepidation as Blain took a long thick needle out of the bag he had with him. My eyes went wide when he plumped my breast in his hand.

They were going to pierce me. I turned my head to the side and closed my eyes tight. My breath was puffing out in little pants. I tried to do that breathing Rose had taught me, but it wasn't working. I felt light headed. 

"Ciara," Master Christof said, "open your eyes."

I did and looked at him. "This will not hurt for long. We have a cream that will force you to heal quickly. We have used it before. Do you remember?" he asked me and stroked my cheek.

"Yes, Master Christof," I answered him with fear still lacing my voice.

Master Christof continued to look down at me questioningly for a moment. Suddenly he lowered his lips to my ear.

"We wish to do this and we will not let it hurt you. Trust us not to harm you. Please, may we do this?" he asked softly.

The choice shocked me as Master Christof stared back into my eyes. I would never had dreamed someone would ask me for my permission again. The pleading was evident in his face and I knew they would stop if I asked them to. The idea empowered me and I wanted to reward them for the generosity. 

"Of course, Masters," I whispered taking a breath, "I wish to do this for you."

Christof looked thrilled as he reached down and took my hand.

"Shut your eyes," he instructed, "I promise you will not feel this. Blain is very good at his job," he stated confidently.

My eyes stayed shut tight and I waited for the pain. The man, Blain, just seemed to be playing with my breasts one at a time. 

I expected the bite of needle, but I felt a sensation like ice coating me. I peeked and Blain was literally painting my nipples with a brush and small jar of liquid. Starting at the base of the areola he drew small circles until the entire nipple was coated with the chilly liquid. 

A second tiny jar was produced and Blain showed it to Master Damien. 

"Use it," Master Damien ordered. 

"It is four extra stones per application," Blain advised.

Master Damien hated to repeat himself and I heard his frustrated grunt as he repeated the command. 

"Our mark will always protect the slave," he explained patiently. "If our symbol brings pain the slave will come to expect that and be fearful of it. We do not wish a fearful slave."

"Ahh," Blain answered pulling out a very tiny brush. "It is different in the red mountains. The owners often do this as punishment."

Master Damien and Master Evan discussed how foolish the men in the red mountains were as Blain painted just the tips of my nipples very cautiously.

The long needle was picked up and Master Christof reminded me to close my eyes. I felt a dull pressure at the tip of one and then the other. Once Blain released the second breast I took a peek again.

"It looks wonderful," Master Damien said in awe and I opened my eyes fully 

Master Evan handed Blain several stones and then he handed him an extra one. 

"It did not feel pain, we are grateful for the extra care," Master Evan told him.

The man picked up his bag and bowed his head slightly to my owners. 

"It has been a pleasure doing business with you. Please tell the others if they wish my services. My Brothers and I will be back through here the next lunar cycle," he said excusing himself. 

Hesitantly, I looked down at my nipples. They were still puckered up, but now they had shiny silver rings through them. A translucent sheen of the healing cream was over each of them. I lifted the rings and saw my owners' crest hanging from each one.

Surprisingly, I liked the look. 

"They are pretty like this. Do you like them, Masters?" I asked sitting up. 

I hadn't had a man stare at my chest like that since I'd been on earth, certainly not five men at once. 

"We like it very much, Ciara," Master Bane said brushing the side of my breast.

"We are to leave them alone for two day cycles, Ciara," Master Damien said brushing the other breast. "You are absolutely not to touch or play with them."

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered obediently. 

It wasn't like I was the one playing with my nipples most of the time anyway, but I didn't want to bring that up. 

The men fed me breakfast and stared at me the entire time. These guys were really into piercings, I thought. 

Master Kein washed me today. During my shower he cleaned very carefully around my new jewelry. When he gave me my other cleaning and inserted the plug, he made sure my nipples didn't rub on the bench. A very thin sheen of the healing cream was again applied to my nipples. Once I was clean he walked me to the closet. 

The men dressed me differently today. They attached a silver chain at my waist. Blue strips of gauzy fabric went from the chain down to my ankles. A slightly thicker strip of fabric covered my sex and the crack of my ass. My top was left bare.

We walked through the courtyard and the men stopped to talk to almost everyone. I felt like I should have a sign that read 'Just had my nipples pierced, come and look'. They really wanted to show me off today. 

We were apparently going shopping. Once they had made their perusal of the yard, they dressed me in my dull brown outfit. We walked briskly through the street vendors to their preferred shopping district through the second stone wall. I noted the man with the earring cart was in there now. 

"Ciara," Master Damien said, "choose a new pair."

I carefully looked over what the man had and pointed to one in their colors. They seemed pleased with the selection.

Master Damien walked into the clothing shop and greeted the man named Fredrik warmly. I recognized Mia and went with her when she came to get me. 

She noticed the piercings right away. 

"Did they hurt?" she asked very quietly.

"No," I whispered back, "the man named Blain put something on me, so I didn't feel it."

"Mine are very sensitive," she said gesturing to the row of nipples on each side of her chest.

"So are mine," I whispered back to her. 

The men appeared behind us and she stopped talking and finished taking me out of my brown outfit.

I soon learned why we had come today. I was to explain the belly dancing outfit from home and the men in the shop would make me one. Master Damien allowed me to speak directly to the men today. He explained I would not be allowed to speak to them after we left the shop today. 

"Careful, Damien," the shopkeeper warned, "earth slaves are easily confused. You could just have it speak to Mia and we will listen. Our Mia knows about making things with cloth. It made them on its home world. Mia will ask the correct questions."

"Our Ciara is bright, but you may be right," Master Damien said. "It looks at men without our permission now. We do not wish to punish it."

There wasn't time to ponder the odd conversation before Mia prompted me to talk about the outfit. I explained it in detail to her. I had never sewn anything, so I felt like my description was lacking, but she seemed to understand.

"Master," Mia said to her owners, "the outfit this slave describes will cover most of the slave. It is not ornamentation."

She was right. The belly dancing outfit, while almost risque on earth, would be extremely conservative here. 

"Damien, do you want the outfit to be more like the ornamentation we like for the slaves or do you want a replica of the original outfit?" he asked. 

"A replica would interest us. We would like to see the slave appear as it does at home for this dance."

"Does the dance have meaning for your people?" Mia asked and I laughed remembering my old instructor.

"Fertility," I answered her still giggling. 

"And why is that funny, Ciara?" Master Kein asked watching me. 

"I'm completely infertile here, Master," I said still grinning. 

Of course they didn't get the joke, but I could see Mia did. 

Much like before we went out to lunch after shopping. Luckily they didn't feed me anything that made me high. They had learned a lot about what food to give me and I was glad. 

On our way back to the Warriors' compound a shadow passed over the ground and the men around us scrambled. A blaring whistle cut through the air and continued to blast. We were under attack. 

In their haste, the men knocked over the vendors' carts and each other. Doors slammed as the men barricaded themselves inside their dwellings. The shadow went right and the screaming started.

Master Evan pushed me into an alley and told me to stay. I crouched down and watched as my men ran toward the sounds of a struggle. 

Everything was silent where I was left. Most of the action seemed to happening several streets over. It seemed like no one was moving inside the buildings beside me. 

Only one man was left outside. He had tripped and gotten stuck under an overturned cart. The man tried to crawl under it to hide. 

All of the sudden something dropped out of the sky. It was just as Rose had described. The beast was covered in long brown fur. It had to be at least nine feet tall with clawed digits and the largest teeth I've ever seen. The creature's wingspan was folded, but I could see the dagger sharp tips along the edges.

There were hints to the sex of the beast. I saw four distinct nipples on small taut breasts poking out of its fur. That was the only feminine quality I saw on the thing. 

I stayed quietly in a crouch and didn't move. She walked right past me like I wasn't even there. Her attention was all on the cart with the man beneath it.

She picked up the cart and tossed it away. The shaggy haired man hiding there shrieked and tried to run. The woman grabbed him and started to take off. 

Men piled back into the street, four of them to be exact. They attacked the woman with knives and flailing fists, but it was to no avail. She laughed at them and picked a second man up.

"You are mine until the next lunar cycle," she laughed spreading her wings. 

Warriors were there suddenly, there were five, so they must be a family. They attacked the woman, but she just jabbed them with the sharp tips of her wings. The woman held her struggling bounty tight and took off. 

The Warriors ordered the three men back into their house and they took off running following as she flew away. 

An earth shaking screech sounded and I saw two other women taking off into the air. The two struggling men were being held by the original women. I pitied them as I heard their cries. To be kidnapped so ruthlessly and taken from home was awful. 

My stomach felt weak and so did my legs. I sagged into the building next to me and sunk down to my knees. My ears were ringing, but I heard men piling back into the streets. I prayed they wouldn't notice me. 

I saw shoes in front of me and cringed. My Warriors wore boots; I had been noticed. 

"What are you?" the man asked harshly.

There was nothing to do. I couldn't speak to him. I shouldn't even look at him. I stared at his shoes and waited to see how badly this would end. 

"That belongs to Damien and his Brothers," another man said. "Leave it alone, they won't like you talking to it."

"It distracts them from their job. They should not be playing with a slave, they should be finding my Brothers," he said grabbing my hood and veil. 

I cringed when the bright light hit me. This was not going to end well. I closed my eyes and held my breath, but nothing else happened. No one seemed to be moving in the street. 

"Did you touch our slave?" Master Damien asked in a low voice. 

"My Brothers were taken," my aggressor shrilly answered, "you should be looking for them."

"Did you touch our slave?" Master Damien repeated.

"I only touched this fabric. I don't want your slave. I want my Brothers back. You must go find my Brothers!" he cried. 

I felt bad for the man. He was just upset. Now that my owners were here I had the luxury of such feelings again. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 09



I kept my eyes down and saw boots appear before me. I wanted to kiss those boots I was so happy to see them. Hands gently replaced my cover. 

"We were fighting the women on the other street. We will look for your brother. The Administrators will hear of the disgrace you have caused," Master Damien said to the man.

Hands were under my arms pulling me to stand, which I did on shaky legs. I heard voices talking to the man about the woman. My ears recognized the voices of Fuji's owners. I heard my owners tell them they were taking me to the Keepers and would be back. The hands under my arms pulled me to walk with them and my feet had trouble moving. 

"Ciara," Master Evan said quietly beside me, "answer me with the movement of the head you learned at home. Did that man touch you?"

I shook my head no.

"Are you injured?" he asked.

Again I shook my head no.

"Can you walk?" Master Kein asked from the other side.

I bobbed my head in a yes. 

The men pulled me with a hand under each arm back to the Warrior's compound. As we walked my legs got steadier. With my improved gait the men let me walk by myself and took up their normal positions around me. 

Inside the Warrior's compound I was quickly divested of my brown outfit. Master Kein ran to the left as Master Evan and Master Damien inspected me completely looking for damage. A moment later Master Kein appeared driving a transport pad. Back to my mostly nude situation I climbed onto the pad with them and it zipped toward the Keepers' compound.

"She said she would return them in a lunar cycle," I whispered now that we were alone. "Will she really do that, Masters?"

"He will be back before then," Master Damien answered watching the sky intently. "We are sure of it. The owners in this area never let men taken like that stay gone long."

Poor men, I thought as we rode. How terrified they must be. At least she took two of them. Now they would not be all alone with those horrible women.

"I didn't know Master Kein could drive the transport, Masters," I commented trying to distract myself.

"We know how, but the job is typically given to other men. With an attack the General will not want extra men outside," Master Christof explained brushing his hands along my back. 

"Ciara," Master Bane said, "the Keepers will watch you while we are gone. If we are not able to return and not able to find someone to watch you at night, you will stay with the Keepers. We do not know how the General has elected to schedule the search parties."

"Do you actually expect to find them, Masters, or is this just an act?" I asked and Master Evan laughed.

"These women were not owners in this area, we are sure of this. Our women will also be seeking their property. From what we understand now, if our owners find and free the men, they will leave them in the mountains. We must bring them home. We still have a job Ciara, just not the job we originally thought we had," Master Damien explained patiently.

"Good luck, Masters," I told them.

They dropped me off at the Keepers and I was still a little stunned. When I told my friends what I had seen, they held me for a long time and I started to feel better. 

"Five Warriors," I whispered, "and the five shopkeepers, she wasn't even deterred."

Rose stroked my head in her lap and tried to calm me. "The women here are..." she said and couldn't finish.

They were the most powerful creatures I'd ever seen. The men here were strong, but the women...I couldn't conceive a creature that mighty. 

Rose's owners came and got Fuji and me that night. They were in a hurry and showered in their rooms after dinner. They undressed the three of us and treated my nipples, which was good because they had started to ache. Although the sun had barely set, they told us it was time for bed. 

I lay in the bed on my back and tried to think of things that would put me to sleep. I jumped when I felt a hand on my breast. One of Rose's owners was playing with one of the rings gently. Now there was no way I was ever going to sleep.

"Slave, did this hurt?" he asked me, finally leaving the jewelry alone. 

"No, Keeper, the man put something on them that numbed them first," I answered him.

Rose's owner laid back down and it took me a long time to go to sleep after that. 

We woke the next morning to the shrill sound of an alarm going off three times. It was still dark out. I was barely awake for my morning ritual, which was good because it still embarrassed me. The men fed us hurriedly and then rushed us off to the Keepers. 

When we got to the Keepers we went to our normal spot and blankets were laid out. I stretched out next to Fuji and Rose and we all went back to sleep on the cushions. 

Rose and Fuji were laughing when they woke me later in the morning. I had been sound asleep. 

Rose was all questions about the new jewelry. Her owners wanted to pierce her but she had somehow managed to beg them out of it. Now that they knew it wouldn't hurt her, she thought they might go through with it. 

"Lots of women on earth have piercings like this now," I told her trying to comfort her. "Sometimes they even pierce...you know...down there," I said pointing to my genitals. 

Rose and Fuji both squealed and several other girls joined us for the conversation. 

"My uncle dated a girl at home," I told them. "He talked about her all the time she had piercings in her fleshy lips down there and through the hood of her clit."

Once everyone understood what that would mean sensation wise for an earth girl they all were yelping and laughing. The noises got louder when I told them about the piercings the men on earth could have through their genitals. Even the Keepers stood by and listened to that discussion. 

"I would never allow metal to pierce me there intentionally," I heard one of the Keepers say.

He blanched when I told him how some men on earth liked nipple play. That was where long needles were inserted into the breast to sensitize the nipples. 

"How do you know of such things?" he asked hotly. "Did you do this to men there?"

"No, Keeper," I told him, "one of my uncles, a male related to my mother, he liked to have sex when it involved pain. He lived with us and would spend all his money going places where they would hurt him and have sex with him." 

"He should have been born here," the Keeper said wirily and the room roared at that comment.

We spent the entire day inside. We danced, sang, and played games with one another. The Keepers did not want to be out by the beach in case of another raid. 

It was probably just as well we stayed in. The Keepers had to feed all of us that needed a midday meal. None of the Warriors were excused to come feed their slaves. The Keepers stayed very busy tending to us all day. 

We stayed inside and waited for the Warriors that night. I was so happy when my Warriors showed up. They picked Rose and Fuji up to take back to our apartments.

The men looked tired and dirty. My friends and I kneeled in the bathroom while they cleaned the grime from their bodies. Although they looked exhausted they were watching me with interest. I was so glad to see them I returned the looks gratefully. 

Once they were dry they took us to the table and fed us dinner. Both Rose and I were subjected to those disgusting worms. Fuji hesitantly asked to have one. 

"Your owners did not say to feed these to you," Master Kein said looking a little baffled. 

It was easy to see the pleading in Fuji's eyes though. I assume for that reason my Masters relented and gave her one. She ate the wiggling little worm quickly and licked her lips. That was the last normal thing she did all night. 

Fuji lost her mind. She jumped across the table and devoured the bowl of worms in front of Master Evan before anyone could stop her.

"More," she hissed at my owners while standing on the table in a crouch. 

"There are no more, slave. Get off the table," Master Damien ordered. 

Fuji hissed at him and started to speak in her native tongue. I watched fascinated as a tail grew from her backside. She swished it back and forth angrily. The men moved away noting the sharp barb on the end. 

"Fuji," Rose crooned, "your Masters will be upset. Your men do not like you to act this way."

Master Bane shushed her and pushed both of us far away from Fuji. 

"You do not go near it. You do not speak to it. Do both of you slaves understand me?" Master Bane asked.

Rose and I replied we understood at the same time. 

The men jumped Fuji as a single unit. She probably would have been outmatched by any one of them. Five was no contest even with the sharp tail. 

I felt bad for Fuji while I watched them subdue her. My owners bound the sharp point on the end of her tail with a thick piece of cloth. Next, they moved Fuji, who was still spitting and screaming, into the bedroom. Master Bane undid a series of latches on the wall and a bed slid out. They attached Fuji to it in four point restraints. 

"Will she sleep there overnight, Masters," I asked softly while listening to the hair raising noises Fuji was making. None of us would get much sleep like this. 

Master Damien turned to look at me. "Yes, she will stay in the locked bed away from us. If she will not be quiet we will slide the bed back inside the wall. There is a way to move air into it, so she will not be without."

"Did you plan to put me in there?" I asked looking inside the narrow box Fuji was probably going to spend the night in. It would be like sleeping tied down in a coffin. 

"Only if you misbehaved at night and you never have," Master Evan said looking irritable.

I made a mental note never to misbehave at night. That would be like a nightmare come true. 

"I'll be back with the Healers, Brothers," Master Bane said bolting out the door. 

The remaining men sat down in the bedroom in the assortment of chairs that were there. Rose and I each found our kneeling place and sat together. We all just waited and watched Fuji continue to thrash in her restraints. 

The Healers came eventually and fussed at the men for giving Fuji the worms. 

The worms were originally from her planet, but the creatures there found them highly addictive. The people from Fuji's world had found them and started to harvest them from deep within their oceans. It lead to the near destruction of the entire civilization. 

They were brought to Pateria due to their high nutritional content. They were the perfect food for Warriors or malnourished Earth slaves. 

"Her owners should have warned you, but they forget you are still new to this," the one healer told Master Damien. "Perhaps you all should go to the tent next time they take this slave, if you are going to continue to keep it." 

"For now, just know it will be better by the morning. These slaves are usually quite contrite the next day cycle. Often they will not eat at all to punish themselves for their lapse. If you need to force sustenance into it, let us know, we will help," the man said as he got ready to leave. 

Master Damien tried to get Fuji to quiet down one more time, but she screamed at him. Reluctantly, they pushed her into the wall and latched it down. I saw them turn a series of dials on the wall, I assumed that was for air. Once she was inside the wall all was quiet. 

We all went to bed early, just like we had the night before. I couldn't hear anything from Fuji, but I was worried about her. My fingers picked anxiously at my cuticles. Just when I thought I'd just lay here awake and fretting all night, I felt a kiss on my cheek.

"Why are you restless, Ciara?" Master Damien asked softly.

"What if she can't breath in there Master? What if she is hurting? I'm just worried about my friend," I told him honestly.

"Ciara, Kein spent a night in the box before we brought you back to ensure all the safety devices worked in there. Your friend will be fine," he said in a comforting voice.

"Thank you, Master Damien," I whispered running my fingers down his jaw. 

Master Damien pulled me so I was under him and settled between my legs. He held my hands down on either side of my head and kissed me deeply. The rough stubble on his chin grazed my soft skin as he moved to kiss my neck. 

I was so embarrassed that this had to happen with Rose laying in the bed with us.

"You know, brother," Master Evan said with a sigh, "we can't touch the breasts until at least tomorrow morning."

"We could excite it without the breasts," Master Bane offered.

"I want to play with them too badly to resist such a temptation," Master Kein commented. 

Oh God, why did Rose have to be in bed with us right now, I wondered. 

"Tomorrow," Master Damien said rolling off of me, "we find those idiot shopkeepers and return them."

Everyone in the bed agreed they would do that and I breathed easier knowing I wouldn't have to perform in front of my friend just yet. 

The next day we were woken by that awful alarm again. For the first time in a long time I woke up and bolted out of bed. I stood by the little tray they had locked Fuji in and looked expectantly at my owners. 

"Oh, do we have to go through this already?" Master Bane moaned getting out of bed. 

The men stretched and prepared themselves for a battle before they opened the drawer. That turned out to be an unnecessary concern. 

Fuji would not stop apologizing. They tried to clean us and she kept getting water in her mouth. Every time they tried to wash her sparse hair she ended up sputtering out soap and water. Our shower took much too long. 

The worst part came as the men gave Rose and I our morning enemas. Fuji was not involved and it gave her a chance to apologize non stop. She could not seem to stop talking. 

It was hard for the men to concentrate listening to Fuji's stream of constant apologies. They seemed like they just wanted to get away from her. She was making them insane. 

After our shower, Master Christof tried to feed Fuji and she wouldn't eat. Rose stepped in, after politely asking permission.

"Fuji," she said firmly, "your owners will be very displeased if you do not eat. That will be the second bad choice you made while they are away. You have already made one mistake, do not make another." 

Fuji was silent for the first time all morning. When Master Christof offered her food she took it until her bowl was empty. She started to apologize again and Rose repeated they had told her to be silent. She kept using the same argument and it kept working. 

The men looked a little stunned that Rose had known what to do. I grinned inwardly. It was nice to see them not know everything for once. 



It was a subdued day at the Keepers. Fuji was still really upset. Her owners had told her never to eat the worms. She said she just couldn't resist them.

Rose and I tried to comfort Fuji, but it wasn't very effective. Oddly, she didn't seem upset they would punish her. Fuji was upset she had disobeyed. Whatever punishment they chose she would take gladly to make up for the mistake. Evidently she wouldn't feel better until that happened. 

Rose and I sat and played cards while Fuji sulked in the afternoon. I missed going out in the ocean. Learning to play the games was fun, but I loved to swim. 

Suddenly, I wasn't on the ground anymore. I yelped as I heard the startled cries come from all around. I was being held over someone's shoulder and I didn't know who it was. I struggled until I heard Master Evan's voice.

"Save your voice, Ciara, you're going to need it."

I looked up to see slaves being removed from the Keepers in much the same way as I was. 

Master Evan bolted onto the transport and joined my other owners. He didn't put me down, but kept a hand firmly around my waist. As we travelled back toward the compound I felt their hands on my legs, stroking and spreading. Master Kein was driving the transport and was eyeing me passionately. 

"Don't get too far before I get back, Brothers," he said as he dropped us at our door. 

They put me on my feet just inside the doorway and stood staring at me. 

"What is going on, Masters?!" I asked looking around. 

Their gaze could only be described as feral and I backed away from them. 

"It has been two days this morning since the ornamentation was placed and we are able to touch it now," Master Damien growled.

I covered my breasts and he frowned at me. "Never cover yourself from our gaze," he said. "Your beauty is ours to enjoy."

"Okay," I stammered dropping my arms and embarrassed by the compliment, "but all the other Warriors were picking up their slaves also, Masters." 

"We found the men in the mountains," Master Evan said circling around behind me. "Kein and Bane found them running through a place called 'the caves'. We are off the alert now."

"Congratulations, Master Bane," I said trying to sound polite.

"Oh, you are my prize, Ciara. This afternoon was what I asked the General to grant us," he said raking his eyes over my form. 

"The other Warriors were also happy to have the time off," Master Damien said taking a calculated step toward me. 

"I feel like you're hunting me, Masters," I blurted out as Master Kein burst in the door. 

"Then fight us," Master Evan said from over my shoulder, "we would enjoy that."

They converged on me as I lashed out at them flailing my arms. Much like Fuji the night before, it wasn't a very fair fight. 

The men bound my arms behind me and forced me to kneel before Master Bane. They weren't all wicked about it, a kneeling place was under my knees. 

"Suck me," Master Bane ordered pulling out his cock.

"No," I tried to say, but he had shoved his meat in my mouth as the last of the word came out. 

I tried to get away but they held my head steady. Master Bane used my mouth gliding in and out, bumping the back of my throat with each thrust. I wasn't really against this and used my tongue to stimulate him as I sucked. The game made sense to me, though. Every now and then I would struggle and try to get up.

Master Bane came in my mouth and I drank everything he gave me. Much like before this didn't seem to have any effect at all on his erection. He pulled it from my mouth as I licked at the tip.

"Stand up," Master Kein ordered.

"No," I stated looking right at him. 

He pulled me up using those new rings on my sensitive nipples and I followed them up. 

"An effective new toy," he commented leaning down and laving the right nipple with his tongue. 



The effect was electric. I nearly came from that alone. My head tossed back against Master Evan and my knees felt weak.

"Oh God, please fuck me," I begged.

"Speak in our language, Ciara," Master Kein demanded attacking the other nipple with his hot, wet mouth. 

"I want sex," I demanded softly.

"You still wear your ornamentation, Ciara," Master Christof noted, "and we are still dressed."

"Undress us and have sex with me," I ordered in a quavering voice.

"I thought you had said 'no' to us before, Ciara," Master Evan said pulling on the ring Master Kein wasn't sucking on.

They were being so frustrating. 

I wiggled around and managed to get away from their hands. I stalked into the sitting area by the fire and realized my wrists were still bound. Futilely, I tried to undo the bonds at my back, but I wasn't successful. 

All I did manage to do was further inflame them. All the wiggling in front of the fire made my breasts and their jewelry dance on my chest. 

"Beautiful," Master Damien commented watching me and I stopped struggling for a moment. 

He came toward me and I didn't back away from him. His talented fingers pulled and lightly twisted the rings until I sank toward the floor. Again a kneeling place was beneath me. 

"Kein," he called, "it is your turn."

The long staff was before my eyes a moment later. I needed my hands desperately for this. Master Kein's organ was too long to rest comfortably in my throat. This wasn't a choice, though. I took the tip between my lips and started to move down his length. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 09



My hands were free suddenly. Grateful to whoever thought that would help, I moved them up to wrap around the base. I used lips, tongue, and hands to force a violent eruption from Master Kein. 

After his spending he withdrew from my mouth and used the nipple rings to pull me up again. 



"Ciara, are you done refusing us?" Master Kein asked smiling wickedly.

"No," I answered him playfully. 

This was a fun game. 

"Have you lost your manners, Ciara?" Master Damien asked pulling me against his chest. "Do you know you should call us Master?"

"You are not my Master," I answered him and watched his face. 

I didn't want to go too far and make them really angry.

"That didn't work well for you on your first day and it will not work well for you now," Master Damien said smiling and tugging at one of my shiny new rings. 

"I am empty, fill me," I commanded in the most authoritative voice I could muster. 

"I am still clothed, Ciara, and you do not know how to behave. Perhaps we should all sit and watch the fire," he said sitting and leaning back on the chaise. 

Never once since I'd been here had I undressed them, but I was willing to try tonight. My pussy ached for them. I'd given two of them pleasure and gotten nothing in return except tormented, sensitive nipples. 

Fiddling desperately, I managed to get Master Damien's pants undone and pulled his manhood out. He just lay there watching me and didn't help or move away. I crawled over him and he still didn't move. I thought for sure he'd say something when I sunk myself onto him, but he was silent.

I rode him for a moment and realized he wasn't even moving his hips; he was just watching me. My body froze and I realized that heated gaze could mean he was turned on or angry. 

In a brazen decision I decided he was turned on and not to ask him. I ground myself down over him and shook my top so the little silver rings caught the light. His eyes darkened and I knew it was desire that had hold of him.

Slowly his hands came up to my hips. I moved slower as he pushed his fingers over my ribs and under my arms. His hands came forward now stroking the voluptuousness on either side of my chest. 

My breath was caught in my throat as I waited for him to start pulling on the rings again. They were so sensitive now and they had played with them so much already. In anticipation I pressed my chest out. 

Hands on my waist surprised me as Master Kein deftly removed my garment. Other hands finished stripping me of my earrings and sandals. 

Master Damien still had not really moved his hands on my breasts. Now he stroked the mounds taking his fingers off before reaching the crinkled pink skin that held their crest. I was breathless with the suspense of waiting for him. 

"Ride me, Ciara," he growled suddenly pulling both rings forward.

I did as he asked and he watched my face. Master Damien tried every variation of twisting, pinching, and pulling. He was exciting me terribly and he knew it. 

When I orgasmed around his thick shaft I tried to limit the stimulation by placing my hands over his. All I got for my trouble was my arms bound behind me again. 

"I say Ciara needs a lesson, Brothers," he said grinning. 

Master Christof lifted me off of Master Damien with a plop and carried me bound to the bedroom. Master Evan sat pillows up on the bed and they laid me across them with my ass in the air. My tender nipples felt good on the cool sheets below me, but I was a little concerned with my exposed position. 

"You will be glad you had your plug today, Ciara," Master Damien said from behind me and I realized it was still inside of me. 

Master Damien kissed down the middle of my back before driving his length into my sopping wet center. He held my hips and fucked me mercilessly from behind. I felt plowed into the bedding. My chest was driven forward with each thrust between my legs 

"Masters, please unbind me. Please let me take you on my hands and knees," I begged.

Master Damien thrust several more times and I felt him swell and burst inside of me. 

"Now we are Masters?" Master Evan mocked tracing the edge of the plug as Master Damien withdrew.

"What happened to the arrogant slave that took my cock in the ante room?" Master Bane asked. "Did being bound and propped on the bed for our pleasure remind it of something?" 

"Please, Masters, I made a mistake. Let me make it up to you," I moaned as someone slowly removed the plug. 

I felt a hard shaft push down inside of my bowels and I moaned. Master Evan undulated his hips and drove me forward with each punishing plunge. 

"It will be a long day, Ciara, if you continue to fight us," Master Evan said and I could hear the smile. They were counting on a long day. 

"I wish to go again," Master Kein said from beside me.

Master Evan withdrew from me and I relaxed. Master Kein was long, but easier to take this way. 

"Up, Ciara," Master Evan commanded pulling on my hands and hair. 

I struggled to move to my knees and finally succeeded. The pillows were removed and Master Kein lay before me. 

"Crawl over me, Ciara, put your ** over me," he commanded. 

I looked at him confused. He had used a word I did not know. 

"Have we used a word our foul mouthed slave hasn't learned?" Master Bane laughed.

"Put your vagina over my penis, Ciara. Do you understand that?" Master Kein asked motioning. 

I shuffled on my knees over him, but I still had my hands bound behind me.

"Master Kein, may I have my hands now?" I pleaded. 

"Continue to irritate us and you will lose the use of your mouth, Ciara, unless we need it," he said holding his cock straight up.

I straddled him and sank onto his length, enjoying the sharp feel of him. Moving up and down, I tried to fuck him, but it was difficult. 

Master Evan grasped my neck and pushed me toward Master Kein on the bed. Losing my balance, I ended up laying across his chest and then I felt Master Evan pushing back into my ass. They were planning to share me, so I made a point to relax myself completely. 

As I lay on Master Kein's chest I tried to say the things they liked to hear, but they were ignoring me. 

"Unbind the wrists, I wish to play with the new toys," Master Kein said. 

Part of me felt relief as I leaned on my arms and part of me groaned. My tender nipples would never survive today. 

Master Kein was much more gentle with my body than it sounded like he would have been. He flicked the rings lightly and seemed to enjoy watching them shake. As he reached his climax he took a nipple in his mouth and sucked. I thanked him copiously for the care he showed. 

Master Evan was not near done yet and continued to ride me from behind. My ass felt open and used when he finally found his release. 

"Ciara, come take a drink," Master Bane commanded and I slipped off the bed and to my knees on the floor. 

"How many times do we have to tell you that you must kneel on a resting place?" Master Damien asked exasperated. 

I shuffled quickly forward until I was in the right spot and the men continued to stare at me. On impulse I leaned forward and kissed Master Bane's feet apologizing. 

"What are you doing Ciara?" Master Evan asked crouching beside me.

"I am apologizing, Masters," I told him, "for not being an obedient slave."

They each moved in front of me and took an apology before they fed me the water. 

Master Christof put me back on the bed after my break and took his time. He crawled over me and rocked me gently into the bed. It was like before, when it was just us in the middle of the night. It was better now, though, with his Brothers touching and stimulating any piece of flesh he wasn't. 

After he was done it was another of them. They took me until I couldn't stand. By the time Master Christof took a second turn, I was reduced to a quivering mess. All I could manage was to whispere their names over and over again. 

"It cannot take us anymore today, Brothers," I heard Master Kein say as long fingers inspected the wet, sore area between my legs. 

"It did well," Master Damien commented lifting me out of the bed. 

I was showered and the cream was applied as usual. The perfume was once again put over my neck. This time I knew what it meant and was happy to have pleased them so.

The men redressed themselves casually and sat talking by the fire. They lay me on the chaise where it was warm and I dozed, exhausted. A rapping at the door woke me up, but I kept my eyes closed.

"Sirs, you are here," the surprised voice said when the door opened.

"Yes, and we have an appetite. Where is our evening meal?" Master Damien asked.

"We did not think you would be here. Let us get it. We apologize, sirs," the man stammered out. 

I heard bustling as the food was brought in and set on the table.

"We did not expect you to be here tonight, sirs. We apologize for the wait," the voice said still sounding surprised. 

"There is an item the human slaves take. You stock it in the kitchens, do you not?" Master Evan asked the man.

"Of course, an order will be delivered right away," I heard the man say. 

Master Christof picked me up off the chaise and sat me between him and Master Evan at the table. I took what they gave me quietly and wondered about what the food delivery man had said. I looked silently up at Master Christof with the question still on my mind. 

"Ask me, Ciara," he laughed leaning down and kissing my nose. 

"Where else would you be?" I asked. "The man at the door sounded like he thought you would be somewhere else. You rarely eat other places." 

"In the mountains, Ciara, celebrating," Master Bane answered. 

"This is much better," Master Kein said, "no risk, all reward." 

I thought my brain must have turned off for a moment. "Why would you go into the mountains? Didn't you just come out from there?"

"We used to celebrate by going to the mountains and finding females to pleasure ourselves with," Master Bane told me.

"You don't like to go to the females..." now I was confused.

"They were our only choice if we wished to celebrate and we do enjoy the females, to a point. We would go with another family or two and subdue several women for our pleasure," Master Damien told me. 

"It is how we know the mountains so well," Master Evan bragged. "We know many places the women like to stay." 

"It was more fun when we went alone, without another family and we often did that," Master Christof said. "There is always risk in the mountains though. We were taken and held by large gangs on several occasions."

A knock sounded at the door and Master Evan got up to answer it.

"Never as much fun if that happened," Master Damien commented.

"Because the women are mean," I said trying to understand.

"No, if we got caught up there and didn't return to our post on time the General would take a lash to us when we got back," Master Evan said returning to the table.

"And not a light scolding like you got," Master Christof said, "a real beating."

I had thought what I got counted as a beating. It was apparently not that bad. Admittedly, they could take a lot more than I could. 

"You did well today, Ciara," Master Evan said handing me the bowl from the door, "you took each of us multiple times. We are pleased."

I took the bowl and looked inside. It was an orange, a large ripe navel orange. Reaching inside I touched the rough skin and wondered at it. 

"We do not know how to feed you this," Master Damien explained from beside Master Evan. 

"Show us how you eat it," Master Kein commanded. 

I picked up the orange and started to peel it. The scent of it filled the room and Master Christof wrinkled his nose.

"What a strange odor," he quietly commented.

Once the orange was peeled I plucked at the seeds to remove them. 

"The man asked us to save those if the slave did not eat them," Master Evan said and had me place the seeds back in the bowl. 

I separated the orange into pieces and the men were fascinated by it. They each took a piece and examined it. 

"Would you like to try it, Masters?" I asked.

"No, Ciara, this is your treat," Master Evan told me handing the piece he had taken back. 

I showed them how I ate it and they fed me the pieces I had prepared. It was wonderful. I savored each sweet bite. I never expected to taste something from Earth again. 

He did have a little taste of the orange. Some of the juice dribbled down my chin and Master Evan licked it off. While he didn't find it bad, he didn't understand why I enjoyed it. 

After dinner the men played cards and I sat and watched them. The game was much more entertaining now that I understood it. Master Christof even put me on his lap and let me play his hand for him. 

"Well, we should go help with the punishment," Master Damien said stretching. 

I blanched and gagged. "What did I do, Masters?" I panicked. 

"Not you, Ciara, we already told you we were pleased with you. The slave that ate the worms. It is being punished in the courtyard," Master Evan said rising. 

The men dressed me in my panels and after glancing at my chest they put the covers over my breasts. I glanced down and saw what they did. Despite the healing cream my nipples were red and puffy. They looked like they had suffered too much attention very recently. 

It was near dusk and the yard was lit with torches. A warm breeze was blowing intermittently and lots of men were outside. Everyone seemed happy and relaxed after the last couple of days. 

We walked down the steps to the courtyard and I hoped it wouldn't be too bad. I wondered if I would have to look. I did remember the one horrible time I'd been at the posts, I had seen slaves looking up at me then. My owners would probably make me witness whatever they had done to Fuji. 

The men stopped suddenly and I watched the backs of Master Damien's boots. 

"Ciara, look up and tell us if you would wish this to happen to you," Master Bane ordered.

I steeled myself for the worst sight imaginable. My fists clenched in anticipation at my sides. Taking a big breath I looked up at what they had done to my friend. 

Fuji looked miserable, but otherwise fine. She was up on the platform dressed in an ill fitting white dress that fell past her knees. One ankle bound her to a post. She stood silently shaking with her eyes closed. 

My owners looked at me and I looked at them. If the question was, did I wish to wear clothes again, the answer was yes. Somehow I doubted that was the point of this exercise. I opted for being honest, because this didn't look like punishment to me. 

"I don't understand," I told them.

Master Evan snickered and Master Damien raised an eyebrow. 

"Earth slaves aren't very observant are they?" Master Kein asked.

"Perhaps the slave doesn't like our decoration," Master Bane commented touching the cuff on my wrist. 

"Ciara has demonstrated it likes our symbol. We all remember the village," Master Christof said as though reminding them. 

I looked back up at Fuji and kind of understood. She wasn't wearing a collar or cuffs to show ownership. Her leg was bound to the post by a simple leather strap. Upon closer inspection the ill fitting dress was just a man's shirt. 

My hand stroked the line of my collar and I remembered the horror that happened to me when it wasn't present.

"I like your symbol, Masters, and I appreciate the protection the collar gives me," I said solemnly. 

Fuji's outfit just didn't make any sense. What was the purpose of dressing her? I would love to be dressed. 

"It loses something when you have to tell them," Master Evan said sounding grumpy. 

Apparently, I should be horrified by the sight in front of me. No one was touching her or hurting her. Maybe that came later, that would have horrified me. 

"No one is hurting her and she's dressed, Masters," I finally said confused. "She's not even bound in a way that would be painful. I don't understand."

They all stood looking at me for a moment before Master Christof leaned in and spoke in my ear.

"That slave would not find being stretched out between the posts uncomfortable at all. Being covered in that smock means its skin is too hideous to be seen. You've seen how the flesh glitters in the light, correct?"

I nodded and he understood me. 

"Its owners put that on it to accent its natural glow. On its planet the only creatures to cover up are ill and embarrassed by their skin. Its owners are saying it is too hideous to look at. They are putting it out here for us to mock."

"Will you touch her and hurt her?" I whispered. 

"No, that kind does not feel pain the way you do. It would take the blade of a knife to make the skin suffer and that would leave a permanent scar," Master Christof told me. 

I watched, with my peripherals as a group walked by and commented how ugly the slave was. The men wondered who would claim such a horrid thing. They continued to talk until Fuji screamed her master's names, begging them to claim her. 

I heard one of Fuji's owners say to the other men to move on and then he left. Letting my hair fall forward I looked through it and saw her owners sitting in a small tent behind her. They were sipping on drinks and talking. 

"Ciara," Master Damien warned pushing back my hair, "you know you aren't supposed to do that."

"I'm sorry, Master Damien, I just didn't understand where their voices came from," I admitted to him. "Will you say things to make Fuji upset?" I asked to change the subject.

"No, we keep this slave, we will not be part of punishing it," Master Evan said and grabbed my chin so I looked at him. "Do not look at other men, Ciara, only us."

"I only want to look at you, Master, I just was curious where the men watched from," I said beginning to fear they would put me up there also. 

"Ciara, when you are curious, ask us and we will tell you," Master Christof sighed. "Do not do things that you know will get you in trouble." 

"I apologize, Masters," I said in a pleading voice hoping they would let this go.

"Follow me, Ciara," Master Damien said, "and keep your eyes where they belong."

Master Damien and his Brothers went to talk to Fuji's owners. I knelt on a pad in the little tent and waited while they talked. They were discussing the hunt for the men that had been taken. I had never been in the mountains, but it sounded really intense. 

As we sat there one of those stupid silver bugs landed on my thigh. I hated those bugs and swatted at it viciously. I struck my thigh with an open palm and left a hand print, but the bug got away. I felt a tickle on my arm and thought it was another bug. I swung, but several sets of hands stopped me. 

"Ciara!" Master Damien said pulling me up, "Do not punish yourself! You are forgiven!"

"We will bind your hands if you continue to strike yourself," Master Evan threatened. "You cannot be injured." 

"I wasn't," I started to say and stopped; they looked upset. "I won't hit myself anymore, but honestly, that kind of a hit won't cause permanent damage," I told them. "I was slapping at a bug." 

They stared angrily at the red handprint on my thigh, so I rubbed at it. 

"It will fade, Masters, I promise that kind of hit won't leave a mark," I pleaded. 

The men sat back down to talk, but Master Christof pulled me on his lap. He held both my hands in one of his, presumably so I couldn't whack myself again. I lay may head on his shoulder and relaxed. 

I sat quietly for a while, but soon wiggled free and was tracing the lines on Master Christof's palms. As I played with his long fingers I heard a sigh from Fuji's owners. 

"This is going to drive us mad watching you all. We wish to enjoy our slave. This punishment is over," one of them said and I heard them rise and leave the tent. 

The last man to leave told Master Damien they would see him tomorrow, but they were going to be occupied for the rest of the night. My men laughed outright at that. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 09



This time, I asked. "What's so funny?"

"It is one of the benefits of that type of slave," Master Christof said stretching out now that there was more room, "that slave can take them many times. Except for the temperature difference the sex organs mirror our females. It is not sensitive like you are, it is accustomed to having many male partners each time."

"You knew I was used to having only one sexual partner at a time?" I asked him looking into his eyes. 

"Yes, and my Brothers also knew with the proper stimulation you would respond just as favorably to us," Master Christof told me. 

"You're better than the man I had sex with on Earth," I blurted out. "I react more favorably here than I ever did there."

"Of course," Master Evan laughed, "we are a far superior race."

Things were normal for a couple of weeks after that. My Warriors talked about a meeting that the General had scheduled and they were very curious about it. Unlike his usual meetings it was to be held at his private residence. That was unusual, but not unheard of. 

The day of the meeting came and the men were very animated. They dropped me at the Keepers early. I noted each man was dressed in his finest attire. Being asked to speak with the General privately in his home was evidently quite an honor. 

Something happened at the meeting, I was sure of that. My Warriors were subdued that evening and didn't want to talk to me. When I asked what had happened they told me it was not something I should concern myself with. It was a strange reaction and I didn't know what to do. 

Life for me changed subtly. Something was very wrong, I soon knew. As the days passed I felt more and more left out. My owners talked about almost nothing in front of me. Except for cleaning me, they rarely even touched me. All of them watched me, as though appraising me for some reason. 

My Warriors became more keyed up and anxious. They weren't sleeping well, which was strange. When I woke up in the middle of the night they were sitting and talking by the fire. As soon as they noticed me the conversations always stopped, though. I knew they were hiding something. 

At lunch they'd come and take me to the forest. Everyday I'd try to talk to the Brother with me, but they told me to eat and watched me wistfully. Asking what was wrong got me no answers. Getting upset with them just earned me a rebuke.

"We enjoy you, Ciara," Master Kein had said once. "Can't we just spend time with one another and find pleasure in it? Why must you act this way?"

The criticism startled me. Every time I wanted to ask again after that I redirected myself. A slave should always defer to their Master's wishes and pleasure. I had to be what they wanted, so I stopped pressuring them. 

The worry gnawed at the pit of my stomach, despite my decision. I bit one of my nails to the nub and my stomach constantly hurt. It felt like I was reacting to their anxiety, which obviously I was. If something happened to them, I felt sure I would suffer also. It began to panic me. 

One night at dinner I had suffered enough of the strange silence and odd looks. My anxiety got the better of me and I had to ask them. 

"What is going on? You all seem upset and you won't talk around me, what did I do, Masters?" I asked.

"You did nothing, Ciara, take your sustenance," Master Damien told me dully. 

He had that same look as when the problem with Master Christof had been going on. 

"Is your bond broken? Did something happen?" I pressed.

"This is not your concern, Ciara," Master Evan told me. "It is time for you to take your meal."

"You are my concern!" I stormed standing up. "You are my Masters. You are the only reason I survive here and something is wrong with you. Please, tell me what has happened, let me help you," I begged. 

"You have helped, Ciara, you fixed our bond. Now Master Damien is being considered for the position of General. If he is chosen, he will train to take the General's place in a Warrior compound," Master Christof finally admitted. 

"Oh," I said deflated, that wasn't so bad, "congratulations, Master Damien, that sounds like an honor."

Master Damien threw his plate and upturned the table in front of him. I backed into the wall and watched him. He'd never lost his temper like this in front of me. It was terrifying. 

"A General," he said stalking toward me, "cannot own a slave. They take too much time. They distract him from his one endeavor, the good of the compound. My needs will be sated by our women, no more waiting for couplings. I need only ask my Mistress."

I stood shocked looking at him. They were going to get rid of me. I always knew it was a chance, slaves were meant to be sold and traded. Silly me, I had trusted their promise, though. 

I put my hands over my nipples and felt their insignia burning into my palms. How many times would I be traded before it stopped hurting? I wondered. Next time I would not get so attached, I swore to myself. Tears ran in rivers down my face and I bolted for the bathroom. 

The food I had just eaten came back up in a rush. Someone held my hair back as I vomited. Once I was done, I curled over my knees and bawled. The idea of being without them left me with a feeling of emptiness and terror. 

"We should not have told it," Master Bane chastised. 

"No, you should have told me. I would hate to be surprised with something like that. To be...sold is terrible. I need time to prepare for it. Thank you, Masters, for not surprising me with the auction," I stuttered out trying to sound professional. 

This was a business transaction for them. They were moving up in the world. I shouldn't begrudge them this. I would deal with my own fear and leave them to their lives. 

"We cannot sell it back to the slavers. I will not see Ciara sold to another," Master Damien growled. "I will not do this. There must be a way..." 

"It wears our brand in the hair on its stomach," Master Kein said, "we could argue it cannot be sold to another with such a mark."

"They will remove it, Kein," Master Christof said, "or they will tell us to kill it, if it cannot be sold. If Damien becomes General, the Administrators will make us part with Ciara."

"Ridiculous," Master Damien fumed, "I do not want this change, now. I am happy. Our lives are good and we are satisfied. They will force us to make this change if they choose me. I do not know what to do."

I sat up and watched them pace in the bathroom. Now I understood, they didn't want to get rid of me, that's why they were so upset. In happiness, I threw myself at Master Damien and hugged him. My breath probably reeked but I hugged all of them.

"Why do they want you, Masters?" I asked wishing to help. 

"We are the best, Ciara," Master Damien said sitting on the bench in the room, "I am the best fighter, Kein is the best tracker, Bane is strong as any two men, Christof makes the most girls, and Evan's talent is unrivaled. Together we are a near unbeatable force."

"The Administrators believe as General we would inspire the men to be more like us. We are always the best and always strive for excellence. They want to make our family the paradigm for the compound," he finished leaning against the wall. 

Master Christof sighed and stroked my hair, "You are precious to us. We do not wish to lose you, but we do not know how to keep you. The vote is to be held in a lunar cycle."

"It's a vote?" I whispered and they told me it was. "So there are other families you are running against."

"Yes," Master Christof said, "families we feel would be happy to be General. They are not as strong as us. We feel sure the vote will go our way, the General agreed."

"Can't you just tell them you don't want it?" I asked. 

"Ciara," Master Kein said softly, "we discussed this with the General. He knows the same thing we know, namely how this world is run. The position of General is the position of head slave in the compound. We have no more choice in the matter than you did in coming here."

My world was rocked and my head was reeling. Something they had said made me think. They had said they were the best. 

"What if you weren't the best?" I asked. "My uncles sucked at every job they did. No one ever wanted them in charge of anything. They showed up late, didn't work when they were there, and left early to go hang out with women. Can you act like that to avoid the promotion?"

"We have never acted like that," Master Damien snorted, "it would be dishonorable."

The rest of the men agreed with Master Damien about how ridiculous that idea was. They would never act in such a way as I described. It would embarrass and demean them. 

I hung my head and wasn't surprised when I vomited a second time. Whether they like it or not, they were going to be promoted. They didn't have the imagination necessary to buck the system. I would just have to watch as they were taken from me. 

It wasn't surprising that I cried myself to sleep that night. They tried to shush and comfort me, but it didn't work. I finally fell asleep when they put a tiny amount of the calming cream on my forehead. 

I woke up the next morning and the sun was high in the sky. My brain felt a little fuzzy from the calming cream, but I hadn't lost my memory. Slowly I rose from the bed and wasn't surprised when I stumbled a little. 

Peering out into the main room I saw I had my own group of Keepers today. The men politely introduced themselves as such and proceeded to care for me. They fed and cleaned me, but they couldn't make me feel better. 

Like a caged lion I paced the apartment. In my mind I battled with myself about how best to deal with this. The stress was monumental and I started vomiting again. 

The Keepers made me eat the root and it settled my stomach, but I knew that was temporary. I walked for a while more and the vomiting started up again. My whole stomach and chest ached from it, but I couldn't relax. 

The men watching me thought my pacing was making me sick, so they told me to be still. I yelled at them and told them to leave me alone. That was the wrong thing to do. 

The Keepers grabbed me and forced me to eat a large portion of the root. Once they were done they opened the bed in the wall and placed me it. I was tied in four point restraints face down and couldn't move. I struggled and screamed at them, but they wouldn't listen. 

When they were sure I would not vomit again, they pushed the bed into the wall. Darkness overtook me. I yelled, but the sound was just swallowed up. This was horrible. It was like a comfortable tomb. 

Eventually, I calmed down and lay the side of my face against the sheet. Rationally I knew I couldn't spend a moon like this, however long that was. I was going to have to just get over the fact they were going to sell me. 

The problem, I knew, was that I trusted my owners. They did not like to hurt me and kept me well. Damien and his Brothers were the only safety net I had here. 

Another problem was that I loved them. It started with Christof and even after he rejoined them, I still cared for him. He no longer had similar feelings for me, I was sure. I still remembered the times we had shared. In a way I loved the rest of them also. They were innocent and stubborn. I could not imagine life without them. 

I probably I would have suffered just as much the month before I left earth, if I'd known in advance. It struck me suddenly that maybe they should not have told me. Perhaps it would have been better if I just woke up one morning and was given to different owners. It wasn't possible to forget this now. I'd just have to deal with it. 

I eventually fell asleep in the bed. I expected my owners when the tray was removed from the wall, but it was different men. They told me they were Keepers. 

I was groggy and stiff as I walked out into the main room and saw Rose's owners. I jerked my head down, since no one had given me permission to look at them. 

"Slave, we keep you and you may look at us while we are here. Where are your owners? Why did they ask us to deal with you this night?" Rose's owner, Basin, asked me.

"Should you be asking the slave?" the Keeper asked him aghast.

"Keeper, mind your own business. We hired you to watch this slave and that is what you will do. Earth slaves are intelligent; it may know where they have gone," Basin said angrily. 

"They didn't wake me this morning, sir," I answered, "I woke up and the Keepers were here. I thought my Masters went to work." 

Basin cursed in volumes for a few moments, his other Brothers also seemed really angry. He pushed over a chair in the eating area and stormed out, his family right behind him. I could still hear him cursing in the hallway. 

My night time Keepers fed and cleaned me. I was worried about my owners, but determined not to throw up anymore. I did Rose's deep breathing in front of the fire and tried to stay relaxed. 

The night got later and later. Granted, I had slept most of the day, but I wasn't used to being up at night. I pulled the blanket from in front of the fire and curled up with my head on my kneeling pad. 

Eventually, I was woken up as Basin and his Brothers came back. They gave the Keepers several stones and put out the fire in the fireplace. One of them picked me up and carried me down to their quarters. They laid me in their bed and ordered me to go to sleep.

Rose was wide awake and staring at me. I didn't know what to say or do, so I laid down. The men lay down but were up a moment later. 

"Where ** ** ** are they?" one man asked pacing back and forth. 

He used so many curse words I could barely understand him. 

"They disappear from their post, show up once we've started a search and claim to be feeding their slave. Their slave was at their home! They never went there. Now they are gone again. Have they lost their ability to reason? The General will beat them bloody. We couldn't hide it, it was too obvious. Slave, what are your owners thinking?" the man asked turning on me. 

I knew what they were thinking. I knew I couldn't lie, so I told the truth. "They are the best at what they do, sir," I said and he roared with anger. 

Rose moved across the bed and wrapped herself around me. The man stared at the two of us crossly.

"Not another word should come out of your mouth slave. Lay down and go to sleep. Do not even speak to me if I ask you a question," the man said. 

That was probably for the best, I thought as I put my head back on the pillows. Anything I said that was the truth would just get my men in trouble. 

The next day I was fed, cleaned, and dressed by Rose's owners. They took me to the Keepers with Rose. They told me if my owners couldn't be found to give me my meal, the Keepers would do it. 

Rose was curious about what was going on. I told her what was happening and she sat with me. Fuji found the entire thing odd. They both stayed with me all morning and we spoke to one another quietly. 

Master Christof showed up at lunch very late looking much worse for the wear. None of the other Warriors greeted him as he took his seat in front of me. I tried not to look horrified at his condition. 

Master Christof was beaten up badly, one side of his face was so swollen it looked like it belonged to someone else. I saw a teeth marks on his neck and his arm hung slightly funny on one side. I assumed he had been with the women. 

Master Christof pulled a scrap of dried meat out of his pocket and shoved it in my mouth. I tried to chew whatever it was, but it was too tough. I just worked on it and swallowed little bits when I could. 

"That is what you brought to feed a human?" the man next to us feeding Rose asked. 

"It will eat what I bring, won't you Ciara?" he asked patting my face. 

I gurgled an answer.

"Cousin, we helped train you. You cannot feed that to a human. It can't chew that. It will lose mass and become ill if it is not fed correctly," the man said softly. 

It struck me that these guys were good. They took being screw ups to a level I had never witnessed before. Not that I was really willing to die to prove a point, but we'd proved I could live without lunch on at least one occasion. 

"We have been busy," Master Christof told the man, "the slave will eat later or it won't. If it dies, we'll just get a new one."

I choked a little, but prayed this was still part of the game. The thing in my mouth was getting softer. I figured if I chewed long enough I'd probably get some nutrition out of it. 

"Buy a meal from the Keepers, Christof, don't be ridiculous. An ill slave is dishonorable, you all do not need anymore problems now," the man said.

Christof laughed and told him I rarely got to eat a midday meal. They usually ate what they brought me and fucked me at lunch time. I was lucky I was eating today. 

I nodded and put my face against his leg.

"You see," Master Christof told the man, "they are more obedient when they are hungry."

"We have seen it struggle with weight once, Christof, this is why. You are not doing a good job," the man said loudly. 

Master Christof just ignored him and strode out of the room. He ordered me to come with him and told me it was time for my noon time task. The other Warriors sounded really judgmental as we left and headed out the wall. 

In the forest Master Christof took the stuff from my mouth and set it aside. He pulled a package from his shirt pocket and fed me. It was gross, worse than worms ever tasted. 

"It is the worms, dried and preserved, they don't taste as good this way," he whispered, "but it will give you sustenance."

"You might be doing too much," I whispered back to him choking down the disgusting meal. 

"No, we are proving we are not trustworthy," he said quickly and shoved the original piece of stuff back in my mouth. 

"Hurry and eat this slave. I wish to use you for your purpose," he said loudly. 

"You are out of time, Christof, we are expected back. The General requested we watch you to insure you return today," Basin said irritably. 

I heard several other men behind him agreeing. 

Master Christof slapped my bottom and demanded I walk toward the compound. From the heat I knew I had a handprint there, but it would fade. The men behind me sounded horrified looking at it. 

The General lashed my owners the next day. They expected it and were pumped up and ready. In their younger days, they had evidently been lashed often. 

"It's how we learned to get away from the women when we were in the mountains. It was great incentive at the time," Master Bane told me. 

When Master Damien came to feed me he was literally dripping blood from his back. It had soaked through his shirt and was falling in thick drops to the floor. I looked at him and couldn't think of what to say. He fed me from a bowl slowly and carefully. I thought maybe this was the end of their defiance. 

"You're making a mess of the floor where the slaves stay," a man commented.

"The Keepers should clean it up then," Master Damien stated.

"Some of the slaves cannot eat with you bleeding all over the floor," a Warrior from my right said. 

Master Damien ignored him and continued to feed me. When the complaints about his back started again, he took a different tact with them. 

"When I am General, we will see what the slaves can tolerate," he threatened.

The other men started to yell about that. Master Damien and his Brothers were acting crazy, there was no way he would become General. 

I small smile crept across Master Damien's face and I caught it. 

The men stayed in their quarters and didn't go to the bathhouse that night, due to their injuries. I fretted about their backs and begged them to let me put something on it. They had to suffer until they healed, that was part of the punishment.

"Could you call the Healers?" I asked softly petting Master Bane's leg as he fed me dinner. "Maybe they would not tell and they could help you."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 09



He frowned down at me and fed me another bite. "We are strong men, Ciara. Weak men need the Healers' touch, not us. We have not used the Healers since we were young boys."

They were so adamant about it that I finally stopped asking. Over the next two days, I watched their skin heal with awe. For all the violence the General had inflected they didn't even scar. It made me wonder how vicious the marks they still carried must have been initially. 

Master Damien and his Brothers behaved for two days after their punishment. It seemed they gave themselves just enough time to completely heal before they started again. It became a recurring pattern. 

The result was always the same when they misbehaved, but it didn't change their behavior. They did everything imaginable to disrupt the compound and irritate the General. My owners could be absolute devils if they put their minds to it. 

"We have spent a long time containing Evan," Master Bane laughed one night as they healed from their latest punishment. "Who knew what a benefit he would eventually be!"

The men found the entire thing amusing. Master Evan was devious and loved mischief, but it wasn't usually allowed. He wasn't able to control himself and would go much too far. Now they gave him free reign and he was making up for lost time. 

I spent a great deal of time with Basin and his Brothers, Rose's owners, when mine were acting out. I was a near permanent fixture in their home, it seemed. 

At first Rose's owners seemed angry and then they weren't. I lay in their bed one night worrying about Master Damien. I hated the idea they would be whipped again, but that seemed like what they were aiming for. The man named Karis was suddenly in my face telling me to relax.

"Your owners will come back for you, slave," he told me, "you needn't worry about them. We will care for you while they are off irritating the Administrators."

I froze on the bed and didn't even breath. No one else was supposed to know they were doing this intentionally. I couldn't let it slip. My wide eyes met Karis' and held them. 

"We know slave, your owners told us what they are doing. It is an interesting plan. I am curious to see if it will work," he told me.

The General called my men to stand before him when they reappeared a day later. He didn't want to whip them this time. Basin and his Brothers weren't sure what he wanted to do to them. 

Master Damien picked me up from Basin's apartment looking crushed. We walked upstairs and the men were all sitting morosely around the fire. I didn't know what to do. I wrapped my arms around Master Christof and held him while I sat on his lap. 

"Please, tell me what happened," I begged softly. 

"The General knows what we are doing and he knows why. It did not sway the decision. I am to be trained to be a General, my Brothers and I must sell you," Master Damien said from across the room. 

I did that deep breathing and tried to keep control. Despite that, tears leaked down my face. My voice cracked when I spoke and I settled for sobbing into Master Christof's chest.

"We have chosen your new owners," Master Bane said watching the fire. "We will not send you back to the auction."

The men passed me around, each holding me for a while. I cried for each of them. By the time I got to Master Damien, I would have thought I was out of tears. I wet his shirt with my emotional outburst, though. 

We didn't sleep at all that night. I just moved between them, holding each of them. They didn't have to tell me my new owners were coming in the morning, I knew it. 

A knock at the door the next daybreak didn't even phase me. Men came into the apartment and talked to Master Damien. I didn't recognize their voices at all, but they seemed young. 

Master Damien and his Brothers stood me up and removed my collar, cuffs, earrings, nipple rings, and ornamentation. The new men had replacements for all those things. Their colors were green and gold. I flinched when the new men touched me, but otherwise allowed them to ornament me. 

"Rue and his Brothers are your new owners," Master Damien said authoritatively. 

"You may only look at us," one of the new men said, "and you may only speak to us." 

I nodded and followed the men in a daze. Accidentally, I tried to look back at Damien and his Brothers, but my new owners forced my head down. Tears blurred the colors as I took in the green and gold that now surrounded me. 

The truth sunk in as my breathing grew panicked. I had been sold.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 10



So we had a little mishap with the publish date on Chapter 9. My generous and abused proof-reader recommended posting Chapter 10 ASAP. He got it back so we could send it out, hopefully on the schedule I promised. 

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his dedication removing my typos and mis-speaks. His hard work makes the read so much smoother. 

English is italicized when it occurs. 

Comments are welcome of any variety. Feel free to let me know what you think. 

Thanks and enjoy! DW

*********************

The new men put me on a transport pad and it zipped toward the Keepers. They didn't speak to me on the transport pad. I followed them off and they walked me into the Keepers compound. 

The rest of the morning passed in a daze. My friends didn't desert me and sat with me. I vomited once and the Keepers fed me the root. It felt like I was in shock. 

At lunch I realized I had no idea what my owner's mark looked like. I asked the Keepers where I was supposed to be and one of them showed me. Kneeling on the mark, I felt like a traitor. 

I warily watched the dark haired man that came to feed me. He looked terrifying. I couldn't read any kindness in his eyes. The man fed me all that was in the bowl and left without saying a word. 

As usual we went to the beach after lunch. The Keepers automatically stripped me, since I usually swam. That was when I realized I still had my old owner's mark on my stomach. I sat in the shallow water and started to pull the hair out one at a time. 

The Keepers stopped me from proceeding with that. They took me back to the room in the compound and strapped me to the wall. Self harm was looked on as fighting at the Keepers. I was not permitted to harm myself. 

Strapped to the wall I considered my life. I had promised myself I would make the best of this. Sure this new turn was bad, but I only had two options. I still didn't want to die. Time for mourning was over, I decided, I would make the best of this. 

When the men came and got me, they didn't ask why I was strapped to the wall. They took me back to their home, which was on the fourth floor. They fed me dinner and walked me down to the pool. 

Oddly, they didn't undress me. They left me to sit in their alcove while they cleaned themselves. In my head I tried to think of all the reasons I liked these new colors. 

Suddenly it struck me I had never had trouble with my other owner's colors. I hadn't really understood them at that point, though. I had just accepted they enjoyed those shades. They liked them, so I liked them. It would be better if I thought about it the same way now. 

The men finished their bath and took me upstairs. The men fed me a meal and then we went into the sitting room. All of them were staring at me and it unnerved me. 

"Slave, how did the slavers catch you?" one of them asked. 

The man asking the questions had long dark hair that flowed around his shoulders.

"I was coming home from shopping-" I started to say and he interrupted me.

"You shopped at home?"

"Yes, Master," I answered.

"Where did you shop?" he asked leaning toward me.

They wanted every detail of the night of my capture. I told them about the mini mart and wooded area where the men used to sit and drink. They heard about the bright light and the auction. They were interested right up until I started to talk about the auction. They didn't care what had happened after the slavers got me. 

Soon, they wanted to know about the motel. I had to tell them what it was and what I did there. The men were confused because I lived in a place for transients. I had to explain to them about the cost of apartments. They seemed to understand working for a living, but they still could not comprehend living somewhere meant for travelers. 

I was made to describe the room I lived in. Describing television took forever. Luckily, they had running water here, so that was much shorter discussion. They wanted to know about the room down to the linens on the bed, so the conversation took a very long time. 

Finally, I sat staring numbly at them. I hadn't slept in two days and I was barely awake. If they wanted me to perform my purpose here, I wasn't sure I would stay up for it. Instead, they just undressed me and put me to bed. 

I missed my old owners and I feared these new men, but I was so tired. Laying beneath the green blankets I fell quickly to sleep. I dreamed of Master Damien and his Brothers all night long. 

The next morning one of the men woke me. I asked him his name and he told me to call him and all his Brothers 'Master'. Evidently, I would not be talking to them much. The man that woke me took me to the shower and cleaned me completely.

My first shower with this new Master was practical. The man used the sponge to clean most of my body. When it came to the sensitive bits between my legs he used his fingers. I flinched and backed away inadvertently. This new Master just grabbed my hip and held me still as he cleaned every nook and fold. He was almost disinterested in the task. 

I dreaded the plug. It was so degrading to be cleaned and prepared that way. I had no control over such a personal thing. It was awful. 

This new Masters didn't really seem bothered either way. He did each step with clinical detachment. Once they were done he stood me up and moved right to the silky rub. 

When Master Evan had rubbed me with the purple goo, he always lingered on the places I liked. It was a morning massage as much as a skin treatment. This new man made no such alterations. It was rubbed in and then he was done. 

"Come," he ordered walking out of the bathing room, "it is time to eat, slave."

At breakfast the man across from me held up his bowl and asked me what I called it in my first language. I told him and he repeated the word until he could say it. In between bites, I was instructed to teach them the names of all the things around us. It was a strange way to spend the morning meal, but it became my norm. 

Time dragged on and it soon became obvious these men did not want a sex slave. They cleaned me and kept the annoying thing in my bottom, but otherwise did not touch me. I was glad, but I couldn't help but find it odd. 

The first few days I had dreaded going back to my new owners' apartment at night. I waited for them to descend on my body the way Master Damien and his Brothers had. At some point I was certain they would use me. It never happened. 

These men had no interest in my physical self, other than it was cleaned and fed. They made me tell them about Earth. These Masters wanted information. 

Everyday some aspect of life on Earth was explored. They made me relive moments from the most mundane to the most exciting. I spent seven day cycles explaining the inside of a supermarket. It was like they wanted to be know my planet inside out. 

For the first time in months I had to speak English. They ordered me to teach them the entire language. I was threatened that if they spoke it to another Earth slave and I had lied, they would have me whipped. I did the best I could. 

When I wasn't teaching my new owners, they acted like I wasn't present. If they weren't engaging in their Earth hobby, they had plenty to keep them busy. They were always doing something. Often I found myself sitting and watching their family like I was merely a piece of the furniture. I was useful when they wanted me to be and nonexistent when they had better things to do. 

When they weren't talking to me, I was not to interrupt them. I learned that very quickly. Their conversations with one another were complicated and I was chastised if I interjected. The truth, I soon realized, was they only really enjoyed talking with one another. 

My owners did things in their spare time like take apart transport pads in the sitting area. They enjoyed difficult time consuming tasks and I was never asked to participate. Unless they were asking about Earth, they didn't speak to me. For me, it was a lonely existence.

At home there wasn't ever a visiting slave to speak to. Unlike Master Damien and his Brothers, who spoke to almost everyone, these new men had few friends in the compound. Warriors would sometimes come by to ask a question, but they never stayed long. My owners seemed to talk down to almost everyone and most other men seemed glad to leave their presence. 

Sometimes, as the jovial men walked off discussing the chuke game they were late to, I wanted to go with them. I missed walking around the compound with my owners and watching them play. Actually, I missed doing almost everything. 

Since I wasn't really expected to do anything most of the time, I picked up a hobby. With my owner's permission Rose taught me to sew and knit. My skills quickly equalled hers, because I had limitless time to practice.

The men actually seemed happy I was doing something and bought limited supplies for me. They liked it when I sewed things with complicated designs. When I was able to stitch their symbol onto their shirts they were ecstatic. It was the first and only time I ever really pleased them. 

Most of the time, I was an annoyance to my owners. Their questions were so complicated. I frequently could not adequately answer them, so they punished me by making me sleep in the little box in the wall. Eventually, they figured out I just didn't know how everything worked on my home world. 

My owners seemed disappointed to have purchased such a stupid slave, but they did not sell me. However, they barely acknowledge they owned me. I had one outfit they put me in every day. They didn't even name me. I was just 'slave'. My Masters did the absolute minimum to care for me. 

They did make sure all my needs were met, though. I was fed and housed. Reminding myself of how the life of a slave should work, I focused on being grateful. Really there was only one thing the men did that was unpleasant for me. 

My new Masters plucked the hair on my stomach to remove my old Master's mark. They worked on it and kept it plucked daily. Secretly, I was glad they didn't have it removed by the jelly creatures. Even after they were done, I could still feel my first Master's insignia and that made me happy. 

I often wondered what Master Damien had told these men to make them buy me. It was such a strange arrangement. Slaves here were used for sex, not information. We had names and were covered in ornamentation. Finally I had the nerve to speak to my friends about it. 

It took a lot of determination for me to face Rose and Fuji with my questions. I was happy my new owners never touched me, but I felt their lack of interest in me made me weird. Shrugging off the shame of being the only sex slave in the compound not used for sex, I approached my friends.

"They don't use me," I blurted out staring at the sand one afternoon.

Rose, Fuji, and I were resting beneath a large shade tree. The breeze blew and I played absently with the edge of a large root. 

Both the other girls were quiet for a moment before Rose spoke. "What do you mean they don't use you?"

"They don't use me for sex. It's not that I want them to, it's just I feel it's strange. Have there been other slaves the Warriors didn't use for sex?" I finally asked.

"No," Fuji said staring at me. "That is why they buy us, Ciara. There is no other use for a slave."

"They ask me about my home planet," I told the girls. "I teach them to speak English..."

"We've noticed you only have the one outfit," Rose said softly. "It's getting frayed at the edges, because you wear it every day."

Fuji spoke next. "Have you made them angry?" she asked. "Is that why they don't touch you or ornament you?"

"I make them angry all the time," I huffed. "They ask questions I can't hope to answer adequately. I know they must be smart, they understand things at a level I never have. When I can't answer questions they lock me in the box."

I pulled my knees up to my chin and looked at the waves. 

"Perhaps they did not really want a slave," Rose pondered. "They are very intelligent men. My owners have gone to them before with problems. I think they were just curious about you."

"Once the curiosity is gone, I wonder if they will sell you," Fuji said. 

That idea terrified me, but Fuji had said it with calm indifference.

"I don't know," I answered her still staring out at the waves.

Being sold again was something I dreaded. I hated the way my fate could be so easily changed and altered. If I continued to obsess about it, I would be upset. 

Not for the first time on this planet, I made up my mind I would be happy. There was no point in dwelling over what might happen. In order to survive I just had to make these new men pleased. 

My second owners were so different from the men I was used to. My first owners had been exuberant and boisterous. These men just seemed different. They preferred seclusion and quiet conversation. I finally decided, my new owners were quintessential nerds.

These men thought about everything and always seemed to be studying something different. Their quarters were crowded with the things they were learning about. It struck me that's what I was too, a fun hobby when the mood took them. 

Unlike Master Damien and his Brothers, my new Masters were very interested in how much my care cost. They talked about all the things I needed in terms of parts and fuel, which I found confusing. I didn't think it was my parts and my fuel they discussed. 

The worms were the first thing to go. The men stopped feeding them to me and watched me closely. When I didn't get ill and didn't lose weight, they seemed satisfied that was something I didn't need. 

They really detested the drink I took in the morning. The one with long dark hair studied it one day using one of the strange devices they had made. He boiled it and appeared to distill it. He said it wasn't nutrients at all. Eventually, they stopped giving it to me. I didn't seem to be getting weaker or sicker, so I didn't worry about it.

They did take away other things I cared about, though. One day, for no apparent reason, they told me I was not to swim at the Keepers. I was to stay in my ornamentation at all times outside of their care. 

My new Masters didn't like to hear me speak. They liked to hear me argue even less. Breathing deep, I agreed to this new rule. 

When I was angry, I always made a point to remind myself I was fed and allowed to sleep in a comfortable place. Even if I wasn't happy, I was't abused. So they took away one more thing from me, I still had much to be thankful for.

After they told me I couldn't swim, I did find one thing to be glad about. They stopped pulling the hair out of the mark on my stomach. Perhaps they had found the chore too annoying, I didn't know. I loved having it. Satisfied to feel one iota closer to Master Damien and his Brothers, I was grateful for the change. 

One morning we walked onto the transport pad and I noticed it looked different. It was obviously new and it had my new Master's symbol etched onto the floor. I commented because I had never seen a transport with a Warrior's symbol. 

"It is ours," one of them told me, "that is why we are driving it. We own this transport." 

I complimented them on their new acquisition politely.

"We have a coupling today, slave," the man beside me said. "You will stay with another family until we return. Do not misbehave."

"Yes, Masters," I answered dutifully. 

I was always glad to go to the Keepers. When I was at the Keepers I had a name. People spoke to me and didn't just fire questions. I always felt in the way at home, at the Keepers I had a place. 

"So you stay with me tonight," Fuji said bouncing around. 

I groaned inwardly. Her owners used her for her purpose every night. I had no idea where they got the energy. Watching them was beginning to be frustrating to me in a weird way. 

I'd never masturbated much. My house on Earth had been too crowded for the level of privacy I felt I needed. It was getting to where I wondered if I could try after my Masters went to sleep, though. I ached for attention. 

Several months of frequent group sex had my body prepared to continue that way. I missed Master Evan and Master Christof. In quiet moments I found myself fantasizing about Master Bane's thick tool between my legs. I longed for the taste Master Damien left in my mouth after he had used it. They were gone, though, and had taken all that affection with them.

Watching Fuji with her men I had come to understand she had only one place they could use her. Her mouth was full of tiny sharp teeth. The place she made waste could not be altered and it was much too small. Still watching them with her reminded me of Master Damien and his Brothers. 

After the men finished with Fuji they laid me in bed and settled down. I was so frustrated and so horny. The men were breathing slow and easy, the way they did when they slept. I decided to take a chance.

Sliding my hand down my stomach, I brushed past my old owner's mark. No one in the bed stirred as I started to rub my clit with the tip of my finger. Reaching down between those smooth lower lips, I gathered moisture on my finger and started to rub. 

It was heaven and it was hell. I wanted to rub like mad, but I didn't want to alert Fuji's owners to my actions. Slowly and softly I pushed across that sensitive little bud. 

In my mind, it was Master Evan's tongue on my clit. I could hear Master Damien promising to punish me for doing this and it turned me on. Master Kein's fingers were on my rock hard nipples pulling on those sensitive rings. 

"Slave, that is not yours to touch," Fuji's Master interrupted me grabbing my hand. 

My eyes flew open and I stared into his face. He was still terrifying to me, just as much as the first day. However, I had been so close. 

"Please, Keeper," I whispered, "please..." 

Of course, I couldn't finish with the five of them watching, but now I was more frustrated than ever. The men seemed to sense my dilemma and solved it for me. I slept in the box in the wall tied in four point restraints. 

At breakfast Fuji's owners wondered what my Masters would do to me. Slaves were not permitted to touch themselves. After laying awake and frustrated much of the night, I was snippy. 

"Who cares?" I spit out. "Put me at the posts."

"If it was us, we would," one man said, "but that would just advertise the secret."

Dumbly, I stared at the man as he smirked at me. I had no idea what he was talking about. 

"What secret, Keeper?" I asked him. 

"Earth slaves really are as mentally unprepared as it is said they are," one of the men marveled petting Fuji. "If we put you nude at the posts, what do you think everyone would notice?" he asked and I looked at him not really understanding. "That is why we have our little slave from Batra," he continued, "so much brighter."

I looked at Fuji and she rubbed on the man's hand. She didn't even act like I was present. Her owners had complimented her, that was all she cared about. 

When we got to the Keepers my arms were bound behind my back for the day. The soft leather started at my elbows running down to my wrists. It was uncomfortable and demeaning. 

"How do I get out of this?" I wailed to Rose, who seemed to think it was a little funny. 

"You can't, they will punish you as long as they want to," she said shaking her head. "Did you actually try to do that? You know they see everything."

"Yes, I was horny, but now my arms are sore. How do I make this stop?" I asked again. 

"Ignore it," she sighed and convinced me to watch a new dance someone was doing on the other side of the room. 

By the time the Keepers got there at lunch everything ached. My shoulders, my wrists and especially my elbows all felt the pull. I begged the man on my knees to take the binding off. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 10



"You are not on a kneeling place," he said stoically. 

In my rush to talk to him, I'd missed my kneeling place by a foot. I shuffled forward and begged again. 

"This is the only punishment I can give you," he said into my ear. "You will feel it until I am satisfied."

I ate lunch without another word to the man. My distress wasn't going to sway him. Rose was right, I thought as I ate, I would just have to ignore it. 

By the time to leave the Keepers, my hands were mostly numb. I knelt with Fuji waiting outside dejectedly. If they took the bindings off, I'd never touch myself again. 

"I'll ask for you," Fuji promised, but I knew that was not possible. 

Fuji felt bad for me, but she would never be able to ask her owners to do something they didn't want to do. It just wasn't in her nature. 

A flash of metal at my elbow surprised me and the bindings were cut right down the middle. My arms flopped uselessly at my sides. Now free of the leather my shoulders were spasming and I couldn't really control my motions. 

"Will you touch yourself again?" one of Fuji's men asked me. 

"No, Keeper," I answered him softly. 

The men used Fuji again that night, but I didn't care anymore. Even as they each reached a climax I didn't notice. There was no reason to watch or listen to it. 

Physical affection was no longer part of my equation. In fact, I was denied any sort of affection. My owners kept me as an Earth encyclopedia and not a very good one at that. I was never going to feel loved again. 

It took every fiber of my being to convince myself I could be happy. I had to be happy. I'd die if I thought about what I was missing and what I could never have again. 

It wasn't that I only missed sex. I'd survived a long time without sex. It was the feelings Master Damien and his Brothers elicited in me. I felt loved and cared for. I wondered if I'd ever feel that way again. 

My new owners came back from the coupling looking worse for wear. They were happy and animated, though. These men enjoyed their time with the women. From the way they talked they wanted to stay longer. 

Oddly, it sounded like they were going back and that confused me. They didn't like it when I interrupted their conversations, though. I just listened and went silently through my night time rituals. 

The next day dawned bright and early. My owners were all very excited as they got me up and going. 

"Come, slave," one of them said holding up a dull brown outfit. 

The men wrapped me in what seemed to be two brown tunics and walked me outside to their transport. They were in high spirits, but they seemed to be trying to hide it as we moved onto the transport pad. 

We left the compound and passed the village. I wasn't sure where we were going. We travelled for what must have been hours. Suddenly I understood why I was in two layers though. It was getting colder. My owners were talking, so I did not interrupt, but I wondered where they were taking me. 

The ground underneath us was rough and getting rockier. The small amount of vegetation was squat. Except for the chill in the air, I felt like we were going back to the village I had been placed in for punishment. There was no one around here. 

Looking ahead I panicked, we were headed for the mountains. The large grey slopes were looming closer and closer.

"Masters, why are you taking me to the mountains?" I asked loudly.

"You are not going to the mountains," the man with long dark hair said, "we are."

Obtuse, illogical creatures, I cursed silently. We were all heading to the mountains. 

Eventually, a low building came into view. It looked old and as though it wasn't used all that frequently. The transport headed down toward it and stopped in front of it. 

Two of the men went inside through a large wooden door. I waited with the three remaining Brothers outside for a moment. After some unseen command, we all went inside. They lit a fire in the fireplace and the room started to warm. They had brought bags on the transport and those came in with us also. 

The men stripped me of my cover and then my sparse ornamentation. They even removed the nipple rings, the intimate touch shocking me. When they took off my slave collar and cuffs, I just stared at them. 

"We are not your owners until we replace our marking on you," one of them told me. "That will happen in four day cycles."

With that little bit of information they left the cabin. 

After they were gone I looked at my naked body and wondered if this was my punishment for masturbating. Moving automatically, I opened the door and looked out. Bleak nothingness surrounded the small squat cabin. A frigid breeze blew in and I shivered. This would be one hell of a four days, I thought closing the door. 

I knelt in front of the fire and pondered my own stupidity. Of course they would catch me. At least they had been kind enough to leave me warm while I was tortured.

Sighing and moving slightly, I realized the plug was still in my bottom. I wouldn't do well for four days if it stayed in. As I contemplated taking it out myself, I heard a low hum stir the air outside.

I recognized the sound of a transport immediately. I guessed my first tormentors were here. There was nowhere to hide in here and I couldn't run outside without freezing to death. Stoically, I knelt by the fire and waited. 

Someone entered the dwelling, but I didn't look up. I stared at the floor as their boots surrounded me. They didn't move to touch me and I wasn't breathing. This would start when they were ready.

All my movement stilled as I felt hands on my hair and it was lifted off my back. A cool metal collar was slipped around my neck and fastened into place. 

"You may speak to us and look at us, Ciara. We are your Masters for the next four day cycles," I heard Master Damien say. 

My head jerked back and I drunk them in. I nearly managed to knock Master Kein over when I hugged his legs. Grabbing out, I hugged them all to me. Tears ran down my face and my words weren't making any sense as I greeted them. 

It was an honest needy display, but they didn't seem to mind. 

Finally, managing to stand I hugged and kissed each of them. They tried to get me to be still, but I couldn't stop touching their faces. Somehow even with my excitement they managed to put their cuffs and ornamentation on me. 

Master Bane wrapped me in his arms from behind and held me tight while Master Kein placed the jewelry in my nipples. Master Kein lingered on the sensitive tissue watching it respond to his gentle caress. It was the first time in ages I had been touched that way and I moaned rubbing my cheek against Master Bane's beard. 

"Ciara, have you missed us?" Master Evan asked with humor tinting his voice.

"Yes, yes, yes I've missed you so much," I said wiggling out of Master Bane's arms, "I think of you everyday Masters. Tell me how you have been. Tell me everything you have done. Please, I need to know how you are," I begged. 

Taking a minute, I really admired them. Master Damien now wore a thick leather vest across his chest. The rest of the men's clothing was finer with more ornamentation. Despite all the finery, they looked so tired. 

"Was it a long trip to get here, Masters?" I asked stroking their chests. "Do you need to sleep? Should you rest? How did you get here? Did you run away?"

"Ah, the questions," Master Damien laughed. "No, we did not run away, we have several days off. We told the women we wished to be alone with each other and no women. They agreed. This place was our decision."

I grinned up at him, they chose to come back to me. 

"Please, Master Damien, please tell me how you have been?"

"We have been busy," he said simply looking down at me. 

The men watched, very amused as I took my time greeting all of them. I admired each of them individually and commented on the different new pieces to their clothing. 

Finally, I had to ask, "Did you buy me back, Masters?" 

They had said they had me for four days, but that didn't make any sense.

"Well," Master Evan said stretching out on a chaise with his hands behind his head, "we never really sold you."

"That is a secret, Ciara," Master Bane warned. "If you can't keep it, you really will be taken to auction and sold."

My new Masters did not ornament me, they did not name me, and they never touched me. They left the old mark on my stomach. They treated me like they were my Keepers, which obviously is all they were. 

"How...?" was all I could think to say.

"The men Keeping you are known for their ability to solve puzzles. They enjoy things that are complicated. Keeping you for ourselves, the way we wanted to do, has never been done. They enjoyed the challenge," Master Damien explained.

"You paid them," I marveled.

"Yes," Master Kein answered.

"They also liked having their own transport, Masters," I said understanding where that money came from. 

"They have their own transport?" Master Christof asked wrinkling his nose, "Why would they want their own transport?"

"Who can track them now?" Master Evan asked grinning. "No transport goes missing and they stay gone as long as they please. Good idea, shame we didn't think of it."

"But they have to fix it," Master Bane argued. "What if it breaks and they are away from the compound? I detest fixing the transports."

"I could fix them," Kein stated, "Christof can, too. You only dislike the small parts. If we had to, we would learn more. How many times have I coaxed ours to go when we thought it would run no more?"

It had been ages since I'd been included in a conversation. I started to tell the men my Keepers knew how to build a transport and stopped mid sentence. For the last long time I'd been heavily chastised for interrupting. 

"Why do you talk and then stop, Ciara?" Master Kein asked pulling me onto his lap. "Did you forget what you had planned to say?"

"No, Master Kein," I answered embarrassed, "the Keepers don't like to hear me talk most of the time. They only like to talk to one another. I'm trying to learn not to interrupt."

"We will speak with them," Master Damien said patting my head, "we wish you to be happy."

"It really doesn't matter, Master Damien, I'm only happy when I'm with you all. I don't care about talking to them," I freely admitted. 

The men relaxed sitting around the fire. They told me about their life now. 

They learned about how to run a compound and how to control the men. There were classes on all the different types of slaves they kept, too. They were expected to know everything about everyone contained in the village they ran. 

The second part of their new job seemed to upset them. The women used them almost daily for sex. Master Damien said he assumed they were sold each afternoon to a different group of women. The women were different from what the men were used to. They only fought them if Master Damien was willing to fight. 



Morosely, they all sat and looked into the fire. Talking about their new life seemed to depresses them. I couldn't stand to see them this way. 

"There is no music, Master Damien," I said kneeling in front of him, "but I could dance for you. I don't really need the music anyhow. Would you like to see me dance, Master?"

"Ha!" Master Kein bellowed, "I had forgotten our surprise. Would you like to be surprised, Ciara?"

I was confused and excited. This whole day had been a surprise, of course I didn't mind. 

The men had me kneel in front of the fire and close my eyes. I heard them bustle in and out of the cabin. Chairs creaked as they took their seats again. 

My eyes shot open when the first chords were played. Master Kein sat beside the fire and watched me as his fingers deftly moved over a small stringed instrument. I leapt to my feet and started to sway, but he stopped abruptly. 

"We are not done yet, Ciara," Master Damien laughed pointing to a large bag sitting in front of him. "Look at what else we brought."

Quizzically looking at him, I knelt next to the big bag. The men all moved so they were watching me. I had no idea what to expect.

Inside the bag was a mass of fabric, I thought it might be wrapped around something. Putting my hand inside I rustled around and something jingled at the bottom. I slowly pulled the deep blue pieces from the bag. As I laid the fabric beside me, it made sense.

It was a three piece belly dancing outfit, complete with a hip scarf full of jingling coins. They had bought the one that the men at the store had made for me. It was perfect, especially considering no one that made it had ever seen one before. 

Stroking the waves of fabric, I was touched. They had bought this even after they had lost me. In hopes we could see one another again, they had kept it. Master Kein had even learned to play an instrument so I could dance for them. They never forgot me, not for a moment. 

Tears spilled down my face and I thanked each one of them. 

"Why do you make the tears?" Master Christof asked. "Have we made you sad? Will you empty your stomach now?"

"No, no," I argued laughing through the tears, "I'm happy. I promise you, Master Christof, sometimes humans cry when we are happy, also. I promise not to get sick."

I jumped to my feet and grabbed the outfit. "Let me surprise you, Masters. Let me put it on myself and then come out and dance for you. Please, may I?" I asked. 

They seemed to consider the question for a moment before coming to a consensus.

"Go, Ciara," Master Damien waved toward the back room, "but we will help you if you need it."

I ran for the doorway, which entered a bedroom and donned the clothing. A plain bed with white covers sat in the middle of the room; we'd be there soon enough. I struggled slightly, but got the outfit all on. 

Having on clothing that actually covered me for the first time in months felt odd. I was used to ornamentation that just flowed around me. Even the cover I wore to market was looser. This outfit felt constricting and I wasn't accustomed to it. 

I pulled my breasts up in the top, so the plump curves sat high and proud on my chest. Wiggling around I pushed the skirt so the edge rode low on my belly. I wanted my Masters to really see the motion of my hips and stomach as I danced. 

"Master Kein, if you want to start, I'm ready," I called, adjusting the skirt one more time. 

Master Kein started to play and I exited the room with a flourish. I shook and shimmied in a way my old instructor would have been proud of. The fabric swished around me billowing out. I gave the men the best show I had. 

I loved the outfit and hoped it showed. The coins jingled and danced on my waist adding to the music Master Kein made. The melody flowed and swayed as my hips kept the rhythm and added to it. 

I felt their eyes burning into me as I danced. Bane seemed mesmerized by the roll of my hips. His eyes stayed glued on the undulating sway. Seductively, I moved before him and danced just for him. 

Big hands encircled my waist lightly, just experiencing the play of muscle under my skin. Teasingly, I moved out of his reach. His eyes burned as I lifted my hands above my head and turned my wrists.

"Turn," he ordered gruffly.

I did as he asked and felt the weight of his stare on the dimples over my ass. Shaking them enticingly, I heard the low groan. It only encouraged me to writhe and dip with the music provocatively. 

Moving and rocking slowly I realized I stood facing Evan. My hips rose and fell to the music as blue eyes perused my pulsing form. My right leg with its strange tattoo peeked out repeatedly at him. His face seemed enthralled as the dance covered and uncovered my flesh. 

"Here," Master Damien ordered pointing to the spot in front of him.

I twirled toward him and let the waves of blue spin in the room. It wasn't a classic move, but it had the intended effect. I certainly had everyone's attention. 

Master Damien watched with abject fascination as my musician forced a faster, more staccato rhythm. Suddenly Master Kein slowed and I knew he was testing me. I followed the slower beat of the music and did the belly rolls that made Master Damien's eyes light up. 

I paused to dance several times in front of each of them, including Master Kein. I learned quickly he liked to see my breasts jiggle in their cups. If I did it well enough, he faltered in his playing. Withholding a laugh, I did everything I could to throw him off. 

"I wish, Brothers," Master Kein finally said, "to see the ornamentation on the breasts dance, too. Remove the top for me."

Master Kein played softly as Master Damien removed the tight fitting top. It was a relief to have it gone, but I was sad I couldn't torment the musician anymore. 

"Now dance, Ciara," he said picking up the rhythm of the music. 

I rolled my stomach and shook myself for their pleasure. Eventually deciding they wished to see my ass and lower stomach move they removed the skirt also. Now I stood in just the hip scarf shaking the coins provocatively. 

The tempo of Master Kein's song changed and my dance changed with it. I was no longer belly dancing, but doing a slow sensuous grind. It was a mix of what the other girls had taught me and just plain dirty dancing. 

The men ran their eyes up and down my body with unrestrained lust. 

"Do you like what you see, Masters? Will you touch me?" I purred running my hand up my thigh to cup a breast. "Tell me what you want to see," I teased bending forward so my upturned ass and wet center were in their view. "I want to feel you on my skin." 

"This is what we craved," Master Damien said rising and coming toward me. "The women do not offer us this."

In response I rose and writhed my hips to the music. I felt the weight of the hip scarf as I bounced the coins slowly. 

"They only want our seed," Master Evan said from behind me, "they do not want our affection or our attention."

The conversation between the men was probably a continuation of one they had been having for a long time. I didn't interrupt it as I felt their bodies at my front and back. 

Master Kein didn't stop playing so I didn't stop dancing as Master Damien and Master Evan came to stand within inches of me. Instead I did something I'd never done anywhere. I ground myself against them imitating the very intimate sex acts we would probably soon be involved in.

Master Evan's hands crept down my back as I slowly gyrated my hips and stroked Master Damien's cock through his pants. Master Damien's hands undid the scarf at my waist and I heard it hit the floor as he threw it away from us. 

"Do you wear your plug, Ciara?" Master Evan whispered in my ear.

"For you, Master Evan," I said pushing against the hand on my buttocks. 

"Do you know, Ciara," Master Evan asked twisting the plug and lightly pulling on it, "that we ordered your Keepers not to buy a new one? This one still carries our mark on it. Everyday you carry our insignia inside your body branding you as ours."

The music had stopped, but now I was grinding against the men in earnest. I needed their hands on my body more than I needed my next breath. 

"I don't want your insignia inside of me, Master Evan," I said as he pulled harder on the plug. "I want you inside of me." 

"Tell me again," he growled in my ear.

I put my palm on the leg of his pants and rubbed until I grasped his firm buttocks. "I want you, Master Evan. I want you inside of me."

Master Evan grabbed me and twisted my body, so I was facing him. His fangs had grown and he looked as terrifying as he had the first day. This time I wasn't afraid of him, though.

"Will you kiss me now, human?" he asked playfully.

Leaning toward him I captured his bottom lip and sucked it. My hands wrapped around his neck to loosen the tie that held his hair and it spilled over his back. He groaned and his tongue swept out tasting my lips. We sank into a deep kiss, which only ignited me further.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 10



I felt a hand winding into my hair pulling me away from Master Evan. I turned my face and Master Damien's tongue swept into my mouth. His chest hair tickled my upper back, but I still felt the leather of his pants pushing against the skin of my lower back. By the feel of it, he was desperately trying to remove his clothing with one hand without losing contact with my mouth.

Turning toward Master Damien I placed my hands over his as he unlaced his clothing. 

"Let me, Master," I whispered licking down his chest to get to my knees.

They had not lost their speed and a kneeling pad was beneath me before I hit the ground. 

I removed Master Damien's boots and then his pants, allowing his cock to spring free. Before I could taste it, Master Kein was in front of me. As per normal, they each wanted the same treatment and I had no problem undressing all of them. 

When I was done, Master Christof picked me up and carried me toward the bedroom. He attacked my mouth with such force I was surprised we made it through the door at all. Master Christof was a wonderful kisser and I pulled him as close as I could. I looked up and was surprised at the bed.

The bed was covered in their colors now. Several spreads covered the large circular space and they each held my Master's insignia. When I had come in before it had not looked like this. 

"How did you...?" I started to ask and Master Christof cut me off with another hard kiss. 

He lay me down across the covers and they stared for a moment. The way they were looking told me to be still and let them enjoy. 

"You are ours," Master Bane said crawling onto the bed. 

He took a foot and started to lick and suck at the toes. Master Evan copied him on the other side. Master Kein and Master Damien each took a hand as Master Christof attacked my center. It was too much attention after much too long without. 

When Master Kein reached my breasts and pulled the turgid nipples into his mouth, I screamed in orgasm. My back arched off the bed and every muscle tensed. They didn't even pause, Master Christof just aimed himself and thrust in. 

Flipping me so I straddled him, I fought to control myself. Master Christof wouldn't stop moving and grabbed my hips forcing my spasming cunt up and down on his shaft. In an attempt to control his frenzied pace I leaned down to kiss him. 

My tongue ran over the smooth seam of his lips and he opened for me. His vicious fangs were down inside his mouth and I explored them thoroughly. It seemed to work. 

The hands on my hips had slowed to a reasonable pace. His movements no longer reminded me of a frantic mad man. I moved my lips along his jaw and sucked lightly on his neck. 

As I kissed Master Christof and enjoyed his more leisurely pace I felt hands pulling my ass cheeks apart. Moaning softly the man behind me removed the plug. I prayed this man would be less agitated than Master Christof had been when he started. 

Oil was dripped and stroked into me. Fingers speared me preparing the way for something much larger. They were so quick in their preparation, I had very little time to wonder who wanted me like this. 

Master Bane's furry chest was on my back a moment later. He slid his thick cock home in a single thrust. My ass was stretched from the plug, but it had been a long time since I was used this way. The stretch burned, especially so thanks to Master Bane's now rapid movements. I needed to calm him. 

Master Christof was moving at one pace and Master Bane at another. I couldn't accommodate both of them easily. It felt like they were going to tear me apart.

Leaning on one hand I reached for Master Bane with the other. I pulled his face along side mine and turned my head to kiss his lips. Murmuring softly how much I loved him, I continued to brush my lips along his face and beard. Finally he relaxed.

I felt the change when Master Bane and Master Christof started to work together. Their languid thrusts were alternating and easier to take. Leaning into Master Christof I lapped at his chest and enjoyed his taste.

Master Christof's hands continued to grip my thighs, but the hold was no longer tight. The light guidance was reassuring not controlling. Whatever had them so aggressive was slipping away as they ground against me. 

The pressure was building low in my stomach again. Master Kein was beside us flicking the rings on my nipples slowly driving me to pleasurable distraction. Master Damien and Master Evan sat watching, their eyes burning hotly into mine whenever I looked their way. 

Master Bane came first, crushing me to Master Christof as he exploded in my ass. Master Christof wasn't far behind him, sucking so hard on my neck I was sure he'd left a hickey. They unwound from me and rolled off as Master Kein approached. 

Master Kein just wanted a few unspoiled moments with my breasts. His Brothers didn't interrupt as he rubbed, licked, and toyed with the plentiful mounds. 

"Would you like to fuck them, Master Kein?" I offered.

The blazing look in his eyes told me yes, he most certainly would, but Master Evan voiced their confusion. "How would he do that?" 

I arranged myself on the bed so my head was propped up and forward. When I asked, Master Evan gave me the oil and I coated my breasts and the valley between with it. Master Kein couldn't stop watching. Using my hands I pushed my tits together and looked up at him. 

He figured it out very quickly. Straddling my chest, Master Kein aimed his long length and started to viciously fuck my breasts. Most of his strokes landed his tip between my lips, but with his frantic movements it was difficult to catch him every time. 

"It must be deposited in a living body, Kein," Master Damien insisted sitting beside us and watching. 

"If any doesn't go in my mouth, Master Damien, I will lick it up for you," I offered.

Master Kein groaned at the comment, but kept his eyes on his staff moving between my pierced tits. His strong hands pushed mine away and he held my breasts himself. The look in his eyes was feral.

"Pull the rings, Ciara," he ordered looking down at me. 

I did as ordered and his teeth grew watching me. I twisted the rings until I was moaning. The sharp pain in my breasts went straight to my cunt and it felt like I was leaking liquid fire. 

Suddenly Master Kein was off of me, flipping me on the bed and driving his shaft without mercy into my tender ass. He didn't even give me a moment to get used to him before he used my breasts as levers to pull me tight up against his cock. 

It was a brutal fucking from a man who was notoriously gentle. Moaning half in pain and half in pleasure, I collapsed under him and he followed me down. His hands didn't leave my breasts as he ground his hips into my pliant flesh. 

"Say my name," he ordered driving his full length in and out with each plunge. 

"Master Kein," I started to chant over and over again. 

"NO," he roared above me, "only my name."

The hands on my breasts tightened painfully.

"Kein," I cried.

That was what he wanted. I said his name repeatedly and his violent thrusts slowed. The hands released their death grip. Instead, warm lips were placing kisses along the edge of my back, but I kept chanting his name. 

"Keep saying my name," he said dropping kisses along my exposed neck and cheek.

He was so gentle and tender, in sharp contrast to several moments ago, the relief was overwhelming. 

"I love you, Kein," slipped out and he nuzzled my neck affectionately.

"Say it again," he requested softly and I did.

He continued with slow controlled thrusting until he released. When he was done, I just lay panting on the bed beneath him. He withdrew and stretched out beside me.

"Say my name," he ordered watching my face. 

"Kein," I answered breathless.

His hand stroked down my back. It was a soft caress. This was what I expected from him, not the force. Some idea had him terribly frustrated or upset. His voice broke into my musings and the question stunned me. 

"Do you love me?"

"I love you, Kein," I answered and he grinned. 

"Do not address us as Master while we are in the sleeping room," he said bounding off the bed.

I lay there stunned as he called to his Brothers he was getting me water. This was a strange and unexpected turn of events. I couldn't figure it out. Was I supposed to call the rest of them 'Master'? Should I ask them? Would they chastise him? My God, these were the most confusing men I'd ever met. 

Kein came back in the room with a jug and I sat up on the bed to watch him. I was really thirsty, so I found a kneeling place on the floor. Kein looked happy and relaxed, thrilled even. He fed me the water grinning down at me. 

I glanced around the room and his Brothers looked like nothing unusual had happened. Master Christof and Master Bane looked sated, Master Evan and Master Damien looked horny. 

I crawled dutifully back on the bed and laid back. My ass throbbed a little so I hoped if I laid face up, they would just use my pussy. I ran a hand from my knee, to my hip, and to cup my breast. I winced when I reached my breast, they were sore, too.

Kein was smaller and it was easy to forget he was as powerful as the rest of them. He'd certainly left his mark this time, though. 

"Master Damien, Master Evan do you want me?" I asked trying to be seductive. 

Master Damien crawled on the bed beside me and lay down with his head propped on his arm. He traced the line of my collarbone on that side and smiled. 

"Have you forgotten already, Ciara? In this room we are not Master. Kein has already told you this," Damien said watching me. 

"Yes, Damien, I understand," I answered cautiously watching his eyes. 

Damien was gentle with me, thank goodness. All the pent up anxiety that had plagued his Brothers was not in him. He just wanted to rock slowly into my body and hear his name on my lips. 

Evan was much the same way. After Damien was done Evan crawled between my thighs and suckled my clit to another earthshaking orgasm. While I was still sensitive and spasming he crawled over me and drove himself home. 

I expected some roughness from Evan, but there was none. He stroked my cheeks and kissed my lips as he made slow sweet love to me. It surprised me, Evan was typically hard and fast, all rough and tumble. Today he had no use for such actions. All he wanted was to hear me say I loved him. 

Before I was carried to the bathroom by Kein, both Christof and Bane wanted to hear me say their names. They also wanted to hear 'I love you'. After I was done, Kein whisked me off to the room for bathing. 

There weren't showers here, but a large sunken tub that could accommodate all five men. The water came to us through a series of pipes that must have run over a heating element somewhere, because it was warm. 

My body was tender. I felt worse after this round of sex than I ever had before. There were bruises forming everywhere it seemed. 

I let myself enjoy the water and felt it take some of the soreness out of my body. Master Kein had completely lost that aggressive tendency and cleaned me softly. Both eyes slipped closed as he ran his hands over my skin. I felt utterly relaxed.

Once I was clean, dry, and treated with the cream, we went back to the main room. The men started to take things out of the bags they brought. I was laid on a chaise to watch them as they prepared our meal. 

My eyes followed every movement, drinking them in. They turned intermittently and seemed pleased when they caught me watching them. I had almost forgotten how much these men liked the attention of their slaves. 

They produced a meal that we ate together at the table. I was surprised the nutrient drink was there. Part of me was tempted to say something, but I didn't. 

In all honesty, I wasn't suffering from my lack of the drink. If these men fussed at the men that kept me, it could be very bad for me. My Keepers had a great deal of power in this relationship. I took the drink, but stayed silent about its usual absence. 

As we ate, the strain that had been gnawing at them seemed to have released somewhat. They relaxed a little and talked about people from the compound I lived at. 

I wasn't much help, because the other Warriors didn't talk to me. My men seemed to miss their friends. They complained the men they played chuke with now were not as competitive and the games weren't as good.

"The women in the mountains care for our every need," Evan complained. "The men are too soft. Even during a chuke contest they barely put in any effort at all. They just don't have any competitive spirit."

When the discussion turned back to the place they lived now, the worn looks returned. The more they spoke of their lives now, the more unhappy they became. I wanted to shake them out of it. 

"Could we go for a walk, Masters?" I asked spontaneously once the meal was done.

"That doesn't make any sense, Ciara," Christof said. "Where are we going to walk to? This is an isolated outpost, there is nothing near here."

"Not to go somewhere, we could just go outside and walk in a big circle and look around, Masters," I answered gesturing to the door. 

"Why would we do that?" Bane asked.

"I'm curious to see outside, Masters," I said watching the obvious confusion on their faces. At least now they didn't look upset. 

It took a while, but they finally said we could go outside and 'walk', although they still didn't understand the concept of just walking around. I was dressed up in my brown outfit, without the hood, to go outside. 



"Master Christof used to take me for walks all the time at lunch," I reminded them as we walked outside.

"I took you to the clearings in the forest," he said, "I always knew where I was going. You were very fond of wandering, though. I never understood it."

They were being impossible, so I changed my tact. I pointed to a hill in the distance and asked if we could go see it. Having a destination made the men feel better and we walked in that direction. 

I asked about all the different little plants around us. There were also several sets of tracks made by animals. They seemed happy to tell me about the animals that had made the prints in the ground. 

What I really wanted to know about was that strange sexual encounter we had just had. What was the purpose of me not calling them Master in the bedroom? It seemed like it was important to them, but I couldn't figure out why. I was disgusted with myself for not having the courage to talk about it. Instead, I just made small talk and enjoyed their company. 

Over the next four days, I never asked them about the strange new rule. We made love daily, sometimes twice daily, and the new rule stuck. They did not want to be called Master in the bedroom, ever.

Luckily for me, their level of aggression in bed was way down or I never would have survived. They were gentle with me.

When the last day of what I had termed our vacation came, I tried to suppress the sadness. The men seemed to be doing the same thing. In the end I was just clinging to each of them, attempting to express how much I loved them.

"We will see you again, Ciara," Master Damien told me. "You must keep our secret, though."

"I understand, Master Damien. It was a good plan, Sir," I complimented him.

When they started to take their colors off of me, I didn't cry. I would see them again, they had promised. 

My temporary Masters arrived some time later. Master Damien warned them to dress me in several layers of the dull brown cloth. The cold weather in the early evening would chill my sensitive skin. I smiled sadly knowing who truly cared for me. 

The sun was setting as I stood on the transport next to my temporary Masters. They looked like they had been to hell and back, but they were happy about it. I imagined most men on this world must enjoy the women. For anyone else the way Master Damien and his Brothers lived would be seen as a step up.

I pondered the strange situation every day. The men that kept me adored the women and looked forward to their turn with them. Master Damien and his Brothers hated the women and had unlimited access to them. Perhaps they would learn, I thought, and grow to enjoy the women. If that happened, I wondered what would happen to me. 

It would be bad for me if Master Damien and his Brothers changed their minds about me. I was kept for them, if they didn't want me I would certainly be sold. The very idea of being owned and used by different men turned my stomach. I loved Master Damien and his Brothers deeply.

Once I was back at the Keepers I couldn't contain my excitement. I told Rose and Fuji what was happening.

"They pay other men to Keep you?" Rose asked stunned, "That must be very expensive."

"It makes sense now," Fuji commented. "I couldn't understand why your owners kept the old mark on your stomach."

"Your owners must know, Fuji," I said thinking. "It is why they didn't take me to the posts when I tried to touch myself. They said they were keeping a secret. It must be the mark they were keeping secret."

"I wonder if Master Basin and his Brothers know?" Rose pondered. 

"If they Keep me next time my owners go to a coupling, we can be sure they do," I answered her. 

Time dragged on and I thought it could not get any slower. I had asked my temporary Masters how long until I saw Master Damien again. That was a mistake. 

The man I asked became enraged and told me not to speak of it; it was a secret. Another of my owners calmed him and told me when the small moon completed a cycle. That meant nothing to me. Time continued at its slow pace.

I woke up late one night and felt sticky, nasty and sticky between my legs. I dipped a hand down and it came back wet and dark in the moonlight. My brain took a minute to process and I realized I was having a very heavy period. 

Jumping off the bed, I startled all my owners awake. They were used to my night time bathroom breaks, but this was different. I apologized and explained about human menstruation and told them I couldn't have controlled the bleeding all over their bed. 

I had hoped they wouldn't be mad at me for leaving a spot on the covers. They weren't mad, they were terrified. None of them believed me when I said that it was normal. 

In the shower they brought in a bright light and made me spread my legs. They watched the blood flow out and inspected its origin. The cold of the bathroom wasn't comfortable and I had cramps, too. I tried to explain that. 

The men were beside themselves. They discussed calling the healer, but feared to do it for some reason. Finally, they seemed to get control of themselves. 

"This comes and goes?" one of them asked me.

"Yes, Master, on my planet every turn of the moon I would bleed like this for five or six days. I used pads to soak up the blood when it came out," I told them helpfully. 

I didn't want to sit in the bathroom for six days while I bled.

The men wrapped the towel they used to dry me so it rested between my legs. They put me back to bed as they sat in front of the fire talking. I couldn't hear what they were saying and that concerned me. Something told me I would not like how they handled my period. 

I had been right. My period was awful. The men refused to let me go the Keepers and they didn't want anyone to see this happen. They wrapped me in the absorbent towels and put me in the box in the wall every day I bled. 

The first morning I handled it all right. I had been put in the box multiple times before. In a way, I liked it for short periods. It was the only time I was alone. Quickly, it started to make me crazy, so they used the calming creams. 

I lost track of time. There was no telling how long it went on. They put me in the box after my morning routine, slathered me with cream and closed it. I awoke drowsy and confused at lunch when they fed and let me relieve myself. More cream was placed on my head and I was knocked out for the afternoon.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 10



I was allowed out in the evening, with my bleeding nether regions wrapped up tight in a towel. The first night I couldn't sleep, so more cream was used. By the time I stopped bleeding I was a drooling mess and could barely hold my own head up. 

I was sent back to the Keepers and I terrified Rose. I stumbled into the compound and sat dully in the sunshine outside. The light broke through the fog that seemed to have permanently invaded my mind. 

My friends found me and brought cushions to me. We sat in the light until I could at least speak. 

"Where have you been?" Fuji asked once it seemed my answers were making more sense.

"At my Master's home," I slurred. 

"What happened?" Rose asked stroking my arm.

I stared blankly at her. I remembered vaguely that I had had a period. My brain was full of snapshots of my fake owners cleaning bloody towels off of me. 

I did remember one thing quite clearly. That morning, they had threatened to sell me if I discussed the bleeding with anyone, including Master Damien. What had happened the last many days would never pass my lips. 

They had been very blunt with me. My fake owners did not ever see Master Damien and his Brothers. They passed messages to one another. If I got my them in trouble they would sell me, Master Damien could not stop it. 

"I missed earth," I lied. "I was anxious. My owners would not let me out until I calmed some."

"Ah," Rose said satisfied, "it happens to many of us, the realization you will never leave can cause great distress. I'm sure changing owners made it worse for you."

"Yes," I nodded. 

From days of laying in the box, I was weak. My friends helped me inside and decided I needed to do something. They brought the drums over and asked me to play. It took an amazing amount of energy to tap the familiar rhythms on the drums. 

"You seem...strange," Fuji said. "You have no strength."

"I was agitated," I told her, "they kept me in the box."

"You have been gone ten day cycles, Ciara," Rose said. "How much of that time was in the box?"

I didn't answer her, but she seemed to understand.

Rose's breath shuddered out. "You must be active to get your strength back," she told me. "Come with us; we will walk."

Fuji did not understand the walking I did with her and Rose. We just paced the compound. My balance got better and I got stronger as the morning wore on. 

The lunch bell rang and we were on the wrong side of the compound. I'd never make it in time. 

"Go," I told Rose and Fuji, "I'll get there."

The girls ran off and I was left to stumble toward the lunchroom. The men were all feeding their slaves by the time I made it. I moved as quickly as I could to stumble and kneel before my owner. 

The other men asked him what was wrong with me. He gave them brusque and noncommittal answers.

"You were not trained," Basin hissed. "I'm not sure why Damien chose your family. There were better choices, there still are."

"Mind your own slave, Basin," my Master said in his regular dismissive tone. "No one needs your opinion on the matter."

The men in the compound found my obvious illness to be horrific, an insult to my owners. I heard them speaking about it when we left the Keepers. I tried desperately to look strong and normal, but ten days of a forced coma had taken a toll. 

The took me to the bathhouse and sat me in their alcove. Since my first meeting with Master Damien and his Brothers, they no longer plucked the mark. I knew they were keeping it hidden. I sunk into the familiar cushions and waited for them to be done. 

When we were in the bathhouse, I'd taken to looking around. I draped my hair over my face and looked at the world through my shield. No one ever seemed to notice me, since I'd gotten quite sneaky.

Tonight all the men were looking at me. It was worse than when I'd been at the posts. I heard them talking clearly and they discussed what a poor job my current owners were doing. 

"Would you sell it?" a man asked one of my owners as they bathed. 

"No," was the disdainful answer. 

"You were not trained, that is now very obvious," another man said. "How is it you were able to buy a slave?"

"This is not your concern," my owner said stepping out of the pool. 

For the first time, my owners seemed uncomfortable. I judged it was due to the amount of negative attention they were getting. Usually everyone just ignored them or was put off by their cold, contemptuous answers. Their usual tactics to evade the attention of the other Warriors were not working. 

I watched as they came toward me. The other men had not let up and were actually following them. When they got close enough to me, I spoke up. 

"Masters, I am so glad you returned. I missed you so much," I said as authentically as I could. 

In truth, I imagined how I would sound when I saw Master Damien and his Brothers again. 

"Of course you have missed us," one of them said, as he bent down and scooped me up. 

The interaction seemed to surprise the surrounding men. I suddenly realized I never spoke to the men I called Master and they never touched me. Using the moment of confusion, my owners exited the pool and walked me upstairs. 

They sat me down once we were inside and never mentioned the bath house. No one ever said it had been a good idea. I don't think these men could admit someone else had a good idea.

The men took out the plug and then returned to the eating area. A man brought food to the table and we sat to eat. 

"Slave," one of them addressed me, "you said your men-stru-ation comes each lunar cycle on your world. How long is a lunar cycle?"

"Twenty eight to thirty days, Master," I told him, "but the bleeding usually only lasts for four or five days."

"Things are different here," the man said directing his comments to his Brothers, "time is different here. We can anticipate it will not follow the lunar cycle we are expecting it to."

The men talked so long at the table, I thought the conversation would never end. Having learned not to interrupt, I just sat as they determined what they would do with me when the bleeding came. Eventually, they came to a decision. 

The men decided fairly rapidly they couldn't put me in the box every time. I was weak and obviously ill from that experience. Men with human slaves had told them using the box for too many days caused that problem. It was a well known issue for men who kept humans. 

"It has told us it cared for itself at home," they kept repeating. "The Keepers are not necessary."

"Do you know what happens to slaves that run?" one of them asked me suddenly.

"Yes, Master, I was spared the whip, but taken to the village once I was found," I answered.

"What if your Masters had not found you?" another asked pointedly.

"The men that found me could have used me however they wished," I shuddered. "They could have sold me or had sex with me, Master."

"Or killed you if it pleased them to watch you die," the man added. "Many that do not keep slaves would find it interesting to watch a slave die. It would be too expensive to invest in a slave for the entertainment, but to use another's..."

My horrified expression stayed on my face and the men watched it. 

"So you understand, slave? You know there is no escape. If you wish to survive, which I believe you do, you will listen to us," he said. 

They spoke to me then, in a way I'd never been spoken to on this planet. They told me what I would be doing and explained no one would be watching me. If I did what they told me wrong, I would suffer. 

My fake Masters were smart men. Their apartment was full of their studies and experiments. When I bled they would tell the men that cleaned they could not enter. They would say their work could not be disturbed by other men touching it. Me and my bleeding would be left in the apartment alone until I was done.

"If you are unable to care for yourself, we will reconsider the box, perhaps without the creams," I was told.

"I will do as you ask, Masters," I said solemnly. 

The men retired and started to tinker on a small device they had been working on. I was ignored. Knowing it would anger them, I had to ask just one question.

"Masters, may I please ask a question?"

They were upset. If they hadn't been afraid of more weakness, they'd put me in the box. I knew not to ask questions. 

"Perhaps it will interest us," one of them finally said and gave me permission to ask. 

"Why am I bleeding now and not before? Why can't anyone know?" I asked.

They were silent. I couldn't tell if they were irritated or pondering the questions. 

"We don't know why you bleed," they finally told me. "It isn't normal for an Earth slave here. No one can know, because it happens to no other slave. If you were taken for study, Damien and his Brothers would no longer pay us for our service. We have come to enjoy the money this endeavor has brought us."

I thanked the men and knelt down in the room they were in. They continued to play with what they were doing, completely uninterested in me. 

The day had been long and I was still weak from the box. Despite my best efforts I ended up leaning on the furniture, sound asleep.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 11



Thanks for all the votes and comments. If Preston didn't see the answer before here it is: I find the comments very motivating and read all of them. Nothing is more encouraging at 5 AM than what you all write in response to me. (I like to write before work. It's probably normal somewhere!)

Thank you again, send any feedback - good, bad, or indifferent - It all gets read.

A very special thanks again to my excellent proofreader who tries to keep me consistent. Thank you, Steve150177, for hours spent looking for my mistakes. Trust me, the reading is much smoother when he's done with it.

Thank you for encouragement Wilby99, you know it's appreciated!

English is italicized when it appears.

Enjoy! DW

**********************************

It took time, but I got strong again. I think it took longer because I no longer swam. My fake Masters were quite clear that the mark on my stomach could not be exposed. They even bought a thicker panel for my front that further disguised it.

Instead of swimming I started walking the beach. The area we were allowed to roam, was quite large. I tried to run, but my large breasts made that uncomfortable. Instead I played games on the beach and paced the area every afternoon.

Forty seven days later, my cycle came again and my Masters did just what they said they would. They left me alone in their rooms. For the first time in forever I was left to my own devices.

When they came at lunch the first day, I think they were surprised I was still there. They fed me and left me for the afternoon. Grateful they had not locked me in the box, I would have done anything to make them happy. I picked up the apartment, made the bed, and did all the things I imagined the House Cleaners usually did.

The men were thrilled their area had been cleaned. They ordered me to clean every day I was left here alone. In a small closet I had never seen they showed me where the brushes and buckets were. That was what I could use to clean.

I was good at cleaning. At my Mom's house I'd been the only one who cared if dishes sat in the sink or if the floor looked nasty. The job of making the house livable had fallen to me. In the motel, it was my occupation. It was my job once again.

My owners realized I could save them money, as well as, make them money. They told the men they paid to clean up they no longer needed them. I would secretly be doing the cleaning.

The story my owners made up was quite believable. The cleaners had interfered with a delicate experiment, my owners wanted to do their own cleaning now. It was an oddity in the compound, but as a rule, my owners were an oddity. They only demanded that the supplies be brought to them once every eight days.

During the day I still went to the Keepers, but at night I was truly their slave. Once we were back in the apartment they stripped me of my one outfit and I was put to work. I scrubbed and cleaned the apartment top to bottom as they engaged in their research.

My temporary owners had carefully debated if I really needed to go to the Keepers at all. They could save that money entirely if I just stayed in their rooms. Lucky for me, they decided that would be too obvious. The other slave owners might notice if I disappeared altogether.

The men brought out the brown outfits early one morning and I squealed with delight. They found the sound annoying and told me never to make it again. The smile never left my face despite the scolding. We were going to see my Masters.

Their transport went faster than the other transports in the area. Several Warriors raced them as we headed to the mountains. These men had made the transport they owned far superior to anyone else's. I knew that it pleased them to win the little races, in their own way, they were very competitive.

I clasped and unclasped my hands waiting anxiously for the time I would get to see my owners, my friends, and my lovers. I wished I had a gift for them. If I'd thought about it I could have sewed their symbol onto a piece of cloth and given it to them. Quite quickly I rejected that idea, it would be in the wrong colors.

The transport slowed and unlike the last time I bolted for the door. My temporary owners stopped me and made me wait for them. They started the fire and inspected the little dwelling. It took forever in my opinion, but they finally removed my outfit from me.

Before my collar came off I wished them fun with the women in the mountains.

"Five days we have without you, slave," one of them said sounding happy. "Five days of women and fighting, we are very lucky men. I have no idea what you do for Damien and his Brothers, but I assume they are happy to have these five days also."

With that said he removed my collar and they left.

I paced the little room for several moments. I tried to kneel, but I was too excited. After checking outside for the third time and letting the hot air out, I decided to try to do something.

The cabin was ill used. Men must come here occasionally, but not often. I found the little room with the cleaning supplies and started to sweep. Soon I was singing and cleaning to my heart's content. I decided the cabin should and would be nice for my Masters.

The bedroom was as bad as the main room and I cleaned and straightened it. Since I was alone in the bedroom, I was still singing my song. A sound stopped me cold, it didn't sound friendly.

I turned and looked into five sets of eyes I barely recognized.

Master Damien and his Brothers looked horrible. Their clothing was still fine and nice. Their features just looked angry and tried.

"Masters, I'm so glad you're here," I said putting the broom behind me. "I wanted the cabin to be nice for you, clean..."

They stalked toward me and I dropped my eyes. I couldn't look at them without thinking how awful they looked.

The collar clipped around my neck and the other metal bands were affixed to my wrists and ankles. Master Damien jerked my chin up and glared down at me.

"What are you doing? Don't you know you should not look at men that are not your owners? What is an uncollared slave worth?" he asked.

I was stunned and then it hit me. My neck had been without their collar when I spoke to them. If it had been anyone else I looked at, I would have been in trouble.

"Your mark is always on me, Master Damien," I said soothingly touching my stomach. "I know that you care for me everyday. It never occurred to me that without your collar, you would not think of me as yours."

They were silent and I chanced a glance up. Their eyes were softer as Master Kein placed the jewelry in my nipples. My argument had worked.

"We are not Master in this room, Ciara. Did you forget that?" Damien asked instead.

"Hello, Damien," I smiled looking up at him.

I touched the lines of strain around his eyes and they softened slightly. I pulled on his shoulders until his lips came down to mine.

"I love you, Damien," I whispered before I kissed him, "I have missed you."

Walking in the room I greeted each of them with a kiss and spoken affection. They relaxed and took off their weapons. Still dressed they settled on the bed and pulled me down with them.

We talked on the bed for a long time. Well, they talked, I listened. I only spoke to get more detail or to agree. Otherwise, I stayed silent and gave them someone to talk to.

They hated the women and their new life. Damien did not want to be a General. A General led the men, Damien didn't mind that. He hated knowing every order he gave came from the women. They were slaves to the demands of the women and they despised it.

"Do they harm you?" I asked concerned.

The level of dislike they had had to stem from something. Perhaps pain and humiliation was at the root. Slaves could be treated in any way at all. I had to help them, so I had to know what I was dealing with.

"No," Evan grunted sprawling across my lap, "we are not hurt."

"Do they feed you?" I asked stroking Evan's hair. "Are you kept in a comfortable place?"

"It's not that," Kein complained and I ran a hand up his arm in comfort.

"We don't wish to be stationed in the mountains with them. We don't want to be sold to their cousins in the afternoons," he said. "We were not meant to be slaves."

"We were free," Christof said laying back and throwing a hand over his eyes.

"We could fight them," Bane said, "perhaps we could be free again."

I was in an impossibly strange situation. Slavery, at it's root, was wrong. Fighting it would be honorable, but it would probably get my men killed. The women would overpower them, I was sure of it.

The sight of that massive woman in the street overpowering ten men still haunted me. She had not even been deterred by the men's show of force that day. I imagined the mountains were loaded with women. My five men would never win.

"Sometimes," I started, "fighting is not a good answer. There may be other ways. Perhaps you could barter with them."

The men looked at me strangely for a moment. Evidently what I had said made no sense to them. Damien lay back and stared at the ceiling.

"You think the women would kill us," he said morosely. "You think it is not a battle we can win."

I didn't answer him, but the truth was probably written all over my face.

"They would win," Kein agreed watching me. "The other men in the mountains, I talked to them. There have been uprisings before, the men involved are killed if they cannot be broken. You have all seen the women, how they outnumber us."

Evan snorted and stared at me as he spoke, "It is weakness not to fight, whether we are outnumbered or not. We should fight them to our deaths, it is the only honorable way to end this."

I shuddered in fear and gripped his hand. "Evan, I have seen the women fight. Their weapons are terrible. Don't choose to die like that. There must be..."

"There is only this and death, Ciara," he said looking over at me. "Those are the only choices."

I could not lose them, so I bargained.

"Perhaps you are spending time doing reconnaissance work now. Perhaps you learn things so you can find a way to escape them," I said almost pleading.

Christof huffed loudly and stared at the ceiling. "We are learning they are more powerful than we will ever be," he said solemnly. "They have weapons we cannot best."

"Ah, yes, the venom," Bane said looking contemplative, "Remember when we saw the man as he angered his Mistress and she dropped a bit of her venom on him?"

"The man that died screaming before the moon shifted?" Evan asked. "I remember. We had to hear the misery of his family as they died one by one. It was awful."

"They have venom?" I whispered.

"In their teeth," Damien explained. "Nu-reeh told us they do not waste it on men, it kills us every time. They use it when they fight one another."

"Why?" Christof asked, "Why raise us free and then take us and tell us we are slaves? It makes no sense."

"You know why, Christof," Damien scoffed. "They like us to have spirit. Have you seen the women when they come back from the couplings with the free Warriors? They love it. They come to us now for specific reasons, but do you see the same joy on their faces when they are done?"

The men murmured agreement. The women liked to go to the couplings with the free men. It was a pleasurable experience. The men they kept in the mountains didn't bring out the same fire in them.

"I wonder why they don't send you back to the compound?" I asked out loud.

"Nu-reeh promised us a certain number of times as payment to a group of women," Damien said and continued to explain. "She owns us. Our owner mines the mountains and she wanted to mine a certain tract. We are valuable to her when we are available for sale every day."

It made sense when they explained it. They were being trained so Damien would be a General, eventually. For now they split their time between learning and satisfying their owner's debt.

"Do you have free time to enjoy yourselves?" I asked.

I knew how much they loved chuke. If they couldn't play that confusing game, I'm sure it would upset them.

"The evenings are ours," Bane told me. "Sometimes we go to the arena. Other times we stay in our rooms or walk in the mines."

They talked about their quarters. It was much like the compound, but the rooms were cut into the old mines. There was almost limitless space, so much of it wasn't used. Damien and his Brothers spent hours wandering the forgotten shafts.

The men were depressed. I didn't think the small dark room we were in was helping. It probably reminded them too much of their new home.

"I want to go outside," I said pushing Evan off my lap and springing off the bed.

"Why?" Christof asked sullenly.

"I want to be in the sun," I said pulling at Bane's boot, "and you need to be outside, too."

"Why?" Christof asked again.

"The sunshine is good for you," I said with authority, although I didn't really know. "You've been moping around for too long. Get up and come walk outside with me."

Damien cocked an eyebrow at me. My tone was completely inappropriate, obviously, but nobody else noticed.

"Well, if you aren't going, I'll go myself," I stated heading for the door.

They didn't stop me. Christof sat up, at least.

I watched them through the huge arched doorway to the bedroom as I donned my long brown leg covers and two brown outer layers. Now it seemed like a dare, they were all sitting up on the bed looking at me. Stopping would probably be a good idea, but I didn't.

I turned toward the door and put my fingers on the handle. Perhaps it wasn't smart to anger them this way, I thought. I turned to face the bedroom and they were all right beside me.

Their countenances each held the same blank look. It was the same look they had the night they decided I should go to the village for escaping. Suddenly I knew walking away from them had been a mistake.

"Going somewhere?" Master Evan asked.

"Outside, Evan...Master Evan," I answered, shuddering lightly.

"You seem to have become quite independent," Master Kein said.

Master Damien took Master Evan's place in front of me and I felt my stomach drop. I must have pushed them too far and they were angry. The color drained out of my face and some sort of an answer squeaked out of my mouth.

Master Damien's face broke into a wide grin. "Do you plan to stand in the threshold all day or are we going outside?" he asked.

Grinding my teeth a little because they fooled me so completely, I opened the door and stalked out. They were slapping each other on the shoulders and laughing at my reaction.

"I like the noise you made, Ciara," Master Kein joked as we walked. "Can you make it again?"

"Only if you scare me, Master Kein, and I won't fall for that again," I said kicking a small stone.

Master Kein took a running start and kicked the same stone. It landed a couple hundred paces away. He turned to grin at me.

"I could do that, too," I said raising myself up to my full height.

Actually no, I could not do that. I had no idea what made me claim I could. They took me up on it.

Master Bane ran around and picked up small stones all about the same size. He lined them up and then looked expectantly at me.

"What will you give us, Ciara, when you lose?" he asked.

"A kiss, Master Bane," I said realizing I had very little to offer otherwise.

"Fine," he smiled, "let's begin."

"Wait," I demanded. "What do I get if you lose?"

"Perhaps the same thing?" Master Christof offered into my ear.

"Sounds good," I said watching his mouth with breathless anticipation.

I was forced to prove I was weaker than them five separate times. They each had some random bet with the others about who could kick farther. Master Evan won the entire contest.

Master Evan took payment on my lost bet first. He wrapped his hands in my hair and pulled me against his chest. Our mouths met and he wasted no time on pleasantries. Master Evan tasted my mouth completely before releasing me to Master Bane for his payment.

When they finished I was ready for sex, but they were still having fun outside. Now they were having a throwing contest. Seeing the joy on their faces again, even for such a simple reason, made me feel good. I encouraged each of them as they noted who threw better.

We ended up walking between two large stone walls, so the men had a long straight passage to throw in. Much further down the rock walls turned, but here it was straight. They tossed stones of varying weights to determine the winner. They would throw and then run to their stone to mark its distance.

When it came to upper body strength, Master Damien usually came out on top, but it was close contest with Master Bane. I was the prize for throwing longest and kissed Master Damien deeply. Resting my hands on his chest once I was done, I looked up at him. He had completely befuddled me with his kiss.

The five of them were beautiful sex gods. Even better, they were fully vested and trained in pleasing women. I didn't know what the matings were like, but no wonder Nu-reeh wanted to sell them every day.

I looked at the fine clothes they wore and knew she treated them well. They were kept men, but perhaps not in the way they thought.

"You aren't slaves," I said suddenly getting everyone's attention. "You're courtesans, Masters."

I could tell by the look on their faces they wanted to be depressed, but they were curious.

"That is a word from your first language, Ciara," Master Christof told me. "We do not understand it."

"It means you are companions to society's elite. You are paid to provide sexual services to the people in charge, Master Christof," I said.

"We are slaves, Ciara. We are not the word you just said," Master Kein argued.

Perhaps they were right, but I chose to see this my way for their sake.

"You stay in a nice place?" I asked instead. "The bed is made like it was at home, Masters?"

"Yes, it is a nice place in that regard. Our furnishings are very comfortable," Master Bane said looking at the other men for agreement, which they gave.

"Do you clean it yourselves, Masters?" I asked, hoping they did not.

"No, other men have that job," Master Damien told me.

"You have days off from your work, Masters?" I pushed.

"Of course," Master Bane said motioning. "We are here are we not?"

"Do they pay you?" I asked next and held my breath for the answer.

That was the crux of this argument and I wasn't sure. I thought they must be, because Master Damien and his Brothers still seemed to have funds.

Master Damien huffed and the other men made disgruntled sounds.

"You seem to still have money, Masters. I assumed you must get something," I pushed feeling my argument falling apart.

"It is worthless," Master Christof explained, "the shiny stones we use to trade are the cast off from what the women mine. They found we liked it and would use it to barter with one another. It has no inherent use."

"So they give it to you still, Master?" I asked.

"Nu-reeh always gives it to us. Once she found we still wanted it, she brings us pieces regularly," Master Kein said staring at the long rock walls beside us.

"Then you are paid, Masters. You are servants or courtesans, you are not slaves," I said decisively.

"It doesn't matter," Master Evan said. "We do not want to be there."

"Well, tough luck, Masters," I blurted out, taking a breath I continued. "You are servants. You may not like your job, but you must continue to do it well. It is dishonorable the way you are acting, Masters."

I felt the cool wind blow between the stone walls and for a moment I wanted it to take me away. My owners stood and faced me with mixed looks of anger and shock.

It was pure selfishness on my part. They protected me. Even more than that, I loved them and I wasn't willing to lose them. They had to change their mindset. No going back now, I decided.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 11



"You are well paid for your services, even if Nu-reeh does not understand the value of what she gives you. To talk of rebellion when you are so finely compensated is dishonorable. Would it be better to be without a job and be worthless to your Mistress? I think not, Masters, I believe it is better to be like you are now," I finished and held my breath.

"It is better," Master Damien said slowly, "to be a slave?"

"They pay you, Master, you are not a slave," I argued holding my ground.

"They do not wish to pay us," Bane said irritably, "Nu-reeh told us we would not need it, but we liked the stones so much she continues to bring them."

"Because you are not slaves," I told Bane, "you are servants. Servants can demand things like payment or days off, Masters."

"We cannot leave without permission," Christof reminded me.

"Just like you could not leave the compound?" I asked. "When that was your job, weren't you told to stay? Was it honorable to leave the compound when you didn't have permission, Masters?" I asked.

"This is not the same," Master Evan said. "We are not free men allowed to roam. We are slaves, tethered to our Mistress's wishes."

"Slaves are not paid, Master Evan," I said shaking my head. "Slaves do not have days off. You are given things a slave does not get."

The men considered what I said, but still looked doubtful. I hoped it would make a difference. They would not succeed if they did not accept this life.

A small motion at the end of the turn in the walls got my attention, though. I thought I saw something move. As I watched intently the men all turned to look.

"I thought I saw something move," I said quietly.

Master Damien and Master Bane bounded in that direction and the rest tucked me against the wall to our right. The men stood at the ready and then relaxed.

"Nothing there, Ciara," Master Evan told me, but Master Damien was still all the way at the end of the passage with Master Bane.

"How do you know what he saw?" I asked. "There could be something there."

"We have a bond, Ciara," Master Christof said. "Damien and Bane saw nothing there. Were you just trying to distract us?"

"No," I huffed, "I really saw something, Master Christof."

"No tracks," Master Bane said, "nothing there, the slave was only trying to draw our attention away."

I argued with them all the way back to the cabin that I wasn't trying to distract them. I only stopped talking about it because they offered me a drink. I took the water and then they each took some.

"There are better ways to turn our attention, Ciara," Master Kein told me.

"I wasn't trying to turn your attention from anything, Master Kein," I argued as they stripped me out of my brown cover and soft foot covers.

"This for instance is a good way," Master Kein continued to insist as he pulled at my nipples.

I tried to step toward him to take the strain off them. Master Bane stopped me by trapping my arms behind my back and holding me. Master Kein continued to pull and twist the rings on my nipples until they throbbed in time with my heartbeat. The hot sting shot to my cunt and I started to feel soaking wet in my folds.

Master Christof took the chain at my waist and unhooked it. He threw it and the panel aside. Now I stood nude in the main room as Master Kein tormented my breasts. They didn't undress themselves, so I wondered where this would go.

Suddenly, they released me.

"Perhaps a meal, Brothers," Master Damien said heading for their bags.

"No," I roared launching in front of Master Damien. "I need you, Masters, now."

"You are being punished for being a willful slave," Master Damien grinned. "We have learned much from the other men in the mountains about humans. Being denied release is a tactic used in other compounds. We thought it would be very effective."

"I can make my own release, Master," I said cockily and immediately regretted that comment.

Master Evan bound my arms behind me from my wrists to my elbows. I couldn't go through this again.

Pushing a kneeling place with my foot I placed it in front of Master Damien and knelt down. I kissed his boots and begged forgiveness.

"Ask my Brothers," he said simply.

I pushed the kneeling place around the room with my foot and begged each of them while kissing their boots. By the time I reached the last man I was pleading shamelessly. Last time I'd been bound like this it had lasted all day. I couldn't go through that again.

Master Bane undid the bonds and I turned to hug him. He tilted my face to his and kissed my lips voraciously. I poured all my passion back at him.

"I am hungry, Damien, but not for meat," he said running a hand down my body.

Master Bane's hand landed on my hip and drifted to a round meaty butt. I knew what he liked lay between my cheeks. He wanted my ass, he loved it, so I offered it to him.

I stepped away from him, much to his surprise. Leaning over the table on widely spaced feet I spread myself with my hands. The plug and my still sopping pussy were lewdly displayed in this position. I stroked the plug with my fingertips and moaned when a second set joined mine.

Master Bane slowly pulled at the plug until is slipped from me.

"You will not need this to fill you," he said huskily.

I continued to hold myself open, expecting an assault. Instead I felt hot breath lower on my wet pussy lips. Master Evan licked and nibbled running his tongue teasingly over my clit for several minutes.

"This is what I have been craving, Brothers," Master Evan said running his fingers where his tongue had been.

I was breathless with excitement and anticipation. Everyone had stopped what they were doing, but they weren't touching me. Master Evan's fingers continued to just lightly caress and stroke.

Slowly I turned to watch Master Evan until he knelt before me. I tugged at the ties on the top of his shirt and then pulled it over his head. He rose to stand and I started to work on his pants. Pushing my kneeling place with my foot, I knelt before him and helped him remove his boots. Master Evan's pants were the last item of clothing to slide from his body.

Master Bane stepped in front of me next, followed by all of his Brothers. In quick succession I undressed all of them. Soon they stood staring at me with nothing between me and their bobbing erections.

"Now, Masters," I demanded throatily. "Please fuck me."

I turned and leaned back on the table and waited.

Hands grabbed by hair and pulled me back until I was flush to a very hairy chest.

Master Bane spoke as he held me, "I wish to see it surrounded by our colors."

"I wish to hear our names," Master Kein said from beside him.

Master Bane leaned down and picked me up, carrying me toward the bedroom. I saw Master Christof dutifully placing their covers across the bed. I had forgotten how they liked things decorated and their new obsession with their names.

As soon as we stepped through the threshold to the bedroom, I started to whisper words of love into Bane's ear. I used his name repeatedly. He seemed reluctant to put me down once we reached the bed.

Once I was finally laid across their covers I wiggled around on it. I tried to repeat sexy poses I'd seen in magazines on Earth. I remembered having seen my uncle's skin magazines, so I used those as guides.

They watched me with interest as I attempted to reproduce those displays of blatant sexuality. Damien touched my bent knee and I opened it further for him, in invitation. His gaze travelled from between my legs, over my breasts, until it rested on my face.

"Say the words," he demanded with fire in his eyes.

"I love you, Damien," I answered automatically, that's what they'd wanted last time.

He smiled and knelt on the bed between my spread legs. "I know you do," he said with his usual confidence, "but that is not what I need to hear."

Damien's large warm hands rested on the inside of my knees, stroking up toward my center and then back to my ankles.

"This position you put yourself in," he said cocking an eyebrow, "it seems to offer me certain...liberties."

"Yes," I said trying to still look seductive and not utterly confused, "I am yours Damien, take any liberty you want."

His Brothers chuckled with him as Bane captured my attention. He stood with his arms crossed and a smile on his face.

"Do you desire my brother?" he asked seriously.

Understanding lit my face as I looked back at Damien. "I want you, Damien. Please use me for your pleasure; it would be mine also."

That was what he wanted me to say. Permission granted, he crawled up my body and aimed his length. A low moan escaped my lips as he drove himself home. The sound affected him and I felt the low, rumbling sigh roll through him as we joined.

"Will you kiss me?" I asked running my hands up and down his taut frame.

Damien obliged and our lips met. The kiss soon mimicked the actions lower down. I sucked on his tongue as he plunged it repeatedly into my waiting mouth.

"Do you want this?" he asked pulling his mouth away from mine and grinding against me.

"Yes," I cried coming undone beneath him, "I want you. Oh God, I want you so badly, please don't stop!"

The orgasm was rapid, the first one with them always was. My back arched and I lifted myself against him. Damien refused to be done with me, though.

An arm looped under one knee and it was pulled up, opening me further. There was no escape in this position and I was helpless beneath Damien's strong frame. As he came, he fell over me splitting me impossibly wide around his cock.

As Damien relaxed in post orgasm bliss he released my leg. It glided down the length of his body until I had his hips cradled between my thighs again. He took his weight on his own arms and his head rested beside mine.

"Who next?" he asked me quietly. "Tell me which of my Brothers you want."

So that was the game this time. They wanted permission and acceptance. That I was more than happy to give, but I hated to choose one over the other.

"I love all your Brothers, Damien," I purred, nipping his ear. "I can't pick."

"Pick," Damien commanded, "or we don't let you come again."

Bane had carried me in here, so I said his name.

Damien pulled himself away and cool air of the cabin washed over me. Without Damien's warm heat the thin sheen of sweat over my breasts made them tighten and peak.

"Add fuel to the warmer, Kein," Bane requested as his eyes ravished me.

On impulse I did for Bane what I'd done for Damien and tried to look seductive. Bane cocked his head to the side and took it in.

"I think," he finally said, "I like the way you offered yourself to me in the kitchen."

Without hesitation, I obliged. My feet settled widely apart as I slid off the bed. I bent over the blue covers and pulled myself open for his gaze. The position was lewd and suggestive, but I knew they wanted more. Today they wished permission.

"I want you, Bane," I whispered straining my neck to make eye contact with him. "Oil me and fill me. Please, I'm begging you."

Big hands grasped my hips. His hands pushed up to my rib cage and then back down. Fingers stroked over mine as I continued to hold myself open for him. Eventually he settled with grasping my waist firmly.

The oil was drizzled over the crack of my ass. I felt the cool liquid sliding down toward the wet feeling Damien had left on me. Something was spreading the oil up and down and it was not Bane's hands. He was coating his cock in the oil as he rubbed against me.

A quick thrust forward made me want to pull away, but I didn't. He'd aimed himself well and driven past the tight ring of muscle with one solid push. I moaned and cried out at the intrusion.

Bane didn't stop, but he slowed himself. He passed a hand, in long soothing strokes, over my back.

"Hands on the bed, Ciara," he ordered.

Glad to have some control of my own balance, I eagerly did as he asked. He used my increased steadiness to press himself fully into my body. I heard his groan of pleasure as he buried himself completely.

As usual he had me feeling stuffed, almost to the point of pain, but not quite. Instead the sensation of fullness was erotic and sensual. My hands fisted in the blankets as Bane slowly started to move.

I felt the sway as my breasts rocked with each powerful thrust. Looking up I saw Kein had noticed them, also. He came to sit on the bed, playing lovingly with the swaying mounds.

It was Christof's hands that brought me off, though. He grinned as he rubbed my clit in counter to Bane's thrusts. The tension built in my belly until I exploded and my knees felt weak. It was only Bane's desire to keep me up that kept me from the floor. They congratulated Christof on his skill, even after all this time he still had it.

Bane roared behind me a second later. He sped up and gripped my sweaty hips tightly. He was like a bull behind me huffing and rutting as he came.

I chose Christof next. Kneeling on the bed I watched my friend crawl up beside me. For a moment he looked at me the way the old Christof had. The love in his eyes was so evident I reached for him.

"Make love to me," I requested as I pulling him closer.

His face was questioning as he knelt in front of me. "Explain 'make love' to me," he requested. "This phrase is not from our language. The words we understand, but not the combination."

I smiled at his curiosity and cupped his face. This was probably going to be one of those times, but I'd try to explain.

"Sex between us is about physical pleasure," I said kissing the corner of his mouth. "Making love is about emotional pleasure. It means using sex to show I care about you and you care about me."

Christof accepted the loving kisses across his lips and cheeks. It was evident he was thinking about what I'd said.

"You do not care for us," Kein finally said from the side sounding confused. "We care for you, though."

Chuckling at his misinterpretation of the sentence I ran my fingers along Christof's jaw and down his neck. I touched his chest and stomach lightly, teasing him with the gentle caress.

"I care about you," I answered still looking at Christof. "I worry about your happiness. When you are not with me, I think of you and hope you are well. I cannot care for you, but I care about you."

Leaning forward I nuzzled Christof's neck and nipped at his ears. A low groan sounded in his throat as his hands pulled me closer. Continuing to suck at his neck I smiled to myself. He wasn't fighting the idea anymore. A quick glance around the room proved no one was fighting the idea anymore.

Reaching down I wrapped a hand around Christof's staff. I pumped him slowly enjoying the silky feel of him against my palm. This earned another low sound from my chosen man.

"Lay with me," he said softly pulling me until I curled against his side.

I looked into his eyes and found him beaming at me.

"I like 'making love'," he said simply tracing my cheekbone.

Leaning over his grinning face I kissed him softly. The kiss gained momentum quickly. The tangle of tongues continued as his hand wrapped in my hair, securing me to his mouth. Pressing him into the bedding, I devoured his mouth.

"Get on top of me," he ordered pulling my hips over his.

I looked down at him doubtfully and stilled my movements. Being on the bottom was what the women did to them. It struck me as wrong to do this to him now.

"I want you, Christof," I told him honestly, "but I want this to make you happy. You don't have to lay underneath me."

He smiled and his face was lit with kindness. "I like to see you above me," he said honestly. "I like to know every motion is your choice, as well as, mine."

It was a stunning admission, I thought, but no one else seemed to notice. I straddled him and started to slowly move on his staff. This was my choice, but I made his pleasure a priority and sought to give it to him.

It didn't take long to find what he liked. Christof liked small, fast movement forward and back. His hands found my hips and he held them loosely. He seemed to be trying to stop himself from grabbing and controlling the pace.

"Harder," I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "please, my love, take me harder."

It was the permission he had wanted and he took it. Long fingers wrapped around until his short nails were cutting into my bottom. His hips rose off the bed pressing up as his hands pulled me down. I may have been on top, but now he was certainly fucking me.

From my vantage I had the perfect view of his face. A second row of razor sharp teeth dropped down and I was soon staring into a mouth of fangs. Christof growled and screamed as he found his release in my body.

Once my hips were freed I pulled myself off his staff and lay down beside him. Christof refused to release me and I snuggled against his side. He calmed slowly.

"Thank you," he whispered looking dreamily into my eyes.

Christof was sated, but Evan and Kein weren't. They were ready.

"I want you both," I said reaching a hand out to each of them. "I can't choose," I said honestly watching their hot eyes.

It was Kein who came forward first. He towered over me for a moment before laying down beside me. He liked the way Christof had had his fun. Watching my breasts dance and sway as we fucked would be enjoyable.

"Do you like that?" he asked nervously. "Christof always has said you like that. He thinks you like it, but do you?"

His concern was odd, but I didn't falter.

"The position doesn't matter to me. I just enjoy seeing you happy. If you like to see my breasts bounce before you, then that is how we should be."

He smiled and watched as I sat up and slung a leg over him.

I rode Kein as I'd done with Christof. He lay beneath me enjoying the view this gave him. My thighs started to tire and I felt him tensing beneath me. His fangs were down and I knew he was close.

"Stop," he ground out, holding my hips tightly.

Kein released one hip and he pinched the nipple with their crest. Using it like a lever he pulled my top half down to his mouth. As I panted above him, he laved a breast with his tongue.

"Stretch your legs," he commanded. "Let them relax for a moment."

I did as he asked and ended up sprawled in a very strange position above him, with his cock still inside of me. Kein's appendage stayed hard, but lost that feeling that told me he was close to finishing.

Teeth pressed into the soft skin on the underside of my breast and I froze. Kein didn't break skin and slowly moved toward the nipple, biting softly. Eventually he'd nibbled the entire breast, as well as, its twin.

Once he was satisfied he'd explored the mounds to his satisfaction, he asked me to move again. The cycle continued for many more times. Kein would bring himself to near completion and then calm his lust on my breasts. The relentless stimulation above and below had me cresting and spasming long before he was done.

Evan was last and the sweating mess I was seemed to be what he wanted. He literally cleaned the sweat from my entire body with his tongue. He started with my toes and the sensation was unreal.

Warm lips wrapped around my littlest toe and his tongue bathed it. Each toe on both feet received the same treatment. By the time he reached my great toe on my second foot I was fighting not to kick out at the strange tickling sensation.

"Stay still and let me enjoy the taste of you," he ordered licking like an adoring puppy at my knee.

Each leg was thoroughly enjoyed and tasted. Every inch of my body was worshipped by Evan's searching tongue.

He lapped lovingly at the juncture of my thighs. I flushed pink in embarrassment knowing he tasted his brothers down there also. The men didn't seem to mind, though. They just watched as he used his skilled tongue to bring me a bone-shattering orgasm.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 11



"Humans," I advised him breathlessly as he nibbled my hipbones, "sometimes coat each other in things that taste good and then lick it off."

They found that funny. I had to laugh as Evan continued to lick from my waist to my ribs. The image they had was not what I had intended at all.

"I would find it odd to baste you in the juices of roasted meat," Kein said leaning on the post at the center of the bed.

I tried to explain we would use sweet things and they still did not understand. Evan summed up their argument as he started to lick my sensitive breasts.

"I enjoy the taste of you," he said pausing in his worship. "If I wished to taste meat or something edible, I would be tasting that. Now be silent and let me finish," he demanded.

When he made it to my face and tasted my lips, I tasted him back. He liked the attention, but demanded I stop. Evan did not want to get lost tasting my mouth before he was done.

Silly man made me close my eyes and licked the soft skin of my eyelids. He didn't miss a part of me. My entire self felt stimulated and ready.

Evan's quest of my flesh ended while I lay on my stomach. He finished tasting my back and I was just lounging lazily. The experience had been like a very light, wet massage.

Now I felt a different sort of rub. Evan lay over me and sucked on my neck. Rhythmically he thrust his cock between the cheeks of my ass. From the feel of it, he was hard and ready.

"You made me feel so good," I whispered to him. "I want you. How would you like to take your turn?"

"I want to taste your mouth as we...make love," Evan said firmly.

Raising off of me, I was given just enough space to roll over before Evan descended again. He filled me before I had time to move again. His big tongue filled my mouth as his cock filled the ready warmth lower down.

As I moaned insensibly, Evan pounded himself home each time. The tongue bath had been the subtle build up. This was just raw, uncontrolled fucking.

I clung to Evan as we moved. When he stopped kissing to just watch me, I screamed my pleasure to the room. His happy grunts told me that was what he wanted to hear.

As I felt Evan growing impossibly larger, I whined and whimpered beneath him. My sensitive flesh was stimulated and primed. When Evan exploded inside of me, I followed suit clinging to him as I came.

I lay on the bed panting once they were done with me. Evan pulled himself out and moved to my side. None of them moved or spoke as I got my breath back. When I opened my eyes Evan was right in my face.

"If we are courtesans, Ciara, what does that make you?" he asked.

I thought about it for a moment. Lying was not an option with them, so I told the truth.

"I am your slave, Evan."

"Perhaps not, Ciara, perhaps you are also a courtesan," Damien said stretched out and watching the ceiling.

They still wanted to think of themselves as slaves, which was slowly destroying them. I couldn't let it happen.

"No, Damien, I am a slave. You do not pay me and I cannot ask for days to go other places. We are different," I assured him.

All the men were silent and they didn't move to clean me. I felt sticky and was slowly leaking their cum; I wanted to bathe. Still, they just lay there around me.

"Humans are different," Bane suddenly said. "That is why it is a happy slave."

The men murmured agreement and I had to suppress the urge to roll my eyes. I wanted to explain to them I wasn't happy being a slave; I'd just made up my mind to make the most of my life. Being miserable would just make me feel worse and I would still be a slave.

Finally, Christof rose from the bed and picked me up.

"How do you know about courtesans, Ciara? Were you one?" he asked.

"No, Christof," I chuckled. "I heard other humans talk about them. Courtesan is an old word in my language."

Christof sat on the bed still holding me. My chance for a bath diminished and I looked longingly at the door.

"Tell us about them," he demanded.

I told them everything I knew. Thankfully, I'd seen a show on the History channel at home. Strategically, I left out the part that the courtesans I knew about were all women. I just allowed the word "human" to suffice to explain them and let the men assume I meant other men.

"Courtesans on my world were humans that were the sexual partners of other humans. They did it as a job for money, but often found themselves in positions of power," I said.

"How?" Christof asked. "Where is the power in this arrangement we have with the women?"

I couldn't say for sure; most of what I was saying was based on my best guesses. I'd never expected to need to use this knowledge to keep them alive. There was no plan. I was just winging it.

"Well," I said clearing my throat, "human courtesans often talked to their patrons, the people that paid them. Those patrons were relaxed around the courtesans. It meant the courtesans could suggest things that other humans could not."

I watched Christof's face carefully as he considered this argument.

"The women do sometimes talk with their men," Kein said sitting up.

"The other men speak to the women, but I have never heard what they say," Damien said watching me.

Christof randomly let his hands wander over my arms as he sat thinking. I wondered if at some point he would realize I was leaking all over his lap.

"We are released from service for several days because we asked for them," Evan commented. "Nu-reeh only made us promise to stay close to the mountains. They have even stayed away as they said they would."

"There are the stones to consider," Bane said. "She did not have to continue to give us the stones. It has value to us, she could have denied us."

"It made me happy," Damien told them. "She said she wanted me to be happy."

"The way we want Ciara to be happy," Evan said his face falling as he saw a flaw in my argument.

I didn't know what else to say to them. My knowledge of their new life was so limited.

Christof rose off the bed and headed for the bathing room. I was torn between wanting to bathe and to continue to convince them. As it turned out, I could do both.

Master Christof filled the bathing pool with water and I stepped into it. The warm water swirled against my thighs and I sunk down. I splashed the water up over my shoulders and enjoyed feeling it flowing off. My eyes drifted closed and I relaxed in the water.

Strong hands smoothed over my back and I leaned into them. When a second set ran over my front, I opened my eyes. Everyone had silently entered the bathtub.

Master Christof took the lead, but they shared the task of bathing me. They also continued to ask questions. It was working, I thought, they seemed to like the new way to look at things.

Again and again over the next five days, we had similar conversations. They kept wanting to compare their position to mine, but I kept pointing out the differences. I insisted they were not slaves.

"So," Master Bane said on the fourth day, "we are not slaves, but we do not wish to be in the mountains. We want to go back to the compound and have our slave back."

"I want that, too, Masters," I told him softly looking down.

I couldn't say what I wanted something slightly different. Just like them, I would like to be free. They wanted me back, but as a slave. Some tiny part of me had hoped they would want me as something more, but that was not to be.

Still, I would make the best of it and take what I could from this strange relationship. I loved my owners deeply. In their own way, they loved me, although I was certain they didn't understand it. It was the most I could hope for on this world, so I would take it.

"I wish you could come with us in the mountains," Master Bane said running his hand over my hip.

I smiled at him, liking the fact they had thought of me.

"Nu-reeh refused to let us have you near us in the mountains," Christof told me sadly.

"She said a slave's weakness would not be tolerated in the mountains by the women there," Kein said staring off into space.

They were getting depressed again and I couldn't bear it.

"But we have this," I said hopefully.

"Yes," Damien smiled, his face brightening, "we still have this."

My owners consoled themselves and me. They would see that we were able to be together. These stolen days would be repeated as often as they could.

On the fifth day, I was prepared to go back to the compound. They removed my ornamentation and left me nude before the fire.

They sat and I knelt in silence for a while as I stared down at the ground. Suddenly I heard Master Bane make a sound. The rest agreed with him and Master Damien spoke to me.

"You are right, Ciara," he said sounding pleased. "You always wear our mark. Whether you have a collar or not, you may look at us."

I looked up at the men and smiled. My hand drifted to the motif that sat so strange and proud on my stomach. No matter what, I was theirs. It pleased me to know they had finally realized that.

Unlike my fake Masters, my real Masters did not leave me once I was stripped. They waited with me beside the fire until the other men arrived.

The men greeted each other and Master Damien gave my fake Masters a large bag of the stones as payment. They talked briefly before I was put back into my green and gold outfit. After I was ornamented entirely, my fake Masters wrapped me in two brown layers. Once all was ready, we loaded on the transport. I snuck a last look at Master Damien and his Brothers; it had to be enough to sustain me for who knew how long.

We flew home and I stared out over the distance. The men that surrounded me acted like I wasn't even present. They talked about which women they had liked the most and the places they would return next time. As they talked, I thought about Master Damien and his Brothers.

I hoped I had given my owners the right mindset. Perhaps thinking of things a different way would make them happier. If they continued to fight, there were only two outcomes and neither was good.

If the men physically fought the women, I feared the women would kill them. The men were obviously weaker. According to Master Kein the men were also outnumbered. I couldn't imagine it would be much of a battle.

The other option I saw also led to death for my Masters. When they got too upset their bond was damaged. The men didn't do well when they weren't connected to one another. If they were left unconnected, I feared what would become of them.

Of course, I wished they could win a fight with the women and have their freedom. Except for Fuji, I didn't know anyone that wanted to be owned and controlled. Freedom seemed to be the keystone of happiness for the sentient beings I knew.

Looking at my fake Masters I knew that was true. They lived where and how they were told to live, but they still maintained individuality. Some choices had been taken away, but not all. Binding a creature like either one of us in forced servitude bent our spirit to near breaking.

Why couldn't the women see that? I wondered. Why couldn't Master Damien and his Brothers see that?

I shook my self from the thoughts. It was not going to happen. I was weak and they were strong. According to them I could not care for myself. The men believed I needed them. They would never see it the way I did.

By the time we made it back to the compound I had chased the foolish dreams from my head. Wishing would only depress me, best to focus on the good things I had when I had them. Life would not change just because I wanted it to.

My fake Masters took me inside their dwelling when we got back to the compound. They stripped me and demanded I clean. They sat at their table and counted out the stones Damien had given them. As I washed the apartment they earmarked each stone for a different endeavor.

As I worked I made up my mind to count the day cycles this time. I wanted to know what the length of time was between my meetings with my real Masters. I didn't understand how the different moons turned here and I couldn't use them to track time. The days I could track, so I decided to do that.

Time passed and I counted, ticking off days on my imaginary calender. I wondered sometimes if I shouldn't pretend I was on Earth and just pick a day as January 1. For some reason that just didn't seem right. I just numbered the days and watched time pass.

The nausea started thirty one day cycles into my counting. I woke up, vomited, and my fake owners were upset. They fed me the root and made me stay in the apartment all day. Afraid of my illness, they called Keepers to stay with me.

I wasn't sick again all day. Once the initial nausea and vomiting passed I was even hungry. To tell the truth, I felt guilty they had paid money for Keepers. If I had been left alone it would have been a better day.

Once the men returned that night they asked the Keepers how I had been. The Keepers told the truth, I had been fine. My fake Masters watched me carefully all night, but I had no more problems until the next morning.

Again, I woke up and threw up. My head spun as I leaned over the lacquered pot in the bathing room. I hated to feel nauseated. Luckily for me, the sensations mostly subsided several minutes later. Still I didn't want to eat and my stomach felt queasy.

"Do we send for Healers?" one of my owners asked. "They are very expensive."

"It didn't even need the Keepers yesterday," another of them groused. "We paid them to sit and stare at our experiments all day."

I hated to be seen as a burden. My cost should always be nominal so they would continue to keep me, so I risked irritating them and spoke up.

"When I was sick on Earth, I always stayed home alone. No one ever watched me, Sirs," I told them honestly.

My fake Masters hated to hear me speak, but that is what they wanted to do already. They left me in their rooms and told me to heal myself. Much like my period I was on my own for the day.

I felt fine now. My stomach was settled. Long ago, I had found where they kept food in the kitchen, so I ate a little about mid morning. Everything stayed where it was supposed to.

Bustling around I cleaned the apartment and straightened everything up. I hummed to myself as I worked and thought of Master Damien and his Brothers. It was morning, so they would be training.

Suddenly, I felt vicious. I wanted to tear the head off of my opponent. A good fight was really what I needed. Being made to sit and watch a fight was boring, even if I was supposed to be learning new techniques. My Brothers all agreed with me.

The feelings faded and I stood in the living area confused. I didn't have Brothers and I wasn't watching a fight. Perhaps I was losing my mind, I thought. Shaking myself free of the strange feelings I got back to work.

I was sent to the Keepers the next day. The morning nausea happened so I wasn't given a morning meal, but otherwise I was well. Keeping me at home too long might alert the other men something was wrong with me. My owners were tired of hearing about what a sickly slave I had become. They wanted everything to look normal, so they wouldn't have to hear about it.

"Your cycle will come soon, anyway," one of my owners told me on the transport, "and then we will be forced to keep you in our home."

"I would love to study the organs that make it bleed," one of them said bluntly, "but a human would die if we opened it that way."

My skin crawled and I felt overwhelming fear for a moment. They wanted to dissect me. I saw myself spread out in the living area with my guts hanging out.

A strange comfort came over me a moment later and I spoke with confidence. "Master Damien and his Brothers would find a way to repay you if you injured me like that. You know it is so, I have nothing to fear from you. You are intelligent, but you are not as strong."

The transport stopped abruptly and the Warriors around me stared at me. The looks on their faces should have had me cowering on the floor, but they didn't. I knew that what I had said was the truth.

Master Damien and his Brothers had chosen these strange men to care for me for three reasons. Firstly, they were curious to learn about Earth, but had no desire to use a slave. Secondly, they were distant from the other Warriors, so I wouldn't be noticed. The last reason was they were not powerful Warriors. They knew, as well as Master Damien knew, they would not survive a fight with my real owners.

I should not have known any of that. Before a moment ago, I didn't know any of that. It was all comforting, but hardly normal I should be aware of it.

"Watch your errant tongue, slave," one of them said as they restarted the transport, "you will sleep in the box tonight."

I went quietly the rest of the way to the Keepers. Once I got there I made friendly conversation with Rose and Fuji. In the back of my mind I wondered at where these strange thoughts were coming from.

Later in the morning the girls were all gathered and talking on the far side of the room. I sat staring out the window and Rose touched my arm. Fuji had wandered off some time before, so I sat alone for the most part.

"You've been distant all morning," Rose whispered, "and you've been gone for two days. What happened?"

"I keep waking up sick to my stomach," I told her. "At first they thought I was ill, but I get better as the day wears on."

"What did the Healers do?" she asked.

"They didn't call the Healers," I said and she gasped. "The Healers are expensive," I continued to explain.

Rose looked around making sure we were truly not being watched. The Keepers were all busy on the other side of the room. The other girls were all busy learning a new dance.

"Ciara, my owners are correct, these new men should not have you. If you are ill, the men will find out. Your fake Masters are not doing an honorable job," she said.

"You sound like one of the Warriors," I said trying to distract her. "Are you planning to grow up to be one?"

"Not funny, Ciara, I'm just telling you what everyone already thinks. They may be right. Humans need special care, the men you were left with aren't doing the things they should. I'm afraid you'll get sick," she urgently whispered.

"I promise, I'm fine," I assured her. "It's not unusual for people to get a little ill from time to time. I know my...current Masters are not the best, but I won't get sick. I love Master Damien and his Brothers. It would have destroyed me to lose them. This is acceptable to me."

The men picked me up at night and I cleaned the apartment as was normal. When I was done and they were ready for bed, the men opened the bed in the wall. They had told me I would sleep there for my morning infraction, I had forgotten.

I hated the box. The close confines made me feel anxious, but I knew I could survive it. The last thing I wanted was for these men to find a different way to punish me. My fake owners were smart. They couldn't be allowed to invent a new way to torture me. I was sure they could be devious if they put their minds to it.

With that thought in mind, I quietly lay in the box and allowed myself to be slid into the wall. I heard the click as the box was latched and then there was silence. Nothing to do now but wait for morning.

I was standing along a trail surrounded by jeering men with swords. They were laughing because I was so outnumbered. The thieves dared to tell me how they would torture my Brothers before they killed us. Their taunts didn't bother me, I knew how hard my family trained. We were not in any danger. The jeering men just needed to be a little closer before we struck.

The battle was swift. My favored sword arm was ready and the men fell before it. Thieves that threatened our lives had no right to live, that was the law. Dealing out this justice was my right.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 11



When the first one was struck down, I saw his Brothers cry out. Now I knew who belonged to which family. It was a mercy kill to end the lives of his Brothers quickly.

The second family ran when the first family fell. We would catch them before they hid their trail. Kein was an excellent tracker, they would not escape in the forest as they planned to do.

We walked into the woods with confidence, Kein and Evan leading. The forest changed as I watched. The trees shifted and became rock walls. Instead of a forest we were tracking in the mountains.

I felt dread. I hated the mountains. Women could hide in the craggy pits and drop upon us without warning. I heard the beating of wings, but my vision was narrowed and I couldn't tell where it was coming from.

Christof screamed and I tried to find him. My feet wouldn't move fast enough, I seemed to be running in thick mud. No one was with me now, I was alone in the mountains, divided from my Brothers.

I woke up a little and pushed at the walls of the box I was in. The panic of being trapped in here started to mount, spurred on by my strange nightmare. To calm myself I thought of Master Damien and his Brothers. I concentrated hard on them and felt myself almost leave the box.

I was in the mountains again, running with all my might. The women were coming, their wings were everywhere; I just could not see them. If I could just find my Brothers, I would feel better, for now I was all alone.

Enough of this, I thought to myself as I woke up sweating and nervous again.

I took deep controlled breaths. There was no need to fear. I wasn't in the mountains, no one was chasing me. Instead, I thought about the day Master Damien and his Brothers took me to the canal.

We were all there again. The men seemed confused to find themselves on the bobbing wooden platform. I looked up at them and for some reason, I'd left them dressed and with their weapons on. This was a dream, I thought to myself, I'd prefer them naked.

The men's clothing dissolved and they sat down watching me.

"Swim with me, Masters?" I asked the men in my dream. "Show me fun things like you did before."

Master Damien bounded into the water and I followed him in. I loved to be in the ocean.

They took me deeper than I had gone that day. Master Kein showed me the bottom of the canal and the things that lived there. He spoke underwater and told me they could swim much deeper than I could. They had wanted to show me this the day we came, but they knew I wouldn't be able to swim so far down.

I loved the water, the quiet gurgle in my ears as I swam. We stayed under water forever. This was a dream, so I didn't have to surface for breath. We just swam and played in the canal.

The dream seemed so real. I watched with awe as the men zipped through the water. They moved like some strange sort of eel, undulating up and down. It fascinated me, just as it had the first day I saw it.

The men found the worms and ate them underwater. They were so good. I caught and ate the worms with them. Marvelous, wonderful, sticky creatures that bled on my tongue. I couldn't get enough of them.

How had I ever thought the worms were gross?

We continued to swim and my mind drifted to Earth. I thought of the rocky coast I swam on before I was enslaved. The cold water and sea air called me home.

"Ciara, where are we?" Master Damien asked standing naked on the beach.

"Rocky Point Beach," I told him, "I used to come here to play in the water."

The men looked around. They picked up the rocks and watched the sea birds that fluttered in the strong breeze. Master Christof picked up the book bag I always brought and went through it. He found the money I would use to pay my way home.

"Don't lose that," I warned him. "I use it to pay the bus driver to take me home from here."

Instead Christof picked out the sandwich I had made and looked at it. I explained I brought food with me when I came here and he tasted it, as did his Brothers. They also tasted the applesauce and pudding cups I'd brought. They found the flavor not very interesting, but the texture of the applesauce was disgusting to them.

"Come into the water," I ordered laughing. "That's where all the fun is!"

I dove into the churning ocean and went down deep. The men followed and I pointed out the fish in my memories to them. They wanted to go in the caves deeper down, but I couldn't show them that.

"I never went that deep," I told Master Christof underwater, "and if I got stuck in the caves I wouldn't have a way to breath."

We crawled onto shore and I looked down at myself. I was dressed like I always was when I came to the beach. A faded grey t-shirt soaked and stuck to my skin and an old pair of cut off jeans.

"What is this?" Master Damien asked touching the torn denim fabric.

"Jeans," I said luxuriating in the sun, "I used to wear clothes all the time. No one on my world walks around naked."

"We ornament your naked body, becuase you don't need clothes," Master Evan said crouching in front of me. "My Brothers and I protect you, you do not need such thick fabric. We ornament you to show you in our colors. That is how we wish to see you."

Looking down, my outfit was changed. I was in my collar and cuffs. My torso was wrapped with a gauzy piece of blue fabric. This was much better, I agreed.

"Still," I told them, "this outfit would not have been good to wear at the place I lived and worked."

They didn't understand, so in the dream we were there.

It was midday at the motel. The sign that permanently read "Vacancy" flashed along the roadside. The men understood the sign through me.

As we walked through the squalor that had been my life, I felt the men judging it. Albert, the motel's most senior resident drunk, was sitting outside his door in a lawn chair asleep and drooling. The place was dingy and they sensed my discomfort at walking here with no clothes on to shield me.

In my memories they saw the pointless violence I had witnessed in this place. They saw the bloody beer bottles I had cleaned up. As we passed room thirty two we all remembered the body of the overdosed heroin addict I had found one morning.

I took them the long way around to my room. There was a short cut through the building down a dark hall, but a woman had been brutally raped there one afternoon. After that happened I never walked that way again. Even in the dream, I feared that dark secluded hall. The men felt my unease, but said nothing.

In my small room at the hotel, I showed them the things I was proud of. The money I had scrimped and saved was hidden in a plastic bag in the toilet tank. Damien asked why I put it there. He understood it was an odd place for something I considered of value.

"People would steal it, if they knew where it was," I told him, counting the bills in my memory with pride. "I locked my door every day, but that wouldn't stop most of the people that would want to come in here and take it."

Damien and his Brothers did not understand. Men on their world were honorable. The few men that would steal were identified and kept far from the villages by the Administrators. They had never had something like a door lock and they found my use of one odd.

"People aren't always honorable," I tried to explain, but the men still didn't understand.

I failed miserably trying to describe how humans could be. There was no Administrator here that could remove thieves from society. Some humans were honest and some weren't; it was a choice.

"It has value?" Master Bane asked taking the stack from me and examining it.

This looked like nothing to them and they didn't understand how it was important. In my memories they saw what I could do with this. Much like the stones, money here was a representation of wealth with no real value in itself.

It gave the men a new appreciation of the stones they used. Christof sat on the end of my bed as he considered the matter.

"This is where you slept?" he asked passing his hand over the rough faded comforter.

"Yes."

"It isn't comfortable," he said and moved around making the old springs squeak, "and it is very noisy."

I shrugged. It wasn't that bad if I didn't toss around at night.

"Where did you get the money?" Kein asked as he walked around the room.

I explained the concept of a paycheck to them. Mr. Pensky paid me less because I lived here. The money in the toilet tank was whatever I didn't spend on bus fare, food, and clothes."

The men followed me back outside to look at the dingy swimming pool on the property.

"I see why you liked the place you took us first," Damien said looking into the still, murky water.

"This place is unpleasant," Christof said looking around. "You felt fear here constantly. There was no pleasure in your life."

Evan hugged me from behind, pulling my back flush to his front. "We gave you better than this. Come back with us," he stated.

I melted into Evan and left willingly. They took me to the mountains, to the untouched beauty of Pateria. With them, in this world, I felt peace.

It was all good and relaxed. No more nightmares plagued the dreams the rest of the night. We were together and we were happy.

"Wake up, slave," my fake Master said loudly.

Groggily, I remembered hearing him yelling at me. I'd been in such a wonderful, peaceful sleep. It took me longer to wake than usual.

The men commented on my slow progress and pulled me to the table to eat. They fed me all they usually did, but what I really wanted was some of those worms.

"Why don't I ever have worms, Masters?" I asked.

The men stared at me with fury on their faces.

"They are expensive, slave. We do not see the need for you to have them. You will sleep in the box again tonight for your impudence," one of the men growled.

I stayed silent and looked at the floor. Before last night, I was sure I hated the worms, now I was asking for them. It didn't make any sense.

The Keepers was like it always was, we played inside in the morning. Strange catches of feelings assaulted me throughout the day. Boredom while I played the drums, for instance, and that didn't make any sense.

I concentrated on the weird sensation and looked at Fuji. She shouldn't eat the worms and she was obsessed with her skin. These were things I already knew and learning more about this slave did not interest me.

"Ciara," Rose called in a singing voice, "what are you doing?"

"Thinking," I answered trying to act normally.

"Can you play and think at the same time?" she laughed.

"Of course," I blushed and started to beat out their favorite rhythm again.

In the afternoon we went to the beach. There were several games being played but I wasn't taking part. Even after having spent the night dreaming of swimming, I still wanted to go into the water. Perhaps next time my owners had me, we could go somewhere swimming.

I remembered a place then, a place I'd never been to and never seen. It looked like a lake, surrounded on every side by tall mountains. Water from the mountains washed into the body of water from a several streams. Master Damien and his Brothers often stopped there to play as they left the mountains.

"CIARA," an annoyed Fuji said, grabbing the ball that had landed at my feet. "You could have just thrown it back to us. Come on, we need another person for this game to work."

I apologized and walked over to join my friends. My mind was all over the place today. Hopefully I wasn't having some sort of a mental breakdown.

As I cleaned the apartment that night, I thought about all the strange feelings and strange dreams. They were consuming and came out of no where. It was almost impossible to think or do anything with them plaguing me.

I panicked a slight bit as I considered the issue further. One of my cousins on Earth had schizophrenia, at least Mom had told me she had it. The girl thought aliens were invading and wore a classic tinfoil hat most of the time. Even with the best of medications she was not able to think clearly.

It made me smile sadly now. Poor girl, she really wasn't wrong.

Perhaps it was the box, I thought. Maybe all those days with the calming creams stuck in the box had driven me mad. Strange it would just pop up suddenly, so many day cycles later.

My rag touched a clear jar of liquid on the table and I caught it just before it fell over.

"Slave," one of the men barked, "pay attention to what you are doing. You almost knocked over one of our experiments. You spend another night in the box."

Dropping my head submissively, I apologized to the man.

He was right, I was not being cautious. I shuddered to think how many days in the box I would get for ruining their work.

Later that night, tired from cleaning, I crawled into what was becoming my permanent bed. It slid shut and I shuddered at the quiet darkness. The only thing I could hear was my breathing. All I saw was black. Perhaps I would fall asleep soon and not be subjected to the desolation of this punishment.

The dreams came again that night. This time I dreamed I was on Earth scrubbing my mother's house. My uncles walked around dropping food and other things on the carpet, watching me clean it up. It was an annoying repetitive dream, just like it had been when I had lived it.

Suddenly, the dream changed slightly. Master Damien and his Brothers were watching me work. It was embarrassing they should see what slovenly piles of crap my family was.

I couldn't seem to stop cleaning, even with my owners standing and looking around. I swept, mopped, and scrubbed, but things never got cleaner. Dirt and grime appeared out of thin air or my uncles made another mess.

My uncles had destroyed the house for the fun of watching me try to put it back together. In my dream, when my Uncle Eddy dropped a large pile of cheesy dip on the carpet for the fifth time, Master Damien struck him. Uncle Eddy flew across the room and smashed against the wall and slid down uncoscious. Suddenly the floor, the walls, and the entire house looked clean and fresh.

I sighed with relief and stood up.

Everything evaporated as I stared at Master Damien. How I had wished to do that very thing many times over, but I didn't know how to knock out a man my uncle's size. Desperately, I wanted to learn.

"It's easy," Master Damien told me. "We've been learning to fight since we were very small."

It was the strangest dream I've ever had. I watched as my young Masters learned to fight. It was like they invited me to share their memories, by morning I felt like a Warrior.

I was awake and nauseated by the time the men let me out of the box in the morning. I leapt up and ran for the bathroom. Had I spent one more moment in there I would have thrown up on myself.

That afternoon at the Keepers I crept along the dunes until I was mostly alone. The other girls that came down here did so for quiet. I wasn't making noise, so they ignored me.

It had been a strange dream, but I felt like I knew how to fight. I searched my mind and found memories from the dream. I swung and kicked the way I had seen the men do. It seemed I had the right idea, just no strength or practice with the movement.

Fuji and Rose came down and wanted to know what I was doing. As soon as I saw them I stopped, but they stayed.

"Is it a new dance, Ciara?" Fuji asked.

"No," I said trying to figure out what to call it. "I was just fooling around. My...uncles taught me to fight and I was just doing the moves they showed me."

It was a plausible lie.

"Show us," Rose encouraged settling down.

I demonstrated the moves, but I was far less adept than the figures in my dream had been. We all laughed as I struggled to get better. It was a fun and distracting way to spend the afternoon.

The men came and got me at night as usual. We went into their rooms and they stood at the threshold staring at me. Usually they went down the bathhouse now, but they didn't look like they were getting ready to go.

"When will it come?" one of them asked me.

"I don't understand, Master. When will what come?"

"The menstruation," he pronounced carefully. "It has been seventy day cycles since the last one. We are being patient. You told us this was a regular cycle. They should be even."

A terrible thought came to me then. The sickness every morning was not illness.

"Yes, it should," I said raising my hands and taking a step back. I was sure they should not know. "It's not something I control. My body does it when the hormones-"

"What is that word?" the long haired man interrupted me.

I tried desperately to explain, but this was one of those times. They locked me in the box that night for not being honest. To me, it seemed they just preferred to sleep without me. For once I was glad to be alone and panic on my own.

My period was late. The men didn't know what that meant, but I did. A late period meant something very different from what they feared.

My mother had suffered morning sickness with me. She'd lost weight and had to be placed on supplements. Even my grandmother had suffered the damned sickness with every one of her many children. This seemed so much like what they described.

It couldn't be, I assuaged myself. Master Damien had said this could not happen. He and his Brothers had been so sure, but the truth was hard to refute.

I had menstruated, which was odd. That must mean I was fertile again. The morning sickness was hard to contest, even if I wanted to. Very little else could cause the daily illness that went away on its own. It was all adding up to a point I tried desperately to avoid.

The men were wrong. My hands felt my lower stomach as though the nonexistent bulge would suddenly begin to form. I was carrying a child.

*******************************

To all the stinkers out there who figured out my plot twist: good job! I'll keep working to surprise you if you'll keep reading. DW



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 12



A big thank you to Steve 150177 for his work reading and re-reading. His honesty has been unbelievably helpful. I know the finished product is much better for his input.

Willieone- the support is inspiring.

A note to all who leave a message, I really do appreciate the time. I look forward to knowing if you like it, hate it, or don't understand.

As always any comment is welcome, Steve and I both look at all of them.

Please enjoy - DW

********************************

When I finally drifted to fitful sleep the dreams came again. Children were on my mind and I dreamed of them. I saw the men as children growing up with the Child Keepers. There was an older family who tormented them. In the dream, I was larger than the boy picking on Master Christof. I kicked the other boy hard and the scene melted away.

"Why do you come to us every night?" Master Evan whispered in my ear. "We have become accustomed to you in our dreams. Don't stop coming."

I turned and wrapped my arms around him. Our lips touched and he dove his tongue into my mouth. My fingers ran through his hair.

He loved the sensation of my hands in his hair and shuddered slightly. The way I did it, especially when I bathed it and twisted the locks was the greatest pleasure he knew. Master Evan had never felt anything like it.

"Perhaps I miss you," I said pulling back and then placing a kiss on his chin.

"We miss you as well," he said.

Dream sex was much better than real world sex, I soon discovered. Our clothing melted off and I stood holding a naked, aroused Master Evan. The scene around us also changed until we were in their old bedroom in the compound.

Master Evan backed me toward the bed and I pulled his larger body down over mine. He never was much for kissing, but I loved to kiss. There was a slight hesitation before his mouth settled over mine.

He wanted to taste, to run his tongue over my frame. Master Evan adored me sweaty and wet, so every lap of his tongue picked up my subtle flavor. He settled for my mouth, because that's what I wanted.

"Perhaps I want to taste you, Master Evan," I smiled when we separated.

"Look around," he commanded, "this is our bedroom. In this domain I am not your Master and you are not my slave."

I smiled at him and kissed his chin, using my tongue to taste the flesh.

Evan loved that. No one had ever tasted him, except me. In his opinion that meant I was the only one that truly knew him. Again, I'd never been aware he felt that way about it.

Pushing on his broad chest he rolled and took me with him. I tasted him everywhere and did everything to him he had done to me. His ears to his toes I licked and sucked. When I made it back to his throbbing erection and sucked a second time, he came in my mouth.

I smiled and swallowed him down. Before moving onto his Brothers I took the moment to whisper love into his ear.

Bane was next. He sank into me and I brushed my fingers through his short beard. I used my grip on the hair to control him as he kissed me deeply. Nothing mattered except him grunting and huffing on top of me.

I ran my hands down his torso to his muscular buttocks and sank my nails in. Master Bane liked the small pain, it reminded him of the women and he loved to be inside the women. My dull, human teeth sunk into his neck, but couldn't penetrate the skin. He growled with pleasure.

Just the hint of pain was exciting and made it more pleasurable. The women didn't understand that and hurt him too much. I was perfect. He rode me hard before filling me with his seed.

When I told him I loved him, he pulled me tight into a hug burying his face in my neck.

Kein spent his time playing with my breasts. He licked, sucked, and then softly bit the supple skin. That I enjoyed his attention made it even better.

This was the first thing he saw at the auction. My large chest jutting out so proudly had called to him. When I had fought the air currents and showed them spirit by cursing at them, he had nearly cheered. It was a family decision to buy me, but it was Kein's certainty that sold it.

Right now with his hands and mouth full of my chest, his cock was demanding satisfaction. I felt him slip into my ass as though he had oiled it. He felt the tight walls clench around him and groaned.

I wanted hands on my clit and in the dream, I felt them there. Master Christof's long fingers played over me as Master Kein rode me. I got closer and closer to oblivion writhing against my lovers.

"Come for us," Master Damien demanded and I did.

My world shattered into sparks and then it happened again. Connected to them in the dream, I felt Kein's orgasm like it was my own. He bucked and writhed as I did beneath him.

"I love you, Kein."

Christof was next. Had it been the real world, he would have been hugging the breath out of me.

"It has been too long," he murmured into my ear, while stroking along my sides. "I have missed you so much."

"You have no idea, my friend," I whispered back to him.

My hands wrapped into his hair as I pulled his lips down to mine. We kissed and the scene changed. The sounds of the forest filled the air and I was on the ground with him over me in our favorite spot outside the Keepers.

"I think of you and wish we could come here again," I said stroking his cheeks. "I enjoyed our time."

"It isn't a secret anymore," he said nibbling my neck with his Brothers sitting around us. "We could all come here."

His mouth dipped lower down the line of my sternum across my belly. I grabbed him and wrestled with him. In the dream I was strong enough to pin him to the ground. Laughing, I impaled my flesh on his pole.

Stretching out across his body I made slow, languid love to him. Master Kein noted my swaying breasts and flicked the rings with each swing. We rocked and kissed as the others stroked my back and buttocks. He came with gritted teeth and a low moan.

"I love you, Christof," I told him as he recovered.

Crawling off Christof, I looked at Damien. I was ready to wrestle him down and take what I wanted.

"Oh really," he said lifting an eyebrow. "You think you can take me."

I grinned wickedly, pinning Christof had been easy. Damien couldn't be much more difficult. He'd be down before the count of five.

The dream changed and we were in a stadium. I stood in my gauzy, flowing fabric and Damien was decked in his Warrior wear.

"You think you can dress me like this and I won't win, Master Damien?" I grinned, "I think not."

I wanted to be dressed like him, so I was. He growled low in his throat and took a fighting stance. Copying him, I held my pose until he rushed me.

We battled and somehow, I knew what I was doing. I parried and swung like a real Warrior. Damien had superior strength, even in the dream and soon had me pinned. Panting and struggling, he pressed me into the sand covering the ground.

"Change into what I want to see you in," he growled in my ear. "I won."

I wrapped my self in blue and silver. The gauzy dress tied in the front with a large bow. A present to my conquering hero.

Master Damien had no patience right now for my humor. A slim silver knife appeared in his hand and he sliced the fabric away from me. His eyes glinted with lust as he peeled the remainder of the gauze from my body.

I was lifted from the ground and we walked out of the stadium and into the bedroom. It was a strange transition, but it made perfect sense in the dream. Damien was not going to let me control this and make him take his pleasure outside. He tossed me onto the bed and stood watching me.

Righting myself, I got to my knees. Damien was panting with a mixture of lust and post fight adrenaline. Fighting with me had riled him in ways he enjoyed, we'd have to do it again.

"You won," I purred crawling toward him. "Let me undress you and pleasure you."

He wore pants that laced up the front in my dream. Using just my teeth, I tugged at the laces holding his breeches together. Damien's beautiful cock slowly emerged from his pants.

Much like our first blow job, I flicked my tongue over the tip. A bit of Damien's essence appeared and I pressed my tongue to it, sucking and tasting. Strong hands grasped my head and the fleshy length pressed into me.

"Look at me," Damien rasped. "Look at me while you take my cock."

I'd had my eyes done once for a school dance. The woman at the salon had applied long fake glittery lashes to my real ones. In the dream I had those eyes. Beautiful, glittering green eyes begged Damien for more.

He gasped at the sight and fucked my mouth harder. I sucked and licked feeling the texture change under my tongue. Damien's tool was not a mystery in my mouth. I knew what he liked and it was easy to provide.

Large hands controlled my head as I made love to Damien with my mouth. Faster and faster he moved me, cramming himself into my throat with each thrust. It made my eyes water and my pussy clench.

I was tossed back away from him before he finished. My body sprawled on the bed and I struggled to sit up. Damien attacked me, pushing me down. He towered over my form and forced himself between my thighs. He dared me with his eyes to try to deny him.

Licking my lips, I stretched out beneath him. My arms raised above my head and my thighs parted giving him access.

"I am yours, Damien," I said softly, "take anything you wish."

He never needed permission, but he liked it. The willingness to be taken by him and be controlled by him was beautiful to Damien. It made the taking sweeter as his cock slowly sank into me.

We rocked together in blissful harmony. My body had longed for the sensation of Damien's cock filling me. He was perfection. I grabbed at him and called his name as I came undone beneath him.

"I love you, Damien," I cried as he spasmed and rocked into me.

I loved them completely. In their warm embrace, in our old bed in the compound I rested the remainder of the night.

*******

The nausea was strong the next morning when I woke in the black box. I turned my head to the side and retched in the closed bed. It stunk and I was lucky to get it out without choking myself. When I retched a second time my head hit the top of the box and I felt a bump forming. The smell just made me sicker.

That's how my fake Masters found me when they pulled the bed out. I was covered in vomit and had a bruise forming on my head. It was the worst situation I'd ever woken to and I include the day I woke to enslavement.

The men cleaned me with concern on their faces. Something was wrong, they just couldn't figure out what. Still, they debated about calling the Healers.

"If it is unusual, they will want to study it, the same way we wish to study it," one of the men said.

"Damien and his Brothers..." another Brother said and then stopped talking.

I knew the end to that statement by the looks on the faces of the other Brothers. Master Damien would be very displeased if I was taken for study. He would destroy these men just for fun if that happened.

I would have to heal myself, they finally decided. No Healers could be called in.

The room reeked of my vomit, so after breakfast I cleaned the box. I realized as I cleaned there were two messes in there. The vomit was one, the second was the wet sticky goo from my dreams.

Chuckling to myself, I thought about the dream. It had been wonderful. If that was insanity, I'd gladly take it.

Once the bed was cleaned up the men put their ornamentation on me. The chain around my waist was slightly tighter. It had to be shifted up a little father than was usual.

The men reasoned I must be healthy to be gaining weight, despite my nausea. That made them feel better about not calling the Healers. As we left for the Keepers their mood seemed up.

Things settled into a strange rhythm for me over the next fifty three days. The emotions and errant thoughts that came, I did my best to ignore. It took time, but I got better about not faltering every time one struck. At least that meant I appeared more normal, even if I didn't feel that way.

The dreams came every night. I spent my time asleep with Master Damien and his Brothers. I saw fantastic places in my dreams. It felt like the men were showing me their lives.

A magical world existed in my dreams. We roamed through the mountains and swam in the streams there. I cheered as they battled other men and learned all their moves. I imagined every place they had ever been on this world. In my dream world, we made love and showed each other how much we cared. We were one happy family.

At night, I was connected to Master Damien and his Brothers. We did everything together. I hungered to go to sleep every night and spend time with my lovers and friends. I knew it was just a fantasy, but it was a wonderful fantasy.

The box was what my fake owners used to punish me, but I came to love it. In the privacy of that silent space I fully indulged in my insane fantasy. No one could say I wasn't right as I spoke out loud to the figures in my dreams. My favorite personal world existed in that box.

In the day, there were things that stressed me. The nausea, thankfully, subsided, but the weight gain continued. I watched myself grow with trepidation.

The weight gain my owners had initially been pleased with, but as time wore on they were less happy about it. They kept having to add chain to my waist. Soon they had to buy larger cuffs and collar for me. I was costing them more than they liked.   

My body protested the rapid growth of my belly also. Stretch marks appeared over the prominent bump in my lower stomach. The men treated them daily with the cream, but they always seemed to reappear the next day.

I couldn't deny it as I petted my gravid belly. No one could deny what had happened. It terrified and shocked all of us that understood.

"Have they understood it yet?" Rose asked quietly one day when the Keepers weren't around.

The rest of the girls from Earth were sitting and listening closely. We were all concerned. If I could have this happen, they could, too.

"No," I told her, "the men don't know what pregnancy entails. I don't think they've ever seen a pregnant woman. They can't comprehend what is happening. They still just think I'm getting fat."

"What will you do when you deliver?" an Earth girl asked.

"I don't know," I told her. I stroked my stomach and felt the familiar roll as the child moved under my hand. "They like to study things. I fear they will want to study the child," I said quietly.

Master Damien and his Brothers protected me. I wasn't sure that protection extended to a child conceived by me. I feared for the babe, especially if it was female.

I wanted to run away before the child was born, but I wasn't sure where to go. It was unclear how I would even get away. My instinct to protect my baby got stronger every day.

I was ill suited for this place, though. There was no way I would be able to protect my child once it was born. It crushed me to realize what the men could do if they wanted to.

"I remember pregnancy from Earth," another girl whispered placing a hand on my stomach. "You should not be feeling the motions of the child already; your belly isn't big enough. I don't think your pregnancy will last the same time it does on Earth."

"You don't think I have much time left, do you?" I asked quietly. "I have to do something quickly."

We never said the word escape to one another. It was a dangerous word to say here. They knew I feared my owners' reaction to a child. It was assumed I had to get away.

The worry about the child usually lasted all day. Today for some reason was different. I sat on the beach that afternoon and felt breathless with anticipation. It wasn't clear to me what I was anticipating, but it excited me greatly. This feeling was so strong it was hard to ignore.

My fake owners picked me up and I was almost giddy with the sensation. It was hard, but I fought it down. I did my best not to let my crazy emotions show to anyone.

On my knees in the shower scrubbing the grime, I felt like singing. Actually, I did sing, until one of my owners chastised me. Giggling stupidly, I held the emotion inside and just tried to focus on the mundane task at hand.

At the Keepers the next day the excitement inside of me was overwhelming. I was waiting so patiently for something. When lunch came the emotions were in such a frenzy, I could barely eat. Even the light haired Brother that fed me lunch, who never noticed me, said something about my strange attitude.

Late in the afternoon the depression set in. I cried on my pad as I waited for my owners to come and get me. The feeling tore at my heart. I could not complete myself and felt abandoned.

This made no sense. My fake owners came to pick me up as they always did. I wasn't left longer than I should have been. It felt insane and I bawled laying on the ground.

My fake owners literally had to pick me up and carry me to the transport. I couldn't even find the strength to walk. It felt like my heart was being torn apart.

I refused dinner and was put in the box for my bad behavior. It didn't matter. I wanted to die, there was nothing left to live for.

The emotions that I considered the sign of my schizophrenia were too strong to ignore. It was finally happening as I wailed in the box. My mind was breaking, I couldn't even pretend to be normal.

I lay awake in the darkness and didn't sleep. Anger started to fester inside me.

'They have no right,' screamed my internal voice. 'I deserved my happiness and they took it from me!'

It went on for days. I barely slept. The anger and depression wrapped around me completely. My dreams were full of blank desperation. When I was awake I saw the world as a desolate place.

By the third day, I didn't bother to hide it. I couldn't have if I tried. My fake Masters dropped me at the Keepers and I lay down on the ground just inside the compound wall. Tears leaked out of my eyes continuously and I stared ahead not seeing anything.

Rose talked to me and Fuji begged me to get up and move around, but I couldn't understand them. I lay defeated all day long wherever the Keepers put me. The lunch bell rang and I didn't move. Men came and went in front of me, but my mind was gone.

The desert that had become my thoughts was quiet suddenly. I felt broken and used, but the crushing weight of sadness had lifted.

I looked around and I was at home in the compound. There were no memories of getting here. Last I remembered I had been crying at the Keepers on the ground. It made no sense.

I sat up slowly on the bed and heard my fake owners talking to the Healers. The Healers told them I was past repair. Perhaps it had something to do with the stomach. I would not be of use to anyone anymore.

All was silent as I considered what they had said. I bolted out of bed when I realized. A slave with no use would not be kept. They would kill me and kill the child.

"Masters, may I clean the apartment?" I called to them straightening the covers on the bed and stumbling around.

As the Healers watched, I tidied the apartment and tried to act normal. The men stopped me and the Healers examined me.

"It seems better," the Healers said disbelieving. "This makes no sense."

Yes, I had to agree. Nothing made sense anymore. My mother had talked about my cousin with the mental illness. It didn't seem like the kind of thing that came and went. I had no idea what was wrong with me.

At the Keepers the next day, Rose and Fuji greeted me with hugs.

"We feared for you," Rose said with tears streaking her face. "They took you home two day cycles ago and you didn't come back. Our owners went to see yours, they saw you on the bed. You wouldn't move or eat."

"My owners said the only time they had seen something like you was when a man's bond was broken," Fuji said seriously.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 12



We spent the morning inside. I shared with them the story of my cousin's mental illness. They didn't know what to say, but then neither did I.

"Perhaps," Rose said, "it is the stress of worrying about the child that broke you."

I shook my head, "I don't know. It felt like I was excited about something and then I was so sad when I couldn't make it happen. My world just fell apart. It might have been about the baby, I just don't know. I felt deserted."

My mind was mine all day, no weird intrusive feelings. I felt lonely now that they were gone, there had been something comforting about them. Part of me wanted them back, I needed those feelings for some reason.

I went to bed that night and had a dream about picking out baby cribs by myself. It was boring and annoying. There was no good crib in the store and I just wandered around aimlessly. It was a pointless dream.

Waking up, I realized I wanted to dream about the mountains or learning to fight. I loved the dreams I had about Master Damien and his Brothers. Perhaps if I went back to sleep they would return.

Only once all night did I have a dream I wanted to continue. I heard my name being called from a distance. Several voices were calling to me and calling to one another. I recognized my real owners voices. No matter what I did, they didn't hear me, though.

The next morning I rode to the Keeper's compound in my usual silence. I saw a shadow slide past us and it startled me. I looked up expecting to see a great winged creature, but nothing was there, only the clouds.

"Did you see that?" one of the men asked his Brothers.

The Warriors around me all had their hands on their swords.

"Damned women," another one grumbled, "we need to tell the General."

The morning at the Keepers passed uneventfully. In the afternoon, I walked along the edge of the water. I went as far down as I was allowed to go before turning to head back.

Shrill alarms sounded all over the Keepers' compound. They cut through the air and I stopped in my tracks. The last time I'd heard such an alarm the women were in the village.

Shadows passed over me and I tried to run back toward the Keepers. The women were here. One hand splayed protectively under my belly as I ran. I had to get to safety for my baby.

A dark figure dropped in front of me and I staggered back several feet. In my haste to retreat, I tripped on my own feet and landed hard on my backside. I sprang up still intent on escaping. The creature stood staring at me and let out an ear splitting scream.

I turned in the sand and ran back the way I'd come, but my way was blocked by another female. This one had amber liquid dripping from her fangs. Venom, I remembered, Master Kein had said they make a venom. She screamed and took off into the air.

Before I could make another move, I was grabbed from behind and we lifted into the air. I screamed and struggled against the hairy chest that held me. Sharp talons dug into my hip and shoulder, so I stopped moving.

"You would not survive the fall, human slave," the creature said thickly. "You will not survive my talons. You live now for only one purpose."

Fighting for calm, I tried to process what she had just said. I lived for one purpose. I looked up at her fanged face and shuddered.

A long scar cut across her cheeks. It was hard to miss. I glanced at the two other winged creatures flying beside her and didn't see similar marks.

My real owners had told me the women that owned them was called Nu-reeh. She was large, which this woman was, and had a scar on her face. I wondered if my ownership was being transferred to her.

If I was now a slave to a woman, I was confused. I wasn't sure what being her slave would entail. Judging from her threat, I'd better learn quickly, though.

It got colder and I huddled into Nu-reeh's warmth. She flew so high the air got hard to breath. I lost consciousness several times.

"Wake up, slave!" she would screech at me when that happened and I would groggily say something.

"The human cannot breath the air above," one of her companions said flying closer to Nu-reeh. "It is more like the men."

Nu-reeh grunted and kept herself at an altitude I stayed awake, but still freezing cold.

We flew into mountains that would make the Himalayas appear small. I saw deep valleys and streams tumbling down the rocky hills. It looked like places I had seen in my dreams.

She dipped into a large cave entrance and landed. It was darker and warmer inside. Since I was still shivering from the ride, I was glad for the warmth.

Torches, or at least their equivalent, lit the hallway with a white smokeless flame. In between the torches I could barely see. Nu-reeh seemed to have no difficulty navigating the route, though.

Nu-reeh carried me deeper and deeper through the caves. At some point we started to pass openings that led out of the mountain and sunlight would momentarily spill in. Outside I could see swarms of winged women flying about.

She came to a large leather flap drawn across a massive archway. She made a loud sound and it was opened by the men standing beside it. She boldly passed through never glancing at the men. I stayed huddled to her chest as she walked us briskly into a smaller area.

The hallway behind the flap reminded me of the motel. The torches were numerous here and the area was brightly lit. Doorways with leather flaps across them lined the hall. Men were all over here, but they scurried out of Nu-reeh's way. I was an oddity and they stared at me, though.

We went down the hallway and turned into a smaller hallway. The men got sparser in number. It seemed deserted compared to the area we'd just passed through.

We came to a leather flap and Nu-reeh stopped and stared at the five men outside of it.

"Mistress," one man said bowing his head, "they will not eat and they have tried to take our lives. We cannot get near them."

Nu-reeh made a sound of disgust and said some of the fouler words Fuji had taught me. She put me down and ordered the men to open the flap.

"Go in and fix this," she ordered. "Your one purpose is the life inside of you. Save the life of my men to give the child what it needs."

She knew, I thought shocked.

I wasn't an idiot, so I bowed my head to her and said, "Yes, Mistress," in the same polite tone the guard had used.

As if to remind me what she was capable of, Nu-reeh drove the tip of the spear on her wing into the wall above me. I bowed my head as chunks of rock rained down around me and backed into the room.

"I will not tolerate failure in this matter. Your weakness will not harm one of my species," she hissed harshly.

I stood trembling, facing the leather flap for a moment before turning to see where I was. The area was dimly lit by a central fire pit. The flame was like the torches though, smokeless.

"Feed them this," the voice behind me said and I spun around.

One of the guards had come through the door and was handing me a large pot. My eyes shot down and I didn't make a move. I was sure I was not supposed to look or speak to this man. He muttered something, sitting it beside the fire.

"Feed it to them, they have to eat," he ordered again pointing to a bowl and spoon lying beside the pot.

I had no idea who he was talking about and just stood staring at the floor. He cursed several times and grabbed my chin forcing me to look at him. The man pantomimed eating.

"Feed-them-this," he said slowly enunciating each word and pointing to the pot. "Do-you-understand?"

This was the mountains, I reasoned. Hopefully the same rules did not apply about not speaking to or looking at other men. They must not, because this man was demanding I answer him

"I understand you, sir," squeaked out and he looked relieved.

The man turned on his heel and left without another word.

I turned back to the fire and stood close to it. The room was not an uncomfortable temperature, but my hands were still regaining feeling from the freezing trip here. A motion along the wall got my attention.

Outside the glow of the fire, the room was cast in darkness. A small torch lay unused by the pit. I held it close to the flaming and the thing lit up.

Carefully, I moved to where I had seen movement. Whoever was laying in a lump on the floor I was evidently supposed to feed. I crept closer and recognized the type of outfit.

It was a man, laying on a pad on the floor. Around his neck was a thick metal collar and a very short chain attached him to the wall. His clothing was what I was used to from the compound, leather pants, leather boots, and white shirt. He didn't move as I got closer.

The man was filthy. Dirt was matted in a wound on his scalp and his shirt was sprayed with blood. His pants were a soiled mess on the front and ripped in several places. From the smell of it, the area around him was soaked with his urine.

The prisoner didn't move again, so I stepped closer. The face was bruised and bloodied. His lip was split, but I knew him. It was Master Kein!

I dropped to my knees beside his head and called his name several times. He didn't rouse at all. My hand went instinctively to his chest. He had a heart beat and his warm breath moved past my arm.

I tugged futilely at the chain attaching him to the wall and it would not budge.

"Master Kein, wake up," I whispered urgently in his ear.

I shook his shoulder lightly and he still didn't move. He looked bad, very bad. The women had nearly killed him. I had no idea how I was supposed to fix this.

I picked up the torch and looked wildly toward the door. The two men from before were standing just inside.

"He needs help!" I called loudly. "He needs Healers to clean his wounds and a clean mat to sleep on. Please, please help him."

"They all need the same help, slave," the original man said. "Mistress has told us to bring you what you wish."

The men disappeared and the weight of what they had said sunk in: 'They all need the same help'.

I raised the torch and looked beyond Master Kein. Master Bane was chained to the wall beside him about seven feet away and was just as bad. Master Damien, Master Evan, and Master Christof were also present and wounded.

The men brought me rags and buckets of water. At my requests, they dragged in ten clean mats and laid them beside the door. I begged for blankets and those were delivered also.

I struggled with the lack of light and the men pointed out torches to me. They were at the foot of each mat and rose from the floor. The men would not be able to reach them themselves. I lit them and the room was bright as day.

"Why?" I begged before the guards left again. "Why were they treated like this? Why would their Mistress do this to them?"

The men looked at each other before looking at me. "The Mistress Nu-reeh is kind to her men. She did not do this. The men did it to themselves. They attempted to kill one another to end their pain after the bond was broken. Mistress Nu-reeh found them and brought them here."

I stood shocked and staring at the man. This was a suicide attempt. That's why the men were chained apart, so they couldn't hurt each other anymore.

"Fix it as Nu-reeh ordered and you will live, slave," one of the men said. "Fail, and you die with them. We are sure of this."

The guards left and did not return. I stood still for only a moment before starting to work.

The job started with Master Kein, he had looked the worst. I stripped him with a great deal of difficulty from his ruined clothes. Thanks to the chain on his neck I had to rip his ruined shirt off. He roused once and looked at me.

"Master Kein, I'm here, you're going to be okay," I tried to comfort him.

His glassy eyes looked right past me before they slid closed again.

The pad he was on reeked. I rolled him to a fresh pad and cleaned him there. Slowly and methodically I worked. My efforts removed the stench from his body and the dried blood from around his wounds. After dressing his wounds I shifted him to a new clean pad and covered him with a blanket.

I talked to Master Kein the entire time I worked. He didn't react to anything I said, but it seemed the right thing to do. While I worked on him I tried to keep the anxiety out of my voice and speak in a calm tone.

Each man received the same treatment from me. I'd clean them on a pad and then roll them to a fresh one. It was exhausting work. By the time I was done I was covered in sweat and dirt, which I attempted to clean off myself. I was also streaked with their blood.

The men outside had said they should eat. While I worked my Masters had each opened their eyes once or twice. They were not awake enough for me to feed them. I didn't want to fail at this mission without at least trying, though.

I opened the pot the men had brought and looked in at it. The sludge had the consistency and color of oatmeal, but it smelled appetizing. Using the spoon and bowl, I ladled out what looked like a serving.

The bowl was still steaming, probably it was warm from sitting near the fire. I carried it over to Master Damien and knelt beside him. Sitting the bowl on the ground I tried to wake him.

"Master Damien, you need to eat. Wake up for a bit and let me feed you," I said softly.

He didn't rouse so I shook his shoulder and repeated the request.

A hand was around my throat suddenly. If it wasn't for the metal slave collar, the fingers would have crushed my windpipe. Master Damien looked up at me with a wild look in his eyes.

"Relax, Master, please," I begged not moving. "I just want you to eat something."

The hand relaxed and fell limply back to the pad.

"Death is better than this," he said in a pained voice. "I cannot do it. It is worse than before, we are completely broken."

"No, Master Damien, that's not true," I said softly. "You are with your Brothers. Your bond will be repaired. Eat a few bites for me, please, Master Damien."

The expression on his face was heart breaking. I just wanted to comfort him, but I was determined to help him. I ignored his pained look and helped prop him up, so I could feed him a few bites.

The impression I got was they had not eaten in some time, the other man had been quite insistent. For now, Master Damien didn't refuse and took the warm gruel. Soon he had finished the entire bowl. His eyes drifted shut and he settled back after he was done.

My lower back was sore and my belly ached slightly as I struggled to my feet, but I ignored it. One of them had eaten. That had to be a good thing. Hopefully, Nu-reeh would be pleased and the most I would suffer would be an aching back.

I tried to feed Master Kein next, but he just stared at me dully when I managed to wake him. In an effort to gain his attention I pulled his hand to my breast. I petted myself with his fingers until he was more alert. Still, he refused to speak or acknowledge what I wanted him to do.

In a stroke of inspiration I put a dollop of the gruel over my right nipple. It was warm and heavy and made my breast tingle.

"Eat, Master Kein," I said offering him the nipple.

Master Kein watched for a moment and then sat up on his own. He leaned forward and ate the warm mess off my flesh. Stubborn man refused to take it any other way for the remainder of the meal. Every bite he ate was deposited over a breast first and he licked or sucked it off.

The stimulation made my breasts feel heavy and full. By the time Master Kein was done something strange had started to happen. A bluish fluid was leaking from my nipples.

I rose and stretched feeling satisfied two had eaten. Using a rag I wiped away the sticky feeling and errant breast milk, but it continued to appear in little beads. It would stop when it wanted to, I supposed. No time to worry about it now as Master Kein settled back on his mat and closed his eyes. There were three others to tend to.

I refilled the bowl and caught Master Evan watching me. He was awake, so I went to him next. I knelt on his mat and sat the bowl down. Perhaps I could persuade him to sit up if he was awake, I hoped.

Before I had to time to ask Master Evan to sit up, he grabbed me. A sharp yelp escaped my lips as I was pulled down. He moved swiftly rolling onto me and hovering over me while watching the line of fluid that had been dribbling out of my body.

Master Evans tongue snaked out tasting it. He lapped the line of milk from the top of my stomach to my nipple. It didn't take him long to realize hard sucking produced more.

My breasts felt strange and heavy as he sucked. It was disappointing when he stopped and fondled my nipples with his hands. He tossed something away from us and then placed his mouth back over my flesh.

I looked down and had to smile. He'd removed the nipple rings that held the other men's crest. I was elated, that must mean they were waking up.

Master Evan sucked until I was dry and tender. I was sure I wasn't producing enough milk to make a substantial meal for a full grown man, so I fed him from the bowl. He took it willingly.

Master Bane was easier to feed and so was Master Christof. Both of them sat up and allowed me to feed them without a fuss. Neither would talk, they seemed shattered somehow.

Master Bane and Master Christof each removed a piece of the ornamentation the other men had left on me. Despite their efforts at removal, I still wore my earrings and the cuffs on my ankles. The dirty green slip of fabric at my waist was there also.

They were all resting on clean mats under the blankets. Each of them had eaten a serving of food. When Nu-reeh returned I prayed she would find the current situation sufficiently better than it had been.

My own stomach rumbled and I looked into the pot. A small amount of the gruel still clung to the sides. I scraped it out and ate that bit myself.

I petted my bulging stomach and hoped it was enough to satisfy the little life inside of me. It seemed to have been very heavy food, so hopefully the small amount I had taken would be enough. I was already upset with myself for losing my mind and not eating for several days prior.

Resting with my back to the fire pit, I looked around the room we were in. It was circular and had a single door. The messy clothing and mats I'd piled beside that entrance were gone now. The guards must have done that. Replacing the pile were several moderately sized containers that looked like gourds.

I walked over to inspect the new objects and heard Master Damien behind me.

"Bring me one," he said quietly.

I picked one up and took it to Master Damien. He pushed his blanket back to expose his genitals and pressed his penis into the opening of the gourd. I watched fascinated as he relieved himself in the container.

It was a urinal. I'd seen similar things on Earth when my uncle was in the hospital. Master Damien relieved himself and sat the gourd beside him on the ground. I picked it up and took it back over by the door.

All the men wanted to use one. I was thrilled they weren't peeing on themselves and happily brought the gourds over to them. I wondered what we would do when they needed to use the facilities the other way. That would be much more difficult than delivering a urinal, I feared.

A thought hit me and I gasped. My plug was still inside of me. I couldn't wear it all the time and there was no one to take care of me.

While I'd become reacquainted with feeding myself and wiping myself, I'd never touched the plug. It was stupid but that just seemed like something I shouldn't do. Perhaps I should ask, I thought, but who?

"Ciara," Master Damien called, "come rest with me."

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered walking up beside him.

Before I could kneel down, he removed the cuffs from my ankles and tossed them toward the door.

"Kneel," he commanded and I obeyed.

Master Damien removed the chain from my waist and threw it into the fire. My green and gold earrings were also removed and tossed away. A hand snaked between my legs and the plug was gently pulled from me.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 12



I sighed with relief.

Master Damien petted the mark on my rounded belly for a moment. He didn't seem to have the energy to really worry about it, though. He yawned and settled on his side gesturing me to lay in front of him.

The mat we were on was narrow, but it wasn't an unpleasant place to sleep. The padding was thicker than it looked and the room was warm. I drifted to sleep with Master Damien's hand cupping my swollen stomach.

I awoke a while later. Master Bane was restless. Moving over to him I stroked his short beard and down his chest to soothe him.

"Thirsty," he said.

There was a new jug by the door. I got it and helped Master Bane to drink. Everyone else also woke up and took a chug of water. Once I was done, Master Bane held his blankets back and invited me onto his pallet silently.

Under the blankets next to Master Bane I curled around his side and stroked his chest. He had what appeared to be several stab wounds to the upper stomach. I had wrapped and dressed them before. I avoided touching them as I lay with him. He calmed as I stroked him.

There was no day or night in the room we were in. The torches still lit the room, but I imagined it was night. I slept with each man for a short while until someone else seemed distressed.

Lastly, I ended up in Master Christof's bed. I had the strangest dream as I lay there.

It was pitch dark in my dream and I could hear the men crying out in pain and anger. I stood beside a small Kerosene lantern in the middle of the darkness. My first impulse was to take the light and go find them. When I tried to pick it up it would not budge. The message was clear, they had to come here.

I didn't like the dark particularly. Things moved and shuffled all around me as I walked away from the light. The ground slithered under my feet and the air seemed to grab at me as I walked through it.

Somehow I managed to find the men and coaxed them one by one to sit with me in the golden glow. In my dream, I was powerful and strong. I picked Master Damien up and carried him with me to the light. He kept trying to leave its safe confines.

"No," I told him as he tried to move away, "we stay together. It's safer that way."

The dark was frightening, being alone in it was terrifying. I needed them close to me.

"I can't," he told me. "I can't do it again. It's too hard. We cannot live like this, let us die."

"No, we stay together," I said pushing him to sit in the lamplight.

"They won't let us stay together," he said drifting away into the dark. "They will take you away again. We cannot survive and you did not come."

My arms became huge in the dream. I hugged them together and pulled them all to my chest. They couldn't escape back into the blackness. I would make them stay in the light with me.

The crushing despair I'd escaped only a few days before started to creep back in. They had wanted to be together with me so badly and I had not come. They had waited and then they had decided to get me themselves.

The men had tried to get back to my compound to check on me, but Nu-reeh had stopped them. She'd taken their transport and scolded them.

"You have permission to be here only," she'd growled at Damien. "I will bring your transport back when your free days are over. You cannot go to the compound."

The men were left at the cabin to deal with their desperation. Panic and hopelessness set in. They were sure something had happened to me. Their family was ripped and torn, never to be whole again. The anger had taken hold of them.

Eventually they would find the men that did not bring me and hurt them, but it would take a long time. They were too weak to hold their family together. I could be gone for many turns of the moon before they could know. It had to end if we could not truly be one being.

I woke from the dream sweating and shaking. Master Christof was shivering behind me and I turned to face him. He looked desperate and yet somehow relieved.

I knew when I looked at Master Christof he had had the same dream. We all had. The weight of their misery hung around me and I felt it.

We were bonded, the six of us. I understood the anticipation suddenly, whispered memories told me how they had waited for me at the cabin. We had four days again, but I never came and they couldn't come to me. They were so upset, the last vestige of good they had coveted for themselves was gone. In the end they just felt pain, so they inflicted it on one another.

Nu-reeh found them finally like that when she came to get them and brought them here. She tried to help them, but there was nothing she could do. They whispered my name to her. That's why she went to get me.

"It cannot happen," Master Christof said, "you are not like us. You are not of this world."

He was right. I wasn't like them. No part of me could form that strong a bond with another.

It was why I got better when the bond broke. I didn't need such a thing to be happy. I could survive alone.

My mind felt like it did all those days when the funny thoughts flitted through my head. It was much stronger now and more constant. The chain and collar irritated them. The clean mats were nice and what had I done with their boots?

My belly twitched and rolled. The little life inside me was awake and moving. Master Christof's hand had been on the side of my stomach and he felt the movement.

His purple eyes got wider and he pushed me to lay on my back. The blanket covering us was moved so he could examine me. All attention focused on Master Christof, who was focusing on my rotund belly.

"Why is this bigger? What have the others done to you?" he asked. "Is this illness the reason they did not bring you to us at the cabin?"

Probably, I thought. The men that kept me probably didn't want my real owners to see my stomach. The collective in my head roared at what they thought must be a sign of sickness.

I lay still and watched Master Christof's eyes. This was not how I planned to tell them. I felt they would be angry when they found out, so perhaps chained to a wall was better.

"One of you put a baby inside of me," I told him simply, although speaking the words seemed unnecessary. "There is no word I know to call it in your language. In my world the word is pregnant."

Nu-reeh entered then and the men all sat up.

"There is a word in our language also, slave. The men do not have need to use it, so they do not know it. I will permit them to use your word," she told me simply.

I recognized the two other women that followed her in. The one to her right had been leaking venom when they took me from the compound, her name was Dinah, I knew now. As she stared at me the amber liquid seeped from her fangs again. The men gasped watching it hit the floor.

"Dinah," Nu-reeh said harshly turning to her, "out, if you cannot control yourself."

"We take precautions," she said. "It should not happen. Make them tell you why they did not follow the rules."

She turned and strode back outside. I heard the clatter of her talons as she walked across the floor.

Master Damien spoke then, "Nu-reeh, we have angered your sister, Dinah, and we are very sorry."

Nu-reeh ignored him and got back to the point.

"The slave is going to have a child, Damien," Nu-reeh said. "We know you left it with Rue and his Brothers. We wish to know who stopped giving the slave the health tonic."

"Slaves cannot bear us children," Master Damien said sounding confused. "The slaves are not female, Mistress."

The men murmured agreement and Nu-reeh growled. "You buy female slaves. They are built for your pleasure. Human slaves are like us in some limited ways. They are injected at the auction to prevent this and you give a tonic every day to prevent it. Who stopped giving the slave the tonic? Answer me now."

"We paid for the tonic, Mistress," Master Damien said as the woman Dinah stepped back in the room. "When the slave was with us we gave the tonic to it ourselves."

"Then why is the slave full of child, Damien?" Dinah growled. "Did you think if you did this we would let you keep her in the mountains?"

"What did we do, Mistress?" Master Damien asked. "We don't understand."

The women looked livid. The men still didn't believe them and the conversation was obviously confusing to both sides.

"Rue and his Brothers kept the slave after we brought you here, correct?" Nu-reeh asked calmly.

"Yes, Mistress," they answered in unison.

"Did you instruct them how to care for an Earth slave?"

"Yes, Mistress," they answered again.

"How did you ensure the slave would be cared for as you requested?" Nu-reeh asked.

"We paid them with the stones you gave us, Mistress," Master Damien told her looking over at me.

"They kept the stones," Nu-reeh spit out obviously grasping what had happened, "but they didn't give the slave the tonic when they had her. It has to be given everyday. It is not effective if not taken every day."

The woman named Dinah groused, "We should remove the Earth slaves from the compound. The men are too foolish."

Nu-reeh didn't seem to agree with her. "It would upset the men, Dinah," she addressed the other woman. "The men like the human slaves best. Taking them away would make the men unhappy for many changes of the small moon. Just look at what these men did to keep their slave. It would create too many problems. Their mothers would be displeased."

The two women flanking her seemed thoughtful and in agreement, so Nu-reeh continued. "There are systems our cousins in the red mountains use to ensure all the females receive the drink regularly. The Administrators will use the same system here."   

"Now we must keep the slave in the mountains until it is ready, Nu-reeh. This is unacceptable; it is embarrassing," Dinah said glaring at me.

I was dying to know what would happen to me and my child. They obviously weren't happy about it. I wrapped my arms around my stomach in a useless bid to protect the unborn. There was no way I was strong enough to save this child from Nu-reeh if she didn't want it.

"What will you do with our slave and the child it carries?" Master Damien asked.

Strange he would ask that as I thought it. A moment ago they had barely believed such a thing could happen.

"That is no concern for you, Damien," Nu-reeh snapped turning to leave.

"I beg your pardon, Mistress. It is my concern," Master Damien rejoined.

Nu-reeh took three massive strides until she rested in front of Master Damien. She considered him for a moment and then looked at me.

"We cannot harm the slave now, can we?" she asked softly. "You have bonded with her."

Master Christof pulled me on his lap and hugged me tight to his chest.

"What will you do with the child, though?" Master Damien asked again.

Nu-reeh bristled at being pushed, she didn't like it. "If the slave gives birth to something strong enough, we will keep it," she said.

"And if not?" Master Damien asked.

"If it will not survive here, it will not survive," she said turning to leave the room. "No more questions."

I sat shivering on Master Christof's lap.

Nu-reeh strode out purposefully. The other sister hesitated and walked cautiously toward us. It wasn't Dinah, this was Tosu. The men knew her and knew she was the calmest of the three.

"I believe it is strong enough, human," she said in a very low voice before she turned and left.

I sat stunned looking at the way she'd gone. How was I supposed to know if my baby was strong enough to survive? What did I need to do to be sure? In fact, what was strong enough to survive in this place?

"What does that even mean?" Master Bane asked echoing my thoughts.

"Can a slave have a child?" Master Kein asked turning to look at me.

"It is not possible," Master Evan insisted and Master Damien agreed with him.

"You just asked her about the child, you heard her," I said to Master Damien. "You already admitted it was possible. Trust me, I know, I am carrying a child."

He wrinkled his brow and looked at me, "You believe it is possible very strongly. Your questions were hard to ignore."

Stubborn, bull-headed...my thought was cut short as all five of them gasped and stared at me.

"We could say the same about you, Ciara," Master Christof remarked chuckling at my imagery.

They didn't necessarily understand all the words I used immediately, but images came to them and it made sense.

Lucky for me to be in Master Christof's lap. He found my indignation curious and amusing. The others were not as generous.

"I wish to re establish my connection to you, Brothers," Master Evan complained pulling at the chain on his neck. "I do not like this separation."

Master Evan was getting upset and slightly desperate. I hadn't realized how much he depended on his Brothers to feel well. He wanted to touch and taste all of us.

I was on my feet and moving to him before I realized I'd gotten up. Before I could settle myself on his lap he was pulling me down. I found myself on my back with him between my legs pressing his body over my gravid belly.

Master Evan couldn't touch enough of me. He licked and sucked wherever he could reach and I returned the favor. He focused on my breasts. That warm, wet substance that had come out of them was wonderful, he wanted more of it. Suddenly, he understood Master Kein's obsession with the large rounded orbs.

I felt the weird clench as the milk started to dribble out. Master Evan moaned low in his throat and sucked harder. It tasted of me and it was new, so he loved it.

"Share, brother," Master Kein demanded and Master Evan allowed me to move from his pallet to Master Kein's.

"What is this?" Master Kein murmured between deep draws.

"Milk, Master Kein, food for the baby when it is born," I panted.

My breasts were so sensitive and the men were being so insistent with them.

"I will be jealous of this baby, then," Master Kein said gentling his touch and kissing my breasts.

The flap opened and five armed men appeared. Their daggers looked wicked. They appeared angry and I scrambled to get behind Master Kein. My Masters all smirked at the other family. I felt this was trouble.

My thoughts were not my own anymore. A powerful bond was pulsing between me and the five Warriors chained to the wall. I was part of the collective and the collective knew these guys well.

Nu-reeh and her sisters had brought Damien and his Brothers to the mountain and left them with these men. The women expected this family to settle my owners and tend their wounds. Damien's family didn't want the care and it had turned into a brawl.

The battle had been wicked. Even half dead, Damien and his Brothers had not been easy to deal with. They'd fought this family with everything they had left.

My owners had embarrassed these men badly. It had taken the women to break up the scuffle and chain them to the wall.

Damien watched the men move and saw their fear. Their hands held a tremor and their eyes darted around. This family feared Damien and his Brothers. It was a fine feeling to be feared as the best.

The men should fear, Damien chuckled to himself. Even chained as he was, he could still give them a good beating. A thought darkened his mood. Ciara, however, would be in trouble. The collective in my head opted for diplomacy for the moment.

"I believe we owe your family an apology," Master Damien said politely. "We acted badly and made you our target. We are sorry."

While giving the apology Master Damien crossed his left arm over his chest and bowed his head. It was the appropriate way to deliver sincere regret. I'd never seen my men do it before, but then I'd never seen them apologize either.

The men looked surprised. Evidently, Master Damien did not have a reputation for admitting he was wrong to other men.

"We were told to set you free and return you to your rooms," the lead Brother announced.

Master Damien sat calmly, but the men didn't come any closer.

"Send your slave for the key, we will give it to her," the man said from the other side of the room.

"No," Master Damien said simply. "Do as you were told and release us."

I stayed smartly behind Master Kein, who would have preferred I was behind Master Damien. If that wasn't an option he wanted me to move behind Master Bane. When it came to hand to hand combat Master Bane was as strong as Master Damien.

They were agreed, I would be safer to move behind Master Bane. I slipped along the wall and moved toward Master Bane who was chained beside Master Kein. The men looked angrily at me as I settled behind him. Master Damien knew that look, they wanted to hurt me.

"Throw us the key, cousin. Don't make any mistakes you will regret," Master Damien said cooly as my owners threw off their blankets.

"You can't even stand in those chains," one of the men said as they edged toward Master Bane.

Master Damien and his brothers all kicked away the bedding and got ready for the fight. Their muscles strained as they took the best positions they could against the wall. They could not stand, so this fight would be based solely on upper body strength.

Bane took a crouching position that crushed me to the wall. He knew how to take these men down even with the constraints upon him. It wouldn't be much of a challenge.

"Ah, so you think we are the same weak men that were brought to this room originally," Master Damien laughed watching them close in on Master Bane, "foolish, cousins, very foolish."

I stayed as still as I could. Master Damien didn't want me hurt and I was safest right where I was. Master Bane would protect me.

The fight was fast and brutal. Master Bane tossed the aggressors toward his Brothers. I remembered seeing them tossing those stones, the ease he threw the men with reminded me of that.

The scuffles were over rapidly once the men were dispersed.

"Ah-hah," Master Evan called, "I win. I got the man with the key."

Master Evan unlocked his collar as the man he had been holding slumped to the ground. He walked the key to Master Damien who congratulated him on winning that contest.

The men that had come were all unconscious and badly bruised.

"Should be show them how enjoyable these collars can be?" Master Kein asked as he stood up and stretched.

Master Kein's lithe form rippled with muscle as he stood proud in his nudity. I smiled at him and thought about what he'd said.

It would probably anger Nu-reeh if she found out they'd chained up the men that came to set them free, I thought.

"No fun, Ciara," Master Christof complained throwing an arm around my shoulders, "but you are probably accurate."

Master Evan passed between his Brothers. He tasted each of their shoulders, he also hugged them. I hadn't been aware they hugged.

"We didn't, but you do and it is a practice I enjoy," he said pulling me tightly to his chest.

The men walked me calmly out of the room and down the hall. It seemed strange to do this nude, but the men didn't mind. They had no clothing and they certainly weren't wearing the blankets around, as I'd thought they should. Blankets were for sleeping. I kept my head down out of habit, but tried to use my peripherals. Not that I needed to, I knew this hallway. In fact, I could have led us right to their quarters.

Many men in the hall greeted them and stared curiously at me.

"They said the slave was tending you, Damien," one man exclaimed. "We thought for sure you would kill it."

Another man slapped Master Evan on the shoulder, "Glad to see you back, cousin."

All around us the men were congratulating my Masters on their success. They had survived having their bond completely broken. It was a testament to their strength that they survived.

No one asked what happened to break the bond in the first place. I suddenly knew great offense would be taken to that question. That would be taboo to ask and very rude.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 12



I glanced up at Master Damien and he looked a little upset with me. That I dared to think these men were that dishonorable upset my Masters.

"I apologize, Masters," I said quietly.

That statement made the other men notice me again.

"It's been a long time since they had a problem like this," a man said pointing to my stomach. "Last time is was men from the red mountains. The family's name was Barne."

"They didn't hurt the slave, did they?" Master Bane asked.

I couldn't tell if he was curious or if I was curious. It was all starting to blend together. We were all curious.

"No, they brought the men here to be with the slave until it removed the child from its body. Once the child was eating solid food they sent the men home with the slave," he said.

"How did that slave come to have a child inside of it?" Master Evan asked.

Again, I felt it was more Master Christof and I curious about this and not Master Evan.

"The traders that sold us the health drink were cutting it so they had more to sell. We test it now before it goes to the compounds," the man said.

Master Damien and his brothers pondered the issue for a moment before Master Christof spoke.

"Are we human?" he asked. "It seems unlikely we could make a child with a human. Ciara is so...unlike us."

He was right. I was from a different planet in a different galaxy. I was weak and small, nothing like women here.

"My Mistress told my brothers and I stories once, when she was in a good mood. It was after the last slave with a child was brought here."

All the men clustered around listening to this man talk. He dropped his voice low so the sound would not echo in the cavern.

"The portals used to open spontaneously on our world. The ones here lead to several planets, Earth was one of them," he said conspiratorially. "Creatures from Earth came to this world and creatures from our world went there. My Mistress told us she did not know how long the connections were open or where life started originally. She thought life started here must have moved to Earth."

Or things on Earth moved here, I thought silently.

The man continued to speak. "The women have since closed the portals here and Earth's are crumbling, as the slavers know. The connection between our worlds is lost now."

I grinned and shook my head. The connection was alive and well as far as I could see.

It was interesting what the man had said. Did humans evolve from apes as we'd thought? Or did apes evolve from something here? Was the missing link really a Paterian relative that altered the course of history? Our planets may have been sharing genes for eons. Humans evolved to lose the fur and the Paterian women evolved to gain wings.

A funny line of thinking struck me. Were vampires a story based on seeing a Paterian male that wandered through a portal? It didn't seem impossible.

Master Damien and his Brothers were confused by my line of thinking. They'd never heard of evolution. No one had ever talked about how creatures came to be. They just were. Master Christof found if fascinating.

Our internal musings were cut short as a man strode into the hall and broke up the men standing around. He called for the men to move to their daily jobs.

"Mistress Nu-reeh didn't leave assignments for your family, Damien," the man said. "The rest of you know where you should be."

The crowd dispersed quickly. Most went toward the large exit at the end of the hall.

Master Damien led me into their rooms. They lit the smokeless torches and the central fire pit in the main room. Warmth spread out in the space as I explored their living areas.

It looked surprisingly like the compound. Large arched doorways separated the different rooms, giving the space an open feeling. There was no eating area. I poked my head from the sitting area into the bedroom and then through the doorway to the bathroom.

The cold stone floor I'd been used to walking on in the main hall was covered in here. There were animal skins over the main areas of the floor, making a soft area to step.

Their colors were spread generously through the rooms. Everything was draped in the shade of blue they considered their color. I touched the various items and wandered through their suite as they watched.

I poked around and found the cleaning supplies in a small closet off the main room. Just like at the compound, I thought. The men gasped and I turned to face them.

"Why were you doing that?" Master Damien growled.

I'd been thinking about cleaning for my fake Masters.

"They left me at home when I bled," I started to say and the men surrounded me.

They couldn't understand why I'd bled, they couldn't understand why I'd been left alone, and they were furious I was used to clean for the men they paid.

"I like to clean," I stammered. "It gave me something to do. The bleeding is normal. I think it started because they stopped the drink."

The men relented. I really did like to clean. It made me happy to see things neater once I was done. I had been content, so that pleased them.

The bleeding concept they struggled with. If it was related to stopping the drink, they would make Rue and his Brothers pay for that.

"Perhaps she will let us lay the whip to them," Master Bane growled referring to Nu-reeh.

"They are masters of the whip, Brothers," Master Christof assured everyone.

I felt Master Christof's memories of being whipped, but a new sensation was clawing for my attention.

"Masters, I have to-" I started but Master Bane was pulling me through the arched doorway into the bathroom already.

I sat on the lacquered pot and relaxed. It had been hours since I had gone.

The bathing room we were in was spacious. The ceilings were high. A sunken, stone lined pit sat in the center of the room. I was sitting off to the side to take care of my business. Even with all six of us in here it didn't feel cramped.

Master Christof turned a knob on the wall and the huge sunken tub in the room started to fill with water. I saw steam rising from it. That would feel wonderful on my sore back.

I started when Master Bane ran a wet towel between my legs to clean me. The big man crouched before me and grinned. He sat the rag aside and ran his fingers through my lower lips a second time.

"I have missed this, Ciara," he said softly.

"I'm on the pot, Master Bane," I told him shyly.

Master Evan pulled me to stand and led me to their bath. "And in a moment you will be in the bath, Ciara. We are aware of where you are," he said laughing.

They didn't understand my self-consciousness about my bodily functions. They always used the bathroom as a group. Removal of waste was just a process like eating, there was nothing to be ashamed of.

I stepped into the water feeling much less uncomfortable as they used the latrines. They were right, it was just a function. If they were so unconcerned about it, I shouldn't worry either.

The water in the pool came to the edge of my ass. I stood in the middle scooping up handfuls of the warm water and pouring it over my back. It felt so good and relaxing.

Master Damien was the first to notice me. I was beautiful. He liked the exaggerated dip my low back was making as my belly grew. Through his eyes I saw myself and I was lovely. Something was missing, though.

"What's missing, Master Damien?" I asked, turning slightly to look at him.

"We were farther gone than we'd thought. We should have noticed, Brother," Master Evan laughed leaving the room.

My neck was bare. Their symbol was on my stomach and nowhere else.

Master Evan returned with the collar and motioned me over as he sat with his legs hanging in the pool.

I felt unsure for a moment. My neck was larger and the old collar had been replaced, it had been too tight. The cuffs on my ankles were also slightly larger. If these were the old size they would not fit.

Damien scoffed at my concern, he and his Brothers had never stopped watching out for me. Fredrick had sent notice through traveling men that I had changed. They had sent back stones and bought everything in the right size less than a moon ago.

"We thought you were merely gaining weight," Master Christof said. "We assumed that you were just very healthy."

Master Kein bounded in beside Master Evan and took the tiny nipple rings from him. They put all of my metal ornamentation on me.

I'd never thought of the collar and cuffs as jewelry. They were a sign of enslavement, but not anymore. The insignia was beautiful and I was overjoyed to wear it.

I shook my head trying to clear it, as the men stepped into the warm water. My opinions were all over the place. It wasn't clear where I ended and they began.

The sensation of not being the one to direct my own thoughts was nerve wracking. It was far more intrusive than the occasional feelings that had assaulted me before. I wanted to feel anxiety, but I couldn't; it wasn't the predominant theme.

Master Damien lowered himself onto the bench in the sunken tub. The water swirled around him and he winced as it went over several knife wounds. I felt them on my own unscarred abdomen. He sighed and stretched out in the tub grinning at Master Evan.

The pain was inconsequential. The Brothers had been pulled from the edge again. We were lucky to be alive and unbroken.

When Master Christof had separated from them, it had not been complete. This time they lost all connection to one another. They never thought they would see happiness again.

I automatically started to soap Master Damien, because I knew it was what he wanted. Pleasure radiated from him as my hands ran over his skin. He had loved this part of having me from the first day.

I continued to wash him in comfortable silence. As they always did, they enjoyed Master Damien's bath. I enjoyed it, too, using my new knowledge about him to guide my hands where he wanted them.

"Wonder what our schedule is now?" Master Christof asked. "Will we continue to train?"

Master Kein lounged along a bench and answered. "They cannot separate us from Ciara. What will they do with us?"

"And what will we do with you?" Master Evan growled pulling me toward him.

I stumbled and landed on his lap.

"So many questions," I grunted trying to stand and failing.

"Yes," Master Damien said watching us, "so many questions...Perhaps you could enlighten us. How is it that we share our bond with a human? How did you do that Ciara and from so far away? The mountains usually disrupt our bond."

The men sat unmoving in the water. Their eyes bored into me and I didn't know what to say.

"I didn't do anything, Master Damien, it just happened."

They didn't need to watch my eyes to know I was telling the truth. I couldn't explain how I connected to them. It was pretty obvious from the jumble in my head that we were.

"Females cannot bond with us," Master Evan said holding me tight.

Some part of him knew I was female. There was a hint of fear there and it was completely unnecessary.

"I've seen your women here, Master Evan," I reasoned, "I'm not really a woman compared to them."

Master Christof snorted, "You bear young ones, Ciara. You are female. You've always thought you were female."

"I'm not like the women here, though," I stressed and Master Evans arms loosened around me.

Perhaps I wasn't a female, he was still torn on the issue. The men's opinion clashed violently with my own and it was uncomfortable. Only in one mind did I find similar ideas. There was comfort in agreement there.

"I know, Ciara," Master Christof soothed.

Master Christof had always believed I was female. It wasn't the prevailing opinion, so he'd never pushed it.

"You don't agree on everything?" I asked.

Master Evan dragged a wet cloth up my arms and answered, "Mostly, some opinions we do not share, but those thoughts make us uncomfortable."

Their minds hummed along with mine as Evan bathed me completely.

In return for the care, I started to wash Evan's hair once it was wet. The shock I got when my fingers ran through the damp locks startled me. His hair was sensitive, not just his scalp. I twisted a lock around my fingers and I felt the weird pleasure that caused him.

"Wash it, please," he requested softly, "and then twist it."

The other men were used to this. They all knew Evan's hair wasn't like theirs. The sensitivity was a secret they hid. It could be dangerous if others knew.

I gently cleaned Evan's hair and scalp how he liked. Once I was done I sat behind him on the edge of the stone tub. What he called twisting, I called braiding. Working slowly I braided and unbraided his hair. The sensations put him in a near Zen state of relaxation.

Still, Evan's intense pleasure could not take away the questions. He shook himself out of his trance and pulled me back into the water. There were mysteries that needed to be explored. They were curious about my stomach. It wasn't clear to them what was inside of it that made it larger.

I remembered going to one of my cousins' birth. There were also several shows I had seen on childbirth. The men saw through my memories. Cringing, I realized I would have to go through this without any pain medicine.

"This will not cause you pain," Master Damien said stoically. "We will see to it."

"It's not something you get to choose," I told him shaking my head. "It always hurts."

Damien was getting irritated with my irrational persistence on the matter. Apologizing softly, I relented; perhaps they did have something to use. As soon as I agreed, I felt better.

Master Christof was curious, so Master Evan handed me to him. Long fingers cleaned me intimately as Master Christof explored my folds. He slipped his longest finger inside of me and pressed. It twinged when he hit my cervix.

"The way is blocked," he stated simply. "Nothing can come out there."

I remembered my fake Masters and how angry they got when I couldn't explain something. The discomfort I felt about not being able to explain made Master Damien angry. Rue and his Brothers had not treated me the way he wanted me cared for.

"The way opens when the baby comes," I explained as Master Christof withdrew his fingers.

Master Christof watched my face and smiled. He believed me. When we laid in the bed he had felt the child's movement, something was definitely inside of me. I kissed his chin and thanked him.

Once we crawled out of the tub, I was dried and fussed over. My knees were scraped from hard floor of the sick room and they were treated. My lower back was sore so it was rubbed with the cream before I was treated with the moisturizer. They cared for me as only my true owners did.

All of us were hungry after the bath. We had to go somewhere to get food. No one delivered food like at the compound.

"We are very wise, Brothers," Master Bane said as they pulled out clothes to wear.

Yes, they were. I couldn't help but agree. They had thought ahead.

I shook my head to clear it. What in the world was wrong with me? I didn't know what they were so happy about and I didn't know what decision they were preening over.

"Ciara, stop being obstinate," Master Damien ordered. "It is unbecoming and distracts us."

Master Kein rustled to the back of their wardrobe and pulled out several bags. I took a deep breath and relaxed. In my mind's eye, I saw what was in the bags.

Everything back there was for me. They had little pots of creams and cleaners. When they went to the cabin they had to be prepared.

The thing that had them so happy was something Fredrick had designed and made for them. It had long sleeves and would go to my feet. A hood could be lifted over my head. Their symbol was stitched artfully into the front and back of the gown. The high collar would protect my neck from the chill.

They had bought it to bring to the cabin when it got colder there. During the cooler time the brown outfit would not be enough if I wanted to be outside. The brown outfit was not pleasing anyway, it was the wrong color.

"How can it be warm?" I asked as Master Kein pulled it out.

The outfit appeared to be made of something flowing and blue. It was thicker than what I usually wore, but Fredrick had assured them it would not shield me from their gaze completely. It still appeared to be ornamentation. The way it shimmered it looked like water. I fought against the idea it would be warm.

Master Damien took my hand and guided me to feel the strange fabric. It was thick like wool, but soft as silk. They were right, it would probably be warm.

"The weather here is colder than even the cabin, Ciara," Master Damien told me. "Now stop disagreeing with us. It serves no purpose," he scolded.

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered.

The overwhelming desire was to go with the prevailing opinion anyway. Holding my own differing opinion was uncomfortable. It was easier to relax and be like them.

I did get one piece of clothing that looked like clothes. Soft boots were produced and slipped onto my feet. They went up to my knees. Even if a breeze got underneath my dress, I would still be warm.

After dressing me in my outfit and brushing my hair, we stepped back into the hall. I didn't hear voices, so I glanced around. The act infuriated Master Damien.

I wasn't to look at other men. The same rules applied as at the compound. They would find a way to punish me here if I did not follow the rules.

Master Christof encouraged forgiveness for speaking with their Keepers earlier. They saw my memories and knew I didn't want to break their rules. My thoughts had been desperate and scared. It would be considered a warning, my owners decided.

The opaque blue fabric swished around my legs as I walked. It was remarkable how it kept the chill from my body. This had been a very wise purchase.

I was so glad I agreed with them. Disagreeing felt wrong and brought discomfort. My instinct was to go with the communal flow.

"You understand, Ciara," Master Bane said reaching out and taking my hand, "good."

We walked briskly to the eating area, which was a moderate distance away. There was a large central fire inside and tables set around the large room. We were either late or early, because the place was largely unoccupied.

"We are late," Master Damien assured me as he put my kneeling place by a table.

I held onto the furniture and managed to get myself down to my kneeling place.

Food in the mountains was different from the compound. Much of it would be inedible for me, luckily my owners knew that. They had trained themselves to care for me well. They were certain they would find something I could eat.

Master Kein and Master Christof went to gather the food while the other men sat with me. My owners irritated the cooks serving the food they were so particular. One of the cooks snapped at Master Kein because he was being too demanding.

It felt like I was standing with Master Kein talking to the cook about what I needed. The experience was confusing, because that wasn't what I was doing. My mind couldn't seem to decide if I was talking to a cook about food or kneeling on a kneeling place at the table. It seemed I was doing both at once and that wasn't possible.

Master Evan's hand wrapped into the hair at the back of my head and he tugged on it until I looked up at him.

"We will guide you," he said. "There is no reason for all this concern you have. We find it unpleasant."

The men didn't find it distracting to be in two places at once, or even five places. They preferred to be together, but they could function independently also. I assumed it would be a skill I would have to learn.

The food was brought back to us and the men dug in. It was surprising to realize I knew the names of the food now. I also knew where it came from.

I had a comparison suddenly. The meat the cooks prepared here was not the way we liked it. This type of meat we liked to roast over an open fire.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 12



I had never seen my Masters cook. It had not been apparent to me they knew how.

"When we used to come to the mountains to look for a lost man," Master Bane explained, "we often stayed until the man was found. We killed and ate things we could catch instead of returning to the compound."

Memories flitted into my mind of hunting down supper. I knew where to look and how to kill what I wanted. My Warriors were masters of survival in the mountains.

The roasted meat was always a treat after many hours tracking. It melted on the tongue. The thick gravy the cooks used to prepare it here was not as pleasing. The stew took away from the natural juices. There were much better ways to prepare this dish.

The meal continued with my opinions over the food not being mine at all. For instance, I craved the rubbery green stalks in the center of the table. I'd never seen them before, but I knew they would be sweet and tangy. My fingers itched to grab one and devour it.

"And much too hard for you to chew, Ciara. You cannot have any," Master Kein laughed taking and biting into one.

It tasted amazing. Master Kein had loved them since he was a small child. They were hard to come by in the lowland and common in the mountains. It was one of the few things the men liked when they were here.

Master Bane thought about the time they had found a huge patch of it. Master Kein made them go there every time they went near that area in the mountains. It had been a long time since they had gone to that place.

Master Evan liked the lake near there. It was clear, deep, and secluded. He could swim it all day and never be bored.

Master Damien remembered times when they had slept on the bank of the lake; it had been peaceful. They had really enjoyed their quiet nights there in the middle of hunts.

"Ciara," Master Evan called and I looked up.

I was so confused. It was too much stimulation to have all their thoughts and memories bombarding me.

"Swallow and take another bite," Master Evan commanded.

I did and he smiled down at me.

"You must relax," he said petting my head.

He was right. Putting myself under more stress that I was already under was probably bad for the baby. I thought about Rose and her deep breathing.

If I didn't think about it, their constant stream of thoughts was just background. The ebb and flow of emotions wasn't as disconcerting if you didn't fight it. Just go with it, I convinced myself.

"You find our bond uncomfortable?" Master Damien asked.

They expected an answer to be verbalized.

"Yes, Master Damien, I'm not used to having so much in my head at once," I answered him.

They didn't understand. None of them felt that anything was 'in their head' as I described it. My words left them confused.

"Take a bite, Ciara," Master Damien commanded and the internal communication continued.

I became more relaxed as we ate. They talked and I listened, to both the internal and the external conversation. The men could readily have both at the same time.

Suddenly, everything was quiet.

The talons clattering across the floor alerted me to Nu-reeh's presence. My head stayed down, despite the strong urge to watch her. The men waited quietly.

"Did you eat a good midday meal, my loyal servants?" she asked.

"Yes, Mistress," they replied.

I realized I had answered her also. There was an unearthly compulsion to do what she said. It wasn't apparent to me if the feeling was from fear, respect, or something else all together.

"Rue and his Brothers have been brought before us," she said simply.

There was a long pause before she spoke again. "Damien, I will explain this to you only one more time. Your family is to look at me when I speak to you."

My head snapped up and I looked into her fanged face across the table. Looking away had been a sign of disrespect. If I didn't feel the need to watch her, I did not fear her. Anyone that did not fear the great female challenged her and she would crush them.

The group answered with me, "We apologize, Mistress."

"You will all be punished for harming yourselves," she said simply. "You are under my protection and not to be damaged unless it is my decision."

Punishment meant a whipping. We could survive that, they could survive that, at least.

"The human..." Master Christof said softly and I felt his concern.

The whips were too strong, I was too weak, and they weren't sure the women knew how much force to use.

"We would take the slave's portion, Mistress," Master Damien said.

I wasn't worried about myself, but about the child. What if I was hurt too badly and it hurt the baby?

"The child," Master Evan said, almost spitting the words out, "the human is full with the child, Mistress."

He didn't like this talk of me having a child and being a woman. I was just so persistent about it.

"The human," Nu-reeh said, "will suffer with you, but only through your skin."

"Thank you, Mistress," we answered as a group, but I didn't understand.

The images flooded my head. They felt each other's pain. Nu-reeh would not hit me, but I would suffer just like they did. It was very small consolation to know I would not actually be harmed.

Nu-reeh left us to finish our meal after her pronouncement. No one seemed that worried about it. Sure pain was promised eventually, but not right now. For the moment we were left in peace, so we enjoyed it.

The meal finished and with nothing else to do, we went for a walk. The men decided I would be curious. They wanted to see me experience this world. I was always so expressive.

We walked from the eating hall through a convoluted series of maze like passageways. My owners had traversed these places regularly, so they knew where we were. It was so odd to have information at my disposal that should have not have been mine. I knew right where I was.

Clattering talons sounded and my Masters backed me against the wall. The voices in my head told me how to act. She may not even glance at us, but we should watch her.

'Smaller than Nu-reeh,' was my first thought.

Just as scary, though.

The brown pelted creature walked past us with it's wingspan folded in the tight hallway. She looked at me and snorted. It sounded like she cursed. My presence here was not appreciated at all.

"We enjoy having you here," Master Evan said throwing back a smile once she was gone.

"We are complete now," Master Christof said quietly.

They weren't sure how the bond could reset itself so fast this time. I remembered the last time. They'd had sex with me and Master Evan had tasted them each intimately. This time seemed different.

"You pulled us together," Master Damien told me, "we did not come together voluntarily, as we did last time."

The voices buzzed in my head. That was unusual. I should not have been able to do that. Nobody controlled someone like that, it wasn't normal.

Somehow I had found their wayward consciousness and forced them together. They'd never been bonded like that. Of course, they felt some relief, but it was still disconcerting to be connected to one another like that and then connected to me.

Of course in a way it felt good to know I was bonded to them. I'd feared mental illness in myself for so long. It was a relief to know all those dreams and strange feelings had a reason. I hadn't been crazy, but what I'd done was certainly not normal.

"Masters," I stammered, "I didn't know, I don't know..."

"Perhaps because you are human," Master Kein suggested.

"Or is it something in the mountains?" Master Evan asked.

Their curiosity over the strange bond was overshadowed by their desire to see my reaction. We turned a corner and were standing at an opening in the mountain.

It was amazing. The mountains stretched as far as I could see and the enormous one we were in was almost small.

"The women like to mine above the cloud line," Master Christof said pointing up. "That is where Nu-reeh and her sisters mine."

"We can't go that high up," Master Kein said stepping closer to the edge. "We can't breath above the clouds."

The cold wind in the mountains whipped around us and I was glad for my outfit. Someone lifted the hood up so my head stayed warmer. Master Damien took a hand and slipped a mitten on it. Master Bane did the same with my other hand.

They didn't know everything about the mining. It was hard work, the men could not do it. Master Christof had been curious so she had taken him to see an active mine lower down the mountain.

Nu-reeh told them you earned the right to work. Once you were producing you may earn the right to mate. Once they were old enough some women kept men, like Nu-reeh and some women just rented breeders. If the women were lucky those breedings resulted in offspring.

The men weren't sure how the women put the boys together once they were born. All they knew was that once a boy was joined into a family the mothers sold the five of them. They were very particular about where their sons went. Women that owned men were strong and protective, that's how it was always done.

I petted my stomach and frowned. If this was a boy, I didn't know how I would raise him.

"He would go to the Child Keepers after being placed with his Brothers, Ciara," Master Damien said.

It was obvious to them how a boy would grow up. There were details to that I didn't understand, though. Things I was sure were important.

"Who places the mark?" I asked frantically. "How would I do that for my child? How would I know who his Brothers are?"

Thoughts were whizzing around in my head. I felt faint. My child would not have the advantage of a mother with any knowledge. My poor son would have no mark, no family, and could be claimed by any woman.

Master Kein stumbled a little and his foot slipped toward the edge. He looked physically ill. They all looked sick. Master Kein started to fall and a scream caught in my throat.

In a flurry of wings we were pushed away from the edge. Dinah was grabbing Master Kein and shooing the rest of us back.

"What are you doing?" she thundered as Master Kein stared up at her. "You almost stepped off the side of a mountain!"

She wasn't looking at Master Kein, though. Dinah was looking right at me. She knew who was responsible for their carelessness.

I started to speak and was silenced by Master Damien's hand on my shoulder. He would speak for us. That is what they expected.

"Thank you, Dinah," he said politely. "We were careless."

Dinah set a struggling Master Kein down and he took the strides that placed him with us. He looked like he wanted to wipe the places she had been touching him. It was taking all his fortitude not to look disgusted.

"Stay away from the edge," she ordered taking off.

Now I felt awful for two reasons. I'd nearly killed Master Kein and my poor child...

"Ciara," Master Evan growled, "stop it. We will do whatever it takes to help the child. You worry too much. I feel like I want to lose my meal and I have never done that before."

Master Damien looked irritated and annoyed, too, even Master Christof looked upset. Master Bane leaned against the wall breathing heavy.

"What is this sensation in my stomach?" he asked. "It is as though it rolls and comes into my throat. I do not like it."

Nausea, they felt my nausea and it was unfamiliar to them. I absolutely had to get control of myself. Think of Rose and breathing slow and steady.

"How do you do it, Ciara?" Master Christof asked. "How do you connect to us so powerfully? It makes no sense. You are not of this world. A human cannot bond to us."

Master Evan huffed and slid down the wall sitting down with his arms resting on his knees. "The same way a human cannot carry our child. What have we been told that wasn't a lie?"

Master Damien slid down the wall next to Master Evan and rested with him. It was strange and disconcerting what I seemed to be doing. In fact, it was unknown to them before they woke up bonded to me this morning.

They had been having the strange feelings seeping into their bond before that. The dreams had been bizarre, but they had ignored them. It was just assumed they really missed me.

"We finally knew at the cabin," Master Kein said looking out over the opening in the rock, but not getting anywhere near the edge. "The anticipation of seeing you was greater than any time before and when you did not show up and we could not get to you..."

Master Christof finished for him taking my mittened hand. "We were lost. Knowing we still had you made this bearable; we feared our treasure was taken from us for good."

It was the most romantic thing someone had ever said to me. I was going to cry and my eyes were prickling.

"Is every feeling you have unpleasant all the time?" Master Bane asked. "How are we to function? How do you function?"

"Unbelievable!" Master Evan exclaimed throwing his hands up and grabbing his head.

"We will not survive this," Master Kein moaned sinking next to Master Damien.

It was hilarious. They were all upset and it was so silly. I laughed out loud. They laughed with me.

"The slave will be the death of us," Master Bane said holding his side and chuckling.

This wasn't funny to them. It was serious. Our laughter subsided and they were all looking at me warily.

"Remember when Ronal told us this morning that he remembered human slaves having a child, Damien," Master Evan said. "He seems to know about the human slaves that come to the mountains. We should find out if our cousins from the red mountains had the same..."

Master Evan faltered and the internal conversation took over. Being bonded to me was not necessarily a problem, he did not want to phrase it as such. It wasn't normal and it did pose a challenge, though.

"Perhaps," Master Christof stated gesturing toward the sky, "they have not been honest with us."

The internal conversation took over. This may happen more than anyone knew. If it happened, no Warrior would admit it.

We started back toward a different place suddenly and as a group. Master Damien needed to talk to Ronal.

************************

Fair warning - Chapter 13 will be late, perhaps the weekend. I didn't anticipate a pregnant friend popping and I must travel a bit to see her. I apologize for not sticking to my schedule, but life is interrupting. Of course, I'll try to stick to it after that.

Hope it was fun to read! DW



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 13



Earlier than expected! Thanks to Steve150177 this chapter is out closer to on time than I expected! His work is always appreciated. I think you all see it too, since no one's asked for editing in the last couple chapters. 

Votes are appreciated as is commentary. Let me know what you think - good or bad. 

Thanks to your kind votes Chapter 12 is sitting at #3 on the Sci Fi Top List, can't tell you how happy that makes me. 

Enjoy the story! DW

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We walked briskly through the large hallways. We moved through the labyrinth of tunnels toward the opposite side of the mountain where Ronal worked. 

Ronal and his Brothers had been free Warriors, just like Damien and his Brothers. One of Ronal's Brothers had been killed. The four wounded family members limped home to their compound and waited to die. The women had picked them up and brought them to the mountains. 

Ronal and his remaining Brothers had slowly healed. Their owners in the mountains had told them men could survive losing a Brother. Such talk was unheard of in the compound, which is why they were removed from there. 

We walked into a huge hall that seemed like a factory. Master Damien walked us through the commotion to the center where Ronal stood. 

"Damien," the other man acknowledged my owners, "good to see you. Come to visit the sorting room have you?"

The men were very busy around us, putting pieces of rough metal of various shapes into different bins. They weighed, measured, and examined each piece carefully. It was quite a production. 

"We'd like to talk tonight," Master Damien said. 

"My Brothers and I would be happy to, Damien," Ronal answered. "Your slave could provide entertainment," he offered. 

My owners were shocked. No man ever requested such a thing of another's slave. 

"Come now," Ronal laughed, "we have seen many slaves here. They all have a talent for entertaining us. Does this one? We wish some compensation for our evening."

I swiveled my hips experimentally. Yes, I could still dance, even with the belly. 

"You see," Ronal pointed, "the slave is bursting to show her skills. It's settled," he said smiling. 

Master Damien thought it best to spell out exactly what skills I would be showing Ronal and his Brothers. Best leave no room for confusion later. 

"The slave will dance for us," Master Damien stated, "but only we touch our slave."

The other man laughed and agreed. He had no interest in sex with a slave, he assured Master Damien. His Mistress kept him and his Brothers quite content. 

I was tired and my feet were sore as we walked back toward our quarters. 

"Nap?" Master Christof said in English and I gasp. 

"You understand English?" I asked and they grinned at me.

"The word was in your mind. There is not an equivalent in our language. Rest is rest, no matter what time it is taken at," Master Christof shrugged. 

When we made it home the men stripped me of my outfit. Much like a child, I was put to bed for a nap. Thick blankets were pulled over my body and tucked securely around me. I curled into the covers and was asleep in a matter of moments. 

The dreams were back. We were sitting outside in the mountains. The men were sitting around a crackling fire looking at me. 

"Why are we here?" Master Christof asked.

"Where is here?" I questioned. 

The men explained to me where we were. They pointed out the different places in the rugged terrain. I was curious, so it was a geography lesson. 

I woke up to Evan's smiling face above mine. 

"You have strange dreams when you sleep," he said simply. "We find it quite distracting." 

I was pulled to stand as I woke up. The places they took me in their memories were amazing. It wasn't necessarily intentional, but I did love it. 

Evan pulled me to the closet where his Brothers were standing around. Since we were all dressed already, I didn't understand. 

"You belly dancing outfit will not fit you," Christof explained.

They had maintained a communication with the shopkeepers that outfitted the slaves. Fredrick had insisted they buy certain items last time he sent them a message. Namely, more chain for my waist and other strange clothing pieces. At the time they had found it odd, but he had insisted they would need it.

"That explains Fredrick's strong desire to sell us this blue cloth," I heard Kein say from the closet they kept their clothes in.

The men were worried about what I would wear tonight. They wanted me covered in front of Ronal and his Brothers. Frankly, I was shocked. I was never covered. They only let me wear the belly dancing outfit for fun. 

"We dislike their interest in you," Damien said stiffly, watching Master Kein sort through fabric in the closet. "Apparently some men in the mountains are not like the Warriors in the compound." 

Evan's face was twisted in a grimace as he remembered Ronal requesting I "entertain them". Damien's family had known men with slaves for many turns of the ringed moon. The honorable thing to do was ignore the slave. That's what Damien and his Brothers always did. 

Kein emerged victorious a moment later. In his hands were several swathes of deep blue.

"Fredrick said we would like it, now I see why," Kein said shaking it out. 

It was a wrap around style skirt, the size could be adjusted for my belly by tying it in a different place. In place of the hip scarf several silver coins hung around the edge of the skirt. The waves of blue mimicked my belly dancing outfit. For a top, Master Kein wrapped me in an adherent blue gauze that clung to my curves only partially obscuring them. 

It still seemed risque to me, but the men were satisfied. 

They stripped me of the new dancing outfit and placed me back in my warm clothes to walk to dinner. 

The dining hall was crowded with men now. They didn't pay my Masters much attention, except one group.

I didn't look up as boots stopped by our table, but I knew who it was when I heard the voices. 

"You are too weak to be her favorites," the man said. "No one is better at keeping her attention than we are. Soon she will understand what pathetic sniveling creatures you really are and sell your worthless selves."

Master Damien didn't even acknowledge them. He chewed thoughtfully and took another bite swallowing it down with a swig from his cup.

"Meat's better tonight," Master Evan said.

Master Kein disagreed, "Still too heavy with the gravy."

The man slammed what was most likely his fist on the table and Master Damien offered me a chunk of meat. I took it and chewed like I was supposed to, but the tension was rising in the air. This would not end peacefully. 

My Masters were ready for a good fight. They just wanted this family to get a little more worked up. Master Damien and his Brothers were rulers of their tempers. They knew men didn't think right once the rage took hold of them. 

The other men surrounded our table and I swallowed what had been in my mouth. Master Damien was very clear in his internal command. When the fight started, I was to get under the table and stay there. 

One of the men swung out at Master Damien and I scrambled into my hiding spot. The fight started swiftly. The men were battling it out amid the shouting of their excited cousins.

Part of me was glad to be ignored and under the table. A larger part of me wanted to be out there with them, tearing those guys up. I could feel it. My owners were having a wonderful time. 

The men they were fighting were from a different compound. Their style was novel. Master Damien and his Brothers were fascinated at the moves they were using. Not to say the other men were winning, but my Masters were enjoying playing with them. 

A roar stopped all the noise from the men. I peeked out and some women were entering the hall. The men separated like nothing had happened and everyone went back to their seats. 

I waited until Master Damien motioned for me and I crawled back to my kneeling place. They fed me and talked as the women wove through the crowd. 

"Fighting, young men?" Nu-reeh asked. 

"Yes, Mistress," we answered as a group. 

"Did you enjoy it?" she asked.

"Yes, Mistress."

She seemed satisfied and walked off, her talons clattering lightly on the floor. 

I heard the internal discussion as my men contemplated the women. Nu-reeh liked to see them riled up and fighting. When the men were fired up they were entertaining. 

We walked back toward our rooms and were accompanied by Ronal and his three Brothers. Walking with the other men I had the strange memory of a three legged dog that lived down the street on Earth. The dog never seemed aware of his disability, but everyone else was.

My men had watched my internal musings with some amount of humor. They seemed to find the analogy strange. It was fitting, though. Ronal's loss was visible to everyone that saw them. The only men seemingly without issue with it were the Brothers involved. 

Inside our rooms Master Christof whisked me into the back to change. He tied the skirt so my lower body was entirely covered. The wrap for my top was also looped around me several times. 

I danced around the fire pit as Master Kein strummed his stringed instrument. Dancing, for once, was strange. Master Damien and his Brothers were torn between wanting to see my flesh teasing them and hiding it from our guests. I did my best to be conservative with my moves. 

When I became winded Master Damien called a halt to me and I knelt before him. He wanted me closer to him, so I crawled into his lap and rested. 

"So, Ronal, you've seen a slave that had this problem before?" he asked stroking my stomach. 

"Yes, many lunar cycles ago," Ronal said simply. "I believe they were from the red mountains."

Master Evan was irritated. Ronal was being evasive and dragging this out. First the dancing and now he was giving the same information he'd already told them. Master Bane agreed and his anger started to rise. Their emotion was combining and mixing internally, readying to spill over.

Men don't think right when their tempers are up, I reminded them and the fire all receded into the background. 

"You've mentioned that, Ronal. What else do you know?" Master Damien asked calmly. 

"Slaves," he said leaning forward, "become very attached to their young. The night the boy chose his family and they put the mark, the woman had to be kept tied to the bed. When it was sent to the Child Keepers, I thought we'd never hear the end of the screaming."

That made me feel better. The women would mark the child even if it was mine. It would not be an outcast. The bit about us being "attached" to our children wasn't really news to me, but it was to my men. 

I felt the discomfort they all had about that part, but I ignored it. My curiosity had to deal with how they sold the boy. Who made sure his owners would be good enough? 

Master Damien asked Ronal who sold the boy and the other man grunted.

"Your family's offspring are valuable. Mistress Nu-reeh will claim the child as hers. That's what the other woman did. She put the boy in a family. What I heard at the time was she handled the sale like it was her own," Ronal answered. 

"Anything else about the men strike you as unusual?" Master Damien asked. "They seem to have any special attachment to their slave?"

"No more so than any of you that choose this life," Ronal said looking confused. "You have some unusual attachment to your slave?"

Master Damien scoffed and cupped my cheek as though examining me, "Only wondering why this happened to us is all," he said. 

I met his eyes and the understanding passed between us. The bond was unusual. That was what they had wanted to know and Ronal had inadvertently answered the question. 

The rest of the conversation was pleasant and not that enlightening for me. My men had never seen things Ronal described, like nursing, but I had. They neglected to tell Ronal they were already intimately aware of what my breasts could produce. My Masters listened intently as Ronal described the life of a child. 

"How long does it last?" Master Evan asked.

For a human child I knew a mother kept them for eighteen years, but this wasn't Earth and this child wasn't human. 

"They kept it for six full turns of the small moon," Ronal said. 

That had meaning to me now. About four hundred twenty days, if the calculation Master Damien did was correct. 

I was sad and my eyes started to tear. A little over a year to know my child and release it into this wild world forever. It was too soon, much too quick for any mother. 

Water touched my lashes and threatened to spill over as my body started to tremble. It took all my fortitude to sit stoically on Master Damien's lap as the men talked. I'd never lost anything this precious before. 

Master Bane grunted and stood up. Master Kein made a show of stretching. They felt my pain and I was breaking. It would be better not to do that in front of these men. 

Master Christof moved from beside Master Damien and encouraged me to rise. He walked me toward the bedroom and into the closet to change out of my outfit. 

"Focus on me," he whispered into my ear. "I feel no emotion about this child. You will do better if you focus away from your pain."

Christof was curious about what was happening, but he wasn't burdened by sadness. The idea of giving the child to Keepers was normal to him and made sense. I focused on that instead of my own impending sense of loss. 

My outfit was changed back to my warm soft one and I was offered a drink of water. Once my men were sure I wasn't going to overpower their bond with my raucous thoughts Christof led me back to the sitting room. 

Ronal was describing the strange way the female had spoken to the infant and the high lilting voice she had used. 

"Singing," I smiled and spoke to Master Christof, "she sang to the infant. You've heard me do that before. We do it on Earth. It calms the children."

The women here had found the melody did soothe the child and were impressed by it. The human had not been chastised for the care she showed the young one. She was as devoted as any mother should be. 

"It was awful the night they took the child," Ronal said getting back to the point I dreaded. 

I focused on Master Christof and felt more at peace. He was right. I could survive this, outside of my own head. 

"The human screamed for her child for many nights. She wailed worse than the child had. The women here feared they would have to do away with her if she could not be calmer. Finally she calmed and the men were able to take her back to the compound," Ronal finished. 

It was late and my men were tired. At least that's what they told Ronal and his Brothers. They ushered the other men out of the apartment and we conversed internally. 

The bond wasn't normal, the other men had not experienced it. They had not advertised it at least. Master Damien understood why, his Brothers understood why, and I understood through them. 

The weakest member of the family was the weakest member of the bond. It was a vulnerability and that was never advertised. My men guarded each other without exception. The death or injury of one would be the death or injury of them all. 

They would have to defend me if it came to it and I should defend them. 

Five sets of eyes looked uneasily at me. No more breaking down, no more sadness at the loss of the child; I had to be as strong as they were expected to be. They weren't sure I was capable. 

"I'll do it Masters, I promise," I said solemnly looking down. 

I would be strong for my baby. Breaking down and screaming would only potentially harm the child. Children were brought into this world and left to the care of Keepers everyday. Mine would be safe that way. 

I needed a distraction. This train of thought was disturbing to all of us. My men had a tried and true way to distract me. It was decided we would do that now. 

Master Damien cupped my face his hands and turned my face up. He brought his mouth down over mine stroking my lips with his. His tongue pressed into my mouth and he kissed me deeply. 

My men wanted to be close, I wanted to be close. We were bonded, but they wanted to do something together. There was one thing we were very good at doing together. 

My outfit was gone in an instant, pulled roughly over my head and I shivered. 

"Light the warmer in the sleeping chamber," Master Damien ordered pulling me to his chest. 

I wrapped my arms around Master Damien and pulled him close to me. My softness against his hard body felt wonderful from both sides. When Master Christof pressed against my back and ran his hands over my body, I shivered for an entirely different reason. 

I tugged at Master Damien's shirt and helped him remove it. A kneeling place was pushed in front of me and I knelt to undo his boots. They loved having me undress them. Each man took a turn as I slowly revealed their breathtaking bodies. 

There were new scars. They had not rewrapped their injuries from earlier and I could see the healing cuts on their flesh. 

"You can't do this again," I said seriously, tracing the edge of a long gash across Master Evan's chest. 

Hurting each other like that was insane and ridiculous. They shouldn't lash out at one another. It caused me pain to imagine them hurting their Brothers. The family was safety and should be the antithesis of danger. 

My men didn't agree. If their bond was broken, they didn't want to live. Being together kept them sane, they wouldn't live on alone.

The pull of the emotional bond had me. I couldn't help but at least acquiesce. There wasn't a good place in their minds to openly disagree and I was part of that now.

Their sexual arousal was flowing freely at me. They wanted me and I, in return, wanted them. 

Damien carried me to their sleeping quarters and the warmer was doing an excellent job. The room was very comfortable. He sat me on my feet and stood looking down at me. 

"What do you want, Damien?" I asked sliding a hand down his chest to grasp his thick tool in my hand. 

My mouth wrapped around him, that's what he wanted. 

"Lay down," I said releasing his cock and pushing him toward the bed.

Once he was stretched out on the surface I followed him and knelt over him. Kissing down his chest and stomach I crept closer and closer to his shaft. 

Evan's consciousness was enjoying the sensation of my lips on Damien's skin. He loved that I was always so willing to put my mouth on them. As I flicked my tongue along the ridges of Damien's abdomen, it was Evan's pleasure I felt. 

I decided to give Evan more of what he wanted. I tasted the thick springy hair around Damien's cock, nuzzling the shaft with my nose. Licking slowly I tasted until I was licking the head like a lollipop. I squeezed the shaft and tiny amount of pre cum appeared. 

"Taste it," Evan moaned watching very closely. 

My mouth dropped over the tip of Damien's dick and I sucked. He tasted tangy and salty. I lapped at the tip as Damien bucked beneath me.

A hand wrapped into my hair and Evan pulled me up. He was glad they had kept my hair. Despite their dislike of the coarse hair covering their own women, my hair was different. It was thinner and softer, like theirs. 

Evan pulled me to his lips and pressed his tongue between mine. He tasted me and he tasted Damien on me. The bond only got stronger as his Brother's flavor exploded in his mouth. 

I felt the way Evan did for a moment. He knew exactly where each of his Brothers were in this room. He could have pinpointed their location without opening his eyes. It was a sense I didn't have and his Brothers didn't have. 

It didn't work well in the mountains, something here disrupted his ability, especially if they were separated by distance. The sense in the compound allowed Evan to track his family continuously. He derived comfort from knowing exactly where they all were. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 13



"My turn," Damien demanded, pulling on my hand. 

I returned my lips to his shaft and went down to taste his balls. Damien's hair grew sparsely on his large round scrotum. I licked them until they were wet with spit and glistening in the low light. My men didn't stop me as I sucked the large balls into my mouth. 

No one seemed bothered by the exploration, so I kept going. The area under Damien's sac was sensitive and he wasn't sure what I was doing when I flicked my tongue down there. Evan knew, he tasted me like this all the time. 

It was strange and new to have my tongue here. Damien wasn't sure what to think, but Evan loved it. He was in heaven. 

Damien wanted me back on his cock and Evan wanted me on my knees. As my mouth settled back over Damien's thick rod, Evan separated my lower lips. He couldn't wait anymore. I'd made him insane with need. 

I opened as wide as I could and took Damien about half way into the wet confines of my mouth. He wanted to feel the warmth and wetness envelop him deeper. I sucked and he thrust his hips until his hair tickled my nose. 

Evan didn't wait, he couldn't. On his knees behind me he pushed his length to the hilt into my ready, wet center. I moaned and tried to adjust to the sudden invasion. 

Damien's hands wound into my hair to push and pull. He had propped his head up on a pillow so he could watch me move over his shaft. The look of this was the most erotic thing he'd ever seen. Often when he was fucking the women, this is what ran through his head. 

Evan panted behind me. My scent drifted up and he couldn't resist running his fingers through the wetness and tasting it. The bond between us pulsed as he took my flavor off his fingers. 

I felt it from all sides. The thick head pummeled my throat and the shaft stretched my walls. Evan felt like his cock was in a tight slippery glove and so did Damien. I was wrapped around them and they tingled all over. We all rode the wave of passion. 

Other fingers found their way beneath me to pull on the metal rings in my nipples. Another hand was separating the apex of my sex and stroking my clit. Pleasure ran from me and into me. My body shook with it and I exploded. 

The orgasm was intense and consuming. My body quaked around my men and they felt the tremors. They did all they could to intensify the experience and continued to stimulate me gently. When it ended I felt as though I'd run a marathon, but the sexual energy was still pulsing through our bond. 

Damien pushed his shaft deep into my throat and growled as Evan grabbed my hips and pumped quickly. They'd waited on the edge for me to finish and now it was their turn. The rod in my throat pulsed against my tongue and I wanted to taste it. I pulled back and several globs of Damien's essence poured over my tongue.

Evan came before Damien was finished. He called out and pressed himself into my wetness until there was nothing left to fill. I sucked on Damien's staff and pulled every drop from him as Evan anchored me against him. 

I let Damien's seed wash over the inside of my mouth before swallowing it down, but Evan was not to be denied. He withdrew and pulled me upright. His tongue was in my mouth drawing out the flavor. 

Fingers were on my nipples and I felt the clench as they started to dribble. They were so sensitive now and my men seemed to know just what to do to make them leak. They felt pleasure I had noticed their attention. 

Kein was fiddling with the jewelry to remove it. He loved the look, but he was getting hooked on my milk. He wanted to taste that strange, rich substance over and over again. 

I was laid on my back as Kein attacked my nipples. It was sweet the way he cupped the breast and enjoyed the sticky liquid. He sucked until I was dry, which was fairly quick. 

The oil was used as it had been at the cabin to slick the area between my breasts and Kein straddled my body. He loved to fuck my breasts, to see his staff move between the mounds of flesh. 

Bane's large fingers fumbled to replaced their jewelry as Kein placed his staff between the orbs. 

"Patience, Brother," Bane laughed as Kein swatted his hands away and replaced the second ring himself. "Ciara won't remove her breasts before you get to ride them."

Kein was in no mood for Bane's banter and ignored him. My breasts called to him and he wanted nothing more than for his Brothers to let him play. 

Bane was in a mood to have fun. He sat at my head and watched Kein start to slide himself back and forth between my breasts. Reaching forward Bane pinched both nipples and then used his fingers to cover them. 

"All gone Brother," he laughed, "as you feared."

Kein looked down into my eyes and smirked. He loved fighting with his larger Brother almost as much as he liked fucking me. 

"I'll wait for you," I whispered.

They were off the bed in a flash. Kein was certainly smaller, but fast and vicious. I turned on my side to watch as the two of them wrestle in the middle of the floor. 

Bane was struggling to keep up with Kein and struggling worse when he got hold of him. Kein was wearing a good portion of the oil and it made him slick and hard to grab onto. It was funny to watch. 

Damien and Evan were greatly enjoying the show. They were yelling out helpful tips and betting on who would come out on top. This was a game they loved to play. The oil made the wrestling fun and different. 

Christof laid behind me and kissed my neck as his Brothers wrestled. His hands drifted over my breasts down to cup my mons and play in the slick folds. 

Kein made his demands known through the bond. He was next. 

"Ciara is yours," Christof soothed, "I only wished to keep her ready while you played."

Christof was content behind me to watch his Brothers tussle. 

He was also pleased about something else, but that was deeper and more hidden. Christof was pleased they did not refer to me as a slave in the bedroom and I was not required to call them Master. It was slow, but his Brothers were coming around to his way of thinking. 

Slavery was wrong, in any form. If he had been bonded to them when they decided to go to the slave auction, he never would have allowed it. The sale of sentient beings was inappropriate and he had never understood the allure. 

I turned to look at him and he smiled a sly smile at me. He'd never liked to treat me as a slave, but the push of the combined mind was strong. Fighting with them upset the balance, but subtle changes could be made.

I smiled at my friend. He was never my Master; Christof had always been my friend. 

Hush, was the internal command. It would upset them if they knew what we were talking about. 

Grabbing Christof's head I kissed him deeply. Kein bellowed and pinned Bane squarely in a choke hold. 

"No more interference," he demanded of Bane 

I shook myself out of my thoughts and cast sultry eyes on Kein. It was important not to concentrate on what Christof had been thinking. Instead I focused on the glistening man stalking me from across the room. 

Kein was covered in sweat and oil, he looked dangerous and wild. I patted the bed in front of me and then reached for him.

"What do you want?" I asked him when he was closer.

On my back with his shaft sliding between my tits like he had been before he was interrupted. I grabbed the bottle of oil and poured several drops across my chest, rubbing it in. 

Kein mounted my chest and started to move his shaft between the mountains of flesh. 

"They are larger," he grunted pulling them around his shaft. 

"Pregnancy," I answer him licking his tip every time it neared my lips. 

My breasts were sensitive, but Kein was gentle. He knew what hurt me and what did not. The pressure he used was just enough to do what he wanted without causing pain.

I felt Kein's arousal and pleasure. Suddenly it made sense why they didn't mind watching each other every time. All they had to do was concentrate on their Brother and it was like they were having sex five times in a row. 

Through the sexual haze I did note Damien was concerned. Kein was getting closer to cumming and he wanted to spill it all over my large chest. Their seed was sacred and they had been taught since childhood it must be deposited in a living vessel. 

Feeling Damien's worry, I watched Kein closely. When he got to the very edge I struck. My hand pumped his shaft and I pulled him into my mouth. Damien would be happy if he finished here. 

Much to my surprise Kein leaned forward and forced his cock into my throat. His hand wrapped in my hair pulling me painfully against him. I swallowed as his length choked me and hoped he'd finish quickly. 

Christof finally forced Kein to back off so I could take a breath. 

"No need to kill her is there, Brother?" Christof asked pushing Kein back. 

"It had been too long," Kein moaned stretching out beside me and kissing my shoulder.

Kein would never harm me intentionally, but it had been too good to stop. The women never let him play like he wanted to. He had been craving me for a long time. 

Evan leaned over all of us to intimately taste Kein as it lingered on me. Feeling the powerful bond pulse between the Brothers as he did that, I understood his incentive. 

"So you are done finally?" Bane asked leaning over my face as Evan backed away. "Wouldn't want to fight you for a turn a second time, little Brother," he smirked at Kein. 

Bane crawled behind me and rolled me over. I rose on my knees so my plump rear was in his view. 

"This is larger also," he commented running his hands lovingly over the cheeks. 

I was embarrassed. They weren't supposed to notice I had gotten fatter with the pregnancy. 

Bane laughed and pressed his lips into the soft, round flesh. "I have never understood you, Ciara. There is more to enjoy. It is not a bad thing," he told me. 

Fingers traced the tight puckered flesh of my anus. My mind was set on this matter. Despite their love of anal sex I still thought it was nasty and dirty. It was hard to hold those feelings with Bane so close. 

The big man loved to feel my tight flesh close around him. It was exactly like being with the women, without the pain they liked to inflict. There was absolutely nothing he enjoyed more. 

"We have made this feel good for you," he said dripping the cool oil down over me. "Stop resisting me and take the pleasure I offer," Bane demanded. 

Bane started slowly with his fingers opening me with his touch. In an effort to distract me the other men ran their fingers everywhere else. Christof drove me to pleasurable distraction with his fingers on my clit. Very soon, I was begging Bane to fuck me. 

The fat head of Bane's organ pressed against me and I groaned as he entered. He was right, from his perspective it was an amazing feeling. From my perspective, I felt like a pig being impaled on a spit two sizes too large. It was confusing. 

"You are tighter, Ciara," Bane commented slowly stuffing more of his massive staff into me. 

"It has been a long time," I moaned slowly adjusting.

"I think it is the preg-nan-cy," Christof commented, stroking my pendulous breasts. "Everything seems different."

He was right. The baby was already stuffing me from the inside out. 

Bane moved slowly and soon had seated his entire length inside of me. As he withdrew, I hissed and moaned. I'd forgotten how good he could make this feel. 

He rocked his hips slowly watching his staff disappear and reappear every time. The women never let them watch. I let him stroke his rod into my body, unlike the women, I didn't control the pace.

I moaned as he forced his whole rod into my tightness. The muscles rippled around him and he was the one groaning. He could have orgasmed then, but he wasn't ready to be done. 

"Stop, Ciara," he ordered hoarsely holding himself still. "I want more. This will not end yet."

Grinning cheekily, I made an effort to tense my muscles around him rhythmically. A long stream of words escaped his lips. I smiled, understanding the cursing now. 

"You like the control, do you Ciara?" Bane asked and I heard the evil plan in his mind. "Let's see how many times you can lose control."

Oiled fingers grasped at my clit and my nipples. Evan's mouth was over my ears licking and nipping. The force of their joined minds concentrated on my pleasure and it rocked me over the edge powerfully. 

"A break, a moment," I begged Bane as I contracted around his thick shaft.

He laughed a low, coarse sound. "Lose control around me one more time, Ciara," he ordered. 

"I can't," I moaned sinking toward the bed.

Bane refused to let my hips fall and held them up as he fucked me slowly, enjoying the sensations.

"Yes, you will," he said and he was right. 

Christof was the last to take me. They lowered my limp, sated body over his cock and I groaned. He allowed me to ride him at my own pace until he poured into me. 

"It is good we are together, again," he whispered into my ear as I lay draped across him. 

"Yes, it is good," I breathed into his sweaty neck.

Evan tasted me all over once Christof had finished. He slipped his tongue all over my body. As he worked, I felt the bond strengthen and solidify in my mind. 

Damien carried me to the bath and cleaned me up. His hands massaged my back and rubbed the soreness out of every part of me. It turned out I like the rubbing as much as he did, which made him grin. 

"Come back to bed with us and rest," Master Damien said scooping me up and moving us back to the bed. 

Like this afternoon I was placed under layers of warm blankets. The torches in the bedroom were extinguished and the still darkness surrounded us. My mens' breathing quickly evened out and I drifted into a well deserved sleep between Kein and Bane. 

*******

We were deep in a cavern and there was pounding everywhere. This place was interesting to Christof, because the women thought it was important. Master Damien remembered it, but hadn't been that impressed with it. I was confused as the dream came into focus. Something in me battled against Master Damien's opinion. This was an important place and I wanted to know more about it. 

"What is this?" I asked looking around at the rough, stone walls. 

Christof and Master Damien were beside me suddenly. 

"You choose the oddest things to dream of," Master Damien said looking around. He seemed slightly perturbed we had to be here of all places. 

Christof took my hand and explained, "This is the place the women mine. Nu-reeh brought us here because I was so curious."

I looked up and a woman in front of us was using the barbed tips on her wings to pick away at the wall. She let out an excited yell a moment later and women swarmed around her. 

She pulled out a large chunk of dull silvery metal. The round stones the men used as money were stuck over the outside of it and she picked them off tossing them to the ground. 

The women passed the stone between each other and seemed pleased with it's size and purity. Nu-reeh became a part of the dream and she happily told Christof how much this ore would be worth. The aliens would pay well for this piece of rock. 

We walked through the mines as they had with Nu-reeh. At the time Christof had asked all about the mining and Nu-reeh had answered him politely. Usually she didn't enjoy questions, but she loved her mines. She had encouraged him to ask anything he wanted to know. 

"She doesn't speak of her ownership of us anymore, you know," Christof told me. "She refers to us as valuable servants. Each lunar cycle she makes a show of giving us a stack of the stones."

He was watching me intently, but I didn't know what to say. 

"The other women here follow her lead. They refer to their men as servants, also. It was a very strange change," Master Damien finished as we looked over the mine. 

"She wants you to be happy, I suppose," I said quietly. 

Christof smiled and we were outside the mine now. Master Damien took a hand on one side and Christof held the other. Hand in hand we walked down a mountain path.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Evan's favorite spot. He wants to show it to you," Christof said releasing my hand. 

We swam in the deep clear lake they had been talking about earlier. It was lovely and secluded. This spot was far too deep in the mountains for the men to usually come. The valley was also not frequented by the women. It was a private place my Masters loved to come. 

"We always ask the General to let us search the area just beyond the ridge there," Master Evan pointed. "It's rocky and unpleasant. The General believed we were just the toughest Warriors, but we liked to look there and camp here at night."

"Perfect place to find game," Master Kein said pointing out the animals from their memories. 

I dreamed of the lake all night. By morning I could have mapped the area from memory. 

Evan was in my face when I woke up. He was wide awake and perky. I'd always despised the energy he exuded in the morning and he found my irritation funny.

"You have been asleep all night. Why do you wish to sleep more? What purpose would it serve?" he asked me jovially. 

"Humans," I grumbled, "like to sleep in occasionally. It feels good. You should try it."

"Bah, boring, I'm tired of dreaming. I want to go do something," he said pulling me to the bathroom. 

Master Evan was energetic in the morning. He was "bouncing off the walls" my mother would have said. He always had been, ever since he was a child, the rest of the family knew. 

Master Kein would sometimes like to sleep later. However, Master Evan couldn't sleep past the time the moon set and the sun rose, even when they couldn't see those things. His nature woke them up. 

I was pulled into the bathing room and Master Evan started the water. 

"You bathed me last night," I told him sourly and he just grinned at me. 

"Do you want a cold bath?" he asked happily. "The temperature of the water makes no difference to me. I have heard from my cousins it is an effective way to punish a bad slave, though."

No, I most certainly did not want a cold bath.

"I apologize, Master Evan," I said softly, stepping into the tub with him. "I would prefer a warm bath." 

"Agree with me then," he demanded.

He pulled me close and I stared up into his eyes. For once, Evan wasn't smirking or teasing. He was waiting. 

I felt the pressure of his mind. There was joy and excitement in his thoughts, he was eager to start another day. Relaxing, I let his thoughts guide mine. He was right, the new day could bring anything. I was glad to be awake. 

I was cleaned, completely cleaned, including the morning enema. 

"It is unnecessary," I grumbled laying across his lap, " and you don't even have a plug."

"Of course we do," Master Damien said entering and handing the device to Master Evan. "I took it out of you yesterday. I brought it with us when we left the containment room."

I was mortified. He had walked through the halls carrying my butt plug and I hadn't even noticed. It was awful to think the other men down here had seen it. 

"You make no sense," Master Evan said pushing the fake phallus into me. "You wear this every day. Every Earth slave wears one. We have cleaned you countless times and yet you still resist it. We demand you stop with these feelings."

The plug was uncomfortable. It had been getting more uncomfortable as the pregnancy wore on. I already felt stuffed with the baby, having the plug made it that much worse. It took longer and longer for me to forget it was there. 

Master Kein paced in the bathroom watching me as I stood up and tried to get used to the pressure. I tried to focus on what was going on around me to distract from the discomfort, but everyone was focused on my stretched and stuffed ass. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 13



"Take it out," Master Kein demanded.

"I agree," said Master Damien, "we will ready the slave before we use it each time. This is..." he couldn't think of a word to describe it. 

It wasn't always like this, I thought. Before the pregnancy the plug had been almost easy to ignore. 

My men were decided and the plug removed. I breathed a sigh of relief at having it gone. 

We walked down to the cafeteria and I was elated to have a day without that stupid object invading me. Reaching out I held the hand closest to me and squeezed it. Master Bane squeezed my hand back and didn't let it go. My happiness was infectious. 

"You're getting spoiled, Ciara," Master Evan said sighing. 

He liked the plug. Seeing it peek between my ass cheeks all day reminded him I was his. 

"There are other things I like to have there, Master Evan," I flirted smiling.

Master Evan had ideas and would gladly spend the morning between my legs, but Master Damien made us go to breakfast. He wanted to see what Nu-reeh planned to do with them. 

"Are you still to be trained as General?" Master Kein asked absently as we got closer to the hall.

The internal conversation took over. Nu-reeh knew they were bonded to me. Master Damien couldn't be General if he was bonded to a slave. It would never work. 

Breakfast was quick. The only thing that took any time was getting me on my kneeling place. I couldn't see it beyond my expanding belly and I nearly lost my balance. My men stopped me from toppling and fed me while laughing at my clumsiness. 

After the food and pulling me to a standing position, we walked to the area where the man handed out assignments. Usually it was rote, Master Damien and his Brothers trained to be General in the morning.

"Sorting room, Damien," the man said and then I felt him look at me. "The slave will wait for you in your quarters," he finished. 

The men started to disperse, but Master Damien and his Brothers were irritated. Who was going to care for me while they sorted out Nu-reeh's haul of ore? 

The man that had been handing out directions approached Master Damien. 

"The slave will clean your quarters," he said answering the unspoken question and now Master Damien was livid. The man continued to speak in the face of Master Damien's rage. "It is how it is done here, Damien. Do not cast such angry eyes on me. When the female slaves are brought they must work as we work. What would you prefer? To have the slave alone in your quarters or to have the men who clean in there with her?"

I could clean, I was good at it. The time alone would not be wasted. If they gave me knitting needles and yarn I could even knit a blanket for the child after I was done. I would be fine on my own, just as I had been when I was left alone in the compound. 

Master Damien muttered a low curse. He didn't like the talk of me caring for myself. I didn't do a good enough job, in his opinion. 

Master Evan's thoughts were as dark as Master Damien's, but Christof saw this as a workable situation. I was not as incapable as they thought I was and they would be near. It was unlikely I could get in that much trouble. 

"Thank you," Master Damien said to the man, "you are correct. We will report to the sorting room for our Mistress after we leave the slave in our quarters."

Christof asked me about what I needed to make blankets and said he would speak to someone. He thought he could have those things delivered here. Christof found my industry a healthy thing and was happy to assist me. His opinion slowly started to sway his Brothers. 

By the time we made it back to our rooms they were at ease with the decision. As long as I didn't do anything foolish, they would leave me alone for the morning. 

"If you misbehave or cause trouble," Master Damien warned, "we will punish you."

I shuddered as he sifted through all the new ways they had learned to punish Earth slaves. The men from the red mountains liked slaves with spirit and knew well how to tame them. Master Damien would have no trouble putting that new knowledge to good use if I made problems. 

I rose and kissed his lips. His concern was sweet, even if his way of showing it was bizarre. My Master just didn't want me to do something foolish and injure myself. I was apt to get injured even in the safest of circumstances and the mountains were a dangerous place. 

Like some strange sitcom, I kissed each man good bye and wished them all a good day. Christof said good bye last and reminded me to stay in their rooms and out of trouble. I swore to do what they had said. 

Once my men were gone I pulled the cleaning supplies out of the closet. It was much like the compound, so I knew how to use all of it. Since I disliked cleaning the bathroom, I went there first, to get it over with.

The work was hot, so I stripped off my outfit and walked around nude. I worked up quite a sweat in fairly short order. The bathroom had not received what I considered an acceptable level of cleaning in a long time. I scrubbed hard to make the surfaces shine. 

I felt my men in my mind. They had been in the sorting room before and knew what to do. Nu-reeh and her sisters would drop of their haul there and the men cleaned and separated it for sale. 

The ore had many uses, mainly as a fuel source. The transports used by the compounds had originally run on the ore. Solar energy was preferred now because it was not something the planet could run out of. 

As I cleaned my men communicated with me and with each other. They enjoyed telling me what they knew about the ore and how it was used. I was more interested in their use of solar energy. 

I was most impressed with the use of solar power. As I scrubbed the bath down I thought about how solar power was only just catching on on Earth. We were still using fossil fuels we were rapidly devouring. 

"We are a far superior race," Master Evan told me cockily. "Those in charge of our planet knew we would have to use methods we could not deplete. The ones in charge of your world must not think ahead."

I couldn't hide the amusement in my thoughts. As though Master Evan had ever even given the notion any consideration before he was brought here. The women thought ahead, that didn't mean the men ever had. His indignation was completely unjustified. 

Christof thought my opinion was funny, Master Kein wanted to see what Master Damien would do, and Master Evan was incensed. Punishment would await me when they got home, that much was decided. I was far too cocky and spoiled for my own good. 

Their irritation at the situation was funny and they were awfully far away. As I cleaned the counters in the main room, I continued to harass Master Evan.

"You're lucky to be on a planet controlled by women," I told him. "Women are smarter than men and much better at running things." 

I felt his anger course through the bond and laughed out loud. It would be disrespectful to the men running the sorting room to leave in the middle of the work day, so Master Evan was stuck. Despite his desire to punish me he would wait. 

Master Damien's thoughts were suddenly forefront in my mind. The men from the red mountains had told him how to punish a human slave. He was eager to try out their methods on me. 

Unlike the men from the blue mountains, they had learned how to discipline a slave without leaving lasting scars. The whip was excessive. Smaller, less harsh items could be used for day to day training. Human skin was not as frail as the men believed it to be. 

In his mind's eye he thought about a thin flexible strap. It wouldn't permanently mar my skin, it wouldn't leave bruises, and it hurt like hell. He was calculating how many switches I could take before I apologized to Master Evan. 

"You can whip my ass raw and I'll still hold the same opinion," I laughed out loud. 

"You won't hold any opinion when we are done with you," Master Damien said going over all the new ways he had to punish me. 

Master Kein's thoughts on the matter were suddenly forefront. Men from the red mountain also tied their slaves. The slaves could be bound and teased for hours. Friendly cousins in the mountains had taught my owners how to do it. It had sounded like such fun to Master Kein. Now it sounded fun to all of them. 

Once they had me bound in a position, they could do as they liked. No one would have to hold me down and make me behave. They could just relax and do as they wished.

"I apologize, Master Evan," I said honestly. "I'm very sorry for goading you." 

"Not yet, you're not," he growled threateningly into my mind. 

My men stopped paying attention to me as a new load was delivered to the sorting room. I concentrated on cleaning. Occasionally I would explain to my men how sorry I was or remind them how brilliant they were. 

Even Christof was ignoring me now. His Brothers were too excited by my punishment. My friend couldn't deny their joined longing.

"You will be safe with us," Christof soothed and I knew he was right, no matter what they chose to do. 

Their excitement over punishing me was as infectious as their other thoughts. I found myself looking forward to my punishment with a weird sense of glee. It was definitely not a thought that had originated in my head. 

I had the apartment spotless in fairly short order. I felt sleepy with all the hard work and looked longingly at the bed. Since it wouldn't get me in trouble, my men agreed with my plan. 

I dreamed of the sorting room. It was heavy labor and you had to be very detail oriented to be good. Damien and his Brothers knew what to look for, what made the ore more valuable. Through their waking thoughts I learned all about it.

Clattering talons woke me up quite suddenly. My heart thundered in my chest and I sat upright on the bed. 

"Human slave," the voice growled out, "come out here." 

I recognized Nu-reeh's voice and smoothed my hair as I ran out of the apartment. She seemed irritated to see me and looked me up and down.

"Damien and his Brothers provide you with warm clothes because you are not suited to this cold. Why aren't you wearing them?" she asked. 

I was stunned. It wasn't clear to my why she was taking a personal interest in my well being. 

"I was cleaning and hot, Mistress," I managed to stutter out. 

"Dress now," she growled.

I bolted back into the apartment and threw my clothes and foot covers on. My Masters were unsure why she was there. Everyone wanted me to do exactly as she said. 

My feet carried me back outside and she was waiting. 

"Follow me," she commanded. 

We walked through the caves toward a large exit. It was much like the one Master Kein had nearly fallen from. She picked me up and she jumped. 

I screamed as we fell, but her wings opened and we soared up. 

"You humans make the worst sounds of any creature we allow the men to play with," she commented. "Now pay attention."

We flew into the mountains. She pointed out caves and crevices hidden in the rocks. Nu-reeh explained which ones would be good to rest in and which ones would not be. Certain creatures would eat me if I slept in the lower caves. The higher caves were safer but good places were contested.

Nu-reeh swooped into a cave she could fit into and caught a thing that resembled a huge spider, she called it a Scar. I was revolted by the appearance, but stood stoically as she talked about it. Nu-reeh explained how it would sting and paralyze me. It had razor sharp pincers it would use to take me apart and store for later. 

Nu-reeh killed it and one other like it that had been hiding. She then showed me where all the dangerous parts of this creature were. 

"You can kill one like I just did with your claws," she said. "If you don't have claws a large stick will suffice, the men kill them with their swords. You must anticipate where the creature will jump. If you can destroy the eyes on the front, you will easily kill it after that."

Nu-reeh demonstrated with a large stick how to jab out the eyes. 

"They often attack in packs of two or three," she continued to explain. "You never want to turn your back on one."

Once she was done we were off again. 

As we flew, my men remembered killing those creatures several times. Scars were a real nuisance. The Warriors did the "pest control" whenever they suspected these things had gotten anywhere near the Warrior compound or shopkeepers' village. 

We stopped in a smaller set of hills and Nu-reeh hunted with me on her shoulders. She showed me how to kill and eat the flesh of the small animal she'd caught. It was tough, but not inedible and we ate it raw. Certain organs had to be avoided, they contained poison. I was made to point them out on the next one she killed. 

After lunch she spent hours in the windy hills with me. I soon knew the names of all the creatures that lived here. She told me which ones I could eat and which ones would eat me. Should I need to find shelter, I also knew where to look. It was a lesson in survival.

Through the bond I knew my men were confused. Some of the animals she showed me would make a human violently ill if they ate it and I'd never be able to overpower others. The places she talked about resting were all at the top of steep slopes that even they would be hard pressed to reach. None of this made any sense.

The prevailing opinion was not to question her, though. Nu-reeh was showing me this for some purpose, so just go with it. The big woman hated to answer questions. 

My men left the sorting room at lunch and were assigned to mate with a group of females. Dinah threatened them and warned them to preform well today for this group. In true male form they rose to the occasion without difficulty, a good fight would be fun. 

I rode back with Nu-reeh toward the end of the afternoon. We flew into the caves and she took us to where my men were mating. 

The prescribed matings took place in what was essentially an amphitheater. The participants took each other on in the center and any interested parties could look on. Nu-reeh and her sisters were watching. 

"Do you see," Nu-reeh pointed out to me, "how that woman did not inject venom in the man when she bit him."

I saw the woman sink her teeth into Master Evan and he grunted. I felt the tearing pain in my own arm and winced.

"Yes, Mistress, the venom is toxic to the men," I said quietly. 

"Even a drop is deadly to them, slave. They do not do well without the whole family. I know you have met Ronal. He and his Brothers are special to live like that. Most men that lose a Brother would pass on. It is a waste to use venom on them during mating. Men must be protected."

"Yes, Mistress," I said watching Master Damien pushed to the ground by a large woman. "I heard from my owners about the woman who killed a man with venom."

Dinah hissed and Nu-reeh growled. 

"She is no more," Nu-reeh told me. "A woman without control is not tolerated. We dealt her justice swiftly."

I was shocked as I watched my men and the women before me. Damien and his Brothers hadn't told me killing one of them was a death sentence. From the feelings I got from them, they hadn't known. 

The woman over Master Damien held him down and forced herself over his cock. He luxuriated in the feeling, but still fought. He'd make the woman earn his seed. Master Damien struggled to rise and she backhanding him. I saw and felt the large man falter from the blow.

"Another hit like that and she'll knock him out," Nu-reeh told me. "If she wishes to hit him in that manner again, I will stop her. He is valuable to me and not to be harmed permanently."

Feeling grateful to Nu-reeh for her protection I politely agreed with her. When the woman went to strike Master Damien again, Nu-reeh swooped down. 

I stood with Dinah and the other sister as Nu-reeh disciplined the woman still riding Master Damien. 

"It is more difficult at the mating with the free Warriors to stop abuse," Tosu said. "The men become confused when we fight amongst ourselves. The women feel freer here to push the limits. Damien and his Brothers make it easier by fighting back in earnest." 

"Yes, Mistress," I answered politely as Nu-reeh returned. 

"Damien and his Brothers are popular for their fight and their strengths," Tosu informed me. "They are a valuable asset to Nu-reeh. She will do almost anything to keep them well."

The violent mating continued and I was made to watch the entire thing. They were only interested in Master Kein, Master Damien, and Master Evan though. They seemed to beat Master Bane and Master Christof just for fun. The three women in the ring absolutely dominated the men. 

"Those three women are sisters?" I asked quietly. "The women live in groups of three?" 

Nu-reeh cursed and I dropped my head. She hated questions and I had just asked one. 

"You do not know anything of being a women, do you slave?" she asked. 

"No, Mistress," I answered honestly.

Nu-reeh cursed for several moments. Most of it seemed to be about my ignorance. 

"Do you read?" she asked.

"On Earth I knew how to read and write, Mistress-" I started to say and she cut me off.

"I don't care about Earth!" she roared.

My men had stopped fighting and were all watching us carefully. She sighed and told me to relax. Nu-reeh said she would not hurt me and she wanted the men to continue to preform below us. 

"You will learn to read and write," she told me brusquely, "and you will do it quickly."

We stood and watched my men finish the mating in the ring. Nu-reeh explained women lived in groups of two or three. Sisters were found when one was young and were depended on wholeheartedly. 

"The sisters will grow together and learn together. They will form a bond, but not like the one you have with my men. That is not done anymore. Eventually, if they prove themselves they will be taken under the care of an elder female group. The elder females will train them. I share my mines and my men with my young females, for instance," Nu-reeh said

Dinah continued the story as Nu-reeh had to sweep down and stop a woman from choking Master Kein. 

"The elder female is often a relative of the younger ones. It is not necessary that she be, though. The young ones will grow into the roles of the elder females, take over their responsibilities as the women age. The stronger the young ones the more interest the elder females will show in them."

"Thank you for the information, Mistress," I said politely.

My mind was worn down. I was being presented with so much to learn, much of it seemingly both random and important. It was killing me not to be able to ask questions, but my men's opinion on that was paramount: never question the females, ever. 

The mating finally ended and the three women from the ring flew up to Nu-reeh. My inclination was to drop my head, but my new instincts told me to watch the women carefully. 

"This is the female?" one of them asked Nu-reeh crouching in front of me to look in my eyes. 

"Yes," Nu-reeh answered.

"Whose child do you carry, slave?" the woman asked me. 

I had no idea whose it was and that stammered out of my mouth. 

The woman cursed about the ineptitude of humans for several moments before she stalked away. Evidently, I had offended her. 

"I apologize, Mistress," I said to Nu-reeh, "for upsetting that woman."

"You are weak," Dinah informed me, "to see one as great as us develop from such insignificance is insulting. Your child must take strongly after her male breeder."

My eyes shot wide open and I stared between the women. My hand went to my stomach and my little girl turned. She, my child was a she. 

Nu-reeh and Dinah were discussing which male breeder it probably was. Christof usually made girls, but it seemed this off spring would be powerful. It must be Damien or Bane, they said. Evan's line had been known to create fearsome girls, but it was so rare. They were undecided.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 13



I wanted to know how they knew. 

The order burned itself into my mind: do not question the women. I wanted desperately to ask, but I was forbidden by my owners. The women would tell me whatever they wished, but probably not at my prodding. 

"You are so silent, slave," Nu-reeh commented as my men climbed toward us. 

She seemed to be testing my resolve about not speaking. 

Master Damien came to stand beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder. The reassurance felt good. I was safe now that my family was here. 

"The slave does not wish to anger you, Mistress," Master Damien said politely. 

"Wise decision," the large woman said turning away. "Care for your Masters this evening, slave. They will be punished in the morrow." 

The women walked swiftly away down the corridor and my men stood around me watching them go. 

"Interesting," Christof commented.

The internal conversation was fast and repetitive. I wanted to know how Nu-reeh knew what I was having. My men were not able to understand how the women knew, although they were only interested because I was. 

Master Damien started to move first and I fell into step behind him. His Brothers took their usual positions around me and we moved toward our quarters briskly. We needed privacy to discuss this further. 

"Is there a way to know?" Christof asked when we were back behind our leather flap. 

"No," I said shaking my head, "there are old stories about how you carry the child-"

"Explain," Master Evan demanded.

"If the belly rides way out in front or to the sides, I think. There are stories, but they aren't accurate. In my world there is no way to tell, unless you do an ultrasound," I said.

Damien and his Brothers poured over my limited knowledge of what an ultrasound entailed. That had most certainly not been done here. 

Master Bane let out a frustrated sound and walked into the bathing room. My men wanted to wash the smell of the women off themselves before they ate. They wanted to enjoy their evening meal. 

I crawled into the tub and washed Master Damien. He loved the feel of my soft hands gliding over him. It relaxed him immensely. His pleasure coursed through our bond. 

After the bath we dried off and went to the eating area. Master Evan and Master Damien went to pick out our meal for us while the rest of us waited. 

Master Kein laid my pad on the ground and I struggled to kneel on it. My belly was getting larger. Getting to my knees was beginning to be a small feat. When I was tired, like I was now, it was hard. 

Christof stopped me from trying and pulled me to his lap. He smiled knowingly at me when I looked at him. 

"So, now she is ungainly on land as well?" Master Evan snarked as he handed out the food he had picked up.

Master Bane grunted a laugh and dug into the meat in front of him. Master Kein chuckled and picked through the green stalks to get the tastiest one. 

It was their fault I was in this mess, so I felt entitled to my irritation. 

"Well, it's a good thing I can't fly or we'd have to watch that catastrophe, too, Masters," I commented smartly. 

Christof laughed and held me as he chuckled. His humor was infectious but Master Damien was angry at my new found attitude. 

"We're still looking forward to punishing you for this morning," Master Damien informed me. "The men from the red mountains have taught us to handle the lash and the ropes. It should be an interesting experiment."

I paled and decided to try to reason with them. Being hit or tied up seemed like it would be terrible. 

"You don't hit your own slaves, Master Damien," I said half pleading and half reminding, "and you don't need to tie me up, Masters. I'll do anything you want." 

"The men in the red mountains have informed us that if done correctly we can discipline you ourselves. I wish to test this theory. They say a slave will not permanently fear a Master that has caused her pain, if done well. It may make them less obstinate, though," Master Damien threatened. 

I met Master Damien's hot stare across the table and caught his intentions. He was looking forward to seeing me squirm and beg him. The very idea had him achingly hard again. The image of a woman pleading with him sent his arousal into overdrive. 

"I'm not really a woman," I said bargaining. 

"Flew in the mountains all day," Master Kein offered.

"Hunted prey and ate it raw," Master Bane ticked off between bites. 

"Spoke to us in any manner she saw fit," Master Evan spit out. 

"And is carrying the seed of one of us in her belly," Christof added helpfully. 

"Sorry, Ciara," Master Damien grinned. "I know what you are now."

Master Evan leaned close to me and I watched him warily, "And we will enjoy watching our woman bend before us." 

I looked at Christof and he was just smiling as he offered me a chunk of food. 

"I am sorry, Ciara, but I have been wanting my Brothers to come over to my way of thinking for a long time. It is a shame this is how they chose to do it," he said as way of apology. 

I shook my head and took my dinner. They were decided about how to proceed and we were all looking forward to it. The idea was so exciting and novel. I couldn't rid myself of the anticipation, although I was the last one that should be happy about it. 

My men took their time with the meal. They even took their time after the meal to sit and talk. Several groups stopped by our table to say hello and my owners made time for all of them.

They were letting my food settle. No one wanted me to vomit, that would diminish their fun. A little extra time would be worth it in the long run. 

We walked back to our rooms after dinner and I tried to drag my feet. Master Damien just reached down and picked me up. I opted to beg one last time, although I knew it was futile. 

I wrapped my arms around his neck and planted kisses on his face. Softly, I murmured affection in his ear. The resounding answer in my mind was clear. Begging was not attractive. I earned my punishment, now take it like a woman. 

We entered our quarters and my men stripped me of my protective layer. The only question was where to do this. I shivered in the main room and that decided them.

"I'll light the warmer in the sleeping room," Master Kein said running in that direction.

The room for sleeping could be kept warmer than the rest of the apartment. My owners were gracious and generous men, I thought. 

"God, this is intolerable," I said in English while grabbing my head.

I couldn't separate my thoughts out of the collective when they were so close to me. The distance during the day had allowed me some freedom over my own mind. It was awful, thinking what I knew I didn't believe. 

Master Bane went toward their clothes closet to retrieve what they planned to use as I was escorted into the sleeping chamber. I knew what he was looking for. Master Kein had wanted it so badly when their cousins had talked about it. The lengths of soft ropes could be used to bind me and immobilize me without causing pain. 

Now everyone wanted to see me like that on the bed. They wanted to tease me and see me cling to the very edge of orgasm. I'd beg them for relief and they had the power to grant or deny. The plan was to deny. 

In the bedroom I looked at them and saw lust in their eyes. 

"Please, Master," I begged putting a hand on Kein's chest.

I didn't really understand what they wanted to do. They'd never hurt me before and what was in their minds didn't seem painful. It just seemed so strange. 

His teeth grew as he watched me. The imploring voice from a female unhinged him. It was so erotic. They'd never realized how amazing it was to hear me plead with them, but he didn't like the fear I had. 

"You will be safe with us," he soothed placing a hand on my shoulder. 

The hand travelled up my neck and to the back of my head. I'd felt him grip the hair at the back of my skull. He pulled the locks tight and my head pulled back exposing the line of my throat to him. Kein's eyes were on fire as he looked down at me.

"You will be safe," he whispered again smiling, "but you will beg and we will enjoy it." 

Fighting was useless, but I struggled anyway and it made them wild. I forced Evan to pick me up and take me to the bed. In some futile effort to resist, I even screamed at them. 

A soft knot rope was forced between my lips and I felt it tied at the back of my head. I could still grunt and make noise, but intelligible sound was limited. 

"We will remove it when you learn to behave," Damien told me gently. 

The more I squirmed on the bed the more they held me. It was familiar sensation of being bond by the pressure of their hands and I relaxed. This I was used to. Once my struggles stopped the true binding began. 

Kein had paid most close attention to the cousins that taught this to them. The men had described ways they had seen unruly slaves bound and displayed in the yard. While Damien and his Brothers never planned to leave me out in a common area like that, they wanted to try it at home. 

Damien and Evan held my arms down as Christof and Bane held my legs. Kein worked slowly and deftly wrapping me in the rope. Everything Kein did felt careful and practiced. I found his certainty in his movements reassuring. 

I'd seen my uncles magazines with women bound this way. It was not something I felt I'd ever experience. There had never been anyone I trusted enough to do this to me, before now. Hands lovingly stroked me as I realized how much I trusted Damien and his Brothers. If they wished to bind and tease me, there was nothing to fear. I was safe with them. 

Damien had seen my thoughts and the understanding in them. He reached down to release the rope from my mouth. A finger stroked across my lips enjoying the soft feel of them. He loved my mouth and only enjoyed seeing it stuffed with one thing. 

Soft rope wrapped around my thighs several times. My knees were bent and pulled up, so the rope could be moved around my lower legs. Loop after loop was applied securing me, but never so tight as to cut off blood flow. My bent and spread legs were tied to the frame of the bed, so I had no chance of moving them together. 

I tugged at my arms held above my head and watched Damien's eyebrow raise. I knew I couldn't get loose and they weren't letting me go. He failed to understand the temptation to test the bonds. It was comforting, in a strange way, to have them hold me so tightly. 

Kein wanted to bind my chest next. He'd listened with fascination as their cousins had explained making the breasts and nipples stand out. That was what he was going to do now.

Kein almost lay on top of me as he passed the rope under my back. The leather of his pants rubbed my exposed feminine folds and I shuddered at the sensation. My hips raised to brush against him again and he allowed it, once. 

Holding himself on his arms and knees he placed his mouth next to my ear. 

"It is a privilege I am leaving your hips enough freedom to move," he said softly. "If you abuse it, I will truly enjoy taming you with this rope."

Images flashed in my mind, drawn images their cousins had shown them. Human women in such complicated bondage they couldn't move a muscle. What Kein had planned was much gentler than that. He just wanted to see me restrained, but if I insisted on pressing my luck...

The tension on my breasts became intense. Soft rope was wrapped steadily applying pressure. It wasn't necessarily painful, but it made them start to leak. Evan noted the change and licked up the fluid lovingly. 

"Oh God," I moaned as the sensitivity was ratcheted up several notches. 

I'd never felt such stimulation. It was like I could feel every ridge and bump on Evan's tongue. Just as I realized I could probably orgasm from one more lick, Evan stopped. The goal of this game was torment, not release. 

"You'll learn," Evan whispered in my ear grinning. 

My arms were bound last. A complicated run of knots was slowly placed up my arms until they were held to the center pole in the bed. Kein made everything firm, but not too firm. I just felt immobilized and I relaxed completely in the wrapping. 

"Your breasts," Kein said watching the large rounded orbs that now literally stood on my chest. 

He couldn't take his eyes away and started to stroke them. Even the sides were sensitive. My breathing caught as he stroked. A little more right over the nipple would feel so good, but he refused and trailed his fingers across my belly. I fought the urge to arch into his touch. 

"Control yourself," Damien whispered as his hand travelled over the area between my breasts. 

"You will learn control," Evan said crawling off the bed. "You can control your thoughts. We will teach you."

I felt so strange as they stared down at me. My positioning wasn't markedly uncomfortable, just odd. I was exposed entirely with my arms above my head and my legs bent and spread. My vulva was pulled apart and I knew they had access to any part of me they wanted. 

Evan knelt on the bed between my thighs as Kein crawled up to sit beside my chest. Damien stayed by my head with Christof beside him. Bane took a place beside Kein and they stared down at me waiting to begin. 

"We think as one being," Damien informed me. "Our cohesion is important to us. It is time you understood that."

"Yes, I understand," I whispered appreciating that disagreement hurt them. 

Damien leaned down and his tongue played across my lips. I sought to capture it and he backed away. Similar sensations started to be repeated on my ear by Bane and over my breasts. Evan's familiar lips were teasing my clit and I knew what the plan was. 

Over and over again it happened. One moment I would be covered in their hands and tongues. Every fantasy caress reenacted in real time and then it would stop as I sweated on the bed. 

My breasts started to take on a light purple hue and they were released. Kein changed the binding. Instead of the tight standing breasts, the decorative harness he applied merely was visually appealing, but did not limit blood flow. 

Now removed of the strict binding they felt even more sensitive. They had tingled when Kein first released them. He and Christof had massaged and licked the soft flesh until their color returned to normal. 

I was insane with need after a while. They didn't want me to feel relief, though. My lesson tonight was that discordant feeling causes discomfort. The lack of release was certainly uncomfortable. Being almost able to orgasm, but not allowed to was maddening. 

"I understand I really do. The communal flow must be respected," I whispered with all the sincerity I could muster and they smiled. 

Hands and mouths covered my slick flesh and this time they didn't stop. My body shook and exploded on Evan's tongue. It felt as though the release would never end. Lightening was exploding behind my eyes as my body clenched over and over on Evan's long tongue. My men enjoyed it immensely. 

"Perhaps," Damien said, his mouth inches from mine, "it is time for you to please us."

It most certainly was. They'd enjoyed my orgasm, but they wanted their own. The ropes were slowly and methodically removed. My men were about ready to start removing their own clothing when clattering talons interrupted our evening. 

The women were outside and they called to Damien wanting us out there, now!

******************************

A note from Steve150177-- We can thank DW for this wonderful story by voting for it. We need 11 five stars for every 1 four stars to get to an average of 4.91 and 1st place.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 14



So, my proofreader made an impassioned plea for votes and IT WORKED. Steve150177 was right and you all placed the last chapter in SECOND PLACE on the Top List. We are both thrilled. It makes writing so much more fun when you know the readers are enjoying. Thank you to all who read and voted.

It goes without saying but THANK YOU to Steve150177 for his hard work reading and rereading. The finished product is much improved for the effort.

Let me know if you have any comments good, bad, or ugly.

English is in italics when it appears. A note: During dream sequences, I did not hold to this rule. It seemed to break them up too much.

Enjoy! DW

************************************

My men thought of every vile word they'd ever heard as I was pulled to stand. Damien stalked out front and I was quickly draped in my warm blue cover. My foot covers were put on my feet and we followed Damien.

Nu-reeh stood outside with a group of women I didn't recognize. If huge fanged beasts could look worried, these did. The women with Nu-reeh seemed anxious.

"Damien, you and your family are friendly with Rue and his family," Nu-reeh said.

It wasn't a question; it was a statement. Nu-reeh didn't wait for an answer and demanded we follow her.

My men couldn't figure out why Rue and his Brothers were a topic of conversation. We'd used them when it seemed they could help us keep Ciara, but we knew little about them otherwise. They'd acted dishonorably and we'd love the chance to punish them for that. Damien's family was certainly not "friendly" with Rue and his Brothers. Arguing with Nu-reeh was not wise, so we followed obediently, but confused.

We walked into a part of the caves I'd never been. It looked like another place the men stayed. Damien and his Brothers knew of this area. This was a place we never went. We had no close friends from this dormitory. Nu-reeh took us to the very back of it.

I was reminded of the room I'd originally found my men in. If this set of rooms was set up the same way, that's the part we were in.

"Fix it," Nu-reeh said pointing to the large flap covered doorway.

We did not understand. No one had any idea what was going on, but questioning Nu-reeh was a horrible idea.

"Yes, Mistress," we replied instead.

"They could not stand the stress of finding how the world runs," Nu-reeh fumed. "We thought you had told them. We were not gentle with them and now they are broken. You are friends. Fix them."

We stepped quietly through the leather flap and stood in the large room. It looked like the room I'd found my owners in. There were several slight differences. Chains with collars hung unused on the walls and all the torches were lit.

I recognized the men that were my fake Masters. They lay listlessly on pallets beside one another. They reeked and weren't moving.

Master Kein approached the men and waved a hand in front of their open eyes. The men on the pallets didn't seem to notice him. They just lay silently, staring straight ahead.

It wasn't safe to talk here, so the internal conversation took over. We weren't friends with these men. They had been useful, but we were angry at how they had used our Ciara. No one wanted to fix them.

"Nu-reeh said to," I said out loud and Master Damien placed a finger over my lips.

We didn't know how to fix their bond. Damien's family was not a family of Healers, we were Warriors. These men were not friends with us, we didn't know anything about them.

"I know them," I told Master Damien and he looked harshly at me, "and I know they need to be cleaned up."

Master Evan was irritated with my persistence. None of us knew how to fix someone else's bond. Had it been friends we would try, but these men were not friends.

"She said to," I argued out loud and Master Evan stared hard at me.

If I couldn't learn to agree, they had stronger ways to teach me, but I wouldn't let minor pain dissuade me. I was fairly certain Nu-reeh was capable of much worse. The men needed to be cleaned up. We could figure out how to fix them next.

Master Evan stalked up and got right in my face. "We do not know how to fix them," he whispered. "We cannot do it."

Resolve not to be punished by Nu-reeh steeled my faltering determination and I stepped closer to him. "I say we can."

We stood toe to toe staring at one another for several moments.

"Is it a wager?" Master Bane whispered, now we had his attention completely.

"I say Ciara wins," Christof said.

Master Kein took Master Evan's side as did Master Damien. Master Bane stood undecided for a moment looking between Master Evan and me. Master Bane loved an underdog, it was more interesting when they won the wager. He bet on me.

"They need clean pallets and we need to wash them," I insisted.

Fine, was the internal consent. We would do what I said, if only to prove how mistaken I was.

Master Evan went to find water and rags to clean them. Master Bane left to get fresh pallets. I stood staring at the five men in front of me. Master Evan silently gloated as I pondered how to help them. I wasn't sure how to do this.

My men had gotten better when I forced them to gather around me. They loved me and wanted to stay with me. I wondered what these men loved and would rally around.

Master Evan returned and we started to work. We stripped them of their ruined clothes and bathed them. Master Bane returned with fresh places to lay and we started to move them.

"Where is their transport?" I asked Master Damien as we washed the men.

He looked at me questioningly for a moment. "In the compound, probably. I imagine the women went and got them and carried them back."

They loved that transport almost more than they loved any of their other experiments. Anything they could do to make it faster and better was worth the investment. I was disappointed it wasn't here. They might have woken up to play with it.

An idea struck me as I cleaned them and I looked at Master Damien.

"Would the transports go faster if they were fueled by the ore?" I asked him.

He thought for a moment and told me he didn't know.

"It seemed they would," I said casually. "On Earth vehicles that ran on things like solar power ran slower."

Master Damien grumbled a response and rolled his man onto a new pallet.

"The ore the women mine must be very powerful," I continued. "What types of things does it power?"

"The portals and ships that travel in space," Christof said crouching at one man's feet and paused in cleaning him.

"So the women could travel off the planet?" I asked innocently. "You could travel off the planet, Masters?"

Master Evan was irritated with my questions. "Obviously, Ciara, we went to the slave auction to find you."

"You went in a portal, Master Evan. Why would you need ships then?" I asked.

"The portals cannot transport the ore," Christof explained. "It becomes unstable in the portals and explodes. Ships, except for short distance travel, exist almost exclusively to transport the ore."

I continued to ask questions about the ore, about the other worlds, and about creatures that might visit this planet. My men understood my idea, but they weren't sure it would work. In all fairness they played along with me, though.

We heard a noise at the door and we all turned to look. I almost did, but remembered the rules in time.

"They should eat, their Mistress said so," the man said setting a covered pot by the fire.

Master Damien was irritated as the man left. We were not Healers and this job was ridiculous. He didn't think we were making headway and the entire experience was annoying.

"How do the women sell the ore?" I asked continuing to pursue my plan.

Master Bane answered as Master Evan scooped the gruel into the bowl. "We've never been there but there is a place the women let the ships land to load the ore. The women carry it there. They have men that do the actual negotiations. Our women terrify most other races."

"Wow," I said, "you mean there are men that get to talk to creatures from other planets?"

"Yes, usually they use men that were Warriors, so they don't fear for their safety..." Master Bane trailed off and was staring at the men on the wall.

They were sitting up and watching us. I put my head down, unsure if I should be looking at them or not.

"I would say that is a pointless concern since you have been bathing them, Ciara," Master Damien said with a small smile.

"There are men that do the speaking with other races?" one of my fake Masters asked.

"Yes," Master Bane said, silently gloating since he was on the winning side.

"Do they travel to other places? Are we permitted to go other places? Could we see other planets?" one of them asked.

"We don't know," Master Damien answered surprised as my fake Masters started to look more and more animated.

"The other mountains, can we go to see the other mountains? Can we travel over the ocean?"

"Maybe, some of the women let their men travel between compounds, your Mistress may," Master Damien informed them.

My fake owners were coming out of it rapidly. Their curiosity was peaked and they wanted to know everything. Since their interest seemed to be helping them bond, Master Damien did as Nu-reeh asked and helped them.

Master Evan was irritated. He hated losing a bet, so this upset him greatly. Like a sullen teenager her stood off to the side watching Master Damien slowly coax the men out of their depression.

The disconcerting feeling from Master Evan radiated through me and it hurt. I felt off and strange. My thoughts had been in opposition to him all day. We both found it distressing.

It hadn't been intentional, but I had hurt him. He felt divided and distant. That was a feeling he hated.

I walked to him slowly. If I could just be near him, I knew I could make it better. I wasn't entirely sure he would allow me to touch him, though.

"Come," Master Evan grunted begrudgingly at me.

Master Evan held his arms out and I rushed to him. My breasts pressed against him and I held him. We were close, that was all that mattered.

I looked up at him and he stared down at me. Our lips met in a fierce kiss. Master Evan needed to dominate and I wanted to be subdued.

My hands buried themselves in the nape of his hair as he pulled me to his mouth. It was a messy, tongue intensive kiss. His mouth left mine to explore my chin, my jaw, and the curve of my ear.

"Is this what you do with a slave?" I heard Rue's brother ask incredulously. "You eat it?"

"That is not your concern," Master Damien said stiffly.

Master Evan straightened and I wrapped my arms around his waist. He held me and stroked my cheek as he spoke to the men.

"I believe what you did with our slave IS our concern, though."

Master Damien's conscious mind dove into mine and forcibly examined my life with these men. He had lived up to his side of their agreement, these men had not. My Masters wanted to exact the price of their failure in blood.

"She said fix them," I whispered against Master Evan's chest.

We could destroy these men again easily, but it would be in direct violation of Nu-reeh's order.

"You are still owed punishment from us," Master Damien said to the men while turning toward Master Evan and me.

Walking over he placed a hand on Master Evan's shoulder and a hand on mine. We were together and we were fine. Punishing these men may cause the family to be separated again, none of us wanted that.

The clattering of the talons alerted us to the presence of the women. We heard their voices outside the room. The five men we had been responsible for healing stood quickly.

"What do we do?" I heard one of them ask.

"Whatever the women want," Master Kein quietly instructed them. "Keep them content and they will keep you happy."

Nu-reeh came first through the cover. Three women of only slightly smaller stature followed her in.

"They are fixed!" one of the women said sounding delighted.

The women rattled their wings in some sort of odd celebration.

"So quickly, Nu-reeh, your men must be Healers," another commented. "Perhaps you have misplaced them."

I saw the anger flash in Nu-reeh's eyes, but the other women did not. They were too enraptured looking at the five naked Warriors standing at the wall.

Nu-reeh spoke to Master Damien instead, "You did well," she said simply.

"Thank you, Mistress," we responded.

Nu-reeh gestured and we exited the room with her following us. It seemed inappropriate to walk ahead of the large woman, so we stood to the side and let her pass.

"Tell me, Damien," she said, "have I misplaced you? Should I have trained you in the art of healing?"

"No, Mistress," we answered.

Ridiculous, Master Evan thought.

Horribly boring, Master Bane added.

My men had no interest in healing others just for the sake of it. My opinion was it had been a nice challenge, but I didn't push it. Damien and his Brothers' opinion was set and strong, fighting about it would make us all uncomfortable.

Nu-reeh turned to look at me and I stayed silent. She started to walk again and we followed dutifully.

"Eight days worth of ore from their mines is what their women paid me for bringing them back," she said as we walked the silent halls, "and, a second eight for doing it so quickly."

Christof knew the mines better than anyone, that was an enormous sum. Rue and his Brothers must be valuable to their women. Pity, it would limit our ability to punish them for what they did to Ciara.

"You will be rewarded by suffering less strokes of the lash tomorrow," Nu-reeh informed us as she left us standing outside our leather flap.

"Thank you, Mistress," we replied dutifully.

We went inside and my men flopped down across the various chairs in the sitting area. I looked uncertainly at them. Kneeling was difficult and not comfortable.

"Come sit with me, Ciara," Master Evan offered.

I sat next to him on the long chaise and we held hands as the group relaxed.

"Thank you," I said softly to Evan.

Sitting on the furniture was nice, I definitely preferred it. Except Christof, everyone seemed surprised at the opinion, but happy to have found something I liked. Christof had always thought I should use the furniture. It made me so pleased and they wanted to keep seeing me feel this way. This was something simple they could give me.

Our minds hummed in comfortable synchrony. There was no more dissension in anyone's thoughts. We were together and happy.

I yawned loudly and Master Evan smoothed my hair. They'd worn me out earlier. If they finished what we had started earlier, I would be too tired to enjoy it. That did not particularly bother them, no one felt denied.

"It is time for sleeping," Master Damien announced rising and stretching.

We crawled into bed as a group perfectly content to rest and I dropped off to sleep.

*******

"Where are we?" Christof asked looking around the large crowded auditorium.

It was the school near the motel. This was a branch campus to the local community college. I had planned to attend the next semester's courses.

"Again with the dreams, Ciara?" Damien questioned leaning his tall frame against a desk beside us.

I felt rushed and frantic. My pen was buried in the bottom of my bag and I'd never find it in time to take the test. The paper I was supposed to be filling out kept disappearing off the desk. Failure was imminent if I didn't find a pen and hang onto the paper.

"Ciara," Master Kein said standing in front of me, "this is a dream. There is nothing to do. Tell us where this is."

I wanted to stay anxious and fret, but it wasn't possible. My men didn't feel anxiety in this situation, just curiosity.

"School, community college, to be exact," I said looking around. "I had planned to apply to take classes the next semester. If I got a degree, I could get a better job," I explained. "I wanted to teach," I told them as they walked around the auditorium.

I'd visited the local community college several times. In my room at the motel I had my application all filled out. I had been figuring out how to work the financial aid the state offered. It was complicated, but this would have been my road to a better life.

The anger welled up surprisingly fast and I couldn't hide it. This dream had been ripped from me, just like everything else. I would never be able to do anything like this. I was taken and trapped on a world of monsters now.

Damien didn't understand. My anger was misdirected, he believed. They took good care of me. I had done a horrible job of looking after myself. He shuddered remembering my hands.

"It would have gotten better!" I screamed at him in the dream. "I was going to make it better. It was my life, mine!"

All the barriers to such an outburst existed in my conscious mind and that was not present in dreams. The anger rolled through me and I wanted to escape them. I hated what they had done to me.

In the dream I ran through the halls of the school and onto the road. I ran as far as I could, but I could not escape them. When I turned to look they were always merely a step behind.

I woke up shaking and crying. Not since the first night had I let myself feel this. The sense of loss was too great and I crumbled beneath it. Moving quickly I went into the bathing room and sat cross legged on the floor to cry alone.

I cradled my pregnant belly and prayed for my child. Her life would be free, I hoped.

Christof came to get me. He had persuaded the other men to let me be for a moment.

"Come lay on the bed," he soothed. "You will feel better closer to us."

I shook my head 'no'. I wanted to be alone to grieve for what I had lost. Being right next to my owners wasn't going to make me feel any better. Closing my eyes with my arms wrapped around my stomach I sat and sobbed.

Warmth settled on my other side and I opened my eyes.

"May I please be alone, Masters?" I asked the five men now sitting in the bathing room on the floor around me.

"No," Master Bane said simply leaning against the wall. "We suffer this together."

Master Evan stretched out on his back and lay his head on my lap closing his eyes. It was such a temptation to stroke him when he lay there, I don't know why. My fingers ran across his forehead and he smiled.

"We understand this feeling, Ciara," Master Damien said simply.

They really did understand, in a way. Once they had been free, at least in their minds. Now they were bound to a powerful Mistress. She determined everything about their lives, because they could not resist her strength. It was much the same for me.

The bond hurt when I held myself apart from them. My head ached and I felt a little nauseated. The disagreement brought me pain. Feeling like I had been was not healthy for me. Tucking the anger far away I allowed their thoughts to flood into me.  

They were right, I did feel better now that they were close. I took comfort from their presence. The tears slowly dried as we sat there.

The floor was cold and hard, not an ideal place to sit. When I finally came to that conclusion Master Evan lifted off of me and Christof picked me up. They walked with me cradled in Christof's arms back to the bed and laid me down.

Damien lay in front of me and he watched me intensely. I had yelled at him and argued with him in the dream. He hadn't liked it and was frankly irritated with me.

"I'm sorry, Damien," I told him.

He smiled and brushed his lips to mine. I was forgiven. Damien had no desire to stay upset.

I had't meant to show them my anger. It was something I hid. Rightful indignation had no place here, I knew that. The discomfort it had brought proved it. It was a weakness I could not allow.

Christof curled against my back, warming where I had been sitting on the floor. The others did not totally understand how I felt, Christof understood and had no anger about it. In the back of his mind he still held the same opinion, free creatures should be left free. Strength was not a reason to dominate someone else completely.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 14



The blankets were pulled up and over me and I fell back to sleep.

We were in a classroom again and I sighed. This dream just wouldn't go away. It was probably because Nu-reeh had said I should be able to read. That comment had really stuck with me. On this world I was strikingly uneducated.

There was a figure on the blackboard in front of me. I recognized it at the symbol for the compound I had come from. It was the only symbol in their language I recognized.

"No, it isn't," Master Kein said from my side.

A new symbol appeared on the board and it looked familiar. It was on the outside of the shop they bought my ornamentation in. He was right, I knew this one, too.

"This part," Master Kein pointed out, "is the symbol for Fredrick's family."

He divided the symbol into it's different parts. The second part referred to what the shop sold and the last part referred to where the shop was located. Anyone that saw this symbol would know who the owners were, what they sold, and what part of the village it was in.

We spent all night with Master Kein teaching me to read. The dream eventually took us back to the place in the Child Keepers where they had learned language. We sat at the benches as Master Kein slowly taught me to decipher the symbols.

I woke feeling refreshed looking into Evan's bright eyes.

"That was boring, Ciara," he said simply pulling me up. "I already know how to read and I didn't like sitting in a classroom all night. Tomorrow you must dream of something better."

"Is it normal?" I asked as he cleaned me. "Why do I always control the dreams?"

Master Evan looked uncomfortable and frowned. "No," he finally answered, "we share everything. One of us never controls the others like that."

We went to breakfast and I sat on Master Evan's lap as Master Christof and Master Bane went to get food. Men approached our table and I felt Master Evan tense beneath me. He wanted to make these men bleed.

"Our Mistress said we are to be punished today for failure," I heard my fake Masters say. "They say the slave is heavy with a child."

"Sounds right to me," Master Damien answered leaning back.

"It was your deception," one of the other men snarled out.

Master Damien and his Brothers grunted at that statement.

"It was your failure to follow instructions and your greed that got the slave with child," Master Damien answered.

My owners were pissed at these men. They wanted to beat them into the ground, but it would have to wait. If they got in more trouble with Nu-reeh, she may hurt them so badly they would be unable to care for me. The women were not known to be light in their punishments.

"Leave us," Master Damien said motioning to the other men. "I have no wish to beat you up today."

Rue and his Brothers grumbled, but smartly left to go to their own table.

The food was delivered and everyone dug in. Anger was put aside so they could have a nice meal.

I thought about how Nu-reeh would punish them if they really injured someone else. It struck me to wonder what the women did when men killed each other.

"It's the price of having a Warrior," Master Damien said. "They expect it to happen."

When the Warriors killed another family their women paid off the women that had lost men. If the killing was not justified the Warriors would be sanctioned by the Administrators. A family that killed for fun or did so without cause would probably be destroyed by their owners.

"It was preferred that we brought thieves and wayward men before the Administrators for punishment. We were allowed to dole out death ourselves only when our lives were in danger," Master Kein said.

Master Kein was munching on that tasty green stalk again. I really wanted to try it. It tasted so unbelievably good to him.

Watching me curiously, Master Kein dug through the pile and pulled out the smallest, most tender stalk. He handed it to Master Evan, who gave it to me.

I'd seen Master Kein eat it and he just chewed and ate the entire thing. I put it in my mouth and bit down. The stalk was ice cold. Kein knew it was fresh because it was so cold. It was like biting a tough ice pop.

Juice leaked out where I bit the stalk and onto my tongue. It was wonderful. Concentrating on the taste, I chewed and sucked. The cold reminded me of cherry ice cream topped with sugar. It was the most intense candy taste I'd ever experienced. If I sucked hard enough I could pull the icy, sweet juice out without biting.

My men continued to talk around me, but I was lost in my activity. I hadn't had sweets in eons and that was what this was like. No wonder Master Kein liked it so much.

I looked up and Master Damien was grinning at me wickedly. Much like men on Earth he was mesmerized by the imagery. It was like watching me suck his cock. He'd make sure I got a piece of the plant everyday to suck on. What a wonderful thing to see at the start of the morning.

"Ha, ha," I blushed.

Clattering talons made everyone look up. The women had entered the eating area. Nu-reeh approached our table and looked at Master Damien pointedly.

"I expect you will work this morning and take your punishment this afternoon," she said bluntly.

"Yes, Mistress," we replied.

"The slave," she said gesturing to me, "will have visitors at mid morning. They will use your quarters and teach the slave what I want her to know. Runen and his Brothers are well versed in language. They will educate the slave...if it can be done."

Arguing with Nu-reeh was a stupid thing to do. It always resulted in punishment, but Master Damien was was willing to take it.

"Kein is bright, Mistress. He is already teaching Ciara," Master Damien said bluntly.

Nu-reeh's eyes flashed and she leaned toward Master Damien.

"I am glad to see you paid attention to what I told the slave, but I will see to her education," she said simply.

Master Damien stood to argue and Nu-reeh let out a warning hiss.

"You know you will never win an argument with me," she said simply. "If you try, I will only make you suffer."

The room had gone silent watching the challenge. It was obvious Master Damien was arguing with Nu-reeh. She never tolerated such outbursts.

It was more Christof's persistent internal entreaties that fighting would be pointless that made Master Damien sit.

"I am gracious, Damien," Nu-reeh said menacingly, "do not forget that."

After breakfast I was delivered back to their rooms. Master Damien's anger was palpable. In a display of rage, he bloodied his knuckles punching the wall several times. My own hand ached sympathetically.

"I do not like Runen and his family," Master Damien growled pacing. "They are..." he couldn't think of a word bad enough, but I got his intent.

Runen and his family were slimy and untrustworthy. They had once been Warriors but now negotiated with the other races for the sale of the ore. It was known they spoke many languages and were bright, but that wasn't what we didn't like.

They had great freedom because of their jobs. Runen had often gloated he was a step above the other men. His family even believed themselves to be at the level of the women.

My men left for the sorting room begrudgingly. Master Damien kissed me deeply before he left. He told me if Runen or his family harmed me, he would kill the other men, damn the consequences.

I cleaned the apartment up and was just finishing cleaning the main room when my guests arrived. They walked in like they owned the place and looked around.

"So," the largest man said slowly, "we are to waste our morning teaching you?"

"Yes, sir," I said politely, "that is what Mistress Nu-reeh ordered."

We started without anymore preamble.

The men teaching me found my ignorance laughable, which they did frequently. They knew English, somehow, at least the basics. They were very effective teachers.

Quite quickly I learned the fundamentals of their language. It helped that I had already been through some of it with Master Kein. The bond I shared with my Masters also made it easier. I drew on what they knew and made it my own.

Master Damien and his Brothers arrived to take me to lunch and my teachers took their leave. I knew Master Damien wanted to do harm to these men. They had treated me like a subservient species all morning and it had enraged him.

It was Master Evan that thanked them for their work and Christof that lead them out.

Once the tutors were gone, I persuaded Master Damien to sit. I rubbed the tense muscles in his back and shoulders. He loved to be touched, so I slipped my hands under his shirt to massage him. The attention had the intended result and he relaxed.  

My men ate lightly at lunch as did I. Their punishment was to take place afterwards and they didn't want to do it on a full stomach.

"We have now experienced nausea," Master Bane said watching me. "We think you will feel this when we are punished. None of us wish to experience that again."

Master Damien shifted me on his lap and sighed. He wondered if he should leave me in their room. Nu-reeh answered that question when she came into the dining hall a moment later.

"The slave will sit with me while you are punished," she stated simply motioning me to follow her.

We walked through the halls briskly. I followed Nu-reeh's large strides in a near jog. By the time we made it to where we were going I was out of breath.

The hall we stepped into was crowded. It was full of men there to watch the afternoon entertainment. I heard bets placed as to who would scream the loudest and how many lashes the punishment would entail. If Master Bane wasn't being punished, he'd be having a grand time in the comotion.

Nu-reeh headed toward a raised dais along the wall. She lifted me onto it and then followed with a leap. The large woman gestured to a seat and I took it quickly. Nu-reeh settled gracefully beside me.

I watched the raucous crowd of Warriors that were gathered beneath us. Unless I shut my eyes there was no way not to look at them. Master Damien was quite firm in his belief I should not shut my eyes around Nu-reeh, so I was permitted to watch.

Looking to the head of the room I saw Rue and his Brothers were already there. They were shirtless and looking vaguely anxious. Master Damien and his family went to the same place and stripped off their shirts laying them to the side. The two families stood apart and stared hard at each other, which seemed to surprise the rest of the men in the room.

"Didn't they work together?" I heard the men whisper to one another. "Aren't they friends?"

It wasn't hard to miss. Master Damien looked like he wanted to fight Rue and his Brothers. The rest of my family had the same fierce look. Even awaiting punishment they looked like dark, angry Warriors ready to do battle.

Nu-reeh made a sound akin to purring next to me and I looked up at her.

"Look at them, slave," she said eyeing Master Damien like a piece of meat. "You see the fire? They had almost lost that passion. I knew what they were doing when they left me. When they came back with their natures returned each time I knew I was making the correct decision."

Nu-reeh looked down at me. "I do not know exactly what you do to them," she said tracing my face with a claw, "but I want it to continue. They are valuable assets like this."

"Yes, Mistress," I whispered as the claw left my face.

"You will not carry another child, though," she stated. "That is unacceptable."

"Yes, Mistress," came out of my mouth automatically.

"You have nothing to offer me," she continued, her eyes still on Master Damien. "There is no talent the human race has that I need on this planet."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Evan's talent I appreciate," she said gesturing. "His breeder many generations back was not of Pateria. From that slave he gained his ability," she told me.

I was too shocked to speak and even Master Evan looked curiously over at us. Evidently, he hadn't known that either.

"We do not allow those slaves here anymore, though," she continued conversationally, "we could not control their breeding and they were a very petite race."

"Size is important, Mistress," I said trying to agree with her.

"Evan was bred large," she continued. "We have kept the talent and lost the ridiculous size that was originally associated with it."

More women entered the hall and the men separated to let them go where they wanted. Dinah and Nu-reeh's third Sister, Tosu, approached and jumped up to take seats around us. Dinah looked at me and grunted, but seemed to be controlling her temper.  

On the other side of the auditorium I saw the three women that must own Rue and his Brothers take seats on a second raised dais.

A large woman approached Nu-reeh with a wicked looking whip in her hand.

"Twenty," Nu-reeh told her, "divide it between them."

"So few?" the woman asked and Nu-reeh made a vicious sound.

"My men, I decide the punishment," she growled.

"The most to the male breeder then?" the woman asked gesturing to my men. "Which one is that?"

Nu-reeh let out a low curse. "The slave is human; she doesn't know."

The other women looked surprised and then angry. "One like us is arising from...this?" she asked disgusted.

The women shared a look before the whip holder roared and moved to the front of the room.

Rue and his Brothers went first. They each took thirty vicious swings of the whip to their backs. Several of the men cried out loudly, which elicited a cheer from the other men in the room. Bets were won and lost as the whip cracked.

I watched the blood drip from the wounds and cringed. The General's treatment of me had been far less harsh and I remembered the pain. Despite the joy Master Damien and his Brothers felt at their cousin's treatment, I felt sorry for all of them.

Looking up, I found Nu-reeh staring at me.

"Do you have a tolerance for pain?" she asked bluntly.

"No, Mistress," I answered honestly.

"Concentrate on Bane or Damien," she told me. "I refuse to listen to your piteous screams. Your owners are legendary for their tolerance and I am proud of them. Do not dishonor the family."

Master Damien took his lashes first and I concentrated on Master Bane. He was bored. The family had been whipped many times, this was nothing new.

The punishment was also surprisingly light. He had expected far worse. Master Bane was glad he hadn't placed any bets with his Brothers on the number of lashes. He would have lost that wager badly.

Frankly, Master Bane would prefer to be in the crowd betting on the outcome. Just to throw the bets, he considered calling out on the first lash. Most of the men would have wagered he wouldn't make a sound.

Master Evan and Master Christof were irritated with that idea. This was not a family of weak men. Crying out would bring dishonor, even if it would throw the games in the crowd.

It was Master Evan's turn and he grinned cheekily at the whip-holder. Winking would probably really irk her, I thought, so Master Evan did that. No one here had ever seen a wink and it did seem to disrupt the proceedings. Master Evan was thrilled.

The woman doing the whipping was infuriated with Master Evan's attitude. She laid the whip four times in the same place. She left a deep bloody furrow in his back, but he only grunted on the last lash.

I felt the pain from the two of them burning across my own back. It was much, much worse than what the General had done. Tears blurred my eyes and I concentrated on Master Bane.

Christof went next and took the blows stoically. He didn't intentionally goad the woman like Master Evan had done. She repaid him by laying the marks equally across his flesh.

Master Evan was proud of his single mark and bragged he was the strongest Brother. Master Christof did his best to ignore Master Evan, but he did agree with him. Master Evan's mark was deep and bloody. It was impressive.

Master Kein leapt to the position to take his turn. His willingness to take his punishment angered the whip holder, again. She called to Nu-reeh asking to give them more, they were not learning anything.

"They will learn, won't you Damien?" Nu-reeh called.

"Yes, Mistress," we all answered politely, but the internal opinion was quite the opposite.

We weren't learning anything from this. Fuck the women and their stupid rules.

Nu-reeh watched the defiant faces in front of her and I know she saw their rebelliousness. From what she'd told me, she liked it. Their attitude in face of their punishment looked like it thrilled her.

The punishment resumed and between slashes to Master Kein's back Nu-reeh turned to me.

"If I actually wanted to break them," she said, "you would have taken the twenty lashes. I could have opened your flesh until your blood coated the floor. That whip, while mild on my servants, would have torn you apart."

Master Kein cried out loudly hearing that through me and the men in the hall cheered. My owners turned to look at Nu-reeh with wary eyes.

"I am a kind Mistress," she said simply. "They should never make me want to do that. Isn't that right, slave?"

"Yes, Mistress, you are kind," I said petting my gravid belly.

"Never bet more than you are willing to lose, I believe is what Bane would say," she mused.

"Yes, Mistress," I answered as Master Bane humbly took his place and silently took the whipping.

She'd sucked the fire out of my owners. The whip may kill me, it would certainly maim me. Their cream would not be effective on the bone deep cuts the whip could make. My fragile flesh meant a lot to them, Nu-reeh had nailed the unfortunate truth of it. Master Damien and his Brothers would do anything to protect me.

Once the ten men had taken their punishment, they moved to stand before their respective owners. Master Damien looked up at me and he wanted me far away from Nu-reeh, or at least closer to him.

"I believe we understand each other, Damien," Nu-reeh said as she ran a clawed hand through my hair.

"Yes, Mistress," we all answered.

"You should thank me for giving you a light punishment," she purred.

My men and I thanked her dutifully. Compared to the other men, it really had been light.

"I will decide when you need to suffer, Damien, not you. Do not disappoint me again," she said. "Your ability to feel pain is mine."

The rest of the men in the hall dispersed quickly. They'd seen the good part. Bets would be settled outside the view of the women. It was quiet in a few moments and we were alone with Nu-reeh and her Sisters.

"Damien," Nu-reeh said, "Rue and his Brothers have paid for their deception and oversight. Their owner wants no other harm to come to their servants."

My owners were livid. Master Damien spoke quickly and angrily.

"They did not treat Ciara right, they did not care for her-" he said fists clenching.

"And it has been taken care of," Nu-reeh answered him calmly.

I felt it, the shift. It was done. We would not try to punish Rue and his Brothers ourselves. Thirty lashes to the back each was enough punishment for what they had failed to do.

"Yes, Mistress," we said.

My owners were looking longingly at me, but they didn't say anything. Their main concern now was having me closer to them.

"Go," Nu-reeh said simply waving a hand in my direction.

I rose to my feet and moved to the edge of the small stage. Struggling slightly I sat down and my owners pulled me off. They weren't focusing on their backs, they were focused on me. Nu-reeh's wicked claws had been so close...

"Go clean up," Nu-reeh said. "The slave may wait in your quarters and I expect a performance from you all this afternoon."

Nobody knew who she wanted to perform or what she was talking about. Suddenly her eyes locked with Master Evan.

"You specifically, Evan, I expect a good performance from you," she rose and stepped off the stage.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 14



Nu-reeh walked past us brushing boldly along Master Evan's chest. Her wings clattered and shook in silent excitement, but she moved on. My men understood now.

We walked toward our living quarters and the internal conversation took over. Nu-reeh smelled of a woman in need. The scent called to Master Evan like a beacon. She was going to breed with him today and he was excited.

"I wonder if she would let me taste?" he asked.

"Not a chance," Master Bane scoffed.

"As if you could get close enough without getting gouged," Master Kein said. "You aren't fast enough."

"Bet I could," Master Evan answered with good humor.

"The General liked to taste, too, Brother," Master Damien warned, "and you've seen what they did to him. They don't want you tracking them."

The General's face, I suddenly remembered, bore a scar. That was unusual, the mens' memories told me. The women rarely injured a man in the face.

I was irritated. They should be convalescing and relaxing. Getting harassed by Nu-reeh would just mean it would take longer to heal. Their backs were still dripping blood. They weren't up for a mating right now.

"Ciara," Master Damien scolded looking askance at me. "That was an embarrassingly light punishment and we are not weak men. Stop with this line of thinking."

We arrived back at our quarters and my men cleaned and wrapped their wounds. I tried to help, but they had done this before and knew what to do for one another. They pecked me on the lips and made their way to the mating chamber in good humor.

Despite the irritation the men had at the thought, I still believed that they were strange creatures. The pain didn't even phase them. They barely acknowledged it, yet they would rather die than live without even one Brother.

"We're tough," Master Bane had argued.

"Not easily undone," Master Evan had informed me.

Strange nonetheless, I still thought.

That afternoon I sat in our apartment and experienced my men mating with the women. Since I didn't have anyone talking to me, I was forced to really feel what my men went through.

It was like a surreal dream as I sat on the couch and Nu-reeh took Master Evan. Dinah took Master Christof and Tosu took Master Bane. It was violent, erotic, and all consuming.

My men worked together, but it was never effective. The women picked the man they wanted and quickly divided him from the group. Here in the mountains the women made no show of allowing men to bind or control them. Men were forced to accept what the women wanted.

The females absolutely controlled the mating. They fought viciously with the men until they had them flat on their backs on the cold stone floor. Once the men were down, they had to stay still and let the women mount them. That is how the men were always taken, unless the women felt kind. If the women were in a good mood, which was rarely, they let the men stand and take them from behind.

Christof wasn't particularly turned on by the aggression today, but an erection was pulled from him anyway. Dinah straddled my friend and her vaginal area literally sucked him in. Within moments the tight heat of her sex had him hard and ready.

Master Damien and his Brothers knew the women's anatomy, mostly. Small suckers could be used to drag the penis into the women. Rippling muscle inside the women stimulated the men whether they wanted it or not.

No man could resist the women, except Christof. His prior impotence in the face of his stress had been unheard of. Since he was functional again the women took him like he was a rare treat that might dry up at any time. Dinah would drain him as many times as she could this afternoon.

It went on and on. The women mated their chosen men and then released them. When they were ready to fight and fuck, they took them again. My family was tired and hungry when they came back to me that evening.

As I bathed them, they enjoyed my soft hands gliding over their skin. I avoided touching the places that hurt and they liked that, too. The women always made a point to dig into their sensitive spots. This was a small joy they had longed for in the many moons we had been separated.

I went to sleep later that night still wondering about this strange and bizarre world. Tonight it was dreams of the wide plains leading to the mountains. I was there as they battled and subdued the bandits that roamed the Great Barren Stretch.

Runen and his Brothers came to teach me again in the morning.

I had a horrible time concentrating. Something had happened in the sorting room and all the men were working to fix it. They were frustrated and annoyed, which kept distracting me from my lesson. The tutors noted it and called me stupid.

I learned about names today, family names specifically. By the time my tutors left I understood the marks men wore on their shoulders. They were brands that told you not only what family they belonged to, but the small unique marks around the edges told you who their breeders were for three generations.

I asked the tutors how you would know which Brother in a family sired the child, since the Brothers all wore the same mark. They snidely told me the Brothers were all numbered. They each were aware of what numerical symbol corresponded to them.

"How have you existed here this long and yet you don't realize that?" the lead Brother asked. "You must pay no attention at all."

I sat silently as they pondered my ignorance. In my head I heard Master Damien's outrage. Of course I didn't know the Brothers each corresponded to a numerical value. There was never a reason for me to know that. It was just a system the Child Keeper's used.

Information that was infrequently used came to my memory suddenly. Master Damien was number 1, Master Evan number 2, Master Kein was 3, Christof 4, and Master Bane 5. The number hand no other benefit than to help the Child Keeper's organize the raucous young boys.

The men coming to teach me were testing Master Damien's patience. They did not treat me with the respect his family was due. Anyone else that demonstrated this obvious disregard would usually receive a sound beating.

My owners arrived at lunch and Master Kein escorted my tutors out. Everyone tried to keep Master Damien distracted until the men were gone, his temper was threatening to burst out of control.

"We have a surprise, Ciara," Christof said lightly and that made Master Damien smile.

They did have a surprise for me, one they had been carefully hiding all morning. I hadn't sensed anything about it from them. Only Christof had seen the surprise and he was making a point not to think about it. They wanted to see my face when I saw what they'd gotten me. Christof presented me with a brown bag and I looked curiously at him.

"Only I looked at it," he explained grinning, but I still didn't know what it was. Christof was very good at keeping secrets. Usually that irritated Damien, but it had been fun today.

I opened the bag and was thrilled. They had found me knitting needles and yarn in their colors. They had paid attention when I said I wanted to knit my child a blanket. It had seemed important to me, so they wanted to make it happen.

Grateful for their thoughtfulness I hugged and kissed each of them. That seemed to finish calming Master Damien down.

***********

Just like when I first arrived on this planet the strangeness of it all settled. My days in the mountains started to take on a normal feel. It became a repetitive pattern of lessons and learning.

Nu-reeh took me out to fly in the countryside almost every day. She brought me into caves and taught me all the things that lived in the hills. Other days we would fly into the mines and she would teach me how to get the ore. I knew the sprawling mountains around us like the back of my hand.

I also learned landmarks and how to tell direction. Nu-reeh spoke of far off places and how to get to them. It felt like I had seen the entire planet through her stories.

The most fascinating day, she took me to where the space ships loaded the ore. We sat on a hill overlooking the valley as massive ships worked below us. Nu-reeh made sure I knew about every race that was down in the valley. By the end of the day I knew what dangers awaited the salesmen below us. If they should need help, I knew the signs.

I assumed I was to teach my child all that I was learning. There was so much, I prayed enough of it would stay with me. Everyday felt like I was trying to memorize an encyclopedia.

This was such a strange and dangerous world. I often wondered if my child would survive. It wasn't like I could offer any help or assistance. While I knew I would unconditionally love my child, I felt useless in helping to raise her.

My owners hated the fretting and worrying. They found that my lack of confidence and fear distracted them. Any endeavor that took my mind off my deficiencies was supported wholeheartedly.

They soon learned the knitting and sewing relaxed me. Making blankets for the child made me feel useful. At least my child would have something soft and warm to be wrapped in. I was provided with as many supplies as I needed and encouraged to knit whenever I wasn't otherwise occupied.

Besides relaxing me the knitting had another benefit. It gave me something to do when my only responsibility was to be present and listen. Often Nu-reeh had me sit and watch my Masters' couplings while she spoke with her Sisters. She found my productivity to be a good thing and demanded I continue it.

Sitting amongst the women I learned a great deal about them. Soon I could understand their hierarchy and their interactions. Eventually, I learned what was appropriate behavior and what was not. Nu-reeh quizzed me often and seemed intent I understood this well.

There were rules the women followed and expectations that had to be met. Whenever we came across a new practice Nu-reeh would make sure I understood completely. She was quite clear in her belief I should know exactly what was expected of a female. I did my best not to disappoint.

As far as my original purpose was concerned, a drastic change took place. One night my owners decided that sex was too cumbersome and exhausting for me. They no longer used me for sex.

Damien and his Brothers adored sex with me, but as my belly grew I was easily made sore. The act itself required a great deal of energy, particularly with five men to satisfy. It became an issue one night and I was shocked at the outcome.

Kein had taken me first. I knelt on the bed as he took his pleasure in my body. For me the act was uncomfortable, but I took him willingly. With each bump of his long staff against my tunnel, I had started to openly wince. Suddenly, he withdrew himself.

Evan's breath was hot on my cunt as he brought me to pleasure. For a moment I wondered when Kein would finish and then I knew he would not. They were done with me for the evening. The orgasm Evan was bringing me was an apology for the pain. It was going to be the end of sex until I was no longer pregnant.

I was shocked and looked up at them. A sex slave that could not be used for sex was unheard of. Damien heard the train of thought in my mind.

"You are not our slave in this room," he chuckled. "You are tired and not able to be used for now. We do not mind. We will wait for the women to use us."

I lay down panting on my side staring at him. He was erect and ready, they all were. "You could pleasure yourselves with your hands," I said hopefully, "or I could pleasure you with my hand."

That would be unheard of. A man's seed must be deposited in a living vessel. Anything less would be a terrible insult. Their essence should only be left somewhere alive.

The collective opinion clashed with my own and Christof gasped at my take on the matter.

"It is a form of control," he said softly while rising to pace the floor. "We could make our own release, but the women want us to depend on them for it."

Damien started to understand and slowly they all did. The women force them to look forward to the horrible couplings by making sure they didn't get relief any other way. Damien and his Brothers had never looked at it like that.

A strange memory occurred to me. My uncles had used socks and towels to clean up the resulting mess when the pleasured themselves. The women just didn't want the men using their seed like that.

I imagined the initial intent was to only allow sex with women. The slaves in the compound were obviously an appeasement for overanxious Warriors who would not wait. Slaves kept men on the compound and away from the mountains. The only other option was going to forced couplings.

Kein bolted to the bathing room and returned with five small towels. I sat up and watched him hand them out. Everyone was excited and perplexed about doing this.

They'd been told this was wrong and never encouraged to do it. It was such a temptation, though. It would feel so liberating.

I knew they'd feel better if it seemed more familiar to them.

"First one to finish wins," I said softly and to no one in particular.

Christof had done this before and took the dare first. The others followed suit and I watched fascinated at their impromptu circle jerk. They looked down at what they were doing with fascination. No one had ever said they could do this

Kein came first, probably he was already stimulated from what we'd done. His Brothers followed in rapid sequence with Bane losing the whole contest. None of them felt they'd lost anything, though.

They'd won a certain freedom today. The women could not control them this way. If they felt the urge again, they had an outlet. There was nothing wrong with what I called masturbating. It was markedly exhilarating.

The rags the men had used to catch their seed were all taken to the lavatory and washed. We were all elated at their new found freedom. They felt a measure of control and they liked it.

"Thank you, Ciara," Master Damien said to me with a grin, "we enjoy the way you see the world."

I smiled back at him and petted my growing belly. Freedom felt good and I was glad my daughter would have that.

Time passed in the mountains. I had only my five men for company, but they were always present. My thoughts were a constant amalgamation of mine and theirs. It forced us to know each other and compromise on even the littlest thing. As my belly grew, I felt more and more attached to my Warriors.

The six of us grew very close. We experienced each other in ways I'd never dreamed possible. I understood them completely and they understood me.

The dreams were always when we were closest. They saw the world through my eyes and I saw it through theirs. During the day my opinions played into their actions as theirs played into mine. It changed our relationship.

"A slave can be bought and sold," Master Evan said one night while we sat around the fire in our apartment.

I had been knitting and not really paying attention to them at all. As it was now most days, my attention had been on Nu-reeh's lessons from the morning. The conversation took me off guard.

"Ciara can't be sold," Master Kein said, "ever."

We all strongly agreed. Selling me would be wrong, because buying and selling anyone was wrong. Sentient beings should not be sold or owned.

It was done and decided. I was not their slave anymore. My men were satisfied.

I fought the collective opinion and I could feel the disconnect causing a headache.

"I am still a slave. You are still my Masters. There is nothing else I can do on this planet. If you don't claim me, someone else will. I am not strong enough on my own, remember?" I asked.

Their sudden decision had me worried. I knew the reason everyone left me alone was because I was theirs. Without my powerful Masters, I was as good as dead.

"You are not a slave," Master Evan insisted. "We could never part from you. You are part of us, you are family."

"Do you want to be a slave?" Master Bane asked incredulous. "I know you don't. I can't understand your resistance."

I breathed deeply and tried to calm my rampaging thoughts.

"If I walk out of that flap," I said pointing to the main door, "and tell those men I am not owned by Master Damien and his Brothers, what do you think will happen to me?"

"That would be a stupid thing to do," Master Kein said echoing the thought of everyone in the room.

Yes, he was right. I blinked and tried to focus on why they had to claim me as a slave.

"I am not harmed only because I am owned by you all. If you stop claiming me, then I have no value to anyone," I argued.

"We don't like slavery anymore," Master Evan said as way of explanation. "You are family, not a slave."

I put the knitting needles down and tried to make them see reason. "You can tell me that, Master Evan, but you can't tell anyone else that."

They considered for a mere moment.

"Fine, you make a valid point," Master Damien conceded. "Since we do not wish to see you harmed, we will still call you our slave. We will all know you are not a slave, though."

"Thank you, Master Damien," I said politely, feeling happy they understood.

"You don't have to call us Master if it's just us," Christof said grinning.

Christof was ecstatic. He was gloating actually. It had taken a long time, but they had finally seen what he saw all along.

"Yes, yes Brother," Evan sighed, "free things should be left free."

"Can we still use Ciara?" Kein asked.

They hadn't thought about that. If I was free I could say no to them, that didn't seem possible. They knew I loved what they did to me when I wasn't pregnant. The collective decided I would still have sex with them whenever they wanted, because they brought me pleasure, too.

I sighed and let the thoughts run through my head. A very tiny piece of me knew they had missed the point entirely, but it was a good start. I had to appreciate that they were at least becoming aware.

Christof was not as generous as I was. It should be my choice, just like it should be their choice. That wasn't the overriding opinion and dissension caused pain. I felt the whispered promise before the idea was buried. We would work on it.

The family walked to the breakfast room the next morning and Damien had the oddest thought. I should be able to look at whatever I wanted. Since I was no longer a slave, the rules did not apply. They were sure I'd like to look around.

"No, no, no," I whispered fiercely. "These men understand the rules you all have set forth. I don't look at them and they don't touch me."

Christof agreed with me. It would have to be an act, but we had to continue the same way. The rules protected me.

"Not much to look at in these caves, anyway," Bane said softly.

We walked quietly and I thought about the things I would want to see. There were things I rarely got the chance to look at. I remembered being in the backyard on Earth with one of my nicer uncles. We had laid on blankets and he had taught me the names of the different constellations.

"Stars," I whispered and they pulled me to the side, "I would like to see the stars again."

I had occasionally seen the stars through the window in the compound. It wasn't like I was an astronomer, but I did like to see them. I imagined the sky here would be beautiful, but I was not permitted to look up.

Tonight, the men decided. There was a place they could take me we could go look at the stars. I would have to be dressed warmly because it was an exposed area, but you could see almost the entire sky.

I thanked each of them and kissed their cheeks. Speaking softly, I only called them by their given names. They loved that I didn't call them Master anymore.

We walked toward the eating hall and my family was satisfied. Some tiny part of me wanted to think what funny men these were, but I couldn't hold the thought. They were happy and settled, so I was, too.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 14



I sat on Bane's lap to eat. Christof went with Kein to get food.

The men were all excited when Christof sat the steaming pot of drink on the table. It was hard to make, but all the men loved it. I loved it, too. How wonderful we got to have it today.

"It is so strange having a strong opinion on something I've never experienced," I complained.

I'd never had this drink in the compound. It was often served at celebrations. The memories they had of this drink were very powerful.

"Women must have something that made them happy," Bane said pouring us a generous portion.

He took a sip and offered the cup to me to hold.

"Bet one of them had a girl," Kein said taking the pot from Bane.

I took a sip of the warm, spicy liquid. It was wonderful, like orange juice mixed with cider, only richer and spicier. I licked my lips as I handed the cup to Bane.

Everyone thought my reaction was comical. They loved to see me experience their world. My face was so expressive. The very first day they'd learned that and it had thrilled them.

We ate our meal and I took frequent sips of the drink. Christof even had to refill our pot, because I drank so much. It reminded me of strong Christmas punch.

During breakfast, I ate what Bane gave me, but also picked what I liked off his plate. He found it amusing. They no longer cared if I fed myself, as long as I got enough to stay healthy.

Bane frequently redirected my hand. The things I liked to eat they did not think would give me enough sustenance. Although I picked it up, they still directed what I took.

Our quiet breakfast was interrupted by Rue and his Brothers.

"You let it feed itself?" Rue asked from in front of us.

I was holding Bane's cup and tried to set it on the table. He stopped me with an internal command.

"As it turns out," Damien said casually, "Ciara is a female. You will note, thanks to you all, she now carries a child."

We weren't particularly angry and these men anymore. They were less capable than we'd originally thought, but we had no ill feelings toward them.

Damien asked Kein for a plate of meat and just continued his breakfast.

"But you let HER feed HERSELF the entire meal," the other man groused. "You made us stop our day to feed this creature with our own hands. You said it had to be done that way."

"It appears not," Damien said dismissively.

"You wasted our time," Rue persisted.

This was really starting to get under our skin. None of us could figure out why we weren't upset with these idiots anymore. They had kept Ciara in the box for days, they had forced her to work for them, and they had stopped giving her the health drink. When she became pregnant, knowing it could be illness, they had tried to hide that from us and not called the Healers. Rue and his Brothers had done horrible things and had not finished paying for it.

Damien stood up; he was pissed. I slipped off Bane's lap as he rose to his full height. My family was preparing for battle. The entire eating area went silent watching what would be a tremendous fight.

Clattering talons came into the hall and I looked up at Nu-reeh. She had already punished these men. We had all seen it, beating them again would be a waste of time. Now was the time for eating.

Rue and his Brothers moved away and Nu-reeh came to stand in front of us.

"Sit," she ordered and we all did. "Did you enjoy the drink today?" she asked pleasantly.

"Yes, Mistress," we answered.

Nu-reeh turned and left without another word.

"Women," Bane said quietly refilling the cup and we all agreed.

A niggling and fleeting thought made me wonder what had us so worked up a moment ago. I shrugged and took Bane's cup. Must not have been important to be forgotten so easily.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 15



Here it is the answer to the question: Who's the Daddy?

Thanks to Steve150177 for his relentless pursuit of perfection. I think you all have seen the difference it has made.

English is in italics when it appears.

All feedback is welcome whether you liked it or not. Let me know if you have comments

Enjoy! DW

*************************************

I had a free morning while my men worked in the sorting room. After I cleaned our apartment, I finished another blanket for the child. I talked to my unborn and sang to her all morning. Later, as I often did nowadays, I took a late morning nap.

My naps were restful, but they were full of dreams. My connection with my family was strongest then. It was like I spent that time in the sorting room learning more about the ore and whatever else was on their minds.

Anything they thought about while I slept, I absorbed. If something was interesting to me I felt them concentrate on it. The experience made for strange, vivid dreams. I often woke confused, because I'd thought I'd been wherever I was dreaming about.

As usual, Evan's lips on my temple woke me. I had been deeply asleep.

"It is very strange," he informed me, "we find that when you are tired, we are also. Once you have fallen to sleep, we no longer feel tired. Your sleeping clears our bond of that influence."

I stared up at him as confused as he was. It was clear to my men the way we bonded wasn't normal. They were an amalgamation of one mind. Despite our obvious connection, I was still separate. It was very strange, but it wasn't like any of us understood.

"We are hungry," he told me as my own stomach rumbled.

After lunch Nu-reeh had me sit with she and her Sisters while Damien and his Brothers worked off her debt to another family of women.

"They are fierce," Dinah purred watching my men battle and get fucked by the women.

"They are happy," Nu-reeh said and laid a clawed hand on my back.

"Your owners are valuable when they are like this, slave," Nu-reeh told me. "Men that are unhappy wither and die."

"Yes, Mistress."

She continued with the odd lesson. "Some men are happy here in the mountains. Rue and his Brothers will be happy here because they are allowed to learn new things, for instance. They will do well here. Other men are happy because they are allowed to enjoy us physically more frequently."

Nu-reeh pointed to my family. "There are times when you will find a family will not be happy here, no matter what. Those men cannot be kept here in the mountains. Their anger infects the other men. They start fights. It is very disruptive."

"Yes, Mistress," I said remembering things I hadn't known.

In my mind, I saw that Damien and his Brothers had been trouble makers when they were first here. Until the first time they saw me, they had been very difficult and sullen.

"I foolishly used them as payment, so I could not send them back immediately. It was a mistake," Nu-reeh said. "They found a way to make themselves happy, though, so I let them continue to visit with you. I had hoped it would be a permanent solution."

Dinah snorted and growled, "They were never like this, though, all spirited and happy. Their energy is from a good place now. They will stay strong like this. However, I can barely tolerate having this slave near me."

"Damien and his Brothers need to be back at the compound, so they can be with their slave," Tosu said and the other women agreed. "This is what makes them happy."

Dinah snorted looking disdainfully down at me. "If Damien and his Brothers must keep her, at least let it be out of our sight."

The talking ended as a woman down in the ring speared Kein with a wing tip. He had been trying to play with her breasts. Dinah's disgust with me barely registered and I grinned at my men as Nu-reeh went down to protect her property.

I continued to knit quietly as the mating went on. What Nu-reeh had said was interesting, but the collective was busy fighting and fucking. All I could really think about was what my men were doing down in the ring.

After the mating, we were excited. My Men knew a great deal about the stars. Their memories of how to use them were powerful. They could help tell you time of year or guide you across great distances. Showing them to me would be fun.

We had permission from Nu-reeh, Damien had asked, so we could stay out all night. My men loaded up bags they carried on their backs and we set off. We had everything we needed, so we wouldn't have to return until morning.

The sun was setting as we got on our transport. Kein drove and we zipped away from our mountain home. My men had to control themselves. Cheering as they rode away would be dishonorable, but it's what they wanted to do.

We were going to their favorite lake. In the morning we may swim in the water. Tonight we would watch the moons rise together. It was going to be a wonderful night.

"No women!" Bane said smiling.

I patted my gravid belly and looked up at him.

"Well, you don't really count, Ciara," Kein told me, musing my hair. "You aren't like them."

No, I wasn't like them. I was female, but I wasn't what they considered a woman. I was different.

We made it to their spot in record time, at least according to them.

Evan and Christof set up our camp site while Damien, Kein, and Bane checked the perimeter. There were dangerous things we had to watch out for. I knew what most of them were thanks to Nu-reeh. Luckily the area around this lake was not usually inhabited by things that were troublesome.

Kein bounded back to us with a dead animal slung over his shoulder. We would eat it the way they enjoyed it tonight, roasted on a spit over the open flame. I watched curiously as my men prepared the carcass and set up the fire.

"I only camped outside a couple of times when I was younger," I told them as the fire started to gain momentum.

I remembered staying at a camp ground a couple of times with relatives. We'd stayed in a trailer, so we didn't even really stay outside. We brought canned food and cooked it over the electric stove inside. There were bugs outside, so we sat inside and watched television. It was really like staying at home, only more cramped.

My men experienced my memories with me and grunted in amusement. The idea of a traveling lodging was funny to them. They'd never seen anything like that. The rest of it was just weird Earth culture. Sitting and talking around the fire was so much more enjoyable than what I described.

"This is much better," Christof said coming to sit beside me.

I grinned at him and pushed at his shoulder with my own. Christof grinned and pushed back, bumping me against Bane. The physical contact was always reassuring. No matter what we were doing, we preferred to be together.

"You're missing the stars," Bane laughed pointing up.

He was right the sky was slowly darkening and the first glimmers were appearing in the night sky. Leaning back I watched as the first of the three moons rose.

"We won't see the ringed moon start it's journey into the night sky," Evan told me. "It happens beyond that mountain over there. It will appear in the sky above that ridge after a third of the night has passed."

From their minds and memories I had a sudden knowledge of the moons. My men timed the night sky by them. When they kept watch, they used the progress of the different moons to know how late it was. It was the setting of the ringed moon that woke Evan up every morning. They were so in tune with them, they felt them even when they couldn't see them.

I thought about the moon on earth, it hadn't been nearly as predictable. The sun was useful and we timed our days off of that.

"Weird," Kein commented wrinkling his nose.

The meat was cooked and we ate heartily. They told me about the patterns they watched in the speckled blackness. Evan knew it better than anyone and his mind guided mine. I watched with fascination as the night sky unfurled before me.

Eventually, we ended up on our backs. My men set up their sleeping pallets so our heads were all together in a circle. I watched as they pointed out all the interesting things they knew about the glittering blackness.

The way the stars looked and the way they moved in the sky was predictable to my men. They told me all about it. Evan had spent hours learning the sky.

"I wonder," he said, "where my breeder came from, the slave many generations back?" he whispered.

We all wondered and none of us knew. I wondered what had happened to her.

"Why do you think she tasted things?" he asked. "What was the purpose of my gift where she was from?"

Evan's mind was full of questions. He couldn't imagine a world where they were all like him.

"You sound like Ciara," Bane teased lightly, but he didn't mind.

The questions were valid and they all wished they knew more about their Brother.

I lay quietly watching the sky. Bane had stretched out on one side and Christof on the other. After a long while, I drifted to sleep. Vaguely, I was aware as the blankets were pulled over me and I was snuggly wrapped.

When we slept outside like this someone always kept a watch. They each took a turn during the night. Through the eyes of my men as they protected their family, I saw every subtle change in the shimmering stars and changing moons. It was like I watched the sky all night.

The memories of my men spoke to me. I saw the countless nights they had sat and watched the beautiful vista. By morning I understood the way they tracked time and what subtle changes in the moons would mean.

Evan woke me with his enthusiasm. As the ringed moon disappeared and the sun rose he was filled with the usual boundless energy.

"A swim this morning?" he asked stripping.

My breath misted in front of me and I looked warily at him. The water would be freezing and the air wasn't much better. I'd be an ice cube.

The collective mind had me, though. We loved a morning swim. It was refreshing.

Before I realized it I was on my feet and stripping out of my warm cover. My men raced to get out of their clothes.

The air bit my nipples and the rocky ground dug into the soles of my feet. I was too happy to notice, though. This was a treat to get to do this. My family hadn't been able to swim here since we lived in the compound.

We plunged as a group off a small rocky ledge into the water. It was so cold I screamed when I came up for air. I grabbed at the edge and tried to pull myself out.

Kein was behind me laughing a second later.

"Hold onto my shoulders," he commanded turning away from me. "I want to show you something."

Kein wasn't too cold, neither was anyone else. I concentrated on how they felt and ignored my own sensations. It made swimming like this fun.

I grabbed onto Kein's back and he took off under the water. Fish swam by us as we darted through the reeds at the bottom. I watched the underwater scenery with wonder. Kein didn't surface until he needed air.

Each of my men took a turn showing me the lake. It was amazing and I forgot about the cold. They could swim so fast and so deep, we went to places I'd never have reached on my own.

By the time they were done, I felt a little sluggish and sleepy. Damien looked strangely at me and pressed against my back. Quite suddenly he grabbed me and sprang from the water. I watched with detached amusement as my men stoked a roaring fire.  

"Wha's the hurry?" slurred out of my mouth.

They seemed to be in a big rush as Evan pulled the water out of my hair with one of those magical cloths and Kein briskly rubbed my body. Bane lay me down on a pallet and then pulled my back tight to his chest. Damien lay in front of me and pressed solidly against my protruding belly, wrapping around it.

"Ciara," Damien said seriously, "you can't just ignore what you are feeling. That isn't how this is supposed to work. It is a shared consciousness, but each individual is still responsible for their own part of it."

I looked up at him and realized I was shaking.

"W-w-why am I-I-I moving like t-t-this?" I asked them looking around.

"You are cold, Ciara, much too cold," Evan chided taking my shivering hand in his and rubbing it.

Christof pulled a blanket out and laid it over the three of us while looking worriedly at me.

Nobody else was cold. This didn't make any sense and then I stopped focusing on them.

It hit me like a freight train. I was so cold, so very uncomfortable. The warm bodies on either side of me were the only good thing I felt.

Moaning softly, I felt them press closer to me. Greedy for the warmth they provided, I didn't mind the feeling of almost being smothered as I snuggled closer to them.

"I l-l-like the w-w-water," I said softly. "I didn't want to have to get out. We were all having fun."

Christof sat and watched us a moment before he spoke.

"It isn't normal for a human to have this attachment to us," he said simply. "That's probably why it doesn't work right for her."

Nobody else could have done what I just did, the internal dialogue told me. They couldn't disappear into the bond and forget their own feelings. It just didn't work that way.

They agreed with Christof. My family would have to be careful with me. I was having trouble with the bond.

"You'll have to be more aware, Ciara," Christof warned. "I don't think you are supposed to be able to do this. You aren't doing it correctly. You will get injured this way."

I couldn't disagree. They had a great deal more experience with this than I had. Grateful for their warmth, I just snuggled with them.

As I got warmer, I started to enjoy the press of warm flesh on either side of me. Since I was facing Damien I started to place kisses across his neck and chest.

"Hmm, and what are you doing?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Thanking you for noticing my distress," I said continuing to kiss in between the words.

It was novel being outside and pressed between their warm, masculine bodies.

"You're getting excited," Evan commented from beside us. "You want us to have sex with you."

I rubbed Bane's hip and pressed my ass against him. Yes, I wanted them, but I wasn't getting the same feelings from them. They didn't like to have sex outside.

In their memories, I saw the sanctioned matings. The women pressed them into the rocky soil and mounted them. The sun got in their eyes, their backs got sore from being pummeled to the ground, and other groups of women stood around watching. My men hated it.

My men liked my soft, smaller body. Being inside, on their comfortable bed, and in whatever position they choose made them happy. It was private and quiet. Using me in the bedroom was a rare delicacy, all pleasure and no pain. That was an uncommon experience on this world.

"It's not like that on my home world," I said feeling my arousal fade away. "People have sex just about everywhere and anywhere."

"This is your world now," Damien reminded me, "and sex in your current state brings you pain. What you want would not be good for you."

The rebuff didn't sting as bad as it could have. I looked into Damien's eyes and felt only his concern for me course through our bond. It wasn't that he didn't want me. He just didn't want to cause me pain. Sex outside, in his experience, was always uncomfortable. He and his Brothers would never do that to me.

We flew back to the mountain after we ate the morning meal outside. I was left in their rooms and they went to the sorting room.

The tutors came as usual and taught me more about language and numbers. I enjoyed the lessons, but disliked the tutors. They were rude. I had no problem seeing why Damien didn't like them. Despite how knowledgeable they were, they were very impolite.

Nu-reeh came for me in the afternoon and we flew in the mountains. She took me so far, I wasn't back before nightfall. The entire time she had me, she told me stories about the rest of the planet.

From what she said it was a fascinating and beautiful place. There were drier areas, like we were in now, she preferred those. There were wetter areas, too, all rain and rivers. She wasn't as fond of those places. I just listened to her with rapt attention.

Days passed and I had a certain familiarity with the procedure now. I was taught and trained, but no one bothered me. The frequent taunts of my tutors didn't even bother me anymore. My uncles had said far worse to me.

Damien and his Brothers were a different story. When my tutors came and treated me badly, they more and more took the insults personally. If Damien was just angry before he stayed almost permanently furious now.

He fumed one afternoon after the tutors had left. Damien wanted to tell them what kind of punishment their commentary was earning them. They had no right to speak to me that way, I was as worthy as any of his Brothers.

Christof and I tried to get Damien and the rest to see reason. Christof was almost pleading to calm his Brothers down. He saw that their anger would make them uncontrollable. It would make all of us the same way if we let the anger keep its hold.  

"They are speaking to her like she is a slave," Christof explained. "They think Ciara is only chattel. Those men would do much worse if they knew what she meant to us. Can you imagine the reaction if they realized she had bonded to us?" Christof asked trying to reason with Damien.

It would be like inviting trouble to tell them what I was really worth. I was a weak point in the carefully guarded family defense. If they hurt me badly enough, it would hurt my men.

"There are too many that would like to see us cringing on the floor to do that," Bane said pacing. "They must not know how important she is."

Damien's family was powerful and they had enemies here in the mountains. I sat alone and unguarded most days. It would be foolish to advertise me as their weak point.

I felt bad. These were strong men, usually up to any task set before them. I hated to be their Achilles heel.

"Don't worry," Christof commanded pulling me to his chest. "We are glad you are here. The weakness is a price we are more than willing to pay."

"Just don't let the comments affect you," I reasoned looking around. "We know it isn't right, but it doesn't bother me. That's all that matters."

Damien wasn't happy about the decision, but for now we would wait and watch.

Unfortunately, we didn't have to wait long for the tutors to step over the line of what Damien was willing to tolerate.

The tutors had come as usual and we were sitting in the main area of my owner's apartment. Damien and his Brothers were in the sorting room. I had been practicing writing on a tablet in front of me. My hand was steady and the characters looked as they were supposed to now.

"Tell me, slave," one of them said. "Do your Masters still use you? It appears like it would be difficult since you are so large and awkward."

No, they didn't really use me. Sex was too uncomfortable in my current state and my owners could not avoid feeling my discomfort. They used their hands or they took their time with the women in the afternoons, so they didn't feel particularly deprived.

"My Masters take what they need from me, Keeper," I said tactfully.

It was true. I was a friend and companion. My family felt happy in my company. They were glad I was in the mountains with them. Life was better this way.

"Liar," one of the men said coming around behind me.

I felt the man's hot breath as he leaned down behind me. He ran his hands down my arms and spoke into my ear.

"I do not think they still use you, slave," he said. "I believe they just coddle you like a little toy, much as Mistress Nu-reeh does...Although I fail to understand why."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 15



"Perhaps we should use the slave for its purpose," one of them offered wickedly. "Perhaps it would be a good lesson for Damien and his Brothers to learn to share."

They laughed at how fun that would be. Their Mistress had said not to touch me, but no one was here right now. Making Damien angry would be enjoyable.

I tried to rise and was pushed forward. One of the men grabbed my breast and squeezed. Reacting like my Warriors were trained to, I balled a fist and slammed it into his face. It didn't faze him at all.

The man before me laughed at my attempt and nearly knocked me out with a swift blow to the head. As I staggered dizzily another of them landed a sharp punch on my protruding belly. Screaming, I wrapped my arms around my unborn to protect her.

"Unless you want more of that, you will do what we say," the leader growled.

Before I had my balance back the men had me bent over the back of a chair in the room. My big belly was pressed hard into the cushion and I felt a wave of intense nausea.

"As payment then for all of our wasted mornings with this stupid creature," one of them said.

Still struggling hard, I felt the sweep of cold air on the back of my legs. My warm covering had been lifted to reveal my backside. I threw my elbow back slamming it into the gut of the man behind me. He grunted and laughed, but then he screamed.  

I felt the man behind me suddenly ripped away from my body. White hot anger surged through me and I felt the desire to kill. Hands pushed me toward the wall and my family was throwing the tutors into the hall.

Damien was going to kill them and nothing was going to stop him. The fighting was fast and brutal. My family beat my tutors into the floor for every indiscretion. Once they were satisfied Damien and his Brothers went for the weapons they needed. Remove their heads from their bodies and throw the corpses off the mountain was the decision.

"No, stop!" I screamed running into the hall.

The commotion had attracted many men to the main hallway we were in. They were screaming bets and encouragement watching the fight. This was great entertainment.

The order from Damien was in my head to go back inside and be quiet. It took every ounce of mental determination I still had to fight the command.

"Stop, please!" I begged. "She doesn't want them dead!"

If Damien killed these men I feared what Nu-reeh would do. I felt the anger Damien had and it was making him irrational. It was making all of them irrational.

"She will learn to live with it," Damien said raising his arm to deal the killing blow.

"ENOUGH," was the roar from the entrance to the hallway we were in.

Damien's blade quivered in the air. I saw him falter as his eyes raised to the creature that had bellowed. Nu-reeh strode toward us and the compulsion to drop the weapons was undeniable.

Damien's blade fell to his side and he dropped the man he had been holding. The tutor's head made a sickening thud as it hit the stone floor. The other men did the same thing as Nu-reeh came closer. She looked livid.

The yelling throng dispersed with amazing speed. They literally ran down the hall to escape.

"They attacked Ciara, Mistress," Damien said by way of explanation. "They wished to use her. They hit her face and her stomach."

"My Sisters and I will deal with this," Nu-reeh said stoically and the rage just melted from us. "You do not need to concern yourselves with punishment. We will do a much better job than you would."

The women could, we all agreed. They could punish a man until he wished to be dead. This issue would be taken care of.

"Yes, Mistr-"

The polite response was cut off as the spasm radiated across my lower back. The cramp came out of nowhere. I was seeing double as I leaned over and grabbed the wall. It was like my insides were being twisted in a knot. I panted, unable to catch my breath.

Christof's hands helped me to kneel on the floor and I heard Nu-reeh cursing. She picked up my tutors and literally flung their limp bodies toward the main entrance.

"You are not ready, slave," she said harshly. "I am sure it is not time. You are stressed, now stop this."

I was breathless as the pain released me and looked up into her threatening face.

Christof knelt protectively beside me. He wasn't sure what I had to stop.

"Yes, Mistress," I whimpered holding my stomach.

A moment later the cramp returned. It radiated from my lower back and I writhed trying to find a comfortable way to move. Water splashed to the ground beneath me as the contraction ended.

"What is that?" Christof asked looking between my thighs.

Between my legs was warm and wet as I looked down. Through my translucent clothing it was easy to see the pool of bloody water beneath me.

Nu-reeh was really cursing now. There was so much more I needed to know. She hadn't gotten through half of my education. There was more she needed to do first. Nu-reh was furious at how far along I was before she knew.

In a fit of anger Nu-reeh slapped Damien.

"Why did you not pick better Keepers?" she demanded as he stumbled back. "They kept it a secret!"

The blow had surprised Damien, but he'd received worse. My family prepared for a beating, still not understanding what brought on this fit of rage. They'd take whatever they had to in order to keep Nu-reeh's wrath from me.

The pain knotted across my lower back and I groaned leaning onto the wall. I did the breathing Rose had taught me to try to maintain composure. Now was not the time for weakness.

The sound got Nu-reeh's attention. She ordered my men to bring certain things from inside and put them in bags. While my men worked she stood glaring at me.

Christof knelt at my side and stroked my back.

"What is happening?" he whispered into my ear when Nu-reeh's attention turned back to Damien as my men returned to her with the requested items.

"It's coming soon," I told him. "The cramping pushes the baby out," I explained as another wave of it swept across my lower back and into my belly.

Christof picked me up at Nu-reeh's command and we walked briskly through the hallways. My natural curiosity had me wondering where exactly we were going. I tried to pay attention to the twists and turns, but the cramping kept distracting me. We had never been where we were going now.

"It's too fast," I whispered into Christof's neck. "It takes hours and hours. This is too fast," I whined as the next series of spine wrenching clenching took me.

Nu-reeh answered me as we walked. "It is one of us, slave, not one of you. She will fight her way out now that you have released the fluid around her."

I laughed hysterically as my gut clenched again. Images of a hairy beast springing from my huge belly suddenly seemed funny. Perhaps she'd tear out of me and this would all be over.

"No!" Bane shouted. "You said it comes out the lower tunnel! Swear to me, Ciara, this doesn't tear from your body that way!"

My owners were frantic and had stopped moving to surround me. They didn't know how to fix me if the baby tore out of me. Nu-reeh turned and grabbed me from Christof and walked faster.

"It comes out the tunnel, Bane. Do not be a nuisance. I am bringing you with me into the women's area. They will not tolerate any trouble from you men," she said.

We'd never been to the women's area, not even me. No one was sure why we had to go there. It would be crawling with...ugg, better not to think of what it would be like.

We came to a wall of rock and I looked up the steep incline. Just as I wondered where we go now, Nu-reeh took flight. She soared up with dizzying speed to an opening at the top.

I watched behind her as my men scaled the cliff to follow her. They moved with the ease of mountain goats, but it was still slow going. It wasn't clear whether they would be able to scale the entire surface without help.

Nu-reeh called to her Sisters and asked them to go get my men. Dinah made an angry sound as was characteristic and Tosu just took off.

The women's area was massive. Fire pits were scattered around burning and shedding light. A huge, sunken pit seemed to be radiating heat throughout the space. Smaller caves dotted the perimeter of the room and went up the walls. Great, winged women flew into and out of the openings. Far above us the ceiling appeared to be missing allowing more light to spill in. Women were moving around in the space going about their daily lives. They barely noticed us.

The large cave Nu-reeh passed into was on the ground floor. Torches lit the area generously and I saw the walls were decorated with symbols.

"These are the quarters I share with Dinah and Tosu, slave," Nu-reeh informed me.

The walls around us were covered in intricate symbols. They ran in long lines down the walls. I recognized them as the family symbols the men wore.

Nu-reeh noticed my attention and looked proudly at the wall.

"Our men," she said inclining her head, "those symbols represent the families under our ownership. They are spread over several villages and compounds; and of course, some are here in the mountains."

Truly shocking, I thought. Nu-reeh and her Sisters could have their own compound it seemed.

"These," she said motioning her head, "are the family symbols for young females under my care."

It was another list of families, perhaps twenty in all. Nu-reeh and her sisters ran a truly massive operation.

I was laid on a large flat rock. I felt that it must be heated, because it was so warm under my back. Nu-reeh slipped my bloody, wet gown off my head and tossed it to the floor. My foot covers were also removed. I lay panting and staring at the ceiling as the next shuddering contraction ripped through me.

I'd seen my cousin give birth, but I had no idea what I should be doing to help the birthing process. She'd had her head up so she could wrap her arms around her stomach and grab her legs to push. Laid flat on a rock, even with my knees bent, I couldn't get in that position. My inability made me want to scream. I felt like I would fail before I started.

Christof was behind me suddenly. He raised me to lean against him between his legs, so I held the position I thought I should be in. Now I could wrap my arms around my stomach.

"Better, Ciara?" he asked through the bond.

"Yes, thank you," I answered the same way as Kein wiped the tears off my face.

We sat like that and my men just watched me curiously as the contractions continued. It was such a strange sensation, they couldn't get over it. Pain was part of life, but this was unique.

The stretching and pressure on my lower half was like nothing they'd every experienced. They equated it to really having to use the lacquered pot, but that had never been like this. Evan paced nervously feeling uncomfortable with the sensation. Eventually Damien knew we had to get control of ourselves.

The pain would not break us. Knowledge of how to deal with discomfort and the ability to refocus my mind became forefront. My breathing deepened, as much as it could, and I felt steadier.

Their experience with pain somehow made it more bearable. Damien planned our breathing and kept us balanced. I was grateful and let my mind feel through them.

Nu-reeh passed in and out watching us, but otherwise just left us alone. After a while, she began to place her hand on my belly and tell me to push with the contractions. Otherwise, she was very nonintrusive, which I appreciated.

The pain began to grow quickly. The contractions came closer and closer together until I felt I was breaking apart. Even with the mental buffer it was awful and unfathomable. I pushed and screamed and suddenly it faded. Wet wiggling between my thighs alerted me something had happened.

Nu-reeh reached between my legs and lifted a a flesh colored mass into the air by a leg. Using a claw she sliced through the umbilical cord and Dinah seared the ends closed with a burning poker. I stared transfixed at my daughter.

"Give her to me," I croaked out reaching.

Nu-reeh held the wiggling infant and just seemed to be examining her. She used a rag to wipe the bloody excess off the girl. Suddenly, the baby screeched and hissed. Nu-reeh growled back and I screamed at Nu-reeh to give me my baby.

Christof clamped a hand over my mouth and Damien stood between me and the giant woman. I would not be silenced and continued to scream past my gag. More than anything, I feared for the child's life.

As I screamed, so did the infant, fighting Nu-reeh for all she was worth. Finally, Nu-reeh laughed and brushed Damien away. She almost threw the bundle of flesh at me. I caught my damp shivering child and held her to my breast.

"Damien, take the rings out of the slave's nipples unless you want the girl to eat them," she said bluntly.

Kein reached for the rings and removed them while I tried to soothe the wailing little girl in my arms.

She was beautiful with a thick black tuft of hair over the crown of her head. Her flesh was otherwise milky white like mine. She had wings, small fleshy protrusions from her back that she couldn't seem to control. I stroked the area between them and they flopped around uselessly.

"Hello, Hannah," I crooned saying the name I had picked for her. "Relax, Mama is here. You're okay now."

The screaming baby quieted some at the sound of my voice and she nuzzled my chest. I guided her mouth to a nipple and she latched on hungrily.

The rest of the room didn't matter for a moment. I was lost, counting five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. She had my mother's nose and a dimple on her left cheek. She was a perfect girl, wings and all!

"What's it doing?" Kein asked.

"She is feeding," I told him simply.

Kein's fingers played over the nipple Hannah wasn't attached to and a drop of liquid appeared. He took it on his finger and licked it off.

"NO," Nu-reeh said sharply. "That is not for you. Let the female feed there until she is full."

I couldn't understand Nu-reeh. One minute it looks like she's going to kill the child and now she's protecting her feeding rights. It made no sense at all.

My lower back and belly contracted again. I grunted and strained, feeling something wet and warm slip from me. Damien reached down and pulled at the red mass.

"Is that a child?" Bane asked startled.

"No," I groaned catching my breath. "In my world it was called placenta. It attaches the baby inside of me."

Nu-reeh looked at it and then at me, "Well, aren't you going to eat it?" she asked.

"No, Ma'm," I answered as my stomach turned.

"Wasteful," she commented picking it up and sliding it between her jaws.

The wet slurping disgusted me almost as much as the grind of her teeth. I clutched at my daughter and closed my eyes willing the nausea to abate.

"Are you sleeping now?" Evan asked curiously.

I opened my eyes and he was right in my face.

"No, Master Evan, I felt nausea. I was just hoping it would pass."

"Really?" Christof asked.

"I didn't feel nausea," Bane muttered from the side.

Wide, dark eyes opened and my little Hannah looked up at me. Grey eyes, black hair...I looked at her face and saw her father's strong features.

"She's Damien's," I said quietly and Nu-reeh came closer.

"How do you know, slave?" she asked.

"The eyes, the hair," I said petting the baby. "This is Damien's daughter."

Nu-reeh didn't seem convinced and wandered away.

The child sucked and pulled on the breast, watching me intermittently. Suddenly, she seemed upset. Her little fists balled up and she let out a wail.

"Mama, more," she cried and I sat too shocked to move.

Nu-reeh spoke next, "You have another place to offer the child food, slave."

I looked at Nu-reeh and looked at the baby. Automatically, I moved her to the other breast and she latched on voraciously.

"You only have two," Nu-reeh said, "Hopefully, they produce enough."

I was amazed. The little girl had said the English word Mama I'd used and the Paterian word for more.

"She spoke, Mistress," I sputtered out. "She knows how to talk..."

"Of course she knows how to talk," Nu-reeh said with a wave of her hand.

"Babies don't know how to speak, Mistress," I dumbly responded.

"Human infants may not speak, much like our males, but our females do," Nu-reeh said.

Hannah shivered in my arms and I forgot about the conversation with Nu-reeh.

"She's cold. I need a blanket for her," I said.

Damien picked up the bag he had brought and pulled out one of my knitted blankets. Nu-reeh called him a nasty name and told him to give me one of the absorbent towels first. She ordered me to swaddle the infant's lower half with the absorbent piece.

Hannah screamed like a banshee when I took her off my breast. She was hungry she said, she begged for more to eat. I quickly diapered her and wrapped her in a blanket. Once she was back on the breast she was quiet again.

The only sound in the room was her noisy slurping and I started to be aware of my own discomfort. My lower half felt abused and broken. I shifted slightly and realized I was sitting in a puddle of fluid.

"May I have a towel to clean myself with?" I asked sheepishly.

My men bustled around and wiped me off.

The healing cream was rubbed all over 'down there' despite my strenuous objections. Nu-reeh even insisted it be put inside me, which made me stifle a cry. I was tender, but the cream made it better.

My sore and softened belly was also treated generously with a different strange cream Nu-reeh gave Damien. The skin visibly tightened after the application. Such a strange, amazing substance, I wished I'd had it back on Earth.

Nu-reeh had made Damien come prepared. A large absorbent towel was slipped between my legs and tied around my waist, like a large diaper. She told him I was to wear something like this until the drainage stopped. My men didn't argue, but I could see they didn't understand.

Hannah observed everything as she sucked on my breast. It had been a hard day for her and I watched as her eyes slowly drifted closed. She stopped suckling and seemed to be resting. I put her tiny body across my shoulder and patted between her wings until she let out a belch.

"Good. Slave," Nu-reeh said sounding satisfied. "You will feed her as often as she wants. Damien, put the cream on the slave's nipples, they will need care to keep the food supply flowing."

Damien started to put the salve across my nipples and Hannah opened her eyes to watch him. When his hand got close to her, she hissed and spit. Damien looked at me and then at the angry little bundle I was holding.

Nu-reeh laughed at the scene and came closer to look at Hannah.

"She will make a fine woman," Nu-reeh appraised. "No man may touch her, slave," she continued. "Only you may hold her or care for her. Do you understand me?"

I remembered all the times Damien had asked the same question. Punishment always awaited me if I didn't follow the direction.

"Yes, Mistress, no man will touch her," I answered and watched Nu-reeh carefully.

"The other men here will be made to understand also, Damien," Nu-reeh said stretching out her massive wingspan. "If any of you men touch the child, I will take your lives."

"Yes, Mistress," my men answered sounding a little shocked.

"I don't wish to have the slave in my quarters, so she and the babe will be moved back to your rooms. The slave will need plenty of food and water. Make sure there is an adequate supply in your rooms," Nu-reeh instructed.

My men answered in affirmation and watched as Nu-reeh approached Hannah and me. The big woman hoisted me in her arms and carried me out of her cave. We walked through the women's central area and there was great interest in my child.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 15



"Well?" the other women would say to Nu-reeh.

She always told them the same thing. The child appeared strong and healthy, but much too early. The wings were apparently not as defined as they should be. The women judged her maturity on that.

"Control your men," she kept saying. "I will not tolerate trouble in this matter."

The other women agreed. The men must follow the new rule.

Without my outer layer I was chilled as Nu-reeh flew down to the main level. We made our way into the place the men stayed and I was very glad it was warmer. Nu-reeh sat me on my feet outside our chambers and told me to go inside.

I hobbled in as I heard Nu-reeh's announcement. She would end the life of any man that touched the child. It didn't matter to her if it was intentional or not, my daughter would be the last thing they would ever touch.

I felt weak and my insides still pained. I made it to a chaise by the fire pit and lowered myself into it, laying back. I was glad for my bulky diaper, it meant I wouldn't ruin everything I sat on. Holding Hannah close, I relaxed.

Damien and his Brothers arrived after a long while. I must have drifted to sleep, but woke when they came in. After letting me sip on some water, they decided I needed to be cleaned up.

Kein drew a warm bath and they led me into that room. I stripped Hannah of her diaper and blanket. Christof took the bulky wrap off of me.

As I bathed Hannah, they bathed me. My men were fascinated with my daughter, but they never touched her. Christof's hand almost brushed her and Damien grabbed him before it happened.

"Caution," Damien warned patting Christof's shoulder.

Hannah woke in the water and touched at it as I rubbed her clean.

"Water, Mama," she told me splashing the clear liquid with a tiny hand.

"Yes, Baby Girl, that's right," I crooned still amazed she could talk.

Hannah told me about water in short, choppy sentences for many, many moments. My wonder continued to grow. Her language was mixed. She spoke both English and Paterian.

The facts Hannah gave me about water were accurate. She could drink it or swim in it. Fish lived in the water. The fleint were dangerous. Hannah spoke and spoke until she was being dried off.

A hair raising howl erupted from her suddenly and she started to squirm. Instinctively, I raised her back to my nipple to let her feed. Her tiny hands kneaded my flesh as she sucked and pulled at the breast.

She dropped back to sleep and my men moved us to the sleeping chamber.

My stomach growled loudly. My men discussed it and then Bane and Kein bolted out of the room. I lay back exhausted and laid Hannah beside me in the bed. My eyes started to close and hands gently shook me awake.

"Nu-reeh said you must eat something before you rest today. She said you are to eat and drink frequently," Damien instructed me. "The child has eaten and may rest."

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered groggily and he laughed softly.

"We are not Masters when it is just us," he reminded me as they helped me to stand.

My men wrapped me in a blanket for warmth since the main room was cooler than the sleeping room. They seemed content to care for me as they always had. I was glad to see the birth had not upset them too much.

My feet weren't steady and I leaned into Damien as I hobbled into the main room. Bane and Kein brought back a mountain of food on a large tray. Evan held me and we ate in silence.

I felt a pang of pride when the pot of spicy cider was produced. The drink was in honor of a great happening. My daughter, despite all of my flaws, was considered worthy of this distinction. It made me happy to know the other women cherished her.  

It was quiet and peaceful in our little apartment. I could hear the men bustling around outside the door, but no one disturbed us. Despite the pain in my body, I felt more relaxed than I had in ages.

Kein had grabbed a couple of his favorite food and was crunching loudly. He looked to be enjoying the treat like he usually did. I watched him curiously and realized I didn't taste it.

My thoughts were my own again and I sat upright suddenly.

"You aren't in my head, Evan," I said.

"I was never in your head," he argued and offered me a bite of the thick meat they'd brought.

I swatted his hand away in frustration. "Is your bond all right?" I asked genuinely worried.

"Yes," Christof said stroking my arm in a comforting gesture, "but when the baby left you we felt our bond slip away from you. It didn't cause us pain and we are fine..." he trailed off.

"Hannah must have been what bonded you to me..." I said slowly.

"That is what Nu-reeh told us," Damien said.

"Eat this now," Evan demanded pressing food to my lips.

I took the meat and chewed as Damien continued to talk. "The females know what their female breeders know when they are born. They also know what their male breeders know, but the bond is tenuous. The women found when the human slaves carried a female of our species, the slaves temporarily bonded to the male breeder. It is how the young female learns."

"We were unaware," Christof said. "Nu-reeh told us you must have had a very strong female to have bonded to us while we were in the mountains and you were in the compound. Our Mistress believes your child will be worthy of her kind, such strength should not be wasted."

I was too tired to worry about it. My men fed me and put me in the bed next to Hannah. She was so lovely. I cooed and watched her as she rested.

"What is 'Hannah'?" Christof asked me quietly.

"It was my mother's name," I told him. "On my world it also meant Favored by God."

"That should be acceptable to Nu-reeh," Christof told me. "She wanted to make sure you gave the child a strong name."

It stung that Nu-reeh had the power to name my child. I vowed that even if she changed the name I would always think of my little girl as Hannah.

Kein pulled a blanket over me and Bane lay down beside me.

"It is still early in the day, but Nu-reeh said you should rest," Evan said sounding disgruntled.

"Go," I smiled pushing at Bane, "I have rested alone before. There are better things to do rather than lay in bed all day."

Evan would be made insane if he had to stay cooped up in this room.

"I think I will stay," Bane sighed putting his head back on his folded arms.

The other men told me to rest and went quietly into the main room after closing the thick leather flap between the two rooms.

"She told you to watch me, didn't she?" I asked Bane.

"Sleep, Ciara," he ordered.

I turned to look at him and he looked back at me.

"Go to sleep," he repeated.

I stayed quiet but watched him. He wasn't closing his eyes and he didn't look like a man trying to take a nap.

"Yes," he finally sighed. "Nu-reeh wants us to watch you today. She said you would be weak. We are to provide what you need. Now rest or she will be angry."

Feeling safe and protected, I did as he ordered.

I slept soundly until Hannah decided it was time to eat. She probably alerted everyone in the cave system with her screeching. I was so surprised by the sound I stumbled out of bed thinking it was an alarm in the compound.

Standing confused and bleary in the middle of the room, I just couldn't get my bearing fast enough.

"Ciara, we beg you to make her stop," Kein pleaded coming through the leather flap.

Bane was sitting up in the bed looking very amused at my confusion.

I picked up the screaming little girl and guided her to a nipple. She had gotten herself too worked up and continued to scream. Damien and his Brothers looked more and more worried as the noise continued.

Softly, I sang to her as I sat at the edge of the bed. I didn't know songs in their language, so I sang in English. Hannah relaxed at the sound and calmed down enough to take what she wanted.

"I am jealous," Kein said flopping onto the bed and watching Hannah suckle.

"If you touch them now, Nu-reeh will probably cut your lips off," Bane commented.

"Let's not give her any ideas," Christof laughed sitting next to me.

Christof watched Hannah over my shoulder.

"Not too close, Brother," Damien warned from across the room.

"I'm not touching," Christof protested, "only looking. She never said we couldn't look at the girl."

Hannah opened her eyes and looked at Christof. She backed off the nipple and hissed loudly at him. I felt her tiny wings fluttering on her back. His presence irritated her severely.

"Hush, Hannah," I crooned. "Christof is my friend. He won't hurt you. Take something to eat."

"Man," Hannah said simply and hissed again.

"Yes, man," I told her, "not bad, though. He is a friend."

Sharp little eyes continued to watch Christof as she went back to the breast. The separation of the sexes was a deeply ingrained instinct here. It was so strange. I'd never seen anything like it before.

If it wasn't for my mother's nose squarely in the middle of her face, I wouldn't know Hannah was mine. Really, except for that and the milky white skin, she looked Paterian.

"Do the little boys talk when they are born?" I asked the general group.

Not the way Hannah talked, that was for sure.

"The young boys speak some when they are delivered to the Child Keepers, but not like her," Kein said watching Hannah. "The Child Keepers also taught us about the world. We didn't know anything when we were born."

Damien groused and Hannah turned her head to look at him. "The females are even born stronger than us. No wonder things are like they are," he continued sitting down. "Did we ever have a chance?"

Hannah's scream caught all of us off guard.

"Feed it more!" Evan demanded.

Other things upset babies on Earth, like wet diapers and I had not checked Hannah.

"I need another towel like this," I pointed as I laid Hannah on the bed and took her diaper off.

Evan quickly brought in a fresh towel and he cut it to the size I wanted hurriedly. Hannah's messy diaper was taken from me. Once she was clean and dry, she started to fuss again stating she was hungry, so I put her back on the breast.

"All she does is scream," Evan mourned.

"That's normal," I told him. "It's worse with babies on Earth because they can't speak, so you never know what they want."

"She's going to kill us. I can feel it," Evan said flopping next to Damien.

"Who's going to kill you?" I asked.

"Nu-reeh, she told us she would have our heads if anything happened to the girl. I'm sure she won't like all the screaming. We are dead men," he moaned.

Christof laughed. "She told us the child would call out when it needed things," he reminded them. "She said we would be in trouble if the child was left wanting or was harmed. The girl is happy now. We must just help Ciara keep the child fed and happy."

Evan grunted and Damien put a comforting arm around his shoulders. "We have survived worse, I'm sure," he said.

Hannah sucked until she was full and then she was back asleep in my arms. I tried to put her down and she cried out.

"Perhaps you should hold her," Christof offered helpfully.

I turned slightly and kissed his cheek. In return he leaned down and kissed at my shoulder.

Slowly, I maneuvered myself back up the bed to lay down. Wincing and moving carefully I finally made it. I placed Hannah to lay over my upper stomach and chest.

"You are in pain," Christof appraised watching my face as I moved my legs around.

"Birthing is hard for humans and I'd never done it before today," I said trying to find a comfortable way to lay.

They brought in the cream again. The bulky towel between my legs was removed and they coated me in the healing salve. Kein took Hannah's time to rest as an opportunity and he was the one who coated my nipples.

"I miss them already," he sighed lingering on the sensitive tissue.

"If Nu-reeh catches you playing with Hannah's food source..." Damien threatened while watching the main room.

Kein sighed and backed away, but I was pleased. He had used the name I had given our daughter. Hopefully Nu-reeh would not try to change it.

Christof stretched out beside me and looked into the sleeping face on my chest. I looked down at Hannah, too. Dry and clean you could really see her resemblance to Damien. Her short tuft of hair was almost blue it was so black. The shape of her face also resembled his strong lines.

"You are right," he said, "the hair is like Damien's. When they are open, her eyes also look like his. From what the women said that is a good thing. Damien made a strong daughter, she has survived well."

I winced at the last statement and watched Christof closely. He stroked my cheek in comfort.

"She will live, Ciara," he whispered. "We will help you. Rest now, though. When it is time to eat again we will wake you."

We had a late supper inside the apartment after Hannah was fed next. My men had a new warm outfit to put me into. Nu-reeh had given it to them.

The new outfit was still flowing, blue, and nearly see through. It was made of the thick warm fabric we were used to and it was stitched with their symbol. The main difference was the top. The front was made of several loosely overlapping panels. I could wiggle a breast out and feed Hannah and still stay inside my clothes.

My men grudgingly admitted they would not have thought to order such a thing. Nu-reeh was a wise woman. They would have to thank her for her foresight.

I carried Hannah into the main room and felt much steadier walking. After several treatments with the cream my pain was greatly diminished. The space between my legs no longer throbbed and even my stomach felt better.

Christof insisted on feeding me dinner, so I sat on his lap. He had said he wanted to make sure I ate enough. I thought it was just because he wanted to watch Hannah. He had always been the most curious Brother.

Talons clattered on the floor and Damien went outside to see what was happening. The Brothers inside with me all sucked in a gasp suddenly, but they refused to tell me what was happening. Damien came back in looking shocked.

"Well?" I asked rocking Hannah gently. "What happened?"

"They tortured the men that attacked you," Damien finally said. "Nu-reeh claimed they assaulted Hannah when they touched you. She said that they made the girl come too soon. It was done to prove to the other men how serious the women are about the new female."

I didn't know what to say. Obviously I appreciated Nu-reeh protecting Hannah, but I was a little surprised that she had abused the tutors.

"Those men were important to their owner," was all I could think to say.

"Not important enough," Christof scoffed. "Their owners skinned their backs and pulled out their fingernails."

I retched at the thought and fought to keep my stomach settled. Evan fussed at Christof for upsetting me.

"The women chained them in a place the other men would see them. They will be left there to suffer for several days," Damien said.

"But, I do not believe we should take Ciara there," Kein added looking worried.

"If Nu-reeh saw Ciara lose the food we gave her..." Bane commented.

The general assessment was the same. Nu-reeh would be angry if she saw me vomit. Hannah and I would be spared seeing the mutilated bodies of my tormentors.

We were nearly ready for bed when the talons were outside the door again. Nu-reeh and her Sisters wanted to see us.

I bundled the child up and walked out the leather flap with my owners. Thankfully, Hannah had chosen to be sound asleep in my arms. I knew my men feared Nu-reeh's reaction if the child had been upset.

"Have you been feeding her?" Nu-reeh asked.

"Yes, Mistress, as often as she likes," I answered politely.

"She has made waste?" Dinah questioned.

"Yes, Mistress, and I cleaned her."

"Have the men touched her?" Nu-reeh asked.

"No, Mistress, my owners do not touch her and no other man has tried to," I told them quickly.

The women seemed pleased and had me unwrap Hannah so they could examine her. They were happy her little belly felt full and plump. Dinah commenting she must be well fed to be sleeping so peacefully. Hannah only murmured contentedly as the women checked her.

Tosu looked at Hannah's wings and warned me not to crush them if I insisted on wrapping her. She showed me how they should fold on Hannah's back. As the wings matured it would be more important they were folded correctly. I thanked her for the information.

"We have a great tolerance for cold, slave," Tosu said. "I know humans do not. Our female young are usually born with fur to protect them. You may wrap the child for warmth. We believe her hair will grow in."

Dinah growled and made a spitting sound. "Runen and his Brothers made the child come too early. I am sure the baby fur would have grown inside of you if the men had not interfered," she said.

I didn't respond and only rewrapped Hannah in her blue blanket.

"You will take your meals in the main dining room with your owners," Nu-reeh told me. "Take the child where you go. In the afternoons you will take her through the caves. Do you know your way around the caverns?"

"Yes, Mistress, I know my way around most of them," I answered.

"The child, you call her 'Hannah', soon will feel too constrained if you try to keep her in your owners' apartments," Nu-reeh told me.

"Feel free to take her and let her explore. The men will not touch her. If they do, they know the punishment that awaits them," Dinah said harshly.

"As you wish, Mistresses," I said cuddling my little girl.

"I know how long your children stay with their mothers," Nu-reeh told me. "The girls here need their freedom to grow and learn. Your daughter has all of her male breeder's knowledge and it should serve her well when she strikes out on her own."

I wondered when that would be, but I remembered Damien's opinion on the subject. The women did not like to answer questions.

"I will give her any help I can, Mistress, for as long as I can," I said hoping that would be tactful and perhaps encourage Nu-reeh to speak.

Nu-reeh snorted, "When the young female finally is strong enough to set out, I will tell you and she will leave. Our females are strong willed, they must be to survive. She will seek her own destiny within the next six moons."

I breathed deep. Damien had estimated four hundred and twenty days when Ronal told us the same number. Too short, much too short, but I would do what I had to do for her. It seemed hard to imagine that in just six turns of the moon I would be ready to release my baby.

"You have been generous to help my daughter as much as you have, Mistress, thank you," I said my voice quavering slightly.

"You and the babe rest with our men, slave. Keep the child well fed," Nu-reeh commanded as the women turned and left.

Evan's mood was triumphant when we stepped back in the apartment. Bane congratulated him with a pat on the back.

My mouth lifted involuntarily into a grin at their game. "What did you bet on?"

Christof congratulated Evan before he answered. "We bet on whether Nu-reeh would let us sleep in our own bed with the child. Bane said we would be told to sleep on the floor. He had said he laid on his own bed for the last time this afternoon."

I shook my head and looked down at my sleeping baby. Six turns of the moon, that wasn't very long at all and I wasn't sure where she would go after that. From the way Nu-reeh talked Hannah would leave me, but I had no idea what the adolescent women did.

My eyes filled with tears as I realized how short my time with my daughter would be. I had no idea what would happen to her.

"Are you in pain?" Damien asked worriedly.

"No, not physically," I sighed. "I am mourning that my child will be taken from me in six turns of the moon."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 15



"I don't think the female children are taken from the female breeder," Christof said sitting down. "The way Nu-reeh explained it to us earlier today the young female will leave when it is time."

It didn't make any sense and Christof explained as best he could.

After Nu-reeh took me, Tosu and Dinah talked to my men. They had wanted to tell me these things, but had not gotten the chance. Nu-reeh finished the story after she warned the other men to stay away from me.

Women were not like men. They were born with knowledge, they just had to learn to apply it and get stronger. My daughter would quite quickly become frustrated with limiting herself to just this mountain. She would want to get out and explore her world.

"The women of our race are the rulers of this entire planet. We considered ourselves well travelled to have seen a different compound," Kein said. "As a young woman Nu-reeh went all over the world. She was not even born on this side of the great ocean, but found she preferred it here. Most powerful women do that: travel, find Sisters, and then earn funds to stake a claim on some men."

Christof continued when Kein stopped talking. "Your daughter will want to explore this planet before she settles somewhere. That is why Nu-reeh taught you how to survive in the mountains. She expects your daughter to travel and live in them for many turns of the moon."

"In the world she will find her strengths and become powerful," Evan said. "That is how the women always do it."

"So strange," I whispered brushing my fingers across Hannah's tiny cheeks.

I'd talked to Christof about how I grew up. They would know this was nothing like I was used to.

"It sounds strange to us, too," Damien admitted. "We grew up as a family. We always depended on one another. To go out into the world alone..."

"Why, why did Nu-reeh help Hannah? Especially if she expects her to go to some far flung place."

My men didn't understand my question. It was obvious to them. Nu-reeh trained Hannah because she was the offspring of one of her men. The fact I was the mother was irrelevant.

"Especially if she is Damien's," Christof said. "Tosu said daughters from his line are impressive and so very rare. The women are glad they put the effort into training Hannah through you."

The day had been exhausting and I just sat staring dumbly at my men. I wasn't sure I had any emotions left. Eventually Damien clucked a tongue at my sleepy face and walked me to the bed.

Damien took the first night sleeping next to Hannah. His Brothers all clasped him on the shoulder and wished him luck. He returned the sentiment and told them he had always cared for them. All the men said if this was their last night, they were glad to spend it together.

I was absolutely confused as they said what seemed like good-bye to one another.

"What is wrong with sleeping next to Hannah? She is your daughter!" I exclaimed sitting on the bed and watching their display.

"If he touches her, Nu-reeh will kill him," Evan said bluntly. "We will not survive without our Brother."

"I will wrap her so that doesn't happen and nobody here would say anything-" I started to say and Christof pointed to my sleeping daughter.

I took a different tact. "I'll put her on my chest to sleep. Is that better?"

"You like to sleep on your side," Kein informed me. "In the middle of the night you turn on your hip."

Strangely observant, but it was still true.

In an attempt to find a solution I offered up the idea of a crib, but that wasn't how Nu-reeh had said to sleep. Instead, Christof and I built a barricade of blankets between Damien and Hannah. I could only imagine what the baby books at home would have said about doing that.

We lay down in our spots and my men's breathing evened out very quickly. I lay staring at the ceiling and thinking. So much ran through my mind, I didn't know where to start.

In the days I'd shared a bond with my family, I had thought whatever they did. With that compulsion gone, I could think clearly. For the first time in ages, I felt normal.

The day drifted through my head. It had been strange, stressful, and wonderful all at once. Parts of it were stranger than others, parts of it more stressful. I refused to think of the day my daughter would leave, that would break me.

Instead, I thought about Nu-reeh and her entrance into the mens' living quarters when my owners almost killed my tutors. Damien had been ready to decapitate the man he was holding. It hadn't mattered that Nu-reeh didn't want him to do it, but he stopped when she said to.

It wasn't that he stopped because he wanted to, though. Damien and his Brothers were made to stop. Something outside of them forced their decision.

My eyes shot open when I realized. Nu-reeh had made them stop. That collective consciousness that pulsed between them; she had enforced her will on it. My men did not know. They weren't even curious about their sudden change in opinion.

I looked over at my sleeping daughter and understood. The women here could control the men completely. It was done at such an intrinsic level the men weren't even aware of it.

That was how tiny unborn Hannah had learned about the world. She took over the mind of her father and examined his memories. I didn't control his dreams, she did. I was just along for the ride, so to speak.

I wondered why the women bothered with all the pretense. They could have the men just line up and do what they wanted. What was the point of letting them do their own thing at all?

Nu-reeh didn't like her men broken and waiting on her explicit instruction. She wanted them to fight and make their own decisions. Nu-reeh only stepped in when the men would do something that would cost her, like killing another family.

The women could control the men, they just had better things to do. It was both shocking and terrifying in it's simplicity.

I would have to tell Hannah, although I should probably ask Nu-reeh first.

On second thought, perhaps I should not tell Nu-reeh I understood. She may kill me if I knew her secret.

Well, I decided, I had six turns of the moon. Hopefully, in that time I would figure out what I should tell little Hannah.

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DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!! Please ; )



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 16



Thanks to all who have taken the time to read and vote! My little story ranks up high and I can't tell you how happy that makes me! I'm still shocked people are enjoying it...but it is certainly incentive to write.

A continued thank you to Steve150177 for his pursuit of perfection. He adds clarity and I really appreciate it.

Yes, we're working on not putting in the incorrect, yet correctly spelled, word. We both understand how frustrating that can be to read.

All commentary is welcome whether you liked it or hated it.

English is in italics when it appears

Fair warning - this chapter is all plot (sorry) and no erotica. The erotica is returning in the next chapter - PROMISE.

Enjoy! DW

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"Ciara!" Evan was shaking me awake and Hannah was screaming. "How do you sleep through it? Feed her, change the towel, do something!" he begged.

I was groggy and disoriented as I picked up my wailing daughter.

"I need a fresh towel for her bottom," I told them and Kein rushed out.

Fumbling with my top I pulled out a breast and presented it to her.

"Wet and sticky, Mama!" she cried to me, continuing to scream as Kein rushed back in.

I cleaned her and wrapped her bottom in a fresh towel. That quieted her to hiccuping sobs. Once she started to suckle she just concentrated on that.

"We need the towels ready and close at hand," I said as Evan flopped back down. "She wouldn't be so upset if she didn't wait so long."

"Ciara," Damien stated, "we woke when she started to whimper. We tried to wake you, but when she saw us try to touch you she started to scream."

Grimacing, I apologized to them. I was a heavy sleeper. Evidently, I would need to learn to listen for Hannah's sounds.

"I don't understand why she is so upset with you all," I said watching her.

Hannah's eyes met mine and she held my gaze comfortably. She looked sweet and adoring, nothing like the little monster she kept showing to my men.

"Women don't like men, Ciara," Christof informed me. "Haven't you noticed?"

They all found that funny and settled back down.

Once Hannah was done and sleeping, I laid back down. I made up my mind to try to sleep lightly so I would hear her if she needed me.

I woke to her light fussing. I sat upright and picked her up. She didn't even open her eyes before she started to suck on the nipple.

Five men sighed around me at the sound.

"Are you all awake?" I asked quietly.

"Yes," Damien whispered, "we pretended to be asleep when the child started to cry. Evan has been kicking your leg to wake you."

I thought I'd woken up to her fussing, evidently I had not.

"You sleep much too soundly," Evan informed me, rolling to lean on his elbow. "A Warrior wouldn't live long if he slept so deeply."

"I think you all know I was never a Warrior," I laughed. "I cleaned rooms for a living and then I was a sex slave."

I heard Bane stretching and yawning as Kein answered. "You're in a Warrior family now," he informed me.

That surprised me. I had thought with the bond gone our relationship would revert to the way it was. I smiled at my family, as I stroked Hannah.

"We should stand watch," Christof offered, "like when we are searching for a lost man."

Kein took the first watch and sat in a chair at the end of the bed by my feet.

"I can't sleep with you sitting and watching me," I whispered to him while re-bundling Hannah.

He grinned cheekily. "Yes you will, and when the child starts to fuss I will wiggle your foot until you wake up."

It would have been less irritating if their system wasn't so effective. Hannah woke one more time and Bane alerted me before she got too upset. They had switched places and I hadn't even noticed.

I yawned sleepily picking up Hannah. She started to nurse and watched me with wide open eyes.

Since her attention wasn't on them, my men could move around. Evan bounded out of bed.

"Time to get up," he said stretching and grinning.

"Really? Are you sure?" I grumbled shifting Hannah. "I'm exhausted."

"You're always exhausted in the morning," he said cheerfully.

Damien and his Brothers rose as Hannah continued to feed. I looked at them ruefully. Tapping into Evan's excessive morning energy had been better than coffee. I would miss his start of the day excitement.

"That was all you, though, wasn't it?" I asked Hannah as she slurped happily away.

Hannah watched me with bright eyes, but was consumed with her current task.

I wondered privately if she still had access to my men's bond. Perhaps when we were alone I would ask her.

This morning we took a long route to get to breakfast. Damien didn't want me anywhere near the tutors. After seeing my reaction to just hearing about it, he had no desire to see me any closer to it. We took a large detour to avoid them.

Hannah looked at everything as we walked. I just watched her expressive little face take it all in. All was well until we passed a large opening that exited the mountain. Morning sunlight shone in and the sky was a brilliant cloudless purple.

"I want!" she screamed reaching out of her blanket toward the open sky.

"What do you want?" I asked looking out the opening.

"Out, Mama, go out," she cried still reaching.

I smiled down at my daughter. This whole world would be hers to explore one day. Evidently, that's the way she was programmed.

"You can't go out there, yet," I told her gently. "Now we are going to eat."

Hannah pouted and squirmed in my arms.

"I ate," Hannah whined, "go out and see the sky. I want see the Scars. I want out, Mama."

"You will go out soon enough," I soothed. "The whole world will be yours, My Girl."

I looked into her bright grey eyes and knew that while she had my mother's nose and my skin, she was her father's daughter. This girl was Paterian through and through. I wasn't sure if I should be elated or worried about that.

The men in the dining room were fascinated and frightened by my daughter all at once. The entire hall went silent the first time Hannah spoke. In a high clear voice she had told me she wanted to try the green stalks.

"No, Hannah, you don't have teeth, yet," I explained. "You need teeth to chew them."

She whimpered and whined and I sighed as she threw a mini tantrum.

"Bad behavior won't change anything," I explained to her.

Christof was holding me to eat on his lap. The other Brothers seemed leery of eating with me and my daughter. They warned Christof frequently when they felt his arm got too close to Hannah.

"I could kneel...," I whispered to him.

"Not necessary," he whispered back brushing his lips against my cheek. "I like having you close."

Hannah hissed when Christof kissed me and I looked crossly down at her.

"Man, Mama," she whined loudly.

"One day you will have your own men," I leaned down and whispered to her. "These are my men."

Her brow ruffled and she huffed. Luckily the edge of the blanket got her attention. She pulled at the tight knitting and watched it pop back into place. Playing with the blanket distracted her.

"I like that," Kein said.

My men agreed, but I was confused. There was some internal conversation that had them all happy and satisfied. I looked quizzically at Christof and he grinned at me.

"We are yours, we like that," he said softly into my ear.

"Better not tell Nu-reeh," I whispered to him and he chuckled.

My men were assigned to the sorting room again. They walked me back to our apartments first.

"Be careful walking around," Damien said pacing. "You know where the tutors are, stay away from that place. There are places in the caves where the vertical shafts meet the tunnels, they aren't marked at all. We aren't sure you know where all those are..."

"She shouldn't be allowed to go without us," Evan groused. "Ciara has no sense for danger."

I put Hannah down on a chair and touched Evan's chest. "I wasn't supposed to walk until a little later and I will be very careful. I promise not to go anywhere you all thought was dangerous."

Evan hugged me tight and kissed my face. "We will see you at the midday meal," he said. "Perhaps she will let us take you..."

I kissed them all good bye and then turned to Hannah. She was a little cranky. I rocked her gently and she dropped off to sleep in my arms. For some reason I wasn't tired anymore, so I laid her in the bed alone.

The apartment was messy, so I cleaned and swept. I was about to start on the bathroom when I was interrupted. An earth shattering wail brought me back to the bedroom.

Hannah was wet and hungry. As I fed her, I realized she was a little stinky. I wondered if they had anything here like baby wipes. For all the fantastic things they did have that still seemed doubtful.

"Come on," I told her once she had drained me. "Let's give you a bath."

In the bathroom I pulled off all of our coverings and let water flow into the tub. We wouldn't need much, so I only let it cover the bottom of the pit in a few inches of water. I sat Hannah on her bottom in the water and had a startling surprise.

She looked up at me and smiled. My day old daughter was holding her head up, which I knew was not normal for a human baby. When I tentatively released my grip on her, she continued to sit up on her own. Hannah was perfectly stable.

"Water, Mama," she told me splashing it around.

Well, maybe not perfectly stable, she surprised herself when water hit her face and she tipped back. I caught her and proceeded to wash her tiny body.

Hannah fascinated me. I noted her tiny fingers had dark nails. In the future those would be talons I imagined. Her wings were just two fleshy masses now, but I saw the hint of tips at each sharp curve. She would be fierce, just like she was supposed to be. I praised her in the water.

After her bath I wrapped her up in a warm blanket and tried to put her in the bed.

That was boring, Hannah informed me. She didn't want to sleep. Instead of sleeping we explored things my men had in the apartment. For some reason, we ended up in the men's closet pulling out bags and boxes.

Hannah liked the shiny stones my men had collected and kept there. She rubbed them and clicked them together for a few moments. I pulled out anything she might like to look at.

"Ore!" Hannah said.

She was right. Hidden away were many small pieces of the ore. It had been buried in a corner beneath several boxes.

"Men should no have ore, Mama, they know," Hannah told me seriously.

I corrected her wording gently as I tried to put the ore back. They'd never shared this stash with me. It wasn't clear why they had it.

"It's theirs," I shrugged, "who knows why they have it."

"My father," Hannah used the English word, "once, wanted to run away."

"They really were miserable," I said touching the hard shiny metal, "but how do you know that?"

"When he thought of the ore he always thought of what he had. He tried hard to get more."

Suddenly, I felt a pang of fear. "I wonder if they had planned to take me with them?"

"Yes, Mama," Hannah said pulling the ore back out.

"Sweet men," I said smiling.

The rest of Hannah's morning we spent on the floor in the closet. She finally let me put the ore away. As we sat, she played with the stones, cards, and pieces of my ornamentation. I noted her hand eye coordination getting markedly better as did her speech.

I encouraged her to do things repeatedly until she was able. Her learning curve was incredibly rapid. Teaching her was engrossing.

"What are you doing?" Christof asked standing in the doorway of the closet.

Hannah and I were using the flat stones to build with, like Lego blocks. I had not heard them come in.

"Playing," I said as I looked up and grinned at them.

Kein was crouching down and peering into the little room.

"We used to have blocks we would build with," he said, "remember, Brothers?"

"Stones are probably too slick," Damien said and Evan agreed with him.

Later, as a group we went to the eating area. Six chairs were sitting around the table we normally sat at. Christof motioned for me to sit, which I did.

"I like to hold you," he said in a low voice, "but my Brothers are afraid I will inadvertently touch the child."

"Kneeling would be more acceptable to the other men," I advised very quietly.

"We don't really care what is acceptable to them," Christof smiled. "You are family and our family sits to eat together."

A hair raising howl alerted us that Hannah was ready for lunch. Pulling out a breast I brought her mouth to it as she screamed.

"Eat, Baby," I soothed. "You don't have to be so loud."

Hannah latched on, sucking and watching me. Again, she was calm and content. As long as my attention was on her, she seemed happy. I stroked her as she fed and watched her expressive little eyes.

Damien made it back with Evan and the food.

"The other men," he said passing out servings, "are terrified of the child. That sound, it keeps making, puts them on edge."

Kein leaned in and spoke quietly to me, "Did you see the women appear when the child called out?"

I shook my head no, so he continued to talk.

"The men said each time the child cries the women come around. There was one stalking up and down outside our apartment all last night."

Evan took his plate and replaced Kein talking, "Just now three women appeared at the entrances to see what was happening."

"They're proving a point," Damien said as we all leaned in to listen. "The women want us to see them watching the child."

"There's a bet that Archen's family will try to touch the girl," Evan said. "I heard it in the sorting room."

"Didn't they see what the women did?" I asked. "Why would they risk it? That is monumentally stupid."

Christof loaded my plate with food and placed it in front of me. "They were Warriors, like us, from another compound. None of them like it here, they're trouble makers."

"Like you all were," I said ruefully starting to eat.

Everyone at the table chuckled before Damien answered affirmatively.

They were still concerned, though. The family they referred to were powerful Warriors and their anger made them unpredictable. Archen's family was a force to be reckoned with and my men feared for my safety around them.

Hannah switched breasts and Christof fed me so I could eat, also. Once Hannah was done, she asked to taste what was on my plate.

"No teeth yet, Baby Girl, you can't eat it without teeth to chew," I said scooping a little gravy on my finger, "but you can try this."

Hannah sucked at the gravy and wrinkled her nose a little. "It's better roasted over an open flame," I told her.

"The best," Kein said, "is wrapped and stuffed with tami leaf from the red mountains. We only had it like that one time and it was amazing."

Hannah looked at Kein for a moment before she spoke, "I want tami leaf, Mama," she told me plainly.

"Baby Girl," I said looking up at Kein, "I don't know tami leaf and I don't know how you get it."

Kein answered me, "Traveling men sold it to my Brothers and me. They said it came from a tree found in the red mountains. It is rare to see any available to buy here but we enjoy it a great deal."

Clattering talons got our attention two women entered the room. They came near our table and Hannah hissed loudly at them. The women just looked at her.

"Why do you wrap her?" one of them asked me.

"It is the custom on my home planet, Mistress," I said clinging to Hannah and trying to cover her with my arms.

Nu-reeh entered and I was, for once, thrilled to see her.

"Show them the child's skin," Nu-reeh commanded and I unbundled my daughter with shaking hands.

"Ah," one of the new women said, "it did happen too soon. The baby fur should have grown in and the wings are without definition."

Nu-reeh explained that I had been hit in the head and the stomach. She had obtained knowledge that such a violent act could cause an early birth in a human.

"No lines," one of the new women commented, "very poor camouflage."

Nu-reeh stiffened and told the other women it would not matter once the fur grew in. That seemed to settle the debate.

"We have another family," the woman told Nu-reeh changing the subject, "that we can bring from a compound. I believe they will do better than Runen and his Brothers. Those men do nothing but create trouble wherever they go."

Nu-reeh agreed and the women left as a group. The hall was mostly silent starring at Hannah and me.

"What was that?" I asked very quietly.

"They owned the tutors who were blamed for harming the child," Christof told me.

Understanding made my gut clench. Those women had skinned five men in punishment for potentially hurting this female. They must have wondered if she was worth it. I hoped they would continue to think she was.

The hall slowly went back to normal after the interruption.

Hannah napped after her meal and I finished my plate with Christof feeding me.

"We have a mating this afternoon," Bane said as we walked back to our apartments. "They won't let us walk with you in the caves."

"Can I let Hannah sleep some first?" I asked looking at her resting peacefully.

"No, walk while she rests," Damien said quietly.

"Of course, you're right," I amended, "Nu-reeh said to walk her."

"Only in safe places," Bane added.

"Yes, only in safe places," I said kissing each of their cheeks.

I made a diaper bag once we were in the apartment. At least, I made the Paterian equivalent of a diaper bag. It had everything I would need for a long uninterrupted walk.

In the back of the closet I found a long run of cloth, I'm not sure what my men wanted to use it for. I used it to tie my baby to my chest. She rested comfortably in the sling and my arms were free.

I strode confidently out of our apartment with my head decidedly down. No reason to ask for trouble that wasn't being offered. No one accosted me or even noticed me for that matter.

I stepped into the main hall and the men just walked past me like I was a stone dropped in the tunnel. It began to feel like I was invisible.

I had to look up occasionally and the men seemed blind to me. Literally, they looked right through me. It was like they didn't know I was present.

"They don't see me," I whispered as another group walked past oblivious to my presence.

The women had no fear the men would bother me, because the men were under their control. Except Runen and his brethren, who had attacked me. It made me wonder. Had the women skinned them because they assaulted Hannah or because they were able to override the commands?

"Hannah, I don't know what I've gotten you into," I whispered to my sleeping baby.

Nu-reeh must believe Hannah would be powerful. That's why the women worked so hard to teach and protect her. Clearly, my daughter was slated to take her place among the women once she was grown.

I walked through the caves and eventually Hannah woke up. She wanted to see what was going on. Holding her in my arms I showed her the world from the openings in the mountains.

The men never bothered us as we walked. If we were loud and boisterous the men looked around like they heard something. When we were quiet and stood still, they seemed not to see us. It soon became obvious to me that with enough incentive the men could break free of the women's commands.

I had no urge to get in a confrontation with any men. Hannah and I talked, but I did nothing to rile the few families that strolled by. The women had made it easy and I just stayed under their radar.

As the sun dipped in the sky I walked back to our quarters. I didn't look down, because there was no need. The men didn't see me even if I stood right in front of them. I did not exist.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 16



My family showed up to take me to dinner. They were very concerned about me and must have worried all afternoon. I put Hannah down and consoled all of them.

"The men just ignored me," I told them honestly, "there is no reason to worry."

Damien wasn't convinced. They all fretted through dinner and none of them ate well. They were too busy planning how to protect me. I wasn't sure how to explain Nu-reeh's control to them. From their perspective, I knew it would seem far fetched.

Nu-reeh came in just after we finished the meal and looked at my family. She took in the barely touched food and the worried looks.

"You did not preform well today at the mating," she said staring from man to man. "No one will touch your slave, do not disappoint me tomorrow."

My men visibly relaxed after her statement and I was glad for her assistance. It would hopefully be good enough for now.

Since it seemed men could suppress her suggestions if they had an incentive, I had to avoid giving them any reason to fret over me when I took my walks.

My men left the dining hall in high spirits. Someone had offered them a chuke game and they happily took them up on it. It had been ages since they had played. We went to the arena and I sat with Hannah off to the side.

The place we were in was enormous, even for the cave systems, and it was cold. The light came from torches, but parts of the roof were also missing, so some late afternoon sun streamed in.

I sat with Hannah in a patch of sunlight next to a warm torch while Damien and his Brothers played their game.

"Women are very powerful, Hannah," I told her softly as she watched me.

"Yes, Mama."

"You will have great power over the men," I told her, "but you mustn't abuse your power. These men need you to take good care of them. For this planet to survive you must treat the men well and keep them safe."

"Yes, Mama," she said watching me. "I don't like men, though."

"Why, Baby Girl? Why don't you like men?"

"The men kept you as a slave, Mama," Hannah's perfect English blended so well it surprised me, but she continued. "What the men did is wrong," she said simply.

"Don't treat your men badly then, little girl," I told her. "Don't make them want to buy a slave to love them. Love your men yourself and make them happy. These men made a mistake, but I have come to love them. I love you. You don't have to hate them. I don't."

Hannah knew my anger better than anyone. She knew exactly how deeply being taken and kept like a pet had hurt me. I prayed she had seen the affection I held for Damien and his Brothers. My bitterness should not cast a dark cloud on her life.

I heard Bane cheering and looked up at the game. My family was jumping around, so I did the same thing, dancing with Hannah in my arms.

"Are you a cheerleader, Mama?" Hannah asked when I had settled down.

She remembered correctly. It had been my personal opinion every time I danced and cheered.

"Yes, but they won't understand that word," I told her.

We talked, as the game progressed, about everything. Hannah knew Earth and she knew here, at least some of here. She was desperately curious about the rest of it. Unfortunately, I'd already given her all I had.

"You'll go out and explore is what Nu-reeh said," I mused looking out over my men again. "She seemed to think you would leave me fairly soon."

"I won't leave you, Mama," she said stubbornly, "I love you."

My heart lodged in my throat and I felt the tears come. "I love you, too, Baby Girl, but it's what you have to do. I don't want you to leave me ever, but I won't hold you back."

Hannah set her jaw and looked up at me. "I won't go," she said simply.

I laughed at her. "Your father is stubborn, too,"

"I don't need to leave," she insisted, "and I'm not like my father."

I remembered the morning episode when she first saw the sky. This child was built to soar out of the nest as soon as possible. Trapping her with me would surely kill her. She craved exploration in the wide open sky. I would never have the freedom that was her birth right.

"Relax, Hannah, no one is going anywhere right now. Just remember, when the time comes I love you and you shouldn't be afraid to take what is yours."

We talked for the rest of the game until Hannah fed again, dropping off to sleep shortly after.

"How was the game?" I asked my men as we walked silently back to our quarters.

"Too long since we've played," Evan complained.

"We'll win next time, Brother," Christof consoled him.

"You boys really haven't been playing enough if someone here beat you," I replied surprised.

"Thank you for reminding us," Damien said grimly.

"Play tomorrow," I offered, "the practice would be good for you."

The next day found me sitting with Hannah in the main room by the fire. My men had long since gone to the sorting room. It was just a quiet morning with the two of us.

As I tidied up Hannah talked to me about all manner of things. She spoke in English and Paterian, switching seamlessly between the two.

Feeling the sudden urge to pee I picked up Hannah and took her with me to the bathroom.

Hannah was curious. She knew how it felt for me when I needed to go. It wasn't clear to her if she had the same feelings. We discussed what that felt like and Hannah wanted to use the pot next time. I encouraged her tell me. Not using diapers would make this so much easier.

My men came for lunch and they looked very pleased with themselves. Evan proudly handed me a large bag, as soon as he walked in. I started to pull out the contents and was instantly happy.

"Look, Hannah," I exclaimed, "they bought you blocks to play with."

There were other toys in the bag, too. It was a very thoughtful gift.

I hugged and thanked all of them.

"Say 'thank you', Hannah," I ordered picking her up. "It was nice of them to think of something you might want. It is polite to show gratitude."

Hannah looked uncertainly at Damien and pulled her lips back like she was going to hiss.

"Mama will be upset if you aren't a nice girl," I warned.

Hannah thanked my men and I praised her. It hurt me that she would grow up hating the man who fathered her. I had never meant to have her think that way.

Time seemed to fly by at lightening speed. Hannah started to crawl within seven day cycles. She was walking within thirty. Dark brown fur started to grow, finally, after she started to walk. Nu-reeh had been worried about that. Since the baby fur hadn't come in by her early birth, she thought it should have grown in before this.

The fur covered Hannah from head to toe. It was shorter and seemed lighter than the other women's and it spared her face entirely. Nu-reeh told me the thick hair the females had would grow in after her fangs developed.

It must have been warm, though, because she didn't want to be wrapped anymore. The fur seemed to be doing its job.

Hannah's wings had fascinated me. Each wing was divided into three sections. At each transition point was a fleshy barb. It wasn't nearly as hard as the ones the adult women had, I hoped that changed with age.

By her third moon I could appreciate the changes in Hannah's wings. Over time Hannah had learned to control the spans of flesh and she now moved them with ease and assurance. Except for their smaller size they looked much like the older women's wings.

I talked to her about the amazing places her wings could carry her. Reminding her of Nu-reeh's stories, I hoped she would also see wonderful things. The conversation usually infuriated Hannah.

She told me she had no need to see this world. Land was land, mountains were mountains, and the sea was the sea. It didn't matter if it was somewhere different. She always went back to playing with her toys and refused to talk about it further.

That's what she said and I heard her, but it wasn't how she acted. Hannah stared at the sky when we passed openings in the mountains. She explored the limited world she had voraciously. I saw her true desire even though she tried to hide it.

Hannah grew rapidly and she fed from me frequently, much more than a human child would. I produced enormous amounts of milk, but I feared it was barely adequate. Hannah stood the height of an average toddler, but Nu-reeh had commented she was small. I ate and drank frequently to have enough energy to make enough milk.

I'm sure it didn't help my overall health when I started to menstruate again. Those days I felt as though energy flowed from me in every direction. It made me tired, cranky and hungry. Despite how hard I tried I could barely keep up with the demands on my body.

Hannah's relationship with Damien and his Brothers was always strained. She harbored a large amount of anger toward them and nothing I could say seemed to quell it. I still tried, though.

Every day I talked to her about the importance of treating men well. I feared she would treat her own men poorly when the time came. That would just make things worse.

One day during her fourth moon I even told her my suspicions about the way the women could control the men. I advised her that she probably had a great deal more power over men besides just strength. This was new information and Hannah pondered it.

I reminded her of the times it seemed like Nu-reeh had controlled the bond. Hannah had those memories also and understanding lit her face.

"I wonder how she did it," Hannah said and I had to shake my head.

I wasn't sure either.

"Perhaps," I said, "one day when you are older, you could ask. I'm not sure I should know."

It wasn't much help, but it's all I could offer her.

Hannah and I still took our afternoon walks around the caves. She was incredibly curious and explorative. She would climb the walls and and crawl deep into crevices to examine things if they interested her. It was during one of those walks she discovered she could fly.

We walked to an area where the floor just dropped way. Hannah wanted to see what was on the other side of the pit whose bottom lay at least twenty stories below us.

"I'll crawl down, Mama," she told me and scurried toward the ledge.

While I liked to encourage her curious nature, this was too dangerous.

"No," I told her sharply, "it's not safe. Come back here."

Hannah pouted and stomped her foot while backing away from me. The loose gravel she was on shifted and she tilted back over the edge of the precipice. I screamed as she fell backwards.

I rushed to the edge and looked over screaming her name. Hannah fell for a mere moment before righting herself. Her wings spread wide and I gasped as she flew. She soared across the pit to another ledge and landed clumsily on it.

"Did you see, Mama?" she called to me excitedly. "Did you see me fly?!"

My heart was hammering in my chest. I'd apparently seen my child fall to her death and I couldn't stop shaking. My voice trembled as I spoke.

"Yes, d-d-don't do it again, Hannah. Stay there, let me get someone to help you!"

"Why?"

"Hannah, you could get hurt," I said getting exasperated, but calming down slightly.

I saw her spread her wings and flap them experimentally. She rose off the ground and hovered for a moment.

The truth of it struck me. She was growing fast and she was getting more independent every day. I'd promised not to hold her back, so I had to let her grow at her own pace.

"Fly back to me, Baby," I called to her. "If you start to fall, spread your wings and glide down. Do you understand that word?"

"You changed your mind," she informed me as she jumped.

Hannah practiced flying over the pit all afternoon. She started out mainly just gliding from one ledge to another. Soon she had reached the bottom and had to fly to get back up. I just sat and watched from the top, calling out encouragement.

"I'm hungry, Mama," she cried when she was still halfway down in the pit.

"Fly back up and feed, then," I told her.

Hannah did not tolerate hunger well, she never had. She screamed and wailed, throwing a mighty tantrum below me. Clattering talons told me who had arrived.

"Good day, Ma'am," I said to the large woman as she walked in.

"Why is the young female down there?" the woman asked me looking over the edge.

I explained how Hannah had wanted to climb down and then stumbled. The woman seemed pleased Hannah had flown. The fact she had practiced afterward also made the woman happy.

Hannah appeared suddenly, having flown the rest of the way up. She was hungry and angry. She made horrible sounds at the other woman.

"A fine female!" the woman said before she walked away.

I sat and held my daughter as she started to nurse. She quieted quickly, now that she was being fed.

"Quite a scene you just made," I said smiling down at her.

She sighed and continued to nurse.

"Maybe next time we should find a place that you could get out of easier," I said and Hannah just watched me.

She was sleepy after her exercise and I carried her back to our apartments. I put her on her belly to rest and picked up the toys she had left scattered around that morning. My men had generously brought or purchased her lots of different things to play with.

Much like on Earth the toys were all geared at teaching some fundamental skill. It kept her occupied in the morning when I cleaned things up. I smiled recognizing the different words and symbols printed on the toys.

It was nearing dinner time when a clattering noise outside got my attention.

"Slave," Nu-reeh's voice called from outside.

"Yes, Mistress," I answered bustling out. "How may I help you?"

"The child is flying I was told," she stated and I gave an affirmative answer.

Hannah was beside me suddenly. She greeted Nu-reeh politely.

"Come with me," Nu-reeh ordered and started to walk.

I took Hannah's hand and we started out trailing close behind Nu-reeh.

I had been glad when Hannah stopped hissing and growling at Nu-reeh. I got the sense that Hannah respected the large woman. Nu-reeh seemed like a good role model. She was powerful and knowledgeable, things I certainly was not, so I didn't have an issue with it. They had developed what oddly enough seemed like a business relationship.

We walked back to the steep rock wall Nu-reeh had taken me to the day Hannah was born. Once again the big woman scooped me up and flew into the opening above us. I looked down and Hannah followed.

Once we reached the top Nu-reeh pointed ahead of us.

"Walk," she told me, "I wish to speak with the young one."

It was an unusual request and I walked toward the center of the women's living area alone. Tosu met me and requested I stand with her, which I did. Ahead of us was an opening in the stone floor. It seemed to be emanating heat. Vaguely I remembered seeing it at Hannah's birth.

I didn't want to disobey Nu-reeh, but I worried for my daughter. When I glanced back the way I'd come they just seemed to be talking. Surreptitiously, I watched until Hannah got close to me.

It was warm here, I noted, much more so than I was accustomed to. I made no comment to Tosu and asked no questions. I was glad when Nu-reeh and Hannah passed. Nu-reeh was telling Hannah why it was hot in this area.

"You will find these in every mountain range," Nu-reeh said pointing to a sunken glowing area in front of us. "We have made ours easier to use, but you will find them naturally in every cave system."

I started to walk forward and Nu-reeh stopped me. "It is too hot for you, it is for the young one."

I could see the heat rising from the central pit. I could see a set of stairs carved into the rock went down into it.

"What is it?" I asked quietly.

Nu-reeh ignored me and started to instruct Hannah on how to dip the tips of her wings into the stuff. She said once Hannah's talons started to grow she should dip those also. It would make the tips hard as any metal and nearly unbreakable.

"There are very few substances that can survive the treated tips of our wings," Nu-reeh explained. "When the slavers attacked this planet, we found they had no material that would stop us. We pierced and shredded every defense they had."

I guess it hadn't just been the men that fought that battle. The slavers really didn't stand a chance.

"How long should I hold it in?" Hannah asked.

"You will know when it is enough. Once the pain fades you will feel them grow harder. It is a choice for any woman how long she leaves them in. You will have to experiment to perfect it for yourself," Nu-reeh answered.

Other women had flown down and were standing around. I watched as little Hannah walked down the stairs. Nu-reeh stood at the edge and coached her.

I heard a little yelp and got concerned. I tried to move forward, but Tosu grabbed me from behind.

"My baby, you're hurting my baby," I cried fighting her.

"Your daughter is doing what all women do. Stop struggling or you will upset the young one," Tosu said into my ear.

The smell hit me a few moments later. It was the distinct odor of burned flesh. I had no idea what they were doing to my daughter. My terror didn't abate until Hannah's head popped up from the pit. She looked expectantly at me with a huge grin.

"Look Mama, look at what I can do now," she said driving the blackened tip of her wing into the rock beside her.

Breathing deeply, I gave a big, fake smile. "Good girl, that's wonderful, now come back up here."

Hannah looked confused. "I have to do the rest of them, Mama. That's just one. I have tips on all three sections of my wings," she said uncertainly and Nu-reeh gave me a hard look.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hannah. I hadn't realized you didn't finish. Go on," I encouraged with false brightness.

"Be cautious about using them so soon after the treatment, young one," another woman called down.

The other women murmured agreement, they should be left to set and harden.

"I couldn't wait to try mine," Dinah said, "almost broke one on the first day."

There were no more yelps of pain, but the smell of burning flesh continued to waft from the pit.

"It is traditional," Tosu said, "that you paint the newly hardened tips. They are always painted after the first hardening. Some women continue to paint them, but most do not."

"You are going to let that paint one of us?" another woman ranted angrily pointing at me. "It is disgraceful."

"This is the female breeder," Tosu said sounding bored. "Would you rather we bring the male breeder up here to do it?"

The women grumbled and cursed, but no, they didn't want the men here. This was a female only thing and they enjoyed the privacy of that.

Dinah handed me a small pot of shiny blue liquid. Well, at least Damien would be pleased she had the right color on.

"The color is in honor of the male breeder," Tosu explained, "Nu-reeh made it in Damien's family color."

"Thank you, Mistress, that was kind," I said.

This was all so strange and unexpected. It felt like I had come to Christmas dinner in the middle of July and showed up without a gift. I was absolutely unprepared.

Hannah barreled out of the pit intent on showing me what she had done. I looked over the tips and touched them, telling her how good they looked. She was very animated and wanted to tell me all about it.

The entire situation pleased her until she saw the color I planned to put on her newly hardened wing tips.

"No, I don't like that color," she said stubbornly eyeing the pot.

"That's the way it's done, Hannah," I tried to explain. "Mistress Tosu said you wear your male breeder's color."

"No, Mama," Hannah said crossing her arms, "my wings will not bear his colors."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 16



I was at a loss and the women around us were silent.

What better way to look like a failure as a mother than with a bunch of women who despise you watching, I thought to myself.

"Hannah, I think this is supposed to be something special. Let me put this on you," I said reaching for her.

"No," she hissed, "he made you a slave. I will not wear his color."

Nu-reeh let out a sound like a laugh. "To a fine female, Hannah!" she called out loudly.

The other women around us repeated the salute and then started to wander off.

Tosu took the bowl back and chuckled. "You'll be a real terror once your fangs come in, girl," she smiled stepping close to Hannah. "You and I should talk," she said quietly before moving away.

Nu-reeh called to Hannah and me to follow her. I sat the little bowl on a low bench and walked quickly after the big woman.

"You may fly out of the mountain now, Hannah," Nu-reeh told her. "Use your spears to protect yourself."

"Can I, Mama?" Hannah asked me excitedly.

It was easy to see the desire in her eyes. The idea of being outside enthralled her.

"Of course, Baby," I said, smiling with confidence I did not feel, "Mistress Nu-reeh has said you can."

"Go on ahead," Nu-reeh told Hannah. "Explore a little, I will take your female breeder back down the incline."

Hannah didn't hesitate and ran out. She bolted toward the incline and jumped off of it. Her wings spread wide and I saw her soar through the air before darting out of an opening in the mountain.

Smiling to myself I thought she probably wanted to go check out her new spikes in the sunshine. As well as everything else that was out there. What a wonderful amazing world she would see.

"She has fur to protect her from the cold, her wings work, and now she has the start of her weapons," Nu-reeh told me. "She has no teeth, so she will need to come to you for nourishment."

I understood and it made me want to scream, but I took a large breath instead. "When she wants to go, I won't stop her, Mistress," I said quietly.

"I will not let you keep her as long as you would like," Nu-reeh said. "She is of this world and must do as we do. I cannot allow you to cripple her with your human frailties. It used to happen and it created weak women."

"Of course, Mistress, I also want my daughter to be strong," I answered her.

Nu-reeh dropped me at the base of the steep rock wall and I walked slowly toward our apartment. I wondered where Hannah had gone, she could literally be anywhere. Until she was hungry, from what Nu-reeh said, she may just stay gone.

Hannah made her entrance beside me boldly before I made it back to our lodging. She'd been flying around, but still had trouble sticking the landing. She ended up in a tangle of wings and body.

"I went outside, Mama," she panted, struggling to her feet.

"Did you?" I asked very glad to see her. "What did you see?"

Hannah happily told me she'd flown around this side of the mountain outside. She'd seen several animals Nu-reeh had taught me about. She'd chased a couple. The other women had seen her, but they didn't bother her.

She had tried to go into a mine and the women did chase her away then. That made sense to both of us, the women were territorial about the mines. Nu-reeh had told me that much.

I was dying to find out something, though. "What did you dip your wing tips into?" I asked touching the razor sharp spears now at the end of her wing sections.

"Well, I don't know the word in this language, but on Earth you would have called it 'lava', I think," Hannah said looking thoughtful. "You never saw lava yourself, but this reminded me of the way the television showed it."

"Oh, well that's...different," I said taking her hand and walking toward our apartment. "I wonder how the women figured that little trick out."

"Who knows," Hannah shrugged and I smiled.

In some ways she was so human. In other ways she was so Paterian. I hoped the mix would serve her well.

Looking around I saw Hannah and I were in an enclosed, deserted section of cave. I asked quietly what Nu-reeh had wanted when she sent me away. Hannah's eyes got wide and she looked forward and back. She pulled me to kneel beside her and whispered in my ear in English.

"Nu-reeh does not know you are aware she can control the men," she said. "I have been trying to do it and it upset her. She told me to stop trying. Nu-reeh said when I have my own men I will control them, the way she can control hers. When I get my own men, she said she would give me the implant and teach me."

I gasped and looked at Hannah, she shook her head and whispered in my ear again.

"She asked me if you knew, Mama, and I said you didn't. I don't think she wants you to know, okay?"

"An implant?" I asked curiously.

"She said it makes her thought commands to them stronger," Hannah said. "Apparently, she has a connection to only her men, but it only goes one way. The implant strengthens it and stops it from going both ways."

We heard men coming toward us and talons from the other direction. I stood up and took Hannah's hand. We walked briskly toward our dwelling.

As we walked Hannah told me we shouldn't talk about it. I agreed and squeezed her hand. This must be our secret.

My men were anxiously waiting for us when we got back. Word had been sent we would miss dinner, so they had been instructed to bring food back for me.

"We are glad you are back," Christof sighed pulling me into a hug.

Hannah had long been trained not to fuss when we showed each other affection, but she still hated it. As my men greeted me, she sat on a chaise watching them with angry eyes. I wondered as I often did if every female hated men this much.

"Hungry, Mama," she said reaching for me.

It was one of her favorite tricks to keep me away from my men. She knew they couldn't touch her, so she took her time 'feeding' to keep me away from them. Unfortunately, I was hungry, too.

"Christof can you move that tray over here?" I sighed settling on the chaise as Hannah crawled over me.

Christof brought the food and set it down beside me, so I could nibble while Hannah nursed. Before he drew his hand away, Hannah kicked his wrist.

"You touched me," she hissed angrily.

"No," I said with authority, "you touched him. Nu-reeh will not punish her men for something you did. We both know that."

In truth, I didn't really know that, but it was a good gamble.

"Apologize for kicking, Christof," I said pulling my breast back into my outfit.

Hannah jumped off my lap and made all manner of horrible sounds. Some directed at me, most directed at them. She swung the sharp tips on her wings around in a fighting style I recognized. How well she had learned the lessons her father had subconsciously taught her. I waited until she was calmer.

"You have to learn to control your own temper. That's very important," I said. "You must be a master of your temper and not let it rule you. Now apologize to Christof and come have your meal."

"I'm...sorry," she said petulantly, glaring at Christof.

"Come," I commanded pulling out her dinner and opening my arms.

Hannah cried a little while she nursed. I knew nothing on this planet but me cried, so I assumed that was her human side showing. She was upset for some reason, so I soothed her.

"They will never hurt me," I promised her. "They love me like I love you. Please stop hating them. If they had not brought me here, there would be no you. I think you will make this world better. My difficulties were well worth having you, My Girl."

My men sat and watched us in silence. The look on their faces was one of sheer terror. They had no doubt what Nu-reeh's reaction to that brief contact would be.

"Are you a good woman?" I asked Hannah.

She nodded and continued to suck.

"Does a good woman tell lies?" I asked her.

She released her food source and sat up to watch my face. "No, Mama."

"Are you going to lie to Nu-reeh?" I pressed. "Are you going to be the kind of woman who gets what she wants by telling stories?"

"They made you a slave, Mama," she whined.

"And we both know that before you were born, they made me family," I answered.

Dark little eyes stared into mine defiantly, but she finally answered. "No, Mama, I won't lie. Nobody touched me."

"Good girl," I said kissing her forehead and pulling her close to nurse.

My men seemed to relax slightly, but not entirely. They didn't really trust Hannah, it's not like she'd given them reason to trust her. She'd been ridiculously angry at them the entire time they had known her.

"I see the wing tips are different," Christof noted quietly breaking the silence.

"They dipped them in something really hot," I said. "The women said it makes them harder."

"Lava," Hannah said and then went back to the breast.

My men looked confused and I explained that the hot rock boiling out of the ground we called lava on Earth. None of us on Earth could touch it because it would burn us so badly. In fact, a human couldn't really even get near it. My men had never seen it, so they just said they'd use the same word if they ever saw it.

We talked casually until Hannah drifted to sleep and then Evan sighed putting his head in his hands.

"She's going to have us killed. I said it before and I'll say it again. That child will be the death of us," he moaned.

"I bet it'll be a slow death," Bane said. "Anybody with me?"

"Really, that's what you bet on?" I whispered incredulously.

"Okay, fine," Bane conceded, "then I bet she kills Christof first."

"No way," Kein scoffed, "head of the family, Damien first."

Damien smiled ruefully, "I bet she makes me watch and I go last. That would be worse."

"You want a three way bet, Brother?" Bane asked excitedly. "Evan, who do you side with?"

"Enough," I whispered harshly and they ignored me. "This game is really sick, you should be ashamed-"

Christof cut me off to take sides with Bane. He liked the idea of being first. Evan sided with Kein and then they all stared at me.

"Well?" Bane prompted getting animated. "Who do you side with?"

I forgot, I was family now and everyone played when we had these games.

"Fine," I hissed, "Kein is right, she'd make Damien go first."

I hoped we'd never find out who won that bet.

My men spent the rest of the night playing a card game. I settled Hannah in bed and came back to join them. Not for the first time, I was glad Rose had taught me these games.

Christof's hand played in the hair at the back of my neck for a few minutes.

"Absolutely not," Damien said with authority. "Nu-reeh was quite clear about that."

Christof sighed and removed his hand dragging it down my arm first. I looked at him quizzically.

"There are better ways to spend an evening," he said grinning.

"I bet," I whispered and leaned toward him to kiss his lips.

What started as a light peck turned into a deep kiss. Christof almost pulled me off my chair he was so enthusiastic. Damien interrupted as Christof's hand smoothed over a breast.

"No, no, no Brother, do you have a death wish? Leave Ciara alone. We cannot touch her," Damien sounded frustrated.

"Why?" I purred rubbing my hand against Christof's thigh. "Hannah is asleep. She won't wake up for a while."

"Because Nu-reeh doesn't want another child from you," Damien said sharply. "She can't find us doing that. We would all earn punishment for that."

That killed my burgeoning sexual desire. I definitely did not want another child. Surviving the loss of Hannah was going to kill me. I couldn't imagine having to go through that a second time.

"Your play Bane," I said straightening up in my chair.

I cleaned the apartment in the mornings, but it never took long. Hannah played with her toys while I worked, but she started to get more and more restless with each day. Our little set of rooms made her anxious; she wanted to be outside. It became torture for her to wait for me to go out with her.

She was growing and changing quickly. By her fifth moon, her talons had finally started to lengthen and Nu-reeh had her dip them when they were just long enough. Now she was well suited to be outside and exploring. It was where she really wanted to be.

I always went with her when she went outside, in a fashion. I would find a place to sit in the sun and knit at whatever exit she chose. Originally, she stayed in my sight line, but more often now she just disappeared. Her hunger was the only thing that brought her back at regular intervals.

"Mama," she said watching the door early one morning, "can I go outside while you finish?"

She was growing and her needs were changing. I swallowed the lump in my throat and told her to enjoy herself.

"You get too cold outside, Mama. I can just come back here when I get hungry," she offered politely.

"Go, Baby," I smiled, "come back when you need to. I'll be here."

She was off in a flash.

I cleaned the bathroom like I was trying to take the stone off the walls. My hands got raw and I scrapped the flesh off my fingertips. It burned and stung, but no more than the pain I felt inside.

Once her teeth came in, she would not need me anymore. The wild world would call to her and she would have to answer. It was a truth I couldn't stand to face.

She came back after I'd wrapped my hands. For some reason I couldn't find that miraculous cream my men had. They had tucked it away somewhere.

"What did you do to your hands, Mama?" she asked crawling onto my lap.

I sighed theatrically, "That tub in the bathroom, I've been trying to get it cleaner and I'm just not having any luck. I was so vicious with it this morning I cut my hands. Come eat, it's not bad. I'll heal."

She curled into my lap as I held her and she took her meal quietly. Once I was drained, I could see her anxiously eyeing the door.

"Go," I said swatting her bottom, "stay out of the mines."

She was gone and I tried to clean, but it wasn't working. I ended up just sitting and staring into the fire. It was coming so quickly, I just wasn't prepared.

If I'd had my wits about me I would have spent the time looking for that cream.

"What happened?!" was what roared out of Damien's mouth after he removed the bandages and saw my raw fingertips.

He was furious and demanded to know what happened. Evan wanted to go tell Nu-reeh I couldn't clean anymore. Even Kein and Christof were upset. Bane marched into the bathroom like he was going to dismantle it.

"It's not the bathroom's fault," I said exasperated at their overreaction. "I just...I just realized how fast Hannah is growing. Once her teeth come in, she won't need me anymore," the last of it coming out as a whisper as I slumped over. "She'll be gone very soon."

Bane walked back out of the bathroom with the healing cream looking confused. They all appeared confused. All eyes turned to Christof and I saw him accept the responsibility to deal with this.

"We don't understand," he said simply sitting beside me, "please explain."

I took a shuddering breath and allowed Bane to put the healing cream on them.

"In my home world," I explained as he worked, "a child stays with it's mother for eighteen cycles of the sun."

They looked quizzically at me. That wasn't how they tracked time. I tried a second time.

"Six of your moons cycles repeated eighteen times," I said.

It wasn't exact, but it was near the right amount of time.

"That is a really long time," Kein commented settling on a chair.

I nodded and continued. "I know Hannah doesn't need that long. She would feel cramped and contained if I tried to keep her like that. It just feels so wrong to me to be preparing her to leave me now. Selfishly, I know I will miss her. To raise a child and then to never see her again..." my voice broke and I dropped my head in my hands.

It was Christof that held me as I cried, but I felt the love from the rest of them. They did not understand, but they knew I was hurting.

"Mama, you make too many assumptions," the tiny voice said from the doorway. "You keep saying I have to leave you and I always said I wouldn't."

I wiped my tears and tried to sit up as Hannah came to stand in front of me. "Baby, you have to go out and explore. It is what women do. They know the entire world. It isn't right to keep you with me."

She stood stubbornly gazing at me. "I don't care. I'm not really Paterian anyway. My memories are of Earth. It's not like I'll fit in on this planet even if I do go fly around," she said gesturing flippantly. "I'd rather stay with you."

My maternal instincts reared their head and the tears were gone. Hannah could not stay with me. It wasn't appropriate and it would kill her wild spirit. I spoke with conviction.

"The reason you don't feel that you belong here is because you haven't experienced enough. Nu-reeh gave me stories. This is a very interesting planet. You have to travel around, find Sisters, and when you are much older maybe acquire some men-"

Hannah cut me off with a loud hiss. "I - don't - like - men," she said simply letting her eyes rest squarely on Damien.

"And right now, I'm glad for that, you are too young to like men," I told her. "It's what you'll do, though. It is what we all do. We gather experience, build a family, and continue the species-"

"Maybe I'm a lesbian," she interrupted, blending English and Paterian perfectly.

She had caught me off guard and my men all looked confused at the word.

"I don't think they have that here..." I mused getting mired on the minor point.

"You didn't do that," she insisted. "You were taken from your home and sold at a slave auction. You do not learn and grow anymore. I have your memories, Mama. This is not who you were before. On Earth, you were strong and independent. These men still keep you like a pet after they trained you like a dog."

"No, Baby Girl," I soothed, "this is family now. They care for me and I care for them."

Hannah laughed a short, mirthless sound. Sharp eyes scanned the men present before settling back on me.

"This isn't a family the way you knew it on Earth," she said maliciously. "These are not husbands or boyfriends you chose. You are not an equal, building a life with them. You have nowhere else to go and could not leave even if you wanted to."

"No, Hannah," I argued, putting my hands up in a gesture meant to stop her, "you don't understand-"

"We both know what slavery is. For now you are fun, but what happens when their attention wanes? What would you be if they no longer wanted you? How many men did your Mom go through?"

In my head I counted through the stream of men that had been in my mother's life. I never got attached to any of her boyfriends, because they came and went so quickly What would happen to me if Damien and his Brothers wanted a fresh face?

"Mama, they think they care for you now, but we both know that could change. You live, breath, and eat at their discretion. We both know what it means to wear the status of slave. You will exist until they tire of you and then they can sell you or kill you!"

My men all stiffened at that comment, but it didn't stop Hannah. She was on a roll. I saw her temper start to flare out of control and she spoke faster.

"That's why you've been so good to them. You've always acted good, so they keep you. Find what they want and provide it, right, Mama? What happens when they don't want you anymore?! They will destroy you and I can't stop it! How can I protect you if I'm not here?!" she screamed.

The pain of that last statement stopped me. All her anger, all her frustration was not directed at my men; it was directed at herself. Hannah had internalized all the fears I had, but she could escape them. I could never get away and she thought she was powerless to help me.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 16



She lashed out with her vicious weapons cutting at my men. She was a flurry of screaming fury for a moment or two and then she was gone. Hannah had disappeared from the apartment as fast as she had appeared.

Bane was cut the worst, she'd gotten him across the chest deeply. Kein had a nasty wound on his palm where a talon had gone clean through. She'd knocked Damien down, but he rolled out of the way when she tried to take his head off. Christof had been mostly spared since he was close to me. Evan had a series of minor scratches on his face that were bleeding heavily

My men bound their wounds silently and refused to let me help. I thought they were angry at first. They weren't, they just wanted to spend time together before they died.

"She will honor our request, Nu-reeh already promised she would. If we are not able to care for you, we asked her to place you. There is a family back at the compound that has trained well for an Earthling. They are kind men, for Warriors," he told me sadly. "They would treat you well, we are sure of it."

I was speechless for a moment.

"No, she won't kill you," I argued following them around as they dressed themselves. "You are her favorites..."

"Stay here," Damien said kissing my cheek, "I think you would feel sick if you watched this."

Bane was kissing me before I could argue. "You brought me great happiness, Ciara. I hope I brought you happiness also."

"No, this is not happening," I argued as Evan crushed me to his chest.

"I liked hugging," Evan told me. "I liked everything you taught us, except the vomiting. That was awful."

"This is insane, stop it," I cried as Kein hugged me.

"You have the nicest breasts and you let me touch them, thank you," he said leaning down and nuzzling my clothed chest. "I'm glad we were family."

I wouldn't let Christof go after he told me he loved me.

"Run," I begged them, "I saw the ore you have, take it and run. Find a spaceship and get on it."

"We don't have enough to take all of us," Damien told me simply, "and we can't run."

Evan interjected, "You told us they watch the aliens and the spaceships. We would not be able to get on one without them seeing."

"You can't die," I screamed. "Please, I'm begging you, get away from here. You are strong, smart men. You could survive! Run away!"

Damien looked seriously at me. "Weak men run, we have never been weak men. We thought we were once, but we were wrong. Our family will stay and take this punishment."

"It's not punishment, it's death! I won't let you do it," I screamed becoming hysterical.

Bane caught me from behind and held me still. Kein disappeared for a moment and then reappeared with two small tubs of cream. I recognized the calming cream and struggled wildly, but the grip on me was firm.

Kein coated my face and neck in the stuff. I fought for consciousness, but failed. I watched dully as they lay me on our bed and covered me with a blanket. The cream was very effective and I didn't even care as my loves faded from sight.

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I need Damien and his Brothers for this story to work - fyi.

Please vote : )



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 17



Thanks for all the kind words and VOTES! Just basking in the attention here. Hope everyone enjoys this next chapter.

If you see mistakes let me know - I'm always trying to improve.

All comments are welcome love it or hate it.

A thousand thanks to Steve150177 for his continuous desire to make the story flow well. I really appreciate the hours he spends proofreading.

English is in italics when it occurs.

Enjoy! DW

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I woke slowly. My limbs would not move and I couldn't open my eyes. I felt a pressure on my chest and heard hiccuping sobs.

"She won't wake up," Hannah cried.

"We used the calming cream, Hannah. It makes a human sleepy. Take a meal and don't worry," Christof soothed.

My sluggish brain knew he shouldn't be here. I fought to remember why hearing his voice made me want to cry. He had mentioned the cream, I knew that really screwed up my memory.

I felt as my breast was pulled out of my outfit. A mouth started to suck and then the whimpering started again.

"I want Mama to hold me!" Hannah cried. "Mama holds me when I feed!"

"Baby Girl," Christof used my pet name for her, "stop fussing. Your Mama is sleeping. Take your meal and you will feel better."

Hannah drained me, but she didn't leave. She pulled my limp arm around her. I tried to hold her, but I couldn't control my arms.

My brain started to fade again, but not before I had a single memory. In hazy relief, I saw Hannah's sharp wing tip slashing across Bane's chest. She had touched them.

What would Nu-reeh do? I wondered as I faded out again.

I woke and Hannah was snuggled next to me, deeply asleep. It was dark and my men were all sound asleep around us. Not surprisingly, I had to pee.

Struggling to disentangle myself from Hannah, I moved to the edge of the bed. I walked carefully, the cream always left me dizzy and disoriented. As I passed into the main room, I almost fell. Strong hands stopped my descent and I was lifted.

Damien chuckled and picked me up.

"You are so predictable," he said quietly as he carried me to the bathroom, "same time every night."

Damien carried me into the main room after I was done. The whole family was standing around in their linen wraps talking quietly. They looked up and smiled when they saw me.

"Awake, finally," Evan sighed softly.

"Too much cream, little Brother," Bane chided looking at Kein.

"She had to sleep," Kein defended. "I made sure she didn't follow us. That's what we wanted."

The conversation would have continued, but I interrupted. "Why didn't she kill you?" I whispered. "There was a fight and Hannah touched you, I saw it. I can't remember all of it, but I remember Hannah cutting Bane. The wound would have been hard to hide."

Even now Bane had a huge scab that crossed his chest. By the look of it, that slash would leave an impressive scar.

"Hannah has honor," Christof said seriously. "When we got to Nu-reeh, Hannah was already there. She explained she had touched us and we did not touch her. Hannah asked that we not be punished for what she had done."

I was horrified and looked toward the sleeping room. My poor baby, what had Nu-reeh done to her. Struggling out of Damien's arms, I stumbled as I rushed to check on my baby.

My hands ran over Hannah's form, but she didn't stir. I couldn't find any injuries, but her fur was so thick. There was no way to see exactly what was underneath. My panicked eyes sought Damien's as he looked questioningly at me.

"What did she do to her?" I asked.

"Nu-reeh told Hannah not to harm her men. She said she wasn't worried about us touching Hannah anymore, either. Nu-reeh said Damien's offspring can defend herself now. Hannah thanked Nu-reeh and said it wouldn't happen again," Christof said coming closer to me.

"And?!" I asked terrified.

Hannah slept well, but not this deeply. She wasn't even stirring as we talked and I touched her.

"And we came back here; she met us here. She's very worried about you. Hannah fears we will tire of you. She promised us anything we wanted if we would just take care of you for your lifetime," Christof said sitting on the bed.

I vaguely remembered Hannah screaming something to that effect at my men. She had worried they would tire of me, as men so often had tired of my mother.

Kein sat down beside Christof, "You truly believe we would rid ourselves of you?" he asked sounding hurt. "You are family. We never separate from family."

"I wasn't always fam-" I started to say and Bane cut me off.

"You are now. Besides that, we told you we would not sell you the first day. Have you forgotten?" he asked.

I was not really worried about that right now. Hannah was my main concern and she was laying so still on the bed.

"My daughter," I insisted, "my child, what happened to her? Was she hurt? Why doesn't she wake up?"

Christof leaned closer to Hannah and looked at her. "We don't know. She was upset when she talked to us and then she got hungry," he grimaced.

"So she got more upset," I prompted, "and then what happened."

"She fed," Evan said simply.

"And then what happened?" I asked trying to stay calm.

"She slept beside you," Christof said. "We went to the sorting room. She was here when we got back. She woke very confused and drank from you again. We went to dinner and she was still with you when we returned."

Hannah was never confused when she woke up. She was bright and energetic when she was done sleeping. Staying in the bed all day was also very unlike her. It was like she had been drugged.

"Damn it!" I cursed. "No more calming cream while I'm nursing," I ordered them. "I have to wash the rest of it off, now!"

Stumbling to the wash room, they helped me wash the cream off my skin. Hannah was ingesting it through the breast milk. Her system was enough like mine that it affected her. I wished there was a way to give her nutrition that wasn't tainted, but the only way to feed her was with my milk.

"So you're saying we could have calmed the little female down with the cream?" Evan chuckled.

"No," I said irritated, "do not put it on her. She can't defend herself like this. Poor little girl, hopefully it won't do any permanent damage."

We got back in bed and I pulled Hannah right next to me. She was deeply asleep and didn't rouse at all. I shook her lightly and she didn't even move.

"I need you all to do something for me," I said to the men laying down around me.

"Anything," Damien answered propping onto an elbow.

"Drain the milk that is in me now. It will probably make her sleep more if she takes it. I'm sure the cream is still affecting it," I said.

They did not like that idea at all. Nu-reeh said not to touch Hannah's food source.

"Her food source is virtual poison right now," I argued. "Nu-reeh wouldn't like to see her like this and I don't want to advertise this happens to Hannah. It is a point of weakness."

The men understood that argument. Weakness would be exploited if it was found. No one could know this about Hannah.

Kein came beside me grinning madly. He kissed all over a full breast and teased the engorged nipple with his fingers. I was so sensitive I almost hurt, but understood he probably missed this.

"Keep stalling, little Brother," Bane teased, "Hannah may wake up and demand food."

Kein latched onto the nipple and sucked. He seemed surprised by the volume of liquid I was producing, but he didn't stop until nothing was left. Evan took his place and took care of the other breast. Once he was done, he spoke.

"You are correct," Evan said. "There is a hint of the calming cream in the liquid. I taste it."

"Nobody can know that this stuff affects Hannah," I whispered. "It would be judged as a weak human attribute."

"Of course, we will not say anything," Damien promised.

I looked around the bed and the other men murmured assent. It would be our secret.

"We will not sell you," Evan insisted getting back to their earlier point. "We will never rid ourselves of you."

"I appreciate that you feel that way, but that isn't how slavery works," I said shaking my head. "It is very unnerving to think about."

"Well," Bane said laying his head back into his hands, "you aren't a slave, so you don't need to worry anymore. We are your family and we will care for you."

"Thank you," I said stroking my sleeping daughter.

The cream had left me sleepy, but I didn't rest anymore during the night. I sat up watching Hannah. The men woke up at their normal time and started to move around. Hannah still slept.

"Taste the milk, please," I begged Evan. "Tell me if it is still tainted."

Thankfully, it was clean. Evan only tasted the milk, but he wanted to continue. He would have drained the breast, but I swatted him playfully away.

"You have teeth," I smiled. "She will wake up and need to nurse. Go eat your morning meal in the dining hall."

My men promised to bring me food and left me alone with my daughter. My anxiety didn't diminish until she opened her eyes.

Hannah had missed at least one and probably two feedings during the night. She woke up hungry, cranky, and crying. Much like when she was first born, she was almost too upset to feed.

I sang to her and rocked her until she started to suck. Hannah was slow and uncoordinated. She had trouble drinking and drooled a little. I imagined her memory was impaired also. Gingerly, I stroked her and tried to keep her calm.

"Wha happen, Mama?" she slurred once she was done nursing.

She tried to rise and wasn't able to get her balance. Her wings and their deadly tips careened wildly trying to find stability. One tip sliced through several of the bed sheets beside me like they were butter. I reached for her and felt her talons almost dig into my flesh.

"Baby Girl, let me hold you and relax. Just don't try to move around right now," I said soothing her and stroking her wings. "You drank from me after the men put calming cream on me. Some of it got into the breast milk and now it is affecting you. You are like me and the cream affects you, too."

Hannah sunk into my arms and curled up on my lap. Her wings still tittered as though trying to steady her. The sharp spears on the end tip swung precariously over my lap as I soothed her.

"Don't feel good, Mama," she whined snuggling close.

I shushed her, promising it would pass. Hannah fell back to sleep tucked in my arms. By mid morning she felt much better when she woke to nurse. By late afternoon she was herself again.

We talked a long time about the things she'd said to Damien and his Brothers. Some of it she did not remember saying, but she certainly felt that way. My position in this household terrified her, talking about it seemed to help some.

Having the reason for her fears out in the open changed Hannah's relationship with my men. She talked to them now and didn't hiss. The unrestrained anger seemed to have abated and she treated them like equals.

I woke late one night to find her sitting on Damien's stomach. At first I thought she was hurting him and then I realized they were just talking. Since I typically slept deeply, it was no wonder they found it a good time to talk. I closed my eyes, lay still, and listened.

"Nu-reeh is going to send you back to the compound," she told Damien. "She told me once my teeth come in and I leave; you will all go back."

"Your Mama will be safer in the compound," Bane whispered from the other side of the bed. "The other Warriors respect the rules and your female breeder knows them well. I fear for her safety around the women and the men here. They are not as respectful of the rules."

"I don't want to leave Mama," Hannah told them. "I want her to stay here, with me, in the mountains."

Christof spoke next, "We will care for her. We swear it to you. Men like us never tire of family," he said gently. "From the little bit we understand, you are supposed to travel."

Everyone in the bed told Hannah the same thing in soft murmured voices. I heard her shuddering breath as she tried to trust them.

"I am torn. The world, it intrigues me, but I don't want to leave her," Hannah whispered, "I still want to see her."

"Well," Damien said thoughtfully, "there are ways you could visit her. Nu-reeh can probably arrange what you want."

"I wish to stay with her," Hannah said softly, "but I also wish to travel."

"You should travel," Damien said seriously. "Come back to these mountains if you wish, but you should see the world first."

Kein sighed and said he would have liked to travel. No one ever told him it was an option. He and his Brothers had just assumed the Administrators knew what was best for them. Now, though, he felt he had missed out.

"Imagine places where water falls from the sky all the time," he said softly. "We see it so infrequently here. I would like to see it more often."

"And the tami tree," Bane said, "wouldn't it be nice to live in a place closer to that wonderful plant. I love the taste of the meat prepared with it."

The men talked softly about all the things they wanted to see for themselves. It would have been fun to travel together. They would have enjoyed it.

"I can feel the teeth under my gums," Hannah admitted quietly, "It will not be long."

I sucked in a gasp and Hannah crawled over to me. "Mama, are you awake?" she asked.

Pretending to be waking up, I asked if she was hungry.

Damien looked knowingly at me as Hannah suckled. He knew I had heard at least part of the conversation. It was a kindness to me that he didn't bring it up.

Hannah was cranky the next day. The bad mood got worse every time she came back inside to feed. Finally, she told me her gums hurt.

I looked in her mouth and saw the sharp points of teeth cutting through. On Earth I remembered children sucked on something cold to help with the pain when they were teething. An idea struck me and I marched with Hannah to the sorting room.

"I shouldn't look up," I whispered to Hannah once we made it there. "Find our family, we need to talk to them."

Hannah held my hand and we weaved through the confused men in the sorting room.

Damien was surprised to see me and a little puzzled at what I wanted.

"Those green stalks, Master Damien," I told him quietly. "I need them and I need them kept cold for Hannah."

He looked at me questioningly, but didn't do anything other than send Kein to get what I wanted.

"Go back to our rooms," he told me quietly. "Kein will bring you what you need."

While we waited for Kein I rocked Hannah back and forth to comfort her. There would not be many more times like this, I knew. I tucked the feeling of holding her close deep inside and swore to preserve it.

Kein brought in a metal tub and sat it inside the door way. He told me it would keep the things inside cold. It was filled to the brim with chilled green stalks.

"Here," I told Hannah, "put it in your mouth and suck on it. The cold with help the ache some."

Kein lingered to watch what we were doing. He made a show of using the bathroom and getting a drink. It was obvious to me what he was up to, though. Most likely Christof was curious and it was bleeding through to Kein.

Hannah sucked on the stalk and the strain on her face eased some.

"It feels better, Mama," she told me grinning, "and I like the taste."

"Good, just keep sucking," I instructed.

"I don't understand," Kein finally said, as Hannah sat with the cool against her gums.

"Growing teeth hurt," I explained.

Kein tilted his head to look at me. "I grow my teeth all the time and they don't hurt."

"Hannah's part human," I shrugged, "we experience pain when our teeth grow in the first time."

Hannah removed the stalk from her mouth to complain, "They usually grow in one at a time, right, Mama? Not all once, it hurts more all at once."

Kein wrinkled his nose and looked at me. Evidently their teeth grew in at the same time. He thought it would look funny to have them grow in slowly.

"It does," Hannah assured him before she stuck the green stalk back in her mouth.

Hannah stayed inside with me the rest of the day. She spent most of it sucking on a cold stalk.

Once she was finally more comfortable, I brought up the inevitable conversation.

"You know what this means," I said to her. "Once your teeth are fully developed, you're supposed to go out on your own."

She pouted, "I don't want to."

"Well, it's just what's done. Do you even see any other young women flying around here?" I asked.

She shrugged, "Some, the other young women I see are usually several mountains away. It is considered...well, tacky, to fly too close to the mountain housing the men. The women that live in the area get angry if they find you too close and you're not still nursing."

"What do they tell you?" I asked her.

Hannah grudgingly admitted they told her about the places they had been. She asked questions and the other girls just assumed her mother was very old.

"They think I do not know the other places because my mother hasn't been to them in so long. I just let them think that," she said.

"That's a wise decision," I admitted. "It wouldn't do to have them think you are weak. Nu-reeh has said you are petite. I know you learned to fight from your father, but I'm not sure it would be effective against other women."

Hannah smiled a wicked smile. "Oh, I'm small, Mama, so they think I am weak and I let them think that. I've play fought many girls in the mountains. I usually win."

That was shocking information. I didn't know Hannah fought. She never came back wounded.

"I heal fast," she admitted sheepishly, "like my father. My skin isn't as tough as the other girls, so it's a good thing. I didn't think you would like it that I was fighting. On Earth, I know you avoided fighting, so I hid it from you."  

I thought I had paid attention to her, but Hannah had been sneaky. She explained how she washed off the blood and let the wounds scab before she came to eat. Hannah always lay so I wouldn't stroke the wounded side.

"Very deceptive, Baby Girl, but I'm glad to know you can take care of yourself," I said shaking my head.

"I use Dad's moves," she told me getting more animated, "the girls don't expect me to fight like that. The way I fight is disconcerting to them. They all fight the same way, except me."

Hannah sucked on green stalks and we talked. I finally admitted to Hannah what Nu-reeh had said, namely that her staying with me would make her weak. Even if she wanted us to stay together, Nu-reeh would not let us.

"I can see why," I said straightening the room a second time to steady my shaking hands. "Compared to other girls you would have less experiences. I imagine that traveling alone like that makes you more self reliant, also."

The tears wanted to come, but I fought them. I was asking her to leave the safe confines of this mountain. This world was wild and dangerous. All I could do was pray she would be safe in it.

Hannah's arms wrapped around me as I refolded blankets to distract myself.

"Mama, I know this scares you," she said. "I'm not afraid of the world. I only worry about you. Daddy promises he will keep you safe. He has sworn to me he will care for you. Nu-reeh guaranteed me she would see you placed with a good family if something happened to Daddy."

We spent the day talking. I cried some and so did she. We knew our lives were about to change in a big way and neither of us could stop it.

"I'll be strong one day, Mama," she promised me fiercely. "I'll be strong enough to protect both of us."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 17



Hannah's teeth grew in slowly. At first they had been tender, but soon they didn't hurt anymore. I continued to nurse her until she accidentally bit me one day. We found the healing cream in the bathing room before Damien came home.

"I think you need to try food you need to chew," I told her dabbing the blood up and reapplying the cream.

At lunch, Hannah went with us. Much to the men's surprise, she tried the food on my plate. I encouraged her to try just a few things. I didn't want to upset her stomach with too much new food.

"Chew it totally before you swallow," I told her over and over again.

Hannah ate until she was full and then she bolted outside as soon as she could. She stayed gone all afternoon and I started to get uncomfortable. By the middle of the day I was miserable. I was accustomed to a child that nursed every two or three hours. My body was literally leaking fluid I was so full of it.

By the time the men got home I begged them to help me.

"Nu-reeh and her sisters have taken Hannah," Evan said looking at his Brothers. "Our Mistresses went to hunt with the young one. Nu-reeh said they will not be back before the moons are high in the sky."

With Nu-reeh gone the threat wasn't present. Evan and Kein followed me into the bedroom and watched transfixed as I pulled out my milk laden breasts.

Kein went first and drained the right breast. He sucked with a vehemence even Hannah had not had on her hungriest day. Once he was done he backed away and Evan fed lovingly from my left side. He drained me and then bathed the entire breast with his tongue.

My men seemed to be enjoying touching me. To tell the truth, it had been too long since I had been with them. I was really enjoying what should have been a perfunctory task.

"Better, thank you," I whispered laying my head back and relaxing on the bed.

Evan sauntered out looking sated, but Kein didn't leave immediately and stayed to play with my breasts.

"The tips are different," he mused playing with the prominent nipples.

"From nursing," I sighed still feeling relieved that sense of fullness was gone.

"I like them like this," he commented. "We want to see our insignia hanging from the rings again. They will stand out more now."

I just sighed and lay with my eyes closed. It had been like I was ready to explode before they helped me. The relief almost made me sleepy.

Kein kept fiddling with my breasts. He alternated between kissing, sucking, and fondling.

"Do you want the rings in your nipples?" he asked softly. "It is your body. Christof thinks we should ask you what you want."

I opened my eyes and watched uncertainty flit across Kein's features. He looked like he was very ready to be disappointed.

"Sweet man," I whispered pulling his lips up to mine, "I want to wear your crest on my nipples. Thank you for asking me."

I heard shouts and back slapping in the main room. Evan had lost the bet and they were all very happy they could put their insignia back on me.

Christof came in the room and sat on the other side of me. He watched me very seriously.

"It can't be because it is what we want," he reemphasized. "We would take care of you even if you no longer wished to wear them. You are family and have a right to your own decisions."

I grinned and pulled Christof's mouth against mine before I spoke. "I love my family and I love your symbol. It makes me happy to wear it."

Christof attacked my mouth pressing me down into the bed. Kein continued to enjoy my breasts. I felt breath on my knee as my gown was pressed up to my waist. Someone's mouth was kissing up my thighs toward my center.

"No more babies," I panted pushing at the men.

They were not deterred and placed my hands above my head.

"We are just saying thank you," Christof informed me kissing my ear. "It has been too long for you, enjoy it. Nu-reeh has gone for right now, she will not catch us."

Evan licked slowly the length of my inner thigh until Damien told him to stop. I was disappointed, but he was right. I did not want to be pregnant again. We should stop.

"Pull off the covering," Damien ordered and my garment was hastily removed so I lay nude on the bed.

Rough hands trailed over my stomach and chest as Evan started to work his way up my thigh again. I saw them disrobing around me. This was about to lead to a very dangerous place.

"No more babies," I struggled and flipped myself over, which was far as I got.

"You are too tense," Damien commented as his hands came down to roughly rub my shoulders and back.

He was far from practiced, but he had paid attention to how I rubbed him. Someone else's hands started to do the same thing lower down and I moaned. It was heavenly.

My body was lifted so a few pillows could be pushed under my hips.

Coarse hair tickled my bottom and I knew Bane was kissing the roundness of my buttocks.

"I dream of these," he told me separating the cheeks and blowing.

"I'm not on the drink," I cried struggling to move as I felt the moistness of Evan's tongue tracing between my lower lips.

"It really has been much too long," Damien commented. "You are acting like Hannah when she has been too long between meals. Stop resisting and let us pleasure you. We will not put a baby in your belly again."

"You were a sex slave before," Kein informed me as he licked at my ear. "You are not that anymore, but we still need to give you pleasure."

"It will keep you healthy," came the muffled commentary from between my legs.

I relaxed. They were just being generous. Hopefully they knew what made babies and we weren't doing that.

Evan dragged his tongue lazily over the entrance to my womanhood until it was wet and slick. My legs relaxed and he pushed them farther apart tracing the opening and occasionally entering with his tongue.

"More, please," I begged weakly.

It had been too long, much too long. I wanted them badly.

"You can have more here," Bane said running his fingers over the wrinkled skin he loved so.

"Yes," I moaned as I felt oiled fingers slipping past the tight ring.

Bane's thick fingers slowly fucked my ass as Evan's mouth worked relentlessly. The stretch got more intense and I knew Bane was moving their plug in and out. It ached and burned at first, but Bane knew what he was doing. The stimulation had me loose and ready very quickly.

"Get on your hands and knees," Damien said roughly.

Evan was under me in a flash pulling my needy core down to his mouth. In this position he could suck and flick my clit without obstruction.

My hands caressed him and I noted I was grabbing skin. I had a naked and very aroused man beneath me. The contact with his warm flesh was an aphrodisiac. I rubbed and stroked every part of him I could reach.

The motion of the plug in my ass was relentless. I rode it until I was begging Bane for his cock. A low chuckle was his satisfied response.

I sounded like a blithering idiot as I came on Evan's mouth. Nothing I was saying made any difference anyway. He wouldn't stop and wouldn't let me pull away.

"Too much," I moaned and cried kissing and licking the turgid shaft in front of me.

"Make him spend in your mouth, Ciara," Damien growled, "he may take pity on you."

I opened my lips and took Evan half way down. I had forgotten how large Evan was. It would be work to take the rest, but he made it worthwhile. Whenever I pulled off the shaft he attacked my sensitive center.

My noisy slurping filled the room for several moments and then the plug was gone. As Bane started to press into me I had a terrible thought.

"Hannah," I panted, "what if she comes home?"

Hands pressed me to take Evan again as Christof told me she would be gone until the moons were high. Nu-reeh had taken her somewhere. We were safe to do this for a while.

"You need to orgasm again," Bane informed me sliding further in. "Ciara needs to cum on my shaft Evan. It would be good for her."

Yeah, right, I thought, but that's all I had time for.

My eyes rolled back in my head as Evan started in again. He had my thighs quivering and clenching around his head, but it wasn't enough. Every time I moaned he pressed into my throat and renewed his efforts.

Bane had settled on a rhythm and held onto my hips as he stoked in and out.

There was nothing left to do as the big man claimed my ass and Evan bit my clit. I came hard. I fought the urge to grind my teeth with the force of the orgasm. I sucked and moaned. My vision blackened around the edges.

I could hear Bane cursing volumes behind me. My body was trying to squeeze his cock off, he claimed. Several thrusts into my wildly convulsing ass had him spilling into me with a groan. Evan wasn't far behind and found his release against my tongue and throat.

Rolling off of Evan I sat on the bed and watched the two satisfied men beside me.

"So it would be good for me to find my pleasure on your shaft Bane?" I asked sarcastically. "That is healthy for me?"

Damien smirked as he lost the last of his clothes.

"Your spirit is back," he commented, "so yes, I would say it is healthy for you."

I was feeling excited and spunky. "Perhaps my bite is also back," I offered snapping my teeth at Damien.

"You forget how much we enjoyed taming our woman," Damien said stroking his shaft lazily. "Do that on my cock and we will revisit the idea of training you. We have learned much and there is a great deal we would like to try."

I crawled toward the big man and nuzzled his shaft as he stood by the bed. I looked up into his eyes and saw the fire. On a simple crazy impulse I turned to face his shaft and bit the midsection lightly. The resulting growl was anything but light.

His eyes were blazing when I looked up. Damien actually looked pissed. In a moment of decision I tightened my teeth around him. His fangs started to grow and his member twitched between my jaws. Apparently he couldn't decide if this was pissing him off or turning him on.

Sharp points and warm breath surrounded a nipple as it hung beneath me. Similar sharp points dug into my vulva and the curve of my ass. When teeth gripped my fingers on one hand and toes stung with the sharp points, I knew what they were doing.

It was a controlled threat. I could bite their Brother, but they'd bite back. Who would win that battle was abundantly clear.

I looked up at Damien and he was staring down at me looking quite sure of himself.

"Lick it," he ordered, "and suck it the way I like."

I watched Damien closely as I ran my tongue from base to the tip. The sharp teeth receded. Still feeling peckish I pulled back a little and snapped my teeth on air. I grinned evilly looking up into Damien's surprised face. For all of a moment, I had the upper hand.

The way Damien and his Brothers usually treated me it was easy to forget how strong they were. I was reminded powerfully as I found myself pinned to the bed with my arms pulled behind me. My arms were pulled just to the point of discomfort, but not past it.

I struggled under Bane's weight and couldn't move an inch. In a futile gesture I kicked my legs around and he reminded Evan where to find the rope. The threat made all my humor at the situation abate.

"I'm sorry, Bane...Master Bane. You don't have to hold me still. I'll be good, I promise," I begged.

"Ah, so we are Masters now," Bane whispered in my ear.

With ease and fluidity my body was flipped onto my back. I saw the rope and felt an odd sense of relief. We'd played with it before and I'd not been harmed.

My family held my back to the bed as Kein bound my arms above my head anchoring them to the post at the center. The intricate row of knots up my arms prevented me from even bending my elbows.

Evan and Bane pulled my legs far apart and dropped them off the edge of the bed. Kein worked quickly binding my legs. The first thing he did was wrap the rope securely just under my knee. It was intricately knotted and then secured to the bed frame. Running the rope back to my ankle I felt the wrapping and knots that locked my lower leg down. Both legs were secured the same way, with the same attention to detail. Even with all the force I could muster, I couldn't raise my legs away from the bed or close my legs.

It struck me how vulnerable my position was currently. My legs were spread obscenely wide and my hands were trapped over my head. I was absolutely exposed and utterly immobilized.

"I was only joking...," I pleaded from my now very exposed position and looked around for Damien.

I suddenly realized I had no idea where he'd gone. Bane sat on the bed on one side of me and Evan sat on the other. Both of their faces held a weird amount of glee. I twisted and squirmed and found I could go nowhere.

Straining my neck I looked at the predatory gleam on each of their faces and it scared me. I was nude and tied. They looked hungry and Damien had left. Would they all leave? It began to unnerve me. Christof knelt beside me and I saw the old familiar smile light his face.

"Please, please let me go. I won't tease him anymore," I said pulling on what was binding me.

"Hush," Christof ordered stroking a hand down my arm, "you threatened my Brother and he warned you not to do that. We would enjoy teaching you manners. You are safe in these restraints. They are not too tight and you will not be able to move and injure yourself while we play with you."

Hands stroked the tops of my thighs and my stomach. I relaxed under the gentle caresses. They weren't trying to scare me. They just wanted to play.

Damien slowly came into view and my eyes focused on what he had in his hand. My uncle had magazines he'd leave around the house. I knew what this was because I'd nosily gone through those. It was a flogger. On Earth it would have been multiple strips of leather firmly bound to a handle. Whatever this was it appeared to be made that way.

"You will learn not to bite," Damien said levelly. "That was very bad. I do not like it when you bite me."

My brain whirred to find some way out of this. "Your Brother does," I said casting anxious eyes on Bane.

"I am not my Brother," Damien answered cooly. "Now relax. You may even find you enjoy this."

"I know I'll enjoy it," Bane growled from beside me.

The feral glint in Bane's eyes told me how much he was looking forward to what they had internally decided on.

It made sense suddenly. The men weren't punishing me because they had to, they were doing it because they wanted to. I wondered who had gotten their ear and told them this would be fun.

I made one last attempt at freedom and tried to move in my bindings. They were done much to well for me to loosen them, though. I was tied so securely I couldn't even move enough to strain myself.

Sweat collected on my brow as Damien stood stoically watching my pointless struggle. He did not move again until I lay still and quiet. The other Brothers just sat watching me with anticipation.

"Thank me for teaching you," Damien said and then he swung the flogger.

It was like slow motion as he swung up and then down. I saw the separate tails move in perfect synchrony as he added lift at the last moment. The end of the tails snapped the skin right above my knee.

It wasn't a hard hit, but it wasn't soft by any stretch. More like it caused a deep persistent sting.

"Thank you, Damien," I said feeling relieved it didn't hurt worse.

He raised an eyebrow at me and swung again landing the next hit in the same place on my other leg. I had expected him to hit with the entire length of the leather. He didn't. Damien snapped the flogger each time kissing the skin with the implement.

"Thank you, Damien."

The snap of the flogger was accompanied by the sting each time. It was a strange sensation, like an itch you can't quite scratch. The sounds coming from my mouth could easily be described as a mix between pleasure and pain. I found myself raising up to meet the snaps involuntarily.

The men noticed and I felt their hands on my arms and my stomach further securing me to the bed. It was strange and unexpected that the gentle touch made me feel protected and cocooned. My muscles stopped straining against the rope and I relaxed further with each strike.

"Will you bite me?" Damien asked simply when he had reached the top of my thighs.

"No, Damien," I panted almost wanting more.

Evan's and Bane's hands had been on my torso and they slowly dragged them up across my prominent nipples until four sets of hands rested on my arms.

I looked up into their eyes and saw heat. They wanted this, the moaning woman beneath them, taking the pain they offered with absolute trust. All of them looked hungry and animalistic as they looked down at my bound form.

The next strike was so strange and unexpected I cried out. My focus readjusted to the dangerous man standing between my legs. Damien had flicked the lashes to land on the soft rounded globe under my nipple.

"Will you bite me?" he asked as I gazed at him.

"No, I will not bite you," I whispered as he slowly drew his arm back.

I expected the mark this time on the opposite breast and moaned as each strand of leather caressed and then bit the supple skin.

He asked the question again and again; I answered as many times as he asked. Each slap on my breasts required the same promise.

"No matter what I put between your lips I won't feel teeth, will I?" He asked dipping his fingers between my legs.

My answer was cut short as he pinched my clit. The garbled sound that came out did not please him. Damien made me answer again as he continued to play with my engorged clit.

"No, Damien, I will not bite you," I promised and his fingers slid down.

Two fingers nimbly fucked me as I panted on the bed. I was so wet down there his fingers made a steady slurping sound as they exited each time. My face and chest were flush with embarrassment and lust.

"Put me on my knees, Damien," I offered, "let me suck you until you cum in my throat. I promise you won't feel my teeth."

Damien's stripes darkened and his teeth dropped down. That offer was what he wanted to hear.

My arms were released from the central pole, but not from bondage. They were still bound together as Kein used the rope to pull me so I sat on the edge of the bed.

"As much as I like the rope," he said undoing the knots, "I do not like it when your breasts are hidden from me," he grinned.

"Bind them behind her back," Damien offered with his teeth still visible. "I want her to remember the lesson as she devours my cock."

It was an order to both of us. Kein happily tied my arms tightly behind me as Damien stroked his rod in front of me. Our eyes met and I saw the passion flare in his as I looked adoringly up at him.

"Do you want my cock?" he asked suddenly.

"Yes," I purred licking my lips, "please let me taste you. I promise to be a good woman for you."

The cursing that statement earned was worthy of record. I knew what had them all so excited was the idea of a woman serving them. It was an unheard of concept and terribly erotic.

My old kneeling place was put on the floor after my legs were released. I stood on shaky legs before sinking down in front of Damien. My tongue flicked along his length before I engulfed the head between my lips.

"Suck, woman," he said putting his hand on my the back of my head.

I let Damien guide me and took him to the root each time. My tongue ran over the veins, memorizing the throbbing length of him. Looking up, I saw the rapture on his face as I did what he wanted.

It didn't take long. Soon I had stopped moving and was just accepting the thrusting into my mouth and throat. When he came I sucked harder and didn't lose a drop from him.

Kein and Christof were hard and ready when I looked up. My arms were still tied, so I shuffled on my knees over to Christof. I started to lick his shaft, as he sat on the bed. I engulfed the head and worked on sucking and pleasuring him with my mouth. He was enjoying the attention immensely and moaned low in his throat as I worked.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 17



"Did you bite my Brother?" Damien asked playfully behind me.

I pulled off Christof's staff confused. "No," I answered truthfully glancing back.

"I think you did," Bane said lounging on the bed.

"As do I," Evan grinned crouching beside me.

"The look of your thighs after the implement had it's way was quite amazing," Kein said wrapping a hand in my hair and pulling me to stand with it. "We wish to see your backside marked."

More than willing to play this game with them, I leaned down and softly bit Christof's shoulder.

Before I could move again, I was laying on my stomach with pillows propped under my ass. From beside me I heard the swish before I felt the tails making contact with my flesh.

This was different than what Damien had done before. He almost slapped me, so the thing spread out over my ass. My butt got warmer and warmer with each hit and I knew it was turning red. Several sharp snaps with the tips completed the punishment and I felt my ass must be glowing.

Cool hands separated my cheeks and I felt the oil being brushed over Bane's favorite place. It wasn't Bane that pressed himself in with a single thrust though. Grunting and moaning, I turned my head and I saw Christof doing the job.

My hands were unbound and as soon as I moved them beside my head, Christof was on me. My friend grabbed my hips and lay his weight over me as he thrust. He moaned into my hair and moved his cock in and out.

A series of unintelligible words were panted against my ear. Suddenly Christof grabbed my hips tighter and went still above me. I felt his long tool pulsating in my ass. Clenching myself around him, he pressed in harder and buried his face against my neck.

I could barely breath trapped beneath his long frame. Bane pushed him off finally and laughed at his loss of control. Christof had never been like that with me before.

"It had been too long," Christof panted laying beside me on his back.

Kein enjoyed me last and probably the shortest. It took very little stimulation for his teeth to be down. He had slicked the area between my breasts and did what he enjoyed. Not to imply I got no pleasure out of his turn. Evan's mouth brought me to orgasm as Kein poured his seed out across my skin.

As a group we lay panting and sated on the bed for many long moments.

I hoped our indiscretion had not gotten me pregnant, but I knew it was a possibility. Looking at my happy family I couldn't blame myself for letting them play. It had been too long since we were permitted to be close.

I steeled myself, though. Perhaps not now, but one day I would have to explain to them how making babies worked. They should understand anal sex wasn't a legitimate form of birth control.

Hannah arrived after we were all cleaned up and healing cream slathered liberally over my skin. The men and I had eaten a meal in the dining hall, but were back and sitting in the main room. It was late, but I wanted to be up when she got back. Hannah seemed like she was trying to hide her excitement or pretend it did not exist.

"Nu-reeh thinks I should sleep like the other girls sleep," she said casually. "You know, Mama, it's no big deal. I like the bed. Sleeping on the warm stones is really overrated."

I didn't know the women slept on warm stones. If it was what I gave birth on, I couldn't imagine how that would be comfortable. The feeling I got from Hannah is she wanted desperately to try it, though.

"You know," I told her, "when I was girl we went camping a few times."

"In the trailer, I know," she said fiddling with my knitting needles.

"It was fun," I pressed. "We met new people at their campsites, sometimes we ate different food, and got to explore the parks we were in."

"She showed me a place," Hannah said quietly. "It's a spot real near where she mines. It has a really nice place to sleep and the other girls stay away from there, because it's hers."

I kept a big fake smile on my face and nodded. If I said anything right now I would cry or my voice would crack. Christof saved me from having to speak.

"Must be high up," he said thoughtfully. "I bet the view from there is amazing."

Maybe, Hannah mused and then she went on to explain how high up it was. She had been surprised to she could breath that far in the clouds. I would have passed out, Hannah remembered my initial harrowing trip to the mountains well.

"I still can't believe she went and got you that way," Evan said.

"I wonder what the men in the compound thought of a woman stealing a slave?" Kein asked.

I had a feeling the men had not seen her take me at all. I think their attention was all on the women coming after them and Nu-reeh had been, for lack of a better term, off their radar, thanks to her implant. I still wasn't sure how to explain that to my men.

Damien and his Brothers continued to talk pleasantly with Hannah. Sleeping somewhere different would be fun, they told her. She might even see different things, especially above the cloud line.

They had her convinced. She just wanted to take a blanket "in case she got cold", which I suspected would never happen. Christof made a bag for her with a single blanket I had knitted and some dried meat. She attached the bag securely to her front before she left

A kiss and a hug and she was off.

I sat stoically until she was gone and then fought to control the tears. The men sat with me and tried to offer comfort, although they weren't really sure what they were doing. When I heard clattering talons I knew who had arrived, so I dried my cheeks.

Nu-reeh wanted to talk, Dinah told us motioning.

We walked swiftly through the caves to the women's area. Nu-reeh landed in front of the incline below the women's area as we arrived.

"Hannah eats solid food now. She is an excellent hunter," she stated bluntly. "You have five day cycles to send her to travel before I make her leave this mountain."

"Yes, Mistress," I answered her softly.

Nu-reeh stared hard at me. "Our women do not stay with their female breeder in their place of birth. It will make her a weak female. She must see the rest of this world."

I looked at Nu-reeh and saw her raw power. Neither Hannah nor I would survive a fight with this female. We had to do what Nu-reeh wanted.

"I will tell her she must go, Mistress," I said with my voice wavering only slightly.

Nu-reeh made a sharp sound and asked me to roll the sleeve up on my arm.

"This will stop you from having anymore offspring," she said pushing the silver pen into my arm. "You will take the drink every day to augment the effects of this. Damien she cannot miss any of the daily drink. It only works if you are consistent."

"Yes, Mistress," the men answered together.

I expected the slight burn that originated from the silver object this time. They had used something similar at the auction. Unfortunately, much like the auction my visual field started to blacken and I felt myself starting to pass out.

Nu-reeh didn't care and walked away. Hands stopped me from dropping to the floor and I looked up into Bane's face as he cradled me.

"Rest, Ciara," he told me, "we will care for you."

Everything disappeared and I rested as they carried me back down the hall.

***************

The bed bounced and I opened my eyes to see Hannah's grinning face above mine. Her teeth were enormous, seemingly longer than they had been the night before. She was crouching beside me waiting for me to wake up. For a split second, I saw the predator she could be.

Hannah was a ball of excited energy this morning. As I took my morning bath with my men she talked nonstop. She had hunted and eaten both dinner and breakfast in the mountains. The place she slept had been wonderful. She loved living in the rough.

"Mama, you wouldn't believe it, but sleeping on my stomach on the warm stone is so comfortable. I don't have to worry about catching anything with my spears or talons and I can relax," she explained.

At breakfast she told me all about how wonderful sleeping in Nu-reeh's cave had been. I agreed and encouraged, but couldn't find the strength to tell her that was where she belonged. It was easier just to let her talk.

The little medicine cup was at breakfast this morning. Watching my little girl I took it down quickly. I was grateful I would never have to do this again. My mind wasn't built to feel comfortable watching my child of six moons go out on her own.

After breakfast Hannah wanted to show me where she had slept. The men went to the sorting room and she pulled me to an opening in the mountain.

"Up there, Mama," she pointed toward the craggy cliffs at the cloud line, "just beyond the line of clouds is where I stayed. Nu-reeh said when the mine near there was fresh she slept in that cave to protect her ore."

"Seems so high up," I mused squinting up at the distant peak.

"I can go much higher than that," Hannah said. "I flew around some last night. It was amazing. Dad's family was right, I could see so much from up there."

It was obvious I should tell Hannah what Nu-reeh had said, but I couldn't. She pecked me on the cheek before she flew off to explore. I just told her to have a good time.

"I'll be back around dinner time, Mama," she shouted back as the wind carried her up.

After Hannah left I had a startling realization. My breasts felt fine, not full of milk or strained. The assumption I made was the shot Nu-reeh gave me must have dried me up. Thank goodness for small miracles, I thought as I walked back to our rooms.

I wanted to talk to Hannah about what Nu-reeh had said, but she didn't return at dinner. My worry started to make me slightly panicked. Damien and his Brothers comforted me, but I didn't feel better until she showed up at bedtime.

We sat in the main room and talked around the fire. The men each rested in a chair and I sat with my daughter on my lap. It was cozy.

Hannah told me how far she had gone. Being late had not been intentional, but she got wrapped up in her exploring. She had seen so many new things, she loved it.

"Well, you should enjoy exploring," I said trying to sound positive. "You have your teeth, wings, and your fur is being covered by your adult hair. I imagine you are well suited to survey this world."

"There is so much to see," she said, "but I like knowing you are here for me. I don't want you to go away."

Hannah's features looked troubled.

"I can't stay here," I told her trying not to sound sad, "and neither can you..."

"If you are at the compound, I can't see you or talk to you, Mama," Hannah whispered.

Damien spoke up then, "It isn't safe here for your Mama. You know how the other women see her...the men aren't much better."

"Racists," Hannah muttered and I laughed.

"Which is?" Christof asked.

I didn't realize Hannah had spoken the word in English. There was no equivalent here.

"On my planet humans sometimes didn't like each other because their ancestors came from different parts of the world," I explained.

"It shouldn't matter," Hannah insisted. "I will talk to Nu-reeh and ask her to let you stay here."

My eyes were wet and I shook my head, but Hannah insisted.

"We have to try Mama," she explained. "We can't let her separate us without at least trying."

I took a big breath before I spoke next.

"Nu-reeh told me yesterday she wanted me to let you go in five days. If you don't leave willingly, she will make you."

Hannah stared at me and the men didn't move. They'd suffered Hannah's anger and loss of control once. No one wanted to bear the brunt of that again. Since no one spoke, I continued.

"I will be moved back to the compound with Damien and his Brothers. You will always know exactly where I am. Don't fight Nu-reeh, it would be a waste. Spend the next several days with me and then leave this place still on good terms. See the world and build a life for yourself. We'll see each other again, I am sure of it."

"It isn't fair, Mama," she said quietly. "This isn't how it should be between us."

Fat tears ran down her face and I smiled at the human trait.

"Baby Girl," I soothed stroking her, "life is never fair. It's up to us, what we make of it. I chose to be happy, you need to make the same choice. I want to spend the next four days with you, carefree and together. The memories will have to last us, I want them to be good ones."

We talked until late into the night. I tried to think of all the things I should tell her as her mother. I would miss almost every event as she grew into her woomanhood. She laughed as I struggled to give her all the advice I had.

"Really, Mama," she laughed rolling her eyes, "you telling me to stay away from men?! What about your old boyfriend and the Chevy? Aren't you going to warn me not to have sex with boys in cars?"

"It's valid advice," I said yawning loudly, "that isn't how you should have your first man."

Damien chuckled then, "No, no it's a much better idea to find a man you can beat into the ground and then mount him."

I yawned again and laughed.

"Talk tomorrow," Damien said rising and motioning for me, "tonight you and the young one share the bed and rest."

Hannah got off my lap and walked over to Damien. Her head only came up to his mid thighs, but the top of her wing reached his groin level. They stood for a moment her looking up and him looking down at her.

"Pick me up, Daddy," she demanded reaching her arms up.

Damien looked confused and he hesitated.

"A Daddy would pick up his daughter," Hannah said. "It's normal on Earth."

"What is Daddy and daughter?" Damien asked as he lifted her.

"Daddy is the Earth word for male - breeder," Hannah said. "Daughter is another word for female offspring. On Earth you would have helped Mama take care of me. We might have been friends. You would have loved me."

Damien smiled at her speech as he turned and walked toward the sleeping room.

"I think that I would like Earth," Damien mused setting Hannah down on the bed.

It was so unlike the first night. Hannah sprawled on her stomach between Damien and I. Her wings spread and settled so one covered each of us. I looked over to see Damien stroking the span of flesh lovingly. She wanted to be close.

Christof pulled my hand into his on my other side. I looked at my friend and smiled. It appeared we all just wanted to be close.

The next morning dawned far too quickly. Unlike normal I was excited to be awake. I looked forward to a day spent with Hannah. They were so few and much too precious to waste on sleep.

We walked to the dining hall and Hannah kept coming up with ideas.

"I could carry you away with me," she whispered as we went.

"So you could spend the rest of your days protecting me from every other creature on this planet?" I asked looking down at her. "That is far too much responsibility for you to shoulder."

"And we would miss you, Ciara," Christof said softly.

I looked back and he appeared hurt.

"As I would miss you," I told him squeezing his hand and watching him brighten.

"So you get to keep her," Hannah said sounding angry. "You will get to see her everyday and talk to her whenever you like. She is my Mama and I don't ever get to see her again!!!!"

I could see little Hannah's temper flare. She was a mighty beast when she was angry. No one wanted to see that.

"Nu-reeh has always said where you settle is up to you," Damien said. "If you settled here perhaps you could arrange with Nu-reeh to visit with her."

"The women seem to barter for things," Christof said, "Nu-reeh would probably trade with you."

"To see my own mother," Hannah spit out. "How generous of her."

We passed an exit and Hannah looked up at me. "I need air, Mama," she said sharply. "I'll see you in a while."

She took off before I could say anything to stop her.

It crushed me to watch her disappear into the clouds. Futilely a hand reached out in an effort to pull her back to me. I had wanted to spend the day with her. We could have talked, perhaps I could have helped her accept this. Instead she had run from me and I was too weak to stop her from going.

"Enough tears, Ciara," Bane whispered into my ear wiping my cheeks. "The little one has just gone to cool her temper. You know how dangerous she can be."

"She talks to us at night," Kein whispered pulling me along. "She worries for your fragile skin around her weapons and you have no sensible fear of her at all. If she has another rage attack, she's afraid she could injure you by accident."

Evan tugged at my other hand as he spoke. "You don't heal like us, she knows this. Let her go somewhere and expend her energy safely."

We walked the rest of the way to the dining hall and took our seats. The meal was good the men said. It had very little flavor for me. Despite their assurances, I missed my Hannah. To lose even a moment of this borrowed time was too much.

The whoosh of air brought me back to the present as Hannah landed beside me. She was grinning and seemed much more relaxed.

"What's up, doc?" she asked in English settling on my lap.

"Oh, I have this bratty kid," I laughed shakily in our private language. "She keeps dipping out on me, but other than that, not much."

"Well, best I can tell you," she said, "is like mother, like daughter."

I met the teasing glint in her eye and relaxed some.

"If you weren't armed like an army tank, I'm spank your butt," I threatened with a smile, poking her in the ribs.

She laughed and then rolled her eyes looking at Damien. He was staring openly at us.

"Can I help you?" she asked exasperated.

"You are both speaking in your mother's first language and we don't understand you," Damien patiently explained.

"Daddy," Hannah sighed, "it wasn't anything top secret. I just like to speak English with Mama. It isn't like I could speak it with anyone else."

"I don't like it when I can't understand you. Speak in our language around us. You may speak English when you are alone with your mother," he said with authority.

Hannah grinned and looked at me. "So now Daddy decides to put his foot down and begin raising me."

The men went to the sorting room and I went with Hannah back to our rooms. We sat and talked, but the confined space started to make her anxious. We walked in the caves and eventually found a nice place to sit.

We talked about Earth and we talked about here. Neither of us really knew what it would be like growing up the way Hannah was going to do. She had opinions and I made suppositions. It wasn't really the subject matter that was important, though.

I ate lunch with the men. Hannah sat with us and picked at her food. It made me feel guilty.

"Hannah," I whispered, "you shouldn't starve yourself when you are upset."

She grunted a short laugh.

"I prefer my meat raw," she said simply. "Cooked just isn't appealing. I caught several gapu this morning and ate them. Also, I don't think I need a midday meal. The other girls I met in the mountains never took one. They only ate in the morning and at the end of the day."

I shook my head. "There is just so much I don't know about you," I told her sadly.

"One day I'll come back and share it all with you, Mama," Hannah said decidedly. "I promise one day I'll be strong enough to get you back."

The next days passed in a rush. Hannah spent all her time with me. She only left once a day to go and hunt. We were as close as any mother and daughter could be for the time we had.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 17



Nu-reeh came at the end of the fifth day to our quarters. Hannah had packed a bag to take with her. Inside were several blankets I had knitted. I had also stitched her name in English into a piece of my ornamentation. I had nothing else to offer her.

There was no preamble and Nu-reeh just told her simply to leave. If she came back the women would attack her for being near their men. Nu-reeh warned her to get far away before the morning sun broke the sky.

I dropped to my knees and hugged Hannah tight.

"No tears, Mama," she whispered fiercely in my ear. "I love you and I will be back for you. This is not good bye for forever, just for now."

"I love you, too, Hannah," I whispered fighting the desire to scream and cry. "Be strong and succeed, Baby Girl."

Nu-reeh led Hannah out and my family and I followed them. At the first exit to the cave system my girl took flight. She looked back once and waved before she disappeared into the clouds.

I felt numb and raw. Like a strange type of sentry I stood in the exit and started at the sky. My family stood with me, silent for the most part, allowing me to grieve. Eventually Damien picked me up and moved me back to their quarters.

I sat stiffly on a chaise by the fire and stared straight ahead. In my mind I saw Hannah's birth and I remembered her first words. Her happy little face the day she learned to fly swam in my mind. She was perfect in every way, except her temper.

Damien and his Brothers jumped when I started to laugh. When I started to cry I had their full attention. Hannah's fiery temper was such a nuisance. Certainly it had come from her father, his temper was legendary.

Would it make her powerful in the world or would it be her downfall? I suddenly wondered.

"Should we use the calming cream?" Kein asked softly from my left.

The men debated and I roused enough to speak for myself.

"No," I told them in a cracking voice, "it makes me forget and I want to remember Hannah. It makes me sad, but I want to remember her last days with me, even if it hurts."

Christof sat beside me and held my hand. Leaning over I lay my head on his shoulder. Damien sat on my other side and lay a hand on my thigh.

A new thought brought a new round of tears.

"She is all alone," I whispered. "I have you all to comfort me as I suffer this and my poor daughter has no one. Hannah is being shoved into this world she doesn't know without any friends."

Sobs broke through my emotional defenses and and I shook as the tears poured. My men pressed closer next to me. It was Christof who spoke.

"I think," he said with authority, "that is not the issue you think it is. The women here are solitary creatures, I've been watching them. Yes, they have Sisters, but they aren't like us. Watch them, they like to be alone and in the wide open sky. They always seemed happiest when they were about to leave the mountain."

Kein and Evan agreed with him, so he continued.

"Hannah, as much as she wished to stay with you, she struggled here. These last days you spent in the wind swept hallways contending with the cold. Hannah knew you are not suited for this environment, but she could not stay in our rooms with you."

I nodded and dried the tears on my cheeks.

"You think being free will make her feel better?" I asked quietly.

Affirmative answers came from all the men. They thought Hannah would be sad to leave me, but happy to finally be able to fly and explore all day. She would not feel the crushing despair I felt right now.

"Whether she likes it or not," Damien said. "She is of this world. Once she is immersed in it, she will do fine."

I wasn't convinced, but I had no option. Nu-reeh was in charge and she had made her feelings known. Things would be as she wished them to be.

I crawled in bed that night and snuggled close to Bane. Kein seemed to sense my need and curled around my back. I lay quietly surrounded by them and listened to them fall quickly to sleep.

It struck me as I lay there what all the men and I were. All of us were slaves, we all fell under Nu-reeh's rule. If we did not obey any of us could be destroyed at her whim. My old tutors had been evidence enough of that.

Hannah had obviously already figured that out. It was probably what she meant about coming back for me. I wasn't sure what she planned to do.

I fell asleep finally, dreaming of Hannah.

Nu-reeh was at our door the next morning. After the morning meal I was to pack what the men would take back to the compound. The men would go to the sorting room after they pointed out what they wanted me to pack.

Damien was angry. He hated to see me used to work for them. The Brothers could get the job done, but Nu-reeh's word was law.

A pile of large sacks were waiting outside our quarters when we returned from the dining hall. The men pulled them inside and pointed out what was theirs. It was easy, if it was blue it went. Their clothing went. The stones absolutely went.

By the noon time meal I had the closet packed and I went to eat with my family. At mid-afternoon different men came and took everything. I waited in the empty apartment, but my owners did not come at dinner. Nu-reeh came and demanded I follow her.

I jogged to keep up with her; she just yelled at me to hurry up. We were at the women's wall when she picked me up and flew to the entrance of her living quarters. Once we were inside she handed me a plate.

"Eat this," she said.

It didn't look appetizing and the plate appeared dirty, but I didn't complain.

"You sew," she said simply, "make these into a cover you can wear."

She pointed to a collection of dirty rags and filthy furs in a pile on the floor.

"Yes, Mistress," I said quickly.

"Save enough to sew as covers for your feet," she said.

"As you wish Mistress," I answered.

Nu-reeh gave me a thin piece of sharpened bone and many long strands of plant like material. They would act as needle and thread.

"You sleep there," she said pointing to a spot on the floor near the fire. "You will stay warm there at night. If you move from that spot I may accidentally attack you. There is a pot there," she pointed, "that you may use to relieve yourself."

She left me with that information.

I stared between the plate in front of me and the dirty rags on the floor. It had finally happened. I was living as a slave lived.

The food was dull, but it made me full very quickly. I finished my dinner and started to pick through the pile on the floor. Most of it was small animal skins, virtually none of it was fabric. I thought once it was sewn together I'd probably look like a cave woman.

Sewing was a good distraction. Otherwise I'd focus on my current situation or the fact that I didn't know where Damien and his Brothers were. Even worse I'd think about Hannah and worry about her. I focused on piecing the scraps together to make a dress.

Eventually, I got tired. I used the skins as a pillow and lay down in front of the fire. It was like sleeping in the village had been. I woke uncomfortable and barely rested.

Nu-reeh looked at my progress on the dress and snorted. I ate the strange gooey food again, along with the contraceptive drink. Once I was done, she grabbed me and took me outside.

"Carry these rocks up that hill," she pointed. "Pile them at the top. Work quickly, I will punish you if you are lazy."

I looked up the long slope and then at the pile of rough, heavy looking rocks. It wasn't clear to me why this grouping of rocks needed to be moved, but I didn't argue. I just set myself to work as Nu-reeh flew away.

The rocks were nominally heavy, the real issue was the incline. It was steep and long. I walked as quickly as I could and piled the rocks at the top.

The work was hot and dirty. Some of the stones were covered in a layer of thick dried muck. It stuck to me, stuck to my clothes, and got in my hair.

At noon that strange filling food and a jug of water were given to me. The woman delivering the food demanded I work faster. I wasn't nearly as far along as I should be.

When the sun set I was delivered back to Nu-reeh's quarters. She fed me my dinner and demanded I work on the outfit. I worked until I nearly fell asleep sitting over it and then crawled to lay down by the fire.

My days took on a terrible monotony. I moved stones all day. It was very boring and repetitive.

The stones were a game I assumed. It hadn't taken me long to realized I moved the same pile of rocks up the hill every day. Part of me was tempted to just throw them off the cliff that lay several yards away. However, I realized how tenuous my current situation was.

I was sore and tired most of the time. Although I was fed at regular intervals weight dropped from me almost daily. There was never hunger, which I was grateful for, but I started to look starved.

For some reason bathing was also prohibited by my new Mistress. The streaks of dirty sweat caking my features seemed to please her. I truly looked the part of the downtrodden slave now.

The only time Nu-reeh seemed at all concerned about me was the day I fell and cut my hand. She had me wash and wrap it. The healing cream was applied to it generously. I failed to understand why that cut was healed and the rest of me was left to look so bedraggled.

As I walked up the now familiar path with my burden, I often thought of Hannah. I hoped her life would be filled with wonderful adventures. I wondered where she was and what she was doing. Looking ruefully down at my heavy load, I knew it was better than how I was living.

The current situation did not change my mindset. Even now, I made up my mind to be happy. I sang songs to myself. Sometimes it was songs I had made up, other times it was songs I had heard. Anything to keep my spirits up in this dreary existence.  

Nu-reeh appeared one day when I was smiling and humming nonsense to myself as I worked. She looked at me as though there was a question she wanted to ask. Instead she handed me the outfit I had pieced together.

"Change," she told me, "foot covers, too."

We were outside and I placed the stone I had been carrying on the ground.

I took off the warm blue outfit, which was now mostly brown anyway, and put the rags on. Pulling off my foot covers, I put on the scraps I had sewn together for my feet. It was a fitting outfit for my current position.

Wind whipped around the mountain and I was pleasantly surprised. The stitching was done well, I barely felt a draft. A smile crept onto my face when I realized what a good job I had done. Since I only had small victories in this life, I opted to celebrate them.

"You are a strange creature," Nu-reeh said watching me carefully. "I think you will still be good for them."

"Thank you, Mistress," I said automatically.

"I have heard you when you comfort them," she said suddenly. "I heard you convincing them they were not slaves. That is a lie and I think you know it."

"Yes, Mistress," I answered softly.

I heard feet approaching behind me, but I didn't dare turn my face from Nu-reeh.

"It made them happier, though," she mused. "Continue to be their comfort and I will continue to let you live."

Before I could answer a hand was across my face, nearly smothering me. I was pulled back against my attacker. I had no idea what was going on.

The hands parted and I saw men using two small jars to cover me with cream. It was the calming cream, I recognized the small jars. The way the men were using them, I'd sleep for a week.

"Mistress," I called frantically, "this is too much cream!"

She ignored me and I suddenly didn't care anymore. The men released me and I slid to my knees. I would have smashed my face into the rock in front of me when I fell, but a hand caught my hair. The last thing I remembered was staring down the long, winding trail I'd walked for so many days.

***********************

So, what did you think? Please vote! Thank you.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 18



Thanks to all the readers that return to this story every week. Your votes and comments are much appreciated. 

Many, many thanks to Steve150177 for work proofreading. I appreciate the dedication to making a fine finished product. 

English is in italics when it appears.

All commentary is welcome.

Please enjoy! DW

*****************************************





My back hurt. It ached like I had been laying in the same position for hours. I tried to move and couldn't. 

Fighting like hell I managed to drag my eyes barely open. The world was held in hazy relief, I couldn't seem to focus. I saw rocks and short bushes surrounded by low rocky hills.

There was warmth on my other side and with great effort I turned my head. A fire burned low beside me. Just beyond the fire I saw a sight that made me want to scream. 

One of those spider like creatures Nu-reeh had showed me in the caves was creeping up to me. It's bite could kill me; I knew that much. In vain I tried to move, but my muscles wouldn't respond. I managed to rise to my elbows only to flop back and hit my head. 

For a moment I saw stars. When my vision cleared, something more terrifying than the poisonous creature was there. A woman was killing the spider creature, and then a second one in a bush. She took them both and flew away.  

I wanted to worry, but I couldn't. Sleep was a more pressing issue and I fell back into blackness. 

Yelling got my attention and I woke up. My face was toward the fire and I opened my eyes to see it blazing mightily. Someone had piled it high, so it burned brightly. Despite the dim evening sky the area I was in was still warm and bright. 

There was the yelling again. I heard men's voices. They were hunting, looking for something. I heard one of them call to look over the ridge. 

I sat upright and looked around. I was outside in the place Damien and his Brothers liked to stay. That frigid lake was just in front of me. Several hollowed out gourds sat around me like someone had been using them. Pelts of dead animals were scattered around the place. It looked like someone had been camping. 

The voices were nearer this time. They had seen tracks and were on the lookout. 

It was Warriors hunting for a lost man. I scrambled to my feet and looked for a place to hide. They couldn't find me out here. I was sure that would be bad. 

I remembered a small incline on the other side of the lake. Before I had more time to think about it, I bolted in that direction. The cream always left me clumsy and now was no exception. I stumbled and tripped, fighting for balance. I knew if I could get up and out of the way they may not find me.  

This had to be a dream. I prayed it was just a nightmare. I was in the mountains, with Warriors hunting me, and without Damien's family to protect me. My legs carried me with surprising speed to the rocky incline. 

There was a place about halfway up that was a small cave. It was too shallow for most mountain creatures to want. Damien and his Brothers had used it to play rough and tumble games. I sent up a silent thank you that I knew where I was. 

I skinned my knees and my palms getting up the rock wall, but it was worth it. The small cleft appeared empty and it was the perfect hiding spot. Quietly, I crouched inside it and waited.  

There were no more voices now. The Warriors were silent and hunting. Either they had gone in a different direction or they realized what they were hunting was not a lost man. Inside the shadows of the cave I silently prayed not to be found.  

My heartbeat sounded loudly in my ears and I wished it would be quiet. The men were close, I knew that much. I needed to be alert and listen for them. 

Suddenly figures passed in front of the flames of my campfire. I put a hand over my mouth to stop the scream. They would scour the area now. Why had I not thought to put out the damn fire?

Figures moved silently in the dark and I watched them. I couldn't tell who it was, the moons weren't up high enough to provide much light yet.

I waited expectantly, but heard nothing, then without warning someone leapt to the ledge of the cave and looked inside. In a second I saw my life flash before my eyes. I did what my Damien would have done. I rushed him.

We tumbled down the slope and I used the attacker's body to break my fall. I tried to run but a body was before me, standing in shadows. I stumbled back and my hand grabbed at a pile of rocks and dirt. The man came toward me and I flung the particulates in his face.

It wasn't fair or polite, but I'd never win a fight with a man. 

Bolting away, I tried to get to a new hiding spot, but was stopped when I was tackled from the side. Lucky for me the body that careened into me turned to take the impact. 

I was pushed hard to the side and I went down surrounded by the solid male form. He rolled me under him and I cursed in every language I had access to. Desperate to survive, I struck out with flailing fists. The man just restrained my hands as his body shook with laughter.

"What was it you said about us?" Bane whispered in my ear. "Something about stubborn, bull-headed and I don't even know what that last word means, but I think it fits." 

I sagged with relief into the rocky ground and stopped fighting.

"No," Evan whispered fiercely walking up, "hit Bane, what you did to me was worse."

In the dark I could see Evan wiping his face and shaking his head. Before I had time to apologize Kein's smaller shape emerged from the blackness and Bane rolled off of me. 

"At least she didn't use you as a cushion," Kein groused stretching his back. "I'll feel that for a while."     

"Kein, Evan I'm so sorry-" I started to say and Bane cut me off.

"None of that," he ordered. "My Brothers will survive. It would be good to fight us now, Ciara," Bane whispered in my ear. "The other men think you ran from the compound during a raid. You are a run away slave. Look at the other men and do anything disobedient you can. Damien will bring you before the General and later we will put our collar on you. Before that happens you should fight us, the others will expect it."

I was very confused, but I could hear feet coming toward us. 

"After he collars me?" I asked.

"Subdued and a little sullen," Kein whispered crouching beside us and touching my face lightly, "but follow directions after our symbol is on you." 

Since I had been captured, I had to look the part. My hands and feet were tied and I was slung over Bane's shoulder. We walked from my "campsite" into the rough hewn area the men knew as "the caves". 

The Warriors were here to hunt for a lost shopkeeper, but finding the run away slave was fun. The men surrounded us and looked at me. No slave had ever lived alone in the mountains before. I was unique. I saw them inspecting my campsite. 

As we walked, several Warriors wanted to buy me, but Bane refused. He just walked briskly through the barren landscape. I watched as Damien and Christof appeared to complete the family.  

As I had been instructed, I struggled in Bane's grip and cursed him. It took some force of will, but I turned my head and looked around at the other Warriors. On some crazy instinct, I cursed lightly at them. When I saw Evan he nodded at me, so I kept doing it.    

Bane jumped onto a transport and the rest of the family joined him. The transport came to life and we took off. Damien pulled my hair up, so he could look at my face and I smiled at him. 

"What did she do to you?" he whispered fiercely examining me in the low light 

"Not a good time to get that answer, Brother," Christof said and I turned my head to look at him. "You'll notice several transports beside us."

"They are too curious about the found slave," Damien said. "They think the General will kill her-"

"It, Brother," Kein said softly from behind the controls, "we shouldn't forget."

"Ridiculous belief," Damien stated, "we buy females, because they are female and can pleasure us. Once they are here we tell them they aren't female-"

Evan laughed, "We all agree, Brother, but the argument stands."

I had to smile despite my circumstance. It was not a rant I'd ever thought I'd hear Damien utter. 

"They think the General will kill IT and they want to watch. If IT isn't killed they think there may be an auction," Damien said. 

The transport stopped dead and they turned to look at Kein. He looked stricken. 

"We have waited patiently," Kein said. "She promised us-"

Bane turned so I couldn't see anything but I heard him talking soothingly to Kein. 

"Little Brother, it was a promise from Nu-reeh. She wants us happy. Ciara will not be killed. Even if it is an auction we have more stones than any man here," he reassured. 

Transports swirled around and stopped to watch us. I was really uncomfortable being toted upside down, so I cursed Bane loudly for the position he held me in. It sounded real because having his shoulder driven into my midsection was becoming painful.

"The slave will learn manners once it is collared again, Brother," Damien said loudly. "Take us to the General."

"Put me down," I said with authority once we were a decent distance from the other transports. "Seriously Bane, this is really uncomfortable."

"Sorry, little Sister," Bane called over his shoulder patting my bottom, "has to look real, but keep struggling, you've been perfect."

The term little Sister shut me up for a moment and I looked up at Christof's grinning face. He dipped closer to me and spoke. 

"You are family, but we can't call you Brother," he explained. 

I smiled and was dumbstruck for a moment. Sister wasn't really appropriate for what our relationship was. They were husbands to me and I was a wife, but those things did not exist here. The intent was genuine and a very nice gesture from them. 

We soared through the dark rocky terrain. The men instructed me to continue to struggle, which I did. I could feel the eyes of the other Warriors burning into me. 

When the transport finally slowed, I heard the General's booming voice and felt my hair stand on end. 

Please, please, please tell me they didn't expect me to act like a brat to him, I thought. 

"Damien what did you find?" the General asked as we stepped off the transport. 

"A run away slave," Damien said cooly. 

The General asked a few questions and noted the tattoo peeking out on my leg. I felt his hands pull the skins on my foot down and the dress up to look at it. He knew exactly what slave I was. There was recognition in his eyes as he grabbed my hair and pulled me to look at him. 

"Well," the General said, "did your family find it alone?"

Damien answered affirmatively. 

"As per our law, a run away slave belongs to those who find it. What will you do with this slave, Damien? It has run twice," the General reminded the men. "It appears dirty and sickly now. Not the slave it once was at all."

I felt ashamed to be seen like this. Dirty and unkempt, I looked a little ragged I knew. It was embarrassing the General had chosen to bring that up. 

"My Brothers and I are strong men," Damien said slowly, "and we enjoy a challenge. We will keep the slave."

A voice broke the silence around us, "They have a talent to track with the sense of taste, General. They have tasted that slave. It wasn't fair," the anonymous Warrior proclaimed. 

A rumble of agreement went through the men. My breath stuck in my throat and I felt terror for a moment. Even if Damien thought he could buy me, I couldn't deal with being auctioned again. 

"Yes, they do," the General mused and my heart went into my throat. "However, I know how well that particular trait works in the mountains. It is disrupted like all our bonding and tracking senses...No, my boys, to track in the mountains, you just have to be a good tracker. Who found the slave, Damien?"

"My Brother, Kein, sir," Damien said patting the smaller man on the shoulder. 

"Well, there you have it," the General said decisively, "the best tracker in the field found the slave, not the Brother with the sense of taste." 

I saw Evan's face darken slightly and I knew he wanted to say he had been right there with Kein. I smiled at him through my hanging hair. He saw it and his shoulders relaxed some. 

"Collar and tame the slave quickly, Damien," the General said. "The Barcas outpost is not far from here. You may leave the slave there. Keep to your regular schedule," and then the General turned to the crowd with a warning. "No one is to touch what belongs to Damien. If the slave acts untamed around you, report the infraction. All punishment is left to the owners."

The General's Brother spoke next. He ordered the second search teams out and told the first teams to take a break. I assumed Damien and his Brothers were the first search team, because they walked toward the transport with me still draped over Bane's shoulder.

Once we had flown some ways away, Bane lowered me to the floor of the transport. I almost fell, because my feet were still tied. After Christof had cut those ties, I thanked them for finding me. 

"A kiss would be a nice way to thank us," Bane said leaning toward me.

"If you can find her mouth with all that dirt," Evan said with a smirk, "I'll give you a stone."

"Dirt doesn't bother me," Bane laughed leaning in to kiss my lips. "I guess it must bother that delicate and easily bested sense of taste you have."

That got him. Evan grinned evilly punching Bane in the shoulder and pulled me to face him. 

"You are absolutely filthy," Evan told me before he pressed his lips to mine. He pulled away from my mouth with an awful look on his face. "How much calming cream did she use?" he asked incredulously smudging a thumb across my cheek. "Did Nu-reeh wish you to never wake up?"

I didn't remember and I told them that. As we flew along I explained the last things I remembered was climbing the hill with my burdens. Honestly, that wasn't necessarily today, or even yesterday, though. Everyday they had been gone had been like that. 

Damien was livid. If he could have breathed fire he would have. Since there was nothing except me and his Brothers to punch on the transport he was forced to contain his anger. 

I tried to soothe him, but when I stepped closer he got a better look at me. That just made him angrier. 

"Did she feed you?" he asked in a tight voice running his hands over my cheeks and down to my collar bones. 

"Yes, Master Damien," I replied automatically in response to his growing rage. 

They corrected me as one being; we were family. They weren't Masters and I wasn't really a slave. 

Damien took that stance, with his feet shoulder width apart and his arms crossed. I looked into his menacing face and knew he was fighting for control. 

"Explain to me exactly what you did every day," he ordered.

I started to answer him and then thought better of it. "No," I told him instead squaring my shoulders. 

Damien tensed and I heard the sharp intake of breath from his Brothers. Free or not, no one refused Damien. 

"With your hands tied in front of you and surrounded by my Brothers, that seems like an impudent answer," Damien advised me recrossing his arms decisively across that broad chest. "I have learned many ways to train a human. You will act as part of this family and we do not have secrets." 

There was steel in his voice. He didn't want to let this go.  

"If I tell you, and it really makes you angry, what are you planning to do?" I asked hotly. "Are you going to go kick Nu-reeh's ass?"

The anger faded and Damien cocked his head. "Why would I kick her in the ass? What possible good could a kick to the ass do?"

"Is that how humans fight?" Christof asked curiously. "It doesn't seem that would be effective..."

"It is a wonder they keep a whole planet-" Evan started to say and I cut them off. 

"In my language that means to beat up someone in general," I sighed. "Could you please, please cut this off my hands?" I asked holding up my bound wrists. 

"You will tell me," Damien said pulling out a small knife and cutting through the bonds. "This will not be a secret much longer," he said pressing his lips to mine. 

We eventually made it to the low building they were heading for. I was warned there would be young Warriors sharing the cabin with us. Damien and his Brothers could kick them out, but they didn't really want to do that. It would be a very rude thing to do.  

There would be plenty of space for us to sleep. The bed in these things was typically made so several families could sleep on them. Room would not be an issue. 

"These men earned the right to stay indoors on this hunt by their diligence on the last," Kein told me. "It is a rare honor to stay in the outpost cabins when we hunt. When we were young we worked hard for the honor." 

"Well," I reasoned, "I wouldn't want to make enemies out of men like that. It isn't difficult for me. I just won't look at them. Odds are they will just ignore me." 

I was warned repeatedly we could not talk as freely. I didn't care. It was good to be back with my family.  

Damien greeted the young men inside and explained what had happened. They seemed happy to see other Warriors and didn't mind sharing with Damien's family. I got the impression they didn't mind sharing especially with Damien's family.

I heard their whispers as I was taken to the room for bathing. 

Damien had trained to be a General, but he chose to stay a Warrior. He felt he served his compound more loyally that way. The Administrators had changed their minds at Damien's request. He must be a great man to influence the Administrators. 

In the bathing room I stood at the closed leather drape and continued to ease drop on the commentary of the young men. 

"Ciara," Christof hissed filling the tub, "stop listening to them, come and be washed."

The dress I had made was peeled off and dumped on the floor by Damien. He also cut off my "boots" and they were removed. I started to move for the water and was stopped. They were staring at me, all of them.

The rage in the room was palpable as Damien ran a finger across my collar bones and down my sternum. He gently palmed a breast and I realized how much smaller they were. 

"Did she feed you?" he asked very softly.

"Yes," I whispered as his fingers trailed down to inspect my prominent hip bones. 

One of Damien's large hands wrapped around my forearm and down to the cuff on my wrist. It was so loose he could almost put a finger under it.

"Get in the water," he said hoarsely gesturing to where Kein and Christof were waiting. 

The bath was warm and inviting as I stepped in the tub. It also shielded me from their piercing stares, which were making me uncomfortable. Sinking down, I looked into Christof's bright eyes. He didn't speak and just started to slowly soap and wash my body. 

I felt Kein fiddling with my collar and cuffs. As he removed them I felt the stirring of panic. My eyes were wide and my breathing amped up as I looked up at him. 



"These do not have our symbol on them. These have Rue's symbol," he said watching me closely. "We will put you in our symbol soon."

I smiled and nodded. Of course that made sense, my reaction to it had been so primal, though. Looking at the dirty metal he was correct. Nu-reeh had thought of everything, the symbol on the metal was Rue's.

"I'm going to clean your hair," Evan said softly. "Tilt your head back and let me wet it."

The cleaning continued silently for several moments before Christof spoke. 

"How often did she feed you?" he whispered in my ear.

"Three times a day," I answered quietly.

Bane walked from his spot and stepped into the main room pulling the leather drape closed behind him. I heard his booming voice as he distracted the other men in the cabin. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 18



"Were you hungry?" Christof asked. 

As bad as I looked, you'd think I was ravenous all the time. "No, I never was hungry. She always gave me this same stuff to eat. It was very filling."

"What did it taste like?" Christof asked with a pointedly casual air. 

"Nothing, it tasted like nothing at all. It never took much and I was very full. I don't know what it was. You all never fed me anything like it," I mused. 

Damien had never gotten in the bath and still stood clothed watching us. He started to pace now. "Rupe," was all he said looking at Christof.

"Probably," Christof answered looking back at me. 

Kein spoke next as he examined my hand. He noted the recent scratches. Sharp eyes also picked up the faint, new scar on my palm and all the callouses. I informed him that Nu-reeh had the cut healed, but it didn't take the scowl off his face. 

Evan sat on the edge of the tub behind me trying to clean and detangle my hair. By the feel of it, some of the knots were never going to come out. 

"You may have to cut it," I said quietly looking back. "I've never had knots like this before. The wind in the mountains just tangled it so badly."

Evan looked horrified. "I would never do that to you," he said shocked. "You will never be cut. I will not cause you pain that way."

It was my turn to be confused. "It doesn't hurt to cut my hair. Pulling at the knots hurts my scalp, but cutting doesn't. I can't feel my hair at all."

He looked doubtful and tried to separate the tangled knots with his fingers again. 

"Evan, we've told you this before," Kein sighed from beside us. Christof seconded the comment. 

Evan looked at his Brothers like he really didn't believe them. Pressured by the overwhelming opinion he relented. My hair would have to be cut. 

Evan pulled a knife from the scabbard on his pile of clothes. He got in the bath and stood in front of me. Several strands of hair were pulled in front of my face and Evan cut them watching my eyes. 

The sharp blade made short work of the strands as I sat and stared at him. Having found the reassurance he needed, he smiled. 

"Turn," he told me motioning. 

My hair was cut short in the back and left longer on the sides. If I was on Earth it would have been a very modern cut. 

"No pain, Evan, thank you," I whispered.

Evan kissed my shoulder and up my neck before they continued my bath.  

Nothing was left undone. The men even cleaned under my nails and trimmed them. I had forgotten how absolute they were about everything they did. 

The men were all quiet and so was I. The warm water was soothing and it was nice to be with them again. It was just enjoyable and relaxing. 

"Seems a lot of bother," a strange voice said from the door and I looked up. 

Before I jerked my head down I saw a young man leaning just inside the leather flap watching us. Bane walked in from behind him looking irritated. 

"You forget the rules, slave," Damien said with authority. "Only look at your Masters, do you understand me?"  

Well, I wasn't collared, so I thought I should still act up. 

"I'll look where I want," I said staring defiantly at Damien. 

"Once we collar you," Damien said fighting a smile, "if you look at other men we will put you at the posts."

I fought to get out of the tub and was restrained, "You'll never collar me, again," I cried.

"Don't be a defiant slave," Bane said from the side. "We will feed you soon. Know that we will care for you. Will you behave now?" he asked.

Damien was beside Bane now and nodded, so I acquiesced and apologized. 

"To deal with that all the time, just for the one service it provides. It seems an unwise investment," the man at the door said. 

My owners agreed with him. They discussed the many downsides to slavery. The time, the cost, and the constant worry the investment would slip off. 

"In fact," Christof said casually, "I can't really understand why we enjoy it."

"The challenge," Kein commented thoughtfully. "I think that must be it."

The man at the door seemed to have gotten their answer and left. 

"They are going to think your opinion is weird for slave owners," I whispered to the group.

Christof put his mouth right next to my ear as he spoke. "They would find our real opinion much less to their liking, Sister."

Grinning at my friend, I playfully flicked him with water and he chuckled. We wrestled playfully for a moment in the water before Damien came closer. I stepped toward him as he crouched at the edge of the bath and he caressed my cheek. 

"I do not wish to celebrate your homecoming with our cousins watching and listening," he murmured. "You will call our names in passion and experience pleasure without restraint the first time." 

"Every time," Bane amended from the side. 

I got out of the bath as Damien and Bane slipped into the main room to make sure the other men stayed out. 

Secretly, they had brought healing creams and teeth cleaner with them. A tiny cup of contraceptive drink had also been brought. No one wanted the other men to know they had these things. They quickly finished and hid the little pots. After all the fussing was done, we walked into the main room. 

The men all redressed, but I stayed naked. Despite some struggling I was forced to kneel by the fire. I shivered slightly and a blanket was draped over my back.  

"Are you hungry, slave?" Christof asked.

"Yes," I answered trying to sound petulant. 

I wished they would tell me when I could stop acting like a brat. 

"Address me as Master Christof and I will feed you," he said with authority. 

I looked up at where they were sitting and Bane nodded his head subtly. 

"Yes, Master Christof, I am hungry," I said watching them. 

Christof came to sit beside me and fed me a large portion of succulent roasted meat they were all eating. It was so good and tasty. If he hadn't been feeding me slowly I would have wolfed it down. 

Once we had all finished the meal. Kein stayed at the table to do something. 

I knelt by the fire under my blanket, leaning on Christof, sated and sleepy. 

"We owe you, cousins, for sharing your kill with us," Damien said as he watched Kein working. 

The other men acted like it was no big deal, catching dinner had been easy for them. However, they were obviously pleased when Evan pulled out several stones to give them. I smiled because their time in the mountain had made them quite rich. 

I couldn't quite tell what Kein was doing at the table, but he seemed very focused on the task. From where I sat he seemed to be etching something very delicate. Kein finished whatever he was doing with a triumphant sound and handed a small brown strip to Damien. 

"Perfect," Bane commented, "as always, little Brother."

Damien approached me and I could see what it was now. A long strip of one inch leather carved with their symbol five times. It looked like the tight fitting choker necklaces I'd seen at the flea market back home. 

The men surrounded me for a moment before Damien spoke. 

"You have been cleaned and fed, slave. Despite your attitude, you have been treated well by us. We are putting our symbol on you and will protect you as long as you follow our rules."

The leather was tied securely at the back of my neck. 

"Will you behave for us now?" Damien asked. "If you do not, you will be punished. You are an owned slave again." 

I looked up and Kein stood beside Damien, he nodded to me. 

"Yes, Master Damien," I told him softly.  

My men were happy to see their symbol back on me. To be honest, I was glad to be wearing it again. This mark and these men meant home and safety. The two times I had been separated from them had been very difficult. 

I was pulled to stand and escorted to the sleeping room. The other men took a side of the bed and we took a side. I was settled between Bane and Kein. It was so comfortable and I felt safe, I dropped quickly to sleep.  

Despite how tired I was I woke up once in the night. Evan escorted me to the bathroom. When I was done he threw his arms around me and hugged me tight. I returned the sudden affection. 

"The others are not bonded to you," he said quietly in my ear. "They don't feel you anymore, but I can still sense you. Sometimes I would sense where you were, but then it would blur out. I did not like it at all. It is better now that you are close."

"I love you, too, Evan," I whispered into his ear with a smile. 

He walked me back to bed and tucked me in before finding his place. I fell back to sleep with a smile on my face. 

"They are really the Masters of a whole planet?" I heard a strange voice say.

I snuggled deeper into the warm bed and tried to block out the annoying voices. 

"They will sleep any time," Evan said shaking a shoulder, "with no thought to their own protection."

I blinked sleepily and remembered where I was before I spoke, "You protect me, Master Evan."

"Good answer," Evan smiled as he pulled me to stand.

I was left in the cabin while they went back to the search. Much like a disobedient puppy, I was tethered in the main room by a cord around my neck. While the other family was present Damien firmly informed me I could not break or chew through the line. They were taking all the sharp objects with them. After the second family left, my men kissed me and promised to return at midday to tend to me. 

It was the first time in a long time I wasn't busy. I tried to sleep, but soon realized I was wide awake staring out the tiny window. My mind drifted to Hannah and I wondered what she was doing today. 

It wasn't long before my thoughts turned tearful and I realized how much I missed her. She was so full of wit and spunk, I was sure she'd do fine. How I wished I had been able to offer her more in the way of help. 

The men had left me a blanket from the bed to wrap myself in. I lay on a chaise curled into a ball and sobbing. It was the first time since Hannah had left I'd had time to mire myself in the sadness. I much preferred to be busy. 

A voice from the door broke into my gloomy reverie.

"Geez, Mama, all you need is a gallon of ice cream and you'd be set."

I stood up suddenly realizing I wasn't dreaming and I wasn't alone. Hannah rushed into my arms before I said her name. Instead, I said the first thing that came to mind. 

"My God, you've gotten big."

Hannah was tearful, but she uttered a shaky laugh. "Thanks, Mama, is that a compliment or an insult?"

It was my turn to laugh. Hannah was well over four feet high at her head. Her wings, at their tip top, were probably over six feet. Her brown hair was lush and thick except the crown of her head which sported a flowing mane of black hair.  

"You should braid this," I told her stroking her beautiful hair. "I think a braid down your back would look lovely."

"Yeah, Mama, like I came here for styling tips," she said pulling me tight in a bone breaking hug. "I came back to see you. I found out from the other girls what Nu-reeh was doing to you. I tried, Mama, to get close, but the women wouldn't let me."

"Oh, Baby Girl, it was just part of some elaborate set up. I was never hurt. It was just like a really strict exercise and diet program," I said brushing off my last weeks of torment. 

"You look terrible, Mama. I'm so sorry," Hannah cried burying her face in my neck, "I couldn't make it stop."

"I thought of you every day," I told her honestly. "Thinking of you as a happy, healthy girl out exploring the world made me feel good. It still does. Damien and his Brothers will care for me now. You have to go. Don't let them catch you here," I said suddenly afraid if the other women saw her. 

"Who cares what they want," Hannah said not releasing me. "I'd rather die here with you than be off having a fun time while they hurt you."

"It was fun?" I asked stroking her back. "Tell me what you did, what you saw."

I knew she wouldn't leave until she'd gotten the reassurance she came for. Despite my desire to see her safe, I desperately wanted to talk to her, too. 

We held each other and Hannah told me what she had been doing. I understood North, South, East, and West, so she used those directions to describe where she had been. She'd travelled to the nearest mountain range to the West, the one the men called the red mountains. The real name was the T'ylene Mountains. It wasn't that different from here. 

The amazing trip had been the one she took North. 

"The men are all held along the equator of this planet, Mama. The rest of the planet is too dangerous for them. The equator is safe and temperate. In the North women live and work in large groups...I guess you would say centers of civilization, maybe you could say cities. Some women only leave them once a year to rent some men and try to mate." 

"A year?" I asked, "Like an Earth year?"

"Yes, the women track time by the sun, like you did at home. I think a year is longer here than on Earth. The men track time by the changing moons," she continued. 

"The women track everything they can, including me. The women knew I would be coming before I got there. I am 'Hannah, from the T'stan mountains, Nu-reeh's daughter by a second'."

I didn't know what to say to that and she continued to talk.

"They have computers, Mama, but not like on Earth. The computers are living things. The technology the women have is amazing."

I was a little shocked as we sat down next to each other. "So this is an advanced world? I got the feeling it was still wild," I mused.  

Hannah continued to explain. It was mostly uninhabited. The women had only tamed the mountain homes they lived in, they left the world mostly to it's natural state. She had seen amazing things as she flew. 

"It looked like what you would call a dinosaur," she told me. "I talked to the other girls and one of them told me how the women had cleared the dangerous creatures away from the equator, away from the men."

"They let the spaceships near the men," I said quietly.

"Yeah," Hannah grunted, "cause the aliens are afraid to land anywhere else on this crazy planet. The places they land have been cleared by the women and they prefer to deal with men, because they aren't as scary. Once or twice they tried to take the men, that was an act of war. The women tear apart anyone that takes their precious, little boys."

"Don't be angry at the men, Baby," I soothed. 

"How could I be, Mama? They are like children. I'm mad at the system, angry at slavery, and upset we can't be together. This whole world is so stupid!" she fumed. 

I wanted to cry and agree with her, but I didn't.

"It is your world now and it isn't stupid, just different-" I started to say and she interrupted me by rolling her eyes. 

"An entire system built on slavery, Mama. It is stupid and you know it. The men's talents are wasted the way things stand now. They are raised and farmed by powerful women like Nu-reeh. Still even the most educated man isn't really allowed to think and reach their potential. Stupid, stupid, stupid..." she said shaking her head. 

I didn't want to waste our time being upset, so I encouraged her to talk about her traveling. Hannah seemed content just to sit and hold my hand, telling me about the moon cycle she'd spent traveling. It was interesting and reassuring. My daughter did know how to take care of herself. 

"I've learned how to listen and let the other girls tell me things I should already know," she said smiling. "It is actually really easy once you get the hang of it. You've always been a good listener; I just tried to be like that."

The sun got higher in the sky and I started to get nervous. Damien and his Brothers would not care if Hannah was here, but the other family would be upset. Before I had the chance to say something I heard Nu-reeh's roar outside. 

"Great," Hannah said rolling her eyes, "the mega bitch is here."

"Don't say that," I scolded gripping her hand. "Go outside and apologize," I ordered getting worried. 

"She just wants me to leave, Mama," Hannah said standing. "She doesn't care about apologies."

I hugged Hannah tight and she nearly bruised me in her crushing embrace. 

"Be safe, Hannah," I said fighting the tears.

"I promise, Mama," she said turning to leave. "I swear I will keep you safe one day. Just survive until then, okay? I'll see you again, but I don't know when." 

"I love you, Hannah. I'll be in the compound and safe, I promise. Be careful, My Girl." 

Hannah crossed the floor in three quick strides. She opened the door and looked back at me. 

"I love you, too, Mama," she said and was gone. 

I looked out the small windows and saw Hannah fly off. Nu-reeh flew behind her, but veered off when it was clear Hannah was leaving. Within moments they were gone and I was alone again.  

Christof found me sitting on the floor in my blanket and staring straight ahead. He knew something had happened as soon as he walked in. Bane followed him closely with his sword drawn. They both looked tense and the rest of the family was not with them. 

"Men saw women flying away from this area," Christof whispered in my ear when he pulled me to stand.

"Hannah and Nu-reeh," I whispered back quietly.

That seemed to relax the two of them and Bane sheathed his weapon. 

The men were glad Nu-reeh had stayed outside. She obviously had no problem hurting me, as long as I was still fit enough for them. They seemed neither happy nor upset that Hannah had visited. 

"She's doing really well, I think," I said while we ate. "Damien should be happy to know his daughter is faring so well."

The identical blank look I got from the two of them was comical. 

"On my planet," I explained, "a male breeder would worry about his offspring."

Bane took another portion of meat and seemed to be differing the conversation to Christof. 

"You didn't know your male-breeder," Christof said thoughtfully. "You only knew men from your female breeder's line."

That flustered me. Of course Christof would have pulled from my memories something that seemingly insubstantial. 

"A good male breeder," I said trying to get back to the argument, "would worry about his offspring."

Christof offered me a piece of meat and grinned. "Why would he worry about Hannah? She is a woman and she learned from him. He is the best. If she learned well, she will also be the best."  

I opened my mouth to argue and realized he was right, in a way. Damien was supremely confident because he was the best. Obviously any offspring of his, especially one that learned from him, would be fine. It would seem illogical to him to worry about Hannah. 

That train of thought did make me feel a little less worried about my daughter. She was female, which obviously denoted power. She was Damien's daughter, which again denoted power. That made me feel better, too. I grinned at Christof and thanked him.  

Bane looked at me quizzically as he stretched, "You are a strange creature, little Sister," he said. 

They told me that the shopkeeper was supposed to be returned after they "found" me. Bane didn't think this would go on much longer.  

"Unless the damned shopkeeper got himself lost wandering in the mountains," he groused complaining about the shopkeeper's ability.

"We will have our time with Ciara," Christof interrupted patting Bane's back. "This will end soon."

My men left me, but voices returned fairly quickly. I heard the shouting and hollering as someone celebrated outside. It was voices I recognized from last evening. They burst in the door and I huddled on the floor in my blanket expecting the second family.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 18



No one talked once they came inside. The boots walked slowly around me until I was surrounded. Pulling the blanket around my shoulders, I fought to breath slow and steady. 

"Leave it," I heard a bored voice say. "Get our things and we can go celebrate."

Damien and his Brothers were right, I mused as the men collected their things and left. The men from the compound respected the rules about slaves. I was in far less danger around them than I had been in the mountains. Still, I didn't breath easier until I heard Damien and his Brothers come in. 

"The others were here already," Kein said as soon as they walked in. 

Christof unbundled me and checked for any damage before I could speak.

"Did they touch you or speak to you?" Bane asked with a hand on the hilt of his sword. 

"No, they just looked at me and left," I said reaching out and stroking his leg. 

"They didn't need to look at you," Evan said sounding cranky. "I told you all those men were not honorable."

The Brothers argued. There was some dissension as to whether looking constituted something other men should not do. Kein argued they would have looked when they were younger. Damien said they would have ignored the slave. 

I interrupted them when I laughed. 

"Is it honorable," I asked softly, "to leave a member of the family tied up when we are all back together?"

Bane grunted and sliced through the leash tethering me in the main room. I rose and stretched. My bladder was a little full, so I wandered into the bathroom to use the pot. After sitting down I looked up at five men standing in the doorway staring at me. 

"Are you all bored?" I asked sarcastically. 

I failed to understand why me needing to pee resulted in a group trip to this room. I stood up and turned around facing the wall. It was really hard to do my business when I was the focus of attention. 

I looked down while I concentrated on relieving myself and noted how flat my stomach was, concave almost. My thighs were also slimmer, but with pronounced muscles. I finished and realized how much weight I had lost. Nu-reeh's boot camp had been very effective, I looked very different, which was probably her intention.  

I jumped when a wet cloth ran gently between my legs. They had been so quiet, I thought the men had gotten bored and left. Obviously they had not. 

"What are you doing?" I asked Bane as he dried me.

"I am cleaning you," he said softly.

There was longing in his eyes. I realized Damien and his Brothers had missed me terribly and I wasn't acting at all excited to see them. Usually I was much more affectionate than this. Play acting in front of the other men had stifled my emotions.   

I rose and turned wrapping my arms around Bane. "I missed you, Bane," I told him as I reached on tip toe to kiss his lips. "Being away from you was awful."

That was what they needed. I was passed man to man. Each of them wanted to hear my voice while they held me. They needed the soft press of lips on their skin. Tactile proof I had missed them was required. 

We ended up in the room with the large bed. They wanted to be on their bed in the compound, but no one wanted to wait that long. All of us wanted to be close after the long separation. 

I knelt on the covers and watched them disrobe around me. Damien came toward me first. As he stood beside the bed, my hands drifted over his muscled arms and chest. I re-memorized the contours of his body. 

Shuffling forward I kissed his chest across his broad flat nipples. He shuddered at the strange sensation and I smiled into his chest. My hand dropped to encircle his erection and I tugged on it lightly. The rod pulsed in my hand growing harder as I played. 

"Stop," Damien demanded suddenly wrapping a hand in my short hair. 

As he leaned down to kiss me softly on the lips his big hand pulled my palm away from his staff. 

"You are not ready," he said in a strained voice. "Let us make you ready."

I wanted to tease him, so I bit his lower jaw gently. "Do you want to punish me?" I asked breathlessly, looking into his eyes. 

The erotic way Damien had of punishing me for perceived naughtiness made me burn with desire for him. He didn't take the bait, though and ignored the biting.  

"Lay down," he coaxed pushing me back, "you do not need such stimulation as that right now."

Damien's lips were on mine and his tongue was in my mouth as soon as my back touched the cover. Kein's sweet lips were covering my breasts with attention and Evan had wormed his way between my thighs. 

Soft kisses and gentle licks brought me to the verge of orgasm and then Damien pushed his Brothers away to sink into my flesh. 

"Find your pleasure," Damien coaxed as Christof's hand slipped between us and strummed my clit as I was filled.

Deep grey eyes watched me as my mouth opened in a soundless cry. The stimulation was unbearably pleasurable and I clenched tightly on Damien. He moved with great control as I writhed and panted beneath him. 

The men were sweet and gentle with me. Each of them laid me on my back and took me slowly. I did everything they liked, but they didn't get excited or lose control.

I came under them in sweet, cresting waves. Frankly, I wasn't sure how they got enough stimulation to get themselves off. No matter how hard I pushed they maintained the same slow, methodical rate. It was frustrating. 

The pace began to make me restless. I needed their raw, masculine energy. It was what I was used to. It wasn't clear where this new softer side was coming from. 

The picture came into focus when Evan grabbed my hips and started to take me more roughly. Damien slapped his shoulder and told him to slow down. Kein warned him not to hurt me. They thought I was sick. 

"I'm not ill," I panted grabbing Evan's hair and twisting my fingers in it, "fuck me harder."

The Brothers had decided and my words fell on deaf ears. Evan took his time and although the sweat formed on his brow, he didn't increase the speed or power of his thrusts.  

"Grow your teeth and do me," I demanded pulling harder on his hair. 

My hands were pulled away and restrained beside my head on the bed. 

"You are weak, Sister," he murmured lapping at the sweat on my neck, "frail and weak. I do not wish to hurt you. Let us join tenderly."

It did feel good, in a completely vanilla sort of way. They eventually released my hands and I stroked Evan in a loving manner. 

Christof was last and it was the same with him. I tried again to convince him and he almost listened. The pull of the family bond won out though. 

"Thin humans are healthy," I said once Christof rolled off of me. "On my planet we spend lots of time and money to be thin."

Damien's gaze travelled across my form and he spoke, "You are not just thin. You are malnourished. It will make your bones weak and your skin fragile. If this continued your hair would fall out and so would your teeth," he stated bluntly. 

I rolled to my side and faced him, "None of that is happening now and I'm not malnourished!" I stated with finality. "She fed me three times a day."

"Rupe," Bane said, "she fed you rupe three times a day. It fills your stomach and you will not feel any hunger, but you cannot absorb nutrient from it. Our cousins used it to feed early human...women. They died looking as you do now."

"Our family does not eat it," Kein said tracing the line of my hip. "We have never eaten it. The Child Keepers said we could not have it and it is never brought to us. That is why you have never seen it."

"It was food," I insisted. "I was just very busy-"

"You - did - not - absorb - any - of - it," Damien said very slowly. 

The argument continued until I asked to use the lacquered pot and Damien ushered me to the bathroom. While Damien stood and watched me relieve myself, I used the argument I should not have. 

"I'm strong. You should have seen what I did all day. It was really hard work and I'm..." the words died in my throat as the dark look took over Damien's features.  

He had wanted that information last night and I had denied him. 

"Fine," he said in a low growl, "you are well. We will not treat you as if you are sick. Now tell me what she did to you. There are no secrets in this family."

Kein sauntered in behind Damien and turned the water on to fill the tub. He looked quite satisfied. I had walked right into their trap. Either I talked or they would punish me, either way was fine with them. 

The men came in and stood casually around as Damien cleaned me. I told them the entire story, which was actually quite short. It infuriated them. Christof took over my bath and Damien stepped out to pummel the wall several times.  

"Damien, please," I pleaded looking at his bleeding knuckles, "you know why she did it. I look like a runaway, don't I? No one will question what happened to me."

"Who would have questioned that?" Damien bellowed hitting the wall again. "No one would have even noticed. There was no purpose-"

Christof cut him off and the family turned to look at him. "I would have noticed. This slave supposedly ran from the compound during an attack by the women. None of the other Warriors know that Nu-reeh took her. None of them know we cared for her. There are Warriors who would have questioned whether such a healthy slave had really travelled and lived for many moons in the mountains."

It made sense to me now, how Nu-reeh had swooped in and grabbed me without anyone noticing. She had hidden my kidnap in a planned female raid. In the confusion, no one must have noticed my disappearance.

The men knew none of what I was thinking. They were still looking angrily at Christof.

"That's just you," Bane spit out sounding as angry as Damien.

"No, Brothers, not just me. There are others who like to question," Christof stated with authority. 

He started naming off men who would have noticed. They would have been curious how I did so well. Their families would have gotten curious, the questions would have spread over the compound. Even families without a curious Brother might have started to pay attention.  

"If they noticed their Brothers would notice," Kein said quietly. "It would be discussed and they would wish to see the slave."

"Remember the slave who nearly killed her Masters?" Christof said. "Do you recall how they made a spectacle of her fighting men in the arena before they took her back to the slavers?"

Evan cussed and sat at the edge of the stone pit I was in. Christof was right. If I looked healthy they'd want to know how I did so well. Right now I appeared to have survived only barely. That would be acceptable to the other men; it would make sense. 

"It will be attributed to luck and fortune that she lived so long," Christof said soothingly. "This was necessary."

I smiled at my friend. His acceptance of this seemed to be calming the rest of them. 

"I still don't like it," Damien growled sitting at the edge of the bath and watching us.  

Christof agreed with him and I crawled out to sit on Damien's lap and hold him close. 

"Nobody has ever taken care of me the way you all do," I told him stroking his face. 

Damien relaxed and smiled slightly. He liked that, I could tell. It made him calm a tiny bit more.

"We still need to feed you," he said drying me with a towel. 

Being treated like some sort of invalid had been irritating. I stopped Damien and reiterated the idea that I was well. They just had to stop or it would make me insane. 

"On Earth," I insisted, "humans would actually go places where they weren't fed well and they were forced to work hard to lose weight. I'm sure if it continued I'd get injured, but right now I'm fine."

Damien did not like to repeat himself. His face became slightly irritated as he spoke. 

"I said we believe you are well. We will watch you, though, Sister. If you start to become ill, we will do something about it."

Smiling up at him, I placed a kiss on his chin. I'd never doubted they would care for me for a moment. 

I had a snack before we headed back to the compound, dried and preserved worms. When I was pregnant and bonded the flavor had been wonderful. Now without my men's opinions influencing me, I choked them down as quickly as possible, much to everyone's amusement. 

"Please," I begged earnestly, "I won't refuse them, but please find something else for me to eat. If I have to eat worms all the time...They are just so nasty," I finished pleadingly.

"We could help you," Kein said with a teasing glint in his eye. 

I threw my hands up and begged. The last time we'd done that, it was just awful. 

"Oh, no, I said I wouldn't refuse them. It was only a question if there was something else I could eat."

"We will find something you like," Christof promised with a grin.

We made the trip back to the compound with me wrapped like a mummy. The men had used blankets from the bed to wrap me tightly head to toe. The fabric kept me warm and hidden from prying eyes. While we were still in the wild land between the mountains and the compound, my face was left uncovered. 

I looked longingly back at the mountains and imagined Hannah looking at me. She was out there somewhere, I knew she was. Tears slipped down my face as I realized how long it would be before I saw her again, if ever. 

The transport slowed to a stop and Christof pulled me to face him. 

"Why do you make tears?" he asked. 

"Hannah," I told him simply, "I will miss her terribly. She is out there and I will never again be as close to her as I am right now."

My voice broke and I sobbed gazing at the mighty, towering peaks that contained us on this land. Beyond them is where my daughter would stay. Beyond them was where she belonged. I was where I would always stay, in the slave pen concocted by the women. 

"You will see her again," Damien said with confidence. "We are Nu-reeh's favorites. We will barter with her. She will allow you to see our offspring. I can do this for you."

The other men agreed. It was something they could manage. Maybe a few extra couplings or a lunar cycle in the mountains would buy me what I wanted. There was really no need for me to worry, they would take care of it. 

I knew the truth of it. I watched the grey slopes as the transport cruised steadily away. Damien and his Brothers would do whatever Nu-reeh wanted, when she wanted. If she found it acceptable, I would see Hannah. If she did not, I would never see my daughter again. 

Silently, I said good bye to Hannah. I prayed for her and released her to the wild world. Make her strong and happy was the silent appeal I made to any deity that might listen. It was all I could do for her. 

As the transport got closer to the compound the sun got lower in the sky. Just before it set, the men pulled a sheet over my head. Now I couldn't see anything. I was surrounded in white with the sense of movement under my feet. It was quite disconcerting.

The transport lowered and then stopped suddenly. I heard voices, so I thought maybe we were home. I yelped when someone suddenly picked me up. 

"Ciara," Damien sighed, "relax, you can't walk bundled like this."

I was carried and set down on my feet, but I still didn't know where. 

"Ah, Damien," I heard Fredrick the shopkeeper say, "that pesky lost slave has been found. How wonderful."

My head covering was removed and I was standing in the opulent dressing room of Fredrick's shop. I glanced up and he looked just as perky as always. He jokingly asked Damien if it had been difficult to "find" me. He found the entire thing quite humorous. Damien warned him not to let the secret out. 

"Boys," Fredrick said laying a hand on Damien's shoulder, "this world is full of secrets. I know many and choose to keep them, because my Brothers and I are kept happy. What we know will not be spread around. It never is."

My family seemed to relax and Fredrick called Mia out. She unwrapped the blankets from around me as the men talked. 

"You are well, cousin?" she murmured quietly.

"Yes, thank you," I answered trying to help her untangle me. 

"I helped my owners make warm outfits," she said quietly, "they parted to expose your breasts so you could feed a child. It was a common design for women feeding their young in the coldest part of my world."

"It was effective, thank you. I would have been uncomfortable without it," I told her. 

"The child," she whispered hesitantly, "on my world it is rude not to ask a mother of the fate of their child. From my human friends, I believe this is your custom also."

I saw her eyes dart to the men, who were still talking about secrets and mountains. 

"Female, strong, and free," I said trying desperately not to tear up.

Mia offered what sounded like a prayer and laid her hand on mine. "Not a slave then? You have been blessed," she whispered and then walked me to the small stage. 

The fitting was quick. The only real issue was my new size. I was smaller. Damien told Fredrick I would be gaining weight, so the ornamentation should be adjustable. During a break I whispered in Damien's ear.

"I don't mind being smaller. Being fat isn't really a good thing for a human."

He sighed and whispered back to me, "You look ill. This is not healthy for you. Our family is strong; we will feed you so you become strong again." 

I was draped, once again, in the light fabric over my breasts and the juncture of my thighs. It covered virtually nothing, but it was in the right colors. My men looked appraisingly at my form accented with their colors. 

Fredrick had a brown outfit I could be wrapped in and sold them it and a kneeling place. All the other new ornamentation they had bought would be delivered to our rooms later. We went to the cafe and had a meal as we had several times before. The men were visibly annoyed as I knelt to take my food. 

"Family should sit together for a meal," Bane muttered under his breath. 

I stroked his thigh and kissed it lovingly.  

After dinner we went back to Fredrick's, which I found odd. Silly me, we went back to pick up my collar and cuffs. The smooth metal was wrapped around me and I was once more emblazoned with the family emblem. 

Mia fluffed my hair and looked at her Master. 

"The hair is..." she said playing with the roughly cut locks. 

"Let us fix this, so you can ornament it," Fredrick said watching Evan. "Mia will not harm your slave. It does not hurt a human to cut the hair. It is not like you my friend, it is like your Brothers in that regard."

Evan stiffened at the comment and Damien let out a surprised sound.

"Yes, yes another secret we keep," Fredrick said in response. "My Brothers and I have been around a long time. We will not tell anyone that does not need to know, but back to the topic. Let Mia trim this hair. It looks too rough now." 

Evan watched carefully as Mia trimmed my hair with small gold scissors. She kept the same general shape the men had given it, but layered the waves of brown and cut it neatly.

"It doesn't hurt you?" Evan questioned quietly while she worked. 

"No...Master Evan," I answered remembering his title. "Pulling it out would hurt, but cutting it does not."

The men seemed pleased with the work Mia had done. Before they dressed me in the dull brown outfit, the men ran their fingers through the hair. It looked better this way, they were agreed.

"I would let the girl cut Ciara's hair again," Evan said as we flew over the wall into the Warrior compound. "She was cautious and did a good job."

I poked him in the thigh with my mittened hand and he looked down at me. 

"Why did you do that?" he asked as the transport landed in the courtyard of the Warrior's compound.

"That is not a girl or a she, Master Evan," I whispered quietly as they pulled off my brown outfit. "You'll start all manner of trouble if the other men learn what you know." 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 18



"The way the other men think is ridiculous," Damien said pulling off my foot covers, "but don't worry. We are cautious in public."

The sounds of the compound came into my ears and I smiled. This place was home when Damien and his Brothers were here. I was glad to be back. 

*****************

Votes are appreciated and your comments are always read! 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 19



Welcome back everyone! 

An explanation I should have made last time - anal sex isn't "safe" sex. Sperm anywhere near the vagina is dangerous in a fertile woman, assuming you don't want her to get pregnant. Obviously there is less chance the little spermies will swim to the right place, but there is a chance. That's the point I was making several chapters back.

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his work proofreading! I appreciate the time and energy he puts into this. 

Comments are always welcome - I'm always trying to improve. You know who you are ease drop/ eavesdrop - good point! Let me know what you thing good or bad. 

Enjoy! DW

****************************

We walked through the courtyard and a mild breeze blew through. It wasn't too warm and it wasn't too cold. I thought of Hannah and what she had said. This was the perfect place to live. The women had chosen wisely for the men. 

Other men came and greeted Damien and his Brothers. They commented right away on how different I looked. Had it not been for the distinctive tattoo on my leg, they would not have known which slave I was. 

"It is not well, Damien," a man's voice commented. 

"Thin and ill-cared for," Damien said flippantly, "but we have used it and it is still superior in its purpose."

I blushed fiercely at that. It was the first time I'd ever heard them talk to other men about sex with me. They obviously did, but I had been lucky not to have to hear it before now. 

The last comment seemed to settle the debate. A slave that was superior in it's purpose would certainly be worth fixing. Sex was all that ever really mattered, I thought rolling my eyes. 

I thought we were going home, but the men walked toward the bathhouse. Damien stretched and said a soak would feel good. After the morning searching for the shopkeeper and the long ride here the men wanted to relax. I had forgotten how much they liked to go to bathe in that large warm pool with their friends. 

The men undressed themselves and removed my sparse ornamentation at their alcove in the wall. I grinned at the familiar setting. We walked toward the pool and were nearly there when a scream split the air. 

I looked up to see Rose hurtling toward me. The tiny woman sidestepped around Damien and flung herself at me. She threw her arms around my neck and held me so tight I could barely breath. Unlike her usual demure manner she was trembling and crying.

As Rose cried in my arms I held her tight. All of us that were slaves had lost so much. We only had our friendships and I knew Rose clung to hers. In that instant I realized what she must have thought when I disappeared and never returned.

"It's okay," I whispered to her. "Relax, Rose, I promise everything will be all right."

My stalwart friend that never seemed rattled by anything couldn't stop shaking and sobbing. Luckily what she was saying was partially in English and broken by sobs. Otherwise the men in the bathhouse might have understood she was asking about my baby.

I shushed her and stroked her back. "Not now," I kept whispering in her ear. "Everything is all right. I promise, just not now."

Basin arrived behind Rose and tried to remove her. Rose held me tighter and wept louder when he tried to pull her away. Basin seemed conflicted on what to do. Rose's reaction was gaining a large and unwanted audience. 

"Perhaps," Damien said, "we could take them to your alcove." 

With Basin's permission, Damien scooped Rose and me up. She pressed into me and didn't let go of my neck. We were laid on the cushions in Basin's alcove. I sat up with Rose curled into my lap still sobbing against my neck. 

It felt strange making skin to skin contact with another naked woman while the men watched. I prayed the men here didn't have the fantasies men on Earth had. By the look on Damien's face this was not erotic, but concerning. That made me feel better. 

"We have calming creams in our rooms," Evan said quietly to Basin.

"As do we," Basin said. "After this slave disappeared ours was inconsolable. Our sweet Rose was devastated. It was as if a bond was broken. We were not sure how to explain that its friend had been found...We did not know you would return this eve..."

The men were at a loss. 

"Rose," I whispered softly, "you must stop this. All is well, I promise."

"The bab-" she started to say and I cut her off with a finger over her lips.

"Strong and free," I told her in English. 

"Ciara," Damien warned, "speak the language we gave you."

"Yes, Master Damien," I said softly looking up at him. 

He didn't look angry. Damien just continued to look confused and concerned. 

"I missed you so badly," Rose sobbed against my neck. "I was so worried about you and the...I was so worried. You never came back and then the men that kept you were taken...It has been a long time since I have had such a good friend," she sobbed. The heartbreaking crying was almost uncontrollable when she spoke again. "I feared someone had killed you," she finally said her voice breaking. "There was no one to look for you. Men would kill us for sport, we have no value..."

Basin knelt beside us. His strong hands came down to smooth the hair away from Rose's face. 

"Stop this," he ordered softly. "You have value to us. We will not see you killed or harmed. You know we looked for your friend. I have told you many times this slave had never been found. This behavior is not acceptable."

"Yes, Master Basin," she said in a dull defeated voice, "as you wish."

I had never heard Rose sound like that. 

"Rose, stop it," I said firmly. "Your Masters will care for you. He promised you. They never break their promises, you know that. I was very far away...I got very far away. Please, all is well. You cannot be this way. Smile and say you are glad to see me, but don't do this."

I pulled away and looked at her. Rose looked awful. She had circles under her eyes and her face was drawn and tired.

"We are just slaves, Ciara," she said quietly. 

"Yes," I answered her, "slaves that are fed and cared for meticulously. Slaves that are promised protection and actually given it. Stop acting this way, it serves no purpose."

Rose blinked and looked at me. I heard the men move away from us and looked to see them in a tight grouping outside the alcove talking. Looking back at Rose she was finally smiling. 

"You're right," she said taking a shaky breath. "I lost perspective...."

We sat looking at one another and she slipped off my lap to sit beside me. The men were still huddled and talking. Rose looked back at me.

"The...other one I worried about?" she questioned vaguely. 

"Strong and free," I repeated and Rose looked confused.

"It is how it is done here," I said trying to stay vague. "Tomorrow at the Keeper's..."

"Yes," Rose said nodding, "that would be better."

Rose and I sat together holding hands while the men talked. Once they were done her owners came to take her away. I heard her kissing the man that picked her up and apologizing between kisses.

"Ciara," Damien called motioning for me. 

We walked into the pool and I started to soap Damien. I carefully washed away the dirt accumulated from the long day. Once he was clean I massaged his back and shoulders, because he had said he wanted to relax. 

The muscles under my hands were tense balls. Using the heel of my hand I pushed them out. Along Damien's spine I used my thumbs in small circular movements to loosen the tension there.

"Why do you do that?" he asked.

"I thought you liked it, Da...Master Damien."

My hands continued to seek out tight muscles and rub them for a few moments. Damien didn't say anything else. He just unwound under my hands. 

Once Damien seemed relaxed, I moved behind Evan. I washed his long hair gently. Eventually, I ended up sitting on a bench with his head in my lap. My fingers rubbed at his scalp and I braided his hair into all sorts of designs before returning it to it's usual state. He looked like he had gone to sleep as I played.

Once the men were relaxed to their satisfaction we moved upstairs. They had their old rooms back, I noticed right away. The men seemed to like consistency, so I was sure that made them happy.

Walking into the familiar set up I touched the knitted blue blanket they had laying over one chair. I had made this blanket for Hannah, but it had been too big for her to take. In my rush to pack them, I didn't even remember taking it.

"You told my Brother she is doing well," Damien stated from right behind me. 

"Yes," I said smiling picking up the blanket.

I pressed the fabric to my nose and the slight scent of her still clung to it. Part of me wanted to lock this blanket far away, so the smell would stay. That wouldn't work, though. There was no place to put it that Hannah's scent would remain. 

That night I slept holding the blanket tight to my chest. I dreamed of my daughter all night. Her sweet face, her voice, and her laughter haunted my memories. I wanted to keep them alive and well, so I would never forget. 

A hand sliding over my body woke me the next morning. Evan was touching me idly and grinning as he lay propped on the bed.

"It was easier to wake you when we were bonded," he said as I sluggishly roused myself. 

"You could just let me sleep," I yawned following him to the bathing room. 

"It's healthy to get up when the moon sets," Evan informed me. "You miss the sun rise if you stay in bed. You must get up when we get up."

"I thought you said I wasn't your slave," I said trying to reason with him. "I like to sleep after the sun has risen. Couldn't you just tell the Cleaners not to come and leave me at home to sleep late and be by myself?"

Evan looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Then you would become ill," he informed me. "Getting up and going to the Keepers is good for you. You require the companionship and exercise. The family must stay healthy and strong. Don't worry, Ciara, we know what you need and will provide it for you."

His argument was rock solid as far as he was concerned. The same argument applied to my morning enema and the plug. I needed those things. He'd only not done it in the mountains because Nu-reeh discouraged them from touching me after the birth. Every slave in the compound had those thing, I should too. 

I tried like hell to convince Evan I did not need what he thought I did but he disagreed. If I wasn't regularly prepared it would hurt me when he and his Brothers used me. He had to do the cleaning to use the preparation plug. It was a chain of necessary events. 

The idea I might not want to do those things didn't even occur to Evan. When I mentioned it, he scoffed. He had seen me take pleasure many times while Bane used my ass. I didn't know what I liked, they did. My family would see to it and keep me happy. 

It was so frustrating. They had said I was free, but they still made all my decisions for me. I realized that was because they had been taught by trusted sources how to care for a human. Since they believed what they were doing was best for me, they would keep doing it. The only difference was now they did it out of love and not just a desire to have the healthiest slave. 

Right on schedule, I was taken to the Keepers. My girl friends and all the other slaves were eager to talk. Everyone wanted to know what had happened to my baby. We had to be very careful that someone distracted the Keepers while I told them the story. 

I could have lied to the other slaves, but I didn't. There were large parts I left out, but I wasn't dishonest. Since we had so little else, I thought my companions should at least get some of the truth. 

The women had taken me, I told them. I was held until I gave birth. My daughter was born strong and considered to be of this world. She grew quickly, much faster than a human child. Once she no longer needed me the women left me in the mountains for the men to find. 

"How did you get pregnant, though?" Rose asked.

I had to explain the health drink was contraceptives, which my fake owners had stopped giving me. We weren't supposed to breed. That relieved a great deal of tension. They were all afraid that if it could happen to me, it might happen to them. No one wanted to have children they would have to give up. 

I left out large chunks of information. I never told them the women were in charge. The way the world ran wasn't discussed. I shared only the basics of what had happened to me specifically. 

When the lunch bell rang, I was glad I could stop talking for a little while. The morning had been stressful. I walked with everyone to the lunch room, but my kneeling place wasn't there. 

"It's in the courtyard," Fuji hissed quietly taking her place.

I walked head down toward the spot they used to leave my kneeling place. Men were already coming in as I found my spot. I knelt down and waited, presumably for Christof. 

"Hello, little Sister," Bane greeted me quietly.

It was surprising to see him and I stood up quickly. He grabbed my kneeling place tucking it under his arm and strode purposefully out the doorway in the wall. He greeted the other men coming in and headed into the forest. 

Once we were out of sight of the other men, Bane slowed his stride and walked beside me. He looked down at me with a small smile on his face. Instinctively I reached out and took his hand, which seemed to please him. 

He took me into the forest in a direction I hadn't travelled with Christof. Unlike the way we usually went this way was obscured with branches that Bane lifted out of my way. 

"That's beautiful," I suddenly said as the growth parted naturally. The light splatter of falling water came from right in front of us. "I haven't seen a waterfall like this ever. I saw them in pictures at home, but never this close up." 

We were standing in front of a delicate waterfall that fell gracefully into a small pool. The water glistened in the sun and fell in sparkling drops to land in the rocky pond below. It looked like a magical place.

Bane grinned and sat my kneeling place on top of a large flat rock. He lifted me to sit on the pad and settled beside me. He looked quite happy with himself as we sat and enjoyed the scenery. 

"Did you win some bet this morning?" I asked as he offered me the bowl he had brought. 

Bane looked surprised and asked me how I knew. 

"You always get that look when you've won a bet," I told him, picking what I liked out of the bowl. "It's a very distinctive face."

"Kein did not think the falling water would interest you," he said picking up a piece out of the bowl and feeding it to me. "I thought you would like it."

I didn't particularly care for the food Bane had brought for lunch. I liked the little red sprouts that were mixed in and tried to just eat those. The majority of what was in the bowl tasted like wet bread. It was quite unappealing. 

Bane fussed at me and took the bowl back. Since I wasn't making healthy decisions, he would have to help me. Much to my displeasure I was fed the red sprouts mixed with the bland, moist basis of the meal. 

"You must eat this," Bane said. "It is very high in nutrients and can be absorbed by your system. I do not like seeing all your bones in your chest and back."

I reached a hand around and realized he was right. My spine was displayed quite prominently. Passing a hand over my flat belly, I sighed. 

"I like not having a big stomach. I don't want to be fat again," I complained. 

Bane did not understand fat. I was a better size before, he informed me. They liked the soft curves covered in silky skin. 

To take my mind off the gross meal I asked Bane to tell me about his day. He frowned and fed me another piece from the bowl.

"You do not have to do that," he informed me. "Hannah told us you acted interested in us and our pleasure so we would not rid ourselves of you. She said she 'remembered' you being worried about being sold. We will not sell you and you do not have to feign interest in us."

In the past I'd heard mothers say they sometimes wanted to strangle their children for repeating things they'd heard. Now I knew what they meant. 

"At first," I admitted, "it was like that. As time has gone on I have realized I love you all. I want to know what you do all day. It pleases me to give you pleasure. You are very important to me and I enjoy hearing about you." 

It was the truth and Bane watched my face closely. He seemed satisfied with what he saw. A big, happy grin lit his face before he told me about their morning. 

Damien's family had been trained in many different styles of fighting when it looked like they would be a General. This morning they'd been sent to patrol the road. While they were out there they had secretly taught some of the new moves to their favorite cousins. The men had a great time wrestling with one another in a field all morning. 

"Who watched the road? What if something happened and you missed it?" I asked worried they were shirking their duties. 

"We took turns," Bane said with good humor. "Watching the road is boring and they always send too many of us."

"Don't be lazy," I scolded. "If the General catches you goofing off-"

Bane laughed at me and called me a name that must have meant something like 'goody-two-shoes'. He found it very disconcerting I didn't know that word. For the rest of the meal Bane taught me bad words, so I could keep up with the family discussions.

We walked back to the Keeper's compound calling each other names the whole way. I was perfecting my pronunciation and Bane was helping me get better. We were still laughing about it when we stepped out of the forest. 

"Swim if you like today," Bane said as we got near the door in the wall. "The Keepers have something to feed you in the middle of the afternoon. Don't be difficult about eating it."

"And if I am?" I asked looking up at him defiantly.

It couldn't be good if he was warning me about it. 

"We'll give you worms to eat three meals a day until you have lost this sickly look," he said cooly running a finger over my prominent collarbone. 

"The worms are gross," I informed him, "and I'm not sick. Damien already agreed with me."

He backed me into the wall and put a hand on either side of my head. Slowly he lowered himself down until his face was right in mine.

"You are not ill, but I suggest you don't refuse the Keepers today," he ordered quietly.

"I'll make you hold me down and spit them in my mouth," I threatened hotly. "I won't eat worms three times a day."

"Are you daring me to feed you like that tonight?" he grinned. "It doesn't bother me at all. Considering your reaction the last time we did that, I think it bothers you, though."

I was saved from having to answer when the door in the wall slid open and a man stepped out. He greeted Bane and asked what he was doing. Bane hadn't lost his position or stopped staring at me. 

"We were having a discussion about our evening meal. My...slave was wondering how to have it. Any decisions, yet?" he asked me with a wicked lilt to his voice.

I should have backed down. The wisest course of action would just be to say, "However you wish, Sir" and be done with it. I just could not do it. 

"It all depends, Master Bane," I said staring him in the eye. 

Bane's grin got wider and I felt the pit of my stomach drop. I had just started a new game. Lord only knew what he was going to do at dinner tonight.

I did go swim in the afternoon, it was relaxing as ever. As I explored the things in the deep water a Keeper suddenly swam in front of me. He surprised me so badly I almost breathed the water. That man just wanted me to come in for the midday snack, though. 

As much as I had dreaded it, the food wasn't bad. It was a thick drink and a handful of crunchy, oily nuts. I could literally taste the calories. Rose agreed it was a good idea. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 19



"You look like you've been starved," she said sitting beside me as the Keeper fed me.

I just shrugged. With this man sitting here I couldn't reasonably remind her the women had wanted me to look half dead. Apparently they had done quite a good job. Everyone that saw me said I looked awful. 

That evening I waited patiently for my family. There was a gnawing sense that something was going to happen. Part of me hoped Bane had forgotten our midday banter; I was never that lucky, though. 

My men came, took me home, and then we went down to the bathhouse. Damien and his Brothers were keeping a secret, I could see it. They smiled and looked at each other like they were bursting, but they didn't say anything. It would come out whenever it came out, I decided. No use worrying what it would be. 

I was resting on a chaise in the sitting room in the early evening. When I heard a knock indicating our food was here, I slipped down to rest on my kneeling place. My family liked me to use the furniture, the rest of the world would not understand. 

The man delivering the tray set it on the table. He removed the lid and I heard his breath catch. 

"I can't believe you brought this to the kitchen for us to cook for you!" he said incredulously.

"It's perfect," Damien said with a smile and I heard the tray recovered. 

My family waited till the man left and then pulled a sixth chair up to the table. I was escorted to it and they sat me down with a flourish. I watched Bane's happy smile with a reserved expression; he was up to something. 

Kein took the lid off the platter and I screamed as I fell out of my chair. It was one of those nasty, gigantic spider creatures that Nu-reeh had showed me. I squealed like a typical girl and I scrambled into the sitting area and got on top of a chair. 

I failed to see why they had it in the apartment. I cursed them in every language I knew. My men were roaring with laughter. My reaction had apparently been priceless. 

From my new vantage point I noted the thing wasn't moving. It also appeared charred. The creature had been cooked, I realized. 

"There are worms, Ciara," Bane offered once he had regained some measure of control. "We understood you did not enjoy them. Like worms, these creatures are quite high in nutritional content."

"Particularly the eyes," Evan said still grinning broadly. "It is typical to stab out the eyes, but we felt sure you would enjoy them. We killed it by stabbing the back. It was harder that way, but we did it for you."

Evan's grin was absolutely mischievous. This extra effort was certainly not for my benefit.

"Come," Kein commanded, "try them. They are wonderful."

To prove the point he used a small spoon on the platter to remove an eye from the creature's head. It came loose with a soft sucking sound. He popped it in his mouth, bit down, and swallowed.

"Come and sit," Bane offered. "We will help you eat if you find you are...unable."

The men were chuckling and smiling at one another. It had been a bet. Bane was currently winning. I gleaned that much from their little looks and the comments. 

I hated spiders as much as anyone. It wasn't a particular phobia, I just didn't like them. There was absolutely no way I was backing down from this dare, though. 

Stepping as proudly as I could off of the chair, I took my seat looking right into the seven remaining eyes. I licked my dry lips and looked stubbornly up at Bane, who stared incredulously down at me. 

"I don't know how to eat it. Will you help me, please?"

Evan's grin broadened and Kein settled in a chair to watch as Bane reached toward the thing and broke a leg off of it. I cringed at the cracking sound, but didn't move. He used a blade on the table to open the leg and told me I could eat the meat out of it. 

I picked up the spiny charred leg gingerly and picked a tiny piece of white meat out. No one moved as I brought it to my lips. I bit down tentatively and then swallowed. It wasn't bad, so I dug a second chunk out and ate that. The meat was a little dry, but it had good flavor, sweet almost, but not quite. 

Evan spooned up an eye and offered it to me silently. No one was talking now, this was the heart of this bet. I took the eye off the spoon and felt it slip between my lips. It had a weird texture in my mouth, but when it burst the flavor was amazing, rich and buttery. The center was slippery and chewy, but tasty. I spooned a second and third eye myself. 

The men took their seats and we devoured the Scar. 

"On Earth we had things like this, but we boiled them," I told the men as I picked through the shell to get any remaining meat, dismantled and eaten the scar was much less scary. "I bet the meat in the legs would be better if you boiled them. We also had a melted fat concoction we dipped the boiled meat in."

Damien stretched his legs out and draped an arm across my shoulder. "You lost, Brother, pay up."

Bane threw his eating implements down and looked at me with a grin. 

"I thought you would not eat it and I would have to force you. We bet on your reaction, Sister and I lost. Damien and Christof stipulated that if they won, you get to pick the prize. You earned it, what do you want?" he asked.

I wasn't sure and then I was very sure. 

The idea was so tempting, but it would make them angry. The devilish smile on my face faded when I thought about how offended they would be. Instead, I told him I wanted a back rub and then looked down. That was a safe thing to say. 

"No, you don't," Evan said lifting a my chin with his finger. "There was something else you thought of. I saw the lie in your eyes before you looked down."

I shook my head in denial. "I want a back rub."

Bane called me the nasty name for weakling in their language. 

I looked up at him and he was staring at me from across the table. It came out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"Wear the plug in your ass until we go to sleep," I said quickly. 

The room was silent for a moment and I knew I had angered them. It was the wrong thing to say. I looked down and prayed they would forgive my stupidity. 

Quite suddenly I was pulled to stand and yanked into the bathing room. Bane handed me the plug and pulled off his linen cover. He bent over the counter and looked back at me. I stood staring at his sculpted ass and holding the device. 

"Ciara, I don't want Evan to put it in, although he finds the idea quite humorous. Get the oil and you do it," he sighed. 

Bane acted like this was the most normal thing we'd ever done. My slowness was just such an annoyance. 

In the face of his overwhelming submission to my insane idea, I finally acted. I pulled the oil off the shelf and poured it on my fingers. Using my other hand I pulled the muscular globes of his ass apart. I could see the tiny star of his anus. This was never going to work. 

Taking a deep calming breath, I did to him what he did to me. Placing a finger covered in oil against the tight pucker, I pressed until the tissue relaxed. I ran a slicked finger into the canal and then back out. I stretched him gently and slowly with my fingers. For lack of a better word I fucked him until he loosened. 

When I felt he was ready I placed the tip of the plug against him and pushed. Bane grunted as it entered him. He tried to tense when the widest part passed his sphincter, but I had done a good job. His rectum was slack and easily took the toy. 

I washed my hands and couldn't look at him. My face felt flushed and so did the rest of me. Playing with his ass had made me wet and horny. That wasn't supposed to happen. 

Bane walked around the bathroom for a moment getting used to the feel. He turned toward me and had a rock solid erection. Blushing, I looked away.

He lifted my chin until I was looking into his eyes. A hand passed over my nipple and I shivered pressing it toward him. 

"That made you ready?" he asked quietly.

I refused to answer and just stared up at him. Bane was not deterred by my embarrassment. He started to play with my nipple roughly making me gasp. 

"Did placing your plug in my ass make you ready to fuck?" he asked crudely. 

The other men were there suddenly. I felt their heat surrounding us. Bane's wicked smile grew wider. Only he could turn having a plug up his ass into a competition I would lose. 

I opted to meet the challenge head on.

"Yes, Bane, putting a plug up your ass aroused me. Now get on your knees and do something about it," I ordered firmly. 

Bane looked down at me with something akin to shock on his face, but it faded fast.

"As you wish, little Sister," he growled dropping to his knees.

I didn't have time to struggle as Evan and Damien grabbed my legs. All the sudden my orientation was changed and I was staring up at the ceiling with my legs splayed wide apart. The men held me to give Bane access. 

Bane took a languid lick up my slit. He finished by nibbling and sucking at my clit. My eyes rolled back in head and I fell limply against the strong arms holding me. My back arched as Bane continued to lick and suck. I was on the verge of cumming when he stopped.

"Very aroused, little Sister, putting this up my ass made you very aroused," he said kissing down my thigh to my knee.

"Damn it, Bane," I cursed, "finish me, please."

He stood up and I groaned, watching him. The way his Brothers held me, I was at the right level to take his cock. Bane noticed it, too and grinned.

"Do you want this?" he asked slapping my clit with the end of his dick.

Little electric bolts flew through me when he did that. Groaning and writhing, I managed to say yes. 

Bane tormented me. He dragged his cock over my swollen clit several times and then pushed it down to my wet waiting opening. I tried to wiggle closer, but his Brothers wouldn't let me. He just ran the head of his penis lazily in my copious juice.

"Please," I begged earnestly, "take me to the bed and fuck me, please."

Bane drove himself home and I saw stars with the force of it. I shut my eyes and moaned as my orientation changed. I was lifted until my chest was flush to Bane's. My arms and legs wrapped around him automatically. 

"When you beg so nicely," Bane said carrying me toward their bedroom, "it is hard not to do what you ask."

Bane sat on the bed with me still attached and realized that was not comfortable. It pushed the plug more firmly into his ass. He rolled us so I was beneath him as he grunted and worked above me. 

It became a battle of wills as the sex got rougher. I scratched him with my nails and dug them into his shoulders. His thrusts became more brutal and I had to wrap my legs around him to keep up. I sunk my teeth into his neck and he'd suffered enough. 

"Do you wish to be restrained, little Sister?" he asked pulling my arms over my head. 

In response to being pinned I snapped my teeth at him.

Bane grinned wickedly, "So that's how it's going to be."

Before I could count to three Bane had flipped me on the bed. Pillows were shoved under my stomach and my hands were bound behind me. I screamed at them, but they didn't listen. Instead Evan gagged me with a piece of cloth tied around my head. 

"Did you like dominating me?" Bane whispered in my ear. "I know how much I like dominating you. It occurs to me that you are like me in that regard."

Bane ran the oil between my cheeks. It felt like he was using two fingers pressed into my ass to prepare me. He was never this fast in his preparation. This was going to be a rough ride, I already knew it. 

I had my head turned to the side watching him angrily. He coated his erection in the oil and laid over me pressing his cock against me. I cursed behind the gag and he laughed at me. 

"Not that I really need all this oil," he said in haughtily my ear. "I'm covered in your lubrication, because apparently you like to stick things in my ass as much as I enjoy putting this in yours."

Without further warning Bane pressed his full length into me with one push. The sudden pressure burned fiercely. I grunted and pulled at the bindings, but they were tight. Despite the gag, I still used some of those new words he had taught me. He was big and I felt every inch of him buried inside me. 

Bane moved quickly. There was never enough pause between the thrusts to really acclimate. Had I been less accustomed to anal sex or not worn the plug today, I might have been in pain. As it was, the aggression was turning me on immensely. I pushed back against Bane and screamed at him through the gag. 

It was obvious what had him so upset. While I lay here, the helpless recipient of his sex, I was still dominant. He wore my plug up his ass. Considering his own code of honor, I knew he wouldn't remove it before time was up. As long as it stayed in place, I was on top. 

With my head turned to the side I watched Bane from the corner of my eye. He stared down at my defiance as he moved in and out. He gave a particularly hard thrust and I repressed the urge to wince. Instead, I growled at him. There was no way I was letting him see weakness. 

His weight pressed down over me and he panted in my face. Keeping my head turned so I looked at him I strove not to blink. He dropped his face against my shoulder and thrust twice more slowly before backing away. 

The big man removed himself from my ass and my bonds were cut. Evan removed the gag. I rolled off the pillows and turned to face Bane. 

"Did you finish?" I asked.

It was hard to tell with him. He lay flat on his back and his erection was still pointing to the ceiling.

"No," was the one word reply. 

"Do you want to finish?" I asked getting on my knees and watching him. 

I wondered if I'd made him so mad he didn't want me anymore. 

"Yes."

"Do you want to finish with me?" I asked. 

He raised his head off the bed and looked at me with some humor. "Of course I want to finish with you. You won and you win now. We will finish this how you wish."

What I wanted was for him to be happy. I noted his position, though. Flat on his back, the way the women liked to take them. He was taking the most submissive position he knew. 

I crawled up beside him and examined him. A hand ran through his chest hair and down his stomach. The crisp golden hair tickled my fingers as I followed the path down. His stomach muscles quivered slightly under the caress. Lightly circling his penis I reached down to cup his balls. The heavy sacs responded by tightening imperceptibly. 

On impulse I straddled Bane facing his feet. I didn't imagine the women took them like this. By the confused look on Damien's face as he watched me, I guessed not. 

Using a hand I guided Bane's thick shaft back to the place he so loved to be. I sat slowly on him and realized he might have pushed too hard before, I was sore. Leaning on one hand the other stroked his balls gently as I began to ride him. 

Hands were on my hips squeezing and caressing. I looked back to see Bane had propped his head up on a pillow and was watching intently. It never ceased to amaze how much they liked to watch. 

"Don't stop, Ciara," he ground out, "please, don't stop." 

The rhythm was steady and from the sound of it Bane was getting what he wanted. I was getting all I could handle as well. Kein had situated himself between Bane's feet so he could watch my top as I pumped up and down. His fingers sought out my nipples in turn teasing and tormenting them.

Grunting and sweating I rocked faster over Bane. I looked back and saw the fanged beast watching me with an malicious grin. He was loving the show.

When he grabbed my hips and thrust up hard, I knew I had him. He came bucking beneath me, arching his back. Strong fingers dug into my flesh as he screamed my name. 

Looking around his Brothers looked ravenous. Bane had experienced something powerful and erotic. It had all of them on edge. 

Damien didn't wait. He grabbed my hair and pulled me off Bane. My body separated from his with a thick plop. 

"Suck me," Damien ordered pulling me to the edge of the bed so he could stand as I sucked. 

I watched Damien's rapture as I took him to the root each time. His teeth were grown and sharp before I started, so I knew he wouldn't take long. He was more than ready to explode when someone speared my pussy from behind.

Damien's face looked wicked as he watched me. I tried to turn my head, but I couldn't because he wouldn't pull out of my mouth. 

"We have a bet," Damien said taking short strokes that never allowed me to take my mouth off of him. "We want to know if you can tell which of us is inside of you without looking."

Bane spoke next from somewhere behind me. "While one of us watches to make sure you don't cheat," he said. "We will each take turns. We will see how often you are correct."

The game started and it was wonderful and awful at once. I soon realized I knew them better than they thought I did. As soon as they entered me, I could tell who it was. 

Kein went first and I knew exactly who it was. His long shaft was impossible not to recognize. Damien pulled himself from my mouth as Kein slid himself home several times. I grinned looking up and said Kein's name. 

"You win," Damien smiled with blazing eyes, "take your reward."

Hands covered my flesh as Kein took me. Evan sucked my nipples and Christof played my clit until I came around Kein's shaft. After he was done he took Damien's place in my face. 

Feeling like a sated slut, I made him hard again cleaning off our combined juices with my tongue. Evan nearly lost himself when I did that and I heard him leave the room to calm down. The men spoke firmly to him. For the game to work, they had to maintain control. 

That was our evening and it was amazing. Guess who it was and they'd bring me to orgasm. After Christof I was tempted to pretend I didn't recognize Evan. My body was so sensitive and primed the orgasms almost hurt. I couldn't resist them though and was screaming Evan's name repeatedly as I climaxed. 

When Bane took a turn and placed himself in my vagina I yelled past Christof's cock.

"Dirty, not clean," I panted looking up at Christof's amused face. "He's been in my ass!" 

I knew how nasty a butt was, despite Bane's love of that area. The germs still were NOT something I wanted to have placed in my most delicate place. 

"We will still care for you, little Sister," Bane panted stroking in and out. "I washed myself well. Congratulations on knowing me, take your prize."

I nearly blacked out with the pleasure they offered. All in all, it was an intensely erotic way to spend the evening. 

The men generously let me rest for a few minutes on the bed before cleaning me. 

I tried to take the plug out of Bane before my nightly shower, but he refused. It wasn't time for bed, yet. He'd wear it until then. Those were the rules of the bet.

"Give it," I demanded and he refused a second time. 

I tried to wrestle with him to get it back, but that was wholly ineffective. Eventually I relented and let him clean me off. 

Just before bed he let me take it out. He did check and make sure that hadn't made me ready, again. By the look of it he could have gone another round with me. Even with the cream I was still sore from his first time. Lucky for me he just led us to the bed. 

***************

Time passed in the compound the way it always did. I went to the Keepers and took care of the men's needs at night. There were occasional raids by outlaws and skirmishes on the road. A group of females tried to take a shopkeeper once, but it was fairly calm.

There were small, but perceptible changes in my life now. At home, I sat on the furniture. When I ate, I fed myself. The men frequently portioned out my meals, but they didn't hand feed me, usually. Most mornings I choose what ornamentation I would wear. The differences were slight, but they mattered to me. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 19



Every day I thought of my daughter. I wondered what she was doing and how she was. In quiet moments I would sit and look toward the sky praying for her safety. She was a fixture in my daily thoughts. 

One mid day meal, as I sat with Damien outside the Keeper's compound in the forest, I was staring up at the sky. It was wide and beautiful beyond the trees. Flying freely through it must be a wonderful experience. 

"What are you looking at?" Damien asked peering up through the canopy. 

"I'm thinking of Hannah," I told him passing him the bowl to take a bite. "I look at the sky and wonder if she's out flying in it somewhere. I'd love to know where she is and what she's doing every day."

He sat and watched me for a moment before he spoke. "I don't understand," he said simply. "Why do you want to know that?"

I sighed and looked at him. He was never going to understand, but he probably wouldn't drop it. 

"Didn't you wonder what Christof was doing when he disappeared into the mountains? I worry about Hannah and hope she is well. It would make me feel better if I knew what she was doing," I attempted to explain. 

Damien sat back against the tree he was lounging on as he handed me the bowl. 

"Always so curious, you are like Christof in that regard," he told me. 

The subject was in the open, so I pushed a little with him. "You have other children out there, you must. Don't you ever wonder about them? What they are like or what they are doing? Do you think about our daughter?"

I tried to pass the bowl and he stopped me. "Eat more and I'll answer you," he said grinning. "You almost look well again."

Dutifully I took a large bite and looked pointedly at him. 

"No," was the simple answer, "I never think about them. I assume Hannah is well, but I do not think on her unless you bring her up. Others may exist, from what the women said I have been a breeder."

He paused for a moment and then spoke again, "Christof thinks about it. He wonders about the children he has sired. When we were bonded to you he saw how children lived on your planet. He is curious how his offspring fare." 

"Would the women tell you?" I asked taking another bite.

"They never have, but we've never asked," Damien said simply.

We sat in silence for a few moments before Damien spoke again. 

"I think I would enjoy knowing more about Hannah. She was interesting. I liked her," he added after a long pause.

Long ago I'd promised myself I would not cry anymore about my daughter. Hearing Damien say he liked her struck me hard. He had never seemed to be that interested in her. During our time in the mountains he had either been fearful or indifferent. Despite my resolve I felt the tears slipping down my face. 

"Ah, no more tears," he said pulling me onto his lap. "We will not speak of her if it makes you sad. You lose the food we give you when you are upset."

Strong arms held me tightly to his chest as I trembled. 

"I miss her," I cried into his neck. "I worry about her and want desperately to see her. Everyday, I have her on my mind. If I could just know she was all right..." I trailed off. 

It was a pipe dream. There was no more way for me to know Hannah was all right than for my mother to know I was all right. The distance may as well be the same. I was not going to get closer to either one of them. 

"We have a coupling," Damien said firmly. "It is very soon. I will talk to Nu-reeh and ask her to let you see Hannah."

I dried my tears and snorted. "Hannah's who knows where, Damien. She could be anywhere on the whole planet."

"Do you doubt me?" he said lifting my chin so I looked in his eyes. 

I saw the spark of challenge and had to laugh. Damien was so sure of himself, all the time. It didn't matter what the situation was. 

"No, Master Damien," I said using the formal title to irritate him, "you are a powerful man and I do not doubt you."

Damien grinned back at me and hugged my body close to his. That seemed to settle the argument for the time being. 

We sat in the bathhouse that night and I washed Damien as usual. Christof sat on the bench beside Damien discussing strategy. There had been a fight with bandits on the road today and Christof thought there was a better tactic than what they were using. 

"That's how the men in the red mountains group," Damien argued as I finished scrubbing him. "We don't do it that way."

Christof continued with his point. It was a valid way to arrange themselves and it might be better. They should try it.

I had to stifle a laugh. It sounded to me like Christof was just curious. He just wanted to try something different. 

"Something amuse you?" he asked pulling me onto his lap. 

"Just you being you," I told him soaping his front.

Christof released me and I continued to wash him. Damien was already clean. 

"You don't have to do that," Christof said as I circled the bench to wash his back.

"I want to, Christof," I leaned down and whispered in his ear. "You've washed my back plenty of times. It's only fair."

He relented, probably because he wanted to keep arguing with Damien. I soaped and massaged him as they sat there. My mind wandered as I worked and I realized how infrequently I did this for Christof. 

Damien liked me to bathe him, because he liked the massage that accompanied the bath. Evan liked me to touch his hair, so I always washed it for him. When Bane and Kein weren't off making mischief around the pool, I washed them. Christof never had me clean him. 

I scrubbed his left arm and moved to his right still thinking about it. The reason probably stemmed from his dislike of slavery. He probably thought this was a service I provided them because I was acting like a slave. One day I'd have to tell him how human lovers liked to wash each other. That may make him feel better about it. 

His mark was on his right arm, just like everyone else's. I traced it with my fingers and smiled at the familiarity. This insignia I could draw with my eyes closed. 

Their mark was all over the cuffs and collar I wore. When I knitted or sewed it always had a place in the fabric. It marked my kneeling place and hung proudly above their door. This symbol meant home and safety to me. 

There were differences in the marks on the men, of course. Tiny symbols in the background denoted breeders back three generations. I moved soapy fingers over Christof's mark and froze suddenly. 

It could not be right. I was sure I wasn't correct. I scooped water up and rinsed the shoulder, but it was still there. I traced the tiny symbol with my fingertip and just felt stunned. 

Christof was the grandson of a human slave. 

"Ciara," Christof said placing a hand over mine, "what's wrong? You look startled."

My mouth opened and shut with nothing coming out. This was the wrong place to discuss this. It was too crowded here.

"Talk to me," he said urgently, "what's wrong?"

I had to think of something, Damien was standing up and walking to me.

"I noticed something and it isn't important. I'm just surprised..." I said looking between them. 

Damien leaned down toward me and whispered in my ear. 

"Tell us right now. There are no secrets in this family."

I shook my head and his face got hard. He did not like to be denied. 

"I can't, not here. It's just...not something I can say here," I sputtered looking up at him. 

Evan was beside us a second later. Bane and Kein appeared at the edge of the pool just after that. 

Damien whispered to me again, "We are going upstairs and you will tell us. I do not like it when you keep secrets from me."

We marched upstairs and as soon as the door closed Damien looked pointedly at me. 

"Christof's mark," I pointed to his shoulder, "his female breeder two generations ago was a human slave," I finished.

They just stared at me and I started to feel stupid. Maybe they already knew or maybe they didn't care. I thought of ways to apologize for overreacting and cutting our time downstairs short. 

"Are you sure?" Christof asked, touching the mark with his left hand as though his fingers could read what I had just said. 

Kein brushed Christof's hands away and looked at the mark closely. "It looks as it always has, Brothers," he said relaxing his shoulders.

"The tutors taught me to read the marks to tell ancestry-" I started to say and Evan cut me off.

"We don't remember this lesson," he said stubbornly. 

I thought back to that day when Runen and his Brothers taught me to read the marks. My men hadn't been paying attention. They had been very busy, but why?

Bane realized why as he passed the linen wraps to the other men. "Nu-reeh's bin broke one day. We were very busy picking up the ore before she arrived with the next load."

Evan argued with him. He didn't understand how they didn't have the same knowledge I did while they were bonded to me. Christof's explanation was probably accurate.

"Ciara is human. The bond doesn't work right for her. How many times did we say that while it was happening? I think that explains this also," he said sitting down and motioning me over. 

The other men discussed and agreed. Bonding with me had been odd. They didn't have access to everything I knew, I doled it out slowly with memories. Apparently I never thought of this lesson when we were up there. 

"Show me the mark for my human breeder a generation ago, please," Christof said gently. 

I pointed it out and they all looked at it. The rest of the Brothers wanted to be checked. I found the mark on Evan that denoted a slave in the third generation, but not human. We had already been aware of that, though. No one else had human breeders, at least not three generations back.

"Was she happy?" Christof asked quietly taking my hand and pulling me down next to him. "Was she harmed or beaten? Did she miss the family she was taken from on Earth?"

No one had an answer for any of that. The men sat down around us murmuring. 

I ventured a guess, "I imagine she was treated well. It wasn't that long ago and she was healthy enough to have a child..."

Christof didn't look comforted, he looked angry. The mood spread into the other men and now they were all angry. Damien started pacing and I feared for the nearest wall. Their tempers had hold of them. 

Suddenly, they were calm. Some thought had righted them. It was so odd watching the internal conversations from the outside. 

I wondered why they couldn't just say what they were thinking out loud. Probably a lifetime of communicating this way made it easier, I assumed. It had seemed very intrusive to me, but they didn't seem to mind it. 

Evan stood up suddenly. He looked at every Brother before disappearing into the room they kept their clothes in. A moment later he returned with a blue cloth bag the size of a lunch bag. 

The bag was a curiosity and obviously had something of some weight in it. I gasped when I saw the front. It had their symbol stitched onto it, but beneath it was a symbol I recognized as my name. I'd never seen this bag before. 

Evan handed the bag to me and sat down in his chair. "We have wanted to give this to you, but we had not chosen the time yet," he said by way of explanation. 

Looking around I wasn't sure what they wanted me to do with it. 

"You do not need to keep it in water," Damien told me, "no one will steal from you in our home." 

"And water would not protect it here," Kein added helpfully. 

"What is this?" I asked looking at Christof.

He smiled and told me to open it and see. 

A knot the boy scouts would be proud of lashed the bag closed. Christof showed me how to untie it and told me he would teach me to redo the knot. My hand dipped into the bag and the smooth stones they used for money were inside, perhaps thirty stones in all. 

"We will take you to market," Bane said grinning. "You will use the motions you learned on Earth to tell us what you want. You can point, nod, and shake your head. We will barter for you, if the price is acceptable you will nod your head."

"There will be days off," Damien said, "two days every cycle of the ringed moon you do not have to work for us. We would like to know what days they will be in advance, though."

My mouth didn't really work right and all I said was, "Work for you?"

Kein clarified for me. Two days a lunar cycle I could choose not to perform my purpose here even if they wanted me to. Those would be my days off. Kein did make a point to remind me how much pleasure they brought me when I performed for them. 

A giggle bubbled past my lips. They had saved me from slavery to make me into a prostitute. I couldn't decide which sounded worse. 

The laugh I had made confused them and they looked at me questioningly. With great effort I schooled my features. This was generous and I should not be greedy.

"Thank you very much," I said looking down at the bag. "This was so kind of you all. I know I am very lucky."

There was silence for a moment and then Christof spoke, "So what is wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," I lied smiling. "I'm just so surprised."

"Liar," Bane said sitting back and watching me, "tell us the truth."

I started to say I wasn't lying when Damien broke in with a story. He wanted to know if I was aware my pussy could be spanked. The thick lips on either side were very sensitive and especially the nub at the middle. Men from the red mountains had given Damien the proper equipment. I had packed it in the mountains without knowing what it was. 

Saying things that were untrue or keeping secrets just was not acceptable. He would teach me with words as long as I seemed to listen. He'd only punish me like that if he absolutely had to. 

Damien's eyes were calm and he wasn't pacing or moving. He was serious and I had no desire to go through that. The truth would have to come out. 

"I don't want to be paid to have sex with you all. I love you and your pleasure is mine also. Being paid for what I do here feels wrong. I like being family, not a slave or a servant."

Christof leaned back and seemed to be giving the matter thought. "Then we are sharing our wealth with you because it makes us happy. The sex is an irrelevant part of the bargain. Much like us, you are trapped here. We only wished to make you feel free."

Turning my body I threw my arms around my friend. "Thank you," I told him with my face buried in his neck. 

I went around the room and hugged them all. Kein held me for a moment and clarified a point that had been gnawing at him. 

"Then you will not take the two days you do not have sex with us, since we are not paying you for that?" he asked. 

"No, I would prefer not to be paid for that," I smiled gathering my courage and settling on the chair beside him. 

I wanted to know how far they were willing to take this. Looking around I found the necessary courage and asked for something they would not understand. 

"I would like," I said folding my hands in my lap and watching my fingers intently, "for sex to be my choice as well as yours."

They would not understand or like this. My family would not capitulate easily to this demand, so I steeled myself for it. I knew they thought that my enjoyment of sex indicated consent. Except for Christof they didn't understand I didn't feel that way. I anticipated they would fight this.

"A choice," Kein said thoughtfully, "that means you could choose not to have sex with us?"

I looked up hesitantly and was relieved they didn't look offended.

"Yes, that is what I mean," I said watching their near emotionless faces. "On Earth, sex between a couple would be something they would both agree on. If one partner wasn't interested the other partner might wait or...take care of things themselves."

The internal discussion they must be having had to be intense. All of them were staring at one another. Most of the looks settled repeatedly on Christof. My friend was trying to give them my point of view, I knew he was. 

"We bring you pleasure every time," Bane addressed to me. "When we touch you, your body responds to us immediately. This is not a painful experience for you. Even the things you did not like initially you have learned to take great pleasure from."

"I do not dispute your ability to arouse me past all reason," I agreed. "I am just asking for the right to choose to be aroused."

Christof smiled when I looked at him. The others had a strange look on their faces. They weren't upset with this, instead they seemed to be giving it great thought. 

"We would like this also," Damien said stretching his long legs out. "It would be good if the women asked our permission before mounting us."

Kein grunted loudly and Bane laughed. 

"They would never be so generous, Brothers, but we can be," Evan said with finality. 

I looked up at him shocked. They were giving in to my demand without any fight at all. 

"It is your choice then, Ciara, every time," Damien formalized. "We will not arouse you when you do not wish it again."

"Thank you," I whispered feeling shocked and empowered. 

The men were done with that conversation, though. 

"What do you want to buy with your stones?" Christof asked curiously.

As I sat nude on the chair, I knew what I wanted more than almost anything, clothing. 

"A night dress," popped immediately out of my mouth.

The men didn't know what I meant. I wanted a linen dress I could wear in the house at night, the way they wore the shifts. Something like a long shirt was what I wanted. It was silly, but I was happy when they didn't seem to mind the idea. 

"If we go to Fredrick," Evan said, "he would try to sell us ornamentation. What Ciara talks about is clothing; he would not understand."

"We don't go to him, then," Damien said shrugging.

The motion caught my eye and I pointed an accusing finger at Damien. "What did you just do?" I asked. 

The conversation was back and forth for a moment before I asked Damien where he learned to shrug. 

"You do it sometimes. The young one did it frequently. My Brothers and I understand the meaning," he explained before getting back to the original conversation. 

Before long I'd have them nodding every time they said yes. I grinned at the idea. 

Bane and Kein were discussing where to get me my dress. It wouldn't be difficult to have the men that made their clothes make me something. 

"I know how to use the tapes they measure with," Kein said. "They won't have to touch her."

It was decided. All I had to do was pick out the fabric I wanted. We would go to market the next day. 

The conversation turned back to Christof and his human ancestry. His teeth had come in differently than the others had, perhaps that was why. They sat and contemplated what differences could be explained by this. 

I sat quietly with my bag. It was no big deal that it was "mine", I tried to convince myself. However I couldn't resist touching the stones in the bag. Soon, I found myself counting them. It was the first thing I had owned in a long time and it felt surprisingly good. 

We got ready for bed later that night after I tucked my bag of stones next to theirs in the closet. 

"We will give you more every lunar cycle," Christof told me. 

I touched the ornamentation that hung in the closet and wondered if I would have to buy it now. It was probably expensive. 

"That is for us," Christof said touching the skirt that my hand had been on, "we will still buy it for you. The stones will buy you things you would like."

"Thank you," I whispered to Christof as we all filed into the bedroom. 

I lay down and heard the men settle quickly. They started to snore lightly within a few moments. I looked at Evan sleeping peacefully next to me and smiled. 

The stones were a nice gesture, but it wouldn't buy any of us what we wanted. Freedom had a price tag none of us could afford. Still, what I had was more than any other slave had. I had to be happy and grateful.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 19



The men were excited to go to market the next day. It wasn't the shopping that had them all happy. It was the stealth. 

I couldn't speak around the shopkeepers, it just wasn't done. They would have to read my signals and barter for me. It was going to be a great game for them. 

We walked into the crowded street and moved slowly through the vendors. The men slowed when we passed clothing vendors, so I could examine the wares. Finally, I saw fabric I liked. 

Bane noticed my attention first and that had evidently been a contest. 

The thick linen looked soft and like it wouldn't wrinkle easily. I pointed to it and Damien started to barter with the shopkeeper. I hoped he would get a good price. 

The man seemed a little surprised they wanted a long shirt for me, but he just negotiated. His other Brothers came from upstairs in the little shop to watch the transaction. Only one seemed to have a look of curiosity on his face. 

"Why would you dress a slave like that?" he asked.

Evan's sharp look halted further questions, but the man still looked at me. 

I watched the shopkeepers openly. In my brown outfit it didn't really matter if I looked down or not. Nobody could see me. With the bulky fabric I was unsure if my anyone could even really tell where I was looking. 

The shopkeepers were dressed differently than Damien and his Brothers. They wore loose fitting linen pants and shirts. The shop was a little stuffy, so their outfits made sense. Their clothing was suited to staying inside all day. 

I liked the style of the clothing. The sleeves on their shirts weren't long; it was a capped sleeve. I had never particularly liked sleeveless shirts, but this was a nice intermediate between a regular sleeve and a tank top. 

"Three stones, then, for two of the shirts," Damien said loudly looking over at me. 

I nodded but had no idea if that was a good price. 

"There are several other things I want," Damien told the men as Kein pulled me away. 

Kein retrieved a measuring tape from one of the men and motioned toward the back of the shop. 

"We could help you measure," the curious man said coming closer. "Perhaps you do it wrong and then don't pay us for the work."

Kein explained they were honorable men. They would do no such thing. 

"You have to be very exacting in the measurement," the curious man pushed, following us. 

"I've been measured many times," Kein said pulling me away. "I will do it correctly."

I was pushed into a small room and Kein pulled a curtain closed so we were hidden. He pulled off my brown garb and used the tape to measure me. He even measured my legs which I found odd. I felt him jump and heard him grumble when the curious man started talking just outside the room.

"It is just so strange that you would want clothing. We had thought the slaves don't need clothes," the man rambled on. 

Christof was outside with the man, he explained it was none of the man's business. Another shopkeeper came and apologized to Christof, he told him this Brother had always been curious. There was no offense intended. 

The conversation continued, but Kein finished quickly and redressed me in my brown outer layer. He stepped out and relayed the information to one of the shopkeepers. The curious man still stood close, watching me, as his Brother recorded my measurements.  

The mark on the men's arms was part of the symbol outside. I recognized it from where we had come in. The curious man slid closer to me and I was able to see his mark clearly. His heritage was right in front of me, as was his mother's designation as a human slave.

My gasp did not go unnoticed and everyone turned to silently watch me. The curious man broke the silence to ask if I had spoken. 

"No," Kein answered eyeing me critically. "It sucked in air quickly. Human slaves sometimes do that, but it will not happen again." 

We stepped out of the shop a little while later. Damien walked us to a different part of the market to look at weapons. They didn't usually take me when they shopped like this. I was glad they did, it was interesting. 

I'd seen a man making weapons once at a Renaissance fair held back on Earth. The small portable forge the man used there was nothing compared to the operation here. It was loud and hot in the large, open air work space. 

The appearance of Warriors at the forge got the men's attention. Several men approached Damien and they talked about what he wanted. The smiths had several items Damien might like and pulled them out. 

The new weapon must be for Christof. Damien would check it and then hand it to Christof. They talked and discussed, weighing the benefits of one over another. 

My assumption was the short sword was to be strapped to Christof's leg the way Bane kept knives. It was much too short and thin to be strapped to Christof's waist. He must just want an extra weapon. 

"Ciara," Damien said with authority, "reach out a hand and hold this."

I did as I was ordered. The men all stepped back and Bane told me to swing the sword. I arced it back and forth. 

"Grip lower down and use both hands," Bane sighed.

I did as he asked and repeated the arc I had made. 

"Is that how my Brothers instructed you to wield a weapon?" Bane asked sounding absolutely exasperated. 

No, it wasn't, so I shook my head. 

Placing my feet shoulder width apart I swung the sword the way Christof had taught me to. Bane finally seemed pleased and smiled at me. The first sword was taken and a second put in my hand. They ordered me to do the same thing. 

The smiths watched the display impassively. They didn't even seem to find it odd Damien had just handed me a weapon. Despite the lack of interest, I found it really strange. 

They bought the first sword. The second would be too cumbersome, everyone was agreed. The first sword had better weight. 

The men seemed pleased with the purchase as we walked to the wall where the Warriors with slaves usually shopped. We went to the small eatery and I was taken out of my brown outfit. 

Damien put us in a corner and ordered before looking down at me. 

"Why did you speak in the clothing shop?" he asked. "It was very inappropriate."

I explained very quietly it had surprised me to realize the man with all the questions was the son of a human slave. Making a sound had not been intentional, I was just surprised. 

"It seems to me," I told him, "human ancestry makes more curious men." 

Bane grunted and Kein laughed, "So that is what's wrong with you, Brother," Bane said addressing Christof. 

The meal continued with comfortable camaraderie. I was dying to know why they had me hold the swords, but I didn't want to ask here. My family talked about many other things, but never brought that up. 

After lunch we went back into the main market. It was so busy and dusty. Men moved through the narrow streets brushing along each other. Nobody touched Damien's family, though. The shopkeepers cut us a wide berth. 

I recognized the sign on the shop Damien turned into. According to the symbol this family sold foot wear. We stepped inside and the family there grinned. 

The head of the family approached Damien and greeted him warmly. Apparently my family was rough on boots and was always dropping by. He didn't see any damaged goods today, so he assumed Damien was buying new. 

"I am," Damien said smiling, "for my slave."

I came so close. The words to ask him why almost slipped out of my mouth. I couldn't see why I needed boots. 

"I have to measure the feet," the shopkeeper said thoughtfully. "It must have feet, if you want boots."

"Two," Damien told him, "and we will measure the slave. You will tell us how. We wish the boots to be made like ours."

I was ushered into a back room and sat down. Kein folded my brown gown over my knees and pulled off the soft leather covers and sandals I was wearing. The shopkeepers stood around staring at my bare legs in their cuffs.

"That mark is from a fleint," one man commented picking up what he used to measure feet and handing it to Kein. "We lived across the sea and saw a man that had that mark once."

The cobblers couldn't have been less interested in me as Kein measured my feet. They talked about the harrowing battle the man they'd known had fought to get away from the fleint. That man and several of his Brothers now wore marks like mine.

Damien told them about their fight with the fleint. Before this moment I had never realized the danger Damien and the Brothers had put themselves in. Men did not always survive the pull of the tentacles, according to the cobblers. Damien and his Brothers were either very good or very lucky. 

"Not a mark on any of us," Evan said casually and the cobblers were impressed. 

Kein put the sandals and leg covers back on me. I was pulled to stand and we moved out the door.

My family walked with assurance through the crowd. They were treated almost like royalty the way the other men cut them a path. I could tell they were used to it. 

Suddenly a man called Damien's name. The man looked like a shopkeeper, he was pointing toward Damien and talking to another man. 

"It's the man that sells instruments," Kein said frowning. "Who is he talking to?"

Damien shrugged and I stifled a laugh. It was so funny to see him do that. 

We approached the group of men and Damien greeted the shopkeeper politely. 

"This is Able and his family," the shopkeeper told Damien, "he found something with your name on it."

Able had a box in his hand. The thing was the size of a large shoebox and looked to be made of wood. It was tied closed with a piece of twine. He gave it to Damien. 

Damien took the box and I could see it more clearly now. The outside was marked with our family symbol. There was also a note on the front stating there was a stone inside to pay for the delivery. 

"Able and his family travel," the shopkeeper said, "they make music together. This box they found on the road."

My men stood silently and stunned for a moment before the musicians spoke. "May we have the stone for delivering the box?"

Damien seemed to shake himself out of his amazement and undid the twine knot. A stone was inside, so Damien handed it to the men. They thanked Damien and told him they would pick up his boxes any time. 

Christof was the one who spoke next, "Do you often find boxes on the road?" he asked. 

"No, sir," the musician said, "but if we ever do again we will bring it to you."

The shopkeeper seemed curious and asked Damien why he had left a box in the road. He wanted to know if this was a new game the Warriors were playing. It was a strange thing to do, he said. 

The men talked and it was clear they had no idea what was going on. 

Suddenly I knew what the box was. It was mail. The stone was postage. Hannah was sending me a message! My heart leapt and I nearly screamed with joy. My girl was alright!

*****************

Please vote and drop a comment if you have one! 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 20



Welcome back to the story. This week's chapter is dedicated to two special birthdays Steve150177 and Monique Perry are both getting a year younger this week! Congratulations to both of you and hope it is a happy day!

English is in italics when it appears.

All commentary is welcome.

A special thanks as always to Steve150177 for his meticulous proofreading. 

Enjoy! DW

********************************

Without thinking I ripped the box from Damien and looked inside. Before I could get farther Damien had taken it back. I started to beg and found my self pulled against a hard male body with a hand over my mouth.

"Silence," Evan ordered from behind me.

I struggled against him, but found it useless. The hand over my mouth was also covering my nose and making breathing difficult. I stilled in an effort to get Evan to release his hold, which thankfully he did.

The street around us was so quiet. I looked around and the shopkeepers were all staring at us. Their attention made my skin prickle.  

Damien thanked the musicians and the shopkeeper and strode toward the compound. After my outburst I was not permitted to walk and Evan carried me. I could see the intense internal conversation that must be happening on his face.  



Evan set me down inside the Warrior's compound and stripped me of my brown coverings. I started to speak and was silenced by Damien's look. He stepped in front of me and leaned over. I felt his breath on my cheek. 

"What is this I hold?" he asked. 

"Mail, correspondence from Hannah, it's the way we would have sent messages on Earth," I whispered reaching for the box. 

Evan grabbed my hands and held them behind me. 

"Nothing that happens on this compound or in the village gets past the General," Damien whispered. "He probably already knows. This has to be brought to him."

I cried and asked pitifully to look at it just one time, but Damien refused. I glanced up and saw the General was already striding across the courtyard toward us. My family turned to face him. Christof held my head down with a hand on the back of my head. 

"What is this, Damien?" he asked when he reached us. 

Damien paused for a moment before he spoke.

"General, I do not know," he said calmly. "It was found on the road and delivered to us. It has our symbol. We have not investigated further." 

My heart broke as I heard Damien hand over the package. I tried to stifle the sobs, the General's presence in the courtyard was causing other Warriors to gather. It wouldn't do to be seen this way. 

Hannah had tried, I soothed myself. That must mean she was well. It might even mean she was close. No matter if I never saw what she sent, it was a good omen.

I relaxed and Christof released the grip on my head. 

"Tami leaves, Damien?" the General said sounding surprised. 

I smiled and stole a glance up. The bundle of thick brown leaves was tied in a tight bundle. It was a generous gift and one the men would appreciate. 

"What is this?" the General asked.

I looked up again and saw the flat folded item he held. It looked like a really thick piece of wood folded. It was a letter. There was no way to tell Damien that. 

"I do not know, sir," Damien said. "We are very surprised by this."

The General inspected the item and realized it unfolded. 

The yard was full of Warriors now. Everyone was watching the General intently. I prayed Hannah had enough sense not to put something damning in that letter. 

I watched the General's feet and thought of my daughter. She was well enough to collect tami leaves to send her family and smart enough to have someone deliver it. I imagined she anticipated the men would have too much honor to take something of Damien's; they would just bring it to him. Smiling I thought about what a bright girl she was. Shame she hadn't realized the General would take her gift. 

The General's feet turned to face the gathered Warriors and he called out to them. 

"Tonight we eat our meat roasted with the tami leaf!"

The men roared and cheered, but the sound died quickly. 

The General's voice boomed out again, "Damien met many men while training," he said. "This is a letter, a written communication, from one of them, Uncleddy."

I stifled a laugh. She was using a name from Earth, Uncle Eddy. Not my favorite relative to be sure, but the most remembered. It was a hint for me, like I would not have known it came from her. 

The General continued to speak, "Uncleddy wishes Damien's family well. He thought of them while passing a great tami tree and wished to send their compound a good meal. He has travelled much and states he is doing well. Uncleddy asks Damien's family to put this letter by the fire in their rooms. It is a way of wishing the gift giver safety and comfort."

The assembled Warriors murmured. The crowd wanted Damien to take the letter upstairs and put it by the fire straightaway. It would be rude to do anything else with the missive. The instructions had been very clear, even if the custom was odd.   

Damien and his Brothers retrieved the box and letter from the General and we walked upstairs. The tami leaves were taken to the compound's kitchen by a young Warrior. 

Once we were in our apartment the men started to curse. I had no idea why at first, so I asked. 

"You spoke in the village, Ciara!" Christof exclaimed. "It will get back to the General. A slave that speaks in the village must be punished. It upsets the shopkeepers."

Damien cursed viciously. "How we discipline her is not their business. They should have no say in this."

I didn't care about punishment or discipline. The only thing I wanted was to see Hannah's letter. It was the only contact I had gotten with her in many moons and it fascinated me. I wanted to see it and touch it!

Evan let me hold the letter and I ran my fingers lovingly over the carefully written message. It was a short message in large letters. It said she was fine and traveling, if I was to assume she was Uncle Eddy.  

The letter itself was thick. It was not a simple sheet of paper, but some intricate mass of layered wood. I had to assume this is what the women used for paper. It looked like it had been hand made. 

Bane's entrance broke into my thoughts. He had stayed in the courtyard when we came up and burst in through the door. 

"Other Warriors saw Ciara's outburst in the village," he said as soon as the door shut.

There was copious cursing for a moment. 

Kein spoke forcefully, "I don't care what they want. We cannot put our Sister up at the posts."

Their upset finally got my attention and I sat the letter in it's box near the fire. 

"They want her at the posts," Bane said plaintively. "Many are down there now waiting for us to take her."

"So take me," I offered trying to soothe them, but wincing at the proposition, "I can survive."

Damien was enraged at the suggestion. No other man was touching me. The idea they would put me up there was repulsive. 

"Then punish me yourself. You said I had packed the things you could use to discipline me. Use what you have. I'd prefer a lashing from you to being groped by every man on the compound."

I remembered the erotic pain Damien had inflicted when he had flogged me in the mountains. They said they had lots of other ways to torture me gently. It seemed probable they could do that.

"You did like it," Evan said calming down.

"It made you ready," Bane added remembering and smirking.

I called him a nasty name and he grinned wider. 

Christof spoke quickly while pacing, "We take her to the posts and put her up, but we leave her cuffs on. Damien makes an announcement this is how it is done in the red mountains."

Damien came to stand in front of me and ran a finger down my cheek. "I will bring you pleasure later," he promised simply.

Damien turned and walked toward their closet. I wondered what he would choose to use on me. Try as I might I couldn't remember packing anything. 

The men striped me of my ornamentation, except my collar and cuffs. No one else was going to touch me while we were down there. Their protection stayed on me. Only my family would be involved in this discipline. 

"The men are going to fight it," Kein said quietly. "We were always told we could not do this. They will find it odd."

Evan spoke up, "We can tell them we've already done it once..."

"We tell the truth. This is how men from the red mountains discipline a trained slave that has misbehaved. Discipline like this cannot be done on a new slave. Ciara has been here long enough. They can be made to understand," Damien said coming out of the closet. 

In his hand he held a thin firm rod. It reminded me of a riding crop the way it got flatter and wider at the end. I shuddered and passed a hand over my breast. That thing was going to sting like crazy. 

"Not there," Christof said, "we all enjoyed that last time. Those are only for us. We will put the marks here," he finished brushing his fingers over my bottom. 

We walked downstairs and over to the posts. The men tied me naked with only my metal bands for protection. My hands were stretched up and separated. Unlike last time my legs were tied together at the ankles. Before they left me, Bane whispered in my ear. He told me he didn't want anyone to see me get excited, so they let my thighs shield my sex. I had to bite my tongue to keep the scathing retort inside. 

I stayed still and kept my eyes closed. Damien had told me he had to go tell the General what was happening. While they were gone I was to stand quietly and not look around. 

I started when I heard Damien's voice beside me. He announced my crimes to the yard. I peeked between my lashes and saw there were quite a few families gathering. The numbers seemed to be growing as Damien's proclamation rang out.  

Damien told the assembled this was how things were done in the red mountains. He said it would be very effective. A murmur went through the crowd; it sounded like disbelief. 

The first hit snapped across my buttocks and stung like crazy. I wanted to move away, but my bound ankles stopped me. I was going to stand still and take this.  

"A repentant slave would thank it's owner for each mark," Damien pronounced. "I would also recommend having the slave count, if it is able. The lesson is reinforced as the slave does this." 

"One, thank you, Master Damien," I said quickly. 

The stinging blows continued in a slow measured stream. He started on my right and after sixteen; he moved to my left. Damien covered my butt, upper legs, and lower back. It burned and ached, but I had to concentrate on counting and thanking him. 

Tears mixed with sweat and ran down the front of my body. This hurt more than last time, but it was still a strangely sensual experience. My bound form hummed in synchrony with the blows and it was all for Damien.     

Without peeking I knew what he looked like, powerful and focused. He would plan each mark and then make it with precision. My flesh was his canvas and it would look exactly as he planned once he finished. 

The rain of blows ceased at thirty two. 

"Will you speak in the village again?" Damien asked.

The tenor of his voice was different and I almost opened my eyes. He sounded aroused. 

"No, Master Damien."

My arms were released and Damien picked me up. I cringed as the fabric of his shirts rubbed against the places he'd lashed me. From the feel of it my ass was glowing red from his attention. 

He jumped from the platform and I threw my arms around him as I tried to contain the yelp. I hated the feeling of falling. It was worse with my eyes closed.

"Do I make you feel safe, Ciara?" he asked pointedly as he carried me. 

"Yes, Master Damien," I answered pressing a kiss to his salty neck.

"Open your eyes," he commanded.

It was creepy how quiet the men could be. The other families surrounded us on every side and I jerked my head down.

"Look at me," Evan commanded standing by my feet. "Do you fear Damien now?" 

"No, Master Evan," I answered honestly.

The men surrounding us were watching my eyes. Apparently they saw the truth of the statement and were amazed. According to their training a human would fear someone that brought it pain. 

Damien carried me to one of those amazing floating tables. I arched as the cool surface of the table made contact with my heated flesh. Bane told me to roll onto my stomach, which I did gladly. I folded my arms under my head and rested. 

The marks must have been heavy and red. The men stood talking all around me. How I did not fear Damien amazed the men. Humans hated pain, we would hate anyone that brought us pain. 

I lay still on the table and felt my ass throb with every heartbeat. Still it was a huge improvement over being fondled and invaded by strangers. I'd take a controlled lashing from Damien over that anytime. 

"I have brought this slave pleasure before," Damien announced stroking my hair. "I will do so again. Human slaves are intelligent. It understood it broke the rules in the village. I am a gracious man and allowed the slave to choose its punishment."

The other Warriors didn't understand, so Damien explained. I had the option of taking a whipping from him or letting them touch me. My choice was to take my punishment at his hands. 

A voice I didn't know argued. He said a slave must feel protection at their owners' hands. The other Warriors should be viewed as the danger, not their own Masters. 

"In the beginning, I would agree," Damien stated, "but this slave understands what dangers lay in your hands."

Christof spoke and ordered my eyes open, he asked me to tell him why I wanted Damien to do this. 

"You and your Brothers know control, Master Christof," I told him simply raising my head. "I trust you. I do not trust anyone else." 

That was the correct answer. It was something the men could understand. Obviously I had been trained well, although some still seemed to struggle with the idea. No one here was accustomed to discipling their own slaves.   

The talk continued for a little while as the men visually examined my marks. My family massaged my feet and stroked along my scalp. I recognized Kein's hands teasing the side of my breast. The touching was in sharp contrast to the fiery ache Damien had left on my backside. 

Damien and his Brothers felt a far different ache. I heard the quality to their voices. They were excited. It sounded like they were trying to get us back upstairs as soon as they could.

Their excitement fed mine and I started to feel wetness gather between my legs. My ankles were still bound, so no one could see the way my sex was preparing itself. I shifted my hips and felt the sting of Damien's marks. It was erotic and reminded me of the hard, focused man that had flogged me in the mountains.

A finger nudged at my lips and I took it inside. Swirling my tongue around the digit and sucked. Damien gasped softly as I teased the finger as I would his cock. 

The men around us were concerned about scars and bruising. They weren't sure they knew how to wield a lash on a slave, only the General could do that. It was a frustratingly repetitive conversation. 

Eventually Bane had had enough and rolled me off the table and into his arms. Peeking from behind lowered lashes I saw Evan flanking him. I heard Christof's voice from behind me covering the other side. Damien cut through the crowd and Kein had our backs. Whether the group liked it or not, we were leaving. 

We ascended the stairs quickly. As the men jogged up, one of Bane's hands moved to grip my tender bottom. It felt hypersensitive and I moaned into his chest.

"Sounds like pleasure to me," he murmured keeping his hand in place and squeezing, eliciting another deep sound. 

We made it inside and the door was shut. My bonds on my ankles were cut. Bane set me on my feet and I turned my head to look at my backside. I was marked with lines of bright red welts. Running my hand across them, I winced. 

"I will heal them," Damien said stepping closer and running a hand down my arm.

His hand strayed across the marks and I moved closer to him. 

"Aren't you proud of your work?" I asked with a grin.

The fire in his eyes and the look on his face spoke volumes. He didn't need to answer. 

"Make the sound for me you made for Bane," Damien commanded stepping closer and closing his fingers around my striped flesh. 

I hissed and moaned stepping closer to him. My face pressed into his chest as my hands wrapped around him to stroke his back. The way he inflicted the pain was erotic, whether he intended it or not.

Fingers tugged at my hair until I tilted my head up. Damien lowered his face to mine and held me there. He stroked the marks with the fingers of his other hand. His grey eyes appraised me. In between the moaning sounds he elicited I started to kiss his lips. 

"Open your eyes," he commanded when mine drifted closed. "I wish to know if you are experiencing pain or pleasure." 

"Both," I moaned looking up at him. 

The men were complimenting Damien. He had done a good job. That was what they intended. The marks were to have been hard enough to mark, but not enough to give real discomfort. Their friends from the red mountains had trained Damien well. 

I felt a hand slipping between my legs. Fingers explored the moisture present and I heard Bane's happy grunt. 

"She is ready for us here," he said.

Bane played and tugged with the plug that still filled me. As Damien grabbed a handful of flesh. I moaned at the combined sensations. When the plug slipped free of my body another moan breached my lips. 

"Still, I see pain in her features," Damien said continuing to stroke the marks on my bottom. 

I wanted it all from them, the pain and the pleasure. This was such a strange experience for me. Right now I didn't care, I needed them. I decided to exert my new right to choose, right now!  

"Fuck me," I ordered running my hands up Damien's back. 

His lips tilted into a smile, but I saw the wicked glint in his eyes. I couldn't back down and ran my nails down until I'd reached his pants. Pulling away from him, I brought my hands to the front closure of the leather. 

There was no gentleness as I yanked open the ties and pulled Damien's manhood out. He was as hard as I expected when I wrapped my hand around the base and jerked. He just raised an eyebrow at the roughness, so I got to my knees and started to suck. I watched his eyes as I aggressively swallowed his length each time. 

He'd been sweating on the platform, just like me. I tasted the salt and devoured it. The rich scent of male musk was intoxicating.  

Damien's hand found the back of my head and he started to control the pace. I licked and sucked, watching his strained face above mine. He was trying not to cum and I made sure it was a losing battle. I did everything in my power to bring him off. 

My hands grabbed at his tensing buttocks through the thick pants. I growled and groaned in my throat trying to push him farther. It didn't take long and I saw the pleasure on his face. 

The shaft in my mouth thickened and his thrusts became rougher. Huge fangs were visible as his eyes clouded and he exploded in my mouth. His orgasm seemed to go on forever. 

The rich fluid pulsed down my throat, but some of it touched my tongue. I pulled everything out of Damien I could. I sucked at the softening shaft and licked the slit at the top until Damien pushed me away. He stumbled back into the wall breathing heavy. 

For once, Damien was a mess. His stripes were dark, his teeth were down, and his cock was hanging out of his pants. It was an unusual site. 

"No kneeling place and in the anteroom," Bane smirked pulling me to stand. "Perhaps we should punish you for real. You know we prefer the sleeping chamber."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 20



I stood slowly and continued to watch Damien pant. In a gesture intended to rile him I licked my lips seductively. 

Bane jerked me up and I found my self upside down over his shoulder. I never took my eyes off Damien as he regained his composure. He looked truly shaken. 

My attention was redirected when Bane threw me on the bed. The covers scraped my sensitive buttocks and I turned on my stomach. Before I could gain stability on my knees a body pressed between my thighs. 

Strong arms held my chest flush to the bed as I knelt lewdly displayed for them. Hands grasped the fiery flesh Damien had marked. A hiss and a low moan escaped my mouth. 

Christof's low laugh surprised me. Straining my neck I saw it was him between my legs staring down at my striped buttocks. 

"You are like us now," he said stroking the lines.

Wiggling around I tried to make him stop stroking the marks. They were tender, but the caress was still erotic. 

"Perhaps we leave them," Kein offered kneeling by my head. 

He ran his hands from my buttocks up my back and across my shoulders. 

"Everyday," he offered, "we mark our Sister as one of us."

How they'd made a daily beating sound like something I'd want to do, I'd never understand. A moan escaped my mouth as Kein traced where he would like to put the marks. My back was hypersensitive, even where there weren't marks.  

Christof was enthralled by the look of my skin. I felt his cock nudging for a second before he thrust home. I screamed his name at the sudden invasion. He found the reaction funny and held me still. 

His salty flesh lit a new fire on my striped flesh as he slowly ground us together. What started as a burn became a sharp sting and they loved the sounds that elicited. Christof started to move, but his hands never stopped tormenting.

It became an addictive pattern as he thrust and stroked my marks. I moaned and pulled at the sheets. Suddenly someone had me by the hair. 

My head was lifted and my body followed. Evan slipped his legs beneath me and put his cock level with my mouth. 

"Suck me like you did Damien," he ordered shoving his meat between my lips.

They were all terribly aroused. I tasted Evan's essence as he slipped into my mouth. He was hot and hard, gagging me as he slipped deep into my throat. 

Evan was huge, probably the largest of all of them when it came to his cock. I'd become an expert at deep throating Damien, but he wasn't this big. Evan rubbed my throat raw thrusting lustily into it. I felt my muscles stretching and constricting around him. He was loving it. 

Christof came with a hoarse cry from behind me and Evan removed himself from my throat. I panted on my hands and knees, unsure why Evan stopped. I yelped as a tongue dragged up the back of my thigh, across my backside and up my back.  

"I promised you pleasure," Damien said kneeling naked on the bed beside me.

Evan thrust into my sopping cunt as Damien's fingers began to circle my clit. Kein wiggled beneath me and his hot mouth enveloped a nipple. When Evan grabbed my hair like a rein, I knew it was useless to resist them. 

My body was trained to respond to their touch. When they wanted me to orgasm madly, I would. Now was no different. My channel clenched wildly around Evan's shaft and my nipples pebbled in Kein's mouth. 

Lost in the sensations that didn't seem to end, I didn't notice Evan's rough shout of triumph as he came.

The oil was shockingly cool against my flesh as it was poured over my ass and left a tingle where it touched. Bane noticed the strange sounds I made and he took his time rubbing my ass until it shone. When he reached the puckered flesh at the center the gentle, sensuous massage brought me back to the edge.  

I loved it and rocked back against him, begging him to impale me with his cock. He slid in easily and my world rocked back into orgasm. Hands wrapped into my hair and he pulled my shaking body back until I sat in his lap.

Lips on my neck were magical and the orgasm started to flow again. It was like a tap they could start and stop at will. Bane's voice broke me out of the blurry haze that had enveloped me. 

"Ride me," he said simply tugging on my hair and returning his lips to my shoulder. 

The position was odd, but it didn't matter. I did what he asked. Kein placed himself in front of me and I used his shoulders to pull myself up and down. Like a wicked child with a toy, Kein used the time to torment my sensitive nipples. 

My ass slapping against Bane's thighs was loud. His breath was in my ear and on my neck above my collar. He whispered to me as I moved. At first it was simple encouragement. Kein watched my eyes and saw it inflame me. 

Bane told me how I looked to them. Sweaty, naked, beaten and riding his shaft like a Paterian woman. When he realized it turned me on he kept going. My lips were swollen, he told me. I had drool on my chin from being choked on Evan's cock. I was a slave to the pleasure of sex and I looked every bit the part. 

Hands forced me to ride faster, gripping the slick oily sheen on my hips. They saw that, he said, the way I glistened for them. I was proud of my stripes, bold and confident, because I was part of this family. I ground down against Bane and felt the pain of my lashes burn us both. 

It was heaven and hell. My eyes shut and Kein wanted them open. He liked to watch the response. He pulled my nipples and turned them. I gasped for breath as the sensation stung my breasts. 

I cursed in English and he pulled harder until I cursed in their language. 

Bane sped up, pushing me until I leaned on Kein. My face pressed into Kein's neck and I clung to his biceps. I felt Bane get to his knees and truly begin to control the pace. He was a magnificent stallion rutting me and I knew it.  

"Find your pleasure again," Damien murmured moving a hand down to pinch my clit.

My cries of 'no, too much' soon changed as I crested and shattered again. Bane gripped my hips so hard there would be bruises. It didn't matter. In the throes of yet another powerful wave of orgasm, I didn't care. 

Kein was last. He rolled me over so he could see my breasts bounce. He fucked me with his long shaft and hit the back of my tunnel each time. I winced and clenched around him with each stroke. My body faded in and out of some strange unending orgasmic bliss. A particularly hard thrust made me see stars as Kein came above me. 

******

The bed was soft beneath my breasts and stomach, that's the first thing I noticed. I hadn't been asleep or awake, just dreamily laying there. I tried to roll and strong hands stopped me. 

"Damien is fixing your flesh," Christof said brushing the hair out of my face. 

I looked blearily back and Damien was carefully treating each mark with the healing cream. I lay silently as the burn disappeared in individual increments. It was such a relief to have it go away.

"No more speaking in the village, little Sister," Bane said lounging on the other side of the bed. "It just isn't done."

Once Damien had finished Evan pulled me to the shower room. I was cleaned, scrubbed, and treated with more cream. Pretty soon I felt like myself. 

Dinner arrived while I was cleaned. When I went into the main room with Evan the table already had food on it. That didn't hold my attention, though. 

I walked straight to the fire and re read Hannah's message. She was well, I thought happily, and smart. Hannah had found quite an ingenious way to communicate with me. 

There were no details and I mourned that. I would have liked to know exactly how her days were and how she spent her time. Perhaps Damien could arrange for us to meet. That would be very special. I would like to know more about my child.  

"Ciara," Christof called, "come and eat."

I sat the letter in the box and went to sit with the family. 

My men loved the meal and savored every bite. The tami leaf left a distinct flavor. It didn't really affect me one way or the other. I shrugged remembering they weren't human, maybe it did taste really good to them. 



We had dinner in comfortable quiet for a little while, before the questions from the day struck me again. 

"Why did you buy me boots?" I asked breaking the silence.

"You are a member of the family," Bane said taking another helping for himself and loading my plate with a little more also.

"Will I be wearing boots to the Keeper's compound?" I asked grinning. "They should look wonderful with my ornamentation."

"You don't need boots at the Keepers," Kein informed me continuing to focus on his meal.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten. They were being so evasive and frustrating. 

"It isn't time to sleep," Evan informed me. 

"I'm not sleeping," I said as politely as I could. "I'm trying not to lose my temper. I don't understand why you bought me boots."

"We bought you a shirt and pants as well," Christof said. "When we teach you to use your sword you should be dressed appropriately."

The men continued to eat like they hadn't said anything odd. This had been on their minds long enough it no longer sounded strange. To me, it sounded like they had lost their minds. 

"Why will I be learning to use a sword?" I asked. 

"Everyone in the family knows how to use a sword," Bane said, "except you. We don't like that. You will learn to fight like us."

I had to stifle a smile. "Will you be learning to dance?" I asked. 

Bane wrinkled his nose at the idea, Damien snorted, and Evan stood up. 

I watched with amazement as he displayed some of my characteristic moves. It was the most unusual thing I'd seen in a long time. Evan rolled his stomach and shifted his hips in a perfect replica of what I did. 

"It's not hard," he told me sitting back down, "but no one enjoys seeing me do it the way we enjoy seeing you do it."

I was speechless for a moment and couldn't think of a thing to say to them. 

"When did you figure out how to do that?" I asked amazed. 

"The mountains were boring," Evan told me, "it gave me something to do."

I tried to imagine Evan standing in the sorting room full of men learning to roll his stomach. It seemed improbable.

"Eat," Bane said holding a piece of food to my mouth. 

I took the chunk silently and pondered the circumstance. The men weren't kidding. I really was family. 

The next morning I got brave with Evan. As he prepared to clean me, I made a request. 

"I don't want to wear the plug today," I told him boldly. 

Evan faltered and looked quizzically at me. "You need it," he explained. "If my Brother uses you, it will harm you if you are not prepared."

While he argued Evan stopped moving. Unlike the last time we had this conversation, he was waiting for me to agree with him and not assuming I would. 

"I will choose," I offered, "and wear it some days. Today I am not in the mood to have it in." 

Evan looked confused for a moment and then he shrugged. "Fine by me," he said turning on the shower, "just let me know the days you want it."

I felt like it was a choice the whole world could hear. My head was spinning with the power he gave me. Evan loved the plug, as much as I hated it. I wanted to offer him a compromise. 

"Tomorrow I will wear it," I promised him stepping under the spray of the water. 

He seemed unconcerned as he grinned and bathed me. 

The Keeper's was an anxious place today. The men who owned humans always relied on others to carry out punishment. It made discipline complicated and time consuming. The men only punished large infractions of their rules after a while. Now that was going to change. 

"Why didn't you warn us?" Rose wailed pacing. 

"I didn't think about it," I told her honestly. 

Rose made me tell them everything about the punishment my owners had given me. There was only the three times really, so I had very little to tell them. The other slaves didn't like what I told them at all. 

The consensus among the slaves was that their Masters were intrigued by the punishments. They wanted to try them because they were new. It had also looked fun. 

"It didn't help that your Masters looked ready to fuck you in the courtyard," Rose groused crudely sitting on a pillow.

I coughed and blushed at Rose's observation. I hadn't realized my friends were watching. 

"Oh yes," she said, "they made us watch. Your Master had to adjust himself and it was plain to see his arousal." 

Inflicting slight pain on me had really aroused Damien. The other men wanted to try it, especially if it was fun. Discipline was secondary to the desire to experience what Damien did. 

I spent all morning apologizing, but no one listened. They were too busy fretting. 

Christof came at lunch. I was so glad to see him. He seemed to feel bad the other slaves were upset. Although primarily, he was confused. 

"They prefer the posts and the General's whip?" he asked as we settled in the forest. 

"Of course not, they prefer not to be punished at all. They say the men will punish them more now because it is easier," I explained. 

"You enjoy it," Christof told me matter-of-factly. "Did you tell them how much pleasure it brings you?"

I flushed hot at the statement as Christof handed me the bowl. My reaction to the punishment was not right. I wished he hadn't noticed. 

Christof didn't seem to pay attention to my embarrassment. He went on to discuss how they had been assigned the road again. As per normal, they spent half the time goofing off. 

"Men asked Damien to teach them how to train their slaves. We spent all morning teaching them the right amount of force to use," Christof assured me. "Damien taught them well, so they will not truly hurt your friends." 

He informed me there were different techniques. Depending on how it was done and what was used, the punishment may arouse. The harsher techniques would only cause pain, Damien taught them less of that. The idea of actually hurting slaves had galled him. The men had been eager to try the new ways though.   

We didn't go back immediately. Christof got two sticks and we practiced fighting for a few minutes. 

"You learned well in your time bonded to us," Christof said jabbing and parrying with me. "Training you will be fun," he grinned.  

That afternoon I sat for a while with Rose and Fuji on the beach. I told them about Hannah's letter and Rose was very happy for me. Fuji wasn't sure what to think. Children on her world didn't have contact with their breeders after a while. However, we all thought Hannah's plan to send me a message had been a good one. 

I was obsessed with Hannah's message. Once I was home, I sat and read it again before we went to the bathing hall, as well as, before bed. Imagining my girl carefully planning this message for me warmed my heart.

I was so excited about the letter I almost forgot to be excited about my nightdress. The men had delivered it during the day and Damien made a big show of putting it on me. It was the first normal piece of clothing I had worn in a long time. Although it almost felt restrictive, I enjoyed the sensation of being covered. 

As usual I woke in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Once I was done I wandered over to the fire and picked up Hannah's letter. Sitting down on the chaise I traced the marks with my fingers. The large symbols were beautifully done. Hannah wrote very well. 

A movement surprised me as Damien added fuel to the fire and came to sit beside me. The room got lighter and warmer with the addition. I smiled at him and stared back down at the letter. 

"Does it say something different this time?" he asked sprawling on the furniture beside me.

"No," I chuckled looking over at him. 

He knew I just liked to think about Hannah.

Damien had laid his head back and shut his eyes. The men didn't understand alone time.  I was used to it. I turned my attention back to the letter and held it up. 

A flash of something else caught my eye in the thick paper. Subtle, cursive writing appeared when I held the letter so the bright fire was behind it. There it was again, but I couldn't read it. 

I stood and moved closer to the fire, but it wasn't readable like that. There were layers of cursive writing, one on top of the other. My hands shook as I examined the letter. It was a message inside a message. That's why it was to sit by the fire, so I would see this. 

I picked at the missive along the edges and it started to separate. In my frantic hurry I almost tore it and that got Damien's attention. 

"What are you doing?" he asked watching me pick at the edge of the letter. 

I paused a moment too long and his face got hard. 

"No secrets," he said simply.    

Begrudgingly, I showed him. He looked at it and the rest of my men soon joined us. 

"I think," I told them, "there are layers to the message. At home a letter was on something called paper and it was very thin. This is thick. I think she wrapped a secret message behind one the General could read." 

Hannah's letter was handed to Kein as we lighted the lamps in the apartment. He carefully examined it and started to pick the edges apart. Eventually he used a small sharp knife to separate layers. 

It was hard, detailed work. I would have ripped the thing to shreds doing this. Kein worked slowly and methodically. He didn't get frustrated or tear anything. Finally he pulled the last binding and had it separated. 

There was a stack of paper behind the soft wood the original message was on. I laughed and my eyes filled with tears at the first line written in clear English. 

Hi, Mama, tell Daddy," I said trying not to cry, that I'm sorry this is in English, but I didn't want it to fall in the wrong hands. Read him the entire thing and leave nothing out. You all deserve the truth, even if it's painful. We are family and secrets are not tolerated in the family.

I looked up at Damien and he looked pleased, so I continued. 

She loved and missed me, she said. Every day she thought of me and worried about my safety. Traveling had made her feel a little better about that. The women protected their men absolutely. I was never safer than when I was in the compound. 

Hannah politely spoke to Damien in the letter. She wished him interesting days and a strong bond. It wasn't a greeting I was familiar with, but the men said it was a customary thing to say.  

Our daughter was doing well, very well. She had found a Sister, Ra, and they travelled together. 

The girls had even bonded like Damien and his Brothers did. 

It isn't normal anymore for women to bond like that, Hannah wrote. Women now have a tiny implant that prevents them from bonding to Sisters. The women say the freedom to live and think alone is healthy. Ra and I do not agree. I know how strong Daddy's family is and we want that feeling back. 

I looked up at Damien and saw the pride in his features. His girl was strong and striving to be like him. I don't imagine it was an emotion he ever thought he'd feel. 

Ra's female breeder many generations back had been from Earth, so they had that in common. Before the bond with Hannah Ra hadn't recognized English. She had distant memories of an Earth language, but it wasn't one I had known. The sounds weren't even like English.  

Hannah assumed Ra's Earth breeder had been from the place I would have called Egypt. Ra remembered a dry, desert world where pyramids stood unfinished. I agreed, it was most likely Egypt. 

Looking up at the men I smiled with tears in my eyes. They looked interested and encouraged me to continue. 

The girls had flown across the great ocean, Saval, together. She described where we lived and said it was located on a smaller sea that bordered the great ocean. Christof found the discussion fascinating.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 20



Travel across the Saval ocean had taken days. The girls slept on sandbars during low tides. Ra had taught Hannah to catch and eat things in the sea. Hannah had found savage revenge in eating the tentacles of the fleint. They had feasted on those many days.  

Across the ocean was slightly different, but not much. The women on that side of the world were great builders and mathematicians. They designed and built the space ships that ran on their ore. Most of the industry was centered on the ship building. 

Hannah discussed how they had the raw materials delivered from other planets. The women worked massive forges and built the space crafts. Other women did the engineering work to make the ships run. 

Men on that side of the world did some of the work for the women. Materials were delivered to the compounds and the men there built the delicate electronics. The men had no idea what they were making, but they were good at it. Hannah commented that Kein's son had ended up over there. 

Kein would have ended up there, too, Mama, she wrote. They tried to put him with families of builders. That is normal for men of T'vailk Mountain heritage. He wouldn't stop fighting with them, though. I talked to his mother one day. She said he clicked with Bane and then they clicked with Damien. She had wanted him to be a builder like his male breeder, but he was obviously a Warrior.

I looked up at Kein and he looked shocked. They had probably never thought about their female breeders. Evidently the mothers still watched over them, though.  

The letter continued and Hannah talked more about Kein's mother. They had spoken for a long time. The other woman had been upset when she heard about the violence the men had inflicted on one another. At the time she had reprimanded Nu-reeh strongly for not watching her son better. Now that the men were happy and back in the compound, she was keeping a closer eye on him.     

"She still watches me?" Kein said sounding shocked. "She knows me?"

I paused and watched the men. They looked beyond amazed. In fact, they started to look stressed. 

"I'm sure it's nothing invasive," I soothed setting the letter down. 

It scared me when they got anxious. I was never sure exactly how much stress it took to break a bond. That was something I never wanted to witness. 

Bane raised an eyebrow at me as I petted Kein on the back. I used the same voice I'd used to calm Hannah as I talked to him. 

"Relax and focus on your Brothers," I advised Kein, "don't get too upset."   

Bane snorted openly and then spoke, "We are not weak men, Ciara," he reminded me. "It would take more than a simple surprise to break us."

Kein looked at me and now he was irritated. He shook the hand off his back and muttered.  

"I will not break apart again," he said. "It's just very strange."

"Read more," Christof encouraged handing me the letter. 

Hannah told me about the strange animals she had seen and usually eaten. She admitted my weak stomach had been passed on to her. There were certain things native to this planet that Ra could eat, but made Hannah violently ill. Lucky for her Ra understood nausea and vomiting. Hannah's stomach was a secret they kept. 

The letter got back to the men and Hannah's irritation showed. 

The way the men were kept now wasn't to her liking. Long ago on this world the men would be protected and used by only a few groups of women that they chose. The men were happier and freer then. 

In the past, men would have been permanent companions of the women that protected them. They would have set up camps and taken care of their own young. Families would have included the women and the children they made. 

It was a dangerous existence for the men, though. Men had always been powerful creatures, but still needed protection from some of the things on the planet. The women got sick of finding them dead, so they swept the equator clean and put all the men there many generations ago. 

Men were farmed now by women like Nu-reeh. Sons were sold to women who would care for and protect them. If something happened to a man, there better be a damned good reason. 

"Your tutors, Mama, the women had given them explicit instructions not to harm you. It wasn't the first time those men went against their orders. They did whatever they wanted. The women like the men feisty, but obedient."

I looked up and the men didn't seem upset, so I continued to read. 

The women made good use of the natural boundaries of the planet to keep the men contained. Hannah seemed to think they had found a way to make boundaries. She had seen huge, wide rivers that separated the men's land. They didn't look natural.  

"Oh," Bane said surprised, "we've seen a place like that, the Great River beyond the barren stretch." 

Hannah hated it. The men were kept weak and stupid, she stated bluntly in the letter. They weren't companions anymore. Men were pets. 

I faltered and stopped reading. Glancing at the commentary I tried to skip over it, but Damien wouldn't let me. 

"The women keep us here, we know that. Hannah is right. We will know if you lie and there are no secrets in the family," he stated. 

I looked down at the letter and continued to read. 

Hannah kept on her tirade for a few more paragraphs. I was so relieved when she switched topics. 

Since Hannah was new to the world, she and Ra traveled extensively. She'd been to the North pole of the planet and planned to go to the South pole. It was important to her to check on me periodically, though. During her travels, she planned to stop by this set of mountains regularly. 

The letter ended and I sat it on the table. Hannah had sent her love to me and the rest of the family. She hoped the bribe of the tami leaf had been a good idea. Ra had thought that would make the General more apt to let us keep the letter. Hannah had promised to write to me again next time she was close. 

I shivered and tears coursed down my face. My little girl was well and strong. She had a Sister who was teaching her the world. Obviously she was bright to have gotten this message to me. It was more than I could have hoped for. 

When Christof pulled me close I did need it. Evan stroked my hair and they just waited for me to calm down. It was strange how comforting I found their presence. 

"The letter the General saw," Damien finally said, "should be left by the fire. If anyone visits they will expect it to be there."

Kein used the knife to fix the edges of the original message so it looked clean. He went and put it by the fire. If another family dropped by, it would look like it was supposed to.

My message the men had me fold and place in a small bag in the closet. It would stay hidden, unless I was reading it. 

"We expect," Bane said, nudging me toward the bed, "you will look at it frequently. It is important to leave it in the closet when you are done."   

We laid down in the bed and I snuggled up to Christof. He made a small sound and I looked up at him. He was grinning down at me.

At first he wouldn't tell me what was funny. I told him there were no secrets and everyone laughed at me. 

"I prefer the press of your flesh onto mine," he said simply. 

Despite my own objections I pulled off my cover and threw it onto a chair in the room. My bare chest pressed into Christof and he smiled pulling me close. 

"Much better," he sighed before he fell back to sleep. 

Sunlight bathed the room when I woke up the next morning. There was no Evan in my face demanding I get up. I did hear voices from the main room and the leather flap was closed. 

Peeking out I saw the man Blain, that had pierced me, and four other men talking to my family. The men were discussing places Blain and his Brothers had been. I let the flap fall closed and listened as Blain talked. 

Blain was discussing the women and I nearly gasped. He was talking to Damien about how to get what you wanted from them. I couldn't imagine how they had brought that up. 

"You want to travel around, then tell them that," he said. "Nu-reeh doesn't care what you do as long as you're up for her couplings. We were Warriors for a while and then my Brothers got bored. She let us train in a trade and travel around."

I was terrified. If they traveled, where would I go. My heart felt like it would break out of my chest. 

Evan's grinning face was inside the curtain suddenly and I jumped back from him. My wide, fearful eyes met his and he frowned. Stepping inside the room he pulled the flap closed behind him.

"Do you fear the piercings?" he asked very quietly. 

"No, not at all," I said trying to calm my rampaging thoughts.

He stood watching me for a moment and stepped right in front of me. Evan's face lowered to my level and he looked in my eyes. His right hand came to rest over my pounding heart and he raised an eyebrow. 

"What do you fear?" he asked. 

I opened my mouth and snapped it closed. 

Evan's voice was silk in my ear, "Tell me now," he threatened, "or we stripe your breasts. You know how Damien feels about secrets."

I felt weak and stupid, but I was stuck. They knew me too well. 

"If you travel what happens to me?" I whined. "Do I get sold or left with Keepers-?"

Evan was furious and his face pinched up. He called me a long stream of nasty words that essentially meant idiot. 

Christof came into the room behind Evan and patted his back. Evan straightened up and crossed his arms across his chest. His face softened slightly as Christof looked at him. 

"Fear of the unknown is a human trait, remember?" Christof asked rhetorically. "When we were training to keep a human Basin told us this." 

Indignation boiled in my belly and I squared my shoulders. 

"I'm not afraid of the unknown. I'm afraid of being left while you go wandering all over-"

"Hush," Christof said placing a finger over my lips, "we are family and we would take you with us. Damien and Bane aren't sure they want to travel anyway. Kein and I are curious, but we are also happy here."

"And Evan?" I asked looking pleadingly at him and trying to get a feel for the opinions.

"Makes friends wherever we go and has no particular opinion either way," Christof told me placing a hand on my shoulder.

Evan was still staring at me like I'd just insulted his mother. He had told me he liked to be close to me. Unlike the others, Evan still felt me, obviously he didn't like to be separated. I had hurt him. 

Moving slowly, I wound my arms around Evan's waist. Standing on tip toes I kissed his lips and chin murmuring apologies to him. It seemed to work and his hands stroked down my back.

"Silly human, we will not leave you," he said quietly. "Some days you are so fussy." 

I was pulled into the main room and Blain was talking about the finer nuances of piercing with Kein. Before I could kneel on a cushion Bane stopped me. Instead, I was sitting in his lap.

Unlike the other men who wore shirt and pants, Bane was half dressed. His legs were incased in the thick leather pants, but his top was bare. I froze when I realized why.  

I cursed in English looking at Bane's nipples. A delicate, shiny ring hung from each one. Looking up at his face I swore in his language and asked him what he had done. 

Bane roared with laughter and stones changed hands. Blain and his Brothers had never heard a slave use those words. They found it amusing. Kein grumbled because he thought I would have controlled my mouth in front of strangers. He had lost big on this bet.  

"Up you go, naughty one," Bane said hoisting me onto the floating table. 

I closed my eyes in an effort to behave and not say anything else. It wasn't the same quiet procedure as last time. Blain talked through every step, like he was teaching someone. My eyes shot open when Kein repeated the instructions from right beside me. 

It was Kein who was coating my prominent nipples with the brush. The long needle sat beside him. He looked at me with a proud smile on his face. 

"You practiced on...Master Bane?" I asked watching him.  

"I did," he said picking up the needle. "Now close your eyes. I don't want you to pull away."

I did as he said and felt the familiar fingers working on my flesh until the liquids had the desired effect. Just like before, I felt nothing other than the cold and a dull pressure. Kein was efficient and, according to Blain, he did a good job. I sat up and saw the family crest hanging from my nipples. Much like last time, I hadn't felt a thing. 

Damien led Blain and his Brothers to the door and Evan paid them. As they left Bane took the shiny rings out his nipples, wincing slightly as he did so. 

"No numbing cream for you?" I asked smiling. 

"No," Bane grunted removing the second ring, "and after that string of words you put together we shouldn't have used it on you, either," he teased. 

Breakfast had been delivered and we ate at the table. The men lovingly stroked the sides of my breasts, but avoided touching the newly pierced nipples. They had to heal, they knew from last time. 

"It's late," I commented.

No one answered me except a couple noncommittal grunts, so I tried again. 

"You are all late for work," I told them my agitation rising for no reason. 

"We have days off," Damien said smiling. "We are going somewhere different."

I pressed them lightly for information, but they busied themselves finishing eating and packing things up. I was instructed to help them by folding up and bringing several towels and blankets. They were being such pains this morning, I did my job with a scowl on my face. 

I was dressed in warm layers, including a blue dress like I'd had in the mountains. A brown cover was put over that. The men packed up several bags and Kein brought up a transport. 

Once everything was packed we zipped away toward the mountains. 

As we passed over the village I looked down at it. The men were busy and looked happy. I wondered what it would be like if they lived like Hannah thought they should. Going back to that would be a big change for the men.  

"We're going to the cabin?" I asked once we were a safe distance away. 

"No," Damien said taking my mittened hand. 

I waited patiently and he didn't elaborate.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked. 

"It's a surprise," Evan said smirking, "and stop talking. You're supposed to be quiet in your brown cover. Damien doesn't want to punish you again."

I fumed beneath the hood of my outfit. One minute I'm family and the next minute they're going to beat me. They pay me, but get difficult when I wear what I buy. They were annoying, self-centered assholes. Finally, I'd had enough. 

"I demand to know where we're going," I said ripping the hooded top off my head. "This is intolerable. You still treat me-"

Christof had won the bet on how long I would last without lashing out at them. After cursing at Bane this morning they had wagered my mood would be volatile today. It had been a game to see how much they could push and how long I would go before losing my cool. 

It was because I slept so late, Evan informed me. Not keeping to a schedule had my attitude in a twist. He wouldn't let me do that again.  

With the bet done, Christof told me we were going to a place they really liked. There was an old cabin there the men infrequently used anymore. A stream from the mountains cut down right beside it. We had several days together to just be ourselves with no one to interfere. 

Crossing my arms, I tried not to scowl. Their attention to my moods made them frighteningly accurate. I didn't like thinking of them as mind readers. My new goal was to be less transparent. 

We went along the road for a long time and then veered off onto a less travelled path. Since Warriors patrolled out here I was instructed to wear my hood. It would be unseemly if I was caught without it. 

The area we were in was different from the place I was accustomed to. There was a little more greenery here and it seemed to be getting thicker. 

"Was it all like this before the men developed the town?" I asked. "There is so much plant life here, like just outside the Keeper's compound."

Christof told me the plants were growing because there was an underground water source here. The lakes were sometimes shallow and sometimes very deep below the surface. The men didn't stay in this area because it made the ground above unstable.

"Oh," I said happily, "a sinkhole!"

The men didn't understand the Earth word and I felt deficient in describing one. From what I understood sinkholes happened in places with large underground lakes, especially when the water level fell. The conversation was entertaining for Christof. He thought it was interesting Earth had similar problems.   



We stopped and had a midday meal before we got to the place we'd be staying. The men had some sort of a dried pouch of food. Apparently it would make me sick. I ate a bowl of a sticky rice like substance that was rolled into balls. 

"It's sad," I said in between bites, "the other girls and their owners don't do fun things together. I feel bad for the other girls."

Damien answered me finally, but it was not helpful. He told me he had to arrange time to come out here. Although no one was stationed out here, someone used it frequently enough that you had to sign up to come. It had been the same with the other cabin we used. 

After they finished eating Evan bounced up and started to pace. He was irritated with the slow pace of the rest of us. For some reason he was intent on getting where he was going. 

"You're supposed to enjoy the ride, Evan," I chided him, "not just the destination." 

He looked at me for a moment before starting to pace again. "Seen it here before," he said, "I want to get where we're going." 

We loaded back on the transport and it took off a very short time later. I had forgotten how hard it could be to dismiss Evan's restless energy. 

The wind whipped harder against us and the men all donned long jackets at some point. We were going parallel to the mountains. Long ago we'd stopped passing other Warriors, this area really was deserted. 

The building broke the horizon and the men cheered. It looked to me like the place we'd stayed in after I'd been "recaptured". This must have been an outpost at one time. 

Once Kein stopped the transport we all jumped down. I walked toward the building and was stopped.

"We have to check it," Bane told me drawing his swords.

Kein and Evan followed him inside while I waited with Damien and Christof.

"What are they looking for, other Warriors?" I asked curiously.

"Scars, pests," Christof said concentrating on the dwelling. "This place is so isolated it could be infested." 

I shuddered thinking of the spider like creatures. Nu-reeh had showed me Scars in the mountain caves. The men had fed me one as a joke, but I'd forgotten they came down here.



The men visibly relaxed after a moment and motioned me inside. They pulled all their bags inside and set up the inside of the cabin. Sheets and blankets were laid across the bed. Towels and toiletries were put in the bathing room. Christof and I unpacked the kitchen area. 

All of the sudden I wasn't on the ground. Evan had lifted me up and was taking me in front of the fire they had built. Despite my resistance he stripped me of my dress quickly. 

"What are you doing?!" I sputtered standing nude in the main room. 

"I want to go outside," he said simply. "You need to change so we can train."

"Change what?" I asked feeling my agitation rising again. 

"Clothes," Bane said handing Evan an outfit. "Are you going to be moody all day?"

I did every calming trick I'd ever learned. As Evan pulled pants up my legs I breathed slowly and tried to rid myself of this attitude. I wasn't sure what had me so riled up today.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 20



I tried to think about why I was upset. Probably Hannah's letter, I assumed. It made me feel better in a big way. In a smaller way I could read her anger in the letter. She shouldn't have to go through life permanently furious. It wouldn't be healthy. 

I was worried about my daughter. That's what had me upset. 

"These are...strange," I said as Evan pulled a white shirt over my head and tucked it in to my pants. 

The leather of the pants wasn't touching me. There seemed to be a linen layer inside of them. I asked about it and the men didn't have an answer. That's how pants were made. Tomorrow they would slip a new linen in before they put them on me. 

"It's underwear," I said as Bane put my boots on my feet.

"Earth word," Kein answered strapping the sword to my waist.

The men stepped back and admired their handiwork for a moment. Evan finished dressing me by pulling my hair back into a tie. They all looked quite satisfied with themselves. 

"Come on, then," Bane said happily pulling the door open, "time to learn to fight!"

We walked into the sunshine and I relished having on clothes, a full outfit, for the first time on this world. I kicked rocks and walked around getting used to wearing shoes. Unlike my soft leather foot covers these had a thick sole and it felt like a steel toe. 

"What are you doing?" Damien asked with his arms spread wide. 

"She wanders," Christof explained. "I told you, she likes to walk in circles."

I looked at them and rolled my eyes. 

We spent the afternoon outside in a field by the cabin. I soon realized teaching was Bane's skill. He had a seeming endless supply of patience. As long as I was really trying he would let me learn at my own pace. 

Bane's tolerance only faded if I was lazy. If I wasn't paying enough attention or not trying hard enough, I got the flat side of his blade. 

"That hurts!" I yelled after the fifth time he slapped the outside of my thigh.

He wasn't deterred and demanded I pay attention. 

It was a frustrating and difficult lesson. I knew most of their moves, in a fashion. I had planted memories of them. My muscles had no experience, though. What I thought I was doing and what I was actually doing were two very different things.

According to Evan and Damien it was fun to watch. They sat on the sidelines laughing and talking about my performance. When Bane wanted to show me something one of them would come forward and demonstrate. That was the only time they shut up all afternoon. 

Kein and Christof occasionally stopped by to check on us. It appeared they were hunting down supper and getting it prepared. Christof was kind enough not to comment on my ineptitude and Kein just sighed.    

The training didn't stop until nightfall. I was hot, dirty, and sore by the time it was over. 

"Hannah was a better fighter than you are," Damien informed me casually as we ate. 

I took a drink to avoid choking on my food. It wasn't clear how he knew that.

"The day she attacked us," Christof said. "We got a good look at her skill, she was quite talented."

I smiled and sent a silent thank you to the heavens. It relieved me to hear they thought she was strong. 

After dinner we sat around and played a card game. I wore my new linen nightdress for the second time. It felt nice and normal. 

Looking around the table I saw my family, not my Masters. They had freed me, but protected me out of love. There was nothing I would not do for these men. 

The nightly sex was no longer job; it was bonding. Every touch of skin reminded me how much we cared for one another. I found myself craving them as much as they craved me. 

We spent four days at the cabin. I trained hard in the day. My muscles were sore, but it was a good sore. I didn't make a huge improvement, but I did get better.

"You could best a shopkeeper, perhaps," Kein said as we loaded the transport to ride home.

"A young shopkeeper," Evan amended.

"If he was unarmed," Damien added, lifting the last of our bags up. 

I just stuck my tongue out at them. It wasn't my fault. I'd never been trained like this before. 

We zipped toward the compound and the men stood casually talking as Kein drove. 

I looked back at the mountains and smiled. Hannah was somewhere out there. She was successful and it made me proud. 

I asked Damien to talk to Nu-reeh, I'd love to see her. He said he had already planned to ask, he was just waiting for their coupling. Satisfied and happy I rode back to the compound.

********************

Please vote!!



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 21



Welcome back to your next installment! Hope you enjoy - if you don't please let me know. I appreciate all types of feedback.

Thanks as always to Steve150177 for his work on proofreading. The finished product reads much smoother thanks to him. 

English is in italics where it appears. 

Enjoy - DW

***************************************

The long awaited coupling finally came for Damien and his Brothers. I hugged and kissed them all good-bye in our rooms. Before I was taken to their friends' I reminded them to ask about Hannah, Damien promised he would. 

My men were gone an unheard of five days. The delay panicked me and my Keepers put the calming cream on me at least once. I feared they were gone for good. 

I was with Rose's family when Damien and his Brothers finally returned. We had been in their apartment when my men entered the room. As soon as I saw my family I covered each of them in kisses and affection. They returned it, in a fashion, but something seemed to be holding them back. 

We went downstairs to the alcove in the bathhouse and the men disrobed after removing my ornamentation. They were bitten and bruised. Surprisingly they also had whip marks on their backs. 

The deep bloody furrows had been placed wickedly and looked like they would take time to heal. Perhaps this pain had gotten to them, I thought. It certainly looked as though it hurt badly. 

I cleaned my family gently and thoroughly. Touching their backs seemed to irritate them, so I was very gentle cleaning the evil looking marks. Most of them appeared to be healing already, which was good. While I worked they watched me with wary eyes. It was a bruise to my ego that they disliked my touch after being with the women. Of course it was normal, but it didn't mean I liked it. 

"I will not hurt you, my love," I told Damien softly. 

"And we do not wish to hurt you," he replied.

It was a strange comment and I wanted to ask him about it. I would have, but this wasn't the place. Instead I finished cleaning him and washed his Brothers in silence. 



They didn't stay downstairs to mingle with their friends. Basin and his Brothers tried to start a conversation about the whip marks. Damien ignored him and bid him good night. It was an abrupt and brusque end to the conversation. 

We walked silently to our dwelling and I took brief glances to examine their backs again. It wasn't a recent whipping. This must have been done when they first went to the coupling. Several of Damien's and Christof's marks would scar, I could tell. 

Upstairs, behind the closed door, I tried to ask about the marks. They ignored me as we ate dinner in silence. After the meal, Damien put me in my linen night dress and told me to go to bed. 

"Will you all be joining me?" I asked touching his arm.

Damien jerked away and pointed to the bed. They had things to do, but I should rest, he told me. A normal schedule would keep me healthy. 

My temper flared and I started to say something. The hard look on Damien's face stopped me. He wasn't in the mood for disagreement or even friendly banter. 

"Go," Christof said quietly, "we will join you later. We have had a...difficult time these last few days. You need your rest and it would be better for us to be alone for a while."

I hadn't felt like an intruder on their family life in a long time. In a flash I turned on my heel and went into the bedroom. Of course they needed time to be together after getting smacked around by the women for five days. Mortified by my insensitivity to their feelings, I even closed the leather drape. 

On the bed I lay so I could look out the window. I wasn't tired at all, so I just watched the stars. At some point I must have drifted to sleep, because I woke up and they were all snoring around me. 

Quietly as I could I walked to the bathroom. I was taking a sip of water in the kitchen when Christof came out from the bedroom. He sat down at the table and watched me with sad eyes. 

Softly, I told him if he needed to, he could talk to me. He passed a hand over his mouth and chin. There seemed to be some internal battle going on in him.

"I won't push you," I said brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Only tell me this, are we being separated?"

He paused and watched me before he spoke. My heart almost stopped waiting for his answer. 

"No, we are being left together. As long as we do what they want, we will not be taken from you," Christof answered.

"The rest we will deal with," I told him stroking his neck.

We went back to bed and lay down. Everyone else was awake, but none of us spoke. Eventually I fell back to sleep, but I think it was a long time before they did.

Breakfast was a strikingly subdued affair. Evan had cleaned me in silence and now we ate in absolute quiet. It was the most uncomfortable I had been in a long time. I barely tasted the food. 

The little cup I always took was placed in front of me. I took it like a shot, because it was unfailingly nasty. Long ago I'd learned not to let it wash over my tongue. 

For a moment I sat smacking my lips and looking at the cup. 

"That was different," I said to the group.

It still tasted medicinal, but it was not the same. This liquid was slightly sweet and less bitter. Terror struck me, what if someone had tampered with the drink?

"Damien," I said and he looked up at me with haunted eyes, "that wasn't what I usually take. It was different. You have to get me the right drink and find out what happened."

"It is a health drink," he said slowly. "It is different now."

No one else spoke and Damien did not continue. I mumbled apologies for interrupting breakfast and looked back down at my plate. 

Christof spoke next, "We were told it would help build your blood and keep you strong," he informed me. 

My eyes were curious, but I held back the questions. The tension was rising in the room. Whatever was bothering them seemed to be coming to a head. 

"Hannah is strong," Bane said out of the blue. "She is a very good fighter."

"Her curiosity," Kein added, "has allowed her to learn about the world quickly. She is an asset to the women. Hannah will be powerful, like Damien's other daughter."

My excitement peaked and I spoke, "You saw Hannah? Did Nu-reeh say I could see her?"

"We did not see her," Damien said staring at me. "You may see her when you have done what the women wish you to do."

"What...?" I asked looking around.

What could the women possibly want me to do? I was a slave to their men. And why was Hannah suddenly a topic of conversation?

No one spoke, but I could see the rapid display of emotions on their faces. Damien rose and stood staring at a wall for a moment. Evan and Bane both looked pointedly at Christof. 

I knew suddenly what they wanted. My family knew how I had hated to give Hannah up. It would have killed them to tell me I had to do it again, so they couldn't bring themselves to say it. 

The women wanted another Hannah, they would breed me.

Breakfast rushed into my throat and I bolted for the bathroom. Everything I had just eaten came right back up. Kneeling on the bathroom floor, I panted and cried.

"I won't do it," I kept repeating.

The men wiped my face and I slapped at their hands while scooting back from them on my knees. 

"I won't do it," I said louder. "You cannot make me. I gave away my firstborn, never again..."

I stood and kept retreating for two steps. Literally and figuratively I found myself in a corner.

"You must," Christof said quietly. "It is what they want from you, from us."

"No, I won't let you put a baby in me," I shouted shaking my head. "None of you will touch me. The women will get bored with the game and they'll leave me alone."

Evan took a step toward me and I flattened myself into the wall behind me. He spoke and it chilled me to the bone.

"If we do not put the child inside of you," he said slowly, "the women will give you to a group of men they find suitable. They know how fertile you are. We only had you for five days..."

I was hyperventilating. 

My thoughts were suddenly of Earth. The women in my mother's family were all good breeders. Grandmother had eight children, my great grandmother had eleven. Despite her alcohol issue Mom had been, too. She had six elective abortions after she had me. Children had not been in her plan. Her tubes were tied finally. Mom had sworn I'd do just like all the other women and raise a brood. 

"Your children will be strong," Damien's voice broke into my thoughts. "The women tested you, somehow. They know any child you bear will take up the Paterian traits well. We do not understand how they can know this."

Genetic testing was the assumption I made. My mind swam with the implications of what Hannah had told me. Huge living computers had studied me and found me a suitable breeder.

"Can we get away?" I asked softly. "Can you send me off this planet?"

Damien's fist crashed into the stone wall in the bathroom. Again and again his fist slammed into the structure in front of him. Bane stopped him finally with Evan's help. 

"No," Christof said watching Damien warily, "we cannot. The women watch the ships that leave here. If we tried to take you through the portals, they only lead back to the slave auction."

Evan spoke as he held Damien's arm, "All the portals from there lead to planets that use slaves or are ones the slavers hunt on."

It wasn't safe in those places. The men would have to come with me and who knew what dangers we would face. None of us would know what was poison, or what we could eat or even touch. There may not be water or air and all of us needed those things. 

The men were not educated about other planets. Their knowledge of anything past the flat lands they lived on was nonexistent. We were woefully unprepared to leave this world. 

"We swore," Damien said hoarsely, "to protect you. You are ours to protect, our Sister...our family."

I nodded silently. It had not been a lie. I knew they had tried. The marks on their flesh were testament to the women's resolve. My family had tried to protect me. When the whip did not break them, Nu-reeh had threatened them with a worse fate for me. 

The idea of being passed around and handed to other men terrified me. I would do anything to stay in the safety of my family. 

"It is late," I said softly. "You must get to work..."

We got ready quickly. Christof fed me the root to settle my stomach. They ornamented me and dressed themselves in silence. Our ride to the Keepers' compound was quick. When the transport landed I turned and looked at their strained faces. 

"I know you tried and I am grateful. Don't worry, we will survive this," I told them simply.

Inside the Keepers' was the usual flurry of activity. Music and dancing were the themes that predominated. Many girls lounged and talked casually. No one noticed as I found a quiet corner and settled myself. 

Thoughts raced in my head as I looked out the window at the open sky. I fought to find the positive in this situation. It seemed that it might be the thing to finally break my resolve. 

Yes, it was good Hannah was strong. That hardly meant I wanted to be a breeding bitch for the women here. Perhaps my next child was male or weak? Where was the good in that?

Rose and Fuji suddenly bounced in front of me and settled down. Fuji's grin turned to a frown and Rose immediately calmed herself. 

"Something is very wrong," Fuji stated taking my hand.

Rose nodded and put a comforting hand on my leg. 

There was no reason to burden my friends with my problems, but I couldn't resist. I told them everything. In a fierce whisper the truth spilled out of me. 

Even with them, I had never been as honest as I was now. Before I had led them to believe this society was organized as the men saw it. Now the brutal candor seemed to stun them. 

"The women own...?" Fuji said stunned. 

"The men," I finished, "are sold by their mothers to strong women who will protect them. They are moved to the compounds to be raised and kept."

"Will they try to breed the rest of us?" Rose asked touching her own stomach.

There was so much I didn't know. I doubted they would, because they hadn't in the past. In truth, I had no way of being sure, I told them that. Honestly, none of us did. 

The lunch bell rang and I walked toward where my pad usually sat. I was surprised to see it outside. After all the stress this morning, I would have assumed my family wouldn't want to be alone with me. 

"Come," Damien said softly when he arrived. 

I looked up to smile at him and was stunned at his appearance. His lip was split and his fists were freshly bloody. He looked like he'd been fighting all morning. 

We walked into the forest and I found the nerve to ask him what happened. 

"I wanted to fight with someone," he said simply, "so I did."

"Are your Brothers all right? Which one did you fight with?"

I'd seen Kein after being attacked by them. It worried me to think he'd taken his aggression out on his Brothers again. 

Damien laughed, short and humorless. "We fought with another family. There is a young group of Warriors in the compound. They are exceedingly easy to draw into an argument."

We sat down in a quiet spot and Damien uncovered what he'd brought. There was a small cup with the bowl. It was the new health drink. I'd vomited it this morning, so he'd brought more. We ate in silence for a while before a sound came from deeper in the forest. 

Damien sprung between me and the sound while drawing his weapon. He pulled a smaller knife and tossed it back to me. I picked it up and copied his defensive stance. 

"My Brothers are coming," he hissed softly.

The voice that rang out from beyond the trees was slightly gruffer than I remembered, but I would have known it anywhere. 

"Daddy, if you attack me, I'll fight back. That's going to make Mama angry. My Sister and I just came to talk," Hannah said clearly. 

I stepped toward the voice and Damien held me back. 

"Show yourselves," he said.

Hannah stepped from between the trees and another woman walked beside her. I gasped and covered my mouth. My knife dropped to the ground. 

"Mama, if you tell me how big I am this time, I'm going to take it as an insult," she said lightly. 

Damien dropped his arm and I ran to Hannah. I had to jump to throw my arms around her. Tears leaked down my face as I held her. She lifted me and returned the hug with a bone cracking squeeze. 

I kissed her face and stroked her shoulders. She was enormous, fanged, and brutal looking. Hannah was a perfect woman for this place. 

The familiar nose still sat in the middle of her face and the skin I could see was pale and white. Her dimple on her left cheek was still visible. Hannah was covered in the coarse hair that women on this planet had. Her talons were long and her wings looked fierce. I was so very happy my girl looked as tough as she did. 

"Mama, this is Ra," Hannah said putting me down and drawing back. 

The creature beside Hannah made my daughter look lithe. The burly muscles in her counterpart were impressive. She was almost as tall as Nu-reeh it seemed. 

"Hello, Ma'am," I croaked out still crying.

"Oh my God, Mama," Hannah said rolling her eyes, "she is my Sister. Please call her Ra and don't be afraid of her. She's as good as the family you claim. Just give her a hug and say hello."

I heard Damien's uncomfortable grunt behind me, but I did as Hannah asked and hugged her Sister's waist tight. I thanked her for showing Hannah the world. She had protected my daughter when I could not. There was sincere gratefulness in my voice. 

"It was a pleasure, Mama," the large girl said. "I was so glad to find a Sister. Hannah and I get along so well. It was a relief."

Hearing her refer to me as Mama surprised me. There wasn't time to ponder it as the girls tensed and pushed me behind them. 

"Daddy," Hannah asked quickly, "is that your Brothers?"

"Yes, move Ciara on this side of you," he ordered. 

"As soon as they show themselves, we'd be glad to," Ra said cooly. 

Bane and Evan emerged first, followed closely by Christof and Kein. They all looked wary and had their weapons drawn. 

"Put those away around my child," I said shrilly. "What is wrong with everyone?"

I was frustrated and stamping my feet. It looked like my daughter and her father were about to go to war. 

Damien slipped his sword in it's place and looked at Hannah. 

"Can you stop Nu-reeh?" he asked referring to the breeding. 

Hannah pulled me in front of her and ran a hand through my hair. 

"No more than you can Daddy," she said quietly. "I'm so sorry, Mama," she sobbed suddenly. "I wanted to survive and do well. You told me to do well. I didn't know what they would do to you..."

I hugged her waist and Ra hugged her shoulders. Hannah shuddered between us, apologizing profusely. The faltering apologies changed to angry curses and I felt Hannah's body tense. 

Ra pushed me back and I felt the men's hands pulling me away. Despite my struggles I was moved behind Bane. 

"Control, Sister," Ra said gruffly, "the other men do not know we are here. Mama is with us. You must not lose your temper."

Damien spoke in a calming voice, he reminded Hannah the importance of control. Ra was right, he told her. If she made too much noise or flew up the Keepers would sound the alarm. 

"We thought," Hannah said sounding calmer, "that we could take you away."

The men tensed and Evan's grip on my arm increased. 

Hannah spoke and the men relaxed some. They had thought to put me on a ship, but there would be no one to protect me from the aliens. They could go with me, but there was nowhere to go close to here. The other planets that were inhabitable were not suited for humans. 

The men had already told me the portals were not a good idea. They led to dangerous planets where slaving and slavery were common. I would be in more danger there.

"What about beyond the mountains?" Christof asked. "Could you take us there to live?" 

Ra snorted and Hannah rolled her eyes. Not a chance, they told us. 

The men would suffer first. There was an electromagnetic field that would disrupt their bond. If the men made it past that without breaking it would be a miracle. 

It was intended to stop men from sneaking past the mountains. They had already gotten the small effect from it where they'd stayed in the mountain and that was just the edge of the field. When the men moved into it the disruption to their bond would make them crazy. 

"We are bonded," Hannah said, "and we have felt it. We have to fly high above not to be disrupted by it."

The planet beyond the mountains was dangerous and wild. Without women to protect them the men would be killed. I would never survive. 

"We would stay with you," Ra said, "but we are still young and there are only two of us."

"The women we talked to say it used to take three or four groups of mature women to protect the men adequately. That's as small a settlement as you would want," Hannah said sitting. 

Since she was calm I walked over and was pulled onto her lap. Ra sat beside us. Damien and the men followed me over and sat right in front of the women.

"The next one will be strong, too," Kein said thoughtfully. "One more strong female, Ciara, you can do that." 

Hannah tensed beneath me and I looked up at her. A tear slid down her cheek and she closed her eyes. I looked to Ra for the answer to this strange behavior. 

"Nu-reeh and the other owners in this area," Ra said carefully, "have been very careful to not let the slaves breed. Hannah is so strong and was bred so quickly....They turned the question to their computers. There is a certain...amount of humanity that is acceptable. The computers say your numbers will help the planet as long as they stay under a certain percentage of all the births."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 21



"How many?" I asked quietly. 

Ra looked at Hannah and me closely before she spoke. "Twenty-four half human children would not adversely affect the overall population. I don't wish to confuse Damien and his family, but you will understand Mama. Your genes, as Hannah calls them, will not dilute the Paterian gene pool enough to be harmful if they stay under twenty-four children."

"Breeding numbers have been low," Hannah whispered. "The women on this planet do not conceive easily. It has been getting worse and worse. Humans breed quickly, Nu-reeh knows this. She will use you to increase her numbers. The permission has been granted."

I sat and breathed slowly in and out. Hannah was strong, I told myself. My children would be strong, their testing showed it. I tried to calm myself. 

"That is a large number..." I mused.

"Nu-reeh's computations," Ra said softly, "have told her you will be superior in this use."

Hannah growled at the comment and Ra calmly stroked her arm. I knew the phrasing, too. It was the way the men talked about slaves. They had not used that terminology around me in a long time. To them, I was no longer a slave. Obviously, to Nu-reeh, I still was. 

In an effort to remain controlled I concentrated on my living child. She was so upset she was shaking lightly. I tried to find a way to calm her. 

"Your letter was brilliant," I complimented her. "I found your message the second night."

Hannah grinned suddenly and even Ra looked proud. They had put a lot of time and thought into that letter. Hannah explained how hard it had been to leave it in the right spot. They wanted it found by honorable men and not pesky outlaws. 

Kein commented how good the tami leaves were. My men all thanked them for the treat. The conversation over the box was casual and relaxed. 

Crunching feet got our attention suddenly. Men's voices were coming into the forest. 

"I love you, Mama," Hannah said rising and hugging me. "Stay strong, I'll see you again. We will find a way to fix this...somehow. We have to leave tonight, the women will fight us if we stay close to their men another night."

Ra gave me a quick squeeze and the girls melded back into the forest. 

We stood and I heard Basin's voice boom out. He cursed and swore. The General was angry, Damien and his Brothers were being troublesome today. First the fighting, now they disappear and hang out with me. 

Damien was noncommittal in his response and just led me back to the Keepers. 

He had to walk me all the way to the beach, since everyone was already there. His presence caused a great deal of turmoil as the girls all looked up at him. They cried and looked down, everyone feared the new punishments. 

The Keeper told Damien he would let the respective owners know who had looked at him without permission. 

"No one looked at me," Damien said bluntly while stripping me of my ornamentation, so I could swim. 

The Keeper politely disagreed and Damien got in his face. "No-one-looked-at-me," he said forcefully. 

The Keeper backed down and Damien stalked back up toward the Keepers' compound.

I settled under a tree and several Earth girls wandered over. They wanted to know what I'd done to make my owner so easy going. 

"I had his child," I said as the tears ran down my face.

That comment cut the questions off and the crowd wandered off quickly. Rose and Fuji stayed and I looked tearfully at them. 

"Go," I said, "unless you want to watch me breakdown again. I'm a mess and it won't get any better."

They didn't leave. Rose and Fuji were loyal friends. In addition, they were curious. Something had obviously happened at lunch. 

I told them everything. They sat in stunned questioning silence. 

"How many children do they want from you?" Rose clarified with disbelief. "I knew women with many children, but twenty-four? It seems..."

"Surreal?" I laughed in a high falsetto. "Surreal like being kidnapped and sold to aliens? What else will seem surreal before I die? How long will I last if they breed me like that?"

I paused and really considered giving birth twenty-four times. My eyes stared blankly ahead as I remembered the pain of Hannah's birth. What if the babies were too big or positioned wrong? Would I get a C-section if I needed one or would I die in delivery on Nu-reeh's warm stone?

"I should just kill myself now and get it over with," I mused loudly looking out over the ocean. 

I was lifted suddenly. The Keeper was carrying me away from the beach and my friends. I struggled and he just restrained me. He took me to the punishment room. My arms were bound to the wall and so were my feet. The blank divider lifted in front of my face. 

"Slaves are not allow to harm themselves," he informed me before the door closed. 

Just great, I thought. How much of my rant had he heard? Hopefully, he didn't understand if he did hear it.

Damien was going to be angry. He would never understand I didn't mean that literally. Christof might believe me, but if they'd had a bad enough day, he wouldn't listen. I lay my head against the wall and relaxed. 

High screaming voices surprised me. When I heard Fuji and Rose yelling at each other, I felt shocked. The Keeper's voice told them slaves couldn't fight and I heard two dividers rise. The door closed and all was silent for a moment. 

"Rose? Fuji?" I called hesitantly.

"Shh," I heard Rose say. 

A sharp tip swung around my divider and then flipped back out. It had looked like Fuji's strange tail, which I'd only seen the once. 

"We're alone, just the three of us," Fuji said happily a moment later. 

Evidently, Fuji's tail could extend three times the length of her body. Besides being a sharp weapon, it had great sensing abilities and she had used it to check the room. 

"I'm screwed," I said in English. 

Rose laughed and translated for Fuji. 

We talked casually for the afternoon. I chose not to perseverate on my new duty, so the conversation was varied. When it got late enough we kept the conversation very light, in case the men came in. 

"Again," I heard Basin say, "this doesn't sound like a slave that wishes to die and two who are fighting."

The dividers dropped as Fuji's men agreed. We sounded like three happy friends left to talk without interruption all afternoon. 

Basin stopped in front of me and released my bonds. He told me he was my Keeper for the evening. I was also informed that if I hurt myself on his watch, he would heal me well, so I could know true pain. 

"Where are my Masters?" I asked hesitantly.

"They made the General angry," he said as he wrapped my ornamentation around me. "They are being punished."

We left the Keeper's compound and I stared into the forest beside it. I knew the thick growth hid my daughter and her Sister. Quickly and discreetly, I blew two kisses in that direction. I hoped my girls saw.

The transport landed in the main compound and I walked off with Rose. The men led us in a direction I didn't typically go. It wasn't clear to me where we were going. 

I didn't look up. I watched their heels and followed with Rose. She took my hand in a comforting gesture and squeezed it as we walked. 

The men were grumbling and griping. They didn't want to go, but they had to make an appearance. It was expected of them, even if it was their friends. 

"We do not take part, we only observe," Basin said. "We cannot help, but we will not assist."

That made no sense to me. The statement in itself was contradictory. All the men agreed with him, though. 

We walked through an assembled crowd all facing the same way. Wherever we were everyone was watching the same thing. 

I heard it. The sound of a man's pained grunt in front of me. I'd recognize Christof anywhere. My head jerked up and the sight took my breath away.

My family stood on a low platform with their hands chained over their heads. Their shirts had been stripped. All of them were bleeding and I could see bruises forming on their faces and stomachs. Another Warrior was currently pummeling Christof in the abdomen. 

It was a gut reaction, built from memories that weren't mine. I leapt on the stage to defend my Brother. The man hitting Christof had a short sword on his leg, so I took it. 

Positioning myself in front of Christof, I lunged at the man. He side stepped away from me with surprise on his face. I moved toward him again along the length of the platform, my weapon at the ready. Before I'd made contact I was grabbed. 

Arms around mine I could have handled. Legs were a different story and I was dragged back scraping my knees on the stage as I fell.

"Stay still!" Evan demanded tightening the strange grip he held me in. 

Twisting my head I saw him staring down at me. All his weight was on his battered wrists and the blood was flowing down his arms. He didn't loosen his grip even after the knife fell from my hand. 

"No slave will harm a Warrior!" I heard a man yell. 

There was cacophony in the yard as the Warriors called for my head. Terror clenched my gut and I my eyes widened in horror. They were going to kill me for attacking one of them. 

The sound of screaming metal broke through the yelling. I heard a crack as wood creaked and gave. The metal was wrenched free from its holding. Twisting my head I saw that somehow, Bane had pulled his arms down from the bar. Manacles hung from his bloody wrists. There was fire in his eyes and his sharp teeth were down.

Evan released me when Bane grabbed my arm and pulled me to stand with him. 

"If you wish to touch my slave," Damien boomed, "you go through my brother. We decide its punishment."

The yard got quiet and the only sound I heard was Bane's breathing. 

"It attacked Torus," a man yelled out. 

"Ah, yes," Bane laughed, "and I saw that mighty Warrior run from it!"

The cries for my head still came, but they were less now. 

All the sound died suddenly and I knew who was here. Automatically, I moved closer to Bane for protection. 

"Your punishment is not done boys. Why did Bane step out from under the bar?" the General asked casually. 

"Only proving a point, General," Damien answered. "Our slave saw our punishment and feared for us. It sought to defend those that protect it. We do not wish to punish it."

The General stepped onto the platform and closer to me. In reaction, I huddled to Bane's massive chest. The General took a visual appraisal of me before looking at the structure Bane had pulled down from. 

"The slave comes with me," he said simply. "Damien, you and your Brothers take the rest of your punishment."

I clung to Bane as he stepped back under the bar.

"Go," he ordered softly, "follow the General and do what he says."

My eyes met Bane's and I saw his assurance. Those eyes promised safety. I moved quickly to catch up to the General. It was what my family wanted me to do. 

We passed through the other Warriors and toward the General's quarters. He moved through his door and held it until I entered. Once we were inside he stood staring at me. 

The big man moved until he was in my face. Rage was coming off of him in waves. Gone was the calm, cool man that the compound saw. This was the raw beast that lurked beneath.

"You," he growled, "are important to the women. Damien's family is precious to the women. It would not do to have you injured, but I will not stand to have you disrupt my compound!"

The General's hot breath brushed my cheeks as he spoke. His voice had risen and I saw the fire burning in his eyes. 

"No other slave would dare to raise an arm to my Warriors," he continued. "The sentence would be death or removal."

I trembled in fear watching him. 

A voice from behind the General broke our staring contest. 

"I am curious," the voice of the General's Brother spoke, "did Damien and his Brothers train the slave?"

"Answer him!" the General barked and I jumped back bumping the door.

"Yes, sir, they trained me," finally came out. 

The General stood staring at me for a moment and then left. I trembled in the anteroom waiting for my fate. The General joined his Brothers across the room looking out the wide window.

They must have seen everything. The General was obviously observing Damien's punishment. How stupid of me to give into that primal reaction. I stood watching the General, mentally berating myself, as the General watched my men and conversed internally with his family. 

My knees were bleeding. I felt the slow tickle and it flowed down my legs. It pooled over the cuffs on my ankles and dripped down to my feet. I didn't want to get it on the floor, but it wasn't really my choice at this point. 

"Why did they train you?" the same voice called over to me.

I didn't really know why. "It amused them," I said remembering Evan and Damien, "and they just thought I should know. It was disgraceful I was so untrained."

Now that was an interesting answer. The General's family looked at me questioningly. This situation was unique and new. Evidently, Damien had wanted me to fight. 

"Slave," the General finally addressed me, "did you know not to raise your hand to my Warriors?"

"Damien told me not to hit him or his Brothers," I said remembering the one time in the bathhouse. 

Finally the General asked one of the Brothers to fix my legs. The man walked me into their bathroom and he scrubbed the debris out of my knees and applied healing cream. They started to bleed again, so he wrapped them both with cloth. 

When I came back out, Basin and his Brothers were standing around. The General told them he would not put me up for the compound to punish. Damien didn't want it and I was merely too well trained for my own good. 

I would throw my own life away to protect my owners. He didn't see the purpose of punishing such blind devotion. I was too stupid to know any better. 

"When Damien and his Brothers are punished," the General said, "I put you all in charge of restraining and monitoring this slave." 

Basin took the task politely and motioned me to follow him. 

We walked down the steps and several Warriors were waiting around outside. They seemed very disappointed and irritated when Basin told them what the General had said. My punishment, and especially my death, would have been entertaining. 

As soon as we made it into their dwelling and the door closed, Basin lit into me.

"You have no sense of forethought!" he roared.

For the second time that night I backed into the door.

Damien and his Brothers would have been upset if something happened to me. Basin knew I was smart enough to understand the probable consequences of my actions. I was reckless. His friends were what mattered and they would have felt pain because of me. 

Since my owners were not available to reprimand me properly he took me to task. He lectured me until my ears felt numb. When he was finally done, he seemed to be no less upset. 

I was ordered to kneel on my still tender knees and they fed me. A cup of the health drink was there and I took it without hesitation. 

"Our slave only takes a drink in the morning," one of Basin's Brothers commented. 

They started to talk about the extra health drink. I was just relieved the conversation was no longer on what an idiot I was. 

One of them picked up the cup and sniffed it curiously. It was different from what Rose got. The man dipped a finger into the leftover dregs and tasted it. It was very different. 

Basin looked hard at me. I saw him appraising my form. His critical eyes judged me from head to toe. 

I didn't look ill or malnourished anymore. Just like when I first came to this planet I was lush and full. The evidence of my starvation had disappeared some time before.

"I see no reason for this," he stated simply.

"And the liquid is different," the other Brother said. 

Lucky for me they dropped the subject and went to their sitting room. Rose pulled me to kneel beside her as the men played a game. She shook her head and squeezed my hand. 

Damien and his Brothers stayed in bondage on the platform overnight. I stayed with Basin and his family. Since Basin felt I should be disciplined, I spent the night in their box. 

The box was dark and it should have been creepy. I had slept in one for months though. Inside the box I fell quickly to sleep and dreamed of my family. 

It was a normal dream. Memories of Hannah flying in the mountains, as Damien and I watched, predominated my sleeping thoughts. In the distance I felt like I saw my other children, the ones I was slated to have, soaring in the wind. Unlike real life, in the dream I anticipated meeting them. 

The next morning Damien and his Brothers were let off the platform. Basin did not take me to see them, he took me to the Keepers. My owners would have enough to do without contending with me, he believed. They would have to get themselves ready and go to work, despite their injures. 

The morning drink was again a topic of conversation on the transport pad. Basin and his Brothers knew it was different from what Rose took. It smelled, tasted, and looked different. Lucky for me, they never thought to ask me if I knew what it was. 

I was relieved to be at the Keepers, until they tethered me with a short cord to a pole in the main room. They knew humans and when we became suicidal we may stay that way. Until Damien assured them I was no longer a threat to myself, my movement would be restricted. 

Fuji and Rose sat with me. We played card games and other "safe" things the Keepers allowed them to get close to me. Being tied to a pole and after the stress the day before, I couldn't really concentrate. Fuji won most of the hands. 

The lunch bell rang and I sat quietly waiting on my kneeling place. The room around me was quiet, which was unusual. Without the flurry of the other girls you could have heard a pin drop. 

One of the Keepers stood inside the empty room with me and then suddenly he was gone. In the doorway was Damien. 

With the light behind him, Damien looked like an angel. When he stepped further into the room I realized angel was the wrong term. Avenging angel would be more accurate. 

I'd never seen Damien in a battle with other men, but this is how I imagined he'd look. Focused and furious were the only two terms that came readily to mind. It was a strange juxtaposition and he handled the look of contained chaos well. 

"I don't want to die," I said as he moved closer. "It was a a stupid thing to say...Master Damien," the last of the statement came out in a whisper. 

He continued to pace slowly forward and didn't say a word. I scooted back off my kneeling place. When I hit the pole I was tied to I slid up it and stood facing him. 

"Attacking the man was a mistake, too, Master Damien," I said gripping the pole and steeling my resolve. "I heard Christof and he was in pain. I had to help him. You would have done the same thing..."

I saw the bruising on Damien's face as he drew closer. The lightening marks of his punishment gave his visage a savage appearance. The pain and fatigue must be overwhelming. 

Giving into my instincts I reached forward and brushed a hand along the rough stubble on his cheek and into his hair. My other hand made the same trip on the other side of his face. Damien drew closer allowing me to massage the tense muscles in the back of his neck.

For a moment his eyes drifted closed and the lines on his face relaxed. He loved to be touched and rubbed. I smiled to myself thinking I had distracted him. Damien's eyes were open in an instant watching me. 

"Look me in the eye and tell me if you wish to die," he commanded grabbing my hands and pulling them down to rest on his chest. 

I met his steely grey gaze. "No, I do not wish to die."

The cord on my neck was cut. Damien leaned in until I felt his breath in my ear. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 21



"You protected the family well, Sister. Your form when you attacked my cousin was flawless. However we need to work on your timing of the strike," he said kissing my neck. "You missed him by far too large a margin."

I looked at him feeling stunned. "The General said not to attack his Warriors."

Damien grinned and shrugged. He couldn't care less what anyone else wanted. It was honorable I had tried to protect the family. 

"The other Warriors wanted me dead," I hissed at him. 

"They could have tried," he said in a conversational tone. "We would have stopped them. It would have been our decision, whether they liked it or not."

"You and your Brothers," I argued as he took my hand and walked out, "against the whole compound?"

We walked to the wall and Damien opened it and stepped out. I followed him trying desperately to look like a demure slave and not an indignant one. 

"My Brother," Damien said as he walked into the forest, "could have easily removed his bonds. We are always prepared."

Shaking my head I followed him to his favorite spot. Once we were there, Damien stopped and considered me for a moment. 

"Your strike was well executed, only poorly timed. We thought it best to stop you before you got hurt. That was not a shopkeeper you attacked, but a trained Warrior. At some point the man would have gotten over his surprise and that would have been a problem. Evan had to be in control of you so the other men would not dare to touch you."

The rest of the lunch went like that. Damien wasn't fazed by his lack of sleep or his pain. He entertained himself talking about me taking a swipe at his cousin. 

"The General," I explained patiently, "said he would kill a slave that raised a hand to his Warrior. You didn't tell me they would try to kill me for that."

Damien sighed theatrically the way Hannah had done, "No one in this compound would dare the wrath of my family. The decision of your punishment was ultimately left to us," he explained patiently. "As you will note, you are not dead. The General knows not to anger me."

We sat and stared at one another for a moment. I wasn't going to argue about this so I hugged him tight and kissed his jaw. The General didn't kill me because it would anger the women. Damien didn't need to know that. 

As he fed me Damien talked. I had made their punishment so much more interesting.

Everything about that experience had been fun. 

When Bane had pulled down from the punishment bar, the other Warriors had been shocked. Everyone knew they were strong. The other men had forgotten how strong. 

Finally he got back to my "death wish" as he called it. Explaining that was not an actual desire and just a frustrated statement was difficult. Damien would never say something like that unless he meant it. He struggled to understand how I could have said it. 

I tried to explain how painful the birth had been. He didn't think it was that bad. 

"Sometimes," I pleaded, "the babies don't come out the lower tunnel. Sometimes women have to be cut here," I gestured to my stomach, "to make a place for the baby to come out."

Damien looked at me with stern eyes. He informed me that no one would be cutting on me. I didn't need to worry about that. 

He didn't understand that I might need it. Eventually I gave up trying to make him understand. I'd talk to Christof, he was sometimes more approachable about things. 

So, I was free for the afternoon. No more tethered to the pole or chained to the wall. I took my freedom as an opportunity and went for a swim. 

I loved the water and the fish. That was one thing I'd hated in the mountains, no swimming. Sure we'd gone to the lake that one time, but it wasn't the same. I adored the warm, briny water at the Keepers'. 

Eventually I got out of the ocean and lay in the sun on the shore. Rose came and sat quietly next to me.

"I'm going to look like a floppy cow after that many births," I said watching her tiny figure next to me. 

I was jealous. Even starved, I'd never had the delicate look she carried so well.

"The cream will fix your skin," she said looking out across the water. "They have other things, more powerful things, to heal you if you are damaged badly." 

She was right. My stomach had popped almost magically back into shape after several applications of the cream. I poked at the soft, rounded contour and missed the tight, flat stomach I'd had when Nu-reeh kept me. 

Rose seemed quieter than usual, more subdued. I asked her about it, but she just said the day before had been stressful. I had to agree, it had been a lot to take in. 

My men came and I was very happy to see them. Since the transport driver was present, I didn't want to make a scene. Despite attempting to be reserved, I still kissed and inspected everyone. 

I didn't get a good look at their injuries until we went to the bathhouse. The men were bruised and battered, but they seemed to be healing. I cleaned Damien quickly and gently. He almost fell asleep sitting in the warm water. 

"Come on," Christof said shaking his shoulder, "let's get upstairs."

We met the men delivering food at our door. They had just placed the tray on the table and wished Damien's family a good meal. 

We all dressed in our linen outfits for the evening. The sixth chair was pulled up for me and we sat and had a quiet dinner. The men ate voraciously, which was strange for them. When I asked Christof told me they had not eaten well today. Except for Damien the other four had worked through lunch, it was part of the punishment. 

In between bites Bane explained the General was looking for new ways to punish them. They seemed quite immune to his whip. He had thought letting the other Warriors have a go at them would be a good idea. It had been, until I came along. 

Kein took a break from eating to tell me that I had really interrupted the proceedings. The young Warriors in the compound had not realized how strong the family was. After seeing how easily Bane could escape the punishment bar, it made them wary. Being on the bad side of men like Damien's family was foolish. 

"They stopped really hitting us after you left," Evan told me. "They were afraid of angering us."

I didn't have to be part of the internal dialogue to know the topic. The other men were wimps and it was good to be the best. They were all certain of it. 

My men were obviously tired. I pushed and cajoled them toward the bed, but they said they had to stay up. Guests were coming. 

My curiosity was peaked. Evan found it a game and refused to tell me who was visiting at this late hour. Instead the men made me guess. My ideas went from impossible to improbable. I had no idea who was coming over. 

The Healers showed up and greeted Damien politely much to my surprise. They asked that my linen cover be removed so they could check me. The family relented and I was sat on one of the floating tables the Healers brought into the room. 

If this was Earth and not Pateria, I would have called what the men did a physical. My body was measured and prodded thoroughly. Swabs were taken from my mouth and vaginal area. The men took samples of urine. The Healers recorded everything about me.

Before the men left they asked about the health drink. Damien explained an extra one had been ordered when I vomited the first. The Healers recorded that information and praised Damien for good thinking. I started when they told him Nu-reeh would be pleased, she had been confused why they ordered an extra dose. I absolutely could not miss the drink. 

The Healers left and the family was ready for bed. The men didn't even bother to tell me what was going on. I had to ask. 

"You must stay healthy," Christof explained stretching out on the bed. "Nu-reeh wants you cared for a certain way, so the child will have every advantage."

"When you become pregnant," Damien said yawning, "we will go back to the mountains immediately."

That was it for the men and the explanations were done. Before I could formulate my rampaging thoughts into more questions, they were snoring lightly around me. The men were exhausted. 

I wasn't tired and stared out the window at the stars. Finally safe and at home, I could think about what was happening. This was slavery again. 

Whether I wanted to give them to her or not, Nu-reeh would take my children from me. The girls I could handle. Hannah was powerful and we could still talk. The idea of sons that I would never know broke my heart. I wondered how many would leave me before I stopped caring.

It was a long time before sleep finally took my teary eyes. 

At the Keepers I talked to Rose and Fuji. Rose lamented the loss of my children with me. Fuji didn't understand that, but she would miss me when I had to leave to give birth. It was a depressing conversation for all of us.

The next days passed without incident. I was given my health drink twice a day. The Healers came and checked me over. Damien explained that would become a pattern. 

Nothing was very exciting until one morning Damien told me Basin wanted to share a meal. He had some special form of entertainment in mind, so I would not be dancing. Basin and his Brothers would be joining us for dinner in our rooms that night. 

It was to be quite a meal, Fuji's owners would also be coming. The three families were good friends. Damien and his Brothers were looking forward to visiting with their friends outside of work. 

The morning of the famed meal I went to the Keepers and Rose wasn't there. Perhaps her owners had the day off and had kept her home. Fuji and I spent the day talking and laughing. We both hoped Rose had a good day with her owners. 

In the evening the transport dropped us at the bathhouse. The men cleaned themselves quickly and we went upstairs. They dressed and I was wrapped in several pieces of clingy fabric. It was a new style from Fredrick and the men couldn't decide if they liked it. Even with the fussing, we were ready quickly.

Fuji and her owners showed up first. Rose's family arrived last just as the food came. I wanted to say hi to her, but she wouldn't look at me. 

The men sat to eat while Fuji, Rose, and I knelt. It was a lively, raucous conversation as the men discussed new techniques and old battles. They had been friends it seemed for a long time. From the sound of it Basin and his Brothers had grown up with Damien. Fuji's owners were newer to the compound, but still long time friends. 

Eventually the men retired to the crowded sitting area. I knelt on the floor somewhat leaning on Evan. The conversation paused and Damien asked Basin what the entertainment was. 

Basin laughed and told Damien he had the very same entertainment in his house. Perhaps we would like a sample of what was most lately amusing to his family?

Basin stood and pulled Rose up. He stood her in front of the fire. She looked at the floor until he lifted her chin with his finger. 

"Our slave," he said suddenly serious, "has been here many moons. We have listened to many stories the slave made up to amuse us...The truth has been far more entertaining."

Rose spoke then at Basin's prodding. The big man stood looking calmly down at her. She talked about the women and the mountains. She said Nu-reeh's name and described her in detail to the gathering. With tears falling down her face, she explained how the men were owned. I felt Evan stiffen as she talked.

The story wasn't long, thankfully. I didn't breathe the entire time she spoke. I sat on the floor trying to sink into it. 

I never would have thought Rose would repeat the things I told her. It had never occurred to me the men might ask her. She could not lie to them, none of us could. Obviously this was the only outcome that was probable. 

Basin pulled her to kneel beside him when she was done. He stared at Damien. 

"We asked it to tell us about the extra health drink as a joke," Basin said sounding hard. "We anticipated a wild and funny story as our slave often concocts for our amusement. Instead we heard the harsh sound of lies filling our ears...The truth soon followed and that was no less harsh."

Damien chose his words carefully. I got the feeling he didn't want to fight with Basin, but the other family looked furious. He asked them what they wanted to know. 

"Everything," Basin seethed, "we want to know everything."

Damien turned to Fuji's owners and asked if they wanted to know or if they wanted to leave. After a mere moment of consideration, Fuji's owners stayed. They seemed neither upset nor anxious about the events. 

Rose was weeping and shivering beside her owner. Despite his anger he pulled her to sit in his lap and soothed her. He told her she was a good and loyal slave. 

I chanced a glance up at Evan and did not see the same forgiveness in his eyes. My family was really upset with me. An involuntary shudder coursed down my spine when I thought about what they would do to me. 

Damien spoke slowly and thoughtfully. He explained what he knew and what had happened to them, mostly. Things the men in the mountain had explained about the world were openly discussed. The experiences they had personally with Nu-reeh clarified some of the more confusing points. Damien tried to be as clear as he could.

Basin wanted more information. There were things Rose had said Damien had no way of knowing. Most of the things centered around what Hannah had shared with us. Damien was forced to explain Hannah and her relationship with the family. 

Hannah had been a rich source of new information. Damien explained a great deal of what he knew about the world came through her. The strange box that had been delivered was pointed out and the letter discussed. 

The other family didn't believe, not entirely. Damien had held too much back for too long. Rose couldn't lie to them. Basin demanded she read the letter and tell them what was in it. 

Rose was forced to read the English in my letter from Hannah, which she did slowly. It had been a long time for her. The words she read matched what Damien had told them. The men were slaves, the women owned them, and my daughter believed it was a flawed system. She finished and handed the letter to Basin. 

I watched with horror as he looked at the letter and then at the fire. 

"Don't," Damien said with authority. 

Basin handed him the paper and sat brooding for a moment. His family looked angry and upset. I saw the stress wearing at them. They didn't try to mask it as they had been the rest of the evening. 

"Your family," Damien said, "has acted oddly for many days. We have seen others broken by this knowledge. We ourselves have experienced the total breaking of our bond. It is not easy to come back from, you mustn't let it happen."

Basin's eyes met Damien's and the question was in them. The other man asked Damien when the family had been broken. Damien was silent for a moment before he spoke. The break had happened in the mountains, it was very difficult, and they'd barely come back from it Damien repeated. 

Damien looked at me and I met his gaze. Certain things I had not shared. Some things were too personal, other things I felt the girls would be jealous of. I'd held back very little, but the things I didn't say were important to me. 

Basin stood suddenly and carried Rose with him. His family followed him out our door without a goodbye. They were gone for a moment before the room moved again. 

Fuji's owners rose and stretched. The head of the family thanked Damien for an interesting evening. They didn't really seem that bothered. Christof was curious how this didn't upset them.

"Our slave told us as it happened," Fuji's owner said simply. "Slaves from Batra believe anything that may affect us is our right to know. It was an honor to inform us of the happenings. At first we did not believe the story and later it troubled us. You only confirm what we have long considered a possibility. We have had time to adjust." 

Of course Fuji had done that. Her first and only real loyalty was to the men that owned her. She told me good bye politely and smiled. Fuji seemed not in the least bothered by what was going on. 

My family rose and I followed their lead. The men walked Fuji's family to the door and bid them a good rest. The other men reciprocated the greeting and were gone. 

I studied my feet as we stood in the anteroom. The men were quietly standing near me, but no one was talking. Christof's voice broke the silence. He demanded to know the entire story.

It made more sense if told in order, so I started at the beginning. When Christof was broken from the Brothers I talked worriedly with my friends about how to help him. Later, when I was taken to see them at the cabin the first time, I shared my happiness with my friends. The pregnancy got all the women's attention and then my strange life was no longer a secret.

Slaves were women, Damien's family knew that, and women knew what pregnancy entailed. When I had started to 'show' every slave in the compound knew what had happened. There was no way to hide it.

The rest of the story came out in bits and pieces to the other women. They saw me leave heavy with a child and come back looking abused. I'd shared with the slaves that the women of Pateria had taken me. The slaves all knew I'd birthed a daughter. Other than that the details had been sketchy.

Rose and Fuji knew more than most anyone. I'd told the truth as I knew it. Almost nothing about the secrets of this world was held back from them. 

Christof wanted a complete list of the things I had not said. He was talking so calmly and asking so politely, I was scared. The serene look on his face did nothing to ease me. 

"You kept secrets from them," Damien said stepping closer. "The other men did not know we had been broken. What else did you hide from your friends?"

My bond with my family and how Hannah learned the world, for one. It was too personal. The men's bond was sacred. Their lives were private. Admitting I had access for a little while had seemed crude to discuss. 

Damien pushed for more and stepped closer. My desperation grew and I sought to tell them things I had not told the other girls. No one knew they had said I was family, it might make them jealous. Damien came closer and I backed into the door. 

"No one knows you trained me to fight," I panted and grimaced, "except the General. His Brother asked and they demanded I answer..."

The men were deep in thought. I jumped when Damien spoke again. He told me to go relieve myself of fluid. My instincts told me to be wary and I stood and stared at him a moment too long. 

"You ate and drank with us," Damien informed me. "Go relieve yourself of any excess fluid." 

Damien's face was dark and he looked dangerous, but calm. The other Brothers mimicked his look with terrifying effect. They parted and gestured to the bathing room. 

I ran in and didn't know what to do. Finally I did what Damien had asked. It took a moment of concentration, but I relieved my bladder.

There weren't enough words in two languages to put together enough apologies. I stood in the bathroom for a moment trying to think of the correct thing to say. Nothing came to me, so I gathered my courage and stepped out. 

The men stood patiently in the sitting area talking. Damien raised an arm and pointed to the bedroom. Now, I was nervous. They only talked by themselves when something really bad happened. 

I paced in the dark by the bed and didn't know what to do. This was a big problem. I jumped when I heard them walking this way. 

"How many more times," Damien asked stepping into the room, "do you think we will have a repeat of tonight?"

My mouth opened and closed as I thought about how many slaves knew far too much. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 21



"If these men become upset, it could tear the compound apart. The General expressly forbid us to speak of what happened. He wished the other men be put under as little duress as possible."

The rays of the sun were long gone and the sleeping room was barely lit. I felt the men stalking me in the dark. It was unnerving. 

Kein lit a small lamp in the sleeping room. Damien stepped into the glow and I stepped quickly back. In his hand was a small black switch. Kein continued to light lamps and I continued to back up.

Bane spoke as the three remaining Brothers came toward me. "You need to learn when speaking is allowed and when it is not. We think we can teach you this, although the damage appears to have already been done." 

I was backed into the wall. There was nowhere else to go in this little room. Christof stepped in front of me and deftly removed the thin covering over my breasts and sex. He pulled me away from the wall and I followed uneasily. 

A floating table was brought in. I hadn't even been aware they owned one. Christof demanded I lay on my back, which I did. Suddenly the table had me. 

Those air restraints, like at the auction bound my wrists and pulled them above my head. A second set wrapped around my ankles. I fought the restraints and started to scream. An air mask was over my face like at the auction. 

"You will learn when it is permissible to speak," Damien said as the table bent my knees and forced my thighs open wide. "You will learn to say what is appropriate. We are your family and believe this is the best way to train you."

I shook my head as much as I could in this weird invisible bondage. No, beating me wasn't going to teach me. There was no way to communicate that to Damien right now. 

"You will find no pleasure with us tonight," Damien told me. "I will use this," he held up the small firm rod, "to bring you only pain."

"Human women," Christof said gently from the side, "need training. Men from the red mountains understand this better than we do. They see our humans and say they are unruly. You have been quite uncontrolled, Sister. You will learn and make us proud. Eventually you will thank us for this. When you are able to hold your tongue in the face of temptation, we will be happier also."

Bane calmly informed me I would feel the punishment until they felt I really understood the lesson. 

Their stage was set and I saw Damien evaluating me. He ran the instrument in his hand between my breasts and dragged it down my stomach. Depending how hard he hit, I imagined he could open skin with it. 

"You will thank me for each strike and count. If you fail to do those things or say something else, you will earn two more hits in the same place. For every mistake the punishment will double. I doubt you will make many mistakes before you find the rhythm in this lesson."

I tensed and waited as the air over my mouth released a little. 

The first stinging blow was delivered to the inside of the right knee. I gritted my teeth and then spit out the required thank you and the number. The second strike landed in exactly the same place and I lashed out at Damien.

"You hit the same spot!" I yelled and Damien's jaw tensed. 

"Two more lashes in that place for an incorrect answer," Evan said coldly. "Damien said he would mark you twice more for every infraction. He did not say how the rest of the stripes would be delivered."

I counted the two punishment lashes as the first tear crested in my eyes. The last number came out in a virtual shout and Kein sighed loudly. 

Fuck them and fuck the rules, I thought viciously. No one said I couldn't be loud. I should have assumed it, though.

Kein fiddled with the table and a strange feeling air mask came over my nose and mouth. It made it hard to breath and I started to struggle in my bonds. 

"It is uncomfortable?" Evan asked and I nodded. "Good, that is the point. It will modulate your voice until you are able to do it yourself. We will remove it when we feel you have learned."

"The next strike is number two," Damien stated as he raised his arm. "You will suffer sixteen on each leg." 

By the tenth counted blow I was addressing Damien as Master. The Brothers had paused in my training to discuss this. It seemed appropriate that they be Master when they were disciplining me. They would be Brothers again when I had learned my lesson.

Damien placed sixteen controlled marks down the inside of my right leg. I earned four rounds of extra punishment, or eight extra strikes, during that time and those marks didn't count. The inside of that leg felt like it was on fire. 

When they reached the joint of my thigh and my torso Evan tilted the table so I was in a more upright position. The air mask over my face was removed and Kein fed me a little water.

"What lesson are you learning, Ciara?" Bane asked looking hopeful. 

I blubbered out something about not saying anything and Bane passed a tired hand over his face. 

"You may speak, Ciara. We all speak. Control your tongue is today's lesson," Bane said. 

The strikes began on my left knee and were paced thoughtfully toward the juncture of my thighs. Each mark was made with the same intensity and timing. Damien laid each stripe and then crossed it leaving a pattern of thatching down my flesh.

The interlaced marks hurt worse than I could have imagined. Damien adjusted his strikes so every patch of skin was hit multiple times. It was awful. 

There was no use yelling at them. I'd learned that very quickly. Outbursts got me more marks. It was plain to see the reactions to my lack of control in deep red on my right leg. My left leg showed obvious improvement in my restraint. 

"The next part," Christof announced, "will test your control. There will be times it is more tempting to call out, you must control yourself. Do you understand?"

I couldn't help the whine that crept into my voice. My legs couldn't take this abuse. It felt like I was on fire. This punishment was all pain and no pleasure. They hadn't been kidding when they said there was a difference. 

"Master Christof, no one ever told me I wasn't supposed to talk to the other slaves. Please, I'm begging you to stop this."

Damien stretched and sat down and I thought perhaps the argument had worked. 

Christof stood beside me and answered thoughtfully, "You are not stupid. My Brothers chose a human for their slave because they wished to have an intelligent creature pleasure us. You and I have talked a great deal. I am well acquainted with your ability to reason."

My legs were shaking in their bonds as I strained my neck to watch Christof. He wasn't letting me off the hook. 

"No one ever-" I started to say and he cut me off with a raised hand. 

"You are not foolish, most of the time. We know you can make decisions on your own. This was something you should have used your natural intelligence to decide appropriately."

The fire in my legs didn't dim as the time was wearing on. It was throbbing more. I wanted to make this stop, but Christof wasn't done. 

I stared blankly at him and he sighed. In a gentle gesture he brushed the hair off my sweaty face. 

"Tell me, did you think we would want you to tell the other slaves the things you know? Did you try to hide this knowledge from the Keepers? I think you must have. Answer me, now."

I flushed and sputtered. Christof stood calmly, watching me. His brilliant eyes fixed on my face, waiting for a response.

"No, Master Christof, I didn't think you would want me to tell this to the slaves. I hid it from the Keepers," I finally answered. 

He looked satisfied and started to step back. I knew him leaving meant Damien and that wicked device were coming. In a desperate attempt I begged one last time. No one had ever specifically told me not to talk, I argued. 

"We told you at the cabin," Evan interjected, "that if our arrangement was discovered you may be sold. You went against our express orders at that point to tell your friends."

I sagged against the bench and closed my eyes. That killed my argument. Evan told me it wasn't time to sleep yet. 

Damien rose and I started to shiver as he came closer. I felt so very exposed in this position and I knew they weren't done yet. Watching him with wary eyes I saw his brow crease. He came to stand between my spread legs and gently stroked my hip. I flinched at the contact.

"Do you fear me?" he asked watching my face intently. 

No, I didn't fear him. I knew he would not truly damage me. If the General was doling out this punishment, on the other hand, I felt there was a great deal to worry about. I'd rather have Damien do this and not anyone else. 

"I fear the implement in your hands, Master Damien," I answered honestly. 

That seemed to satisfy him. He told me there was little more control left to learn and then I could rest. 

The first strike on my pussy lips made me scream. The air was back over my mouth and I panted into the gag. My eyes clouded and I saw black for a moment. The pain was worse than I could have imagined. 

"You do not need to count these," Damien informed me. "Only speak these words with each mark, I will not speak my family's secrets, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Master Damien, I will not speak my family's secrets."

I wasn't counting, so I lost count of the stinging blows to my most personal area. 

Like a parrot I repeated the required phrase each time. The lesson was burning into my brain. The men were right. I would learn. 

My eyes ran with tears but I watched Damien as he dealt each painful blow. There was absolute control in his motions. His left hand, his best hand, gave me pain without injury.

I maintained consciousness until the last strokes. Bane opened my lower lips and Damien lay the lash quickly and repeatedly over my poor clit. The pain was too great. Blackness stole into my vision, but I heard myself whisper the assigned words before I passed out. 

***********************************

Please vote!




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 22



Back again! Hope everyone enjoys this installment - if you don't let me know! We're in a "healing phase" so no erotica, just plot. Fair warning.

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his work proofreading.

English is in italics when it appears.

Don't forget to vote! DW

**********************************************

My eyes fluttered open and I looked around and realized I was in the bedroom. I had been moved off the punishment table. It was gone and I was stretched out on the bed. That's not to imply I was comfortable where I was. My legs and my cunt throbbed and burned with fiery intensity. For all it mattered I could still be strapped to the floating table taking my punishment.

The hum of voices was soothing, which was in sharp contrast to the searing pain my awakening mind was experiencing. Opening my eyes fully I saw all my men were seated on assorted chairs. They rested comfortably around the room. Everyone was in their linen shift and they were discussing their schedule for the coming lunar cycle.

When the men saw me looking they started to extinguish the lights in the room. Evan helped me sit up and Kein let me sip on some water. Damien told me it was time to rest and complimented me on taking my punishment well. I was a strong member of the family. He hoped his time had not been wasted and I had learned my lesson.

"Master Damien?" I whispered hesitantly as he came to lay beside me. "I hurt, Master."

For once Damien didn't seem unduly interested in my pain.

"I know you do," he said stroking my arm before I could pull it away. "You earned this with your behavior. Be good and let us rest tonight. We hope by morning you will have learned this well enough."

"But, Master, I love you...please," I begged touching his hand tentatively.

"You must learn control to be a good Sister for us," Damien said simply. "We will fix it after you have learned."

I relaxed onto the bed and felt the covers drawn over me. I hissed softly when the blanket dipped between my legs to brush the fiery flesh there. Fighting for self control I tried to ignore the burn. The men respected pain tolerance and it took all my energy to have that.

I could see they were decided. When an idea was as firmly fixed in their minds as this one was, it would not be easily undone. I was unclear if they were angry at me or just believed it would take that much pain for me to understand. Pain was associated with lessons; I should have known that about them. Either way they would let me suffer until morning.

The men's breathing evened out quickly. I lay still quietly staring at the ceiling.

What would happen, I wondered, if the slaves told their men the truth on a grand scale?

Some of the men might dismiss it, but I imagined others would seek out more information. The men were happy the way things were, in a way. The truth would only serve to make them miserable.

And thanks to me and my big mouth, that was a real possibility.

I should not have told the truth to the other slaves. There had been valid options. I could have lied or just gone with the story Nu-reeh concocted. All they had to hear was I ran away and my child didn't survive. No one would have asked questions after that.

My family was correct. I'd made a horrible mistake. The compound would suffer for this. My men may suffer for this.

I lay quietly and watched the moons run through the sky outside. At some point I must have drifted into a light sleep. Dreams of the men burning their compound in anger woke me up.

As per my regular schedule it was the middle of the night and I had to pee. Moving as quietly as I could, I hobbled to the bathroom on widely spaced feet. Everything was manageable until I tried to pee.

The burning pain took my breath away. I bit my hand to avoid screaming as the urine washed over the welts on my private area. Nothing compared to the wet fire I felt now. I sobbed into my fist and tried to control myself.

Footfalls behind me told me someone had come in with me. I wasn't sure who it was and I didn't turn to look.

"Hush now," Damien soothed from behind me.

My furious eyes turned to look at Damien and I could not believe he'd done this to me. Before I could lash out I turned my head back to the wall. I was in no position to argue right now.

Damien dabbed me clean with a cool damp cloth and dried me with soft pats. I panted on the toilet, unwilling to finish and feel the burn return again. Unfortunately, I still had to go. I explained the problem to Damien.

He hesitated only a moment before I heard him rummaging in their cupboard. He returned and I felt the cool cream being worked into and around my pussy.

"We are not cruel men," he said rubbing healing cream over my labia. "You will suffer the rest until morning, but I cannot leave this sensitive area damaged. I do not wish to cause you permanent harm."

It was better, so much better. The sting in my legs I could handle. The burning pain in my female parts was too much. Sagging on the toilet the relief washed over me.

Damien let me finish using the bathroom, without the pain this time, and then reapplied the cream. He helped me walk back to the bed. Evan was awake and commented that I may not have learned. This was an important lesson.

"I understand, Master Evan, you are right. I made a stupid choice and I should suffer for it. The compound will suffer for this choice, your friends already have. Please forgive me," I begged.

Damien shushed me and told me to get in bed and go to sleep. We would deal with the problems in the morning. In the dim moonlight I had seen Evan's face and he was pleased. Gingerly, I lay between the two men and rested.

I felt less pain now and stared at the ceiling, grateful for that. I wished I could explain to them they did not have to hurt me to teach me. Seeing Basin's family in such turmoil was enough. This was Pateria, though, not Earth. It was their compound and their rules. I looked at Damien's serene face as he slept and knew he didn't feel he'd done anything wrong.

Turning my head I looked at Evan peacefully sleeping. I wanted to hate them, all of them, for what they'd done. Foolishly I had believed this part of my life was over. I wondered what possible reason they could have for beating me in such a private way.

Looking at the ceiling I refused to become angry. My way of thinking about right and wrong did not exist here. Damien punished me with exquisite pain, because he wanted me to make decisions like the family would. I wondered if in his mind this was actually a compliment. I could take a beating just like the rest of the family.

Strange dreams plagued my sleep, but I did rest some.

Evan was calling my name when I opened my eyes. My body jerked awake and I tried to move away from him. My heart pounded in my chest and my eyes were wide open in an instant.

The reaction seemed to concern them and Christof passed a gentle hand down my arm on the other side in reassurance. I flinched at the contact.

"Tell us what you learned," Evan said after looking over at Christof.

My voice shook slightly, but they understood me. The rule was firmly ingrained in my mind. If I wanted to talk about the women or the world, I should talk to them. Speaking to other slaves about my strange life circumstance was not acceptable.

The men seemed pleased and smiled down at me. They believed their punishment had taught me well.

Damien stood at the end of the bed and started to pull the blanket from me. I grabbed frantically at the cover. Laying nude and vulnerable in front of them seemed unwise. Damien's eyebrows lifted and he stopped tugging at my cover.

"I am going to heal you. Do you fear me?" he asked quietly.

My reaction had been inappropriate. I pushed the blanket down over my breasts and stomach and tried to smile.

"Do you?" he asked again, not moving.

"No, I just was..." the sentence drifted off and I stared up at them.

"Don't lie," Evan instructed softly from my side.

The anger came and I tried to tamp it down, but I couldn't.

"You hurt me," I said harshly pulling the blanket back to my neck. "You didn't have to hurt me. I am your slave again and you will do whatever you want with me!"

They looked shocked, which even in my fear and anger, I found strange.

"You are not a slave, little Sister," Bane pleaded coming to stand beside Damien. "We were teaching you. It was very important you remember the lesson. You can't forget this instruction."

I was livid and couldn't control my temper. "You made me call you Master! I am a slave! You would never do that to each other!"

Christof sat cross legged beside me and I heard him sigh before he spoke.

"You called us Master and we never told you to. We were teaching you. We thought it would reinforce the lesson," he said.

My hands gripped the blanket firmly and I looked up into his confused eyes, but did not say anything.

"Let me heal you," Damien said tugging at my cover. "You will feel better once I heal you, but you will remember this lesson well."

"You hurt me!" I shouted. "You all said you would protect me. How could you do this?"

Kein's eyes were questioning as he looked at me. "We are protecting you," he said. "You are family and you have to learn. We are afraid they will take you away for this."

They didn't understand my perspective at all. This was instruction. It was harsh because the rule was important. The way I felt about it wasn't even considered. That there might be another way to teach me wasn't even entertained.

It took concentration, but I allowed my cover to be moved. I didn't need to look to see the bruising and marks on my legs. Instead, I stared at the ceiling and tried to calm down.

Damien nudged my legs apart and began the slow process of healing them. Just like last time, no one else helped him.

"I learn when you talk to me," I said suddenly and to no one in particular. "Humans don't have to be beaten to learn."

Slowly and deliberately each mark was coated and healed. It took time before Damien answered.

"They would take you away," Damien said quietly. "If the men were upset by you, we fear the women would take you away from us. You must not make this mistake again. Pain will reinforce the lesson. We did this for you."

I looked down and saw him working slowly and carefully to remove the markings. He worked with utter concentration, intent on taking every bit of the hurt away. Still, there was pain in his features. I recognized guilt.

Evan brushed a strand of hair off my cheek and I jerked as though he'd hit me. I looked up into his face and saw something strange in his blue eyes, uncertainty.

"You are not a slave," Christof said softly. "You are family. We cannot separate from you..."

Evan looked saddened, as did everyone else. We were all suffering at the moment.

We were at an impasse for the moment. They honestly believed I needed the pain to learn, probably from a life of being trained that way. Part of what drove them on was a righteous fear. Still, I felt beaten and scared, but I found the strength to speak up.

"I do not like to be hurt and when you do that I fear you," I said quietly and licked my dry lips. "Let us come to an agreement, you will not beat me as a lesson and I will make better decisions. When I make mistakes we can talk about it and decide on a punishment together."

This moment spoke volumes for me. If they agreed to this I wasn't a slave. If they couldn't agree my position was no better than it had been. I waited anxiously for the answer.

"Pain reinforces the instruction," Kein said watching me carefully.

"I was never, never taught like that," I told him sincerely. "I would not make the same mistake again, because I understand the damage I caused. Humans can learn by talking to one another. Slaves are beaten to teach a lesson, family is not."

They were silent and considering for a long time before Damien spoke.

"I have had to teach my Brothers with pain in the past," he said simply.

"If you hurt me," I answered him sadly, "I will only fear you. Your friends are right. Humans fear things that bring them pain. I am not like you in that way."

Their eyes showed the inner turmoil they all felt.

"We acted rashly," Bane finally said sitting on the bed by my feet.

"If you continue to do things that anger the women, they will take you away from us again," Evan stated softly. He looked haunted.

"I can be more cautious," I promised them. "I can learn from my mistakes, but I do not wish to be restrained and beaten."

The air hummed with the intensity of the moment before Damien spoke.

"You are one of us," he said slowly, "but you are different. We do not want a slave, we want a Sister. When we disciplined you, you became our slave again. None of us liked how that felt..."

"Promise me," I said sitting up, "promise me you will not do this again."

"You must learn," Damien said eyeing me critically. "You must learn when we tell you things. There is much at stake."

"I will learn."

"We will not train you like this again," Damien promised finally looking relieved.

I made them all promise. I wanted to hear it from each of them.

Kein was last and he kissed my cheek. "Please," he said, "don't make them take you away."

Once my legs were suitably less marked my family took me to eat breakfast. They were all quiet and reserved as we ate. The reason almost made me retch.

The General would have to be informed about what I had done. If the men started to act odd, he had to know what was happening. Of course, Damien and his Brothers could wait, but if it was discovered that would be bad for the family. It would be preferable to own up to the mistake now.

I was panic stricken that the General would punish me, but Damien scoffed at the idea. The women wanted me healthy. In fact, Nu-reeh would be angry if she found out about last night's punishment. The evil side of me wondered what Hannah would do if she knew.

"Will he hurt the other slaves?" I asked chewing on my nails. "Will he kill them so they don't talk?"

My wild imagination started to blossom and I found myself hyperventilating as I gnawed at my nails. Damien's reassurance was not comforting. The General would do whatever was best for the compound.

Bane scolded me for biting myself. It would be dishonorable to be walking around looking chewed on.

I was washed and the cream was rubbed back into a few stubborn places on my inner thighs. They layered several long panels so no one could see the skin they had disciplined, which was still slightly marked. Their reason for placing the marks where they did suddenly made sense. The ornamentation I wore would actually cover the evidence of my discipline.

Once I was dressed they got themselves ready.

We made our way downstairs in silence. The men weren't bothered, but I fought the urge to pant and cry. The walk across the courtyard seemed to take an eternity and a moment, both at once. I couldn't believe I'd gotten us in this mess.

The General and his Brothers were talking and looking out the large window when we entered. They greeted Damien and his Brothers politely. There was no wasted time and Damien told the General they needed to talk.

I saw the faces of all the girls I'd spoken to. They wanted to live, none of them wanted to die. How horrible it would be to go to an empty Keeper's and know it was all my fault. Every death would be on my head.

Fat tears rolled down my face and a sob escaped my throat. How foolish I had been to condemn all those innocent girls to death. I was a pariah and damned anything I touched. The wretched sobs wouldn't stop now and I heard Damien's exasperated sigh.

"Ciara," Bane said sharply, "we will put calming cream on you if we need to. Stop this behavior right now."

I looked up at him and the tears just continued to fall. Somehow I managed to stay silent, though.

The men sat and I knelt in their sitting area by the fire. It was a cozy space obviously intended to entertain guests. The first time I'd knelt here I'd been safe and protected by the General. I doubted that would be the case today.

Damien told the General that the slaves recognized the way I looked when I carried a child. They'd all figured it out before I left. Once I returned they had wanted to know what had happened.

When Damien explained what I had told them, the General leapt out of his chair. As he paced, he clarified several times exactly what I had said. The fact I hadn't shared everything was pointed out on numerous occasions.

"Do the slaves know how this world is organized?" the General asked pointedly.

"Two know, sir," Damien replied and the General lunged at me.

It was Christof's quick reflexes that kept the General's hands from closing around my throat. I was jerked off my kneeling place and shoved between Bane and the wall. My family took a defensive posture between me and the General.

"They do not want her harmed, General," Damien said with authority. "Nu-reeh will destroy your family if you do that. This is a breeding slave, she holds more value than all of us, or so I am told."

I peeked from behind Bane's back to see the General fuming. Two of his Brothers were holding him back, but the others looked just as angry. He sputtered a curse when he saw me looking at him, so I dropped my head.

"This is my compound, my men!" the General fumed. "Do you know how difficult it is to organize the men? To keep them happy and busy? Who Damien, who knows?"

The General wasn't surprised Basin and his Brothers knew, they'd been acting odd for days. He was surprised Fuji's owners knew, they had not seemed upset ever. They displayed the same cool temperament they'd always had. The General wanted to speak with both groups though.

Once the General was calm, he assessed the situation more thoroughly. The things I'd told the majority of the girls would actually not cause too much damage. The slaves had been left to think the women took me and kept my child. I'd never said the women had any authority. That I'd been pregnant may surprise the men, but it wouldn't break them.

Bane didn't move me back to my kneeling place. While we talked to the General I stood against the wall and Bane stood in front of me. His posture looked relaxed, but I laid my hands on the small of his back and felt the coiled muscle. He was ready for anything that came at him.

"I will not harm it," the General finally said gesturing to me. "The behavior was unacceptable, but I will not risk my family."

Damien thanked the General, but Bane didn't move. The conversation about what to do continued for a while longer. I stayed standing against the wall and staring at Bane's wide shoulders.

The General made sure I understood now. There were just things I could not say. At Damien's prompting I assured him I would not talk about the world's secrets.

"The other slaves that know," the General said sitting down and watching me. "Do they pose a danger?"

Hersham, the General's Brother, spoke then. He seemed to be the Brother that understood slaves the best. He noted Fuji was from Batra, she would never say anything her owners didn't want her to. The human slave may be an issue.

My hands tightened on Bane's waist. I was terrified they would kill my friend, my best friend. Before I had the chance to say anything the General stated his decision was made and he excused my owners. Bane grabbed an arm and propelled me toward the door.

I tried to speak and was harshly rebuked as we left the General's house. Now was not the time for questions. Kein whispered we would talk when we could. Damien led us across the courtyard and I followed him obediently.

Upstairs, when we could finally talk, I expressed my fear. If the General killed Rose I felt like I'd never survive. She was a link to my former life and the best friend I'd ever had. Rose had supported me through everything.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 22



Damien found my obsession with the General killing slaves ridiculous.

"Has he ever killed a slave that you've seen?" Bane asked. "Why the sudden obsession with death?"

Kein mumbled under his breath still cursing my own death wish. I had become unduly interested in things dying. It did not make them happy at all.

The men were busily packing up bags, we were taking a trip today. I stood and watched them. All of them were grumbling about my new fixation. It got them really irritated and they were soon nearly throwing things into the containers.

"I'm not obsessed with death!" I fumed. "The only way to ensure silence is to kill her. You saw the General, how angry he was. Would Basin and his Brothers protect Rose the way you protect me? Unless they are willing to fight the General for her, he's going to kill her."

The stupid tears started again and I dropped my gaze to the floor.

Christof took my face in his hands and pulled it up so I was looking at him. He smiled down at me with calm benevolence.

"Basin and his Brothers," Christof said not releasing my face, "would be more upset if their slave was taken. They adore the girl you call Rose. It would be a tremendous blow to them to lose her. Since they are already doing badly, the General will not risk their health."

I nodded and smiled wanly up at him.

"We do not like this preoccupation you have developed with death. It concerns us," Christof said dropping his hands to stroke my shoulders. "You must concentrate on living. Do you understand me?"

I answered him affirmatively. He hugged me and held tight.

As we flew toward our destination on the transport I thought about what Christof had said. The General wasn't going to hurt his men. If losing Rose would hurt them, he wouldn't do it. I just hoped he had another option.

We went to a small cabin that was a short ride from the compound. It wasn't a place Warriors used all the time, so the men weren't worried about detection. Also, the cabin sat on a small rise, we'd see men coming long before they reached us.

The inside of the place was sparse. Christof explained this was a place you could stop and take lunch. Some men used it to rest during night patrols. The men were supposed to pick up after themselves. It wasn't dirty, just worn looking.

I was changed into my pants and shirt with the small sword strapped to my waist. We marched outside to do a little training before the midday meal. The men enjoyed my training and were looking forward to this.

My mind was stuck on my friends. Fretting about them was what I wanted to do, but I remembered the stinging slaps Bane liked to deliver. I had no urge to feel more pain in addition to what I'd felt the night before.

My sword tutor was relentless this morning. I'd proved to them I listened when they'd trained me, so now they were more insistent. Dodge, parry, and strike over and over again.

When Kein shouted a warning about approaching Warriors, I was relieved. Evan picked me up and bolted inside with me slung over his shoulder. He stood me in the sleeping room and pulled the cover closed behind us.

"Are you going to change my outfit?" I asked him as he stood watching me.

"Not yet," he answered stepping out of the room and leaving the cabin.

I gripped at the handle of the small sword I carried. It was a sliver of metal compared to the wicked, long weapons they had. The training was fun, but I knew the truth. Trained or not, I was no match for the men of this world. I'd hold my ground with the sword if I had to, but it would merely be a gesture.

I heard the transport settle outside, but there weren't any other sounds until the main door opened. Evan called me to come to him. He was waiting at the main door.

We walked outside and I jerked my head down. I had not realized we had company. Basin and his Brothers stood quietly with my owners. Rose was with them, bundled up in a brown cover.

"You dressed it," Basin said quietly. "You gave it a sword...that is how it knew to attack our cousin..."

Damien spoke slowly and calmly. He told the other men they like to see me fight. Training me at swordplay had been fun. It was a sport the whole family enjoyed.

Basin reached over and pulled the covering off Rose's head. She kept her eyes down until Basin demanded she look up.

"Our Rose was not meant to fight," he said simply.

She reached her gloved hand out and stroked his arm. His face softened as he looked at her. When he turned back to Damien his face was hard.

"Who is our Mistress?" Basin asked. "To what woman do we owe our existence?"

Damien didn't know. It might be Nu-reeh and her Sisters, they seemed to have a lot of families. None of us could be sure.

Basin went from looking forlorn to looking angry. One of his Brothers already looked furious. Christof told me to go back inside. After a moment, Basin told Rose to do the same thing.

As soon as the door closed, Basin started to yell at Damien. The stone and wood of the place we were in muffled the loud conversation, but we could still hear it. Basin accused Damien's family of being the lowest of all men.

We stripped Rose of her brown outfit and undid her kneeling place from her waist. A clingy wrap of fabric wound over her breasts and around her hips. As usual she looked lovely and delicate.

Rose laid the kneeling place on the floor by the fire and stoically took her spot. The men had not brought me a kneeling place, so I sat on the floor next to Rose. We rested quietly for a moment.

My friend looked awful. Her features were pale and drawn. The stress of Basin's family was weighing heavily on her.

Outside I could hear the sounds of fighting. The disagreement was no longer just verbal. I didn't hear clashing metal which made me feel better. The walls occasionally shook as a body was tossed into it though.

Rose and I sat close on the floor quietly listening.

"They won't send us back to our Keepers," she said suddenly, "or Fuji."

Uncertainty stabbed at me as I gripped her hand.

"We will all go to the Keepers for the Administrators. The slaves there...are permitted to understand things. The Administrators speak freely in front of their slaves," she told me. "I've never met the slaves the Administrators keep...I hope they will like us," she finished in a whisper.

I couldn't believe the insecurity I was getting from Rose. However, I remembered how long her life had been like it was. Any change at this point must be terrifying.

The sounds of fighting died down as I reassured Rose. We'd do fine at the new Keepers. The three of us were friendly. Besides that there was three of us, it wasn't like we'd be alone.

"You will leave us if it is a girl," she said quietly. "You told us they would take you back to the mountains quickly if it is female."

We sat and listened as the men spoke harshly to one another. The fight seemed to be revving back up.

"How will they know if it is female?" she asked looking into my eyes.

"I don't know," I lied. "They somehow knew last time and they were right. I would assume they will know again," I shrugged.

"You aren't telling the truth," she said simply.

I sat and watched her closely. There wasn't malice in her features, just concern.

"I am not permitted to speak to you anymore," I told her simply.

Our conversation was interrupted as a brown bundle was thrust through the doorway. The other slave pulled off her head cover and I smiled seeing Fuji.

"Hello, friends!" Fuji greeted us. "My owners were concerned because Rose's wanted to fight...Why are you wearing pants, Ciara? Is this how your men punish you?"

I laughed and rose to help Fuji with her brown cover. As we stripped her I explained the men thought it was fun to teach me to fight. That was an utterly foreign concept to Fuji and she insisted they must be punishing me.

A body being slammed into the outside wall of the cabin made us all stop talking and look up.

"I've never seen them like this," Rose said while watching the door with trepidation. "Damien and his Brothers were their best friends. They have protected each other for a very long time. Basin and his Brothers feel betrayed."

Fuji joined Rose and me by the fire. Her owners had come to help keep the peace. She hoped they were doing what they intended to do. From the sounds outside they had joined the battle, not stopped it.

Hesitantly I asked Fuji why she'd not told us she was sharing my experience with her men. Smiling pleasantly Fuji told me she wasn't permitted to discuss that. Her owners had been very specific in the things she was allowed to talk about. My friend saw absolutely nothing wrong with the way she had acted.

"Humans enjoy talking," Fuji informed Rose and me solemnly. "My owners did not wish the hassle. They bought me because they knew I would be good and obedient when they saw me."

Rose smiled a little and so did I at the statement. As much as I didn't want to admit it, Fuji's owners had pegged it. Humans liked to talk and gossip. Obviously we were all here because I couldn't control my big mouth.

Eventually it was quiet outside. No more yelling and no more bodies thrown against the walls. I had horrible images in my head of two times I'd seen broken families.

Were all of our beloved men laying on the ground, their bonds or bodies broken? I had to check.

Rose and especially Fuji were both against the idea. The men would come get us when they wanted to. We did not have permission to go looking for them.

Much to my friend's dismay I walked over to the door. Taking a deep breath, I cracked it open and looked outside. I closed it quickly after peeking out and went to sit with my friends.

"They are talking," I said quietly. "Some of them are sitting on the ground and some are standing. None of them look broken."

Fuji groused, irritated by my failure to follow directions. Rose looked relieved.

"You won't tell us anything anymore will you?" she asked instead staring at the wall.

"No, not unless they tell me I can."

I felt bad holding back from her. Friends should be able to share everything. This wasn't a normal friendship,though. Rose was a slave to her men and I was a slave to Nu-reeh. Neither of us had the luxury of doing as we wished.

We talked about what we could. It was depressing to think my days would now be filled with only polite conversation. I enjoyed talking to Rose and Fuji. When the outside door opened we all looked down and waited.

The room was soon filled with the sounds of men. They noted I had no kneeling place. Damien told them they didn't like me to kneel; I used the furniture. He couldn't understand why I was currently sitting on the floor.

Bane pulled me to stand and sat me on a chair next to Rose. The room was utterly silent for a moment. I kept my gaze on Rose's head and tried to remember to breath.

No one asked about my seating arrangement. They had killed something and were busy making it into an edible meal. I felt the silent looks and the questioning stares though.

When Evan handed me a plate to eat the other men had suffered enough of this strange behavior. All the men wanted to know what was wrong with Damien and his Brothers. They were treating me incorrectly.

Christof informed his friends that slavery was wrong. Keeping a sentient creature and using it for your own needs was inappropriate. I liked to feed myself and I liked to sit on the furniture. Fuji, Rose, and I had innate rights to our own opinions about how to spend our lives.

Fuji screamed like a cat and wrapped herself around one of her owner's legs. She didn't like this conversation, it upset her. Looking up at her men she begged them not to get rid of her.

The men shushed her and stroked her head. One of them set her kneeling place right beside him and told her to stay close. That seemed to make her feel better.

Basin knelt next to Rose and tilted her face up to his. He stroked her cheek and looked at Christof.

"We care for what is ours. These slaves were too weak to survive alone. They require us to help them," he said standing.

Christof disagreed politely. We would have done fine on our home worlds. Slavery was wrong. The taking and degrading of a creature such as a human was not honorable.

Basin wasn't swayed by Christof's argument. Rose had been delivered to them injured. It had taken them many turns of the small moon to heal her. The creatures slavers captured needed the care of strong, benevolent Masters.

I watched Rose and she watched the floor. Later I would ask Rose what Basin was talking about. For now we sat quietly as the men held a polite debate on the issue.

Lunch was handed around. The conversation got back to the women and mountains. As we ate Damien and his Brothers explained the mountains and the rules to their friends.

Even when I was connected to them there were things I didn't know or wouldn't have thought to tell the girls. The men talked calmly and answered all the questions their cousins had. They were completely honest and open, holding nothing back.

After lunch the men went outside and I sat with Rose and Fuji. None of us were in a talkative mood. Fuji was upset, Rose was quiet, and I felt guilty. When the men reappeared and asked us to come outside we did quickly.

Basin's Brother was curious what watching me fight would be like. Damien relented, so in front of the three families and my two best friends Bane continued my training.

I was weak and slow compared to Bane. He seemed to be using just a tiny bit of strength to train with me. In sharp contrast I was huffing and puffing doing everything I could to keep up with him.

The men noticed every nuance and every misstep. There was a man in Rose's family that apparently liked to teach. He helped Bane point out every mistake and wouldn't stop until it was corrected.

The man in Rose's family asked about getting me a shield. It seemed wrong to train without one. As Bane taught me I heard the man talking to Damien, he thought they should have one made for me.

Bane made a few changes to his training regimen. In front of his friends he didn't slap me with his blade. Instead when I got distracted by the audience he'd reach forward and push me. Before I learned to anticipate the shoves I landed on my backside several times.

"It's like watching you try to train a shopkeeper child," someone laughed as I tried to do what Bane told me.

I redoubled my efforts and that made them laugh harder. Even my family found it humorous and started to tease me. Let them laugh, I decided.

When Bane was adequately distracted I managed to just nick him with my blade. I saw Rose smirk at the relentless laughter that earned Bane. How humiliating for him to be harmed by someone like me, they taunted. He wasn't embarrassed; he just pushed harder and forced me to work more.

Bane told me if I'd managed to get the best of him, I must be learning. He'd teach me as much as he could today, he'd said happily. I groaned at the implication.

The sun was low in the sky when the men had enough entertainment. I was absolutely exhausted, which is probably why it wasn't fun to watch anymore.

During the afternoon the process of forgiveness seemed to have been started, which I was glad to see. Basin talked casually with Damien and the men were all relaxed. Other than Bane and I, no one was fighting.

Once we were finally done, Evan brought me inside and stripped me of my dirty, sweaty clothes. He washed me efficiently. While we stood in the shower he praised me for learning. The other Warriors didn't think a human could learn as fast as I did. He was proud of me.

I was changed into my ornamentation and brown cover. We flew back to the compound as the sun settled along the horizon. The other families had left some time before, so it was just us.

"I don't think they believed you," I told Christof.

We were still in rough countryside, so I didn't think it would be wrong to talk right now.

Christof shrugged and grinned. "They invaded our private family time to fight with us. They stayed and asked us for the truth. It's their own fault if they didn't like it."

He wasn't alone in that opinion and the rest of the family agreed. If they didn't like Damien's opinion, they should not have asked for it.

I shook my head and what I said came out sounding like a scolding.

"If you upset them, it will make the General angry. You can't advertise an opinion that different without catching some sort of grief for it-"

Evan interrupted to bark a laugh. They would tell their two groups of friends the truth from now on. If the other men didn't like it, that was their problem.

I saw an opportunity, an opening if you will, so I took it.

"I like to tell my friends the truth, too," I said to the group. "Rose and Fuji are loyal friends. May I still speak honestly with just them?"

Silence met my request. I looked up to see the men deep in thought. They were lost for a moment in the internal conversation.

"Only," Damien said, "if you inform us of what you are telling them and only if their owners do not mind. We do not like surprises from our cousins."

That seemed fair, really fair in fact. "I would never tell them I was bonded to you when I was pregnant," I promised. "I won't say anything that may harm you all."

"How would that harm us?" Kein asked from behind the control panel.

I stammered out an answer. It would be rude to discuss their personal thoughts and feelings with anyone. That type of thing should be kept private. They had a right to their privacy.

They roared with laughter at that. It seemed ridiculous to them. Basically, I didn't want to discuss Kein's love for the green stalks, but I'd freely share the biggest secret on the planet.

"Humans," Christof finally said shrugging.

The very next day I was ornamented and taken to a different Keeper's compound. It was right next to the old Keeper's compound, I noted. We were separated from them by perhaps several hundred yards and a couple of walls. The small forest I frequently walked in separated the two areas.

Much like our other compound Damien approached the wall and a door slid open. I followed him inside. The short man inside greeted Damien and asked him what my talents were.

For once, I saw Damien speechless. He asked why my talents would be important. The Keeper explained that during the morning Administrator's slaves did projects, we had our afternoons to relax. Damien was confused and his other Brothers joined him.

"The slaves," the short man said, "must work as we work. It is understandable they rest in the afternoon to be ready to entertain you. The Administrators require everyone be used to their highest potential, though. I'm sure you are used to the indulgent way Warriors treat slaves. However, the Administrators have found many uses for the idle hands of their sex slaves."

Damien and his Brothers continued to stare at the man in disbelief.

The short man seemed to be getting irritated with the slow progression of the conversation. "The slaves are not harmed and do not usually do manual labor, but many are talented. Some can be trained in letters or numbers. Others help us maintain the delicate equipment that run the transports, for instance."

Christof spoke finally. He told the man I knew how to read and write. The tutors in the mountains had also taught me numbers. I had basic math training from my home world that augmented that.

"Good, good," the short man smiled, "what else does your slave know about this world?"

I knew animals and plants in the mountains, Kein explained. Nu-reeh had trained me in mountain survival. I was quite knowledgeable about the dangers in the mountains.

That thrilled the man. Had I been trained on my home world, he wanted to know? What usable skills would I bring to him from that.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 22



Damien told him I had cleaned and I could dance. The man didn't think that would be useful. However, the skills I had learned since coming here would be put to good use. He had the perfect job for me.

Rose's owners showed up about that time. They went through the same scenario. It finally came out that Rose was not educated on this world, but she had been an educator of young children on Earth.

The man was thrilled. Rose and I would work together.

When Fuji arrived he was less excited to see her. Slaves from Batra typically came with a very small skill set. They also refused to take direction from anyone but their own Masters. It was decided Fuji would just sit with Rose and I. If she could be useful the Keeper would talk to her Masters.

The men finally left, although none of them liked leaving us. Frankly, for the first time at the Keepers, I felt worried. I wondered what would happen to us.

The building we entered was more elaborate than the Keepers compound we went to prior to this. Marble looking columns supported a shiny white structure. Multiple doors and windows were open on both sides to let the sea breeze come through and cool it. Colored flags and symbols adorned the outside.

As we walked in I read the symbols. They were motivational signs that talked about working to your full potential. Other signs said a happy men kept a happy slave. It was very strange.

Inside the building small groups of women were around low tables, working. They knelt at the tables, in a fashion. I'd seen ergonomic work chairs at home that these reminded me of. They allowed the slaves to kneel in the same place for a long time, while essentially sitting.

A couple of girls looked up when we came in, but they went quickly back to what they had been doing. Men wandered through the slaves, occasionally taking note of what the slave was doing.

Rose, Fuji, and I were settled at a small table. Something the size of a pad of paper was handed to me. It was small and thin, but suddenly it lit up. Characters slid across the screen announcing my name and asking me what I needed. I dropped the thing immediately.

The short man scolded me for dropping the pad. He placed it back in my hands and explained the process. This was our work station.

I knew the mountains and Rose knew children. We were instructed to write a story for the children demonstrating one useful skill in the mountains. It should be very simple, the man said, but interesting. If the story was good enough, it would be used by the Child Keepers to train the young men.

The pad in my hands was connected to every computer on the planet. It would know each of us. If we wished to write a story, we only needed to write that instruction on the pad. It would accommodate our wishes.

It was an odd morning. Rose and I finally decided to write a story about finding food in the mountains. The Warriors in our story hunted and trapped their dinner. We described how to kill and prepare it. It was very thorough.

Unlike me, Rose knew how children learned. She had to assume the children here learned the same way. She made the story interesting, yet to the point.

The lunch bell rang and I was surprised. The morning had passed quickly and we had a good draft of the story worked out. It had been ages since I had felt constructive and even longer for Rose. She beamed at our accomplishment.

"You must teach me to read and write," she whispered as we walked toward the hall the other girls were heading to. "I could be more helpful if I knew how to make the characters."

Fuji had been quiet and introspective while we worked. She watched us, but did not actively take part. I knew she saw no purpose in what we were doing. Unless her owners took an interest, she would maintain her disinterest.

The short man stopped us before we reached the hall the rest of the girls were heading into. My kneeling place was by the entrance to the compound. He directed me there.

I knelt silently and saw the Administrators' feet pass me by. These men were dressed finely, I could tell just looking at their lower half. Their pants flowed like they were made of silk. Their shoes were the softest appearing leather.

These were gentlemen. They were negotiators and mediators. Unlike my rough Warriors these men understood the world and moved freely through the many layers of secrecy. I imagined they could probably be quite dangerous in their own way.

It was such a relief to see boots stop in front of me.

"Come, Ciara," Evan said and I rose to follow him.

As per our normal routine he sauntered out the wall and into the forest. I followed him. Unlike the Warriors who ignored us when we did this, an Administrator stopped him. The man demanded to know why Evan was walking me into the woods.

I could hear the smile in Evan's voice. He told the man to have lunch, but didn't elaborate further. A moment passed before Evan turned away from the man and we walked into the forest.

This side of the forest was wetter. Evan guided me where to step so I didn't put my feet in puddles. I followed his near silent footfalls through the woods.

"Evan-" I started to say and he cut me off with a sharp noise.

We continued to walk, but I didn't attempt to speak again. It was really just as well. Evan walked briskly, but carefully. Following his footsteps exactly took a lot of concentration.

We went into a nice, dry clearing and Evan sat my kneeling place on a fat rock. He motioned and I sat. The brush behind Evan was thick. He leaned on a tree across from my spot and handed me the bowl.

I took a bite and he watched me carefully. Feeling slightly unnerved at his attention, I raised the second bite slowly toward my lips. Evan moved quickly and leaned over. He sucked the bit from my fingers, chewing as he straightened up.

For a moment I was too startled to move. Evan just grinned at me. It was odd behavior, but I got the hint.

So he wanted me to feed him, I could handle that. I took a bite for myself and then offered a bite to him. He'd lean down and take it obediently with his lips. It was a funny way to eat.

While we had lunch I tried to talk to Evan, but he would give me a sharp look or shake his head. After a while I understood he wasn't in a mood to talk. I listened to the sounds of the forest around us and fed him contentedly.

I wondered how long I'd get the silent treatment. Perhaps it was a bet or a game. Smiling up at Evan I wondered who was currently winning the contest. For some reason Evan looked wicked as he continued to grin down at me, maybe he was winning.

Soon the bowl was empty and we were just staring at one another. I wanted to speak, but Evan had already indicated I should not. However, I wasn't sure how long I should just quietly sit here.

A branch cracked loudly from the way we'd come and I stood, turning toward the noise. Evan cooly guided me to stand behind him. I yelped when men melted out of the forest around me. None of them made a sound as they moved.

It was Damien and the rest of the family.

"Hush, little Sister," Bane murmured, touching my arm, as he strode past to take his spot beside Evan.

Looking around Evan's sides I saw men noisily stepping out of the forest coming toward us. One of them must have stepped on the branch I heard break. By their dress they were Administrators.

My hair was long enough to act as my shield again. With my head tipped down I looked through the veil it provided. Several families of Administrators stood staring at my family from across the peaceful glen.

"You let it feed YOU?" one of the men hissed.

"You let it feed ITSELF?" another of them sneered.

"Yes," Damien said simply letting his arms hang casually.

I took in the stances of the men. I'd seen that form before. When Bane casually had me pinned against the General's wall, he'd held the same pose. They were ready for an attack, but far too trained to look like they were.

"It is a slave," one of the men across from us sputtered.

My family didn't answer. They just stood silently, impassively.

"The women," one man said pointedly, "will hear of this dishonor."

Damien didn't say a word, he just continued to watch the men across the clearing.

"They will MAKE you act correctly," one of the Administrators threatened.

I sucked in a gasp and whispered 'no, please not that,' under my breath.

It would kill me if the women brainwashed Damien and his Brothers. I loved them. Their defiance of the rules to make me feel happy was such a magnificent gesture. To see their free will stripped because of it would crush me.

Kein was looking over at me with an irritated look and I quickly looked down, hiding my eyes.

"Do not speak to other men," Kein reprimanded quietly.

"So," Damien drawled addressing the Administrators, "you would call upon your Mistress to discuss our handling of our slave? We will be needing to sharpen our weapons tomorrow, would you also like to get her opinion on that?"

Evan snorted and Bane laughed.

Damien spoke with confidence. The women would not care how he and his Brothers handled me. As long as I was kept well and ready for my use, no one would interfere.

The Administrators tried to pull rank, but Damien didn't budge in his position. My family took their orders from Nu-reeh directly, not the Administrators. Nu-reeh said keep me happy and healthy, which is what they were doing. How they chose to do that was no one's business.

I listened to the conversation and heard the steel in Damien's voice. He wasn't going to change his mind. It didn't make any difference how the rest of the world treated slaves. Damien had his own way.

Eventually, the Administrators came to the inevitable conclusion. Damien wasn't changing. They made several more threats, but those sounded hollow. I breathed with relief when they finally left.

Christof picked up the empty bowl I'd finished before the other men showed up. He quietly complimented me on eating my lunch and picked up my kneeling place. The men took a tight grouping around me and we walked back toward the Keepers' compound.  

Damien quietly told me to follow his footsteps as I had done with Evan.

"Yes, Damien," I whispered softly following his instructions to the letter.

The men were silent as was I for the remainder of the walk. When we exited the forest several groups of men stood staring at us. I jerked my head down, but not before taking them in.

They had leaves in their hair and their fine shoes were muddy. The Administrators weren't trained to go traipsing around in the forest. Evan must have heard them following us the entire time.

Evan's behavior now made much more sense. We were being watched and he was monitoring the Administrators. I grinned big realizing his show of me feeding him was designed to agitate. He really couldn't resist being difficult.

My Warriors dropped me inside the walled compound. The Keepers approached and politely greeted Damien.

My care was handed off and my family left through the wall.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 23



LOYAL READERS, PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

First off, I apologize. I need to take about 4 weeks off from the posting schedule. I promised a chapter a week and I thought I could do it. Unfortunately, I did not anticipate the PREGNANCY. 

I was fine with the changes for the first 4- 5 weeks. Now, I'm suffering from a form of morning sickness that lasts all day. The nausea and vomiting is taking a huge toll on my health. I've really been struggling the last 4 weeks. Frankly, it's hard to feel like writing erotica when you want to puke 24-7. Give me 4 weeks and I will be out of the first trimester and this should end. 

I assure the Lit readers this is NOT because I got strong feedback from the last couple of chapters. I like the fact you guys are so into my story. The feedback has been well thought out and provocative - I enjoy it. It's been a bright spot in what's become a very trying time. 

A Slave to the Servants will NOT stay half finished. I would not do that to this story - it's my baby, too (and it's never made me sick) so it's my favorite child at this point. I want the next chapter to hit the shelves on Nov 30 

As far as how much is left...I'm long winded. Looking at my rough drafts, probably another 12 chapters to go. I'm into happy endings, but I made my poor characters work for it. 

As always, thanks to Steve150177 for proofreading, his help makes for a better product. 

Comments are welcome - good, bad, or ugly!

Please return at the end of my little pause and thanks to everyone for understanding. DW

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Smiling fondly I watched my men stride out of the Keepers'. They walked with poise and confidence, not the least bothered by the trouble with the Administrators. They would make their point whether anyone else appreciated it or not. 

I was happy and pleased my men had decided to stand up for me in front of others. It really meant something to me. The gesture was huge in my eyes.

The Keeper made a sound to get my attention and I followed him down a large open breezeway toward the ocean. The Keeper told me I could swim. My work from the morning had been saved and I would do more tomorrow. 

We entered into a large room bordered by columns. The sand and sea sat just outside the wide columns. Girls lounged around or danced with one another. Beyond the confines of this space there were others on the beach and in the water. 

Fuji and Rose approached as soon as I entered. It seemed all eyes were on us. I did not like the attention one bit. It gave me a bad feeling. I wanted my friends and me away from there. 

"I'd like to go to the shore," I said softly to Rose motioning to the beach behind her. 

She nodded and grabbed my hand as we went in that direction. We were stopped by a lovely, tall girl and her equally beautiful friends. I thought they might be from Earth, but I wasn't sure. 

"So you have the babies," she said looking me up and down.

"I must apologize," I murmured politely. "I am not permitted to speak on it."

Rose squeezed my hand lightly in agreement. 

"It's not really surprising," she sneered. "You look like someone that has birthed many children."

I made a noncommittal sound and shrugged. The girl was obviously poking fun at my generous curves. Part of me wanted to be hurt, but I knew there were five men that had worked hard for this lush figure. Her cutting remark barely even stung. 

"It doesn't make you better," she sneered stepping closer to me.

"No, it doesn't," I said simply and continued to watch her eyes. 

I released Rose's hand and stood staring at the other girl. She was taller than me and I bet she was strong. I did not imagine her Administrators had ever formally trained her to fight, though. 

A slow smile crept across my mouth as I thought about the fast moves I could use to hurt her. The Keepers wouldn't be able to stop the first few blows, I was sure of that. I'd get a couple good swings in. 

"You know, if you hurt me, you'll get the whip," she threatened with a superior look on her face.

Again, I shrugged, "I've been whipped before," the look in my eyes did not change.

My unfaltering stare and complete disregard of her threat seemed to surprise the girl. She sputtered, grasping for something to say. Frankly, I was done with her and walked past without a backward glance. 

Rose and Fuji reappeared at my sides as we walked down toward the sand. None of us said anything, we needed to find a private place to talk. A shade tree grew near the water with several low benches arranged beneath it. No one was there, so we headed for that. Just as we settled down I heard a familiar voice

Mia, the girl from Fredrick's shop, approached us smiling broadly. She arranged herself on a cushion and continued to grin.

"So you've made quite an impression," she said motioning toward the grouping of girls still staring at us from inside. "No one ever stands up to Vesa. Her owners are the head Administrators. She is used to be treated as the most special slave here."

I grunted a laugh and Mia looked strangely at me. I shook my head as I spoke.

"We're still all slaves. The idea of a hierarchy for us is pointless. We are the lowest thing on this planet."

"That is not how they see it," Mia grinned gesturing.

Mia was pleasant and knowledgeable. She sat with us as we talked for a while. Having me here disrupted the carefully built class system this group of slaves seemed to work under. 

I was a breeder and no one could figure out where that put me. My presence rocked their system to it's core. It wasn't clear whether a Warrior's breeding slave was more or less important than the head Administrator's slave. 

I would have enjoyed continuing to talk to Mia, but a Keeper approached. Damien had told the man I would swim, so I should be swimming. Evidently he misunderstood the concept that Damien was giving me permission, but not an order.  

I was stripped and it was demanded I get in the water. Saying good-bye to my friends I swam in the inlet and inspected it. 

In a way it was good I was forced to swim, it relaxed me. The quiet water was soothing at it always was. Still, I wished I could talk to Rose, so much had happened lately. When Fuji came up beside me in the water, I nearly screamed. 

Fuji's idea of getting my attention was to slide her freezing cold hands up my legs as I inspected a tiny plant in about six feet of water. I jerked around to face her and then surfaced for a breath. She was standing on the bottom and talking to me from under water. 

I plunged my head beneath the surface and found I could actually hear her. She somehow could transmit sound through the water. It was remarkably strange.

"Come closer to shore. Rose found a place in the water she is willing to be. She wants to talk to you," Fuji said.

I nodded, dumbstruck as Fuji walked underwater back toward the shore. 

Swimming back toward the compound, I saw Rose in the water. She sat in a small tidal pool that was separated from the main swimming area by a natural rocky boundary. As I got closer she smiled at me and motioned I should stay in the bay.  

"If you hold the edge of the rock,"she said, "and kick your feet, the Keepers will think you are swimming. That way we can talk."

I looked quizzically at her. "You could just come into the deeper part of the water," I told her. 

Rose shook her head and looked around, ensuring it was just the three of us. 

"I will swim when my owners are with me, because I feel safe. It is not something I enjoy if they are not here," she said quickly. 

"Why?" I asked stupidly. 

Rose hesitated a second before she spoke. "I was held beneath the surface of the water several times when I was younger. With Basin and his Brothers, I feel no fear of that happening...without them, I am not sure." 

I felt like a jerk for asking. It was obviously something she didn't want to discuss. In the back of my mind I realized there was a great deal I didn't know about Rose.  

We sat and talked about things for a while. I told the girls we could speak, so long as Damien and his Brothers knew what I was saying. Rose was as impressed as I had been at the fairness of that. 

As we sat and talked a Keeper approached us with a strange contraption. It looked like a large mobile shade device. He set it up so Fuji was sitting out of the sun. That seemed to make her happy. These Keepers seemed even more interested in us than our old ones had.  

"Do you burn, Fuji?" I asked as she stretched out in the new shade.

"This place is too hot for me," she said. "It will be better for me when I go with you to the mountains. The temperature is more like my home planet."

Rose and I both looked surprised. We had no idea Fuji would go to the mountains. Fuji acted like she hadn't said anything out of the ordinary. 

"Slaves need companionship," Fuji continued as though stating fact. "You will go the mountains many times. There is concern you will be without companions for long periods of time. You may fall ill and become sad. Humans sometimes suffer physically when they suffer mentally. Your enjoyment of our friendship has not been ignored. Our owners will go with yours each time you are taken. They will work for their owners and we will stay with you."

I was motionless in the water and Rose sat staring at Fuji.

"We both go?" she squeaked. 

"Yes, we both go to assist in Ciara's care. They will not breed us, though. You are not able and they cannot breed with me," Fuji said. 

The question came out of my mouth without any thought behind it. I asked Rose why she couldn't have children. Her eyes flashed in anger and I saw her look down quickly. Feeling like I'd put my foot in my mouth again, I apologized profusely to her. 

Rose seemed to regain her composure and looked calmly at me. For a moment nothing was said and the sea sounds predominated.  

"I am not to talk of my home planet," Rose finally said and then took a deep breath, "but I will accept punishment if it comes."

Rose continued and the story she told was awful. She had been married to a man on Earth when she was only eighteen. He had been the son of a well respected preacher. The man beat her mercilessly and raped her frequently. No one believed he would hurt her, so no one would help her. Rose finally got the courage to run from him. 

He found her in a field and beat her. Using a sharp knife he drove it into her abdomen several times. Right about then was when the slavers appeared. Rose lost consciousness as the aliens bound her husband and inspected her. 

The slavers repaired most of the damage and salvaged Rose. Even injured and beaten as she was, they thought she would sell well. They had been right. 

Basin and his Brothers had to bid high for her, she remembered the auction. Her men had been fascinated with her tiny fingers and delicate build. She had known they would buy her the moment her tray stopped in front of them.  

The slavers prevented the Paterians from getting too close to Rose before they left. They had believed Rose may not survive, even with the fixes they had done. Basin and his Brothers were kept arm's length from her until the moment they brought her here.  

"They tried," Rose whispered, "to use me when we got to their rooms here on Pateria. I panicked and my mind faded to the quiet place I went to when my husband raped me. When I woke up they were all staring at me with the strangest looks. They had never seen an earth creature respond to stimulation like that. They had stopped trying to arouse me and called the Healers."

I was standing in the water and staring at Rose. She reminded me to kick my feet so the Keepers would be happy. Dutifully, I kicked the water as she continued.

"The Healers found the minute scars the slavers had tried to hide. They had a device that saw the damage done to me inside. I was repaired, but use of me now would reopen the wounds. The Healers felt the slavers had tricked Basin and his Brothers. They were angry. The strange device the Healers used told them organs had been removed. The slavers had taken parts from me here," she gestured to her lower abdomen, "I assumed they meant my uterus. It must have been damaged." 

"The Healers congratulated Basin on his attention. The Healers also studied...the rest of me. They found the old scars from prior...rapes. Basin thanked them. Once they left he made me tell him and his Brothers what had happened."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, unsure of what to say.

"No need for that," Rose smiled, "Basin was confused why a man would have hurt me to have sex with me. I am so small, only a brash and untrained man would do such a thing. He and his Brothers were neither. He saw fear in my eyes and understood it now." 

"How did you ever get over that fear?" I asked stupidly.

Rose smiled a sly smile. "You know these men, Ciara," she chided. "They could beat us to death with a single finger, yet they employ gentle seduction, because we respond better to it. It took time and I healed, soon I learned they would not hurt me. They gave me pleasure and simple encouragement. Basin and his Brothers handled me with great care. I had never been treated like something precious. When they finally used me, I was so grateful for their kindness, I didn't mind. It seemed a fair trade."

I tread water and considered Rose's story. 

"I can't imagine a Warrior on Earth being as kind as these men are," I said bluntly. "It seems an unlikely mix."

Rose laughed out loud. 

"My second cousins," she said, "were soldiers. They treated their things in such a way as to have them functioning at their highest capacity. I remember seeing them clean their boots and guns. These men are the same."

"I don't see..." I started to say and Rose cut me off. 

"They want you to be a confident and healthy slave. They like us to look our best at all times. If they beat you daily, you would look downtrodden or black and blue. They give us what we need to look healthy. It isn't surprising," she said. 

Rose was right. 

"I'm glad you survived," I told her seriously. "I don't know that I would have been that strong." 

She shrugged and watched the waves. 

"Your husband," I suddenly said, "what did the slavers do with him? Where do they sell males?"

Rose looked wicked for a moment and a strange look lit her eyes. 

"He damaged Basin's property, even though I wasn't his at the time. My owners went back to the slave house and demanded reparations. Basin was angry the slavers had hid my injuries. My husband was given to Basin as a gift, at no cost. It sealed his fate. You must understand; if he had no price, he had no value."

"I didn't want to see at the time, but they took me once. It took a full moon for him to die, they tortured him so slowly..."

My skin prickled as I watched Rose's face. Knowing what the women could do, I shuddered at what the men would do, especially if they had incentive. The man must have looked at death as a gift. 

"The slaves here at the time all saw him. It was a lesson in why not to anger the Warriors. We were all very good for a long time after that. None of the slaves wanted to be treated that way," she finished. 

I stared off into space as I contemplated Rose's story.

When Rose spoke again it startled me, "I'll be punished for the story, but I wanted to tell you."

I shook my head and looked quizzically at her. "I'm not going to tell your owners," I said.

Rose looked back at Fuji and I followed her gaze. Fuji made a sound and rolled onto her stomach on the cool sand. She made patterns that looked like her owner's symbol. 

"Master Stayne and his Brothers know your story," she said. "There is no new information to tell them. I only tell them about new things that happen."

Rose and I both rolled our eyes. Fuji was so well trained it was really ridiculous. 

"When do we leave?" Fuji asked pulling a foot back into the shade. 

I tried to explain I didn't know and she seemed to find that silly. Fuji had control of when she could bear young. I tried to explain I didn't know and she snorted. Probably the most unladylike thing I'd seen her do, only second to her reaction to the worms. 

"The Healers will know," she said sounding bored. "You should ask your owners. The Healers are supposed to be watching you to know when. We will leave as soon as they know."

Well, that made sense. Those annoying exams the Healers kept doing were more logical now. They were checking fertility. 

I shuddered thinking how later it would be checking for conception.

I dunked my head to hide the tears. Such a clinical term for the start of my next heart wrenching adventure. Making up some lame excuse I swam away from my friends. 

I swam and thought about my children. A boy that was taken as soon as he was weaned was the worst thing I could imagine. I refused to think of what would happen if it was a little girl without wings or strength. Their computers would have determined that wouldn't happen. I prayed they were right. So many horrible things and it would happen too many times to keep my sanity. 

I swam as far as I could and looked out into the ocean. Drowning had been torture, I thought clinging to the metal that separated the inlet from the sea. At least it had ended quickly, a small voice whispered. 

Looking out into the deep blackness of the ocean, I found myself with horrible thoughts. Shaking myself out of the depressing reverie I swam quickly back to shore. These thoughts were not acceptable. 

That evening I asked after dinner. We were all sitting around in our nighttime outfits. The fire was low and we had been playing a card game. It seemed a simple question to me.

"When will I be fertile?" I asked putting my cards down.  

The men refused to tell me. Damien even informed me I didn't need to know when I was fertile. All I had to do was stay healthy and they would handle the rest. They would take care of me just like they always had. 

"Now wait," I argued. "This is still my body. I may have decisions I want to make about this. You need to tell me what's going to happen so I can discuss it with you."

"There are no decisions," Damien said calmly. "They will be made for us. We follow our directives when they are handed down"

I laughed mirthlessly. "This is MY body," I informed him. "I have a right to know and help you make the choices."

The stunning silence that met that statement chilled my blood. They looked at Christof to answer, so I knew I wouldn't like what they had to say. 

My brain knew the answer. I stood up and stalked away, internally denying the truth of it. I stopped at the wall near the bedroom. Finally, I turned back to face my family. They looked solemn. 

Christof stepped toward me and seemed to be composing his thoughts. I didn't give him a chance. Whirling around I aimed my fist at the wall, as Damien had often done. It was my body and I wanted to hurt it.  

On Earth I would have made contact with the wall, but on Earth I wasn't surrounded by superhuman Warriors. They had sensed my action before I'd taken it. When I turned toward the wall, they were out of their chairs. As my arm drew back, they were half-way across the room. 

Christof's hand caught my fist and protected it. He allowed me to complete the motion only so I wouldn't get a spasm from being stopped. With fluid simplicity they limited any further movement by dragging my arms behind me and holding them. 

Foolishly, I kicked at them aiming for their sensitive parts. Soft rope bound me from mid thigh to ankle. When I continued to fight with my arms, those were bound behind me. Bane picked me up and we went back to sit around the fire. 

I cursed and screamed. I couldn't live like this. Giving up my children was too much to ask and I would never survive. The panic started to overwhelm me. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 23



I demanded to be released and allowed to end this. I had to die, I begged. The only way to save these poor future souls was for me to be destroyed. They refused. 

Like a fool I threatened to bite them or bite myself. I'd take off my own tongue and then not be able to eat. 

"No, little Sister," Bane begged, "stop it. You mustn't talk like that."

I refused and actually tried to bite myself. Strong fingers separated my jaws and they gagged me. The soft round ball fitted between my teeth and held my jaws apart. It latched behind my head. I couldn't bite anything now. 

Like a fish out of water I struggled and cursed behind the gag. Tears flowed freely and they brushed them away. Bane held me on his lap and petted my head. After a while I was passed to Damien, he soothed with gentle words. When that didn't work and I continued to cry they gave me to Christof. 

My best friend looked at me critically and looked at his Brothers. He found the agreement he needed to continue. 

"You do not belong to yourself," he stated with finality. "You do not belong to us, but you have been left in our care for safekeeping."

I screamed in my throat and wailed at him. He wiped my nose and the spit from around the gag before he continued. 

"It is not what you want. It is not what we want, but it is what will be. You belong to Nu-reeh. She does not want you hurt. You are not permitted to harm your flesh. We believe you will fight the coupling to produce Nu-reeh's next child-"

I made an unintelligible yell that could easily be interpreted as a yes. He ignored it. 

"We will not tell you when you are fertile, but we will know and you will breed."

I started to struggle in his lap and he watched me with cool eyes. 

"You told me once that I may not get what I wanted, but what I had was worth something. I still believe that is true."

I remembered the clearing. At the time it had seemed true. Now I wasn't so sure. Christof continued to talk.

"This is not the life you would choose, but it is worth living. I know that you care for us. You must make that the priority in your mind as you told me to make my Brothers my priority." 

"We will look for a way to escape," Kein said quietly, "you have to give us time and we will try to find a way out."

It was frustrating to have this conversation bound and gagged. I wanted to scream and argue. I knew the truth, though. Thinking about it calmed my struggles almost immediately.

What I wanted did not matter. What I thought about this was of no consequence. Nu-reeh had said to breed me or she would take me to someone who would. We were all her slaves and we had been given a direct order. As added incentive, we had been told the repercussions if we were not successful. 

"It is good we were prepared for this," Kein said tapping his mouth, indicating the protective gag. "When she was our...slave we never needed these things. I am glad we kept them."

"Mostly prepared," Bane said crossing his arms and looking into the closet darkly. 

The internal conversation was heated for a moment and I felt Christof stiffen beneath me.  

I lay my head on Christof's shoulder and let my forehead fall on his neck. He allowed me to snuggle against him as he spoke to his Brothers. I relished the small comfort. 

"Ryan and his Brothers work with Fredrick," he said stroking my arm, "they make the collars and cuffs the slaves wear." 

"Ciara can't open those!" Evan said standing and looking victorious. 

The sarcastic part of my brain thought about all the fun things I could say if they were allowing me to talk. The rest of me wanted to know what I wasn't allowed to open. 

Evan changed in a flash into his street wear. He came out of the closet armed and dressed. The large curved sword at his waist got my attention. 

I remembered the knives Christof usually carried in the small of his back. I could end my fertility with one of those. A few good pokes and I would be unusable for this purpose. Rose hadn't died, only been rendered unable to bear young. I wondered if I could do that, too.   

"NO," Damien roared watching my eyes, "that is unacceptable," he fumed. 

I had been staring at the weapon openly and they'd caught me. Damien stood up looking ready to pummel something. He told Evan he wanted those men here tonight to fix the cabinet. This situation was currently unsustainable. 

I shut my eyes and tears fell again. They were locking the cabinet with the weapons. Any opportunity I had to end this was being stripped from me. 

"Enough with this line of thought," Christof scolded. "I expected better from you. You must trust us."

The men from the village came quickly at Evan's request. None of them must have had human ancestry. They didn't even notice the bound and gagged slave that sat in Christof's lap. Instead, they installed what was most likely the only lock in the entire compound without question. 

"Push here and here," I heard the locksmiths say, "it will pop right open, just like the cuffs."

"The...slave cannot open it?" Damien asked bluntly.

"No, sir, the fingers the slaves have are too weak to work the mechanism. It is exactly the same as we put on their cuff and collars."

Evan paid them and they left, happily talking about what they wanted to buy. 

The apartment was quiet after they were gone. I looked up to find everyone staring at me. No one looked happy.

Frankly, I wasn't happy either. My jaw ached, I was thirsty, and I had to pee. I looked longingly at a jug on the table and then back at Christof. 

Damien crouched before me and held my chin with his fingers. 

"You cannot bite yourself," he said solemnly. "Nu-reeh will have us remove your teeth if you use them against your own flesh. Understand this well, Sister. Don't make us do this to you."

I sucked in air and shook my head. Having seen one of my uncles lose all his teeth to poor hygiene I knew how funny that looked.  

"I can give you nutrients by chewing for you and letting you swallow," Bane said quietly. "It would be unpleasant and you will not like it, don't give Nu-reeh a reason to do that to you."

I shook my head back and forth. My eyes were huge and I tried to use them to beg. I'd go crazy if they took my teeth. 

"If we feel it is necessary, you will wear the gag most of the day," Damien said. "That will cause you a great deal of discomfort, but we must protect you."

Desperate to apologize the sound just came out garbled and muffled. Either Damien understood or he was just being nice. Reaching behind my head I felt him fiddling with the latch. 

"We have seen you bite your fingers before," Damien threatened, "don't let us see that again. Others are watching you now, too. You must do as Nu-reeh wishes."

Once the gag was undone I tried to beg, apologize, and plead. My mouth just would not work right. Now released from bondage my jaw ached something terrible. 

"Hush," Christof said, "your jaw will be sore. Stretch it out until it feels better."

I did as he ordered as he rose and carried me to the table. Kein fed me a drink with little sips. Soon the thirst was manageable, but I drank my fill. 

Once I was done, I tried to explain to Christof.

"This is too much for me to bear," I pleaded. "There must be another way."

My men were sad and troubled as Christof spoke. 

"One day we will find a way out," he promised me. "Live for us until then." 

Tears ran down my face as I looked at them, all of them. I loved them, yes, but what was being asked was too much.   

Bane picked me up and took me to the lavatory. He pulled up my short dress and sat me on the pot. I felt ridiculously prim sitting there with my legs bound tightly together. Here I was in a bathroom with five men waiting for me to pee, sitting like proper English royalty. I smiled at the irony of it. 

"What made you smile?" Christof asked as we headed to the sleeping chamber.

"It's complicated," I said expecting him to drop it; he didn't.

The men made me explain the whole thing and it was a very long story, I thought. 

While we talked they sat me on the bed. The lights were extinguished until the only light came from the moons outside the window. They were stretching out and yawning. I guessed it was bedtime.  

"Small things still make you happy," Bane said as they untied the bonds on my arms. 

I sighed with relief until they were retied in front of me. 

"We will continue to try to make you happy," Kein said as he looped the rope around the pole at the center of the bed. "If you still enjoy small things that is good. Soon you will lose this foolish death wish."

"Or at least understand we will not allow it," Evan said as he stripped off his pants and shirt. 

Damien was before me in the moonlight and he put his face right in front of mine. "Will you attempt to harm yourself with your teeth?" he asked seriously.

"No," I answered quickly and emphatically. 

The look on my face seemed to satisfy them for the moment and Damien stepped away into shadows.

"Masters?" I asked cautiously looking around in the dim light.

"We are not that," Damien said sadly, "never that again. We love you, Sister. This is for your protection, please understand."

"May I explain that I do not wish to die, Masters?" I said ignoring his comment and wiggling around like a worm. "I foolishly thought of my human friend when I saw Master Evan's blade. She was cut in the lower stomach and lost the organ to bear a child. It was a stupid thought and I apologize-"

"Hush, Ciara," Damien commanded, "stop calling us that name and go to sleep. We will relent when we no longer fear for your safety. Your words to us are meaningless and I will not listen to them again. Tomorrow you will talk with your friend, that will help."

Damn their perception, there was no way out of this. They'd leave me 'safe' until I somehow proved myself. Frankly, I had no idea how to do that. I couldn't move and I couldn't speak. I settled down and stared at Bane beside me, he started to snore lightly in a matter of moments.

Hopefully, sleep would take me soon, too.

I should have anticipated the nightmares. Stressed in mind and bound in body, rest did not come easily. I woke once screaming as Bane soothed me and once with Kein. The dreams didn't stop until they put the cream on my head. 

The next day I woke to whispers, female whispers. Dragging open my eyes, Fuji squealed with delight and the men in the apartment fussed at her. 

"We have Keepers today for just us," Rose said leaning over me and smiling wanly. 

The men lifted me to stand, which I did on shaky legs. My lower half must have been unbound by Damien and his Brothers at some point. My arms were left tied. 

I was walked to the bathroom and freshened. They brushed my hair and cleaned my teeth. Feeling slightly zombie like, I just did as they asked. 

In the kitchen the Keepers sat me on my chair and fed me. They didn't request I kneel and they didn't seem bothered that I sat or that I was dressed. Looking quickly at their arms, I noted not one of them had human ancestry. Damien and his Brothers had thought this out. These men were the perfect Keepers. 

After my late breakfast, Fuji, Rose, and I moved back to the bedroom and sat on the bed. I was tethered to the center by a cord on my neck, but my arms were unbound. Our little pad was handed to us and we were instructed to do what needed to be done. 

I really needed to talk to Rose and I even had permission, but we had a job now. When Fuji took the pad, I was thrilled. Her owners had instructed her to participate. She was going to draw pictures to go with the story. The men had told her that would be good. 

For a moment we sat silently as Fuji diligently worked. Rose finally broke the silence.

"You must really have screwed up," she said quietly in English.

A sharp retort stopped the conversation. A Keeper appeared in the door and spoke to us. We were ordered to speak in the language our owners gave us. The language Rose had used was not acceptable.

After an apology from Rose the men said they were Keepers for the Administrators. The secrets of this world were known to them. I was a breeder and the other slaves were for my health. We should talk freely. 

"Yes, sir," I said gratefully and he turned away. 

I watched them wander back to the table before I spoke again. My voice broke as I spoke to Rose, "I don't know how to fix it. They are so upset with me."

Rose's beautiful eyes met mine and she nodded, encouraging me to continue. Fuji was engrossed in what she was doing on the pad. It seemed like it was just Rose and me in the room. One Keeper kept an eye on us through the open door, but he didn't seem to be listening closely. It felt private. 

"I wanted to hurt myself and I tried to hit the wall," I whispered to Rose. "Then...and then I said it to them, I told them I didn't want to live. It made them all angry with me."

She wanted to know why I was thinking like that, so I told her. It had been the wrong thing to think about and I'd known that at the time. The situation just seemed so hopeless.  

"My sons will leave me. My daughters won't be able to see me. I will just create them until I am drained!" I wailed hugging a pillow. 

Rose petted my head and whispered soothing words. As we sat, I found strange comfort in the fabric I was gripping. Bane's scent was on the pillow, it was his and it smelled of him. I pulled it closer and cried harder. 

"I've never met most of my Brothers," Fuji announced suddenly. "Males of my species leave as soon as they can, before their male breeder eats them."

The statement was not meant to be funny, but with my out of control emotions it made me giggle. Fuji just continued to work, completely unfazed. Rose met my eyes and she was trying desperately not to laugh.  

"I don't think Ciara's Masters will eat her male young," Rose said with confidence.

Fuji seemed to think it was a risk and continued to draw. Finally I lay back against the bed and curled into a ball. Rose stroked my arm and I spoke quietly to her. 

"They don't want to forgive me. I've made them so angry..." I whispered pulling Bane's pillow closer to my chest. 

Rose snuggled beside me and we lay there quietly cuddling for some time.

"You are a slave," Rose whispered. "I think it is harder for you because you are not treated as we are. It is the truth and you must accept it. A good slave accepts their owner's plan. You must do that now."

"But my children-" I started to say and Rose interrupted.

The children were not mine; they belonged to Nu-reeh. It wasn't a choice.

"If they are killed or too weak to survive, I will be at fault. I brought them into this unprepared," I cried. 

"It is without value for you to concern yourself with that," Rose said into my hair. "It is not a choice you can make. Your life is not your own and your children are not your own. Your owner will deal with them."

I nodded and let silent tears fall. She was right. I could fight or acquiesce. The outcome would be the same. The only victims were my feelings on the matter. 

"Do you wish to die?" Rose asked.

I thought for a moment and the answer was definitely 'no'. Obviously I wanted out of this horrible situation, but that didn't mean death. I wanted to live. 

"No, I still want to survive," I finally said. 

"Good," Rose praised, "now you must relax and accept your fate."

Rose was defeated long before I arrived here and I knew that. I still had some will of my own, but it was being stripped from me. We were slaves, used at our owners discretion until we had no more to give. It was the outcome I had feared from the beginning.  



We lay curled together on the bed for a long while. Neither of us spoke, the only sound in the room was Fuji's working on the pad. Eventually my breathing evened out and I calmed some.  

"Ciara," Rose whispered after the tears had dried, "teach me to read."

I sat up and Rose sat up with me. She looked really excited. Her eyes were shining, but she tried to maintain a calm demeanor. 

Much to Fuji's dismay we took the little pad back. I used it to begin teaching Rose the simplest pieces of the language. It was more difficult than when I learned, but of course she wasn't bonded to a Warrior right now. 

Fuji watched us with utter disinterest. She only occasionally interrupted to remind us we weren't supposed to be doing this. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"I like to teach and Rose likes to learn, Fuji. This is fun. I know it's not what we're supposed to be doing. Maybe we work some this afternoon, would that make you happy?" I asked feeling exasperated. 

Damien's voice surprised me so badly I dropped the pad on the bed. 

"Is this what we left you to do?" he questioned stepping into the room. 

My back touched the pole at the center of the bed and my eyes were wide. He just stood staring at me with his arms crossed. 

"Well?" he asked stepping in farther.

"Yes...No, I'm not sure," I finally answered. 

He didn't say anything and walked slowly toward the bed. Behind him I heard Rose and Fuji's owners calling them to come and eat. I didn't even glance at them, my eyes stayed on Damien. 

The girls slipped off the bed and left. Damien continued to watch me with his arms folded across his chest. He looked contained, but I couldn't tell much more than that. 

I started to speak and he held a hand up to silence me, so I just stayed quiet. 

Damien walked until is thighs were flush with the bed. He motioned me closer to him and I moved quickly toward him. I was stretching the leash on my neck tight, but it brought me within a handspan of him. 

"You were a good girl this morning," he praised suddenly reaching forward and releasing the strap around my neck. "If it helps with your project, I will ask Basin if his slave may learn the symbols. Would that make you happy?"

I nodded and smiled up at him. "Yes, it would help if she knew how to make the symbols. I enjoy teaching her, also."

Damien smiled back at me and offered a hand to help me off the bed. I stood before him and had the sudden need to be close. Wrapping my arms around his waist I hugged him tight. He returned the affection, holding me for a moment. I felt his lips on my hair and knew he was kissing my head. 

"Come and eat," he said coaxing me out into the main room. 

Rose and Fuji knelt at the table and took their meals from their owners' fingers. I didn't see a place for me to kneel. Damien guided me to a chair and sat me down. I looked up at him questioningly. 

"Eat your midday meal, Ciara," he said placing a bowl in front of me. 

The other men made no sounds as Damien sat casually beside me.

The food in the bowl was good, mostly. It seemed to be fruit mixed with some sort of meat. The meat was chewy and oily, I did not like it at all. 

It didn't take Damien more than a moment to realize I was picking out what I liked. He took the bowl and fed me himself. He mixed the fruit and meat, making me eat it together. Begrudgingly, I admitted it was pretty good that way. 

While we ate, he talked to Basin. Our daytime assignments would be easier if Rose understood the symbols. Damien requested I be allowed to teach Rose. After watching Rose for a moment, Basin agreed. 

After lunch Damien pulled me into the closet with our clothes. He stripped off my night dress and picked out simple pieces of ornamentation for me. As he hooked the delicate metal clasps to my collar and around my waist, I looked at the locked weapons cupboard. 

There was no way I was getting to the weapons in the apartment. The door was closed and appeared to be secured with a solid piece of metal. Damien noticed my attention and frowned. 

"I was curious what the men did last night," I said honestly. "There were things on my world you would have used, but I've never seen anything like that here."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 23



Damien watched my eyes and I saw his features soften slightly. He showed me how the lock worked by pressing on either side of it. His fingers somehow indented the solid looking metal. When he removed his hand the metal snapped back into place. I never would have seen the mechanism if he had not pointed it out. The door swung open before he latched it closed again. 

"Your collar and cuffs work the same way," he said watching me intently. "Your fingers will not be strong enough to open this door." 

"Thank you," I said softly looking down at my wrist. 

I'd wondered how they removed the solid looking metal. Evidently that was how they did it. 

Fingers under my chin nudged my face up, until I was looking into Damien's steel grey eyes. I had seen his eyes blaze in anger and passion. Once, I'd seen defeat reflected in them. Now, I saw grave concern. 

Ages ago I'd seen this worry. When Christof refused to join their minds and held himself separate, it had upset them. The family and its health were more important than anything. Damien again carried the look of a man with the world on his shoulders, all because of me.  

"My love," I said stroking down his face, "please don't worry." 

Damien brought his face within inches of mine. His hands cupped the back of my head so I couldn't move away from his scrutinizing stare. 

"Prove to me," he ordered harshly, "that this is all unnecessary. Be a strong member of this family and bear our burden with grace. We would not survive without our Sister. You must understand this."   

I was too stunned to speak. A moment later Damien led me out of the closet. 

I was tied in the main room this time. My leash was long enough I could sit on the furniture or dance with my friends, which I was instructed to do. 

"You will not be able to touch the fire," Damien informed me coldly. 

For a moment I was confused and looked at the low burning fire. I'd never burned myself since I'd been here. As a matter a fact I hated burns, the stinging drove me nuts.

I'd expressed a foolish desire to harm myself, though. They weren't sure how I was going to do it. Of course they'd prevent me from getting too close to the fire. 

Sighing, I wished Damien a good afternoon and he left. 

Rose, Fuji, and I did as our Masters had ordered. We played instruments and danced with one another for the afternoon. When we were tired we sat and I taught Rose symbols. 

My family came home and didn't seem to listen to me again. They were furious or just fed up, I couldn't tell which. Either way, I felt like isolated and lonely. I missed the closeness they usually invited me to share with them. 

It would be wrong to say they didn't touch me. One of them had a hand on me at all times. Every move I made was monitored and contained. 

As we walked to the bathhouse Bane held my upper arm. 

They must think I would jump off the balcony, I mused. 

There wasn't a chance of that happening. I abhorred the feeling of falling. It would not be my preferred method of suicide, not like I could tell them that. They didn't want to hear me speak. 

Damien allowed me to wash him, although Kein watched me closely. I sighed and ran my hands over the defined muscles in Damien's torso. I traced his faint scars and rubbed his muscular physique.  

These men were definitely not counselors, but then I knew that. They were Warriors, trained to fight. Dealing with a suicidal human was not in their skill set.

Evan took Damien's place and I rubbed and twisted his hair. They had no idea how to change my mind on this, but they'd probably recognize when it was different. If I wanted back into the family, I had to acquiesce. 

I sighed again. 

This would be hard. Giving up control, even when I didn't really have it, would be difficult. I just had to have faith. Trouble with that was I'd never had much faith. Being enslaved on an alien planet hadn't really helped with that. It wasn't going to be easy.

I remembered our conversation in the apartment when this situation started. Kein had used the word escape. It was something to hope for, a bright spot to center my sanity on. 

Another sigh as I rinsed Evan's hair. 

Love the children when I had them and have faith that they would be protected afterward. That would be so hard. I'd probably drown the apartment in tears. It would be a hard fight to hang onto my sanity.

Evan pulled away from me and dunked his head. He turned toward me shaking out the braids I'd been putting in. The room seemed to close in as Bane and Christof stepped into the pool on either side of me. Kein still sat behind me.

"Why do you breathe so loudly?" Evan asked unwinding a four piece braid from the underside of his hair. 

"Perhaps she is ill?" Bane asked quietly stepping closer.

His eyes scrutinized me, but he looked confused. 

"Is that a... cou-gh that the Healers speak of?" Christof asked quietly when I turned to look at him. 

The word was in English and Christof had said it with the emphasis on the wrong syllable. I understood what he meant and shook my head silently.

"A 'cough' sounds different, harsher," I told them sincerely. "I think I was sighing. It's just breathing out loudly. I'm not ill."  

It was the truth, but they still looked concerned. The worried looks didn't stop and soon I knew why. 

The Healers came that night. Damien and his Brothers didn't mention my suicidal thoughts. Unlike normal they seemed edgy and nervous around the Healers. When the Healers mentioned I had not been at the Keepers today Damien's face took on a look of steel. 

This must be what he feared to tell them, so I relieved him of the duty. 

"I did not sleep well, Healer," I murmured innocently. "I had bad dreams, for some reason. My owners allowed me to sleep late and stay close to their scents. I like to be near my owners' things. My friends stayed with me."

It wasn't a lie, which I sensed the Healers would be able to detect. It was the truth. I'd spent the morning wrapped around Bane's pillow. Rose and Fuji had been here with me. 

"Only speak to us," Damien chastised gently from the side and I looked into his eyes. 

He wasn't angry, but I couldn't quite discern the emotion behind his features. 

The Healers seemed surprised I'd spoken, but recorded the information. If the poor sleep continued I should be allowed to rest some in the day, they told Damien. Humans may need that, but a regular schedule at night should prevent it. They would intervene if the problem persisted long enough. 

Once the Healers left, the men looked at me. I was calmer than I had been and I guess it showed. They didn't bind me and allowed me to knit with purposefully dull needles while they played a game like chess. Christof kept looking at me, but he didn't speak. 

It shouldn't surprise me, I knew. These men had no idea what was going on with me or how to fix it. They were confused and upset. We didn't want to lose each other, but none of us knew what to do for the other. 

We got ready for bed and Bane held a strip of leather. If they wanted to bind me, I wouldn't stop them, but he seemed hesitant. In deference to their desire I offered him my hands to tie. Damien finally settled on tying one of my wrists to a long leash. I couldn't get up from the bed, but was otherwise free to move. 

I slept fine and woke up when they did. Evan cleaned and fed me, but they didn't take me to the transport. The same Keepers from yesterday showed up right before Rose and Fuji did. 

The men left silently and I sat on the bed with my friends. Once again, I was tethered with a simple tie around my neck.  

"Give me," Fuji demanded, grabbing our work pad. "You prevented me from doing the work I was told to do yesterday."

Without a pause she was hooked into the system and drawing pictures of her owners. I watched curiously as her hands drew exact replicas of the men who owned her. She diagramed quite expertly the way they held their weapons. 

Rose had my attention after a moment more. 

"Have you heard more from Hannah?" she asked quietly.

No, I had not. I bemoaned the long periods of time that would exist between Hannah's messages. How I longed to see her again. If only I had been able to spend more time with her last time she was here...

"She loves you," Rose said casually, "like any daughter would love her mother. Except for the Sister she found, you are the only creature on the planet that must truly care for her."

A tear formed in my eye thinking about Hannah. We had such a short time together, but were connected in such a primal way. I missed her dearly. 

"Imagine if you were not here to receive the next message she sends..." Rose said suddenly and I almost forgot to breath. "What would she think if she dropped into the forest by the Keepers' and you never came in or went out?"

My eyes were wet with tears imagining Hannah's expressive face crushed by my strange disappearance. 

"Could you really end your life knowing you would never be able to explain it to her?" Rose asked in the same soft voice. 

I thought I would throw up and fought the feeling. No, I could never leave Hannah like that. She would never understand. How could she? Hannah had memories, but she was still a child.

I was on the bed crying like a maniac, but Rose would not stop. I couldn't hurt myself, it would only end up hurting my baby. Hannah would never understand and never forgive me. 

I agreed with Rose and begged her to stop. She refused and continued to push. She talked about the anger and resentment Hannah would have. No one on this world would understand it, poor Hannah would bear the burden alone.

By lunch time Rose had broken me. I was a crying mess on the bed. Christof came to feed me and I begged for forgiveness. I swore to him I would never hurt Hannah that way. 

He tried to feed me and I threw it up. Eventually he fed me root and put a touch of calming cream on my head. In the back of my mind I was beginning to feel a little dependent on the stuff. Ridiculous really to come to an alien place and get addicted. 

"Rest, Ciara," he said softly stroking my hair. 

"No more," I begged him, "please make her stop, Christof. I can't take anymore."

"We are satisfied," he said quietly. "No more is needed. You understand now, that is good."

The cream on my head left me hazy and relaxed. That volume used didn't remove my memories, though. As Rose and Fuji played a card game on the bed, I realized what they'd done. 

They'd used Rose to get to me. She was obviously better versed in the delicate art of human psyche than Damien and his Brothers. They didn't talk to me because they didn't want to screw up her work. 

"Rose?" I called quietly. 

My eyes were shut because the cream made me dizzy, but I felt her leaning over me. Her slender hands were on my upper arms and her breath was on my cheek as she answered. She was such a tiny yet powerful creature. 

"Did they ask you to make me...see reason?"

She leaned on me a little more fully, but still there was almost no weight at all. 

"It is not my place to say," she said softly backing away and going back to her game with Fuji. 

Of course not, I thought as I let my mind wander. She was an obedient slave, she'd not speak out of turn. Still, I pushed. 

"They won't know," I told her cracking one eye open. 

"Yes, Ciara, they will know. Now stop with this. You know what you must do and now you have a good reason to do it. Hannah is a good reason, I'm glad you understand that."

"Yes."

"Then sleep for a little while," she said as I drifted off. 

The men came back to me late that night looking dirty and scuffed, but relieved. They stripped out of their dirty garments and I saw bruises on them, but no bad wounds.

As I watched them disrobed, they watched me. None of them said anything though. They looked relaxed despite their disheveled appearance.  

Their actions spoke for them. They took me off my tether and they didn't put one back on. When we left the apartment, no one restrained me. I took these as signs that had relented and were forgiving me. Since they didn't talk about it, I didn't either. Instead I commented on their appearance.  

"Was there a fight?" I asked as we walked down to the bathhouse. 

"Men from the compound on the other side of the great barren stretch," Christof told me. "They were bandits and have been raiding the traveling men. We found them after the midday meal. It was quite a battle. Several groups escaped, but we brought one family before the General."

"Very good," I praised.

I wondered if my sons would be outlaws or bandits. It was a possibility. Those men seemed to keep the Warriors happy, so that was good. It was a delicate balance the women allowed the men to have here. 

I was a little clumsy, but still managed to make Damien grunt happily as I rubbed him. Tonight I washed all of them, even Christof slid under my hands. I smoothed my palms over each of them and felt them melt a little under the caresses. 

The pool was nearly deserted when I was done. I looked up and glanced furtively around. There was almost no one here. I'd never heard it so quiet. 

"Increased patrols to find the bandits," Bane said answering the unasked question. "We would usually have taken a night patrol as well, but we have...other responsibilities." 

I shuddered and looked at my own belly in the water. "I am fertile then?"

Hands gripped my arms and pulled me back until I rested in Damien's lap. 

"No, Sister," he whispered in my ear, "you were unwell. We needed to watch over you. Leaving you with Keepers at night is not acceptable. The Healers want you monitored by those that know you well."

Christof chuckled and used the cloth I had been cleaning them with to wash one arm as Kein washed my legs. "The Healers knew you would come back to yourself quickly when you spoke to them. They heard the desire in your voice to stay with us. You wished to hide your illness. They knew we had not upset you."

"No, it wasn't you-" I started to say and was stopped. 

"We know," Damien said softly, "we understand. Do you understand now?" 

"I must not refuse the women," I said softly, "I must do as they ask. There is no simple escape for me."

"Correct," Damien said and then he whispered in my ear. "Do not leave us," he begged softly. "We will find a way out, but stay with us."

His eyes reflected the emotion of the entire family. I also felt the turmoil and the desire for freedom. We were not giving up, but this was not a fight we could win, yet. 

I was cleaned in the water, much like I usually cleaned them. Once they were done we retired upstairs to have dinner. It was a simple meal tonight. 

Unlike the last two nights I was left free when we laid down to rest. The men were happy and relaxed. In a strange way, so was I. There were no more thoughts of death or destruction in my mind. I didn't worry anymore about what would or could happen. It just wasn't my place to have those concerns. 

Whatever would happen, would just have to happen. For the second time on this planet I accepted my role as a slave. To survive in that role, I would do what I was told. 

At least, until escape was an option.

*************************************

Please return on Nov 30, 2011 (my goal date). Thank you for reading and please vote. 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-1



I'm back! sort of. Expect an update in about 2 weeks, Dec 14.

Thanks to everyone who sent me advise and well wishing. I'm sucking down ginger like nobody's business. There's also quite a few things the doctor's like, nothing is perfect though.

Many thanks to Steve for his work proofreading. It makes for a much better read!

Hope you all enjoy this and I'll see you again in a couple weeks!

Please vote and comment!

DW

***************************************************

The days passed quickly. By unspoken agreement after my punishment and breakdown we just waited for my next fertile period. It could not be many days off.

I went to the Keepers and wrote stories for the children. In the afternoon I split my time between teaching Rose and swimming. Knowing the warm water was soon to be taken from me, I enjoyed it. In fact, I made a point to try and enjoy my life, despite the future.

There were problems and things that bothered me. Despite my resolve in the day the truth would sneak up on me at night. I'd dream of children walking away as I called to them. They never turned and I'd wake up crying. My men understood those dreams.

Other dreams, darker dreams, plagued me and I would wake shivering. I tried not to wake the family when I had those horrible ones. In my memories I saw Damien's cold face as he inflicted pain so privately on me. I screamed for him to stop, but my mouth was bound. The terror in those nightmares often left me sleepless for much of the night.

Still, I had to be positive. I could not focus on the negative or it would break my spirit. In the day I put my mind to things that brought me pleasure.

I loved working on the children's stories almost as much as I liked to knit. The little pad I used was left in the house and at night I was permitted to work. I'd fiddle with ideas and sketched out drafts as the men played their games. During the day Rose would help build the story with me.

The Child Keepers found our ideas fresh and interesting. Apparently the little boys loved our little tales. Our names did not appear on our stories, but our owner's marks did. Bane told me one day the young children waited patiently for each new addition in our line.

"The young men told me as we trained them earlier today," he told me at lunch, "how much they like our stories. They thanked us for giving them such good tales. All of them feel they could do the things you described, because the account was so vivid."

I beamed at Bane's compliment as he tousled my hair. "You bring another honor to the family, little Sister, thank you."

It was wonderful to teach the children. Secretly I knew it would one day be my only link to my young sons. I imagined them reading my stories and learning from them. It would be the closest I would get to mothering them.

Damien had once told me he would not discuss when my breeding days would start. I assumed I would know. I was not wrong about that.

My fertile days started and my family started them with a bang.

Evan woke me with his face buried between my legs. I tried to push him away; it was much too early in the day for me to be interested. He wasn't dissuaded. He swiped his tongue along my cleft and forced my legs farther apart.

"Go AWAY!" I groused as my linen cover was quickly removed. "Find another game. Do something else. For the love of....just STOP!" I begged them waking up.

"Stubborn this morning," Bane chastised leaning over me with a wicked smile. "What will we do with a little Sister that doesn't submit to sex with the family?"

I didn't have a good answer for that. On Earth the phrasing would have stopped me cold and hearing it now had the same effect. They didn't notice and pulled my hands above my head. Kein began nibbling and plucking at my breasts, trying to coax a response from my sleeping body

"We apologize," Damien said softly in my ear. "It is not your choice this time, but neither is it ours. Please understand we do not wish to make you unhappy."

Laying still, I composed myself and held the tears in check. I was a breeding slave and that's what I had to do. Still, I had one request.

"I'm thirsty, may I have a drink before we start?"

Who in their right mind wakes up to have sex as the sun rises? Check that, a quick glance out the window told me the moon was still fading, the sun wasn't even up yet. The light in the room came from several lamps.

"You started without me," Christof complained stepping in from the main room, in his hands was a large cup.

I was pulled to sit at the edge of the bed, but Evan didn't stop. He dropped off the bed on his knees and continued his quest for my center. Despite the early hour, he was still quite talented. As his tongue dipped into me I moaned involuntarily.  

"Drink this," Christof ordered placing the cup at my lips. "This will make it better."

It was like drinking warm Jello, but it quelled my thirst. Christof forced me to drink the entire cup. He even scooped the remains out and had me lick it off his fingers. I'd never had anything like it before.

"What was that?" I asked them as they stared at me.

Even Evan had stopped and was looking up at me.

"It is a concoction the Healers make," Damien said settling on the bed beside me. "It is intended to raise your appetite for us. You have never required such a stimulant, but it was requested we give it to you."

"Nu-reeh?" I whispered touching my lips.

How odd to think of her considering our sexual life. It was strange and creepy. At least she wasn't watching the way she watched the men.

"Yes."

"Do you feel anything?" Kein asked leaning in to watch me intently.

I felt his breath on my cheek and my skin tingled at the stimulation. Evan's hand on my knee was warm, so sensual. It sent shivers down my spine.

"Touch me," I begged breathlessly.

Evan slid his other hand around my foot and over the cuff on my ankle. When his fingers touched the skin of my calf I felt goosepimples rise up the leg.

"More, please, don't stop touching me," I whispered.

Damien's hand stroked my shoulder and up into my hair. It was the most erotic caress I'd ever received. He stroked down the length of my spine and my legs splayed open as my back arched.

Kein's mouth enveloped a nipple and my lips opened in a wordless scream. It was like a thousand flashbulbs behind my eyes. The sensation doubled when Bane grabbed the opposite ring and twisted. It was like an orgasm in my breasts.

I seized Evan's head and ground my pelvis against his face. The sensation of his hair on my hand made me insane, but the his mouth on my cunt sent me into orbit. He didn't waste a moment and lapped greedily, now that I was willing.

It didn't take long for the moisture to start flowing. Every inch of skin that was being touched was on fire. Evan's relentless attention to my clit drove me wild. My cunt was contracting on open air long before it was filled.

Evan drove his gorgeous cock into my depths and slowly moved us up the bed. The covers on my back were like tiny tickling fingers and his relentless motion between my legs made me insane. I clawed viciously at his hips until my hands were restrained. The feeling of flesh on flesh was too much, so they tied a leather lash around my cuffs.

"More," I begged Evan licking my lips and getting lost in the sensation, "more, please!"

I opened my eyes and he looked confused. Evan was moving as fast as he'd ever done with me, but I wanted to be fuller.

"Fuck my ass," I pleaded with Bane, "roll me over and take my ass, too. I need it, please!"

Bane looked longingly down my body to my hips, "I can't, little Sister," he said forlornly.

I screamed and cried. My body could be fuller than this; it had been before.

"Damien," I called, "let me suck you, please."

I met his confused grey eyes, but the answer was no.

Every downstroke I met with energy, slamming my hips into Evan's. The orgasm didn't end or begin; it just was. The power of it took my breath away.

From the tips of my fingers to the deepest parts of my body I was spasming. There was no satiety, though. Each clenching spasm drove me to want something to end it. It felt like with just a little more I could find completion and stop this madness.

Evan writhed and called out over my supine form. He pulled his drained instrument from me and tears formed in my eyes. It couldn't be over, I still needed...something.

Bane was next. He cut the bonds, much to his Brothers' dismay and pulled me to lay on top of him. I was lost for several minutes rubbing my nipples in his coarse hair. I ran my lips over his beard and couldn't think of anything else.

Someone aimed Bane's shaft into my waiting tunnel and my libido took off. I rocked and ground my hips over his, still I wanted to be fuller. I begged them again. Kein left the room and retrieved the plug.

I hated the plug. Bane and Evan loved it, but it made me feel like a slut. Now, I needed it.

I heard Kein and Damien arguing about if this was a good idea or not. For some reason Damien was against it. Nu-reeh had said I only got to find satisfaction the one way. Damien didn't want to make her angry.

"It's not a cock in her ass," Evan said caressing the rounded globes and teasing my flesh with his fingers.

I was arching like a mad woman begging for more attention as Bane agreed with Evan.

My grunting cries must have gotten to Kein. He rubbed the plug all over my sopping wet labia. The sensation of a second cock made me wild and I screamed for them to do it.

"She has not been cleaned. We shouldn't use the plug if she isn't clean," Damien stated from the side and I cursed him.

It wouldn't matter if the damned plug got nasty. I needed it now.

Bane must have found my use of the words funny, but distracting. He pulled my lips down and kissed me fiercely. His beard scratched and tickled my lips making me just that much crazier for him.

"Hush," he ordered pulling my head up, "and ride me."

Undulating my hips like I was dancing seemed to be the type of ride he intended. His strong hands gripped my hips and urged them in their motion. I felt the passion rising as I crushed my sensitive clit against his body.

I slowed when fingers started prodding me from behind. Two sets of hands on my ass was suddenly an unbelievable sensation. As they started to press the plug into me, it felt like heaven.

The orgasm that had been pulsing in the fringes spilled out until my fingers were twitching. Leaning over, I bit Bane on the shoulder and he groaned, pushing his staff into me hard. As he often liked to say, I was trying to cut off his cock. He loved it.

Strong hands forced me to move over Bane's erection, although the never ending orgasm had made me unbelievably swollen. Finally, he cursed loudly and sprayed into me.

Bane was gentle as he rolled me onto the bed on my back.

The soft sheets of the bed were stimulating. They used their hands and mouths to spur on the pleasure. It was relentless and all too soon it became painful.

Kein took me next and I couldn't stand it anymore. Fuller wasn't better. Now I wanted to be empty and feel nothing. Every bump of his long tool against the back of my tunnel made me scream. His lips dropped to suck on a nipple as he rode and I nearly lost consciousness. Another powerful orgasm tore through my body.

The feelings were so strong and I felt completely out of control. There was no sweet buildup and release of tension. It was just tension. I started to cry and begged Kein to stop.

The tears on my cheek seemed to give Kein pause, but only for a moment. He shut his eyes and continued to pump above me with fervor. There was a goal he had to reach and he would not be dissuaded.

Christof shushed me from the side and stroked my hair. My sensitive scalp sent the message straight to my cunt to convulse anew on Kein's rod. I tried to shake his hand out of my hair and screamed at him.

"We can't stop, Ciara," Christof said gently. "Relax and find pleasure again. That will make you feel better."

No, it wouldn't. As soon as I orgasmed another was already on top of me. There was no cessation or pause in the intensity. I was on a relentless quest for completion, but nothing made the torment stop.

Kein finished and Damien started. I was furious with them. Screaming and crying I begged him to stop and leave me alone. Lashing out with flailing fists, I tried to make him get off of me. He finally listened, in a way.

Damien did something I'd seen him do rarely. He backed off of me and sat on his knees. His large hand wrapped around his wet shaft and he stoked himself. I was mesmerized watching this powerful man bring himself off.

Suddenly Damien's face screwed up. He leaned forward and thrust into me grinding us together. I was so stunned I didn't react as he released inside of me.

Looking up at him I saw the determination in his features. We weren't going to fail at this mission just because I couldn't take anymore. The family would do what the family had to do.

Steel grey eyes looked at as me he pulled himself out. "Take my Brother's seed before we let you rest," he said simply as he pulled away.

His warm flesh ignited me again and I lay looking up at them with anxious eyes. How badly I wanted this to be over!

Christof crawled between my thighs and I tried to dry the tears on my face. The family had to be strong. I had to be strong. It didn't matter what I wanted; we had to do this. Nu-reeh would separate us if we stopped.

I steeled myself for the onslaught of sensation as Christof began. He didn't lay on me, though. He did what Damien had done and stared at me as he pleasured himself with his hand.

On the bed waiting beneath Christof, I didn't move. As long as I stayed still the crazy sensations seemed unable to affect me. I just watched mesmerized as Christof pulled and jerked on himself.

The thick head of his cock disappeared and reappeared quickly as he sought to find his pleasure with his own hand. Just as his eyes got wide he thrust into me and I felt the pulse of him wash over me. My own body reacted to the invasion with another unsatisfying orgasm.

As Christof removed himself, I lay limply on the bed. I was beyond exhausted. Moving was unthinkable, but that was apparently a good thing.

"Lift your hips," Bane said as he slid several pillows beneath my hindquarters.

His fingers sought out their plug, which I had begged so obscenely for. Now I begged them to leave it be. My wishes were ignored. The damned thing's removal caused an orgasm that had my eyes rolling back in my head.

A soft blanket was draped over my damp form and I just lay with my eyes shut tight. I lay quietly on the bed as I'd been told to do. When I wasn't moving the sensations in my body were bearable. I concentrated on stillness and waited.

I must have drifted off to sleep, but woke with the sun streaming in. Hesitantly I moved under the covers. To my great relief the super sensations were gone; I felt normal. As I woke up and stretched, Christof came into the room to watch me.

My friend was solemn as he brought a bucket of water and a rag into the bedroom. Silently Christof removed the blanket and wiped the damp cloth over my skin. He didn't clean the mess at the juncture of my thighs that area was to be left alone, he said quietly. With soft strokes he washed the rest of me gently. The sponge bath took away much of the stickiness. Still, I felt well used.

The tears came and Christof wiped them away. He looked concerned, so I spoke quietly to him.

"I am her breeding slave. I will not fight it," I said but it still saddened me.

With great effort I pushed the emotions back. They had no place in this world and would only get me hurt.

The rest of the family watched from the doorway. None of them looked happy, but they did look determined. I couldn't think of anything to say to them that wouldn't make my voice crack. This just had to be done.

Once I was clean and patted dry a blanket was pulled over my body. I watched my men through the doorway talking quietly together. They had hated what we'd done this morning as much as I had.

When the Healers showed up I blushed scarlet as they discussed our morning. They came into the sleeping chamber and spoke with Damien.

"Ciara," Damien said tactfully, "is very responsive to us. The concoction you all created for us made her uncomfortable."

The Healers wanted details. Damien was forced to explain I had cried during sex and we all found that distracting. The potion was too strong; it made me wild and unpredictable. Damien and his Brothers had always managed to excite me before. The drink was not necessary.

The Healers seemed to be discussing amongst themselves as they stepped into the main room. They huddled around each other and seemed to be talking to someone else, which did not make any sense to me. I saw them pushing at a small pad like I used to write my stories. Suddenly they all straightened and stepped back into the bedroom.

"We will provide potion to take with you," the lead Healer told Damien. "As long as the slave is receptive, you do not need to use it. You cannot use the oil to ready the slave. It is detrimental to the seed. If the slave cannot be made ready, you must still follow Nu-reeh's commands. The slave will learn."

I saw Damien's face darken at the Healer's words. Sex without lubrication would harm me. I knew that would not sit well with any of them. They had no intention of letting that happen; it was evident on their faces.

Instructions were given about how long I had to stay like this and when I could move. They expected another performance this evening before bed. Evidently, my breeding cycle had been planned in detail.

"Once you reach the cabin," the lead Healer said, "the middle time may be used as you wish. Just make sure you use the slave twice a day."

Damien agreed and reminded the man Nu-reeh had given him instructions. He would not deviate from her commands. I would be cared for exactly as she wanted.

I lay still and heard the Healers leave. Bane stretched out beside me and looked at the ceiling.

"How long do I lay here?" I asked him quietly.

Bane pointed to a device in the bedroom that resembled an hourglass. He told me once that had finished they would get me up and clean me off completely.

"You're taking us to the cabin?" I asked curiously.

"Yes," Bane answered propping up on an elbow and watching my eyes, "we are happy at the cabin. No one will distract us and we have things we can enjoy doing. You were happy during your last conception there, it will be so again. That is how Nu-reeh wishes it."

"Oh."

Nu-reeh's interest in my reproductive health was disconcerting to say the least.

Christof interrupted my musings as he started to pack a bag with blankets. "We told her what we did the first time and she wanted us to do it again," he said. "We all enjoyed the last time we made a child with you, although it was not intentional. We wished that you would find pleasure this time also."

"Last time I did not know," I said softly looking out the open window. "This will not be the same."

A tear started to form in my eye and I brushed it away. I could not think like that. It was unhealthy for me.

"We will make it good," Christof promised and Bane seconded the statement. "You will not be upset."

Kein bustled in about that time with an armload of shirts he laid on the bed and started to fold. "We told Nu-reeh you would not need the drink," he said forcefully. "You will respond to us twice a day like you did then, but she did not believe us."

Kein looked upset. I wanted to soothe him, but I had a feeling changing position would not be acceptable. Bane sat up and started to help Kein fold. He took care of the soothing.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-1



"Little Brother," he addressed the smaller man, "she did not get upset at you. It was the drink, right Ciara?" he asked turning toward me.

"I love you, Kein," I said watching them. "I want you to touch me. It was just the drink...It was too strong. I'm so sorry."

Kein looked troubled as he finished his chore. These men hated discord in the family. I knew how they sought stability in their relationships with one another and now with me.

"Please Kein," I begged reaching for him, "come cuddle with me."

A brow quirked and he sat the now folded garments in a bag. "What is cuddle?" he asked sitting on the bed.

"Hold me, little Brother," I answered using Bane's pet name for him.

A smile flickered across his features as he crawled up beside me. "I am not little to you," he grinned pressing against my side.

I passed an arm beneath him as he propped himself on an elbow. His other arm I pulled around me.

"This," I told him pulling him closer, "is cuddling. It means to lay close and wrap around one another."

He dropped his face and nuzzled my cheek. His hand slowly stroked up my side and pulled the blanket down. His fingers wrapped around a breast. Kein wasn't interested in fondling it; he just held it and stroked the soft flesh.

In return for his attention I rubbed his back with one hand and his shoulder with the other. Softly, I murmured affection and apologies in his ear.

"I like to cuddle," Kein said grinning and pecking me on the lips.

He bounded off the bed a second later, back in good spirits. I was going to tell him cuddling lasted longer than he had allowed, but he was quickly replaced by Damien.

I apologized to Damien and he scoffed. Unlike Kein he'd not been overly bothered when I fought him. We'd had fun fighting before sex in our dreams; he didn't take it personally.

All the men took a turn cuddling for a moment and then were back to packing. Laying still and quiet in the middle of the morning was not their favorite thing to do. They were too energetic to lounge around like I was currently being forced to do.

Once the small timer that Bane had indicated earlier read the time was up I was pulled from the bed and cleaned in the shower. I gratefully accepted the rub down with the healing cream. My body felt like I'd been through an intense workout, everything was a little sore.

After breakfast I was dressed up warmly in the blue dress I associated with the mountains. Evan also carefully wrapped me in a brown outer layer. The men brought up a transport and loaded it with the bags. Wherever we were going, we were staying for a while.

"This will not end quickly?" I asked sadly looking at the amount of clothing and supplies they had brought. They never traveled heavy. "This is a chore I would rather not do for her and I had hoped it would end quickly..."

A look passed between the Brothers and Bane squeezed my shoulder.

"You will not suffer, little Sister," he said. "We will make it pleasant for you."

My smile was sad as I put my arms around his waist and hugged him.

"You always make it pleasant for me. I just wish I did not know what we were doing. I wish this was just for us and would not result in my heart being broken..." I whispered.

There was no answer for that and the men just loaded everything onto the transport Kein had brought up.

Kein drove the transport and we flew toward the mountains. Nu-reeh wanted us close while we bred. She'd told the men she would not interfere, but she would be watching.

We flew across the rugged terrain and I held Christof's hand. He didn't seem to mind the contact and I needed it. Miles passed beneath us effortlessly and I knew wherever we were going was going to be right against the mountains.

Would Nu-reeh want us outside so she could literally watch? I wondered. It had been strange enough getting used to these five watching me. How weird to have Nu-reeh standing and staring as we mated.

Perhaps she'd even come into the cabin with us, I thought and shivered.

Would Nu-reeh 'check' to make sure I was doing what I was supposed to?

Would she do the physicals now?

How was I supposed to react to my family if Nu-reeh was near?

Did I call them Master or use their names?

Suddenly my hood and veil were pulled off and Damien was looking deep into my eyes. He looked concerned. The transport slowed to a stop, in the middle of nowhere, so all my men could stare at me. Christof pushed Damien away and took his place in front of me.

"You are breathing very quickly," Christof observed using the hand I wasn't holding to stroke my cheek, "and the grip you have on my hand has gotten tighter."

I apologized for hurting him and they laughed out loud.

"You are not harming me," Christof said still smiling, "but we wish to know why you are upset. We believe you are thinking of something that has caused you discomfort."

The men listened to my concerns. It was obvious they didn't understand my point. My performance anxiety confused them. They tried to soothe me.

"We had sex in front of Nu-reeh today," Kein finally said. "You were not bothered by her presence. If you have to do it again, it will not be the first time and we will not let you be upset."

I turned like a robot to stare at Kein. Evan swatted Kein's shoulder and Bane swatted Evan in return.

"Kein is right," Bane said. "No secrets in the family. The fact we kept this from Ciara is embarrassing and shows our weakness."

Evan argued it would just upset me. Damien agreed with Evan and they all looked at Christof. He was the deciding vote apparently.

I looked up at my friend feeling very confused and a little left out. They had obviously kept something from me. I appreciated the concern, but my curiosity was peaked.

Christof looked around at his Brothers and it was obvious they were having an internal discussion. He didn't lose his physical connection to me and looked at me frequently. Whatever they were holding back must be quite a big deal.

"The pad," Damien finally said exasperated, "that you use to write your stories is also a monitoring device. If you know how to use it you can speak to someone else that also has a pad. When you became obsessed with killing yourself we opened a connection to your pad. We listened as your friend talked to you and we monitored your reactions. She had been told to fix you, which she did. That girl knew we would be listening, but she did not know how."

That was interesting, but not didn't really explain how Nu-reeh had watched us.

"We were ordered," Christof said gently, "to put the pad in the bedroom while we mated you this morning. Nu-reeh wished to ensure we did what we were supposed to do."

My mouth was dry and I gasped. To think she had born witness to my embarrassing display this morning was awful.

"Oh God," I said in English causing the men to raise their brows. I quickly changed back to the correct language, "Will she continue to...monitor?"

"If we'd brought the pad she might have," Bane said cooly crossing his arms and grinning.

Kein nudged Bane as he spoke, "Shame she never told us specifically she wanted it."

"She only said she wanted to keep watch over us," Damien continued. "Nu-reeh never said how she wanted to do that. We assumed she meant she would watch the cabin."

I panicked and grabbed Christof's other hand. "If she wants it, you have to go back and get it."

He looked incredulously at me before he spoke. "No, we don't like it either. It stays at home. She can 'monitor' us when we are there."

"Unless we leave it somewhere," Kein said.

"Accidentally," Bane amended and they laughed.

In my panic I forgot myself and said what I should not have said, "But then she will make you do it!" I cried. "You can't let her do that, just make the decision on your own. Don't let her control you!"

The wind swirled around us and my eyes widened in horror. I'd never told them about this and now was not a good time. If it broke them I'd be stuck in the middle of nowhere with five disabled men. Unfortunately, I'd been too emphatic, they knew something was amiss.

"Explain that comment," Damien demanded staring me down.

Like a complete idiot, I lied to him, "You know, she'll make you go back and get it. It's a long trip," I said lamely.

"That was not the truth," Bane said stepping next to Damien and watching me with the same interest.

Even Christof had cocked his head and was eyeing me critically. His purple eyes narrowed as he came to the same conclusion the other men had. He dropped my hand as confusion darkened his face.

I was panting and tried to get ahold of myself. In my haste I tried to put back on the hood and veil, at least then they couldn't watch my eyes. Christof stopped me and handed the head cover to Damien, who stood further away.

"You have a secret," Christof said watching my face, "don't you?"

I didn't answer. I just stared back at him. Kein and Evan stepped around so they could watch me.

"It's late," I said desperately looking up, "the Healers said twice a day and the sun is-"

Bane interrupted me to explain it wasn't even mid-day. We had plenty of time to make it to the cabin. It wasn't as far as we usually went.

"So, back to the secret, little Sister," he continued. "How is it that Nu-reeh will make us and why does this upset you so?"

There was no way to answer them. I just stood staring from one to another.

"Nu-reeh is our owner," Damien reasoned, "do you fear she will beat us if we don't have the pad?"

I nodded, because yes, I feared her hurting them. It was the perfect out and I started to relax.

"Is that the only thing you fear her doing to us?" Damien continued and I froze.

I was trembling and they were not relenting. In fact, they looked more interested every second that ticked by.

"Answer me!" Damien barked and I jumped.

I said the only thing I could think to say. I wanted to be somewhere safe before I risked telling them.

"I'll tell you at the cabin."

Damien became livid. He hated it when I kept secrets from him. This seemed like a bad time to remind him he'd been keeping a secret from me. I watched with fascination as his secondary teeth grew. Soon his mouth was full of razor sharp teeth and combined with the look on his face, it was not comforting.

He took a step toward me and I held my ground.

"You can't hurt me," I said in the most forceful voice I could muster. "I am her breeding slave and she doesn't want me damaged. Take me to the cabin and I'll tell you there."

I'd never seen them look so surprised. For a moment no one moved and then Bane pushed Kein back toward the controls.

"Little Sister," he said facing forward, "you are a dangerous creature."

We rode in silence toward the slopes of the mountains. Damien handed me back my hood when the air got colder. He didn't say a word to me and only motioned to Christof to pull up the hood on my blue outfit first.

I lamented the fact they were so angry with me. It wasn't my fault I knew this and it wasn't my fault I was afraid to tell them here. Obviously I realized I should have told them at home many moons ago. I was fairly certain Damien would let me know that, though.

We pulled up to the cabin a fairly short time later. It had seemed like an eternity on the silent transport, though. Nothing like a good fight to kick off a breeding, I laughed humorlessly to myself.

Evan, Bane, and Damien jumped off the transport and went inside to inspect the dwelling. It took less time than I ever remembered it taking before. Evan reappeared in the doorway and walked back toward us looking disgruntled.

"They've been here," he said kicking a rock on his way back to the transport.

Kein and Christof both sighed and I wondered what had them moody all of the sudden, so I asked.

Damien glared at me from the doorway and Christof seemed to be forcing himself to answer.

"Nu-reeh and her Sisters appear to have fixed the cabin for us. The fire is going and our colors are spread throughout. It has also been thoroughly cleaned. She also left fresh food in the cupboards. We will not have to hunt unless we wish to," he finished.

The men motioned and I stepped off the transport and toward the door. Damien watched every step I took. I knew he would want his answer as soon as I stepped inside.

I tried to stall walking to the doorway, but Christof pulled me along. I was ushered past Damien, who moved out of doorway, and my eyes adjusted to dimmer light inside. What I saw was a shock.

For a moment I was too stunned to speak and had to be pushed forward, so the rest of my family could enter. The central fire pit burned brightly. All the normally worn furniture in the room had been replaced with new looking items. Across almost everything was Damien's family color.

Bane stood in the kitchen area pouring himself a generous portion of the steaming drink that was served at special occasions. He saw me standing and staring and motioned me closer.

"Come," he demanded, "take a drink and see what has been left for us."

In the kitchen area there was a platter full of orange wedges and twelve strawberries. I touched the fruit in wonder. I had no idea how they'd gotten this here. Picking up a ripe, red berry by it's green stem I inhaled the familiar scent.

Strawberries were expensive. We only got them fresh like this when Mom had extra money. I remembered the special times we'd stood in our kitchen together making strawberry shortcake.

I had no idea how they'd gotten this here.

"What is it?" Christof asked appearing behind me.

He picked up a berry and smelled it, like I had been doing.

"Straw-berry," I pronounced slowly, "it is food and you eat the red part."

Christof picked up a note beside the tray of fruit. It said the men could eat these things with me if they wished. This food would not make them ill.

This was a reward, the note continued, for me being good this morning. If we all continued to do well, Nu-reeh would continue to leave us gifts. There were many things she knew we would like, we only had to earn them.

I set the berry down as Christof laid the note back down. It was quite evident from the energy in the room; I did not deserve a reward.

"Eat one," Damien said harshly from behind me. "If Nu-reeh finds you did not appreciate her gift she may become angry. We must be able to tell her you enjoyed this."

I nodded and picked the berry back up. At home I would have shoved the entire thing in my mouth and been eating the next one before I'd swallowed. That kind of gluttony would be a waste now. I wanted to savor this bit of Earth.

Nibbling the fruit slowly I enjoyed everything about it. The texture, the flavor and the scent brought back vivid memories of home and summer. It was a wonderful treat.

I caught Christof smiling at me as I ate and sucked the last bit of red from the stem.

"You are expressive," he said softly.

"So expressive it seems odd you would keep a secret from us," Evan said moving beside me on the other side.

He picked up a berry and licked it. Evan seemed unaffected by the fruit.

"Bite into it," I said softly, "the juice is what tastes good."

Evan took a small bite and chewed it slowly. He handed the bitten berry to Christof, who also tasted it.

"I like it," Christof said sounding surprised and then taking a larger bite.

Evan made a face. "We will leave it for you and Ciara then," he said wiping his hands. "This food does not appeal to the rest of us."

Kein made a loud noise causing everyone to look at him. "Are we done with this? Can we find the answer to our questions or is our Sister a woman now and has no need for us?"

I turned sharply and looked at Kein. Their disgruntled attitude made much more sense now. They thought I was siding with the women.

"I'm not a woman and I don't side with the women," I answered him quickly. "I didn't want you to break apart in the middle of...that," I said gesturing toward barren area we'd just come in from.

That infuriated them. I was reminded they were not weak men. They had broken apart one time and the situation had been very strange. My men would not do that again.

I was about to tell them the truth when I had a horrible thought.

What if the cabin was bugged with listening devices?

I looked around carefully and started to inspect the walls. Bane cursed and stood staring daggers at me from across the room. Kein stormed outside with Evan and I thought that was a great idea.

"Follow me," I said bolting out the door and running away from the cabin.

I looked around for the perfect area. I wanted to be somewhere no one would be able to hear us. I darted around for a while before I settled on a flat area to the right of the cabin. Stopping I looked toward the men and motioned for them to come toward me.

"What are you doing?!" Damien roared from the cabin door.

I waved frantically to get them to come closer. They just stared at me like I had gone mad.

"Please!" I begged loudly.

Christof came first. He seemed like he was torn on what he was doing, obviously his decision was in opposition of his Brothers. When he was close enough, I grabbed him.

"I'll tell you the secret," I whispered drawing him down to my level. "The house might have devices in it so Nu-reeh could hear us. She might be watching."

My voice sounded a little raw and panicked to my ears. Christof must have thought the same thing; he looked concerned. He brushed my hair away from my cheeks and turned to look at his Brothers. They came immediately.

"Is it a breaking of the mind?" Bane asked when he was close.

Christof said he didn't think so and Damien said he wished they had brought the other human female.

I was offended. They thought I was crazy. Admittedly running around outside like I had done might have looked odd, but my concern was valid.

"Listening devices might be in the cabin," I insisted. "I'm not crazy. This is a really big secret and Nu-reeh doesn't know I know."

The gathered men looked at me with faces ranging from amused to concerned.

"Little Sister, we feared you would react badly to the pad. Our cousins told us humans can worry with great imagination. You must not do that. We will be honest with you in the future," Bane soothed. "No one will watch you when you do not know about it."

"Come back inside," Kein encouraged. "The trip was long, come sit with us by the fire."

"I'm not a crazy person," I said rolling my eyes. "Do you want the secret out or not?"

A small laugh rumbled through them before Damien spoke.

"Tell us what secret you kept about Nu-reeh. We are all listening to you," he said in a patronizing voice.

I didn't have to have access to the bond to know what they were thinking. There was nothing I could know about Nu-reeh. They believed whatever this secret was involved some wild paranoia I had imagined.

"She can control you," I spat out angry at their superior attitudes. "She has a chip implanted...somewhere that gives her access to your bond. The women can control the men. They can even control what you see and hear."

They stared at me for a moment looking shocked. I felt quite superior in my knowledge for just a moment and then Christof spoke gently.

"How long have you had these thoughts?" he asked stroking my arm. "You didn't ever tell your other friends these things. They must have weighed heavy on your mind."

They weren't upset at all. I looked at their calm faces and saw...pity. Evan told me he would draw me a nice, hot bath. He and Damien would rub me and I would feel better. Kein would play music I liked. Perhaps after the bath I could cuddle on the bed with Christof or Bane and relax more.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-1



"You wanted to kill my tutors in the mountains," I argued shaking off their concern. "The only reason you didn't is because Nu-reeh demanded you not do it. She sucked the anger out of you. Don't you remember being murderous one moment and then having the sensation drain away a second later?"

No, they didn't remember any of that. They'd been angry, but then killing Runen had seemed like a waste of time. The decision had been theirs.

"You don't understand our code of honor, little Sister," Bane said stroking my back. "We were raised to believe man's life is sacred. The taking of that life is only allowed under certain circumstances. Runen and his family injured you, but they were much weaker than us. Killing them would not have been satisfying or honorable."

I was ready to snap. Here I was giving the biggest secret on the planet and they didn't believe me.

"Rue and his Brothers," I insisted, "don't you remember being furious with them and wanting to hurt them. Nu-reeh told you they had been punished already. At first you didn't care what she thought and just as quickly you agreed with her."

By the look on their faces, they didn't remember that at all. Christof started to tug me toward the cabin and I fought him.

"She admitted it to Hannah, ask her!" I pleaded.

The only response was the concern on their faces as I saw them contemplating this new problem.

"NO," I shouted, "think about it. Remember how you felt and how the feelings changed. She can control you when she wants to."

"Ciara," Damien soothed, "you are too worried and it has made you imagine things. We were told this could happen. The Healers have seen other humans that become quite frantic. Relax for us. We can help you with this."

I jerked against Christof hard and Evan leaned down and scooped me up. We started for the cabin and I struggled with him.

"The Administrators know." I said. "You all at least remember when they threatened you all they would 'Make you act the correct way' when they caught Evan and me in the woods? Didn't you wonder about that comment?"

Kein sighed behind me and he remembered the comment. He feared I had spoken to the Administrators that day without permission. He had worried the other men would demand punishment for me, which Damien's family would have refused. Now he understood why I spoke when I wasn't supposed to.

"This strange fascination has gone on a long time," Christof said sadly. "We should have paid more attention, Brothers."

They didn't believe me, instead they thought I was delusional. Damien and his Brothers recognized the illness. They'd seen it in Warriors who were forced to go too long without food and water. The confusion and strange beliefs would fade once they had access to what they needed. My family had never seen this in a healthy person. No one was sure what to do.

I did panic when I thought they might tell Nu-reeh, so I begged then not to do that. As a compromise I told them I would discuss with them whenever my 'delusion' struck. But, they didn't need to tell...

"She will kill me," I begged them. "Please, don't tell her."

We had made it back to the cabin and the men stood outside for a moment.

"If it gets worse," Damien warned, "you are to tell us. No more secrets about what you are thinking. I don't want to have to ask you these things to find out."

I nodded and promised to tell them. That seemed to satisfy Damien, but not Christof.

Inside the men drew a warm bath and we all stepped into it. Damien and Evan rubbed me in the water and Christof interrogated me. My friend wanted every thought in my head. We sat in the sunken tub talking until it cooled and then got out.

They tried to pull me to the bed to relax more and I refused. I kept insisting I wasn't crazy and I did not need to rest. In a way, they relented.

In front of the fire, Christof continued his questions as Kein plucked out relaxing melodies on a small stringed instrument. Evan held me and ran a brush soothingly through my hair. Bane and Damien pulled a meal together, quietly watching the interrogation. Christof's questions didn't end until the meal was ready.

The meal the men had made was quite good. I had the feeling I was the only one enjoying it, though. The men ate in silence focusing on an intense internal conversation.

I'd been very honest with Christof and nothing else I had said seemed off. They didn't understand why I had this one strange obsession. I wondered how long they'd consider the idea until something proved it to them.

Christof and I enjoyed the Earth fruit again after lunch. I told him how these things grew at home and he enjoyed the story. As we ate I told him about farms on Earth. He seemed to find it interesting.

We had sex again in the early evening. They excited me in the ways they were familiar with and it worked much better than this morning. I orgasmed only once, which they found odd, but after the fiasco earlier it was enough for me.

Just like this morning I was wiped off in the bed and instructed to stay put for a little while. Kein pulled a blanket over my naked body so I would be comfortable. The men redressed as I lay there. I napped listening to them puttering around in the main room. I woke to the clatter of talons.

Nu-reeh stood at the end of the bed when I opened my eyes. I yelped and fell off the pillows my hips were precariously balanced on.

"Stay still," she ordered gruffly.

Bane crawled beside me and situated my hips back into position. He stayed beside me and I drew comfort from his presence. My fingers sought his and I held his hand tightly. I felt safe and protected with him near.

"Did you enjoy the treats I left you, slave?" Nu-reeh purred.

Bane gripped my hand to stop me from answering. He looked over at Damien.

"Yes, Mistress, thank you," Damien answered for me.

"You did most of what I wanted this morning and I can be very benevolent when my orders are followed," she said stroking a hand down Damien's back.

Damien spoke calmly for the family. He thanked Nu-reeh and explained Christof and I had both enjoyed the treats. I had told Christof some stories about Earth and he had enjoyed that. Nu-reeh's gift had been well received.

I suddenly realized how massive Nu-reeh was, but this room seemed to fit her. Her wings nearly touched the ceiling, although they never brushed it. I had never paid attention to the size of the passageways. The rooms just seemed to flow together. This must be why. Nu-reeh was welcome in this space.

A clawed hand began to pull at the blanket I lay underneath. Bane stopped me from grabbing the flimsy cover. Soon I lay nude and lewdly splayed in front of her. My ass was propped up and it made closing my legs difficult. I blushed furiously as she visibly inspected the sticky area between my legs.

"A human cannot hold your seed the way our women can," she said sounding sour. "Even so, this human leaks more of your seed than she keeps. Can you do nothing to hold their essence more strongly?" she addressed me harshly.

I started to answer and Bane squeezed my hand and shook his head swiftly. Damien answered instead of me.

"The slave," he said calmly, "leaks her own fluid as well ours. Much of what you see is evidence of the slave's excitement, Mistress. The excitement eases our passage so we do not damage Ciara. The tunnel needs to be lubricated for us to use it without harming the body."

Nu-reeh made a harsh sound and dropped the blanket she had been holding on the floor. She turned and left commenting on my inefficient use of Damien's product. Nu-reeh and her Sisters were never so wasteful.

When the big woman left Damien and three of the Brothers went with her. Bane covered me hurriedly and kissed my forehead before following. They were gone for a while before I heard them come back inside.

Kein flopped on the bed and grinned at me. Nu-reeh was gone for the day so we were happy.

"Get up, good girl," he smiled, "we want to go outside and spar. Come with us."

The men cleaned me up, bundled me in several layers, and we went outside. The ground was bathed in moonlight. Bane and Damien took fighting positions and began to practice with one another. The other three men watched and commented.

Everyone took a turn battling the others. The activity seemed relaxing to them. It was certainly interesting to watch. They were all so fast and efficient in their moves. I commented how impressive they were.

The men practiced for a while and we retired inside. We played card games after dinner and talked casually. Things only got tense one time. Christof asked me if I was still worried about what had been bothering me before.

"Yes," I said sadly, "I'm sorry you don't believe me, but it's the truth."

Christof patted my hand as Kein stroked my back. They still thought I was having a delusion.

"I'm not crazy," I insisted. "You'll see it is the truth."

Christof smiled and pulled me toward the bed. It was time to sleep for now, we'd talk more tomorrow. Evan commented the rest may help drive this from my mind, I should get plenty of it.

There was no reason to argue with them, but I rolled my eyes involuntarily. One day they'd appreciate this knowledge, I hoped.

Our time at the cabin lasted five more days. There were times the horror of why we were here struck me. I was building a family I would never be permitted to know. The thoughts caused depression and I needed to be pulled out of it frequently.

When the depression happened the men always had something fun they'd take me to do. We took walks in the hills and swam in a small lake located a short transport ride away. My men took me with them when they hunted for supper. I even helped prepare it several times. That was fun and distracting.

The men had brought my sword and some mornings Bane trained me. When they were feeling rambunctious they'd play fight each other. During the times they did that I sat on the side and watched them. I tried to memorize the way the moves looked. While the training would never help me, my daughters would get something from it.

"I am curious," Christof said as we packed to go home on the sixth day. "How will the Healers know Ciara has conceived?"

Evan laughed and slapped him on the back. "What's to miss Brother? You remember the stomach, no one could miss that."

Damien agreed and I rolled my eyes. "The stomach takes several moons," I informed them. "They will probably test my body for...chemicals. The first thing I noticed was the nausea and vomiting. That started about thirty days in last time..." I mused.

Now I had their attention. They wanted to know what I meant about nausea. I told them I threw up every morning for at least a couple turns of the small moon, maybe longer. Damien was livid.

No one had told him the pregnancy would make me ill. He was furious that his Sister was being forced to be sick, especially for that length of time. This was not a weak family, we would fix this.

"Don't worry, Ciara," he told me, "I will find a way to stop your sickness. You will not be ill."

I laughed at him, which offended him. Stopping my morning sickness had been nearly impossible the last time. I couldn't imagine it would be better now.

Damien squared his shoulders and looked down into my face. "You will not be ill," he informed me firmly.

"It's not a choice," I sighed. "It just happens."

Damien looked down at me, unflinching in his resolve, "I will stop it from happening."

"You can't."

We stood staring at one another for a long moment before Bane spoke. "I side with Damien," he said finally.

Christof took my side and I realized they had turned this into a bet.

"Morning sickness just happens. Lots of Earth females get it," I stressed. "It is not a weakness you can fix."

Damien, Bane, Evan, and Kein disagreed. They could control my body and my reactions. This foolish belief I had would be dispelled soon.

"Much like other strange beliefs you hold," Evan said finishing throwing things up on the transport. "We must train you not to have these thoughts."

I tried to argue with them as we set out. No one believed me. They thought I had developed a delusion in reaction to stress.

"We fear for you," Christof said carefully. "If you continue to think these foolish things you may anger Nu-reeh. You have already paid for your prior mistakes. We do not wish you to continue to earn punishment."

My brows crinkled as I looked up at him. "What punishment?"

The men were silent for a moment before they answered. It was Damien who finally spoke.

"Nu-reeh did not wish to harm your flesh so close to your breeding cycle," he said. "Your refusal to willingly submit to her demands angered her. You were punished these last five days."

Unless they'd used vast amounts of calming cream and healing cream, I didn't remember any punishment. We'd had sex and spent time with one another. None of that had seemed designed to harm me.

"You are accustomed to punishment that is given," Bane informed me. "Punishment can also be denial of things you would enjoy."

That made less sense. The men were very generous during sex and I always enjoyed it. They'd ensured I had maximal pleasure every time.

"Had you behaved," Christof said, "Hannah would have been permitted to visit every day. You defied Nu-reeh and in response she kept your offspring from you."

I had to stifle the cry with my hand. Turning around abruptly I looked into the hills we were leaving.

"If you continue to act as you should, Nu-reeh will allow Hannah to visit with you," Damien calmly informed me.

It was a crushing blow. If I'd just done what I was supposed to I would have spent time with Hannah. This was a terrible loss.

"Does she know?" I asked softly watching the mountains get smaller behind us.

The men had no idea what Nu-reeh had told Hannah. They weren't even sure she'd been told anything. My daughter may or may not have been aware I was near the mountains. It was unlikely Nu-reeh had discussed my death wish with her, that would be pointless.

The ride back to the compound seemed to take forever. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought about Hannah when I was so close to the mountains. Honestly, I had been kept too busy. I suspected that had been intentional.

I made up my mind to be good, I would have to be. It was the only way I would be allowed to see my daughter. Nu-reeh had been accurate in pegging my weakness. I would do anything to spend time with my Hannah.

The compound was in a turmoil when we arrived back. The courtyard was crowded with men even at this late hour. Kein dipped our transport into a spot and we all stepped off.

Evan stripped me of my brown cover and laid it in a bag. Now that we were back home the men wanted me in my ornamentation. Even if it was the strange ornamentation of the mountains, it was still better than the brown. They hated the brown outfit.  

Bane took bags off the transport and complained about walking them upstairs. He debated with Kein. They were just about decided that we should fly the transport up to unload. Suddenly several men burst into our midst and started to pummel Damien.  

My family hadn't been looking to fight, but they were rarely taken off guard. Damien threw the men off of him and the battle started. Bane shoved me toward the wall before delivering a sharp uppercut to the man who attacked him.

I backed into the wall as the yelling throng surrounding the ten men. My family was quickly putting the younger men in their place, but it was a raucous sight. The yard was swelled to bursting with excited Warriors.

The General appeared in the yard and ordered the men to separate. In the commotion someone grabbed me around the waist and lifted me up. He started to carry me away and I panicked. Absolutely confused by what was happening I screamed for Damien and fought the man.

Somehow I managed to grab a short knife the man carried at his waist. I twisted and aimed the knife for his stomach. Just before I plunged the knife into him I recognized his voice and dropped the weapon. The yard had seen it, though. The silence was deafening.

"DAMIEN," the General roared sounding more tired and less irate, "get your slave."

I'd very nearly stabbed the General's Brother who continued to hold me in a crushing embrace. He looked down at me with annoyance. In deference to my mistake I went limp and pliant in his arms as he sat my feet on the ground.

Bane retrieved me and I wrapped trembling arms around his solid frame. My heart slowed as he stroked my back. Damien was talking to the General. Since the General was obviously not going to do anything interesting with me, the collective attention was back on the men.

Using my hair as a shield I watched the General talk to Damien and another Warrior. The other man was one that had attacked Damien. Apparently his name was Turk and he was livid.

"We are not weak men," Turk told the General. "Let us challenge Damien and his Brothers, we are willing to prove our worth."

"I do not mind you challenging Damien to a contest," the General said sharply. "Disrupting the compound by attacking a man unaware is not honorable. If you wish to test your strength, you must ask my permission."

Turk said a series of lines that sounded like a formal request to challenge another family to battle. Much to everyone's shock the General declined. Turk had angered him by attacking out of turn. Once the General felt Turk and his Brothers deserved a chance he would arrange a challenge.

"Get to your stations," the General addressed the yard sharply. "You are all late to your posts."

In a much quieter voice he told Damien to bring the family to his dwelling.

The crowd dispersed quickly and the yard was soon empty. We followed the General silently up the steps to his rooms. Once we were inside Christof and Kein inspected me thoroughly for damage.

"Did anyone touch it before my Brother stepped in?" the General asked staring at me.

Christof tilted my chin so I looked in his eyes. I shook my head 'no' one time.

"No, General, she is untouched," he said sounding relieved.

The General made a grunt and slapped his Brother on the shoulder. He complimented the man on getting to me quickly. Nu-reeh would have been furious if I had been damaged.

"General," Damien said politely, "may we inquire what has happened? There appear to be increased patrols."

The General motioned and we went into his sitting area. The men sat and I started to kneel on a pad next to Evan. He wouldn't let me and pulled me to sit on the seat next to him.

There was an intake of breath as Evan settled me beside him, but the General's family made no comment. Evan acted as though nothing was amiss and laid a hand over my knee. I knew the internal dialogue, I was family and family sat.

"Something is going on with the bandits," the General said staring at the fire. "They haven't been stealing from the traveling men, instead they take the men. The women have sent us notice of several families gone missing. Today they almost took Turk and his Brothers. They are embarrassed to have been nearly bested."

We sat quietly before Damien spoke again. He didn't understand why bandits would be taking men, trying to take Warriors made even less sense. He pressed the General for information, but there was nothing more to say. The General claimed the women had not told him what the bandits were doing with the men.

"The women don't stop them?" Christof said curiously.

"No," the General said simply, "apparently they cannot. From what we can gather, the women cannot find the bandits. It is a strange circumstance. I fear it will scare the shopkeepers. The men that travel will stop coming this way. It will upset the men."

The General's Brother addressed Damien. He told them that Damien and his Brothers were put on the patrols the next day. They should rest well tonight.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-1



The General and his Brothers were morose as they sat staring into the fire. The responsibility of caring for the compound must be enormous. Secretly, I was glad Damien would not know the same stress.

My family assured the General they would find the bandits, but the General did not look convinced. Eventually he roused out of his thoughts long enough to excuse my men to go upstairs. We left his dwelling quickly and politely.

Outside the main yard was quiet. There as almost no one around. I assumed the men were either running the extra patrols or already in bed. We walked quickly back to the transport we had arrived on.

No one had touched the bags we had laid beside the transport. Several had toppled over, so we had to pick up our things. One bag had several stones the men had brought to the cabin to play betting games. No one had even touched those. We just picked everything up and took it to our rooms.

"Thieving is not honorable," Evan explained as we unpacked the bags in our rooms once we made it upstairs. "All men are trained to the code of conduct that is acceptable."

I told them about Earth and how prevalent stealing was. Christof was interested so I talked to him about how stealing was punished, namely, jail and prison. My uncles had spent time in the prison down the interstate, so I described that one in detail.

There was no time for going to the bathhouse tonight, so my men took a perfunctory shower in their quarters. I still took the opportunity to bathe Damien. His Brothers teased him lightly as he relaxed under my hands.

I continued to tell them about the way showers worked in jail and prison, since we'd been discussing that. My uncles had drunkenly told me the horrible things that happened in the showers, so I shared it all. Male on male sex utterly confused Damien's family and the idea of violent rape offended them. What I described to them sounded completely uncontrolled.

"Earth sounds like a horrible place," Kein commented motioning me onto the bed. "It is better you are here."

The men all agreed with that statement, but thankfully did not ask my opinion. While I loved them all dearly, the idea that I was nothing more than Nu-reeh's breeding bitch made me unbearably sad. They would not understand that given the opportunity I would absolutely go back to Earth.

The men went right to sleep when they laid down. I'd long since gotten over my jealousy that they could do that. When they were here in the compound and safe, they all fell asleep the moment they got comfortable.

I was comfortable, but lay staring out the window and thinking of Hannah. Stroking my belly, I wondered if a new life was growing inside of me. On Earth I knew that getting pregnant was an odds game. If the same logic applied here, I'd been bursting with male seed for five solid days. Given those chances another Hannah would be on the way shortly.

When I finally drifted to sleep it was as I sorted through strong baby names in my head. I prayed the name I gave her would be strong enough to help her survive. It was all I could do for a daughter.

I woke once that first night back. Images of Damien's threatening face above my burning body filled my mind. Screaming and scuttling off the bed I backed out of the bedroom.

The rooms were dark and my dream still had hold of me. I tripped on the furniture in a vain attempt to escape the men chasing me in my mind. The real Evan blocked my way and I screamed, while backing up into Bane. Further movement was limited by Bane's strong arms holding me to his chest. I struggled futilely against his grasp and only succeeded in waking myself up.

Kein was moving rapidly around the main room lighting lamps. He looked concerned as he stopped to face me. In fact, everyone looked concerned. Christof stepped past Evan and I flinched involuntarily, begging him not to hurt me. No one moved for a moment after that.

My brain started to work fully and I realized what I'd done. I'd had a nightmare about my family and then I'd literally run from them. Explaining to them the basis of that fear would be impossible and I didn't want to try. There was no reason to remember that terrible night anymore than I had to.

"I'm so sorry," I said in a shaking voice. "It's been a stressful several day cycles. I had a bad dream. May I have a drink of water before we go back to bed?"

Bane's hands loosened on me and one lay over my heart; it was pounding in my chest.

"What thought made you so upset?" Christof asked softly. "Your heart is beating much too fast."

I shook my head and pleaded with my eyes. "I don't want to talk about it and relive it. It was a bad dream. I will feel much better in the morning."

Christof appeared curious, but Evan laid a hand on his arm. I had asked not to talk about it. Forcing me to say whatever I had thought of would be wrong, since I had asked not to. Kein agreed with Evan.

Damien took a small pitcher of sweet water from the cupboard and let me have a drink. I murmured my thanks and moved shakily back to the bedchamber. My family joined me after the lamps had all been extinguished in the main room. I felt it took all of us a long time to fall back sleep after my little escapade.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-2



Here is the next installment of A Slave to the Servants. 

With the holidays and all I expect your next chapter to be posted about Jan 4, 2012. 

Someone asked how I pronounce Kein and Ciara. To me Kein sounds like "keen" and Ciara is pronounced like the Spanish word for sky. 

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his work proofreading. 

Happy Holidays to everyone out there!

Comments are welcome and votes are appreciated.

**********************************************

Days passed and I wondered internally how long it would take for us to know I was carrying. I didn't ask, because part of me didn't want to know. Preemptively, I was fed bits of the root everyday. Damien informed me that no mistakes would be made this time. 

The Healers came and their inspections were perfunctory. Damien explained the nausea, or morning sickness, to them and they were surprised. Listening to them talk they seemed to know less about actual pregnancy and more about the cycle that made it possible. Whether they figured it out or not, I would know eventually. I guessed it would be obvious. 



As I sat on the beach one afternoon looking out over the warm water, I suddenly felt hot and dusty. Silly really, I thought looking down at myself. A few specks of sand clung to me, but it was hardly a bad thing. Walking into waist deep water I dunked my head and surfaced. 

I stood in the sea and looked down at my skin, now glistening wet. Nope, it still felt hot and dusty. My thoughts were fluid as I stood in the sea. This day was annoying and so was this job. I hated this part of our land. No water in sight and the wind whipped up the dirt so it got in my eyes. No one else found it nearly as irritating as I did. 

Such a thought was grossly illogical since I was standing in waist deep water. 

Dunking myself a second time I scrubbed at myself under the water. I surfaced and still felt dry and sandy, which made no sense at all. I rubbed my arms briskly with water, but the sensation stayed. 

"So your owners don't even bother to bathe you?" a voice said from just ahead of me. "You must be sad that you have to do it yourself."

"Vesa," I sighed looking at the lovely girl sneering at me. 

She and her friends stepped gracefully into the water and came toward me. This could not be a good thing. 

I watched the girls sliding toward me and wished I wasn't standing in water. Vesa was human and she was jealous. She longed for status in this world and she believed I had it. That sole belief had made us into mortal enemies. Vesa would do anything to take my place. 

My usual tack with this girl was to try to explain that this was not a choice we could change. I would usually end up spending what felt like a good hour every other day reminding her that slaves did what we were told. She didn't believe me no matter what I said. 

The horrible girl believed I'd found a way to get pregnant and now I gained favors by being a breeding slave. My men served me, she foolishly thought. Her owners had unfortunately told her about me feeding Evan. She believed she could wrap the world around her finger if she could do what I did. 

She did little annoying things to convince me to talk to her. Her friends would stick their legs out to trip me or they'd sit and stare at me for hours on end. Thanks to her influence only Rose and Fuji still dared to talk to me. This new Keepers' was quite a desolate place for the three of us. 

"Tell me how you managed to conceive," she demanded now. 

I didn't back away and held my ground as the four girls circled me. Not for the first time I was glad I had not told these girls what the health drink really was. As they closed in I steeled my resolve not to let the secret slip in this company.

"I got pregnant when the women wanted me to," I told her simply. 

A thought niggled at my mind. Two girls were slipping behind me. This was a set up, something bad was about to happen. 

"Liar," Vesa sneered, "my owners were in trouble because you carried a child. All the Administrators were punished. You did it yourself...somehow."

I sighed and silently spread my feet for more solid footing in the loose sand beneath me. The waves were making that a losing battle. 

"Vesa, I was owned by men who liked to study things, perhaps they did something to me," I offered. 

"The Keepers can be distracted, stupid, as many times as I need them to be," she said coming closer.

"Don't be foolish," I warned the girls, "hurting me will only end up getting us all punished. This is not a point of discussion."

"Let's see if a little time in the sea changes your mind," Vesa growled. "You'll learn I can hurt you without leaving a mark." 

Before I could scream I was jumped and my legs were tugged from beneath me. My head plunged beneath the surface and I struggled with the girls. It was a mighty fight beneath the placid surface. 

They tried to hold me under and failed miserably. I fought like my family had trained me to. Quite quickly I adapted to the underwater battle. I breached the surface and sucked in air. Before they could attack again I swung, striking Vesa in the jaw. She stumbled back and now it was only three against one. 

Vesa's friend clawed at my neck from behind trying to drag me under. My elbow swung back and I heard the crunch of bone as I broke her nose. The other girl threw a vicious jab into the back of my ribs. The wind rushed out of me and I stumbled for a moment. The girl in front grabbed my hair and tried to pull me under. 

I'd drowned once and that was enough. Using my remaining energy I pushed the girl in front forward until we were in shallower water. The girl still behind me tried to dig her nails into my sides to hold me, but it did not work. Without the water to limit me, I was a vicious bitch. 

Swinging with intent I knocked out the girl that was trying to pull out my hair. When I turned to take on the girl pummeling my back, the Keepers finally saw us. 

The Keepers rushed to separate us. They got soaked pulling us out of the water and away from one another. I forced myself to calm down and not fight the man holding me, that would have been pointless. He just carried me as his Brothers carried the other girls from the beach into their building. 

Slaves aren't allowed to hurt each other, the Keepers reminded us as they fixed our wounds. I was scratched and bruised, but the other girls were in much worse shape. Healers were summoned for Vesa's jaw and her friend's nose; I had broken both. 

Standing in the all too familiar punishment room I wondered at my circumstances. Being stuck to the wall wasn't uncomfortable, but my back still throbbed. That worried me less than the future, though. I was certain fighting with the head Administrator's slave would be grounds for serious punishment. Hopefully Damien and his Brothers would protect me.

They would, I suddenly knew. The men were livid that I had been attacked. They would watch the slaves die that had done this. Vesa and her friends would be corpses by nightfall. Their right to live was forfeit. 

Oh hell, I felt the bond now. It was getting stronger. The men knew it all, they had witnessed everything. 

"No!" I screamed fighting the air shackling me to the wall. "Please don't kill them! They just made a stupid mistake!"

I screamed and struggled feeling absolutely helpless. While I did not like Vesa at all, I had no desire to be the reason for her demise. If she was killed the guilt would overwhelm me. 

The Keepers dropped the divider in front of my face and looked curiously at me. I was shaking and crying. Over and over again I begged Damien and his Brothers not to kill the other slaves. 

"Slave, your owners are not here," one of the Keepers said with his head cocked. 

They were coming, though. Damien and his Brothers were on their way. They'd been in the Great Barren Stretch tracking the bandits, but they were coming back at top speed. 

"Go back," I begged the voices in my head, "go track and find the bandits, don't do this." 

Their feelings were getting stronger by the moment. My pleas fell on deaf ears. The closer they were the harder it was to hold a differing opinion, but I was stubborn. 

I sought out Christof's mind. He felt just like his Brothers did, there was no latitude. Attacking me was bad enough, doing so in an unequal grouping had been the height of dishonorable. These creatures had no right to live. 

"Take them to their owners," I begged the Keepers. "Take them somewhere else, please. My owners can't find them."

The Keepers did not understand and called the Healers, who understood less. I was acting like I had lost my mind. It made no sense to talk to men that were not present. All ten of them stared at me like I was the strangest thing they'd ever seen. 

A whipping would be fine, I reasoned, it could be made to hurt like nothing I'd ever experienced. Vesa would learn, she could be taught. This girl did not need to die for her stupidity. 

The disconnect with the men was causing a headache. The pain was mighty and throbbing. It felt as though I would pass out. Soon nothing else seemed to matter except that pulsing pain. It felt as though I was tearing into pieces. 

"Fine," the voices in my head finally relented, "we will...discuss our decision."

I breathed with relief. We would not kill Vesa and her friends, although we really wanted to. Ciara was stubborn and against it. 

I shook my head and tried to clear it. Nothing like thinking about myself as a different person to fully confuse me. 

Sweating and out of breath, I hung on the wall and panted. The pain I had caused us had been monumental. The relief was overwhelming and I almost felt sleepy. The anger was still there, but it was controlled and in the background. 

The Keepers and the Healers just stood and watched me like I was some animal in a zoo. They couldn't decide what I had been screaming about. It had sounded like I was having a conversation, but I was alone in this room. It took them a while to come terms with the strangeness of it. 

Since I wasn't acting as uncontrolled anymore the Healers eventually took me off the wall and checked me again on a floating table. Perhaps I had suffered some damage they had not seen the first time. It was conceivable that is what had me so bothered.

I had been hurt, but the bruise was only just appearing. The Healers realized that the girl had hit me on my back hard enough to break a rib. They pulled out a funny looking instrument and pressed it to my bruised flesh. 

"If you touch our...slave," Damien said in an even voice while entering the room, "we will destroy you."

The Healers were shocked and backed away from the angry Warriors approaching. 

"Sir, we are trained with the human slaves," one Healer said in a shaking voice. "We would not have caused it harm."

The anger in my men was undeniable. Now that they were so close, I felt it and it was making them irrational. They wanted to hurt something in retaliation for what had happened. With them so close I felt the anger starting to pool in my own self. I fought the unnecessary emotion. 

"You are not trained for this slave," Bane said calming down slightly in reaction to me. "The lead Healers deal with this slave. She has special needs."

The Healers told Damien that was fine, but I had a broken rib. I needed treatment fast or I would be in great pain. This damage would cause difficulty with my breathing for two moons if they let it sit unhealed. 

"Thank you," Damien said politely as Evan picked me up. 

I hissed and struggled when pressure was applied to my right chest. Evan quickly adjusted his arms so he did not hurt me. I focused on Christof's unbroken body and felt the pain seep from me. Of course, now I felt the anger. 

The lead Healers were called to our quarters and they met us at the door. They examined me quickly and came to the same conclusion their cousins had. The men pulled out a similar device and pressed it against the tender flesh. 

Damien and his Brothers had seen this before. The healers used it to accelerate the healing of broken bones. Something similar had been used on Bane and Christof as children. We had no idea how it worked. 

I suddenly moved away from the device in horror. 

"Will this harm the child inside?" Damien asked placing a hand over the instrument. 

It wasn't Damien's worry; it was mine. I knew that pregnant women couldn't do certain things because it could cause birth defects. Not surprisingly Damien and his Brothers had never heard of that before, but now the knowledge concerned them. 

My family refused to let the Healers continue because they didn't know if this was safe in pregnancy or not. In fact, the Healers had never considered that idea. Damien scoffed openly at their ignorance and demanded they find out. 

"We will contract our Mistress," they told Damien, "she has access to the great knowledge base. We will know soon. Keep the slave breathing deeply."

That was right, at least in my experience. Back on Earth Uncle Eddy had been quite a terror when he was drunk. When my mom got started it would be an all out battle between them. The fights would be verbal until one of them completely lost it and then it would be physical. 

Eddy had broken several of mom's ribs one time. Tape wasn't good for the lungs the doctor had said. I remembered how the doctor had fussed at them and told them the best treatment was deep breaths and pain control. I was scared to use the foul smelling goop though, so I concentrated on deep breathing. 

"A little might not hurt," Kein said watching my eyes.

I thought of every deformed human I'd ever seen. The men were horrified. Nothing would touch me until the truth was found out. They hated to see my pain, but understood the possible dire consequence. 

I was salty and sandy from the beach, so the men took me into the shower and washed me gently. Christof breathed slowly and deeply, encouraging me to do the same. As long as I kept my conscious mind away from my own body that was easy to do. 

The only problem with concentrating on the men was I kept being subjected to their anger. When I fully opened to them, I felt them forcibly probing my memories. It was uncomfortable to be bonded like this again. My men interrogated me at my deepest, most private level. 

There were things I had not shared with them, like all Vesa's prior insults. I had never said my friends and I were isolated at the Keepers. I would not have brought such trivial information to their attention. Now they were livid to find out after the fact. 

"You are not honest with us," Bane said sounding calm. "We thought we had taught you not to hold back from us. This girl has made you unhappy for many day cycles."

Now they all sounded calm, but the rage was building fiercely in every direction. This would be dealt with, it had just been allowed to go on much too long. They were upset with me, but happy to take it out on these other girls. My family would teach them and every lesson would be in blood. 

"She was foolish," I pleaded. "Her friends were foolish. It is normal for a human to want to better themselves..."

I refused to agree and be dragged into a senseless bloodbath. We were all slaves, none better than the other. There was nothing to gain in harming these humans. 

"The girl who hit you," Bane said concentrating on the large purple bruise, "was not human. She is from a world not far from yours. Her bone is as hard as the metal in our blades. Those creatures are bought from slave auctions their own planet puts on. She is a born slave and knows no other life."

I felt the my ribs now and started to breath fast, short breaths. The throbbing ache was intense. Evan pushed Bane hard into the wall and Christof's unbroken ribs replaced the sensation of my own. 

Damien spoke sharply to Bane. He ordered him not to cause me pain just because he was upset. Nu-reeh would be angry enough as it was.

"Give her comfort now, Brother," Damien threatened squaring off with Bane. 

The lesson had to be enforced and Damien would do what had to be done. Hurting his Brothers caused him pain, but they had to learn. This was not a lesson we could forget. 

We were in turmoil and it was uncomfortable. The men wanted to kill something and I did not. I was in pain and they were not. None of them were used to the discordant feelings and it was frustrating. Frankly, I felt a little schizophrenic, much like the last time this pregnancy thing had happened. I couldn't concentrate and couldn't think straight. 

"Eh, so we are becoming an Earth family, then?" Kein said trying to lighten the mood, "Fighting amongst ourselves and disagreeing with one another is normal on Earth, correct, Ciara?"

I nodded and smiled remembering my crazy upbringing. Eddy had once thrown a kitchen knife at Mom and the police had been called. The house had been a three ring circus. I didn't think I could stand that mess again. 

Bane reached past Damien and hugged me lightly in the shower. 

"We leave punishment to the Administrators," he said kissing my damp head. "It is how you wish."

It drained out of them. The rage was gone and they were decided. It was better for the family not to hold onto it, so we didn't. The girls that had hurt me would be dealt with by their owners, not us. 

I was uncomfortable, but more at ease with the situation. The men had totally relented and were no longer blood hungry. I felt relaxed for the first time since I'd seen Vesa approaching me. 

Lifting my arm hurt, so they didn't put my linen cover on me after our bath. Instead, Christof laid me in the bed under a blanket to rest while we sorted everything out. I concentrated on the men and soon drifted into a restless sleep. 

The General came and Damien explained to him what had happened. I saw the entire transaction through my dreams. The men told the General they wanted no part of the punishment and they wanted to have no knowledge of it. This strange request was acceptable to the General; he didn't even question it. 

"Nu-reeh will be incensed her breeder was harmed," the General said watching me sleep. "I will be glad when you and your Brothers leave for the mountains. It is more than I can deal with to have it here."

Damien laughed internally. Even knowing that I carried a little life inside of me, he still insisted on calling me an 'it'. The man had no imagination. Christof wholeheartedly agreed and reminded Damien he'd thought that the entire time. 

Dinner arrived and my sore, tired body was pulled to the table. I was surprised when a pot of steaming drink was produced. 

"It is a girl," Damien explained pouring me a serving and smiling. "We sent the message to Nu-reeh as soon as you connected to us. The whole compound is getting a treat tonight, although the others do not know why."

We ate in comfortable silence. My rib still throbbed, but there was no more inner discord. The dissension of opinion had been harder to tolerate than the physical pain. 

The men knew that would have been the case. Pain through disagreement in the bond was always the worst thing imaginable. The cruelest thing to do to any man would be to seek to disrupt long held opinions in just one Brother.

That surprised me. We had not always agreed. I'd believed I should not be a slave long before they'd come to that conclusion. We had never felt like we did earlier today. 

"You allowed us to guide you, little Sister," Bane said filling my plate back up. "You did not fight us. Damien, Evan, Kein and I were not confronted with your feelings on the matter. It also helped that our sneaky Brother with his Earth heritage agreed with you. Both of you," he grinned at Christof, "held those opinions away from us and shared only with each other. We did not truly experience your disagreement."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-2



I thought of Vesa and her poor, stupid friends. The men knew some sort of punishment awaited such foolish slaves. They would never be told what it was, though. The General had assured them they would never know. 

"Could we help them?" I asked softly. 

"We are," Damien informed me, "they are being saved the wrath of five Warriors that have been wronged. Whatever they suffer now will be less because we are not there." 

It was done and settled. Even I felt at ease with the decision, I would not be to blame for any suffering Vesa faced. Admittedly, she did deserve some form of punishment. 

Vesa and her friends had attacked me outright. While they probably didn't mean to leave lasting scars, none of them expected me to truly fight back. Those foolish girls probably thought they could just scare the secret out of me. 

"Our littlest member is a true Warrior!" Kein said raising fist and pumping the air several times.

The other Brothers followed suit in what was a celebration of strength. 

"Four against one and beneath the surface of the water," Evan said proudly, "you used what we taught you well and adapted it to a new circumstance."

That had been wonderful. It was decided next time we train we'd use sloping terrain or maybe two against one. There were things that would be fun to teach me, especially since I'd proved an adept student. 

"You need to know how to defend your back against attack," Christof said. "Foes do not always come at you from the front, as you learned."

The rest of the evening was interesting in a strange way. After dinner we sat around the fire and discussed battle strategy. It would be a lie to say I understood all of it on my own, but drawing on their knowledge it did make more sense. We sat and talked until bed. 

My rib still hurt when we laid down to sleep, but Kein had a pack of something cool he laid over it. That helped some. He even arranged it so it lay draped over that side as I rested. I slept easier and breathed better when it was present. 

It was an uncomfortable night. It wasn't until the moon set in the morning that I'd finally gotten fully asleep. I felt Evan wake up, but even that was not enough to truly cause me to stir. I just watched from a dream as the men woke and stretched. 

The Healers were at our door before the sun started to break the sky. Evan had not woken me, yet. The Healer's loud voices did, though. 

"How did you know?" they kept asking Damien as they bustled into the bedroom. 

Kein lit several of the lamps as I roused myself from slumber. I winced and tried to sit up, but Bane knelt on the bed and pushed me back down. He settled beside me and leaned on the post in the center 

"They have news," he said softly looking down, "be comfortable while they tell it."

The Healers could be wordy, I suddenly knew. They loved to talk and rarely got to the point quickly. Usually they were faster around Damien's family, probably out of fear, but today they looked like they wanted to revel in the telling. 

Evan sat on the end of the bed near my feet. He stroked the foot lovingly, pulling the blanket back and fondling my toes. I had such tiny toes, he'd always thought they were cute. He was completely uninterested in the Healers.

In fact none of the men were interested in the Healers. They put on stoic faces that would not offend our company. Internally their conversation was about what we needed to do today. Their disinterest made it hard for me to pay attention. 

Bane was right, though. These strange men wanted to draw this out. The Healers asked about me and my prior healing. They wanted to know how I'd reacted to healing cream, the cream for pain, and calming cream. Damien answered all of that politely. Lastly, they asked about the prior pregnancy and how the baby came from my body, but Damien wouldn't budge on that. 

"I will only speak with Nu-reeh's permission," he told them stoically. 

Damien's refusal to elaborate stymied them for only a moment, before they were back to talking. 

"The fix for the broken bone," the lead Brother stated triumphantly, "will not hurt a growing child."

One of the men held up a small device. It had been the one Damien refused to let them use on me the day before. 

Damien tried to look as calm as he could, but he could barely stand the irritation these men caused him. Just use it and leave, was his opinion. The sensation was so strong I nearly said it myself. 

"The healing cream is not dangerous and can be used as you wish. We believe you all are acquainted with this already," the lead Healer announced.

Yes, that was a good thing. I'd not thought to question it when they used it during the last pregnancy. For a moment I felt very lucky Hannah had not been harmed. 

"The heavy ointment that removes pain," the Healer said slowly, "may cause the slave to lose the child."

Now Damien was surprised and looked questioningly over at me. He'd been sorely tempted to put some on my chest as I moaned in my sleep last night. Christof warned him I knew more about pregnancy than they did, though. Best not to tempt ill luck, he'd said, and he'd been correct. 

"So," the lead Healer said, "how did you know?"

Human intelligence was not respected. Damien knew these Healers thought of me as little more than a messy toy, but he told them the truth. 

"Ciara, the female, suspected these things could hurt the growing life," he said simply. 

The Healers scoffed and ruffled their brows. Certainly Christof, or perhaps Evan, had given me the idea.

"Humans," Evan said in a conspiratorial tone, "are quite bright. They are protective of their own young even, amazing quality. It is as though this," he said pointing to me, "is a sentient being."

He was being an asshole and grinned at the Healers maliciously. The idiots had no idea the depth of intelligence a human could possess. Damien's family would educate them, but they didn't seem receptive. Now we just wanted them to get on with their job and leave. 

The Healers missed the sarcasm entirely. They just asked Bane to move me onto a floating table. They would heal me, although none of them understood how I'd known the other things could harm my baby. Evan's explanation was evidently not satisfactory. 

Once I was in position the thing was pressed into my tender chest wall. It seemed to be emitting a series of waves. My rib felt sharp pain for a moment and then it began to dull. The pain got much better, but did not go away completely.

After withdrawing the strange probe the Healers coated the area with the healing cream. The bruising lightened and breathing became much easier. Relaxing onto the floating table I felt as though I could fall to sleep right there. 

The Healers were quite proud of themselves. Once they had thought about birth defects, they had thought about other chemicals, like food. They had taken the initiative to start to study the food I ate to ensure nothing was harmful. A list of acceptable food was given to Damien. He looked it over and thanked them politely as he guided them out the door.

We set off for the mountains in the early morning. Since my child was a girl Nu-reeh wanted us there quickly. I still had much to learn, obviously, and she believed it was safer. After the day before I couldn't help but agree. 

I was a little surprised by how long the trip was. I'd travelled to the edge of the mountains many times before. The only time I'd travelled deep into them had been in Nu-reeh's arms. I couldn't even fathom if this trip was longer or shorter than that had been. I'd been terrified and freezing the whole time. Today, the ride seemed to take forever. 

I thought about names as we rode. A strong female name was what I needed. Nu-reeh obviously didn't care if the name was from Earth, which was good. I had no idea how females were named here.

"How did you name me?" I asked suddenly.

My name was feminine and pretty. I wondered how they'd come up with it. 

"My Brothers," Christof said, "had wanted a slave for a long time. I had always been against this, as you know. Still, when we heard sounds we always picked out the ones we liked and remembered them.

Eventually, my Brothers decided on the sound they enjoyed most. Your name is that sound. It brought them pleasure and peace. When they saw you, they knew you would wear the name proudly."

I smiled fondly at them. That was a good way to pick a name, but not the way I would have done it. Still it was better than the way my Mom had picked my name on Earth. 

Our conversation was interrupted as shadows fell over the transport. Dinah swooped to our right and Tosu to our left. They said nothing, but flew slightly in front of us as guides. 

We began to pass into the mountains with our entourage. Much like the first time the scenery fascinated me. I imagined Hannah and all she had seen; it must be amazing to be free. 

"It was, wasn't it?" Christof asked reaching out and taking my hand. 

I had not meant to depress everyone, but I had. Being free had been wonderful for all of us. Although it had only been an illusion for the men; they still missed the feeling. Christof had been right all along, free things should be left free. 

We flew to the mountain Nu-reeh called home, but were forced to land in an unfamiliar area. The women led us into a short cave system with no other men present. They told us we would stay here until they moved us. To reinforce that, Dinah took our transport when she left. 

The cave we were in was chilly. It was just a single long run with one opening out of the mountain. We walked to the back of the cave and found water seeping down the wall. A pan sat there, as did a rag. A couple dirty, wooden cups littered the ground. I was very confused. 

"Welcome to the shower and our drinking water," Evan said with flourish.

Damien found an indent in the rock and pointed out several thin blankets. "Ah, the sleeping chamber," he said sharply. 

The men were livid. 

"This is acceptable for us," Christof ranted walking back toward the gapping mouth of the cave. "Ciara cannot live this way. She will become ill." 

I didn't understand, but Christof's memories told me what this was. If the women wanted to take and keep a man, but not reveal the world's secrets, they'd store him somewhere like this. The man would be unable to scale down the rock wall and was essentially trapped. It was an isolated lonely existence until the women released them. 

"It is also used for punishment," Damien said wearily looking around for something to burn. "Nu-reeh told us she was angry that we disobeyed her the first time we bred you."

They'd used the plug, because I'd begged to be fuller. It had been a disaster in the end, but they'd done it to make me happy. Nu-reeh had instructed them to only use my vaginal area for sex during that time. 

The men wanted to be upset and angry, but that would be a wasted emotion. 

"She will not allow Ciara to be harmed," Bane soothed his Brothers. "We will merely be uncomfortable until she is satisfied."

We took the time to inspect the cave thoroughly. A hole in the back was for waste, we'd already found the water we could drink or use to wash with. The blankets would provide minimal bedding on the hard, cold floor. 

"Guess this is why she told us not to insert Ciara's plug," Evan said staring at the bleak interior.

Not like any of us would be thinking about sex while we were here. This place was going to be uncomfortable and trying. Nu-reeh would make sure of our discomfort. 

I felt guilty, my face was chilly, but not the rest of me. Evan had bundled me in my long blue dress and, not one, but three brown outer layers. I'd been dressed very warmly for this excursion. 

"She instructed us to," Damien said patting my shoulder. 

The men had me dressed in so many layers I'd be warm even at night. They had not understood the directive at first, now it made more sense. 

We walked to the opening of the cave and found there was a sizable width before the drop off. It would be a near impossible feat to climb safely down, though. The men inspected the length of the shelf, counting their steps. It was perhaps a fifteen hundred steps each way. They found a pile of large rocks at one end. 

I remembered my time in Nu-reeh's care and knew what the rocks were for. Christof had done a similar chore when he was first brought to the mountains. 

"They aren't for Ciara, I'm sure," Evan said. "I am quite certain we will have a chore every day, Brothers." 

Moving the rocks was boring, repetitive work. The men hated the sorting room, this would be so much worse. At least with the sorting room there was a point to the moving of the ore. 

The sun was low but there was still some daylight left. The men took that as a sign they should start. 

The rocks were obviously not intended for me. I just paced with the men and attempted to entertain them. I sang and told stories, anything to make the work more bearable. 

I tried to enjoy the beautiful mountains, but that only went so far. The wind was cold and the men felt the chill even through their jackets. It got worse as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The mountains were not a place they enjoyed. 



I wasn't silent until the huge shadow passed overhead. Nu-reeh dropped in front of us and we all stared at her. She dropped a small, wrapped container on the ground and glared at us. 

"Do you know why you are here?" she asked. 

"We disobeyed, Mistress," we said as a group.

She explained to us our faults in detail. The men had used the plug when she had told them not to. I had gotten in a fight and then allowed myself to be injured. We had all refused healing when it was initially offered. 

"You had no right to make any of those choices," she explained cooly. "You are mine. The breeder is mine. I want the vessel protected even at the expense of a life of one of my own. She will make many more for me, as long as she is healthy. You did not pay enough attention to her safety. In addition, never refuse the Healers and treat her as I wish, do you understand me?" 

"Yes, Mistress."

"This is for the slave only," she said pointing to the small lump on the ground.

With that said she was gone. 

I was shocked and appalled. If I was injured she would sacrifice the child to keep me healthy. I would just make another one. It was a numbers game for her and it was truly sickening.

"Enough with this thought," Christof scolded pushing me toward our cave, he felt the despondence creeping into me.

Night was falling fast. We didn't want to be standing on a mountain ledge in the dark. Evan stooped and picked up the small package Nu-reeh had dropped. It smelled familiar. 

The curse words were in my head. She was feeding me and only me. The men could tolerate that, it would just be uncomfortable. Nu-reeh had doubled the punishment by feeding me meat soaked in tami. The smell would make the men crazy and she knew it. 

"We'll split it," I offered hopefully. 

I'd feel awful being the only one to eat. 

That idea was met with fury. Nu-reeh would just devise worse punishment if they did something like that. I'd eat and they would suffer. That is how it had to be for now. 

None of us voiced it, but we all hoped, one day we would be free to make our own choices.

The men did not mind going hungry, they'd done it before. In the past they'd not been subjected to smelling tami all night, though. We settled just outside the cave and Evan opened Nu-reeh's package. I would eat out here, so the whole cave wouldn't smell. 

Leaning against the wall Bane thought of whole new realms of curse words to describe Nu-reeh. The meat appeared to have been cooked just the way they liked it. She was being particularly malicious in this punishment. 

I tried to eat quickly, but Damien scolded me. If I didn't chew I was likely to get a stomachache, that was common knowledge. I slowed down, but ate as quickly as I could. 

"Strange," Evan said looking out over the mountains, "Ciara does not taste the tami the same way we do."

As I ate dinner the men discussed my human differences. They suppressed their hunger by distracting themselves. We sat outside until I'd finished and left the fragrant container many steps from the cave's entrance. 

"A bit of this, too," Kein said pulling a package out of the pouch at Christof's back. 

As we walked into our cave Kein handed me a bit of the dried root that treated vomiting. Christof had thought to bring it in case we couldn't get it in the mountains quickly. Lucky for us, he'd tucked it into the pouch at his waist. There was enough in there to last several days. 

After we all took a drink from the back of the cave, we sat and talked a while more. The stars were coming out, so we sat and watched them until Damien declared bed time. Evan took the first shift on watch and sent the rest of us to sleep. 

Stretched out on the stone floor I had to laugh to myself. I'd never slept on the floor on Earth, but it was almost becoming a habit here. I almost missed the uncomfortable chair on Mom's front porch.

The men were not at all bothered by our circumstances. They trained in much rougher conditions than this. Being in a cave, sheltered from the elements, would have been a luxury during their younger years. 

"Still," Bane warned laying on one side of me as Damien laid on the other, "the mountains are a dangerous place. We will not sleep deeply here, Ciara. You must not either. Be prepared, little Sister, you must be ready," he warned. 

Damien found Bane's concern unnecessary. 

"We will protect her, Brother. Let her sleep if she can," he encouraged patting my hand. 

Damien had no doubt of their ability to defend me. Neither did Bane and he was frustrated by Damien's refusal to understand. He propped on his elbow and looked at his lead Brother sternly.

"She is part of the family," he said with emphasis. "This is how the family handles this situation."

Damien's personal thoughts on the matter were fluid. If Bane wanted me to integrate into this part of their life, he had no qualms with it. Damien shrugged and Bane lay back down relaxed. We were a family and this is how the family slept when we were in possible danger, with one eye open, so to speak. 



It was the middle of the night when I was startled fully awake. I'd been sleeping lightly, following the pull of the Brothers. Now Christof was rising to take his turn at watch. He looked over at me and motioned me back down. I should rest, this was just his turn. 

My eyes were wide open, though. I rose and stretched. 

"I'll just sit with you for a moment," I smiled quietly. "For some reason I'm too restless to sleep."

The men relented. I was awake and not at all sleepy. It shouldn't harm me to sit up for a moment. I felt the other four fade into light slumber as Christof and I walked toward the cave opening. 

I'd experienced them take watch in the dreams. It was always the same. They took in the surrounding area and then settled on a place where they could monitor their Brothers' safety most effectively. 

Christof and I communicated silently. He remembered nights they'd actually been attacked by things in the night. There were things to look for, telltale noises that would indicate something creeping up on us. It wasn't hard to do if you had experience and Damien's family had lots of experience. 

We sat and enjoyed each other's company until his turn ended. Kein met us as we walked back to the thin sleeping pallets. He bid us a good rest and patted his Brother on the shoulder. The closeness reassured all of us. At the very least we were left together for this. 

Nu-reeh fed us in the morning, all of us. The men moved stones and I tagged along for the rest of the day. She fed me twice more, but not them. The men ate once a day. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-2



The punishment continued for eleven days. I was dirty, achy, and barely rested. Sleeping deeply was prohibited and for some reason I couldn't anyway. All night my mind stayed active and alert sifting through my family's memories. 

The men weren't that concerned by their own circumstance, but worried about me. A human, they believed, was too weak to live this way. 

Their opinion resolved me to make the best of this. I remembered seeing stories on the television about how some humans lived. They subsisted on mountains in worse conditions than I was in now. My weakness embarrassed me, so I focused on the positive. 

There was some good in this situation. The family was together and not separated. We were fed and had water to drink. There was no use complaining about the lesson. 

The lesson we should be learning was obvious. All of us belonged to Nu-reeh and she could do with us what she wished. She could keep us miserable or comfortable for even the smallest reason. The sooner we did her bidding without questioning, the less we would suffer. 

"Strange, though," Christof still said, "she's never put this much work into making us feel dependent on her before." 

She'd never asked us to stop making our own decisions before either. In fact, in the past she'd encouraged independence. Something had changed, we just didn't know what it was. Evan would ask around once we got around the other men, someone would know. 

"In the meantime..." Damien trailed off.

We do what she wants. All of us try to keep her happy, Nu-reeh could be a vicious bitch when she wanted. It wouldn't be safe for any of us if we kept angering her, even if it wasn't intentional. 

"Ciara is the main priority," Damien stated and for safety's sake, we all agreed outwardly.

The men heard the throbbing alternate pulse in my thoughts. I would do anything for my child, including take punishment from Nu-reeh. It wasn't what the men had decided to think, though. I buried the instinct deep, but held onto it tightly. We could survive the difference of opinion that way. 

That afternoon Nu-reeh appeared and we stood watching her cautiously. She reminded us she was in charge and we agreed with her. Dinah returned our transport and we followed them back to the main mountain. 

Nu-reeh walked us though the halls to an area slightly closer to the women's area. She told us our housing arrangement had been modified. The men had not known there were places for them in this area. We all just followed quietly. 

We reached a new looking opening in the cave system. Nu-reeh told us to go inside and relax. The men would have assignments in the morrow. She stalked off angrily before we had time to do as she said. The men had never understood Nu-reeh, but this was strange behavior even for her. 

We stepped into the archway and took a short hallway lighted with smokeless torches. I gasped at the site before us when the hall ended. The area we stepped into was large and very well lit. In the middle of the room was a massive pool of water. Five large smokeless pits warmed the room and comfortable looking seating was scattered around along with several tables. 

"Fuji, Rose!" I called out seeing my friends kneeling at a table. 

They looked up and then quickly back down. 

"You may look at us," Damien said gently as we approached them. "There is no punishment for casting your eyes on us. We Keep you when it is needed. Do not fear to look at us." 

My friends relaxed and smiled at me. I took in their outfits and was impressed by the differences. Fuji was nude and wrapped in several shiny chains as was normal. Wisps of red hair floated over her head. Rose was dressed in a form fitting red dress that went to the floor. Much like mine, hers was see through. Unlike mine the material fitted her delicate legs closely. Beneath the dress were foot covers that rose to her mid thigh. We were both being kept warm and comfortable.

Rose got up and looked me over, she frowned taking in my dirty features and wind knotted hair. 

"The large woman, Mistress Nu-reeh, said you had disobeyed her Ciara. Were you hurt?" she asked touching my sleeve.

"No," I chuckled, "just left a little uncomfortable."

"It is very strange here," she whispered.

I nodded and took her hand and squeezed it. The mountains were a lot to take in, especially for someone as sheltered as Rose was. 

"Your men," Damien asked looking around, "where are they?"

"They work, Keeper," Rose said politely, "they melt the ore the women mine and package it for sale."

"Mine sort the ore," Fuji added taking my other hand. "Have you seen the pool that they made for you, Ciara?" she directed to me. 

I had and my men were fascinated by it.

"You swim in warm water every day," Fuji informed me pulling me toward the Olympic sized body of water. "It keeps you strong and healthy. My Master's Mistress wished that you continue to be strong and healthy, so she made this for you. It is even warm the way you like it," she finished as we stood right at the edge. 

Evan dipped his fingers into the water and it was very comfortable. It even swirled against his fingers; something was moving the water beneath the surface. Kein knew water and he knew that would keep it from smelling odd. 

"What is that?" Christof asked looking up.

I could see the clouds and sky outside. A piece of the roof was missing allowing light to spill in. 

"The opening allows the water vapor out, so the room is not wet," Rose said cautiously.

Christof encouraged her to talk so she continued to explain. Strong air currents across the space above prevented the cold from coming in and sucked the water out. The women had found the room stored moisture before they added it. Basin's Mistress had calmly explained it to them when they asked its purpose. 

The women had put an extraordinarily large amount of thought into this room. That much was obvious. 

"Where do we rest?" Kein asked noting the three doorways along the far wall.

Rose pointed to the left most door way. She told the men it had been decorated and stocked with things for them. The other two rooms were for Basin's family and Stayne's family. 

"I wonder why we are kept separate from the other men?" Christof asked looking around at our private space. 

Rose answered him quietly. The other men didn't act well around slaves. They had foolishly harmed me before. No one else was permitted in this set of rooms. If the women found anyone here, they would kill them. 

Damien was fine with that. He'd rather not have me around the men up here anyway. Bane walked toward their rooms and opened the leather drape that acted as the door.

After the last few days I expected an empty cave, that was not the case. We entered into the sitting room. Much like always the living area was dotted with several chairs around a fire pit. Kein lit the lamps and we went into the bed area.

The comfortable looking, round bed was there, draped in their colors and symbol. Off to the side was a closet. It had been well stocked with dresses for me and clothing for the men. Even boots were present in the closet. Nothing had been forgotten. 

"Come look," I heard Christof say and I felt the strangeness reverberate through all of us. 

We stepped back into the main room and through a leather cover I had not noticed before. Inside Kein lit the lamps and I stood looking at my own warm stone. It was a birthing room. 

The birthing room was large, obviously meant to comfortably fit Nu-reeh should she choose to come in. This room would prevent me from having to give birth in Nu-reeh's quarters. I was grateful for the privacy, but terrified at the implications. 

Nu-reeh truly meant to breed me so often I would need my own quarters for it. The thought depressed me terribly. 

"Come on," Bane said pulling me toward another room, "let's bathe and settle in."

There was a bath in our quarters, as well as, a shower. It was a funny luxury the men thought. They'd be just as fine using the large bath out front, but I did like to bathe in privacy. We'd make me happy for now, particularly since I seemed upset. 

The men and I stripped and filled the pool in our quarters with steaming water. They felt the cold melt out of their bones as they sunk into the warmth. I had not realized how uncomfortable they really were. The water brought their aches over the last many days to the forefront. It had been masked before. 

"If we allowed misery to master us, it would make us a weak family," Damien said pulling me to straddle his lap. "We can depend on one another to double our strength-"

"-or doubly weaken it," Christof finished. "I do not understand the bonds the females share, but I imagine it is similar. They must bond with Sisters who increase their strength. It seems very important."

It did seem very important. I worried that the next girl know how to make good strong connections. From what Hannah had told me having a strong Sister that knew the world had been a wonderful thing. I wanted my daughters to know how to find that. 

"I don't know how to teach her that," I said running the cloth slowly over Damien's chest. "Hannah never explained to me how she knew..."

I felt deficient again and the men groaned openly. 

"Ciara," Damien said tilting my face until I looked into his eyes, "we are strong and capable. Our female children will be the same. Finding a Sister is probably like finding a Brother. She will know what we look for in one another and find the same thing in her family. You must cease this incessant worry. It is distracting and pointless."

I looked into Damien's eyes as the internal conversation took over. This stress I insisted on having may have been what fostered my irrational concern over Nu-reeh. They would not let me dwell this time. 

"It's the truth," I insisted fisting my hands against Damien's chest. 

They refused to listen or let me dwell on it. The memories I had of those times I claimed Nu-reeh controlled them were manifestations of illness in my mind. There was no use in replaying those events. 

I was outnumbered. Pushing the memories away I let their combined consciousness take over. The girls would be fine and we would be fine. The worry floated away and I let it go. 

"Good girl," Evan praised as he poured warm water over my hair to start cleaning it.

The bath was just what all of us needed. It was warm and relaxing. The water washed away the strain in their muscles as they cleaned away the dirt. 

The men weren't particularly bothered by being dirty, but the cleanliness was expected of them. As children they had been trained that lack of concern over one's physical being indicated weakness. A man must keep himself in top condition at all times.

I remembered my uncles for a moment. They'd never bathed well enough to wash away the stale sweat or the odor of alcohol. Of course worrying over their physical health had been the last thing on their list. I remembered Uncle Eddy with his paunchy gut and toothless smile. 

"Earth is a strange place," Christof said laughing at my memories. 

We finished the bath and I was in much better spirits. The men were glad for my settled state of mind. 

"We have questions," Bane told me quietly as we dressed.

They did have questions, for once we all did. Nu-reeh was acting so strange. Damien and his Brothers would make the rounds and find out what was going on. They planned to find their friends and ask the pertinent questions. 

Rose was good for me, so the men felt safe leaving me with her. She would keep me from silly thoughts. They settled me at the table she was at and strode purposefully out of our new area. 

Rose was thrilled to have me back. She'd been trying to work on the stories herself, but she didn't know enough words. Her owners' Mistress, Mistress Catna, wanted her productive. Rose had been making blankets for men in the compound, but enjoyed writing a great deal more. Since I was here, we could get back to that. 

We knelt together on the comfortable kneeling chairs and talked for a moment before Rose insisted we do some work. The woman that owned Rose's men was quite insistent she not be lazy. Rose was terrified of the woman. She pressed the pad she'd been given into my hands and entreated me to begin. 

I usually came up with what to write about and Rose made it sound good. I thought for several moments.

"We could write about scars," I offered drawing the symbol for that horrible creature absently on the pad. 

The pad lit up and Rose put her hand over her mouth. It was a drawn replica of the Scar from many different angles. She pulled it closer and looked at it shuddering. 

"What," she asked, "is that?"

The written words accompanying the drawing was too technical for me to fully understand. It resembled a scientific journal article written for specialists. I read what I could to Rose of the introduction. The information was very detailed. 

"Read the whole thing," she requested politely. "Our story might be made better if we had more information."

I smiled and nodded. The light in Rose's eyes was like nothing I had seen from her before. A teacher, starved of all education, finally able to learn again. She looked radiant. 

As I stumbled through the complicated passages, it struck me again. Rose's talents were wasted here. Slavery was a waste of her mind. Hannah was right. The way this world ran was stupid, stupid, stupid...

After we read the article, we wrote a simple story about how to disable and cook a Scar. Fuji looked at the pictures and determined she could draw it. The article described how to kill it and she depicted her men doing just that. 

A sound got our attention and Rose and Fuji leapt up. I watched as a woman strode into the room with her female companion. My eyes misted as I recognized Hannah and Ra. 

I flung myself at my daughter and hugged her tight. Hannah gripped me and pulled me against her massive frame. We cried and hugged for several moments. When I was done with Hannah I gave Ra the same affection. From our first short meeting I realized it was expected. 

"That is a strange way to greet," Fuji finally said from behind me. "My men did not instruct me to greet Mistress Nu-reeh this way. They told me not to touch her at all, in fact."

I laughed and turned to face my friends. 

"This," I said with flourish, "is Hannah and her Sister, Ra. I would most certainly not greet Mistress Nu-reeh in such a fashion."

Rose looked stunned and Fuji just cocked her head at the new arrivals. They encouraged me to talk to Hannah and went back to what they had been doing. I got the feeling my daughter frightened Rose terribly. 

I sat with Hannah and her Sister for a while and talked. Rose obviously was afraid, so we moved on the far side of the pool. The girls told me where they had been and where they were going. Hannah congratulated me on my pregnancy and Ra offered a blessing. They were happy it was a girl again.

"We will help her when she needs us," Hannah said smiling. "She may choose not to join us, but we will be here for her."

I was pleased Hannah would help her family out and told her so. Ra said they would stay and help me with the pregnancy now, but they could not. The girls were in the middle of a thing they told me, so they couldn't stay long. I didn't ask what the thing was, but I wished it didn't have to take them away. 

"Nu-reeh's a little...agitated," Hannah finally said. "She'll get an attitude if we stay right now."

I caught the look and the sly smile the girls had. They knew something. I wanted to ask, but was stopped. 

"I made you a devotional, Mama," Hannah said suddenly handing me a slip of what felt like folded paper. "Just like on Earth you can read it and then burn it. I'm sure God will listen if you say the prayer like you did on Earth."

That was bizarre and made no sense, but I took the paper. 

"Read it now, do the devotion while we are here, Mama. I think we will be blessed to see you burn it," Ra instructed politely. 

I smiled lightly and looked between them. They must have confused something Ra remembered from Earth with something Hannah remembered. It was sweet they had thought about this strange religious thing. I would do whatever made them happy, even if it wasn't my culture they recalled. 

Opening the letter the first words in English said: Do not read out loud.

There is a resistance and we are part of it. 

Daddy and his Brothers must learn to think for themselves.

The control the women like Nu-reeh have over the men can be broken. Daddy and his Brothers must concentrate and they can be free of Nu-reeh's control. You have seen how she does it. They will notice it if they pay attention. They can ignore the suggestions, but don't let her see them do it. 

Men are being saved from the compounds and freed. We are helping. Ra and I are young, so we aren't permitted to do much now, except reconnaissance. As non breeding, young ones we travel freely almost everywhere. 

We work for a powerful female. She and her Sisters wish freedom for all beings on the planet. 

Slavery is wrong, Mama, and we will help end it. 

Love, 

Hannah and Ra

I looked up at my daughter stunned. The men were in my head. They had been walking, but stopped as the words from the letter flowed through the bond. I wasn't crazy. 

"Say the devotional and burn it, Mama," Hannah said pointedly. 

Nu-reeh could not see this simple piece of paper. It would endanger Hannah's very life I feared. I threw the message into the middle of the fire pit and didn't breath until it was burned away.

"The devotional, Mama, don't forget," Hannah reminded pointedly. 

This was a game to Hannah and Ra, one they were winning. I could not be the weakest link. In whispered English I recited the pledge of allegiance to the flag. It was the only thing I could think to say. I saw Hannah fighting not to laugh. 

Hannah hugged me and so did Ra.

"Tell Daddy I love him," Hannah said as she headed out the door. "We'll be through here as we travel. I love you, Mama."

I roused from my stunned state to call out my love for both girls, just before their wings disappeared. 

I walked slowly back to Rose and Fuji on the other side of the pool, who both looked relieved. 

"Are you sure," Rose asked hesitantly, "that is your daughter?"

I laughed hard. I couldn't help it. This day was so bizarre. 

"Yes, that is my daughter and her Sister," I assured them squeezing Rose's hand. 

Fuji spoke confidently. She told me Hannah resembled me in bone structure. Beneath the fur she could see her human features. 

It was nearly impossible to pay attention to Fuji's commentary. The men were coming this way and they were shocked. The closer they got the louder their internal conversation was. 

Ciara had not been wrong or delusional. Nu-reeh could control them. How dare she do that! This bond, this family, belonged to them not her.

My men marched into our area with fire in their eyes. I'd gotten used to the lines on their skin, usually it was just a subtle variation. Now it was easy to see they were darker and more pronounced. They were furious. I had never seen them this quite this angry before. 

I stood and faced them feeling the aggression pouring into me. It concerned me on several levels. Before the desire to start striking something took over, I thought quickly. 

Hannah must think we were being watched. If the men acted odd, Nu-reeh may not let her visit. Since we wanted to continue to get the information Hannah provided, we should calm down. 

The men were masters of control. They'd trained their whole lives to use their emotions to strengthen and not weaken them. The shift was nearly instantaneous. We weren't angry anymore, we were in charge of ourselves. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-2



"Come, Ciara," Damien said, "walk with us. We...missed you and did not finish what we intended to do."

I heard Rose beside me. How sweet and loving Damien sounded. She sighed and patted my arm. 

I walked with my men out of our quarters. They were intent on finding Hannah before she left. She had probably gone to the main exit for the women. The men usually stayed away from there. 

Our rooms were close to the women's area, so it wasn't a long walk. We made it swiftly to the exit the men were looking for. Hannah and Ra stood talking to a burly woman. From where we stood we could hear the woman warning them against harming Basin and his Brothers. 

"I only wished to see my female breeder," Hannah said politely. "We are much too young to breed and your men are in no danger around us. They are friends of my male breeder. I would not harm those close to him; it would anger my female breeder."

The woman noticed us then. She turned and looked at us sharply and asked why we were here. 

Damien spoke calmly, "I wished to see this female, Mistress. It is a custom on Earth that I should be concerned with my offspring's well-being. If my female offspring expects this, I felt it would be appropriate. Hannah's happiness is my only concern."

The woman Hannah had been talking to seemed surprised. Damien's logic was flawless. He was only here for the good of a female. That was a very acceptable reason for his visit. 

"This is the custom?" the woman asked Hannah.

"Yes, on Earth a male would have helped to raise me. It is not expected here, but my male breeder understands this strange custom through his slave. It fills a need within me to know him," Hannah said politically. 

The large female considered us all for a moment before she spoke. 

"Visit when you are here," she told Hannah, "but do not harm my men. Do not let your Earth heritage hinder you, but this is not objectionable to me."

The woman took off out of the mountain and we stood facing Hannah and Ra silently. 

"Daddy," Hannah said lightly, "it is good to see you."

She opened her arms, inviting affection from Damien. He strode toward her and hugged her, even kissing her cheek. The greeting was warmer than I would have expected, but Damien trusted Hannah. She was family. 

"This place," Hannah said gesturing, "reminds me of Radio Shack."

The men looked puzzled for a moment at the Earth word, but I understood it. The meaning sunk in quickly. There were recording devices here. 

Damien and his Brothers had seen devices that could transmit sound and picture, and knew they existed. It was somehow not surprising the women used those sorts of things. 

"We should sit and talk somewhere," Damien offered. "Your Mama and I have not seen you in a long time."

"A place in the sun would be good for Mama," Hannah said leading us away, "I know the perfect spot."

We followed Hannah and Ra around the inside of the mountains. She went down into a deserted place and we came to a wall. A part of the mountain side had fallen in and the sunshine spilled into the old cavern. It was just barely a large enough hole for Hannah and Ra to get through, a full grown woman would not fit. 

Ra spoke loudly and clearly, "Mama will be warm and we can sit and talk. It is a shame the other Earth female fears us or we could go to your rooms."

"She does," I agreed. "Poor Rose seems quite afraid of you two."

The girls nodded and smiled leading us out on a wide ledge.

Once we were all outside Ra looked around casually. I saw her sharp eyes scanning the area around us. Hannah did the same thing. 

"The things they use," Hannah said softly, "glitter in the light...like a camera lens. I did not see any here when we looked at this area."

I understood the word and I remembered how a piece of curved glass would catch the light. Bane clucked his tongue and leaned back on a piece of rock. Kein made a similar sound and nudged Bane's shoulder.

"Told you they weren't just pieces of the wall," Kein said feeling vindicated. 

As children there had been these shiny pieces to the walls of the training grounds. Kein had noticed them and Christof had asked. The Child Keepers said they were just how a wall was made and to leave them alone. 

"Nu-reeh and your female breeders have always watched you," Hannah said gently. "They are a way of sending images from place to place." 

"They watch you still," Ra said cautiously, "we saw two in the main room with the pool in the area where you all stay. They seemed aimed at the entranceway."

"We doubt they are in your living quarters," Hannah said to Damien. "They would want to make sure Mama was safe. They would use them to monitor any men entering or leaving the main area with the pool." 

We would check once we were home. Damien wanted to know what to call them. The word Hannah used was roughly equivalent to camera in English. In my mind, that's what they were. 

Christof wished fervently that I knew more about cameras. Even though my knowledge was limited he was glad for the comparison, so they could understand. 

"Your Mama," Christof said hesitantly, "knows this word. On Earth she remembers them transmitting sound also sometimes."

It shouldn't have surprised me Christof would have picked up on that detail. I never would have thought to ask. 

"They cannot," Ra said, "the ore in the mountains disrupts their ability to transmit sound well. You need a pad to do that and it would need to be close to the originator of the sound."

"Even then it doesn't always come in clearly," Hannah finished.

The men thought for a moment about what the girls had told us. There was a more pressing issue here, though and Damien got to it. 

"She can control us," he said getting right to the point. "How does she do it?"

Ra explained, because she understood it better. The women could connect to their men. In the past the connection had gone both ways. The women were actually bonded to the men they kept. The families connected deeply to one another. 

"Families of women kept as many men as they safely could. They shared a sacred bond with each family. The bonds took time to grow, but often they were as strong as the bonds you share with your Brothers," Ra calmly explained. "Once the women decided to keep the men separate from them, the bonds withered away. Soon the women learned they could force a bond, but they didn't like giving the men access to themselves."

Hannah interrupted and finished the story sounding angry, "Now there is a chip. Women that own men attune it to the families they keep. You cannot connect to her and she can't fully integrate into your bond, but she has access to you. She can implant a thought or a summons into you. The idea is placed so deeply that you all believe it originated there."

We were shocked, every one of us surprised to our core. The men never evaluated where an idea originated. If it was agreeable to the majority, it was just accepted. Of course some ideas were so strong from one of us, we just allowed those things to happen. That must be what Nu-reeh was using, our desire to make the most opinionated Brother happy. 

"If she finds you know this," Ra warned, "it will mean your death. The other women are protective of this information."

Kein chuckled, "The men already know, at least some of the Administrators," he said. 

The Brothers all remembered my outburst at the Administrator's threat. At the time they had not understood. Now all the pieces fit. The Administrators, at least a few of them, understood what the women did for control. 

"We will watch for it, but we will not act oddly," Damien assured Hannah. "I believe Nu-reeh would punish us for this knowledge."

"Men aren't supposed to know," Ra mused. "I am surprised the Administrators know..."

Bane chuckled and eyed Ra with some humor, "Men are not all ignorant, young one, we can think just as you can. The Administrators know things about the world, I'm sure they noticed at some point."

"It is a limited bond," Hannah continued to explain. "Nu-reeh would have to be close to you all to do it."

We stay away from her for good reason then, the men decided. 

Abruptly the conversation changed and Damien was asking Hannah how her travels were. He even asked her what land she enjoyed best. It would have seemed odd if I wasn't listening to the internal conversation. 

Christof had heard someone coming. Whoever it was in the area was being quite sneaky and avoiding making themselves known. They were coming at us from just above; Christof had noted the rustle of wings and slight change in the shadows. 

Hannah quirked a brow at Damien and he nodded to her. The subtle human gesture would not be noticed by anyone but us. Hannah and Ra nodded back and continued with the light conversation for several moments with us. I noted the girls looked around now, intent on finding what Damien had. 

There were warring sensations in my head suddenly. The impression we were being watched was replaced with the idea we were alone with Hannah and Ra. The men noticed the aberrant thought and realized it had not come from any one of us. 

Nu-reeh was here and close. We hoped she had not heard us speaking. Probably not or she'd already know all she needed to. 

"We don't wish to hold you longer than we should," Damien said cordially to Hannah. "Your Mama explained you are in the middle of something."

"Yes," Hannah sighed signaling 'up' silently with her eyes as Damien nodded, "so much travel to do and so much to learn. Ra and I are expected in her female breeders mountain in three nights. She has generously agreed to let us train in her mines for a few days. It is a test really, to see if we are worthy of being claimed by her later."

"Fly safe, Hannah," Damien said clasping her arm and pulling her into a hug, "and best of luck to both of you. You also Ra, fly safe." 

Hannah hugged Damien and then me tightly. 

"Come visit when you can," I said hugging the girls and keeping a steady voice. 

Hannah and Ra flew off and Damien lounged against the rock wall. Inside my head was the idea we should talk about what Hannah had just said. It would feel good to relive the conversation. The hair on my neck prickled with fear. This compulsion came from outside of us. 

"So the girl likes to travel," Kein said throwing rocks like baseballs toward another cliff. "Didn't we tell her she would?"

"Wish she'd bring more tami leaf," Evan said. "You should have asked her, Brother. She said she'd been in that area," he addressed Damien. 

Damien talked to his Brothers about the places Hannah had mentioned to him. He admitted he was glad for my sake she was doing well. I could be so flighty when it came to my child. I should gain confidence in my ability to breed strong children with them. 

We all felt Nu-reeh leave. She had been sitting above us, watching and listening, but the conversation we had was intentionally boring. She'd obviously flown away when nothing interesting was being said. 

Damn that woman, was the general opinion. My personal thoughts were fearful. I would have to be very careful. Hannah should be very careful, too. Nu-reeh already suspected my girl was up to something. 

We went inside and wound our way toward the eating hall. I was worried about Hannah and Damien scoffed at me. She was strong and smart, wily even. She learned fast and had his memories. Our daughter would be fine. 

Evan even thought after a couple more moons Hannah might be able to physically take on Nu-reeh. Bane would bet on her. He'd certainly bet on that Sister she had. Hell, the whole family would bet on those girls. My concern was ridiculous and embarrassing. 

"I would not allow you to tell Hannah you felt that way," Damien told me frowning and looking back at me. "She will not disgrace her family. To imply you think she would be weak is...unfathomable. I won't listen to another word of it."

The men were settled and I better be ready for a fight if I wanted to keep up this line of thinking. Hannah was one tough female and honest to a fault. There was nothing this world could dish out she couldn't handle. 

"Let it go, little Sister," Bane said reaching out and squeezing the back of my neck lightly.

"Our way is better," Christof soothed from my other side. 

It was like a physical weight lifted off when I released the worry. Their assurance flooded my mind and I believed them. They did know about the women here and Hannah had the makings of a fine, strong female. By the time we made it to the dining hall I was completely relaxed. 

Damien and his Brothers greeted several men as we walked through the hall. They knew most of these guys and were tough enough to be well respected. We walked with smooth confidence through the crowds until our way was blocked by another family. 

"You breed female offspring," the lead Brother stated coldly. 

Damien appraised the family in front of him completely before he spoke, "We all breed, but yes I've bred two females."

"Your slave only produces females we have heard," he said looking over Damien's shoulder to eye me. 

Damien didn't answer the other man, but he didn't like him looking at me like that. Damien stepped toward him and caught the other man's eyes as they stood toe to toe. 

"If you want to fight, keep at what you're doing," he threatened. "The breeder is not your concern."

The room we were in was quiet. Everyone was waiting, hoping to watch what was probably going to be an epic battle. Tension rose and Damien's fists clenched as he held the other man's gaze. 

The clattering of talons came from my left and right. Several women entered the room and the suspense just melted away. Fighting would be worthless; it was time to eat. 

Damien watched as the other man's face took on a slightly slack expression. He and his Brothers turned without another word and went back to their table. It was like they forgot what they were doing. 

We felt the pull, too. Hunger was suddenly the most important priority and we really wanted to see what was for the evening meal. My group started to walk to our table before we realized what we were doing. 

Nu-reeh was at it again. The compulsion had been almost undeniable. Kein cursed under his breath and ran an angry hand in his hair. Bane threw an arm around his Brother and shook him in warning.

"I know you are hungry, little Brother. We have not eaten well for days, but try to control yourself," he said with a pointedly casual air. 

Kein relaxed as soon as he realized how obvious he was being.

"Of course," he smiled, forcing a calm demeanor, "been too long since we ate well. My stomach is weak like a shopkeeper's."

Bane grunted a response and released the smaller man. 

It had them all bothered, though. The implanted ideas weren't even subtle. Damien and his Brothers were furious they'd never noticed before. Now it was the most obvious thing in the world. Honestly, I should have told them before. 

Christof pointed to my chair and settled me in it as Damien and Evan went to get food. 

"You could have told me," he said under his breath while sitting beside me. "You noticed when it happened last time and yet kept it to yourself."

"Naughty, little Sister," Bane whispered from my other side. 

He did like punishing me. There was so much they had not gotten to try yet, much of it he thought would excite me terribly. This was a good excuse to try some of Damien's skill with the flogger.

For a split second I felt intense fear. I remembered the intimate pain they had inflicted on me and my breathing amped up. I did not want that again. The pain and loss of control were awful. Wide eyes met Bane's and I saw the displeasure in his. 

They had expected to teach and train with pain, not cause permanent fear. This was not the result they had wanted. I was just supposed to learn an important lesson and move on. It did not work that way with me, though.

Jumbled memories showed them flashbulbs of nightmares and many nights of lost sleep. Since they'd beaten me I'd feared them and buried my distrust for them. I had felt lost and very alone.

They stopped, all of them, and looked at me. Even Damien and Evan stopped and looked in my direction. I was family and this way I felt was wrong. It was not what they wanted. 

"Ahh, you see what we did, Brothers," Christof said.

It was like the other men in their compound had taught them. The men from the red mountains had it all wrong. Pain would bring fear. Humans could not be taught that way. 

Bane's urges cooled down and he smiled at me trying to comfort. My agreement and willingness had been cherished. Family was important and never distrusted. They would earn my trust back. It would be only pleasure between us.

I did not like the conflicting feelings between us, so I tried to release my fear and anger. The bond did not work well if those types of things interfered. My little girl needed this family to grow wise and strong. 

I leaned over and touched my lips to Bane's in forgiveness. He moaned low in his throat at the simple gesture. My family wanted me and was grateful for the pardon. With the matter done and decided we waited for our meal.

Damien set down platters of food and Christof poured us all a cup of drink. We were all about to dig in when Evan grunted. 

"Left Ciara's drink," he said rising and walking back toward the food service area. 

My eyebrows raised looking at the cup Christof had put in front of me. 

"This isn't good enough for me?" I joked lightly. 

No, it wasn't. The drink Evan was bringing me would keep my stomach settled. They'd planned to start giving it to me as soon as they knew. Nu-reeh had interrupted their plans by putting us all in that cave. They would have preferred I was taking it days ago. 

My mind was bombarded suddenly with information about nausea and vomiting. Damien and his Brothers were sure this idea would work. 

"No new bets, though," Bane explained stoically. "You sided with Christof. We're keeping the original wager."

I grinned at Bane's sense of right and wrong when it came to betting. You couldn't change your side just because new information came up. That just wasn't how it worked. 

Bets were so far off my radar, I'd forgotten the wager we made outside the cabin. Christof and I had said I'd have morning sickness. The other Brothers had said I would not. They'd been working on it since then. 

Evan approached the table with a confident swagger. He was sure he'd be on the winning side of this. 

"Taste it," he commanded, handing me the cup, "it should be very palatable for you."

Grinning up at him I took a sip of the frothy liquid. It was not objectionable. I felt like I should know the flavor, but I just couldn't place it. 

"It's the root," Kein said grinning, "concentrated and made into a drink. We think it will stop the vomiting."

Bane tore a chunk of meat and laid it on my plate. Kein handed me what resembled warm, heavy bread. They encouraged me to eat and the Brothers dug in.

The men were ravenously hungry. They'd been kept near starved for days. During our time in the cave they'd kept tight reign on their hunger. Conversation was ignored as they satisfied their stomachs. 

Basin and his Brothers came in with Rose after the men had all downed one plate of food. Their bellies were closer to appeased, so they watched as their friends entered and settled at a table. Damien put a fresh helping on both our plates as the internal discussion got strange. 

Rose's head bowed so submissively was ridiculous. Men on this planet were strong and everyone knew that. Damien didn't see the point in forcing someone to stare at the floor. It was not a threat to anyone if a human female looked around. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 24-2



I remembered how supermodels had looked on Earth. The jaunty swing of their hips as they looked out over the crowds. Their eyes were even done up so it drew attention to them. That was considered beautiful on Earth. 

The men sifted through my memories of Earth as we ate. I thought of every female I'd ever seen, from the most beautiful to the most hideous. We laughed and marveled over all the different ways a human woman could look. 

Damien compared Earth females to women here. Something about the women on this planet called to him. Their feral nature was both dangerous and attractive. He craved contact with them. 

"Not in a way I'd want to keep in my home, though," Kein muttered. 

Paterian women were exciting, but they weren't like me. You'd be horrified to see Nu-reeh sleeping on your bed at home. Evan remembered my last pregnancy and all the times they had found me curled in their colors, fast asleep. Something about that picture made them all feel warm and cozy. 

"You love me," I whispered. 

They did. My family loved me. Everyone at the table understood what that meant and we all felt the same way.

It wasn't like hearing someone say 'I love you'. I felt the depth of their commitment to me. It was like nothing I'd felt before. 

My shining eyes met each of theirs across the table. I was overcome with the feelings they had for me. Inadvertently, I started to choke up and tear.

That snapped Evan out of it. "If you vomit, it isn't morning sickness and it doesn't mean we lose," he warned me. 

Bane and Kein agreed with him. This did not count and it wasn't the same thing.

"I will not vomit," I laughed taking a big swig of the fizzy drink they'd had prepared; it was oddly settling. 

I focused on my stomach and didn't feel nauseated at all. They concentrated on me for a moment before they got back to eating. It would still be dishonorable to have me vomit my meal all over the floor.

"Told you the root would work," Kein said emptying his plate a second time.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 25



Happy New Year!

Thanks to everyone for the comments and voting! 

Please enjoy this installment and let me know what you thing good or bad.

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his work proofreading! 

The next chapter should be out Jan 18

Enjoy and please vote! DW

*******************************************

After dinner we took a long, meandering walk to our rooms. The men were looking all over very surreptitiously. It became a game to find the cameras nestled in the walls.

Kein was good and hard to beat. His sharp eyes could easily pick out the aberrations in the solid stone walls. It was Christof that determined the pattern, though. 

The cameras watched entrances and exits to the mountains. One pointed to watch women leaving and one pointed to watch them coming in. During the long stretches of closed in caves, there was no one watching. Once you moved deep into the mountain a single camera would occasionally watch places where men would congregate. Essentially the cameras were on the women, though. 

Damien understood defense and he understood what the cameras were for. The women didn't really care what the men did, but comings and goings were monitored. The threat here was other women. 

Evan imagined this mountain home had to be hard to defend. There were too many entrances and exits. If there were an attack you'd waste valuable fighters guarding superfluous openings in your defense. 

They should limit access in order to limit the number of defenders necessary to hold off an invasion. The way it stood now all your fighters would be busy watching openings that may or may not be attacked and none would be in reserve. The danger would come at you from all sides. The attackers should be funneled to a few key access points. The men were surprised the women had not thought this through. 

"It wasn't designed, though," I argued as we walked down a corridor heading for our own lodging. "The women mined here and then used it once the mining was done. This is a secondary use for this space."

Bane grunted his displeasure at such obvious ignorance of defensive strategy. If the women were just passing through, camping here would be fine. The women knew they would stay. They should have built a mountain stronghold and ignored the hunt for the ore in this area. 

"Wasteful," I chided knowing how much had probably been pulled from these walls. 

"Strategically foolish," Bane argued as we entered the short hallway to our rooms. 

My mind was bombarded with what they knew about defending your territory. It was crash course in military tactics. Bane was right, from his perspective. The women had left themselves wide open to attack. 

Basin's family and Stayne's family were both lounging in the pool as we entered. They called a greeting to Damien and we responded. I was stripped of my outfit and we all got into the large, warm pool. 

"They told you your slave would clean your dwelling for you?" Basin asked pulling Rose onto his lap.

Damien responded that's what I'd done last time. The admission did nothing to lessen the anger on Basin's face. 

"And the swimming?" Basin asked splashing the water with an angry hand. 

No one had said anything to us about swimming. 

"The human slaves are required to swim back and forth," Basin indicated the longest length of the pool, "thirty-seven times per day."

Damien was surprised and so was I, but Basin continued to talk.

"Damned Healers did some calculation. They determined inactivity would damage the humans. This is to be their exercise every day," he finished gripping Rose.

I knew Rose and I knew she feared water when Basin was not around. Frankly I wasn't sure she even knew how to swim. Poor girl was being tortured since coming here with every fear she'd ever had. 

"Can your girl swim?" Damien asked gently. 

Basin was silent for a moment before he admitted Rose could not. They had tried to teach her, but she couldn't move in the water like they did. The men feared the women would come and punish Rose for her inability. 

Damien did not understand human psyche, but he understood that Rose felt safe with Basin. Perhaps she could learn from another human with her owners present. 

"Ciara will teach her," Damien offered, "while you are here."

Basin agreed and moved closer to us. He did make a point to remind Damien slaves are not women. Rose was not a 'her' or a 'girl'. She was an it. 

"Don't be foolish and believe everything you have been told, cousins," Damien laughed. "There is much to learn if you are open to it."

That first night with Rose, I just taught her to float. She was so panicked that she could barely accomplish that. Eventually, I realized if Basin kept a hand on her she calmed down. By the end of our evening she could float without any support. 

"That is not swimming," Kein informed me several times. 

"If she becomes fearful in the water, Master Kein," I finally explained, "she can float on the surface until she calms. It is an important first step."

"Don't call me Master," was the terse reply. "You are not my slave. You are family."

I looked up at him stunned. Kein looked impassive, but I felt a tiny bit frantic. His friends did not look at the world like he did. They would hurt me if they thought I was an unowned slave.

"They won't harm you," Damien answered my unspoken plea while watching Basin's family over my shoulder. "They know what we would do if they wronged our family."

The large room seemed to freeze in time for a moment. Basin broke the silence as he lifted Rose out of the water and then leapt out himself. 

"You have some strange ideas," he said calmly, "but we have no wish to challenge you. If you say the human is under your family protection, we believe you."

Stayne's family had watched the encounter with amusement and followed Basin out. 

"I wouldn't advertise such strangeness to the other men, though," Stayne added thoughtfully. "They probably would not respect your wishes."

Damien agreed and pulled me out. Evan wrung the water from my hair with an absorbent cloth as Kein dried my body and we bade the other families a good sleep. 

Stayne laughed openly as he slung Fuji into his arm. 

"We don't rest yet, cousin, there is still much to do," he said grinning and turning toward his leather flap. 

Damien and his Brothers laughed at the implication. I blushed furiously. Although I'd had the displeasure of watching them with Fuji on many occasions, I still was embarrassed for her. Sex should be private and not advertised. 

"Then we will be quiet..." Bane whispered in my ear.

They wanted me. I looked into his eyes and saw raging desire. 

My hand travelled from his muscular shoulder down his arm until I held his hand. Pulling gently I guided him into our quarters. The air hummed with longing as I tugged him toward the sleeping chamber. 

"I want you, big Brother," I said pulling his broad shoulders down. 

It was a sweet gentle kiss that gained fire as it went on. Bane's tongue swept into my mouth as he pushed us further toward the bed. His Brothers followed, each thinking of how they would like to relieve their now rampant erections. The sexual energy started to make me much more excited than I had been. 

"How do you want me, little Sister?" Bane whispered into my ear.

I liked to face my lovers and be buried under their masculine forms.

"As you wish," Bane said softly before capturing my lips with his own. 

While we kissed Bane's hands ran down over my hips and the ample swell of my bottom. He squeezed it lovingly and caressed the round cheeks. Where he and his Brothers were all hard muscle, I was soft and pliant. Bane loved my curves.

The image of my bottom striped came into my conscious mind suddenly. As I kissed Bane, I saw an image of myself as Bane had seen me. My hair was mussed and my skin sweaty. I'd been looking back at him as he touched the lines Damien had put across my ass. The look in my eyes had been seductive and confident. 

Bane broke our kiss to look down into my eyes now. The idea of being hit terrified me and I could not understand his memory. Bane's big hand cupped my face gently as his thumb ran over my lips. Their velvet softness reminded him how fragile I was. 

They'd made a horrible mistake. Although I was family, I wasn't like them. They couldn't hurt me to teach me. It only left panic. 

"No more, little Sister," Bane murmured sincerely, "only softness. Do not fear the pain. Let me pleasure you."

"Never pain, again," Damien promised from the side before walking into the closet. 

The way I felt was not healthy. I didn't trust them not to hit me and that just would not do. We would solve the problem tonight. 

Damien brought out all the things the men from the red mountains had sold them. The whips and floggers had been bundled into the bags my men had brought with us on the transport. Now the noxious items were carried out and marched into the main room by the pool. Damien laid them down beside a fire pit. 

Bane pulled my hand and led me back out to the fire pit. I stood beside it and stared at the pile of things. A large part of me wanted to just throw all those evil things into the fire. It took great control not to start just burning them.

"Then do it," Christof said quietly, "that's why we are out here."

These things would create smoke when burned. It wasn't like the fuel we used usually. Kein was sure that the smoke would move harmlessly out the hole in the ceiling out here. This was a good place to rid ourselves of this mistake. 

My hands and arms worked before I'd really thought it out. The family decision was made and I was only doing what we all wanted. Piece after piece of carefully crafted leather was discarded into the pit. 

The material smoked and burned in the hot fire. It split into pieces and sizzled with an odd smell. I was happy, elated really, to see it go. That had been all of it, every piece they'd had. I looked up and found Bane watching me. 

I was mesmerized by Bane's brown eyes and smiled looking into their familiar depths. He had no urge to harm me, even lightly. My willingness to play with them had been based on trust and that had been broken. We would not do that again. 

I was tugged back into the bedroom and Bane encouraged me to lay on the large round bed. Stretching out on the surface I waited for him to join me. 

"You were uncomfortable for many days," Bane said putting a hand on my foot and admiring my toes. 

The big man knelt on the bed between my knees and ran his hands over my feet and past the cuffs on my ankles. His hands smoothed over my calfs and behind my knees. The soft skin there was sensitive and his touch felt wonderful. 

Goose bumps traveled up my legs and Bane smiled tracing the funny bumps. He hit a spot on my hip and they started again until my nipples puckered.

"I like this game," he whispered running his fingers over my chest until an area under my clavicle gave him the desired result. 

I knew where I wanted to be touched and pulled his hands between my legs. Bane touched everywhere except where I wanted him. He avoided my clit and the soft wetness below it until I was ready to scream with frustration. 

"Do it yourself, then," he said coyly sitting back on his heels. "Show me how you want me to touch you." 

I stared stupidly up at him and saw the challenge in his eyes. The idea of watching me stimulate myself turned him on for some reason. He wanted to see what it would look like if I put my own fingers on my flesh. 

It had been the equivalent of years since I'd masturbated. The last time I'd tried I had been harshly rebuked by Stayne's family. Frankly, I wasn't sure that I could.

The rest of the family saw the unfolding drama in my thoughts and would not have it. They masturbated themselves when they wanted. I had the same right. 

My men surrounded me as I lay on the bed and slowly brought my fingers between my legs. I didn't think I could do this, but they were sure I could. Their assurances gave me the confidence to slide my fingers down over my clit. 

On Earth when I'd done this it had to be quickly and quietly. This wasn't Earth and there was no rush right now. I used my one hand to open the lower lips and the started to slowly rub my own moisture over my sensitive, distended flesh. 

My uncles on Earth all had pornographic movies. On those the women touched their breasts as they did this. I assumed I should be doing that to give my men the right picture. Damien and his Brothers stopped me from moving my hands, though.

"We want to see how you do this," Kein quietly said. "We don't wish to see you repeat things you have seen." 

It took a moment of practice to remember how I used to masturbate. The subtle motion I made with my finger was similar to what Evan did with is tongue. A low sound escaped my mouth as I relished the freedom of this. My toes curled at the fast approaching climax. For the first time in a very long time, my release was all mine. 

As I came on the bed, the sexual energy in the room seemed to elevate to new heights. I clenched on nothing for a moment, but all I had to do was ask.

"Fuck me, Bane," I moaned a moment before his big body covered mine. 

He drove his staff into my convulsing depths and ground against me. I felt him press me into the bedding as his lips sought mine for a fierce kiss. My wet fingers grabbed his shoulders as he started his relentless motion between my legs. 

The loving was frantic and didn't last long. Bane's staying power was limited by his excitement. Seeing me touching myself had been the most erotic thing he'd ever witnessed. He crushed me to the bedding as he poured inside of me. 

I took each of them that night. They were sweet and gentle. Just as they'd promised there was no rough play. As it was the lovemaking wore me out and I lay exhausted on the bed once we finished. 

Damien laughed as he carried my body to the bath. He was quite proud of the happy, sated look on my face.

It was late and the men were tired. They had something to do before we went to sleep. Since I was no longer distracting them with my waiting body, we went to work. 

The only camera we found was in the birthing room. Not surprising really that Nu-reeh might want to watch us in there. The men pulled the leather drape tight across that room and we vowed silently not to enter it unless we had to. The idea of the women watching us made everyone uneasy. 

"Time for sleep, sweet woman," Kein finally said pulling me toward the bed. 

I followed willingly, crawling under the soft covers. The main room was a little chilly without my dress. The bed room was much warmer. In the bed, Christof's body curled around my back and I drifted to sleep. 

The dreams were back in full force. With all the men completely relaxed, the little girl in me explored their memories. She was inquisitive and wormed her way into their most private thoughts. In a strange way the dreaming was intrusive. 

Hannah had been straightforward in her quest and never like this. Even in the dreams I felt the men's frustration with this incessant curiosity. They were kept on edge and nearly awake. The life inside of me wanted to know how and why about everything they'd ever done. It was maddening. 

I awoke completely in the middle of the night and wandered groggily to the bathroom. I sat on the cool pot and faced the wall. As I yawned I felt a presence behind me. Evan was waiting, as patiently as he could, for me to finish. Once I'd gone he patted me dry and helped me stand. His eyes were flashing in the low light. 

"You must make her stop, Ciara," he said quickly. "The questions are too much. It is not enough to see every moment of our lives. This compulsion to dissect every impulse and determine the root of every decision..."

He was frantic, annoyed, and sleep deprived. The new life connected to them was asking for more than the Brothers could give. We needed to rest. 

"Hannah allowed us to sleep. She did not need to keep us nearly awake and thinking all night," he said sounding unnerved. 

This girl was insanely curious. There had to be a way to satiate her desire, so she'd leave the family be. Desperately, I thought of ways to entertain her. 

I remembered the pad suddenly. I'd absently drawn the word for scar on it and then that information had presented itself. Perhaps I could do that again and read her to sleep. I knew even this little life must rest eventually. 

Evan was gone in a flash, retrieving the pad from in front of our rooms. I followed him into the main room and settled on a chaise. The room was cool and I rubbed my arms for warmth and then pulled a blanket over myself. 

"Get up," Evan ordered, "you may sit in the bed and read until she is satisfied. It is too cold here."

I shook my head and reached for the pad. I'd be fine out here. The men should rest without me disturbing them. 

My refusal to just do as he directed infuriated Evan. This last eleven nights had been too frustrating. It had drained his, not overly large, ability to control his emotions. He couldn't deal with my stubbornness right now. 

Evan's teeth grew and his stripes darkened. I'd never been subjected to his feral nature. He was controlled and contained by his Brothers usually. Right now Christof's gentle constitution and Damien's demanding presence were not limiting him. It was just us, and I was pissing him off. 

"Calm, Brother," I warned in a low, firm voice.

I didn't move from my position and met his fierce stare with a controlled one. This was not a situation to cower or show fear. Evan was dangerous right now. Showing anything less than strength would not do. 

Evan liked his routine. He knew when he would sleep and when he would wake. This child was driving him mad. After days of being kept on edge, he needed tonight to regroup, the thing in me was preventing that. 

Damien and Bane stalked soundlessly into the room. Evan felt them and was not threatened by their presence. He was calmed by it. Christof further soothed him as he entered and Kein made him feel complete and in control. 

Stepping between us, Damien allowed Evan to find his center and balance himself.

Evan had nearly attacked me. In fact, he had wanted to hurt me and make it stop. The presence in his head was maddening. It had moved him past the point of reason and now the guilt crushed in upon him. 

Evan knew, as well as his Brothers, that my life force was a flicker compared to theirs. His hands could destroy me before I'd known it was happening. They had to maintain control, especially around me. Evan felt himself an utter failure. 

"You are only...," human was the word I wanted to say, but he was not human. 

Evan was a creature that built strong connections. The family he choose was more important to him than his own beating heart. It horrified him to have acted so. 

Evan did not know what to do. He'd never before wanted to hide from his Brothers. Never in their life had he felt shame like this; it was horrible. The collective shuddered at the stress. 

"Forgive him," I ordered standing up and pushing on Damien's back. 

No, was the resounding answer. Evan had acted worse than they'd ever seen, baring his fangs at me in threat. No one did that to family. 

"You did, too," I argued pushing past Damien, "on the transport when I refused to talk about...things. Forgive him and go back to bed. I'll sit and read to amuse the little one."

I reached for Evan and he jerked back like I'd burned him. He was not forgiven and he had no right to touch me. For a split second he felt as though he was not family. 

"Apologize to me and come to bed," I ordered stepping closer to Evan.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 25



He didn't want my forgiveness and he knew I was giving it. I was just being so pushy. Ignoring the pain the disagreement caused I got right in Evan's personal space.

"I'm sorry for keeping you up and I'm sorry for being disagreeable," I said reaching up and touching his face before he could move away. "Your turn."

The tension was thick in the air as Evan apologized. Suddenly it melted and the room thawed. The men had acknowledged Evan's mistake. 

Damien moved forward and hugged Evan with me trapped between them. The hug was brief, but it allowed Evan close enough to taste Damien's shoulder. He moved around the room reaffirming his connection to his Brothers. They alternated between soothing and scolding him. 

I stood watching the bond reassert itself between them. Damien's arm looped around my shoulders and I stood against him feeling his warmth radiate into me. It was such a strange primal connection they shared. Although it seemed strong, certain types of stress could weaken it quickly and immeasurably.

Evan approached me last and he seemed hesitant, so I reached my hand out to him. 

"So willing to forgive us everything," he murmured dropping his mouth to my ear.

I melted a little as Evan tasted the shell and lobe of my ear. They were so sensitive and he knew just what to do. My frame slumped into Damien as Evan tasted. He knew I liked this and it was his way of making up for his behavior. 

Grinning I pulled his mouth to mine for a kiss. 

"Go to bed," I smiled holding his jaw; Evan was more than willing. 

"You will sit on the bed with us," Damien demanded. "It is too cold out here," he finished pointing me back to the sleeping chambers. 

There was no space for disagreement. The Brothers wouldn't hear of it. I was escorted with my little pad back into the warmed bed chamber. 

It wasn't clear to me how they slept while I was wide awake, but they didn't care I was up. I sat on the bed and leaned on the pole in the center. I drew the symbol for mountain on the screen and a magnificent list popped up. I choose an unknown name and started to read. 

The mountains I read about were not tame. They sat at the edge of a violent sea and took the brutal weather that circumstance provided. The pad described plant and animal life in detail, along with historical facts. The reading was complex and detailed, as I'd known it would be. I read until I dropped to sleep much later. 

"Quiet," Evan whispered, "let her sleep. We'll just bring her food."

The Brothers were agreed, but I was already up. They had woken at the normal time, but Evan had tried to avoid rousing me. It had almost worked, but not really. His energy flowed into me and I wanted to be up, too. 

I wandered into the bathroom and blinked the sleep from my eyes. It had been a long night and I wondered what the day would bring. Evan wasn't long in handing me the first surprise. 

"I want you to put it in," he stating handing me my plug. 

I pinched it between two fingers and looked at it warily. Long ago I'd accepted it as something I did to make Bane and Evan happy. It was a choice everyday to wear it or not, but I usually did. I didn't like touching it, though. For a moment I failed to understand why I had to put it in myself. 

No, it would not go in me today, I suddenly knew.

"The first few days are uncomfortable, particularly without preparation," Evan explained evenly. "This does not cause you discomfort anymore, but it will bother me. It is the punishment my Brothers decided on."

Bane liked it, I thought staring up at him.

Evan shrugged and flicked hair away from my eye. "Bane found it tempting. I find it...unfathomable. It will remind me all day of the things you have done without complaint for us. This is a fitting punishment."

"Or, I can dole out punishment," Damien offered coming to stand beside Evan. 

Damien had been forced to discipline Evan before. He did not enjoy doing it, but sometimes Evan forgot unless a lesson was instilled deeply enough. The Brothers feared this lesson would need to be driven home. No one wanted Evan to come that close to loss of control again. 

I stamped my foot. There was no way I was torturing Evan's ass and Damien was most certainly not beating him. This was ridiculous. 

"You may use the oil," Kein said passing by us to turn on the shower for me. 

The men murmured in agreement. If I was going to hold out, then the lubricant would be acceptable. 

"No one needs to do this to him," I said finally. "He apologized, we all accepted it-"

Bane cut me off with a laugh. He knew Evan and his tendencies. It had been an issue when they were younger. Memories of Evan's outlandish behavior at the Child Keeper's astounded me. It had taken many turns of the ringed moon for the Brothers to tame him. He had been a hellion. 

"He needs reminders, little Sister," Bane reassured. "It is the only way he learns. He is not like you." 

It was going to be a weird day. 

I did for Evan what I'd done for Bane and they scolded me. No preparation, just put it inside him. 

"Absolutely not," I said looking straight in Damien's eyes. "I am not a rapist and I am not hurting him like that. If you want this done, we use the oil and do it slowly."

Five against one made for a definite shift in the balance of power, but I was set on this. No matter the pain it caused me to disagree, I was determined.

"He won't learn," Kein mumbled leaning on a far wall. 

"Yes, he will," I said turning back to my strange morning task, "but we do this my way." 

Evan hated the plug. He despised the sensation worse than anything he'd ever encountered before. Sitting made it worse and he even felt it standing up. 

"When I walk the damn thing moves," he growled standing still in the middle of the apartment. 

I thought we should remove it and the Brothers disagreed. This was perfect and Evan would remember this lesson. While the rest of them felt the discomfort, they weren't unduly bothered by the circumstance. If this reminded Evan well enough, it would be worth the slight discomfort. 

Breakfast was a quick affair. I had my fizzy drink again, apparently it was going to be given twice a day. After the meal I was deposited with Rose and Fuji back in our section of cave. 

"We clean in the morning," Rose told me softly before she scurried behind the leather drape of her owners rooms. 

I found the supplies and had the apartment in order in no time. The men had not really used it enough for anything to be that messy, so it was a quick job. I decided to wait for Rose and Fuji out front, so I took the pad and continued to read at a table in the morning sunshine. 

The readings about the other mountains was fascinating, so much so that I missed the arrival of Nu-reeh. She was standing beside me when I noticed her presence and bounced up. 

"What are you reading?" she asked brusquely. 

Suddenly I realized I'd never requested permission to use this pad like I had been. Like a fool I had just assumed because it worked that way, I was allowed. If she didn't like it, I wondered what my punishment would be. 

"Mountains, Mistress, the T'vailk Mountains," I said politely.

"Too wet," she commented looking up at the skylight. "The wind comes off the water and leaves the land drenched day and night. The twisting air currents also make for horrendous storms. There are entire seasons women dare not fly near there and walk wherever we go."

Evidently we were to have a conversation. If it made her happy, I would gladly do that. 

"That sounds unpleasant, Mistress."

She continued to speak as she examined the outer room. "The women that mine there coat themselves in an oil. It keeps the water from soaking into their fur. The women from that area originally had no fur. They all just had thick striped hides and did not mind the water. I cannot tolerate the weather combined with the oil; I find it oppressive," she said turning back to me. "I only travelled there briefly. The men cannot be kept there due to the storms and that is what I wanted from life."

Dipping her talons in the pool of warm water she came to rest in front of me again. 

"You do an excellent job of caring for your men, Mistress," I told her. 

She grunted. "Do I?" she asked rhetorically. "How do I explain their disappearance to their female breeders, then? I have merely lost their sons in a place that nothing can escape from. An excellent job, indeed," she growled looking away from me.

I stood silent and watched the play of emotions across her terrifying face. The men were in my mind. Christof's quiet voice told me the predominant emotion that played across Nu-reeh's face was worry.

"They can't have gone far-" I started to say and stopped as her eyes blazed into mine. 

She bent forward until her face was in mine. The hint of glitter on her fangs told me the venom was close to seeping out. Inadvertently, I had enraged her. 

"Do you imply I cannot find them in my own land?" she asked. "They are not there!" she roared. "They are not in the barren stretch. They are not in the mountains. Are they lost and lying broken in the field we built to contain them? No one knows. I allow too much freedom and they have wandered too far. I will not fail again!" 

I shook like a leaf standing before her. Nu-reeh was more powerful than anything I'd ever come across. My eyes were locked on her form and my mouth was dry. This was how I always thought a slave on this planet would die. 

Damien's voice broke the silence and Nu-reeh turned to him.

"Mistress, how may we serve you?" he asked humbly striding toward us with purpose.

The rest of the family followed taking on the shape of a regimented unit. 

"You may go back to the sorting room and take care of my ore," she stated drolly. 

The men didn't slow down until they had pushed me behind Bane and stood staring at Nu-reeh. 

"Slaves are difficult to speak to, Mistress. We did not wish to subject you to one such as this," Damien said politely. "We will return to our duty immediately, but first: How can the female slave serve you?"

Nu-reeh's face was stoic for a moment appraising the grouping of men in front of her. They had layered themselves, so I rested behind all of them. She took it all in, obviously understanding the defensive posture. 

Nu-reeh ran a casual claw across Damien's cheek. It was a contained threat and one she wielded well. We all knew what she could do with her claws. 

"This is all I needed," she murmured, "to win your devotion?"

The question hung in the air and we couldn't decide what the appropriate answer was. Nu-reeh shook herself from her reverie and answered Damien's question instead. 

"The slave will read from a list of topics I provide," she said becoming more businesslike. "My Sisters and I will test the slave's knowledge of the subjects. If we find it lacking, your family will suffer."

"Yes, Mistress."

"The topics are listed on the pad. The slave only needs to enter the word 'list'. It will know what she needs. Study them well," she ordered.

Nu-reeh's wings spread and she took off, bounding straight up. I watched in amazement as she soared through the skylight above. For being as large as she was, the woman was unnervingly fast. 

The curses were in my head. Most were about Nu-reeh, some were directed at me. The men wondered what possessed me to speak to Nu-reeh. 

"Yes, Mistress," Kein said harshly, "is all you need to say to her."

"Not even that," Evan argued, "watch her and do what she wants. You are not to converse with her."

I was an idiot and lucky to be alive. No one talked to Nu-reeh. It was unheard of to have a conversation like I had been having with the large woman. 

Christof shushed his Brothers' conversation and looked into my eyes. 

"Some women," he said gently, "you can have a conversation with, just not Nu-reeh. With her it is better to just answer simply. She can be very intolerant. Tosu may come and speak to you. She will easily talk to you and enjoys those interactions. Nu-reeh is not like that."

I nodded and looked at him mutely. Nu-reeh had scared the hell out of me and I was still recovering. 

Damien stalked over and grabbed the pad from the table before thrusting it at me. "Find the list," he ordered.

My fingers trembled as I drew the symbol on the pad. An enormous list appeared before me. The pad instructed me it would teach me each subject until it was done. 

The first topic to pop us was a mountain range. 

After a kiss from each man they left me to go back to the sorting room. Kein had settled me at a kneeling chair and instructed me to learn well. 

Rose came out of her apartment and so did Fuji once everyone was gone. They'd seen the interaction with Nu-reeh and it had scared them both. 

"She is anxious," Rose diagnosed correctly sitting beside me. "Her temper is short. You must do as she asks, although I fear even that will not save you from punishment."

I agreed with Rose and tried to read quickly. My friend sat beside me knitting a blanket. Fuji wandered back into her suites to continue cleaning. 

Fuji had said her men had made a mess of the bedroom the night prior. She had fought them like they liked and they'd torn the room apart. Rose and I both laughed at how much Stayne and his Brothers liked Fuji's fake resistance. 

Damien and his Brothers were loud in my head. Once they had time to process what Nu-reeh had said they understood better. The men that the bandits took belonged to Nu-reeh. Their disappearance upset her greatly. That may explain why she was treating us so oddly.

Evan talked casually to the men in the sorting room. He wandered family to family gathering information. They told him that Nu-reeh had been getting a shorter and shorter temper over the last several moons. The loss of the families under her care had angered her greatly. She was tasked with protecting men, their loss hurt the whole planet. 

Breeding was difficult and women did not conceive easily. The women were desperate to conserve the population that was left. Losing men was inexcusable. 

"Ciara," Rose called in quiet, sing song voice, "you do not appear to be concentrating," she commented. 

I had not been. The conversation with the men was in my head and distracting me. It was very difficult to be in several different places at once. Looking at her I smiled and resolved to pay attention to what I was doing. 

"Read to me," she offered shyly, "I will help you focus."

I did as Rose asked and she was accurate. While I was busy reading and speaking, I was less distracted by Damien and his Brothers. 

Today's reading was on the mountains we were currently in. For some odd reason the women had different names for things. While the men referred to this range as the blue mountains, the women called them the T'aran Mountains. 

Soon I understood why the women had different names. The men's term harkened back to the way the hills reflected blue in certain light. That could happen to many different ranges, though. The men only knew the one range, the women knew the whole planet. 

Rose knitted and I read. Every so often she stopped me and quizzed me on the information. When I didn't know the answers we went back and I found them. 

Some of the information was complex and hard to understand. Other parts were difficult for me to remember. Rose made up mnemonics with me and helped me use the tool to get more out of the reading. She was a very good teacher. 

We barely noticed as clattering talons announced Tosu's appearance. Fuji, Rose and I stood silently to greet her. She took in the surroundings and walked toward us slowly. 

"You have been reading out loud," she said when she reached us. "Why is that?"

"I was not concentrating well, Mistress," I told her honestly. "Reading to Rose forces me to concentrate and not be...distracted. She has been helping me learn."

They must have been watching the monitors, I thought or they had the pad's listening function turned on. Either way it was creepy to be observed like that.

Compared to Nu-reeh this woman seemed so calm. I just did not trust her to stay that way. The men were glad it was her, though. Although they'd seen her angry, it was much less frequent than they'd seen Nu-reeh that way. 

"Tell me about what you learned," she finally said settling before us. 

I repeated what I remembered to her as calmly as I could. In my mind was Christof's presence encouraging me. Allowing the stress of this situation to master me would be dishonorable to the family. I had learned well. My instructions were to maintain decorum and do as I was asked. 

Tosu listened carefully and when I was done she coached me. I had missed things she wanted me to know and concentrated on things she found irrelevant. She was stern, but I believed more forgiving than Nu-reeh would have been. 

As we finished a second large woman entered and Rose reached out gripping my hand. It wasn't Nu-reeh or Dinah and I had no idea who it was. Tosu greeted the new woman and told her Rose had be assisting me. Apparently, my human friend helped me learn. 

"Do not upset my men when you learn things," she barked out focusing on Rose. "It is your job to make sure that one," she pointed to me, "learns." 

"Yes, Mistress Canta," Rose said in a trembling voice. 

It made sense to me now. The tall sinewy woman must own Basin and his Brothers. She reminded me of Nu-reeh in a lot of ways. 

"Swim your laps after the midday meal, humans," Tosu said indicating the pool. 

"Yes, Mistress," we all answered. 

The women left with the one named Canta complaining about what a ridiculous way to breed this was. She seemed like she was trying to convince Tosu that Nu-reeh's numbers would go up without me. I was such a waste.

"Oh my," Rose sighed putting a hand over her heart and keeping a death grip on my fingers, "that woman terrifies me. How do you stand it, Ciara? You stay so calm when you speak to them. I cannot even make a sentence."

"I was here before," I said evasively. "I suppose I am just used to them."

"Well," Rose said gathering her wits, "at least we know what she wants you to focus on now. It should make the reading go quicker."

The men came to pick us up for lunch and they were in an interesting mood. Evan was more bothered by the plug than he had been this morning. He was restless and agitated. Most of the lunch he spent pacing behind our table. 

"It has to come out," I whispered to Damien and he disagreed.

The men wouldn't listen. Evan had acted badly and would pay for it. The decision was made, still I fought them on it. 

"He's not human and he's not totally Paterian," I reasoned looking over at Christof, "that may be really bad for him. We don't know."

Interesting argument, was the consensus, but the answer was no. Evan had to learn. I would not always listen and he couldn't lose his temper like he had. The discomfort would not kill him. 

"And you have done it for us," Evan said standing behind me for a moment. "You never complained. I am not weaker than you are." 

We argued the difference between weakness and different physiology all the way back to our dwelling. 

"Doesn't matter what you want anyway," Kein finally grinned. "Five against one and you are not strong enough to best us in a battle. We will do as we wish."

My eyes narrowed and I looked at his triumphant face. 

"How'd you like to be kept awake all night with questions, questions, questions?" I threatened. "It's a choice to keep her amused," I hissed out maliciously. 

My cheeks were flushed and I felt ready to fight. It just wasn't right to do this to Evan. I'd hated it when they did it to me at first. If they gave me my sword right now I'd have a go at them. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 25



Christof sighed and I looked at him. I abhorred the look of pity I was getting so used to seeing on his face. He reached out and grabbed me before I could move away. The brief struggle in his arms was limited by his Brothers pressing against my back. 

"Relax," he soothed stroking my arms, "Evan is not in real pain and this is not about him. You are tired and cranky today. Do the laps in the pool as Nu-reeh requested and then rest."

I didn't want to feel calm and sorry for myself, but I did. Christof knew I had not rested well the previous many nights, last night had not been an exception. My human body was just exhausted. After some sleep, I'd feel much better. 

The men wouldn't leave until Rose and I were in the pool. Basin wasn't interested in leaving at all. He feared his Rose would drown. She had avoided this since she'd been here. With me now here they feared the women would watch us. 

"Hold the side," I encouraged Rose, "and move yourself to the other end. I'll swim right next to you. If you slip, I'll catch you."

Basin didn't like that, neither did Damien. Some humans had a tendency to panic in the water. Rose was likely to drown me unintentionally. That would be an unheard of catastrophe for all of us. 

Clattering talons got all of our attention as Canta and another woman entered the room. 

The woman was harsh and to the point. She wanted to know why Basin and his Brothers weren't leaving to go to their work. 

"Our slave cannot swim, Mistress," Basin answered. "We fear for it in the pool."

The large woman came to tower over Rose and I as we sat on a step in the water. She appraised Rose openly before turning her attention back to Basin. 

"You have had this slave a long time," she said in almost a resigned fashion. "Your female breeders found it a good hobby for you and your Brothers. She has kept you out of trouble."

The men were confused and it showed on their faces. None of them understood how Basin's female breeder had kept them out of trouble. The woman chuckled at their confusion. 

"Have you forgotten your fascination with women and mountains, my boys?" she asked playfully. "How many times did I have to pull you out of a young female's den before you got this slave? She has saved your hides more times than I can imagine. Teach her to swim. I will expect her in the pool with the other human by the next moon."

The confusion didn't leave Basin's face as the large woman and her companion left the room. They stared at her back and then down at Rose. 

"Our Rose...is female?" one of the Brothers asked sounding confused.

Well, Duh, was my internal thought. That made Damien chuckle, before he answered politely. 

"A female is a female. That slave is female as is the cool one that Stayne keeps. The women here must only allow us to buy female slaves," he said.

I watched Basin's face with trepidation. He looked at Rose and for a moment his lines darkened. 

"We have lived," he said slowly, "with a female in our bed-"

Damien saw where this was going and protected my friend when I could not. 

"Not any female, cousin. You have lived with your female all this time. That is a female that trusts you, because you care for her," he said emphatically. "She is not female like the women here. She is weak and requires you for survival." 

The opinion wasn't his only his, it was mine. I feared for Rose if they believed her to be female. I watched Basin's face as the lines relaxed and he calmed. 

"Come," he said motioning her out of the pool, "we will teach you to swim, my Rose. Do not enter the water unless we are with you."

It relieved me to hear him call her that and speak that way. She scrambled out and nearly tipped back slipping on the stone edge. 

"Be careful," another of them chided as he caught her, "you must not be fearful. We will teach you so you do not act this way. It is very unbecoming."

"Of course, Masters," she whispered holding close to the man who held her.

I watched as he slightly flinched at her touch and then relaxed into it. I was immensely worried these men might hurt Rose if they thought she was a woman. Shifting nervously in the water I turned imploring eyes on Damien. 

He wouldn't have it and scolded me internally. Basin and his Brothers were honorable; they would not harm the girl. That would prove nothing. They were obviously stronger than her. I was degrading principled men and Damien would not hear of it. 

I relaxed in the water and shook my head at my own foolishness. 

"Swim," Bane said to me as Rose's men redressed her, "thirty-seven times and then you rest."

I swam my laps as quickly as I could. It wasn't nearly as interesting as swimming around the Keeper's inlet, but I made do. Once I was done I dried and dressed myself, much to Rose's shock, and went to lay down. 

As I lay in the quiet bedroom my mind drifted to what the men were doing. Christof made a point to concentrate on things about the ore. That seemed to satisfy the little life inside of me. She was entertained by his cajoling and I rested comfortably the entire afternoon while they worked. 

The men found me still sleeping on their bed when they got done. They were quiet as they disrobed for their shower. Evan was insistent I sleep as long as I could. 

Damien permitted me to remove the punishment from Evan's ass before dinner. I was glad we did. He was obviously not meant to wear something like this. Poor man was bleeding a little. He swore not to make the same mistake that had led to this again. 

The pregnancy wore on and settled into a predictable pattern. I read daily and sometimes nightly. My little girl was relentless in her quest for knowledge. Eventually the men found Christof could calm her if it needed to be done. When she had not let me rest for days, that was what had to happen. 

We were lucky in a way, as my belly grew her schedule became more regimented. She knew to be curious in the morning and let me rest more at night. It was a good change and one I was thrilled to see. 

Hannah visited regularly. Sometimes she gifted me with devotionals, sometimes not. The lack of a pattern stopped Nu-reeh from catching her. What my girl was doing would have infuriated Nu-reeh. If she found out what Hannah was doing, I was sure Nu-reeh would kill her.

My daughter gathered information for one of the lead female families that fought for freedom. Hannah and her Sister were not restricted and moved easily between the mountains. The mature women tracked them, but only somewhat.

I asked not to be given details, so I would not endanger anyone, but Hannah insisted I know what she was helping to do. 

The stolen men were somehow removed from the mountains or compounds and delivered to safe places. There they were told the truth and allowed to make their own decisions. No one owned them and they mated at their discretion. A woman could ask, but no was an acceptable answer. Their rights were respected by the women around them. 

In this new life the men were permitted to learn anything they wanted. Access to knowledge was no longer prohibited. They could think and study on any topic that was interesting to them. None of them were limited in what they could do.

"Warriors that act like Administrators, Mama," Hannah whispered to me one day. "Administrators building the weapons that fortify the homes they live in. The men are finding they can have many and varied interests."

The men were productive in the small, free societies. They worked and helped the women with every task. The goal was to eventually have all of them be mostly self sufficient. That would be the sign of true equality. 

"We talk to them," Ra said. "They are friendly with us and invite us to dine with them. They touch us without fear."

My hackles raised at her last statement. "How exactly," I hissed, "do they touch you girls?"

Hannah was not old enough for that. I was sure Ra wasn't either. Both girls laughed at my concern.

"We cannot mate, Mama," Hannah soothed, "we are not old enough and have no interest. Ra means they touch our arms or brush along side us in tight places. Don't worry so much. I have much to do before I settle down to have my own children."

Ra cast a worried glance at Hannah and my daughter sighed. "If it is even possible for me," she amended. 

"Women no longer conceive easily," Ra explained. "Breeding numbers are down and have been for so long, women fear for the survival of this species."

The little girl in my belly rolled then and stretched. Hannah and Ra both reached out a hand to feel her movements. She seemed to press into her sister's touch before she settled again.

"The way you breed," Ra stated, "is unheard of. They have tried it with several other Earth females."

Hannah growled and shook her head. Even Ra looked sad after her statement. 

"Boys are easy," Ra said softly, "but girls..."

Hannah looked troubled and touched my face. "The girls break the families apart. The men cannot deal with the differing opinions. The Earth females cannot deal with the influx of stimulus. They are driven to madness and the pregnancies are lost with the deaths of the human slaves. The men, they barely survive."

A cool wind whipped through the deserted section of cave we sat in and I shivered.

Christof was in my head scolding me for not bringing something warmer to wrap in. He was leaving the sorting room and bringing me something right now. I had known where Hannah and Ra would hide with me to talk. They always took me on long deserted walks. Getting sick would get all of us in trouble, so he was coming to take care of me. 

Hannah was snapping her fingers in my face when I realized where I was. It was hard not to be distracted by the voices in my head. My daughter found my inability to concentrate quite annoying. 

"You just stare off in space all the sudden," she huffed. "It's like having a conversation with a schizophrenic!"

I ignored her outburst and advised the girls Christof was already on his way, so they would not be surprised by him. 

"It is what you had with Christof," Hannah said getting back to the conversation, "that saved all of us. He allowed his Brothers' thinking to bend without breaking."

"We will save him one day, Mama," Ra promised me. "We will save all of them."

I believed them, I had to. They were the physical manifestation of the hope I had clung to since I'd been brought here. Hannah and her Sister were tireless fighters for freedom. I knew what they did when they left and I saw the exhaustion it caused them. Neither seemed to care, they only wanted what was right. 

Apparently everyone was going to continue jumping on the freedom bandwagon.

"What is a whale?" Evan asked one evening at dinner.

"No, no Brother," Kein amended, "a bloated whale?" 

I coughed and had to take a drink to avoid choking. I remembered the carcasses of whales I had seen washed up on television. Their huge rotund bellies reminded me of my own. 

Now many moons into this pregnancy my stomach had grown to enormous proportions. I realized how early I must have been with Hannah. The initial nausea and vomiting had probably stunted my growth, and hers, also. I was markedly larger this time. 

I wasn't entirely sure where the men picked up the phrase, though. 

"You thought of it today as you swam," Damien informed me. "We kept hearing the Earth words, but we did not wish to interrupt your exercise." 

I laughed and stroked my stomach. It was a fitting analogy, I thought for a moment. I was big, fat, and swollen: a literal whale. Thank goodness for no mirrors. I'd hate to see how hideous I looked right now. 

The mens' violent disagreement quickly dissuaded me of that idea. 

"She is part of us," Christof said stroking a hand down my side and looking at his Brothers. "You are part of us also," he directed to me. "You are not ugly to us. This is more family, we are lucky men."

The little girl inside me pressed against the place Christof had been touching. Noticing it, he stroked her with loving fingers for several moments. His thoughts continued on the same lines as he touched me. Inside of me was something amazing. 

Damien and the rest murmured agreement. My stomach and its contents were something we all were glad for. Hannah was wonderful and more family was welcome. 

"I would like to see my feet, though," I said sipping the frothy drink and wiggling my toes. 

When I looked down as we walked now I saw belly and very little else. It made walking to and from the eating area slightly precarious for me. Long ago I'd taken to holding someone's arm or hand to help steady me. 

"It is foolish to walk the way you do," Evan said grabbing a second helping of meat and passing the platter to Kein. "You should look up."

Damien and Bane agreed. I really should look up when I walked. My eyes should observe anything I wished them to. No one should walk around looking at the floor. 

"No," I answered them calmly, "I am only safe-"

Damien cut me off. "You will be safe if you walk with your head up. No man in this mountain would survive our wrath. Do you doubt us?" he asked incredulously. 

I was stuck as I stared at him across the table. Obviously I couldn't doubt him. No one in the family doubted Damien's strength or ability. If the man said he could defend me, he could. 

It wasn't an option anymore. As we left the dining hall my eyes were up. I tried to stare at the far wall to avoid eye contact, but Bane wouldn't have that. We met the eyes of men as we passed them and acknowledged them. Everyone in the family did that, I would, too. 

Two families started to fight Damien over his slave's behavior, but were rapidly subdued. The other men looked at us with a mixture of open curiosity or animosity. I couldn't count which opinion seemed to be winning and no one else cared. 

"Let them think what they want," Bane shrugged, "makes no difference." 

We made our way out of the dining hall and into the near empty caves. The sun was still up, so we'd get glimpses of late afternoon light here and there. It cast the interior of the caverns in an almost warming glow. 

Threading my arm under Bane's I enjoyed the quiet evening as we walked. This after dinner time was my favorite time of day. None of us had responsibilities and we could just relax together. Tonight we were headed for a chuke game. 

Chuke was still my mens' favorite thing to do, next to me. Since I was indisposed in my current condition, they played a lot more chuke. Bane had even brought a comfortable chair and foot rest to the field for me. I could sit and knit while they showed the men in the mountains how it was done. 

The game was very good tonight and I was enjoying it as the first ripple cut across my back and into my belly. Shifting in my chair, I sought a more comfortable position as the cramp ended. Just as I refocused on the game it came back. 

Evan was scooping me up before another could hit. We'd made it back to our quarters before the fifth one tore through my body. Nu-reeh arrived before number fifteen. 

The labor this time took longer. I imagined Hannah's violent entrance into the world would have been calmer if I had not been assaulted. This little girl came in her own good time. It was the middle of the night when my second daughter's screeching cries first echoed in the cave. 

Laying on the warm stone I watched with abject terror as Nu-reeh inspected my child. I feared what Nu-reeh would do if the girl was not what she wanted. Tears leaked down my face because I knew I couldn't stop that horror if it happened. 

The winged baby in Nu-reeh's grasp hissed and spit. She growled with a ferocity I'd never seen from Hannah. This girl was furious as the large woman checked her over. 

"Feed her," Nu-reeh grunted tossing the little girl at me and leaving.

Catching the writing infant I tried to wrap and sooth her, but she refused to be tamed. 

"Daddy!" she kept screaming in English, pushing the covers away. 

It wasn't hard to tell who she wanted. Every time Christof stepped in her line of sight she reached for him. I could see the family resemblance in her eyes and the long line of her legs. She just wanted her father. 

I rocked and coaxed her as I sat on the warm stone, but she wouldn't take the breast or calm down. She wanted Christof. The men started to look frantic as she continued to scream. 

They tried to clean me off, but she kept trying to wiggle closer to Christof. 

"I cannot touch you," Christof said softly. "I am not permitted to touch you. Please understand. Feed from Mama and relax."

Our daughter would not hear of it and screamed louder for him. Eventually we heard the clattering talons and Nu-reeh re-entered our dwelling.

"Why have you not fed her?" she demanded glaring down at my wild little girl and me. 

Damien answered for me as he tried to talk over the child's cries. He informed Nu-reeh my daughter wanted her male breeder. The little girl was being insistent about it. She refused to feed.

Nu-reeh looked over all of us for a moment. The writhing bundle in my arms hissed and screamed at her, demanding Christof's attention. The look of disgust on Nu-reeh's face terrified me, but I couldn't silence our daughter. 

Tosu entered and the room suddenly felt much too full. She took in everything going on and then spoke with Nu-reeh. 

"The female is strong willed," she commented. "I sense this one will be defiant and she must eat. Give her what she wants."

Nu-reeh growled and shifted her gaze to Tosu, "So the men are to feed her? How do you propose they do that?"

Tosu sighed and motioned to Christof.

"Let the men hold her and touch her. It would be a waste to lose a healthy female over this. Just let them know what you will do if they harm her," she stated. 

Nu-reeh was swayed by her Sister's opinion and gave Damien's family permission to touch Christof's daughter. She did warn them she'd remove their secondary teeth if anyone harmed the girl. 

I handed Christof our baby and she was silent for the first time since she was born. Long fingers stroked away her tears as he cradled her. He touched her with obvious adoration. 

Watching my friend hold our daughter did something to me and I couldn't tear my eyes away. I didn't even notice Nu-reeh leave. Christof holding his daughter was a mesmerizing experience. 

Christof had never held a baby, but he'd seen me do it with Hannah. He supported her head and kept a hand under her back. Rocking her gently he shushed her as she shuddered in his arms. 

Even through my own tears I could see her resemblance to her father. She had a lean build and brilliant eyes that reflected the light. They were lighter than Christof's, but still with that strange purple hue.

"She has no fur and no hair," Kein commented leaning close. "Guess that must just grow in on Ciara's girls. We need to keep her warm until then."

"Look at the wings, though," Bane pointed out, gingerly touching one as it hung loosely beneath her. "Much larger than Hannah's at this stage. Imagine how they'll look mature."

"Don't crush them," Evan warned his Brother, "remember how to fold them on her back."

Five fathers surrounded the little girl and fussed over her, wrapping her in an absorbent towel and a knitted blanket. They folded her wings just so and made her warm and comfortable in Christof's arms. 

"She is sticky," Damien commented. "The little one needs a bath."

"In a bit, Brother," Bane said tucking the blanket where it had exposed her feet. "Let her rest first. She looks exhausted." 

I suddenly noticed Tosu still in the room watching. Before she turned I swear I saw pride in her eyes. Almost inaudibly I heard her say, "This is how it should be."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 25



I'd never been so surprised in my life. She smiled at me and left the room to follow her Sister. The men had noticed none of it. 

Damien was the first to remember me laying quiet and shivering on the warm stone. As Christof rocked the baby the rest hurriedly fixed me up. Apparently this delivery had been tougher than last time. I had a tear. 

The placenta was delivered just as the Healers arrived. These new men marveled at the warm mass of flesh that had been inside of me. They would not have believed it came from where it did. 

"Could we take it?" the lead Healer asked.

Since we didn't know what else to do with it, Damien let them have it. 

I was treated with some strange device that stung terribly, but knitted the tissue together rapidly. The Healers also had a powerful cream they applied with gloves to my insides and over my stomach to help with healing. I felt myself literally tighten up as it was spread around. 

The room was suddenly split with an earth shattering wail. Kennedy had been quiet, but now she was thirsty. Damien carefully removed their crest from my nipples and pocketed the little metal pieces 

Christof handed me our daughter and the Healers watched entranced as I fed her for the first time. She had trouble latching on and it took several minutes of trial and error for her to take her first gulp of milk. Kein shooed the men out when they wanted a sample of that also.

"It is for the female child only," he said literally pushing them from the room. "Leave them alone now. Your job is done and they must rest."

Bane lifted me and my daughter off the warm slab and walked us to the bed. She watched him with wide eyes but never stopped feeding. It almost seemed to me she wanted to smile at him. 

Once I was settled on several pillows and nursing comfortably, Christof spoke gently.

"What do we call her?" he asked sitting beside us and stroking her cheek. 

I had thought of names, but seeing the little girl decided me. This probably should have been a task I shared with her father, but I knew Christof would not know how to name a child.

"I would like to call her Kennedy," I told him looking down at her. "It is the name of a powerful family on Earth."

The men were fine with that and practiced the name. Nu-reeh would be pleased the girl had a ruler's name. It was a good thing to call her. 

I didn't tell them what else it was. My grandmother had raised beautiful Kennedy tea roses in her garden. This girl was named after my best female friend, but only the three of us had to know that. 

After a nap the men pulled Kennedy and me into the bathing room. They had filled the tub with warm water and helped me step into it. Christof carried our little girl in for her first bath. 

Kennedy was as enamored with the water as Hannah had been. She touched at it and giggled as it moved under her hand. Our little girl quietly told Christof many of the things she knew about water. He listened to her and praised her, which made her smile broadly. 

Christof held Kennedy while Bane and Kein used soft strokes to wash her tiny body. Gentle fingers cleaned every nook on the baby. Their touch was so soothing she fell asleep on Christof as Kein washed her wings.

Damien and Evan rubbed me in the water until I felt as relaxed as my baby daughter. Both of us were unbelievably pampered. I looked into Evan's bright eyes and saw an excitement I did not expect. He grinned broadly and looked around. 

"We won," he whispered to me suddenly.

He looked animated and so did Damien. Bane was grinning ear to ear and nudging Kein. I could see the strain on their faces. They looked triumphant, like they wanted to yell and shout. The men were reigning in their celebration around the sleeping infant. 

"I'm sorry, my loves," I finally admitted. "I don't know what you're so happy about, but congratulations."

I was so tired and utterly at ease. Lucky for me they were too excited to keep the secret for long. 

"You did not vomit," Damien informed me grinning. "Even with the days we spent in the punishment cave there was no sickness."

I chuckled and laughed softly. They had won. I'd not gotten sick once during my pregnancy with Kennedy. Like Damien had told me, they knew me very well. 

"So what's the prize?" I asked sleepily. "Loser sleeps on the floor?"

The men scoffed at that. They'd slept on floors before. Who wants to reward the loser anyway?

"How about, winners get to sleep next to the new family first?" Bane asked eyeing a lightly snoring Kennedy. 

I smiled and nodded at their enthusiasm. Tonight Bane and Kein would surround Kennedy as we slept. Tomorrow night it would be Damien and Evan.

"She'll wake you when she cries," I warned them. "You remember how often Hannah liked to eat. You'll have to wake up every time she does to give her to me."

Evan chuckled as he pulled me out of the water and wrung the water from my hair. "We woke every time Damien's daughter did. She was family and we could not comfort or aid her. For that child we were worthless, that will not happen to us again."

I looked up into his face and was shocked. They had felt powerless with Hannah and they didn't like it. Being part of her and unable to bond with her had hurt them. 

Evan dried me carefully, avoiding being too rough on the tender places. Bane agreed with Evan's assessment. 

"We worried sometimes that this child would shun us also," he said matter-of-factly. "Hannah was correct in her assessment of us. Slavery was never something we should have been a part of."

"Dishonorable," Damien muttered helping Christof wrap Kennedy in a warm blanket Kein had retrieved.

Putting a hand over Damien's I looked into his eyes, "and forgiven," I insisted. "You are forgiven for making a mistake-"

"Many mistakes," Bane cut in tracing a finger down my back. 

I knew the invisible lines he traced. They were the ones the whip had made cutting across my skin. I still remembered where they were, even if no one else could see them. 

"Still forgiven," I insisted tracing the scar Hannah had left across his chest. "We are family and family makes mistakes. None of us is perfect." 

"It is difficult," Christof said handing me our sleeping and bundled daughter, "but we speak with Basin and Stayne. We try to help them see the horrors of slavery. The way they act is no different from..." 

He let the statement hang, but I knew who he meant. Having a slave meant being like the women and no one wanted that. 

"They will see the truth one day, as we did," Damien said guiding me to the sleeping chamber. "We will make sure that all Paterians see the truth," he said softly as they lay Kennedy and me down. 



Don't forget to vote! DW



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 26



Hello to all and thanks for the kind words on the last chapter! 

Thanks to Steve150177 for his work and help. The story is much smoother thanks to his input.

Hope you all enjoy! Please vote and comment - good or bad! I just like the feedback! DW

*****************************************

My family rested the remainder of the night until the sun rose. They tried to be quiet, but despite being less than a day old, Kennedy woke curious about what they were doing. She didn't want to stay in the quiet bedroom with me, she wanted to see what was going on. 

The men were left to tend to me today. Food was delivered to us by Basin's family. While I nibbled, Christof held our daughter. She dozed in his arms as he talked to her. It was different than it had been with Hannah, so unbelievably different.

Where Hannah had been all fire and venom, Kennedy was my sweet girl and I started calling her that. She loved her family and wanted to be with us constantly. Her eyes constantly swayed between her father and his Brothers when they were around.

Kennedy would have preferred Christof stay with us all day every day and she made that very clear. The day he went back to work, she wailed all morning. He had to gently, but firmly, reprimanded her at lunch. She just couldn't have everything she wanted. It was not his choice to follow Nu-reeh's commands or not. While staying with his daughter would make him happy, Nu-reeh's wishes always came first. 

It was the first time I saw the look of determination on Kennedy's young face. She didn't like that her father was owned and controlled. The resolve I'd gotten used to seeing in Hannah settled over Kennedy. I suddenly realized what I was doing. 

I was breeding the resistance

Most of the time, Kennedy was calm and content. She rarely cried and screamed. My second girl liked to be held and rocked. She was passed between all of us, enjoying the attention of the whole family. She liked to be awake and interacting with us. 

Unlike Hannah, I soon found I had to remind her to feed regularly. Nursing made her sleepy and she liked to be awake and part of the conversation. Evan remembered how often Hannah had fed and he made a schedule for me. We did our best to make sure she'd grow strong and powerful. 

Rose and Fuji helped me some with her care. They would play with her in the morning while I cleaned our rooms. She and Rose shared a special bond once Rose understood her name. Evidently the Kennedy Rose had been named after she left Earth. 

My instructions with Kennedy were much the same as they had been before. The only difference was that I was to read to her every morning. My afternoons were always spent walking in the mountain's tunnels and giving Kennedy fresh air. 

Damien and his Brothers no longer feared my walks. They understood the control Nu-reeh had on the men. No one would touch me. Much like before I was ignored like a piece of rock. No one ever saw me as I moved around. 

Hannah showed up when Kennedy was twenty two days old. Kennedy and I were walking and talking. I had taken us to a winding cave that eventually led to an opening out of the mountain. 

The opening was small, barely enough for me to squeeze out of. I liked the wide ledge that was just outside, though. The sun beat down on it and kept it nice and warm. We had a lovely view of the surrounding mountains and the sky above. Kennedy and I had found it on her fifth day. 

Kennedy rode with me the same way I'd carried Hannah. A long sash could be used to tie her to my back or to my front. Today the sash was tied like a sling and Kennedy lay in the hammock shaped cradle on my chest. 

I liked this position. Kennedy could talk with me or look up at the sky. It also allowed me to bundle her and keep her close to me for warmth. 

We found a spot and settled down. Kennedy liked to be out here under the open sky. She'd just drowse in the sun listening to me talk to her. Quite early on I'd found she had a fascination with the sun, she hated the dark. 

Talons hitting the ground startled me badly and I jerked Kennedy to my chest. Without looking, I ran for the opening but Hannah's voice stopped me. 

"Mama, it's just us," she said sounding exasperated. 

I took a moment to glance at the new arrivals and realized it was just my older daughter and her Sister. 

"You cut your hair," I said trying not to sound like they'd scared me half to death. 

Hannah gave a snort and pirouetted. "It grows really fast, Mama," she said. "I got it cut right before my...initiation."

I cocked my head and looked at her quizzically. "Initiation into what?" 

"Bunch of hippies that believe slavery is wrong and are willing to fight for their beliefs," she said in English. "You'll know them when you see them. They've started to wear beads in their hair. You have to earn your beads and we aren't old enough to go through the trials, yet."

Kennedy poked up and looked at her Sister. "How old?" she asked struggling to sit up in the sling. 

Hannah smiled wide seeing her little Sister for the first time and stepped closer. "Much older, kid, but we still have our uses."

"I named her Kennedy. Would you like to hold her?" I asked Hannah while propping Kennedy up. 

"Not a chance," Ra warned in a low voice. "I know it's customary on Earth, but here no one touches a talonless female other than the female breeder. It would be an insult for us to touch her."

That was surprising and I felt silly for offering, but Hannah soothed me quickly. "You know I'd love to Mama. I'd hold her and kiss her silly, but I don't want any extra attention today. We need to not be noticed."

The girls looked at one another and then at me uneasily. Ra cleared her throat and then spoke quietly. 

"We need a favor, Mama, a big favor," she said. 

"We'll understand if you can't," Hannah said hesitantly.

When Ra spoke next it was in English, perfectly accented. Evidently Hannah had been teaching her. 

"There are free men held in the mountain now. The women caught them. We know these men, they are stubborn," Ra said. 

Hannah continued the story, "They are like Daddy, Warriors, Mama. They will not be broken. We have to save them or the women will kill them, because they will not tame them."

I gasped and shook my head. Free men being killed set my stomach on edge. That was horrible. 

"They would see us enter, Mama, and not let us near the men," Hannah said, "but we know you could get to them. The men guarding them would never see you and you could avoid the cameras."

"We would give you something to release their restraints," Ra said, "and food to make them strong for the escape. Once you're done with that, you leave, they will take care of the rest themselves."

I looked down at Kennedy and knew I could not do this. It would put her life in jeopardy. She had other ideas. 

"We will do it," Kennedy said decisively. "Mama is scared, but she can do it."

"Nu-reeh will not harm you or the babe," Hannah pleaded. "You are their only chance."

I looked between the three girls and shivered. I'd always just played along on this planet. Anything I'd had to do to survive, I'd done. Never once had I been strong and stood up to my captors. Today I had my chance.

Kennedy was staring up at me. I saw the determination in her features, as well as the uncertainty. She wasn't afraid and she wanted to proceed, but she knew I was fearful. 

Either choice I made may fail my children. If I did not help, I was weak and ineffective. Should Nu-reeh catch me, she might kill me, but I decided for the first time to fight back. My children should see the same strength in me that they embodied. 

"I don't know where they are," I whispered to Hannah. 

Ra handed me a map. I should give it to the men once they were free. It would lead me to them and then them out. A strange device was given to me that would unlock any lock. Hannah showed me how to use it. Lastly they gave me fifteen wrapped pieces of food, each the size of a candy bar. 

"It is called something that means 'power of a thousand suns'," Hannah told me. "It's a little like...probably cocaine in an energy bar, but it will give the men strength long enough to get out."

Everything I was to carry was placed in Kennedy's sling and she lay on top of it. That was the perfect hiding place. I was set. 

Ra thanked me and told me to hurry, so did Hannah. After the bust out I should leave and get as far away as I could. The women would be livid the men had gotten away. 

I walked the deserted halls with Kennedy. The map showed right where the men were. It was a place I'd walked infrequently before. It was boring and deep inside the mountain. Hannah and Ra were right. It would not be hard for me to avoid the cameras here. It would have been impossible for them to get this far without being spotted.

The escape route the men should take was clearly marked out. Surprisingly it took them deep into the center of the mountain. It appeared that the men were actually going to walk beneath the mountains in a hidden tunnel. Strange, but then these mines may be many generations old. Who knew what strange passages may exist. 

I started to pass men as I walked, but they ignored me. They talked about the strange men they were guarding and what they must have done. The women weren't even feeding these prisoners. The women taunted them with a bucket of water they could not reach. The strange mouth-guards they wore prevented the prisoners from even speaking. 

"They'll be dead by five turns of the sun, if not sooner," I heard one man laugh. 

I stumbled hearing that and the men started to look alert. In terror I clung to my silent child and slunk into the shadows of the cave. I barely breathed until the men started to walk again. 

A family stood guard at a leather drape. This was where the captured men were held. I wondered how I was supposed to get in. Standing and staring at the drape for several moments I realized no one went out or came in. The family standing guard just sat outside. 

The men didn't see me walking around, but would they see the leather drape move?

There was really only one way to find out. 

Keeping my head down I walked slowly to the leather curtain. I stood less than an arm length away from the man on that side of the drape. My feet were soundless as I slipped past the cover and into the room. They had not seen me. 

Inside the room was a horror show. The women had been torturing these men. I saw clumps on the floor and shuddered at what they were. The whole area was sandy, to catch and congeal the blood. 

Fifteen abused bodies were hung on the walls. Slashes cut across their chests where whips had bitten them. Short chains prevented them from even being able to sit down. I imagined they had been awake for days. The women were trying to break their spirit. 

I moved to the man closest to me and his wary eyes watched me. I took the device from under Kennedy and undid his wrists with shaking hands. Reaching up to undo his neck and the mouth guard I dropped the device, but the man caught it. 

Taking a deep breath I worked on his mouth guard and the chain at his neck. Once he was free I handed him the food package Hannah had given me. He ate it quickly and put the wrapper in his pocket before going to drink from the pail in the middle of the room. 

I moved quickly from one to another. Now they weren't wary of me at all. The third man even reached under Kennedy to get his own snack. I was horrified as he touched her and jerked back, holding her to my chest. 

Trembling slightly, I realized how foolish I must look. Obviously he only wanted his food. I looked up embarrassed and then was surprised. 

The man met my eyes and bowed his head. His left arm was crossed in front of his chest. It was a sincere apology and nothing I ever expected from someone here. 

I smiled and handed him his power bar. He took it gingerly from my fingers and returned the smile. No one reached to touch Kennedy after that and I felt grateful they honored my unspoken request. 

The fifth man was so tall I could not reach his neck. Strong hands took the device from me and the first man undid the tall man. Once he was released the tall man put his palm out, waiting patiently for the food, which I quickly gave him. 

The sixth man slumped to the ground once the first man released him. He refused to rise. It was instinctive to crouch next to him and coax him to eat. 

The man looked haunted. His breathtaking blue eyes pierced mine and I felt like I could have been looking at Evan. The only difference was his badly cut hair. 

Oh God, his hair...

I looked at the short hair they had left on his head. Evan's hair was so sensitive, I couldn't imagine what cutting it would be like. Pity overwhelmed me as I pressed the 'power of a thousand suns' to this poor, abused man's lips. He ate it slowly, watching me as he took each bite. 

The entire second family was in trouble. I had to feed three of them, but the food did what it was supposed to. The energy started to radiate from them as they stood up and touched one another. 

Once they were released and fed, I remembered the map and gave it to them. The man I had released first patted my shoulder and smiled. One of the men that must be his Brother pointed to my feet. 

I was leaving tracks, small footsteps in the sand all over the room. I gasped and the men all started to shuffle silently. The tall man knelt before me and motioned for my foot. I hesitantly gave him the right one. He wiped until there was not a trace of sand or blood on either. 

The other men in the room had completely covered my tracks with their own. They silently motioned to the exit. They shuffled behind me and I turned to see I had left no footprints at all.

I glanced back and saw the men staring at me. A short wave and I slipped out the drape. 

Once I was away from the men and room I gripped my daughter to my chest and ran. I went as far away from that place as I could get before I finally dared to pass in front of a camera. By that time I'd calmed some and tried to look as normal as I could. 

The alarm started to blare late in the afternoon and I barely remembered how to get home. Stopping in a deserted section of cave my heart thundered in my ears. My panic started to overwhelm me and I had to get hold of myself.

What if the men were caught? What if they told on me? What if the women found out?

"S'okay, Mama," the little bundle in my arms whispered. "Just go back to our room."

She was right. I looked down into her calm face and gained strength. Christof wouldn't lose his cool now, I should not either. It was my turn to be like the family and be strong. 

I walked toward home and realized I should not know why I was going there. If anyone asked me what was going on, I'd say I assumed it was an alarm like at the compound. It would not be unreasonable to think we were being attacked by other women. That was a plausible story. 

The place I'd found myself when the alarm sounded was a long walk from home. Even moving quickly, I was soon the only thing moving in the deserted corridors. The idea of being found by the angry women out here made me so nervous I got dizzy. I wanted to be home, with Damien and his Brothers between me and the women. 

Every time I had to pass an opening in the mountain, I cringed. The women were thick in the air outside and I was grateful every time they didn't notice me. I just did my best to walk calmly and quickly past. 

When I heard Nu-reeh scream at me after I passed a large opening, my heart stopped. I turned slowly as she swooped beside me and stared down with malevolence. I clutched Kennedy to my chest and prayed for strength. 

"Why are you here!?" she roared. "Where have you been?"

I stared into her face and saw the first bit of venom cling like a yellow diamond to her fang. It dropped off slowly and fell between us. I took an instinctive step back from her. 

She knew, I thought miserably, and would kill me for what I'd done. 

Shockingly, my voice stayed steady as I talked to her. I explained that I'd been walking and heard the alarm. As quickly as I could I was heading home. 

Nu-reeh stood staring into my face for several moments and I watched the rage behind her eyes. It terrified me and I clung tightly to Kennedy. If my daughter could fly, she could escape, but her wings were far from mature. In the face of Nu-reeh's wrath we stood defenseless. 

"Nu-reeh!" a voice suddenly called out and the big woman whipped around toward the sound. 

Tosu landed lightly beside us and spoke firmly to Nu-reeh, she questioned why Nu-reeh wasn't checking the far mountain face. The men may be scaling down it. It really should be monitored. 

"I'll take the slave to her quarters," Tosu said calmly. "You seem to be too angry to deal with this now."

Nu-reeh spent several minutes discussing search plans with Tosu. The women were all over the outside of the mountain looking for the men. They were certain they would find them stuck on a rock face; it would just take time. 

Kennedy was looking up at me with concern on her features. I realized she had not seen the map and didn't know the men were going underground. As subtly as I could I winked at her. She understood and smiled a confused smile in response. 

"Go," Tosu finally told Nu-reeh, "if anyone can find them out there it is you," she said shooing her Sister. 

I wasn't given even a second glance as Nu-reeh disappeared out the opening. 

"Come on, then," Tosu said to me in a no nonsense tone. 

Without hesitation, she scooped me up, so I was sitting in the crook of her elbow. Tosu's strides were larger than I could have made. We headed for home rapidly. 

Tosu walked us down a deserted corridor toward the area we stayed in. This wasn't a route I personally liked to walk. It was dark and dreary, completely cut off from the outside and usually poorly lit. In the middle of it Tosu slowed and looked around pointedly. 

After several moments she looked down at me and smiled. 

"You did well, as did Hannah. I will protect you, but you must continue to keep your head," she said very softly. "The boys will escape through the tunnels under us. They will be safe now."

For a moment, I didn't breath. 

"You like to speak with your friends," she said watching me closely. "Do not speak of this outside of your family. I have learned you need specific direction to help you."

I nodded dumbly and she looked concerned. "Is there meaning when you do that or are you confused?" she asked gently. 

"I will not speak to anyone, Mistress," I said quietly. 

Tosu laughed lightly and patted my face. 

"I am not Mistress when it is just you and I, little human. We fight this battle as friends. You did today what I have failed to do since those poor boys arrived. Your help was invaluable, but I will never put you in danger unless I must," she said looking lovingly down at Kennedy. "I will watch over your girls. Humans worry over their offspring as we do. Know that I will stand between Nu-reeh and your children," she promised. 

"Thank you," I whispered hoarsely as she started to walk. 

This might be a trap. Tosu may just be playing with me. I felt right to be suspicious and made a point to say nothing that could incriminate me. 

"I would stop it if I could," she said distantly. "You should not be forced to breed, no one should. It would be unwise for me to risk alerting Nu-reeh to my true allegiances right now, though. We are at the start of something great."

We'd made it back to our quarters in record time. I stared up at her and she smiled at me as she set me down. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 26



"Go in," she instructed, "and be calm."

Walking into the main room like a dazed robot, I moved toward our leather drape. Before I'd made it, I was swarmed by Damien and his Brothers. Strong hands pulled me inside and inspected me. Kennedy was pulled away as Christof checked her over. They must have been worried sick waiting for us to come back. 

"You are wet," Evan chided touching my breasts through my damp outfit. "When is the last time you fed the little one?"

He was right. My breasts were leaking milk and swollen. I couldn't recall the last time I'd stopped to nurse Kennedy. 

"The child must be fed regularly," Damien scolded. "It is important you stop to feed her at the intervals we have discussed. She must grow big and strong."

My wet and ruined dress was pulled from me and Kennedy was settled in my arms to nurse in front of the fire. Bane wiped the stickiness away as Kein draped a blanket over my back and around Kennedy. I heard Evan fixing me something to drink as he fussed about my inability to keep to a schedule. 

Damien and his Brothers scolded me for several long moments as I stared dully at them. Suddenly the room was quiet except for Kennedy's insistent sucking sounds. I looked down to see her hands buried in the soft tissue, hanging on. They were right, she had been hungry. 

Christof was in my face suddenly. His concern was evident as he looked back at his Brothers.

"This room is a mess," Damien said casually pointing at the pad I had been reading that morning. 

The noxious little device sat on a chair in the sitting area. Evan picked it up and walked it out front quietly. Once he returned the men encouraged me to rise and we went into our bed chamber. 

Once we were safely inside Christof whispered in my ear. He wanted to know what happened. The men didn't know why we were on lockdown and they didn't know why I was acting odd. They had a feeling the two things were related, though. 

We huddled on the bed and I whispered in Christof's ear. He didn't move a muscle as I explained Hannah's plea, the men's escape, and Tosu's statement. By the time I was done Kennedy had finished both breasts and was sleeping in my arms. 

Damien's face was indescribable. He looked like he couldn't decide what to feel. The other Brothers looked the same way. The thought crossed my mind, I'd take their punishment. The men I'd saved deserved to live. 

Christof finally broke the silence. His mouth brushed my ear it was so close. 

"You endangered my offspring and yourself," he said simply. "I know it would scare you, but I want to see Damien stripe you."

I looked in his eyes, but didn't see the rage I anticipated. 

"You also did something very brave," he continued with a sigh. "You could not bear to see the death of another when you could prevent it. We are proud of you."

"Next time," Bane threatened softly, "we may not feel so. Don't endanger the little one again."

There was a rumble through the men, but I was glad to see their faces did not look angry, only worried. 

We sat in the bedroom for a long time. Eventually I laid next to Kennedy and tried to relax. The men were lost deep in an internal conversation. They occasionally stopped to ask for clarification, but otherwise considered what had happened today silently. 

I drifted to sleep beside Kennedy mumbling thanks as the men dragged a cover over us. The day had been stressful and exhausting. Surrounded by the family in our safe haven, I relaxed completely and slept. 

Angry voices woke me from my sleep and I bolted out of bed. 

Damien was speaking harshly to Hannah and she was answering him in the same tone. Neither was loud, it was more like angry whispering. They both sounded furious. 

"Show us," Damien demanded, "we will protect her-"

Hannah growled before she answered, "You don't even know what to protect her from. Be patient. There isn't a place that is safe enough for her yet-"

Bane cursed and I heard Evan's snort of disgust. Pushing back the leather cover to the bedchamber I walked out into the main room. 

Kein saw me first and stalked toward me. "Go put something on," he ordered. "It is too cold without your dress."

"And where is Kennedy?" Evan snapped crossing his arms. 

I was startled by the level of malevolence in the room and stepped back. Hannah and Damien were staring daggers at one another. The rest of the men looked ready to fight. Ra stood by the main door and looked furious. I had no idea what was going on. 

"Mama," Hannah sighed looking over at me, "Kein's right, go put something on. The mountains are a cold place."

Not like I had any choice. Kein took my arm and led me to the room with our clothing. He muttered fierce curses as he sorted through several dresses. Much like the start of our relationship he chose a dress and put me in it.

"Hey," I whispered stroking his arm as he pulled out a pair of my long boots, "what's going on that's got you so upset?"

Kein turned fiery eyes on me and then went back to his task. 

"Hannah knows how we could get out of the mountain, but refuses to show us. She says there is no place beyond the hills you would be safe enough. The places the free men and women live are not stable enough to protect a human. One day, she'll take us," he growled looking at me, "just not today."

I had not even thought about it when I released the men. It had not occurred to me to remember how to get to the escape tunnels. 

I picked up Kennedy and wrapped her as we stepped back into the main room. She was waking up in my arms and watched the family drama unfold with me. We stood quietly just inside the main room. I took in the attitudes around us. The men's faces had become resigned. Hannah was evidently not budging from her position.

"The communities now," Hannah said softly, "are not strong enough. The women can only just manage to protect the men. Mama would be dead in a lunar cycle."

Damien placed a hand on Hannah's arm and pleaded with her. "We can protect your Mama," he said. "You must show us the way out. We cannot live this way. Nu-reeh tortures her with our seed. It is not right."

Hannah shook her head sadly and met my eyes as she spoke.

"You do not know the beasts that exist beyond these mountains, Daddy. This world is fierce and wild. I do not doubt your strength, but you are without knowledge. Give me time to find a place that Mama will be safe. We need time to build larger settlements. I swear to you I will take you away, but right now I cannot."

The men hated weakness and believed themselves above such things. I saw them coming to a consensus rapidly. This wasn't over yet. 

"Teach us," Damien whispered, "you say there are things we do not understand. You are our eyes to the world. Tell us what you have seen. Make us strong enough to escape this life."

"Of course, Daddy," Hannah sighed, "just don't ask us to give you freedom, yet. It breaks my heart to see my family kept this way. We are working as hard and fast as we can."

******************

The women that lived in the mountain here spent five days looking for the escaped men before they gave up. Hannah and Ra stayed with us all five days. 

"We are too young to search for men," Hannah told us. "Nu-reeh will let us stay, as long as, we are out of the way. She told us we could stay with you."

During the hunt, the men in the mountains were kept on lockdown. Two men from each family went to the eating area and collected food for the day. Otherwise the men were confined to their quarters. If it wasn't for Hannah and Ra it would have been a boring five days. 

Damien invited both Stayne's and Basin's families to come and listen to Hannah. We would move the listening pad far away as we sat and Hannah taught us. She and Ra told us everything they could. 

Damien never told the other men about the escape. He never said we were going to escape one day. Eventually he would trust Basin and Stayne with the knowledge, but not yet. Right now they would just unknowingly learn so they could leave with us. All three families were loyal friends and they would eventually accompany us. There would be strength in numbers.

Ra and Hannah were good teachers. They sat with all of us and told us what they'd seen and done. The men were fascinated by it. Stayne's and Basin's families seemed hesitant to ask questions of the females, though. 

As the days passed the other families got more comfortable with Hannah and Ra. They would ask simple questions and cringe waiting for the rebuke. It never came. My girls were open and friendly. They had no ill will when it came to curious men. 

Kennedy started to walk while Hannah was here. She'd use the furniture or her fathers to steady herself as she moved around. The other families were shocked at the familiarity Damien and his Brothers had with the little girl. 

"Time to eat," Evan said to Kennedy the fourth day as she tried to take two steps in a row without falling. She had not managed it yet. 

She refused. Kennedy wanted to figure out how to walk. Her determination was interfering with the feeding schedule my men knew she should have. They wanted her to be a strong girl and that would only happen if she kept gaining weight. 

"Eat and then walk," Bane demanded scooping her up and bringing her to me. "Your Mama is leaking milk it has been so long. Stop being stubborn," he commanded. 

Kennedy fought him and wiggled. If she ate, she'd get tired and go to sleep. 

"I want to walk!" she hissed up at him.

Bane wasn't deterred, "You'll be strong enough to defy us soon enough, Little One. Eat, sleep, and then walk. That's what you'll do now."

Basin's family looked shocked. They watched absolutely astonished as Bane handed me my angry daughter. She tried to wiggle out of my arms and Christof told her to stop. 

"Feed," he encouraged, "you'll be walking in no time. You are cranky because you are hungry and tired." 

Kennedy didn't often scream and cry, but when she did it was hard to miss. Now she threw a little tantrum in my arms. Stayne's family stood and backed into the wall. Basin's family looked wary and sat quietly. They weren't sure what to do and Kennedy would not stop. 

Damien shook his head and stroked Kennedy's head and back soothingly. Christof talked softly to her and Kein literally milked my breast to tempt her to eat. It worked, not surprisingly. Kennedy took the rich, warm fluid on her tongue and cried as she clung to me. 

"She's exhausted," Christof said motioning Stayne's family to sit. "We can't let her go so long without food and rest. She needs to sleep some in the day."

Choking sobs were intermixed with sucking sounds as Kennedy slowly settled down in my arms. 

"You distract us well, Hannah," Damien joked standing to pat Hannah's shoulder. "This female offspring is not like you. You would not miss a meal for anything."

My family laughed remembering Hannah's unstoppable appetite. Ra told them a few stories from their more recent escapades regarding Hannah's need to feed. My family laughed and the other men just looked confused. 

I sat and nursed Kennedy and realized the other men had no comparison for Damien's relationship with Hannah or Kennedy. Unlike the other women here, Hannah and Ra viewed the men as equals. They respected their intelligence and questions. It was the opposite of what the men were used to. 

Kennedy calmed and quieted in my arms. As she relaxed Christof passed a hand over her back and stroked her wings. The little spans of flesh twittered and then settled under his touch. He moved the right wing to fold it more comfortably on her back before putting a blanket over her. 

"Touching of the wings is considered a very personal act," Ra commented. "A woman allows her Sisters to touch them. Men should touch them with the reverence you have shown. It is good you interact with the young one this way. She will fit in well...with us and our friends."

Basin spoke then. He had touched women's wings to bind them. Many times he'd suffered the sharp barbs at the tips. No one had ever encouraged him to revere a woman's wings. 

"We have learned the true history," Ra told him sadly. "In the past you would have been family with women, as well as, your Brothers. You would have respected them and they would have respected you.

"Those relationships now are built on pain and fear. The women believe they are superior because they are stronger. You have talents and so you are an asset. But, you and your Brothers have the right to grow and flourish without dread. All sentient creatures should have that right."

The girls let the statement hang and didn't push the issue further. Damien passed a hand down my arm and smiled at me. 

"We have found great happiness that way," he said simply. "Freedom makes the family strong." 

Basin and Stayne didn't like this conversation. It upset their way of looking at the world. Basin brusquely asked Hannah to continue to explain about animals that flew in the air. He was obviously changing the subject. The girls respected the request and obliged with information. 

On the sixth day the men were sent back to their jobs. Tosu had quietly told Damien the escaped men were not found. She congratulated him on training me to be strong in the face of Nu-reeh's wrath. He had politely thanked her, but found the interaction odd. 

Hannah and Ra had spent the five days cooped up in our little area. They were getting restless. 

"We love you, Mama," Hannah told me softly, "but we need to fly. This space is too contained."

"There are also things we need to check out," Ra said softly.

I knew what they needed. The men I'd rescued were friends and the girls wanted to check on them. 

With a heavy heart I watched the girls leave through the skylight. They were so carefree and wild. The entire world was their playground. Listening to them I almost felt like I had been there with them, learning and exploring. It had almost made me feel free. 

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I smiled down at my daughter. Her fur was just starting to grow and I petted the thick tufts lovingly. Her skin had been white, but the fur almost appeared striped. I traced the patterns as I smiled at her. 

"I could pluck it," she told me seriously and I was shocked. 

"Absolutely not," I scoffed, "your fur, and later your hair, will protect you from wind and cold. Hannah used her hair to hide injuries from me. You need it. Don't ever talk about losing it."

I walked with Kennedy back into our apartment and sighed. All three families had huddled in here for five days to listen to Hannah and Ra. The main room was a mess.

I settled Kennedy with some toy puzzle pieces and started to clean. She wasn't done with our conversation though. 

"It would make me more like you, if I didn't have fur," she said. "The jelly creatures could probably be paid to remove my hair. I'd just have to wear clothes like you and Dad."

Pausing in my picking up, I glared at her. 

"You cannot weaken yourself for any reason," I argued. "The fur is a strategic advantage. This is a tough world. You know what I've read and you heard your sister-"

"I'm getting rid of it as soon as I can," she said decisively. 

Kennedy was dead set on removing her fur and hair. She didn't like it and it wasn't pretty. I couldn't say anything she would believe. By the time the men came I was frantic and they found that a little silly. 

"It isn't like she'll do it right now," Kein reminded me. "What's she going to do? Shave?" 

"Maybe we should lock up the knives again," Evan joked and they all found that funny. 

Christof did sit and have a serious talk with her though. The rest went and brought back food as he discussed the importance of maintaining her natural defenses with her. The fur was permanent clothing that kept her warm. It was a layer of protection against sharp objects aimed at her skin. He could convince her in ways I could not. 

"I like Mama's skin," Kennedy told him sadly. "You like Mama's skin, too. I want to be pretty like Mama."

I was horrified listening to her talk. She was confusing human beauty with beauty here. Kennedy would never look human. The Paterian genes had overridden mine in most ways. This was going to be a disaster for her. 

Christof considered Kennedy for a moment and then sat back.

"Dinah," he said softly, "is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Each time we had to mate I hoped it was her that would take me. You know I feel that way. I admire her strength and speed. When I was younger, I even found her temper attractive."

I did not know that about Christof. Of course we'd never talked about who his favorite woman was. It just had not come up. 

"Your Mama," he continued, "is special and so very different. It wasn't until she explained the Earth concept of beauty to us that I understood. We just don't think of beauty the same way. You do not have to alter yourself to be lovely. The men you breed with will find you beautiful."

"Not too soon, though," I interjected hurriedly. "You don't have to worry about that for a long while."

Both of them laughed at my obvious concern. It wasn't like a man could force her. My worry was comical to them. 

Still, how I wished everything in her life would take a long while. 

It was not to be. Kennedy grew fast, much quicker than Hannah. I knew the steps now and watched them happen sadly. She flew and her wing tips were hardened. Unlike her older Sister she accepted the paint on the barbs graciously. When her talons grew I nearly spent the day in tears. I knew what came next. 

Rose and Fuji did their best to comfort me. Rose understood my sadness, Fuji did not. 

"We keep our children on Earth," she told Fuji repeatedly. "The freedom they have here would be unheard of at home."

Fuji could not comprehend, but she did her best to help me. She taught me a dance they did on her native planet. It was one to celebrate new beginnings. I found the activity distracting and focused on that when the sadness struck. Being active seemed to stave off the sadness, so I moved as much as I could. 

The day Kennedy's teeth started to come in Hannah happened to be around. We sat and talked as my youngest sucked on the cold stalks. Hannah was thrilled Kennedy could soon join her and learn the world. I did my best to be happy for them and not mourn my loss. 

Within fifteen days of her teeth fully erupting, my second daughter left our dwelling. Seeing her fly off with Hannah was more comforting than seeing Hannah do it all alone. Still, I cried on Christof's chest for most of the night. 

My breast milk was dried up with a liquid that I drank daily for four days. It wasn't as quick as the shot had been, but I guess it didn't hamper my fertility. I could not believe I was expected to reproduce so soon.

My family and I, along with Basin's and Stayne's families were moved back to the compound after Kennedy was gone. They were happy to get out of the mountains. I just felt numb. 

The trip from the mountains to the compound was a haze for me. It seemed my world was held in a permanently fog. I couldn't seem to lift myself out of it. 

My first day back at the Keepers for the Administrators was something I dreaded. Last time I'd been here Vesa and her friends had attacked me. I feared finding out what had happened to them and I wondered if they would still hate me. It wasn't like I had the energy to fight with them. 

Damien walked me into the Keepers that first morning and took me all the way into the hall we worked in. He found my seat next to Rose and settled me. Leaving a hand on my shoulder he talked to the Keepers and insured I'd have everything I needed for the morning. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 26



It was an odd display. I assumed it was so the other girls would note how interested he was and not harass me. If he'd asked I would have told him not to treat me different, but he obviously had his own ideas. 

I felt a kiss on my head and he was gone. 

I sat staring blankly ahead, waiting, when Rose took my hand. 

"They wish us to write Ciara, as we did before," she said gently. 

I had no ideas and sat looking at her. Rose took the initiative and started to write a short story. I wasn't even sure exactly what it was about. Fuji drew pictures for it later in the morning. It was all a blur to me. 

My kneeling place was by the front gate at lunch. The sun here was so much warmer than in the mountains. I knelt in the warm rays and a tear crested my eye. Kennedy would love the weather here. She adored sitting in sunny places and talking with me. I was sure wherever she traveled she would like the warm places best. 

Hannah was never that particular with light. Obviously she adored the sky, but she had liked exploring the crevices in the mountain, too. Darkness and cold never seemed to bother her. Probably this would suit her well for a mining career. That seemed a good way to earn money. 

"Sweet woman," a voice crooned softly and I looked up surprised. 

Kein knelt directly in front of me and took my hands. I hadn't even noticed or heard him. 

I rose to stand and motion to my left surprised me. Basin stood with Rose, her kneeling place under his arm and a bowl in his hand. It seemed they were going with us. 

We walked as group into the forest. I heard the rustle of the leaves as we passed through and the tread of boots behind me. When Kein stopped I looked at the thick forest still in front of us. 

"Sit," Kein said softly pushing me back. 

He'd placed my kneeling place on a stump. It made a comfortable chair. Obediently, I sat and watched him. Light filtered down through the trees and dappled the inside of the forest. A stream of light hit his head and I noted how soft the waves in his hair looked. 

"She hasn't spoken without a prompt in two day cycles," Kein said and I looked at him absently. "She just stares in front of her and waits for us to tell her what to do. What is wrong? Did she say anything to you today?"

The question was not directed to me. Rose sat like I did on a similar stump. 

"No," Rose answered, "it is probably a form of sadness. It is very deep. It can get worse with childbirth. I imagine the children leaving her is making it worse."

"Do many women on Earth get this?" Basin asked carefully.

"Yes, my sister on Earth had it," Rose answered. "She was ill like this for a long time. We had things on Earth to help, but here...I just don't know."

Basin started to name off healing creams he'd heard of. Rose considered them, but didn't think any would help. She talked about the electroshock therapy, that her sister had undergone. It was difficult, but she tried to explain the concept to Kein and Basin. Everyone seemed frustrated.

They were standing in the forest and talking about me like I wasn't here. Some deep part of me wanted to be irritated with them, but that would take so much energy. Still, I managed some attitude.

"I'm right here," I protested weakly looking at Kein. 

The voice behind me startled me as the rest of the family made themselves known. 

"Barely, little Sister," Bane said sounding worried, "you are barely here." 

"You must not do this," Rose said shaking my arm. "I know your girls, they are very strong. They will be upset if they hear of this. Hannah will protect Kennedy if she needs it. Your girls will do well."

My shoulders slumped a little as I started to tear. "I have to do it again."

"Yes," Rose said with determination, "and we will help you. You must wake up and stop this. The girls would be upset. It is time to be strong."

We talked through lunch. At some point we ate. I was fed the root in addition to my meal. The men knew how my stomach could be.

I felt like a zombie and fought to pull myself out of it. For the first time in a long time I tried to converse normally. It seemed to work and my mind cleared a little. 

After the lunch, I felt a little more like myself. I talked to Rose on the beach and tried to make peace with my situation. Sinking into a depression wasn't going to help. I had to keep myself out of it. 

To distract my mind, I tried to focus on the here and now. 

"What happened to Vesa and her friends?" I asked Rose. 

Fuji answered for Rose. I wasn't supposed to know. She was here, but she would not be speaking to me. Everyone had been given instructions not to talk about what had happened to her and to keep us apart. 

I sighed and shook my head. If I wasn't supposed to know, Fuji would make sure I never did. A command from her owners was all it took. Their word was law. 

"I would like," Rose said formally, "to swim with you in the ocean. The activity would be good for both of us."

I could not believe I'd heard her correctly. When she asked the Keepers to remove her ornamentation and stepped into the sea with me, I was more shocked. The pool in the mountains had seemed like torture for her everyday. She'd always done just the required laps and jumped out. 

"I must learn to be less afraid," she said as we stood in waist deep water. 

I took her hand and we walked a little farther out. She wasn't truly comfortable in the water, so we just walked in the waves. 

"My...family," she said softly, "is working on changing their mindset. They have requested I also change mine. I have clung to old fears for too long."

Again, I wasn't sure I had heard her right. "Your family, not your owners, wish you to change?" I asked.

She looked so animated suddenly as she talked. 

"I thought it was just the mountains and the way your daughters treated them. When we came back here, I thought it would be as it was before. Perhaps away from the influence of your family they would change back, but they have not," she said excitedly. "I have a chair at the table now, Ciara. I am invited to sit with them by the fire."

I was shocked. "You didn't tell me they treated you different," I marveled. 

"Oh, you were so busy with the little one and I wasn't sure it would last...They offered," she said suddenly shy, "they offered to send me back to Earth."

I couldn't believe my ears as I looked at her. Jealousy exploded in me as she talked. No one would stop her if she wanted to leave. 

"I said no, of course," she continued blithely. "I still look like a twenty year old girl and time has gone on for so long. Who would I tell my family I was? I wouldn't know where to work or what to do. Besides that the portals on Earth are so dangerous. Leaving here just to be crushed in an intergalactic portal would be foolish. It would just be a terrible idea. 

"Basin told me I am no longer a sex slave. I explained the concept of lovers to him and he said that's what we were. They would care for me and I would continue to love them."

I looked out over the shining sea and imagined myself pushing Rose beneath the surface of the waves until she stopped moving. It wouldn't be hard. I was certainly trained and I definitely outweighed her. 

"I want to swim to the grate," I said brusquely shaking out of my weird daydream. "I'll meet you on shore."

Before Rose could react, I dove forward and swam out through the inlet toward the grate. The water was deep here and the current pulled harder. There was no way Rose would follow me, which was good for her. I wanted to kill her. 

How dare she turn down freedom! The risk of the portals was worth it. This was no way to live. I was furious with her for making her choice and jealous it had been offered. 

A memory came to me as I clung to the grate and looked into the dark sea. I'd asked my men to make the same choice. When I'd feared them rising against the women, I'd asked them to just stay put. Being mad at Rose didn't make any sense from that perspective. 

I surfaced and took a deep breath. 

It wasn't Rose's fault she couldn't reproduce. I couldn't blame her for making a choice to stay here. The portals on Earth were notable in their tendency to crush creatures using them. Blaming her for not wanting to die like that was wrong. 

For a little while I swam in the water. I felt better than I had in days, more awake. Something really had been eating at me. I'm surprised it took the men this long to ask Rose for help. They must have been trying to rouse me themselves and I hadn't noticed. 

I swam slowly back to shore and realized how crummy I felt. My muscles all hurt and I was just exhausted. My impulse was to curl into a ball on the beach and sleep. Rose would not hear of it. 

"I have seen depression many times here," she told me. "Girls, that give in and give up, die. You must stay active."

We walked the beach and swam in the shallow water. Rose refused to let me just sit and mull. It was an uphill battle not to complain about how I felt. 

The men came to pick me up that night and I was bone tired. I watched Damien's heels as we stepped through the wall and stopped when he stopped. 

"Ciara," Bane said sharply, "stop staring at Damien's feet. Look up."

My confusion was evident as I looked up into his stern face. 

"We've already discussed this," Evan informed me as Damien turned to watch me.

"Slaves look down," Christof said from behind me. "You are not a slave, to us. We will protect you, but you must trust us and look up. The way you are acting is dishonorable to the family."

The argument slipped past my lips before I could stop it. "The other men," I gestured, "will want to hurt me."

Damien's brow rose and I heard his answer before he said it. "We said we will protect you and we will. Do you think we are weak men?"

"No, Damien, I don't think you're weak," I sighed and smiled.

Family drama solved, as far as the men were concerned, we stepped onto our transport and sped to the bathing hall. 

Once we reached the main compound, going to the bathhouse became a daunting endeavor. Several families stopped to advise Damien I had looked at them. He informed them I was supposed to look up and look at them.

The other men didn't like Damien's take on things. Several made the mistake of telling Damien they would take care of my indiscretion themselves. When they took one step toward me, the fight would start. 

My family fought with righteous fury. Damien and his Brothers were brutally efficient in putting the other men in their place. It was never much a battle and it was always more of a beat down.

Considering the commotion I was not surprised when the General showed up. The men calmly separated as the large man entered the bathing hall. They were waiting and I was waiting, too. Now Damien would have to stop this craziness. He would not have a choice. 

"What seems to be the problem?" the General asked looking between several badly bruised men and my angry looking family.

The other men were quick to tattle to the General. I was looking around and Damien refused to do anything about it. In fact, Damien had told them I was supposed to look around. 

The General looked at Damien and then looked at me. Finally, his gaze settled back on the men. He looked exasperated. 

"Damien can do as he wishes with his slave," the General announced. "If he wishes it to look around then that is appropriate. This is Damien's issue to control, no one else's."

The General's word was law, even if it was strange. The big man turned and strode out without a backwards glance. It surprised me that Damien and his Brothers seemed irritated by the proclamation. 

We got in the water and I started to rub down Damien. He was tense and not loosening under my hands. Finally I walked around the little bench he was on and looked questioningly into his face. 

"What's wrong?" I asked softly touching a bruise on his chin. 

He hadn't looked injured from the fighting, but perhaps he was in pain. Not that being in pain had ever affected him before. Damien just seemed disgruntled. 

"The General could have asked our reasoning," he said tightly. "The other men should know what they think is wrong. No one will ask us about our choice now. It will make it more difficult to make the men see reason." 

I stood shocked and staring at Damien. Their desire for me to not look like a slave was intended to garner attention. Damien wanted to show the other men a new way to think. He wanted to guide them.

"You are a General, aren't you?" I sighed sitting on his lap. "Nu-reeh was correct."

My statement infuriated him and his stripes darkened. Christof understood what I meant. He explained it was very much like Damien to want to mentor the other men. Damien did a fine job leading his own family. 

"Was that what you intended to say?" Damien asked me as I pulled the cloth across his chest. 

I answered affirmatively and continued to bathe him. The answer seemed to console him for the time being. 

We moved upstairs and the men dressed in their linen shifts and put mine on me. I realized, that I had been wearing it for days without noticing. We didn't have clothing for me in the mountains. Not like the light cloth would have been warm enough anyway. The ornamentation I wore up there was necessary for my comfort. 

I thought of the mountains and my daughters. The dangers Hannah had discussed terrified me and I worried for Kennedy. She was leaner than Hannah, but heavier. We'd discussed it and it seemed the human bone structure was actually heavier than the Paterian. Kennedy was fast on the ground and slower in the air. I fretted over her. 

I sat staring into the fire after dinner and was surprised when a knock sounded at the door. Basin entered with his family and Rose. She came right to me and looked into my eyes. 

"I have seen many humans broken by this planet," Rose said with great authority looking over my shoulder. "The ones that survive seem to stay active. I have given this much thought. Ciara must be kept very active in mind and body."

It was back, I realized. My face felt slack and I had no memories of what we'd done for dinner. I was slipping in and out of some weird depression. 

"You could have just asked me," I said suddenly furious at them for calling Rose. "Every time I seem off you don't have to go call HER."

I stood up and paced the room. Rose was such a damned know it all. A free, know it all my inner voice reminded me. She was not a slave to anyone. She couldn't breed, so the women did not care about her and her men considered her family. It would've felt good to have just pulled back and slugged her. 

The violence in my own thoughts shocked me and I unclenched my hands. I became aware of the two families watching me and felt embarrassed. Unbidden a tear crested my eye and I fell apart.

Christof caught me before I crumpled to the ground. I sobbed in his arms as he carried me to a chair. We sat together as the conversation wrapped around us. 

Rose told them this sort of thing had happened often at the Keepers. The slaves would hide it and comfort their own. The depression could be manifested with anger, sadness, acting out, or drawing in as I had been doing. She had seen it on Earth and she had seen it here. It was something that happened to humans. 

"The best cure I ever saw was exercise," Rose said bluntly. "The slaves that decided to get strong enough to escape would do things to build their stamina. It seemed to actually lift them. Even though none of us ever got away, those that reacted that way survived better."

I shook my head and started to argue. My body was weak and tired. There was no way I was going to be able to exercise more than I was already. My whining did absolutely no good. 

Damien had had enough from me. I was allowing weakness to overpower me and he just would not hear of it. My days would be regimented from now on. 

"You shall help Rose with the stories in the morning," he demanded. "I want your mind busy. If she tells us you are not helping, I will find a way to punish you without pain. It is not my goal that you fear me, but this cannot continue."

I wanted to argue, but the look on his face told me how far that would get me. The collective mind was settled. 

"In the afternoon you will swim the length of the inlet sixteen times until we tell you otherwise. We will help you exercise in the evening," he finished calmly.

Bane grinned and sat back in his chair. He talked about the small training field near the Child Keepers. No one would be there late in the afternoons. It would be the perfect place put me in my clothes and train me. 

Basin laughed long and loud before he spoke, "You plan to clothe the human and train her with swords in the compound? The men will think you've gone crazy, Damien! You should hear what they said after your escapade in the bathhouse."

Damien snorted in disgust. He couldn't care less what anyone thought. If they didn't like it, they could talk to him about it. Evan grunted a laugh as Bane pantomimed beating them. 

Basin's family left with Rose on Basin's arm a little while later. I watched jealously as they sauntered out. Rose was so calm and confident. I hated her for the life she led and the choices she was allowed to make. My face was a vicious scowl.

"That's it," Evan stated taking me from Christof, "your attitude is terrible. You need to be distracted."

Evan stalked toward the bedroom and I started to struggle. Long ago I'd learned what they meant when they said I needed to be 'distracted'. 

"No, no, no," I wailed fighting his grip, "I'm tired and I want to sleep. I don't want to have sex tonight. You said I could say no!"

Evan smiled down at me and sat me on my feet. He didn't let me go, though. We stood in the bedroom while his Brothers surrounded us. 

"All we want is a kiss," he said holding my wiggling form and using the English word as it should be. "Would you deny us your affection. It means a great deal to us, you know that."

I stopped moving and stared up at him. It would have been easy to refuse him if he looked sarcastic or smug, but he didn't. Evan's face looked sincere. He could have such innocent appearing features when he wanted to. 

"Please," Kein added softly brushing his hands down my sides to rest on my hips from behind, "a kiss to show us you still care for us."

I was surprised and turned my head to look at his earnest features. 

"You have been so strange lately, so distant. We have missed you, Sister," he said tilting his face and watching me. 

"I love you, Kein," slipped out as I caressed his cheek with the back of my hand.

"May we kiss you?" he asked sincerely. "Let us show you we love you, too."

I agreed and saw the smile light his features. They could be so simple sometimes. 

A tug at my night dress surprised me as Evan pulled it off. I fought him a little, until he told me he just wanted to kiss and reaffirm my taste on his tongue. His reasoning made sense. Evan had not tasted my skin in a long time and I knew he loved to do that. 

The kisses started slowly and only on my mouth. There was no fire in the action. The men just brushed our lips together sensuously. Ever so slowly I was backed toward the bed until I sat on it.

Then the men kissed me everywhere. Bane kissed the length of my spine as Damien kissed down my legs. Evan eventually pushed me onto my back and began kissing my labia and the entrance to my womanhood. It was tender and erotic, but never more than a brush of lips to skin. 

It was a trap and they got me. When Christof kissed up my arm and skimmed his lips over my mouth, I grabbed him. Using my tongue I kissed him deeply, it was the signal they were waiting for. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 26



The mouth on my cunt became more insistent quite suddenly and I understood what they'd done. I wanted them now. The light stimulation had been designed to raise my desire and it had worked.

The linen covers the men usually wore were long gone. No matter what direction my hands went in they encountered warm flesh. It felt as though I was drowning in men and I didn't mind a bit. 

It was Evan that crawled over me first. The kissing had been his idea, so I was his reward.

"You are tight," Evan groaned as he sunk inside of my wet heat. 

I begged him to go slow, because he was right. We had not had sex since before Kennedy's birth. My tunnel was slick, but Evan felt enormous inside of me. The sensation was unbelievable. 

A kiss was placed upon my lips and then another. Evan's tongue sought entry into my mouth and I allowed it. As my hands wrapped around his neck his tongue entwined with mine and he groaned loudly. 

Evan tried to be gentle and slow in his lovemaking. He didn't succeed. I ended up wrapping my legs around him to keep up with his voracious thrusting. It was like keeping up with a rampaging bull. 

The constant grind and crush of flesh was addictive. It had been so long since we had been intimate. I teetered on the brink of a monumental orgasm for a moment and then exploded in Evan's arms as he came. 

It was hard to concentrate on myself as the man above me screamed in climax. His teeth were down and he rose up on his arms to watch our joined bodies as we pulsed together. He didn't withdraw until the last shiver left my body.

I lay limply for a moment as my legs disentangled and I spread them on the bed.

"Do you know how you look?" he whispered staring down between my spread thighs. "Red, hot, and open," he growled pressing my legs farther apart, "our seed just beginning to leech from your warm confines..."

"Move," Bane demanded pushing on Evan's shoulder, he'd had enough of waiting.

Bane bodily moved Evan and stood at my feet. He looked feral and excited as his eyes raked over what was certainly his at the moment. The intense stare made me flush hotter and want to drive him higher. 

Very slowly I brought my legs together and his brow knitted in frustration. Continuing to turn I soon lay on my stomach as my legs separated again. 

"Isn't this what you prefer?" I asked turning to look at him as my buttocks raised in the air. 

I saw a hint of fangs and knew this was certainly what he wanted. On hands and knees before him, I gave him permission to dominate and overpower me. My right hand strayed over my ass as I pulled one plump cheek away from his prize. Feeling like a sultry temptress I looked back at him and licked my lips as seductively as I could. Inadvertently, I wiggled my hips slightly and the cheeks swayed invitingly. 

"Oil," Bane said roughly, his eyes not leaving my form.

The small bottle was handed to him silently and he dripped a little on his finger. Using the slick liquid he slowly painted the tight star and then started to dip further inside. One finger and then two prepared the way for his heavy cock. The initial burn was fast replaced by the longing ache for more from him. 

"More," I whispered fisting my hands in the sheets anticipating the fullness he would bring. 

They misunderstood the request as Bane continued his thorough preparation, stretching with his fingers. Damien's legs slipped on either side of my head and I was faced with incontrovertible evidence of his arousal. His large cock was offered to my mouth.

Giving in to the request, I ran my tongue up the heavily veined shaft. Damien shifted and bucked beneath me, obviously not satisfied. A hand settled on the back of my head and I knew what he wanted. Setting my lips over the tip I sucked him down to the base. The result was a groan of pleasure and a thrust of hips to my face. 

Bane's fingers were gone suddenly, replaced by the hard cock pressing against my flesh. I tried to relax as the steady pressure forced its way into me. It had been so long and he felt so large. My body writhed as he pushed further and further in. 

Somehow I'd removed Damien from my mouth and found myself panting with my face buried against his low stomach. Bane pulled out and I found the pleasure he always brought to this act. Big hands controlled my hips and stopped me from following the slide of his shaft. 

"Suck," Damien ordered pulling the hair on the back of my scalp tight. "Please, I need your mouth on me."

It wasn't often Damien begged and I found it enthralling. As Bane's cock started to press back into my ass I took Damien's tool as deeply as I could. Moaning with the stretching made Damien wild and I felt his fingers tighten in my hair. 

I was never denied pleasure and now was no different. Slick fingers played with the sensitive pearl of my clit and pulled at my large nipples. Kisses were laid along my back, until I felt covered and surrounded by them. 

The pace sped up as I loosened around Bane. He pressed in as deeply as he could with each thrust and his fingers grasped my hips with increasing urgency. Damien's tool started to pulse and twitch against my tongue. My world narrowed to the two stiff pieces of flesh invading me, as they tensed and then gushed. 

I sucked down everything Damien gave me until he pulled my lips off his staff. He was breathing heavy and covered his softening cock with his hand. Unlike Bane he couldn't stand too much stimulation after he'd erupted. As Bane withdrew from me I tormented Damien with licks to the base of his shaft and over his balls. 

"What are you doing?" Kein asked playfully leaning over us.

Before I could answer he'd pulled me up and off of Damien. I found myself wrestling on the bed with the littlest Brother and losing badly. His hands were everywhere, pinning me over and over again. He'd allow me to move or flip only to trap me again in another unbreakable hold. 

Facing him, with my hands held securely above my head, I wiggled and arched. His cock rubbed tantalizingly through my soft folds and I saw the passion glaze his eyes. Enjoying the sensation he slid against me again, not penetrating, just stimulating. 

In the position he held me, I couldn't move enough to capture his staff in my warmth. He held my arms above my head, so I couldn't grab him either. Until he decided this was no longer a battle I was his to toy with. 

"Mercy!" I begged finally, pleading with my eyes. 

"I won," he said simply, "so stay where I put you."

His golden eyes were fierce and I remembered his fascination with ropes. Evidently the ability to bind me with just his words was just as enticing. 

I stayed very still as he released his physical hold. Lips drifted over my neck and left a wet path to my nipples. I moaned at the loss as his cock which was pulled away from my center.

"Patience," he murmured toying with the ample swell of each breast. 

Ever so slowly his lips passed back up my chest and my neck. There was a slow steady push as he rubbed his length back against my slit. The head slid easily into my softness and he pressed in until nothing was left to fill. My fingers itched to hold and stroke him, but I remained obedient and moaning beneath him. 

Kein was lost in his pleasure grunting and straining above me. Several times my arms flexed in an involuntary need to hold him, but I stopped myself every time. Kein noted the small motions and stilled his motion, smiling down at me. He roused himself from pleasure long enough to pull my arms around his neck.

"Happy now?" he asked quietly as I ran my fingers through the silky hair at his nape.

"Yes," I whispered pressing a kiss on his chin and another at the corner of his mouth. 

Kein smiled at me before pressing our lips together. I felt the drop of his secondary teeth as our tongues brushed against each other. My hands ran slowly down his back until I was holding his hips. The quick movements of his strong muscles under my hands sped up and I knew he was close. 

I was close too, the way he moved pressed my flesh in the most delicious way. I couldn't stop arching against him and seeking more contact. I got my wish as he came. 

The small man pressed me into the bedding with surprising force, grinding us together as he spurted inside. The stimulation was too much and my eyes rolled back in my head as I rippled around him. I was still orgasming as he pulled away and Christof took his place. 

"You are wet and ready," Christof growled as he pulled me to straddle him, "Which is good, because I cannot wait."

My friend was usually sweet and gentle, but through hazy eyes, I saw his raw need. Watching his Brothers patiently this time had taken too long. He wanted his own satisfaction. 

Kein lay panting beside us as Christof sharply impaled my quivering flesh. He grabbed my hips and pulled them forward. We separated for a mere second before he thrust up and had me clenching the sheets by my head. I tried to move fast enough for him, but it was not enough. I couldn't ride quickly enough for him. 

Christof pushed himself back on his knees and looked at me with wild eyes. I wasn't prepared as his strong hands rolled me onto my stomach and he grabbed my hips. Before I'd had time to become stable on my knees Christof had thrust in and was rutting me. 

The jarring thrusts were in sharp contrast to Christof's usual demeanor. 

"Give her pleasure, Brother," Bane scolded reaching beneath us and stroking a dangling nipple. 

Evan seconded Bane's thought and his hands joined his Brother's stroking and caressing me. The gentle touches combined with the hard fucking was my undoing. I rocketed to another searing climax as Christof screamed his own. 

We fell to the bed and Christof rolled off my prone form. His hands were gentle again petting down the line of my spine. 

"You are something I cannot go without," he panted in my ear. 

I smiled sleepily at the sentiment as Evan lifted me and carried me to the shower. 



We got ready for bed and I remembered how Damien had said I would spend my days. I felt fine now, but I knew tomorrow I would be tired and sore. I crawled on the bed and tried to beg him out of my training regimen.

"Lay down and sleep," he ordered pulling the blanket over my legs and torso. "We will not let weakness rule you."

I pouted a little and then Christof made the winning argument. 

"Hannah said she would help us escape," he reminded me. "She refused to take us because you would be in danger. Become strong and let her lead us to freedom. Until she sees you are able to defend yourself, I doubt she will take us."

The reasoning made me stop. Hannah had promised us freedom. We just couldn't go now because it wasn't safe enough for me. 

"She said she would take us," I said staring at them. "We could get away! If I get stronger..."

"If you are trained and strong, I'd bet she'd take us sooner," Bane commented laying his head back on the pillow. 

"Without a doubt," Kein said taking his spot and stretching out.

That was all the incentive I needed.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 27



Here you are lit!

Please enjoy this Chapter. The next Chapter should be about the middle of Feb.

Many thanks to Steve150177 who is helping so diligently to proofread. I got this Chapter to him much later than I should have and he really worked to get it out by my deadline.

Comment and vote, please - good or bad!

*************************************

I went to the Keepers as usual the next morning. Damien reminded me of my mission as he sat me down.

"Help her," he whispered in my ear glancing at Rose, "you understand why you must."

I looked into his eyes and saw the promise of freedom.

"Yes, Damien, I will work," I whispered up to him.

All morning I did my best. I tried to concentrate and help Rose. It was my job to keep my mind alert and awake. I had to stay strong and powerful. We had to escape.

Christof came to feed me at lunch. We sat under the trees in the forest with Basin and Rose. She assured them I had tried and stayed faithful to the job. Christof smiled at me as we ate. He believed I was trying.

The afternoon was difficult. I stepped into the warm water I loved and wanted to just slip into the quiet beneath the waves. Rose would not let me. She faced her own fear and we started to swim.

Back and forth we went, feeling the water rush over us as we moved through it. It was relaxing and invigorating all at once. Rose had been right, the exercise felt good after a while.

The men showed up to pick me up and I saw the happiness in Damien's face. He clasped my shoulder and smiled. Bane did the same thing and Christof hugged me. They saw the improvement the right mindset had made in me.

I wasn't dull or clouded. I had not given up. For the first time in a long time, I felt energetic.

The men handled the transport themselves today. Kein took the controls and we went to an area I'd never been before. It was set apart from the main compound and there were just a few buildings.

"Look around," Damien encouraged as we stepped off the transport.

Right away I saw the cameras in the tall walls. They were embedded in the rock faces around us, just like in the mountains. The women watched this area very closely.

"This seems familiar," I murmured turning around and looking.

The central area was walled off. In one section there was stadium type seating overlooking the main space. It was like standing in the middle of an arena.

My eyes lit up when I realized how I knew this space. Damien had "fought" with me in my dreams in a place like this. The central area was a sparring ground. The seats were so other men and boys could watch and learn or be entertained.

I asked if I was right and Kein explained. This was the training ground for the children slated to be Warriors. Inside walls just like these was where my family spent a good portion of their childhood.

This would be the perfect place to train me. Other Warriors would not bother us and the boys were excused from this area for the day. It would be our private training ground.

"Come on," Christof encouraged pulling off my sparse ornamentation, "we have to get you dressed for this."

The outfit they had bought me to fight in was quickly pulled over my head and up my legs. Within a few moments I stood before them in boots, pants, a white linen shirt, and my collar & cuffs. Everything I wore, but the jewelry, was a replica of theirs. My hair was even pulled back and bound the way Evan did his own.

My blood was pumping with excitement at the idea I was dressed like this in the compound. This had always just been our secret. Hurriedly I looked around, but the yard was still deserted. It was quiet and secluded, just like they'd promised.

"Here," Christof sighed, handing me a long shaft of wood with a handle, "you are untrained, essentially. It is not proper for you to hold a sharpened weapon in this arena."

I cocked my head at him and Damien just shrugged.

"This place," he gestured, "has certain rules. We feel inclined to follow them when we are here. It was easier to just train you with your own sword, but here that is not how it is done."

"We had to earn the right to sharpen our blades," Kein said wistfully.

The men all chuckled at the memories. Training had been hard work. They reminisced about bonding and learning together. It had been something they enjoyed.

"You will respect the blade more when you have earned the right to use it," Evan informed me as he gestured to the center of the field.

The "training" we had done in the past was markedly different from what we did now. The men had found giving me a blade fun and treated it like a game before. In this place, sword work was taken seriously and there were rules we had to follow.

The first night I learned how to hold a sword and how to stand with one. There were standardized positions the men moved me through. The slow motion exercises were excruciating.

Over and over again we moved through the prearranged pattern. Bane told me the movements would eventually be rote. My muscles would move me through them in fluid synchrony.

"When you have learned them well, we will go faster," Bane promised as we did a slow step-turn combination. "They will be so ingrained you will not falter when you must strike."

It felt like I was doing the Tai-chi movements I'd seen my grandmother do at the gym. I did understand the motions grandmother did were for fitness only, but I was learning to fight. Still the memory of my grandmother made me smile as I worked.

Boys from inside the Child Keepers wandered out to watch us. They sat in front of us in the stands and I dropped my eyes to avoid looking at them. Damien noticed the second I did it and expressed his displeasure. He got right in my face to explain.

"You are family," he said sternly. "We do not stare at the ground in the presence of others. You can't fight staring at the ground and you will not train doing that. Keep your eyes where Bane instructs them to be."

I shook my head and pleaded with him. "The boys will not understand. They will be confused. They are just children."

Damien didn't care. My argument fell on deaf ears. I would act honorably.

Several groups of boys sat in the stands watching us as the sun fell in the sky. At first they seemed confused. As they watched my little display, I heard them snicker and laugh. I had to agree, this probably looked silly to them.

One group finally got bold enough to come down into the arena with us. I heard their friends placing bets on how long they'd last. The boys all thought Damien was going to beat this young family down for watching and now approaching his slave.

The five youngsters drew closer to us and I judged them to be in their older teen years. It still wasn't clear to me how the beings on this planet aged, but that's how they appeared to me.

The young men walked with confidence, so I assumed they must be a more powerful family. Bane had me occupied so I wasn't able to pay too much attention to them. I did notice how familiar one of them seemed, though.

"Damien," the lead boy said seriously, "it is an honor to have Warriors on our training grounds. We wish you a good day."

The little family stood and stared at Bane and I as we trained.

"It is no longer day, Tyle," Damien told the boy while motioning to the darkening sky.

The kid took Damien in stride and thanked him for the rebuke. They stood silently watching as Bane moved me through the poses.

"Feet are all wrong," one of them said pointing, "there is no balance in that stance at all."

Bane agreed with the kid named, Aryn, and told him he had a good eye. My stance was made a little wider and my feet were rearranged. The way I'd been standing would have made it easy to knock me off balance.

The boys stood brazenly near. They were curious, probably one of them had human ancestry. Damien and his Brothers talked to them pleasantly. I could tell the interaction must be peculiar. The boys seemed too hyped up for this to be a normal thing to do.

"It would be better if your slave had someone to follow," Aryn told Bane. "I could stand in front and let the slave copy my movements as it moves."

That didn't make any sense to me, but it did to the men. That was how they were accustomed to doing this exercise. The older boys stood up front and the younger boys stood in the back. Everyone did the exercise together as the less trained watched the more trained.

We started again with Aryn in front of me and it was interesting. I tried to model the way he looked, but felt I was failing miserably. His movements were like my family would have made, smooth and controlled.

I watched the boy in front of me and really thought he looked like someone I should know. He was tall and broad with deep brown hair and eyes. The stubble on his young skin was thick. I imagined he probably had to shave twice a day to keep it looking clean. I kept thinking I knew him from somewhere, which was obviously impossible.

We worked until the light was gone from the sky. I was exhausted and sore, but I felt good. My mind was clear and I felt alert. Rose had been correct; exercise was good for me.

Damien thanked the boys for the help and Tyle answered for his family, he was evidently the lead Brother.

"May we watch the slave train tomorrow eve?" the boy asked. "We will help again," he promised.

"You are free to do as you wish," Damien informed him. "This is your time of day to do with as you will."

Damien's answer seemed to please the boys. They enjoyed knowing this time was theirs. Much like everyone else they relished their freedom.

The boys gave a parting greeting and walked toward the exit. Bane grinned at me as they left.

"You did well, little Sister," he said motioning back toward the spot we'd changed my clothes in. "We will enjoy training you this way."

We stood in a small alcove as the pants and shirt were pulled from me. My boots were the last thing to go and my sandals quickly replaced them. Thanks to the exertion, my body was wet with sweat. I'd been working very hard in the yard. The blue fabric they lay over my breasts stuck to the prominent, raised nipples and adhered to the plump underside. The fabric hung around my waist and clung to my thighs, front and back.

While I was accustomed to nudity, the filmy fabric, when dry, did give me the illusion of privacy. I tugged at the delicate coverings and my hands were pulled away.

"Why did you..?" I started to ask looking up at Kein and noted his attention was glued to my top half.

I didn't fight as he placed my hand at my side. He continued to stare as his fingers began to trace the areolas behind the gauze. My whole body shuddered at the light stimulation and my nipples rose to attention. It was easy to see Kein's teeth were already dropped down watching the subtle change.

Looking at the other men I noted they were paying equal attention to my glistening form. A bead of sweat rolled down between my breasts and Evan seemed riveted on it. He moved in slow motion to bend over and run his tongue up my belly and over my sternum.

They'd never taken me publicly and their attention now made me nervous. While I preformed sexually in front of an audience every time, it was always the same audience. The yard was just not a place I wanted to do this.

"Damien?" I asked hesitantly, looking into his lustful gaze, "could we go back to our rooms, please?"

Despite my best efforts my voice trembled softly. Usually when they looked at me like this their needs were almost uncontrollable. I hoped they would understand my desire for the bedroom. But, it was foolish of me to have ever doubted.

Kein's hand fell away and Evan straightened up immediately. Damien's face lost the look of rampant desire as he spoke.

"You are quite attractive to us like this," he said sounding apologetic and slightly formal. "We would very much like to be back at home with you."

"Come," Christof said motioning me to our transport, he put his hand on my lower back and steered me to stand in the middle as the rest of the family jumped on.

Kein wasted no time in starting the machine and raising it off the ground. We were in the air a moment later.

Other than Christof's hand laying lightly on my back, no one else touched me. I looked up at them and saw their faces each held the same nearly blank expression as they looked forward. Whatever they were thinking about had their entire attention.  

Christof caught me looking at him and smiled down at me. His head dipped until his mouth was at my ear.

"We want you very much," he said calmly, "and right now. My Brothers have never lost their control in a public place before. You are...so tempting to us."

I watched as he stood back up and looked forward again. His face held the same calm, stoic demeanor. Knowing how badly they wanted me, I shivered at the implication of the hand on my back. Even waiting, they didn't want to lose physical contact.

Kein dropped us right at our door today. I followed Damien off and into our quarters. Three of the Brothers followed me inside and we stood in the anteroom for a moment. The transport obviously had to be taken downstairs and I wasn't sure what to do with the few moments before Kein arrived.

"Perhaps I should bathe?" I asked looking up into Christof's eyes, he still looked stoic and calm like he had on the transport.

"Of course," he answered beginning to remove the damp fabric from my skin.

We moved to the shower room where Bane started the water and moved out of its way. I stepped beneath the spray and let it hit my head and run down into my hair. Lifting the thick weight in my hands and twisting, I rung out the excess. The water felt wonderful on my over heated skin as it hit my bare back.

Turning to face the showers I let the water hit my face and breasts. The steady drum over my nipples made me remember the slight stimulation Kein had given them. I felt them flush and rise in preparation for more attention. The water couldn't take the burgeoning flush out of my cheeks as it rinsed the sweat away.

Strangely enough, no one was touching me. Perhaps the men wouldn't bathe me tonight. Maybe they were waiting for Kein in the other room. Arching in the water, I stretched out my tired muscles. The exercise had been fun, but strenuous.

Where was my family anyway? I never bathed alone.

Wondering about the men, my hand strayed over my bare stomach and down to my hip. I missed the gentle massage that always was part of my baths. A low groan made me open my eyes and turn.

All five of my men were fully clothed and watching me. They stood in a tight semicircle just outside the spray of the showers. Not one of them had even bothered to take off their boots. If the looks in the yard had been dangerous, now they were downright feral.

It had been a long time since I'd been tempted to call them Master or felt the urge to back away. The raw hunger that seemed to consume them right now made me feel slightly nervous. There was power in my vulnerability, though. I'd never seen them look at another woman the way they looked at me. No one else raised this emotion in them.

I stretched a second time with my arms raised above my head. Slowly bringing them down I passed my hands lightly over my own nipples and held my breasts out, for a moment, in offering. My fingers skimmed along my ribs and down to stroke across the cleft between my thighs.

"Do you want to wash me?" I asked seductively. "I could do it myself if you all are busy."

Their boots were gone, quickly followed by shirts and pants. Evan was done first and I took a half step back as he quickly approached.

"Do I frighten you, Ciara?" he asked teasingly.

I shook my head 'no' as I stared defiantly back at him.

His blue eyes were bright and full of mischief as he leaned closer to me. He grasped my hair and pulled steadily to expose the line of my throat. Both my hands came up to rest on his chest. I didn't push him away and just felt the steady beat of his heart under my hands.

Evan's tongue ran a long slow line from my collar to my chin. He repeated several times until he'd covered my neck. Moaning slightly I was forced to enjoy the rasp of his tongue sweeping against my skin. Twisting my head gently, he sucked the water off my right ear. The warmth and wetness made me quiver and I lost track of time as he tasted.

A soft rubbing started on my back as Evan blew into my ear. I recognized the soapy sponge moving in steady circles. My legs felt weak as Evan chuckled and stood up straight. He kept a firm grasp on my hair and tugged it up and out of the way. I was pulled flush to his chest as my back was washed.

The arousal had been playing tricks on my senses and I came back to myself with Evan's firm manhood pressed against my stomach. I looked up into his smug face and wanted very much to feel irritated with his game. He'd made me as crazy as I was making them.

My irritation was short lived as the sponge started to rub across my backside. Fingers separated the bouncy cheeks so the sponge could reach every nook and cranny. The feel of the sponge was maddening on the sensitive skin. Even worse was the finger that swirled tauntingly around the edges of my tight star. My back arched involuntarily as the sponge changed hands and slipped lower between my legs.

The wicked little thing was dragged slowly across my womanhood several times. It was almost too much and not nearly enough. Whispered pleas were met with several laughs and my legs were pressed farther apart.

"We will make sure you are clean," Christof whispered in my ear.

It was his long fingers that cleaned the lips of my pussy. Those same fingers worked the soap diligently around my hardening clit until I was panting and writhing in Evan's grasp. He only smiled and added a hand against my back. The feel of a strong hand pressing me against his cock made me squirm with desire.

Evan lowered his lips to mine and I kissed him voraciously. He still controlled my head with his hand fisted in my hair. Suddenly he pulled back from my lips and I he wouldn't allow me to follow. He smirked at my desperation as Christof slowly started to slide his fingers into my aching center. Evan seemed to be enjoying the frustration on my face as his Brother teased my sex.

"More," I begged gripping Evan's strong arms, "please fill me."

Christof's thin fingers were not enough to satisfy the needy part of me. I craved the length and thickness that only one part of them could provide.

"Not yet," Damien said crouching down beside us. He picked up the sponge and started to soap the leg on that side.

Piteous little begging sounds escaped my throat as he ran the sponge up and down my legs. Damien made sure he cleaned all the sensitive parts very thoroughly. Behind my knees and between my toes received extra exploration and cleaning. Before long I found myself licking Evan's muscled chest and grinding against his full erection.

"Time for the front," Kein announced happily.

Without missing a beat Evan pushed me backwards. I would have stumbled, but was stopped by Bane's hairy chest. He took over Evan's job and grabbed my hair, pulling me tight against him.

"Wash yourself, Brother," Damien said to Evan while leaning on the wall and watching Kein come toward me, "we will assist her with her bath."

This was the way they'd done it the entire time, I realized. Each of them had quickly bathed while the others tormented me. My arousal had been a well planned game from the very beginning.

"You win," I said hoarsely watching Kein build a lather up on the sponge. "I want you, please take me to the bed."

I knew what Kein would do, how he would take his time working my breasts into over sensitized mounds of flesh. My large nipples would ache for his touch because of it once he was done. I was already wild with need and mistakenly I tried to stop him.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 27



As Kein approached me I reached out for the sponge. He just tisked me and moved it away. Without warning my hands were grabbed on either side. Christof and Damien were both grinning madly as they held me still.

Kein started with my neck and played the sponge down toward my breasts. With a wicked smile he changed course and thoroughly cleaned the arm Damien was claiming. It was a small reprieve, but my nipples were screaming for his touch now. My chest rose and fell, straining toward him as he took his time on my captured arm.

I didn't expect it as his warm mouth suddenly descended on a nipple. Flicking his tongue repeatedly over the engorged tip made me feel faint in Bane's grasp. Before I could register the pleasure he had backed away. The water from the shower was cooler than his mouth had been and my tense nipples tightened at the stimulation.

"Other arm," Kein announced happily cleaning the arm Christof held.

"PLEASE FUCK ME!" screamed out of my mouth in frustration. I writhed helplessly against their hands and found it useless.

As Kein left my arm to soap my stomach they congratulated Damien on the win. He'd been right-on, when he said how long that it would take for me to beg.

"I don't like losing," Kein told me seriously as he worked the sponge up my belly toward my breasts. "I plan to take longer now."

It didn't matter that I was begging but I did. I pleaded with him to suck my nipples and play with my clit. In all the time I'd spent with them I'd never wanted to come this badly.

Kein dragged the sponge under my breasts and then teasingly circled each one. His cleaning was maddeningly slow. Once he reached the puckered tips he dropped the sponge and just used his fingers. He was pinching, milking, and flicking the hard tips like they were his own personal toys. Bane assisted with his free hand, lifting the globes and kneading wherever Kein wasn't touching. The stimulation from the two of them was maddening.

I stumbled slightly as Bane stepped away from my back. I had not realized how heavily I was leaning on him. Damien and Christof still held my arms and steadied me that way. My brain was foggy with desire and I would have done anything they asked.  

"Tilt your head back," Bane demanded and I complied.

Strong fingers moved the soap over my scalp and hair. The long build up must have been getting to them, too, though. They took far less time than they could have cleaning my hair.

Evan tugged me out of the spray of the water once I was rinsed and dried me with deft strokes to my skin. Kein pulled the water out of my hair with a magic towel and the rest just stood grinning at me.

"You need your rub," Damien said holding up the little tub of purple goo they used to moisturize me.

I just could not wait for another moment. Dropping to my knees in front of Damien I took his length between my lips and swallowed it. My tongue worked fervently against him trying to bring him ultimate pleasure. Each quick slide along his shaft took me to the root and if there'd been more I would have taken it.

They wanted to play with me and see me wild with desire. I couldn't stand anymore delay. Doing this to Damien would hopefully make them just as crazy for me.

It worked. The game became too much for them as well. A strong arm wrapped around my waist and I was lifted off the floor. Damien's shaft left my lips with a plop and Bane threw me over his shoulder.

"No more games, little Sister," he said hoarsely making his way out of the shower room.

There was shouting and hooting in the bathroom as the men made their way to the bed chamber behind us. They were laughing at Bane's sudden loss of control. The big man had seen enough and playtime was over.

Bane's hand was wrapped over my ass and his fingers dipped to touch the wetness between my legs. There was nothing for me to grab at along the powerful plane of his back. I couldn't really control myself as he marched us toward the bedchamber. Bane ensured my continued disorientation as he found my clit and stroked at it lightly.

My eyes didn't adjust quickly enough to the dim light of the bedroom when we made it there. I screamed as I felt myself flipped and dropped in the dark. It was a huge relief when my chest and stomach made contact with the bed.

I turned to seek out Bane's face and I was confronted with the awesome visage he must show on the battlefield. His teeth were down, his stripes were dark, and the look in his eyes was wild. My first response was to move away and that was a bad idea.

As I scrambled to pull myself forward, Bane grabbed my hips and pulled me back. A tiny squeak left my mouth when my wet center was pulled flush against his erect cock. The sounds turned to moans as he held my legs separated and thrust his length along the valley between.

There was no more pulling away as I ground myself against him. The stimulation he was providing was erotic and consuming. When it was evident I would stay where he put me one hand moved so his thumb had access to my center. He dipped several times into the moisture of my pussy before dragging it to the tight place he wanted.

"You need the oil," I moaned softly as his thumb slid in and out of that forbidden pleasure.

"Not this time," he growled, as his cock slid into my pussy. "We've teased ourselves too long for me to wait."

The sex was intense and I could barely stand the jarring thrusts. Bane's cock filled my pussy as his thumb tormented my ass. Twisting my hands in the blankets I pushed back against him and ground myself into his body with each thrust.

"I love to watch them swing," Kein said from the side, just before his head disappeared beneath my tits.

Kein adored this. My pendulous breasts caressed his face and ran over his open mouth with each swing. He had my eyes rolling back in my head as he tugged roughly on the nipples with his lips and fingers.

Damien and the rest were not to be ignored. It was demanded I "finish what I started in the bathroom." His thick cock, still damp with my spit was pushed against my mouth. I devoured the glistening organ.

Bane erupted first. He pulled me so tight against him I was sure he'd actually penetrated my womb. I expected Damien's orgasm on my tongue next, but he pulled away.

Before I had a chance to move Damien had taken Bane's place and was pumping me furiously from behind. It took very little effort and he finished with a shout of triumph.

Collapsing on top of Kein, who didn't seem to mind at all, I looked back at Damien as he panted on his knees.

"You don't like my mouth anymore?" I asked confused.

"I like it fine," he smiled as Kein sucked particularly hard on a nipple and I arched toward him. "Sometimes I just enjoy your wetness as my Brothers do."

For some reason, tonight they all wanted that soft, wet space between my legs. Even Kein, who started out with his cock nestled between my breasts, finished by a firm fucking of my pussy. They wanted to share something and apparently that was it.  

"You're very strange men," I told Evan after he finished and lay recovering beside me on the bed.

Bane was on my other side and his hands slid teasingly over my damp form. I tried to get up and he pushed me back down. Irritated by his refusal to let me up I attempted to wiggle to a sitting position. Evan just threw a leg over both of mine and Bane barred any movement of my torso with an arm over my chest.

"Let me up," I demanded looking into Evan's blue eyes.

My heart sank as I watched him. The mischief in his face was unmistakable. This was a game now and I was sure to lose.

I felt his damp cock against my hip as he pressed close to me. Bane did the same thing and now I felt absolutely trapped between them. Evan's arm replaced Bane's and I watched him warily.

"You only orgasmed twice," Bane informed me as he slid a finger down my stomach and between my legs to caress my clit.

I tried to keep him from succeeding, but my folds were soaking wet and he had no trouble teasing that sensitive pearl of flesh.

A whine escaped my lips as Evan sucked on my neck and licked my ear.

"Come for my Brother," he ordered quietly. "We don't think you are done yet."

It was a long time later that they finally let me up. My female body had long been primed for orgasm, especially with them. They wrung every bit of that from me. I barely remembered being cleaned up and the dinner we had afterward. My men had exhausted me.

The days became a pattern and I got used to it. In the morning I worked with Rose, in the afternoon we swam, and then talked. I used that time to come to terms with this life. At night, my family took me to the training grounds.

The men enjoyed the physical exercise. They bound my breast and we'd run the perimeter of the ground. Usually we worked on the slow motion stances and I used the fake sword. Some days we worked on precision and I swung my piece of wood at a target to practice actual sword play.

The young family we'd met the first night continued to come and work with us. Their confidence in dealing Damien and his Brothers grew. Although they'd obviously started this as a dare, they seemed to enjoy conversing with my family. It had originally been curiosity that brought them to us. It was interacting with Damien and his Brothers that kept them coming back.

At first, I noted that my family just made friendly small talk with the boys. Soon Damien and his Brothers began to really get to know them. Obviously they had a lot in common, but here the different ranks of age rarely conversed with one another. No one knew why.

One night the boys helped Bane teach me to wrestle. Obviously, only my family would be wrestling with me, but the younger men demonstrated. They stripped down and showed off the moves they knew.

"Come," Bane encouraged as one of the smaller boys held his Brother down, "look at the placement of the hands," he explained. "Aryn cannot rise with Tyson holding him like this. All the force is here and here."

I nodded and looked at the two boys straining against each other on the ground. Bane was right. The smaller boy, Tyson, had the larger boy, Aryn, trapped beneath him. Tyson had Aryn's arm twisted so the larger boy could not rise without harming his own shoulder.

There was no way I'd be able to hold a man like that, but I paid attention to every detail of the hold. Bane made me crouch down and really look at them. My eyes lingered over Aryn's family mark and I suddenly jumped back with a hand over my mouth. No wonder the boy looked so familiar.

The boys released each other and stood when I backed away from them. They looked concerned. My reactions always seemed to throw them off guard. I was special to Damien and his Brothers and they just weren't sure how to take me.

Damien was in my face a second later with Christof right behind him.

"What is wrong?" Damien demanded. "Did they frighten you? They will not harm you Ciara. They did not move when you were near. We will protect you."

"That isn't frightened," Christof said watching me closely. "That is surprised."

"I don't think..." I trailed off. "I can't tell you here," I said pleadingly.

Damien wouldn't hear of it. He put his ear to my lips and demanded the secret right now.

The shock reverberated through all of them when I spoke.

"Aryn is Bane's offspring," I said softly. "Look at his shoulder, Damien. Your mark is there along with Bane's number."

Damien straightened and looked at Bane, who just looked amazed.

"We apologize, Warriors, if we have offended you," Tyle said cautiously, crossing his left arm over his chest and bowing his head.

Damien regained control first and assured the boys nothing was wrong. He explained the position had just reminded me of something. I was merely surprised, nothing more. He encouraged them to continue what they had been doing. No apology was necessary.

The activity continued and Bane kept staring at Aryn. I knew what he felt. That boy was his to know as he had Hannah and Kennedy. He had been kept from something special his Brothers had experienced.

We stood in the field and I learned some of the basics of wrestling. Bane was so distracted Kein ended up doing most of the teaching. The young boys seemed to notice, but they didn't let it stop them from doing as the Warriors asked.

When we were done and it was time to go home I saw the longing on Bane's face. He wanted to spend more time with Aryn. It was obvious to me. It must have been obvious to Damien also.

"In three day cycles we have a trip planned," Damien said. "We have reserved a cabin and we will stay there for several day cycles. It would be a pleasure if you boys would join us. We will ask the Child Keepers if we may Keep you those days, if you are willing."

The elation I saw on those young faces was like being told they were going to Disney World. Tyle's family had never been asked to be Kept by Warriors before. The boys were ecstatic.

"We will train you some, if you would like," Bane promised staring down at his son.

"Yes, sir, we would enjoy that," Tyle answered politely grinning ear to ear.

It wasn't until our shower that night I had a horrible thought.

"Are we breeding at the cabin," I asked panicked. "That would be very odd to do with five young boys watching. Please, tell me this isn't a breeding time."

"Of course not," Evan said cleaning my hair.

"Nu-reeh has put off your breeding time," Damien informed me. "She does not want...more family for us right now. Our Mistress will not schedule that until she has time. You do not need to worry, we know this talk upsets you."

He sounded a little irritated for some reason. I just shrugged and let them pamper me in the shower. They knew I was working hard and my baths were half massage at this point. It was hard to stay stressed during this time.

My mind wandered during the bath, perhaps Nu-reeh was giving me something in my drink to prevent conception. It was the sweet tasting one, so I wasn't sure. I had not gotten the shot, either. We should probably talk about it, because otherwise the inevitable would happen.

I knew the men weren't trying to get me pregnant, but they adored sex. We still had plenty of it. Damien considered the nightly distraction part of my therapy. Although I rolled my eyes at his logic frequently, I couldn't dispute how good they made me feel.

As Evan rinsed my hair my internal musing was interrupted when Bane got all our attention. The big man slammed his fist into the wall of the shower. The water shuddered with the force of his blow. Christof jerked me away and placed my damp body behind Damien.

"Calm, big Brother," Kein soothed inching closer to Bane, "you will know the boy. We will see to it. We will treat him as family now that we know."

"How much more family do we have?" Bane asked harshly. "How many others have been kept from us? We should have known them. I should have guided him..."

Damien spoke low and forcefully. He reminded Bane he was the best trainer in the ranks of the Warriors. Bane had been taking care of that young man for most of his life. The lessons he taught him would last all his days.

Bane was furious. I could see his Brothers working hard to calm him down. If they didn't relax him, the rage would be infectious.

"How have we never seen the mark?" he asked slumping his shoulders.

The water was turned off as Damien touched one shoulder and Evan the other.

"They kept us a distance from the young ones most of the time. We only trained them in large groups of many families," Kein said. "We were never encouraged to pay them much attention. None of us ever looked at another man's mark. There was never a reason to."

I dried myself with a towel as the men spoke to Bane. Wrapping the fabric around my body I settled on a bench and watched them. Christof had obviously wanted me away, so I stayed away.

Bane noticed me sitting on the other side of the room and walked to sit beside me. His Brothers hovered, but allowed us to be near one another. Bane sat and put his elbows on his knees. Cocking his head to the side he smiled sadly.

"I understand now," he said simply. "They disappear from you. You cannot protect them or know them. The sadness makes sense to me now."

My hand reached out to soothe down his wet back. It felt like a reconnection of sorts. Evan handed me a towel and I rubbed Bane's back dry. His angry outburst had forced his Brothers to separate us. Prior experience told me that would upset him. Family gained strength when they were together.

"You know this boy," I soothed. "I know you train all of them. We will know him better now."

"We will not just know him," Bane said staring at the floor. "We will free him. He should not be kept this way."

Kein answered before I had a chance to say anything. "Hannah will take him away. She will help him."

Damien agreed and so did Christof. Hannah had said she'd take my men if it wasn't for me. Certainly she'd take young Warriors.

The conversation concerned me. Those boys were just that, boys. They were children. Yes, they had trained, but they were very inexperienced. They barely knew how to fight and they knew nothing of the world. This would be a dangerous endeavor for them.

"Do they practice with sharpened blades?" I asked quietly.

The men looked uncomfortable and Bane spoke quietly. They would not qualify to use the sharpened blades for another three turns of the ringed moon. The men waited and watched me. I knew they expected me to tell them, no. Not that my opinion could stop them, but I knew it mattered. The family had to agree.

"You must train them in the dangers they will face," I said instead. "While we have them at the cabin you can start their real education. Relay the stories Hannah has given you."

Bane looked up at me and smiled. We were in accord. Damien's family would save Bane's son.

Just as Damien promised, three days later we prepared for a trip. I was dressed in one of the long blue dresses like I wore in the mountains. Two brown outer layers ensured I'd be comfortable on the way out. Bags were packed and loaded before we picked up our charges.

It was just after sunrise when we flew off on a transport being followed by the young family. Bane chose to ride with Tyle's family. He knew they had never been this far from the compound before. There would be loads of new things to see and he wanted to be there to explain.

We'd packed a fair amount of stuff that went with us. The men had quietly brought the swords they had learned with. The weapons were smaller than what they had now and more worn. They planned to give Tyle's family a chance to use a blade for the first time.

"We'll teach them to use these well," Damien promised Bane. "Hannah will take them if they can take care of themselves."

I rode with the men and smiled at their excitement. I tried not to think negatively, but I hoped Hannah would agree to this. She had been very resistant to taking me, because of my weakness. I hoped these children would not be judged too young.

When we got a good distance from the compound my brown hood was removed. The men liked to see me talk to them and I preferred not to be cloistered away. We talked and laughed the entire trip.

Halfway to our destination we stopped for a snack. Bane showed Aryn everything around us. The boys had learned about plants from the Child Keepers, but some of these things they'd never seen in real life before. Everything was new and different.

Bane talked about the plants on the ground and the tracks in the dirt. He also told the boys about some of the strange plants Hannah had told us about that existed beyond the mountains. The boys were enthralled by all of it.

"He's a good father," I said watching Bane patiently teach the five young ones. "It is a shame he was kept from it."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 27



"Is he not Daddy," Damien asked passing me a cup.

I smiled at Damien's use of the word. While we sat I taught them the different names for a male-breeder in English and how I would have used them. There was no equivalent in their language, so they used my words. It would have served no purpose to have such variety of phrasing here, males were just sperm donors.

We made it to the cabin in the late afternoon. The small squat building was old and well used. This building had no windows, which I was sure would make it feel cramped on the inside. I hoped the inside was roomier than the outside looked. With eleven of us here it seemed it might feel full very quickly.

Bane and Damien took the boys inside and taught them how to check the rooms for pests. You had to find any cracks that a Scar could crawl into. The dwelling had to be safe enough for your Brothers to sleep in, so you always checked it well.

The kids had never stayed outside the compound and they were giddy with excitement. I watched them follow at the big mens' heels, doing just as they did. The young ones checked every bit of the cabin, just as instructed.

Once given the all clear, I walked into the main door with Christof. The youngsters were still checking everything out. They looked in the empty cabinets and explored the fire place. Evan helped them start the fire, while Kein brought the first of our bags in. Damien encouraged the boys to be useful and they hauled everything inside for us.

Christof and I unpacked the kitchen area and Bane had them help unpack the other rooms. Evan explained it was easier to be organized if everything was put away as soon as we arrived.

"Going through your pack every time you need something is wasteful," Damien explained. "This is a comfortable place and you should make good use of your surroundings. We will be here several day cycles. There is no reason to keep your things tightly packed. Everything should be neatly put away."

"Now when you stay outside, things are different," Kein said as he took towels to the bathing room. "Your family will have a pack and everything must be replaced in it after you have used it."

Damien asked and the boys rattled off what a pack for traveling toward the mountains should contain. They had obviously rote memorized what they would need although they'd never used it.

"Just as when we learned it," Kein said proudly as Bane congratulated Aryn on his good memory. Damien told the boys that they would have to always remember that information; it was a constant in life.

The comment shook me and I looked strangely at Kein for a moment. On Earth I remembered looking at camping gear with Uncle Eddy in a store. He had been laughing at some new thing you could use to start a fire. There were obvious basics, but someone was always inventing a better way.

My eyes shot down at the appalling fact I'd just realized. Nothing changed here. The men were not encouraged to be curious or to seek to better themselves. They just wandered around occasionally fighting over worthless stones, but being careful not to kill one another.

Steadying my hands I placed the bowls we ate out of on a shelf behind Christof.

How many generations had the men been living this way? They did not grow or change. There was no evolution here. They did whatever little job the women had told them to do and just existed until they died.

I thought of the men Damien had used to Keep me when Nu-reeh had separated us, Rue and his Brothers. How stifling they must have found it. No wonder they detested the other Warriors. They must have understood how limited they were. No one else saw the world the way they did. To have designed the experiments they did without any outside support was mind boggling. Those men were truly geniuses.

Bane got my attention as he boomed a laugh from the main room. He was so happy to be with his son. I was glad they were entertained by the boys and had not noticed me. My train of thought would upset them. I shook myself out of it before it became obvious.

"Ciara," Damien said walking toward me, "we will hunt for dinner now. The cabin is safe and secure. There is no way for pests to enter, you are safe inside. The boys are going to come with us. We will teach them and let them experience the way we hunt."

I nodded and smiled at him, that was fine with me. He came closer and laid a hand on my shoulder. His eyes were serious as he looked deeply into mine.

"It will not be like when we take you. This is very important for the boys and we will have to leave you here. The door will be closed and the fire is started. You must not go out, though, stay inside," he commanded.

"Of course," I agreed, "I'll sit and knit. I brought my needles and yarn."

"It is part of our promise to the Child Keepers," Damien continued. "If the boys leave this cabin, we are all to go with them. If one of us stays with you, one of them cannot go."

"I understand, Damien," I said nodding my head at his redundancy. "I won't go anywhere."

He leaned down and looked in my eyes, as though seeking out the truth. "It is important you do not go outside."

In a flash, I understood his concern. In the distant past, I'd wandered off and gotten in trouble when I was curious. Damien didn't want to see me repeat that mistake.

"It is dangerous outside," I repeated sincerely. "If I go out there without you, I might be hurt. I have to stay inside until you return."

Damien grinned and kissed my forehead. Christof commended me on understanding. They were trying to feel good about leaving me here without them.

No one really expected trouble, but they had brought my sword. Kein laid it beside me on the low couch I'd chosen. This is where they expected me to stay.

They'd know if I opened the door, they warned.

I smiled up at my men and shook my head. I had no intention of opening that door, ever. This hunting thing might last a while and I wanted to eat dinner eventually. Kissing each of their lips, I pushed them out the door.

For the first time in a long time, I was left alone. I stood for a moment before the fire and relished the feeling. No one was talking and the room was quiet. I wasn't supposed to be keeping up with all of them, all at once. Flopping on the chaise, I laughed.

Blessed silence surrounded me and I sat staring at the fire. The ride here had been long and tiresome. I enjoyed just sitting and relaxing for a moment.

Leaning back I curled up and closed my eyes. I started to doze and roused myself. Evan would never understand if he found me sleeping when I wasn't pregnant. He'd probably think I was ill.

My needles and yarn sat in a cupboard in the kitchen. I had watched Christof put them away. Setting back down I started to make a blanket. Even though they didn't really need them, my girls did seem to like things I had made. It made me feel good.

I was concentrating on what I was doing when the door creaked. I looked up expecting Damien or his Brothers.

"Did you forget something?" I asked happily as the door opened completely.

It wasn't Damien or the new young family. The men that entered all had shaggy, bulky outfits on. I screamed and reached for my sword laying several handspans away.

One man moved quickly toward me and I scrambled away. Darting away from him was foolish, he was obviously stronger, but I tried as I screamed. He leapt across the room in a surprising burst of speed and grabbed me.

The man snagged my arm and pulled my back to his chest. Without a second thought I screamed for Damien again. A hand clamped hard over my mouth and nose, effectively silencing me.

The rules, I had to remember the rules. I looked down and quieted myself. These men would not hurt Damien's property if I acted appropriately. I just had to pray these were honorable men and not bandits.

"Kev, release your hold, that is too tight for a human. She is silent now," the man in front of me said.

The hand on my arm relaxed and I felt the feeling flow back into my hand. The man's grip had been so powerful it had cut off my blood supply. As his hand relaxed on my face it felt sore. He might have left a hand shaped bruise over my lips and cheeks.

"Rachel, we are sorry to have frightened you," the man in front said. "You do not need to fear us, Kennedy sent us."

I looked up into his eyes and he smiled at me. He looked familiar, but it was hard to tell. His face was coated in a fine layer of dirt. He was dressed from head to toe in an outfit the color of the land outside. It was shaggy and made him look slightly like a dirty gorilla.

I was reminded suddenly of pictures from the television. Snipers on Earth wore camouflage like this. I'd seen pictures on the military shows my uncles watched. Uncle Bob had called them Ghillie suits.

My eyes travelled across the outfit and took it in. It was very much like the pictures they'd shown on the television. It surprised me to think they had these here, too. This man would be invisible lying outside.

"We cannot spend long, Rachel," the man said politely. "This land is not safe for us. We have been waiting for you. Your daugh-ter asked us to bring this package to you. The girls could not come themselves. It is important that they appear to be doing as they are supposed to. Both of your offspring travel as the older females demand they do."

I nodded and the men laughed lightly. Hannah and Kennedy had taught them what that meant. It was good I understood.

A tall man stepped forward and motioned to the door. "We have to go now," the man in front said pushing a box into my hands.

The tall man was so lanky. His height was marked even for this place. It struck me who these men were.

"You got away," I said softly.

This was the first family I'd released from the wall. The man doing the talking had been the first one I'd freed.

"Of course, we did," the man said confidently. "The map led us out and the food gave us strength. We are grateful to you, Rachel, be well."

The men slipped out the door and dispersed quickly. I turned and watched their backs disappear as the shock settled.

My first impulse was to pull open the door and see where they'd gone, but I stopped and just pushed it firmly closed. I'd promised Damien I would not do that. Instead I looked down at the box in my hands.

I smiled as I sat down and looked at it. The box was about the size of a shoebox and it was lashed closed with twine. Damien's symbol rested proudly on the front.

Using my sword I sliced through the string closing the box. Gingerly, I lifted the lid and wasn't surprised at the small bunch of tami leaves inside. They had a pungent aroma, not particularly good or bad as far as I was concerned. Beneath the leaves was my letter.

This letter wasn't like the last one the girls sent. It was on paper with no fake cover letter. I opened it and it was very short.

Mama,

Hello from Kennedy! My Sisters and I found out you would be near the mountains, so we wanted to give this to you. Our friends that did the delivery were happy to help us. They did it as a 'thank you' for saving them.

The pad enclosed is for you and it is very special. Hannah and I can use it to contact you and leave messages. You can also use it to contact us and leave us messages.

My Sister, Eve, designed the interface. She's quite brilliant with computers. We met less than a month after I went out on my own. My other Sister, Dara, attached the camera so you could see us and we could see you when we are in the right places.

It will start as soon as you lay your palm across the pad. The directions will be spelled out after that.

Love you!

Kennedy, Dara, and Eve.

At the bottom of the box was a small pad about the size of a small notebook. At the top I saw one of those flat circles that we knew to be cameras. The contraption was light in weight and I just stared at it for a moment.

I laid my hand across the face of the pad and it lit up. The imprint of my palm stayed for a moment and then words flew across the screen.

Do you wish to gain information or to contact someone? the pad asked in English.

Writing with my finger I wrote the words 'contact someone'.

Who do you wish to contact, Kennedy or Hannah?

Well, now was time for me to feel guilty. Choosing one child over the other felt wrong. I chose Kennedy since she'd been the one to arrange this.

Kennedy is available to talk, the pad said. Would you like to talk or send her a letter?

I wrote the word talk wondering what that meant.

Lines played across the front of the pad and then the screen seemed to blur. When the lines all cleared I was staring at Kennedy surrounded by two girls both a little taller than her. My eyes filled with tears as her face lit up in a smile.

She waved at me and I cried as I heard her voice.

"Hi, Mama," she said happily, "this is pretty cool don't you think?"

"Incredible!" I choked out watching her.

Kennedy looked wonderful. She was healthy and well. Seeing her surrounding by strong looking girls thrilled me.

"This," she pointed to her left and right, "is Eve and this is Dara. We've bonded fully, Mama. You can speak English and they will understand you, too. None of us took the implant the women offered. We are all part of the new generation."

I was so glad to see her but I was curious why she wasn't with Hannah. Gathering my courage, I just asked her. The answer surprised me.

"Hannah," Kennedy sighed, "is just too temperamental for me to bond with Mama. I hope you understand, I love my birth Sister, but she grates on my nerves."

"She is like her father, just like you are like yours," I smiled. "I hope these Sisters are good for you?"

They were good for her. Kennedy told me the things she had seen and some of the places she had been. Dara was slightly older, but Eve was just about Kennedy's age.

The girls shared similar mindsets, but their ancestry was different. Eve had Earth heritage, but Dara did not. The girls were all agreed that this world was run wrong, though. They did not believe in slavery or forced servitude.

Dara's mother was a very powerful and old female. She had lived a long time before birthing her only daughter. Because she had only Paterian lineage she remembered the time before the men were put in the compounds.

Life had been better before. The men died young sometimes, but they were happier. Dara's female breeder missed the relationship her ancestors had had with their men. It saddened her to see the fear in the men's eyes every time she approached. Over many years (the women tracked time that way also, so they taught me the Paterian word) Dara's female breeder had come to think it was wrong.

Eve had shorter memories than Dara. Her feelings on slavery were the same as her Sisters'. She remembered Earth of the mid eighteenth century. Hearing Kennedy talk amazed her. She said she would enjoy sitting and discussing Earth with me one day.  

Talking of Eve's Earth breeder from several generations ago saddened her. The woman had taken her own life after her child was weaned. She could not bear being the slave this place demanded. I felt for the woman and her offspring. My sad eyes met Kennedy's and she looked hard at me.

"You felt that way, Mama," she said firmly. "Do you still feel that way?"

I denied it, but Kennedy wasn't satisfied. She had thought I might do something foolish. Kennedy demanded to know how I'd been since she left.

"I've been fine," I lied, "never better."

My words angered my daughter. Her eyes narrowed and I got the feeling she wanted to come through the screen.

"You can't lie to Dad because he knows how to read you," she reminded me. "I know what he knows. You are not telling the truth."

This was so embarrassing and I told Kennedy that. I didn't really want to explain my flaws in front of everyone. It just wasn't normal for my children to have all my memories. Kennedy should not know how I felt about certain things.

"I love you and worry about you," Kennedy sighed. "Do you wish to harm yourself?"

I had to admit the whole thing to them. Every piece of my jumbled recovery was discussed in detail with the three girls. I felt absolutely humiliated.

They didn't seem to think it was something I should be embarrassed about. Dara congratulated me on surviving my inner turmoil. Eve reassured me as Kennedy looked at me with absolute understanding.

"We will free you," she promised me. "You will not die a slave."

That brought me to another concern and I cleared my throat. I told Kennedy what the men wanted. My men had planned to ask Hannah, but I wanted to see how Kennedy would react.

Dara asked pointed questions about the boys. She wanted to know about age and training. I was honest with her, but I felt bad knowing where this was leading.

"What if they understood?" Eve asked suddenly turning to face her Sisters. "What if we didn't steal them? What if they came to us?"

It made no sense to me, but Kennedy explained. Rescuing men meant capturing the entire family. That could be really hard to do. The women had to keep the men safe, but show them they were free. It often took a long time and it was difficult.

"What if these boys came to us willingly?" Eve asked getting more animated.

It was a novel concept. Damien could teach the boys about the world and then the free men could take them away without a fight. That would make it so much easier.

"We have to talk to some Elder Women," Kennedy said suddenly facing the monitor.

"Wait!" I called suddenly desperate not to lose my connection to her. "I've so enjoyed talking to you..."

Kennedy sighed and gave me the same patient look her father would have.

"Mama, send a message to Hannah. She's deep in the mountains, so she won't be able to talk to you like I am. She would enjoy it if you wrote her a letter. Your pad is set up so you can do that. She'll get the message and send you one back."

I smiled and tried not to be a whiny, needy mother, but in truth I just wanted to see my girls. It had been so long since I had seen or heard from either of them.

Eve spoke next, she explained the pad would not transmit sound if the girls were in the mountains. Kennedy and her Sisters had made sure to be in a place they could talk to me today. Hannah would probably arrange to be somewhere she could talk soon.

"The pad burns," Dara said suddenly and Kennedy slapped her forehead in a very human gesture. "You can't get caught by the General or other women with this. It will burn quickly in a fire pit. Don't stand too near, though. The device is powered by the ore, there will be an large discharge of power when it burns."

I looked at it and smiled. Of course they'd run it on the ore.

"You are curious, Mama," Kennedy informed me. "This pad will let you learn about whatever you want. I'm not sure how to describe its ability to you. The closest I could say is like a computerized encyclopedia."

I thanked the girls and sent my love. Kennedy seemed to be in a big hurry as she blew me a kiss and signed out. She was very excited about talking to the Elder Females.

The screen blurred and the girls were gone. I sat and stared at it. God, how I had missed them. This was the first I had heard from Kennedy since she had flown off. If it had been my choice I would have talked to her all day, but she was a busy girl. Just like Hannah, I smiled. Both girls fighting for freedom, I felt proud of them.

The pad was remarkably easy to use. I figured out how to send a message to Hannah quite quickly. The pad would let me know when she sent a note back. At least according to the instructions the thing provided it would.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 27



This would probably confuse Tyle and his family. I put the leaves and the pad back in the box and hid it all in a bag in the bedroom. When Damien returned I would tell him about it privately.

The door creaked open after I finished straightening up and had been knitting for a while. I was hesitant this time, considering my last surprise. Damien came through first and I smiled with relief at him.

Damien was not smiling, though. His eyes riveted on my face and a foul curse left his mouth. His sword was drawn and his stripes were dark. A mouthful of secondary teeth made me stand very still and watch him.

Evan followed Damien in and they checked the cabin. The men moved around me like I wasn't even present. Their stealthy motions surprised me into staying absolutely still and quiet. My men looked ready to attack.

The boys entered once the cabin had been searched. The young men held the weapons Damien had given them and they copied the elders' defensive stance. Bane was the last one in and shut the door behind him.

Christof put his sword away and approached me slowly. His stripes calmed and the secondary teeth receded. He touched my cheeks and my mouth. Brilliant eyes traveled over my form as long fingers stroked the sore place the other man had left on my arm.

Damien's voice startled me. "Stay with us out here, Tyle. My Brothers will attend Ciara in the other room."

Christof nudged me backward until I turned and walked into the bedroom. Once we were inside, he pulled at my dress and I resisted him.

"Nothing's wrong," I whispered to him trying to stop him from undressing me.

"Let us check," he commanded. "We will not hurt you. I will not harm you when I remove your cover. My Brothers and I will protect you now. Allow us to see what is damaged."

Evan assisted him and murmured comforting words to me as the dress was removed. Kein brought in healing cream and pulled the leather cover between the rooms closed. The men were being so gentle and caring. When I looked in their eyes I saw anger boiling beneath the surface, though.

It was confusing and then I glanced at my arm.

My upper arm was mottled black and blue. It was clear that a man's hand had made the deep mark. My fingers went to my sore mouth and I knew it must have the same look. I looked beaten. My men must think that they had totally failed to protect me.  

"They were friends," I whispered to Christof hurriedly. "They did not mean to harm me. The man, Kev, became upset because I screamed and he held me too tightly. His Brother told him to let go. It wasn't intentional."

"Hush and let us check," Christof murmured with contrition on his face. "We will not hurt you anymore. Let us make it better."

"It was just one family. You saw the light tracks in the dirt, Kein," Evan whispered fiercely as he moved my hair and checked my back. "I know you could follow them. We could find them and destroy them."

Strong fingers examined my neck above my collar checking for bruises. They were being very thorough.

"NO!," I said in an emphatic whisper, pushing the hands away, "they were some of the men I freed in the mountains. They brought me something from Kennedy. None of them intended to harm me. The bruises are an accident because I panicked."

The men looked at me and looked at one another questioningly. I wasn't lying, but they still did not believe me. Kein started to coat my arm as Christof spoke.

"Let us check you over," he repeated. "If my offspring sent these men I will have to speak with her when we meet again. That was inappropriate."

Evan muttered curses as he pushed me to lay on the bed. Most of what he said was damning dishonorable men touching what was not theirs to touch. He was still pissed and he wanted to find them to beat them.

"I don't need to sleep," I sputtered trying to sit up, but that wasn't why I was laying down.

"Men here believe a human only has one purpose," Christof said gently. "We wish to be sure they did not use you for it. If you are damaged, we will care for you."

I was so frustrated I rolled my eyes as they bent my knees and pressed them apart.

"They didn't mean to hurt me," I repeated. "They did not use me. Don't you think I would tell you all if something like that happened? Don't you think I'd look upset or in pain?"

My questions were ignored and I felt Christof's long fingers gliding up my thighs. When he reached the juncture he softly touched the outer lips and then pulled them apart. He let out an audible breath finding everything untouched.

"And the other?" Evan asked quietly.

Christof's fingers sought lower down and found the knot of my ass. He gave it a gentle stroke before answering Evan.

"She was not harmed here," he stated with certainty.

"Told you so," I said briskly folding my hands over my stomach.

My tone irritated Evan and he got right in my face. "Did you enjoy being touched by them?" he asked hotly. "Is that how you like to be treated? Did you feel safe with them?!"

I was offended at the presumption, but I didn't want to start a fight. It seemed to me Evan was just upset and wanted to battle with someone. He needed to be calmed down not riled up.

"You know I didn't," I soothed cupping his chin. "I just wished you would believe me when I told you what happened. The men came to deliver a package. They were dressed strangely and I panicked. To keep me quiet they put a hand on my arm and over my mouth. The lead Brother scolded the other man for using too much force."

I saw Evan's mood shift and sway. Christof wasn't upset and neither was Kein, at least not outwardly. The surrounding calm seemed to slowly be working its magic on Evan. He dipped his fingers into the pot in Kein's hand and started to rub the bruise on my face. Kissing my forehead he murmured an apology.

"What exactly did the men bring?" Christof asked once the bruises had started to fade.

Evan would have continued to coat me in the cream, but Damien came in and made him stop.

"New marks heal quickly and so do shallow marks. These are deep, Brother, and were allowed to sit." Damien said. "They will need multiple treatments."

Evan didn't like it, but he deferred to Damien.

I was redressed in my warm blue outfit and I pulled the box out to show them. The men did grin madly over the gift of tami leaves. Damien took those to Bane, so he could use them to flavor the roast we'd be having for dinner. From the main room I heard the young boys' excitement over getting to try this treat for the first time.

Christof took the pad and examined it. He pressed his hand to the face and it recognized him. The pad advised he could leave a message for Kennedy if he so choose.

"Be gentle, Brother," Damien advised laying a hand on Christof's shoulder, "but the young one needs to understand that men cannot be sent to her Mama. Tell her we will speak with anyone that she needs to send. They need only offer her name and we will listen with patience."

Christof did as Damien asked. I know because I read over his shoulder as he wrote.

His letter was succinct and polite. He greeted Kennedy and wished her well, then he instructed her. The men that came were too rough with me, although I said it was not intentional. Men could not be sent to speak with me. Any contact with the family should be made through Damien or his Brothers.

All the Brothers agreed on the message and I fussed at them.

"She's so young," I begged, "and it was so sweet to think of us. Don't scold her."

Christof would have none of it. Kennedy was young, but she had to learn. It wasn't safe to have strange men approaching me.

Damien took the pad after Christof and left a message for Hannah. He wished she and Ra well. It was a short and pointed note telling them to contact us anytime. We would be in this cabin for six day cycles.

"Well, she can't really do that," I said touching his arm. "The boys won't understand any of this."

"Relax," Damien insisted patting my arm, "we'll send them out if we want to talk to our girls. They can be made to understand we need privacy."

"She said to teach them," I whispered to Christof. "Kennedy said that if they knew the world it might be easier to rescue them. I don't know how you explain to them who they are to you and what you know."

The men all chuckled and grinned.

"They know," Damien said pulling me past the leather drape into the main room. "That one," he pointed to Aryn who grinned proudly, "knew there had to be a reason he had Bane's mark on his arm. The kid's been trying to get our attention for many moons now."

Bane was standing at the fire roasting the meat the way they liked. Several of the boys stood close watching him. The boys were all half dressed and damp. Two were towel drying their hair as we came out. Bane must have made them clean up after the hunt.

"They figured we'd know why the boy had my mark on him after you reacted so strongly to seeing it. Aryn finally asked me," Bane said. "I told him while we hunted. I am his male-breeder. The women used me to make him and I never knew. We are family now, all of us."

The boys looked pleased at the phrase. They were being claimed as family by strong Warriors. They knew what that term meant to my men, so it was not taken lightly. It was a term for ultimate trust and protection.

"The world is not what it seems," one of the young men said softly. "You have been to the mountains. You talk to the Administrators and they do what you ask. Can you tell us what you know?"

The boy was perceptive and bright. The world wasn't what it seemed, but the men here rarely questioned things. I stared at the boy in wonder.

"Three generations back," Kein said grabbing the kid and pulling him closer to me. "It's right here."

The boy looked uncomfortable so close to me, but I could clearly see his mark. Three generations back was a human slave in his line. Tyle finally voiced the young family's question.

"Sir, we don't understand what you're looking at," he said politely. "My Brother, Varn, does not have a mark from you all."

My family exchanged a quick glance and I saw that they'd made a decision.

"The world is full of secrets," Damien said in a low voice. "If others knew that you understood, it may cause your family trouble."

"We keep our secrets in the family, Warrior," Tyle answered for the family. "We knew we had some connection to you, but we have never shared this thought outside the family. The way the women treat weak men, like shopkeepers, more gently seems strange, but we have never discussed it. We know there is something..."

The boys stared at Damien and his Brothers just waiting. They did not have enough information to figure it out on their own, but the suppositions they had made were accurate.

We ate dinner and my family spoke honestly with the boys. They said nothing to them that was overly inflammatory. The things they'd said could safely be repeated without endangering us. I realized this was a test.

If we returned to the compound and the boys repeated what they'd been told, we'd be no worse for it. Nothing being said was all that terrible. I was certain what we told the boys later would be based on their reaction to this test.

After a leisurely dinner the men sat and played cards with one another. I knitted silently as the conversation continued. The boys seemed to be absorbing everything Damien's family told them.

There were things in the mountains the men saw infrequently. Dangerous creatures that scaled the steep cliffs and could eat a man alive. Hannah had told us about them. She had called them Racks. If this story got back to us, we'd know the boys had talked.

As the evening progressed the lessons continued. Damien started to explain about other creatures Hannah had told us about. Most of these things existed beyond the mountains. The lessons were given slowly, because the boys had never heard of these things before.

If we were able to save the boys it was information they would need. Should the General come to us with complaints, we would know who talked. It wouldn't get us in that much trouble, though. I had to appreciate the stealthy way Damien was ferreting out the kids' loyalty and discretion.

Before bed I slipped into the bedroom with Christof and Damien. We checked the pad and noted written messages from both Kennedy and Hannah. The girls must have talked because both apologized for sending men that hurt me. That had not been the intention.

The big news was that Hannah would take Bane's son away. She advised we trust the boys slowly and gradually begin to educate them. Once they were old enough and had enough knowledge Hannah would send us a message. She would tell us at that point how she planned to get them out.

Kennedy wanted to know if we could do that with other Warrior families. Freeing men from the compounds wouldn't be difficult if the men went willingly. All we had to do was find one family at a time and educate them. My girls would arrange to have them taken away after that.

The letters unnerved me. If we did what the girls asked us to do and the men reported to the General, there was no telling how we would suffer. I begged Damien not to do it. Perhaps he could just save Tyle's family and then be done with this.

"We will protect you," Damien assured me, "and we will be careful. This is something we must do, though."

"You don't understand," I begged in a plaintive voice. "I saw a man like Evan. He was a free man. They had cut-his-hair. It was awful and I think he was almost broken. I couldn't bear it if that happened to you all."

Damien stopped and stared at me for a few moments. I'd never discussed with them the horrors I'd seen inflicted on the men I'd freed. He was obviously surprised the women would go to those lengths.

"We are careful men. They will not catch us," he said with conviction.

I begged and pleaded, even arguing I'd be sick to my stomach with worry. My men weren't listening to me. I was fed the root and told to be quiet. Warriors were fighters and these men were fighting back. They were done being obedient slaves.

"Come," Damien finally commanded, "I wish to clean myself before bed. I will wash you and you will wash me, we both find that relaxing."

I nodded and smiled up at him. He was right. Having him rub me down was immensely pleasurable. It might give me the chance to keep begging him as well. Although it seemed his mind was already made up.

In the bath I whispered pleas to Damien, he looked critically at me. Pulling me onto his lap he spoke into my ear.

"Did you like being a slave?" he asked. "Would you have run from us if there was somewhere to go?"

The first days on this planet had been so strange. There was never a way out. Walls were everywhere and I was surrounded by five powerful men. Much later, when I learned my second duty on this planet, even death looked like a viable escape.

No, I had never liked being a slave.

Admitting that to Damien seemed wrong. I loved him now. Looking up into his gray eyes, I realized he already knew the answer.

"Help us fight back," he requested quietly, "support us while we do this."

The family had to agree. It was important to him that I thought like they did. Swallowing my dread and fear, I nodded to him.

"Use caution, my love," I warned taking his face in my hands, "I could not bear to lose you."

Murmured promises came from all five of them and I felt soothing hands stroking my back. Whether I liked it or not the family was agreed to this now.

We spent six days at the cabin. My family talked to Tyle's family about the creatures Hannah had told us about. They discussed the dangers that existed beyond the mountains. The boys loved the stories and never asked why they were getting this information.

Everyday we trained outside the cabin. Tyle's young family learned to fight with their mentors' first swords. It was an honor and the boys treated it as such. Quite quickly it became obvious they had trained well with the wooden staffs.

I knew and my men knew. It would not take long for Hannah to feel safe taking this family. They were fast and strong, lacking only the opportunity to test their skills.

I was fed bits of the root three times a day. It kept my stomach settled, but I was still so anxious. Damien and his Brothers truly planned to mount a coup from inside the compound. Despite my grudging acceptance, it pushed my nerves to near breaking.

Christof tried to console me on the transport ride back to the compound.

"Evan has talked to every man in the compound," he said. "He's made friends with many men. We can invite men to dine with us and pick the family that would be best suited to escape."

"If the women catch you," I said miserably, "they will torture you. If they can't control you, they will kill you."

Christof wasn't concerned. He and his Brothers would be careful. They'd not tell anyone anything until they were sure. This wasn't going to be something they did recklessly.

I wasn't happy about it, but I knew that withholding my acceptance only hurt them. They would still be driven to do this.

"You had your chance to fight back and you took it, little Sister," Bane said, "give us our chance."

Looking into his earnest face, I understood. They'd been raised to believe they were protectors. No matter what the women told them, they still felt that way. Freedom was something worth fighting for. The lack of resistance they had been displaying had become unbearable.

"Be careful and wise about this," I warned looking up into his serious eyes.

They certainly needed that encouragement. Evan would have liked to stand on the compound walls and call for a revolt. It was only his Brothers' calm that soothed him.

********

Damien promptly took control of the situation. The men spent long nights discussing which family to send first to Hannah. While they stealthily interviewed the other men, we continued to train Bane's son and his family. Our own eventual escape was also prepared for in mind and body. It was a busy time, but Damien kept us organized.

The pad Kennedy had sent was truly like she had said, an encyclopedia. I sat and read to the men and we learned about the world beyond the mountains. When we left this compound for good we would know what dangers we faced.

It was important we all be strong. When we weren't reading, we were in the stadium practicing with Bane's son and his family. My skill with the wooden staffs grew as Bane's son and that family graduated to a metal blade on schedule three cycles of the large moon after we left the cabin.

The boys knew something was afoot, but seemed to accept Damien's insistence they could not know right now. They trusted their new family and just allowed us to push them to be powerful. The young men worked as hard as Damien wanted and the fruit of their labor was telling.

The boys were strong and fierce. We soon determined they were loyal to us as well. The stories Damien's family told them never left their mouths. They were as honorable as men should be.

In the midst of our training the men finally decided on a group of men to free. Damien invited them to dinner one night having decided it was time to really talk with them. The men filed in and greeted Damien politely. Everyone was becoming used to my looking around, so there were no comments about that.

We sat and had our meal as Evan asked the men what they thought about things. At first they were quiet and kept to themselves, but Evan's persistence got to them. The men weren't happy, the way they were forced with the women irritated them. These men had often thought of escape.

Evan knew that. He remembered these men saying things, wondering if the world beyond the mountains was dominated by the women. In the past the General had harshly rebuked them for their complaints and questions.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 27



The wicked grin lit the faces of my family and I knew what was coming. We had found the first family to escape this place. Arnold and his Brothers would not be slaves to the women once we were done with them.

We wanted Arnold's family to be ready for the world beyond the mountains. We spent the next moon surreptitiously passing them information. I was restless and anxious the whole time we trained the men to leave. The root became a constant in my diet. Damien even went to the trouble of having the fizzy drink made again. I took it twice a day as I had before and it controlled the constant rolling in my stomach.

The decision about how and when to leave would be made by Hannah's Elder Women and the orders left for us on the pad Kennedy had given me. Hannah would send us the messages pertinent to this escape. I cringed the day she sent the instructions and the plan.

Arnold's family was to go on their patrol as usual. Once they were at a certain point, they should wait. Men would approach them and say Hannah's name. The Warriors were instructed to do as the new men told them.

When Arnold's family disappeared it sent the General into a rage. The men Damien chose were powerful Warriors. It wasn't clear what had happened to them. The compound was on lockdown for five day cycles after they disappeared. Damien assumed the women were scouring the desert looking for them.

I worried that we would be caught, but the Brothers did not think so. My men had been cautious to only speak to Arnold's family in places where it would not be obvious. When they patrolled the road, those men met them and they talked. Very rarely did we see them at the bathhouse or in our rooms. The goal was that the women would never realize it was Damien who had set them up to leave.

Kennedy's pad was a constant in the house. The one I had previously used from the Keepers was left there permanently. I never brought it home anymore. I sent messages to my daughters and every so often received one back. They were busy and I relished the little communications.

We were rarely able to use the pad like a videophone. When the girls were in the mountains, which was normal, it would not work. They had to be at a place this side of the mountains to contact my pad that way. It was always marvelous when one of those times occurred and I was able to talk to them. But, I still loved to get the little notes from my girls. It made it possible for me to survive the not seeing them all this time.

It was a surprise as I wrote a note to Kennedy one evening that the pad flashed up at me. There was a new message from Hannah. I called excitedly to Damien as I called it up.

The message wasn't really from Hannah, but it was under her account. The message was written in Paterian and it was from Arnold and his Brothers. They had escaped and were now living in a free society beyond the mountains. Hannah had allowed them access to the way she contacted me so they could thank Damien.

Arnold and his Brothers were amazed at the new life. There was so much they didn't know and so many new things they had to do. It made the regimented life at the compound seem easy in comparison.

There were things they had to do now they'd taken for granted in the compound. They had to help grow their own food or assist in trapping it every day. Water was not piped in like it had been at the compound. They were helping to install that system. Creatures attacked the settlement if they saw an opportunity, so everyone had to be vigilant. Women patrolled and stood guard as did the men, but it was still a dangerous existence.

"Still, we are pleased," Arnold wrote. "We are free men here. When we wish to be with a female we find willing partners. If we do not wish their attention, they leave us be. It is harder work just living, but we would not trade it. We are free, cousins, and we thank you."

Damien and his Brothers re-read the message several times. Each of them read it themselves and they passed the pad around looking at it. It was obvious what they felt, pride. After all this time, they had finally saved a family from the women.

"Tyle and his family use the blades now," Bane said holding the pad. "Soon they will start to be sent on patrols."

Kein grinned widely and slapped his Brother on the shoulder. "He'll be ready to go soon, Brother. Hannah said they just needed some experience fighting first."

We were happy, very happy. Their feelings lasted through the day and beyond. Arnold's success spurred them to want to do more. Me, I just wanted to rest.

I was just tired of feeling constantly ill. I was just so exhausted all the time. I began to wonder if it was that fizzy drink. Often after my afternoon swim I napped on the beach. It was ridiculous how much sleep I seemed to be needing.

My clothing was tighter also, it was especially noticeable in the pants the men dressed me in at night to train. They could barely do the laces up one night and I stood staring down at my stomach. The subtle, soft bulge I always had was more prominent. I placed a hand over it and felt how firm it was. A subtle flutter in the center of the mass confirmed my suspicion.

When my eyes met Damien's I became anxious. I was exhausted and fat because I was pregnant again. My menses hadn't stopped because of some chemical they gave me. It had happened again!

This wasn't the place to scream and cry, we were in the training stadium for the young boys. Damien wouldn't let me look away from him, though.

My family could see something was very wrong and Damien leaned close.

"Tell me," he demanded.

My lips brushed his ear as I spoke. I told him I thought I must be pregnant again. I was so tired and I seemed to be gaining weight in my stomach. It wasn't clear to me how this had happened.

Damien pulled back to look in my eyes. I saw his happy smile as relief spread across his face.

"There is more family, then?" Kein said happily grinning at me from the side.

The reaction confused me. They'd said Nu-reeh did not want children from me right now. I nodded and stared dumbly from one man to the other. They all looked thrilled.

"You said she didn't want more babies right now..." I trailed off.

"Perhaps not," Bane grinned, "but she neglected to give you the shot. We thought it would be less traumatic for you if this just happened naturally. More family is not a bad thing, even if Nu-reeh does not want them. We are pleased to have another member and the breeding was not stressful."

Fatigue left my body and rage took its place. They had no right to do this to me! Of course it would be asked eventually, but I longed to put off the pain of separating from another child. I was shaking I was so angry at them. For the first time in a long time I wanted to really hurt them!



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 28



Hello again, Lit! 

Here's the next chapter to whet your appetite! Please enjoy and let me know what you think! 

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his reading and rereading to get it right! 

Thanks for reading! DW

***********************************************

"It must not be a girl again," Evan said happily, "we have not bonded to Ciara. The women said that only happens with girls. It must be a male offspring. Which of us is the Daddy, then?"

I stood fuming as they placed bets with one another. It wasn't Christof, they were certain. Kein had made a son they knew of and Bane had made one too. No one was sure what Evan had made, he was an unknown in this. 

"What if it's not a boy?" I hissed, still mad as Hell. "What if it's a girl with no wings or strength?" 

"Unlikely it is a weak woman," Christof said frowning, "they would not breed you just to make more human women. Obviously the women know you make Paterian offspring."

My temper threatened to spill over, but Tyle's family was approaching. I was forced to school my features as Damien's family greeted them heartily. Bane slapped his son on the shoulder and then hugged him. The young man was taken aback by the greeting, but he reciprocated. Bane happily explained the Earth tradition to the boys as we started. 

We really should not have stayed tonight. At least, I should not have stayed. I couldn't focus on the training, because I couldn't calm down. I couldn't stop making mistakes and I snapped at Bane several times. Considering my supposed position in the compound the young boys found it very odd. 

When we finally left the stadium, I refused to speak with my family. They tried to soothe me, but it did not work. 

"Why so upset?" Christof finally asked. "You adore your children and look forward to contact with them. Why fight what you love so dearly?"

"They-are-taken-from-me," I said through clenched teeth. "I am not permitted to see them when I like. If this is a boy, after they take him, I will never see him again."

Damien snorted at my 'obvious confusion' as he called it. Hannah was a fine member of the family, so was Kennedy. They would take the boy for me once they saved us. It was so simple. 

Kein dropped us off at our rooms and I stalked in ahead of Damien. I brusquely moved to shower by myself, cleaning my body before they had a chance to join me. Once I was done I grabbed the pad Kennedy had sent and stalked into the bedroom. Christof tried to follow and I wouldn't have it.

"I want to be alone!" I shouted and closed the leather drape, leaving them to their dinner. 

I wrote long notes to both Hannah and Kennedy. I told them everything. My anger and fear poured out to the two girls who knew me best. It felt wrong complaining to my young daughters, but I really had no one else. 

Kennedy's response was instant. She wrote to stand by and wait for her transmission. 

A few seconds later lines wiggled across the screen until I was looking into Kennedy's concerned face. Her Sisters stood with her. They wanted to know what had happened. 

"The men," I whispered harshly, "let my contraceptives lapse. When Nu-reeh forgot they did not remind her. Damien and his Brothers wanted this to happen. They want more family," I cried almost breaking down. "I have no connection to the men. It's a boy."

"Mama," Kennedy soothed, "it will be okay, we will take this little one away as soon as we can. You mustn't stress yourself."

"What if it is a weak woman?" I asked petting my belly, "What if she is like me? Will the women destroy her?"

My voice was laced with fear and dread. If this baby turned out more human than Paterian, I wasn't sure what would happen. I wasn't sure my mind could withstand the destruction of my child. 

Dara spoke up and did the soothing then, "Mama," she addressed me, "That will not happen. We have learned much over the years and forgotten none of it. The human...I believe Kennedy would use the word 'genome' is very flexible. Every single offspring from mixed Paterian-human pairings has taken the best of both species."

I nodded and wiped away tears. That was relieving to know. 

"We believe this compatibility is related to the portals," she continued. "Early in our history there were numerous natural portals between this world and several others, including Earth."

"Mama knows that," Kennedy reminded her. 

Still, this was quite an interesting and distracting conversation. 

Dara continued to explain how creatures developed and grew sometimes wandering into portals and being deposited in different realms. Some creatures on this world still resembled their Earth ancestors. Women here actually vaguely remembered the giant asteroid that hit Earth and nearly destroyed it. Something about that occurrence had closed many portals, but not all. Things still came and went freely for many eons after that. 

"Dinosaurs, Mama," Kennedy said happily, "still exist in a form here."

Eve interjected and told me some women even surmised that the portals had shifted the living cells around that originally had seeded both Earth and Pateria. There was no proof of that, but it was a theory the scientists sometimes played with. It was hard to tell because the portals had allowed creatures to come and go so freely between the worlds for so long. 

I wasn't crying anymore and just sat looking at my girls. They had done quite a wonderful job distracting me. I had not even noticed as my men came and sat on the bed around me. Christof sat next to me and looked at our daughter on the pad. 

"You were deceitful, Daddy," Kennedy said harshly. "You should have told Mama what you were allowing to happen. Family does not act that way."

He agreed with her. It had been wrong and they were ashamed. They thought it would be better to just let it happen. There would be less stress this way. I had been so upset when they bred me last time. My men worried about the sadness affecting me again. 

"No more secrets, Dad, promise me," Kennedy demanded. "Family does not keep secrets. Mama can deal with the truth. What you did is not protecting her; it only hurts her more. She put her trust in you all and look what you have done."

I nodded sadly and looked at my daughter. Doing this only proved that the men still thought of me as less than them. They thought my life had to be arranged and protected. I looked sadly at Christof.

"I am not family when you do this to me," I said looking around at the men. "I am only part of you when you allow me to be. You all have kept me apart in this and that is not helping me."

Kein sat in a chair across from me and looked at his Brothers before looking at me. "You were so upset when Nu-reeh forced us to breed you last time," he said softly. "We didn't want you to break again. The children make you happy. We hoped when you had the child inside of you, you would be happy again." 

I shook my head as I looked at him.

"The sadness is normal," Kennedy intoned from the pad in my hands. "Mama will feel it until we free you all. Make her stronger by giving her freedom. The way you men have been trained is wrong. Mama needs your support and she needs to know what is going on."

My men looked quietly at one another. I wished they understood, but I was fairly certain they did not. Our relationship was still so new, nothing like it existed here, there were bound to be mistakes and misunderstandings. My men just could not figure out how to treat me and stick to it. 

"Besides, it is much too soon," Eve said carefully and the sound filled the quiet room. "Humans need time to recover between births. Nu-reeh should know this. It is probably part of the reason she wanted to wait. It will cause weakness and illness if Mama is bred too frequently."

Damien was horrified at that. No one had told him that. Eve explained the energy and minerals it took to make a new living creature was intense. My body would literally digest itself to provide for the baby. It could make my teeth break and my blood thin. I needed rest between these breedings. 

The pad flashed and indicated Hannah was trying to get through. Kennedy sent her love and support, but knew I had better get to Hannah. My oldest girl wasn't patient and based on what I'd sent, she was probably pissed. 

Closing my connection to Kennedy opened one to Hannah's fuming visage. 

Hannah cursed Damien until she ran out of words. She used such foul language I wanted to scold her, but I knew she wouldn't hear it. My first child was livid that Damien had kept this from me and done this without my knowledge. It was bad enough Nu-reeh used me like a slave. She would destroy Damien for doing it, too. 

"Stop!" I demanded. "Damien and his Brothers are learning. They admit they made a mistake and did something wrong-"

"A MISTAKE?!" she roared. "They did not make a MISTAKE, Mama. They did this intentionally. They deceived and abused you so easily because you trusted them! I swear to God, Daddy, next time I see you, I'm drawing blood!"

I felt awful for making her so upset. She was obviously reacting to the note I'd sent her. Desperately, I tried to soothe her, but she ignored me. Shockingly, Damien agreed with her. If she punished him, that would be fine, he could see now he deserved it. 

"We never meant to hurt you," he said to me. "Hannah will exact revenge for you."

"Nobody needs to exact revenge for me," I said trying to placate my daughter. "I overreacted, Hannah. Damien loves me-"

"He LIED!" she roared. "This is not a joke, Daddy," she said coldly. "You owe me."

Hannah's transmission ended and her line went quiet after her final statement. I sat staring at the blank pad, but she didn't come back on. I sent her a note asking her to be calm, but got no response. It worried me, but not the men. Hannah was just upset. 

"She probably went to go calm herself somewhere," Damien shrugged.

"Or she's flying here to come hurt you," I fretted, tapping on the pad. 

I had no idea how to contact the girls if they didn't pick up. They seemed to be the only ones capable of initiating the videophone link. I fussed with the pad for a while before Bane took it from my hands. 

"You need to eat," Kein said pulling me to stand. 

I went willingly and sat with the men at the kitchen table. Everything was as it had been when I stalked into the bedroom. They had not even touched dinner yet. I remembered as I was settled in a chair, family eats together. 

My plate was piled high with nutrient rich foods. I was not given any choices tonight. Kennedy's Sisters had scared my men. They hadn't realized the pregnancies could weaken me. None of this was my favorite food, but I understood why they gave it to me. 

We ate in silence. The men seemed to be deep in conversation between one another. In no small way I missed knowing what they were talking about, so I asked. Damien smiled at me looking guilty before he answered. 

"We are glad for more family," he said simply. "We are sorry you were upset, but we hated to torture you, as we did last time." 

I had to smile sadly. They loved their daughters and Bane's son. More family was just someone else to love. 

Bane grunted loudly before he spoke, "Nu-reeh will want to know. We could hide it from her, since she did not want it yet, but that may be unwise. We will have to talk to the General in the morning and he will let her know," he said. 

"She will be angry," Evan said picking up some food from my plate and putting it at my lips. "She will say we knew and she will be right. We will take whatever punishment comes for this."

I wanted to fret, but the men wouldn't allow it. They'd done something they knew they weren't supposed to. If it resulted in punishment, they'd take it. Telling me they were breeding me had always made me sad. This time they'd accomplished it without upsetting me, at least until now. 

After dinner I was cajoled back into the bathing room. I'd rubbed my body to remove the dirt, but I'd barely cleaned the surface. My skin was still dingy and I had not treated myself with the cream. My hair wasn't cleaned yet either. In the shower room I was rubbed and pampered. Once they were done they put me in my linen shift. 

The day had been long, stressful, and exhausting. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. 

I woke the next morning and sunlight was spilling into the bedroom. It was markedly late. The apartment was quiet as I rose and stretched. The space was unoccupied, except for me. I smiled seeing a large handwritten note stuck to the front door. 

Do not open the door. Do not go outside. There is food for you in the blue bowls in the kitchen, your drink is in the cup. We will be back shortly.

 

In Damien's style the note reiterated the instructions about not going outside several more times. It was explained that other men would hurt me if I was found in the compound alone. My family had errands and I had seemed so tired when they woke up.

The largest blue bowl on the counter was that funny wet bread mixed with the red sprouts. A note next to the bowl stated they knew this was not my favorite. The men also provided an orange in the second bowl. I was instructed to eat both and drink the fizzy drink they had left. 

I had my breakfast in silence and then took the pad and wandered into the sitting area. Once more I tried to contact Hannah and let her know I was fine, but she did not answer. I just sat and absently read an article on sea dwelling creatures while I waited for the men. 

After a while sleepiness crept up on me again. I curled onto the chaise under a blanket and decided to doze for just a few moments. My eyelids drifted closed as I watched the low fire flicker in the hearth. It was so peaceful. 

"She is still tired," I heard Kein whisper and I opened my eyes. 

Damien and his Brothers stood in the room staring at me. I had not even heard them enter. I stretched and smiled looking up at them. They weren't smiling back. 

"How tired have you been?" Christof asked crouching in front of me.

His long fingers skimmed my cheeks and settled an unruly lock of hair behind my ear. 

"It's been getting worse," I answered sheepishly, waking up. "I nap at the Keepers after Rose and I swim. I always do my laps in the water first, though."

I'd been exhausted for a long while, but never thought to tell them. Damien was furious they had not been more attentive. It was so obvious. They had been focused on Arnold's family and Tyle's family and ignoring their own.

I was sleeping the way I did every time I was pregnant. My men were upset they had not noticed. They were even more upset they didn't know it was because the children weakened me. It would have been better if they'd done as Nu-reeh wanted and waited. 

"Nu-reeh wants us in the mountains," Damien said, "but we do not leave today. She does not want us to travel in the dark, which we would have to do if we left now. We leave tomorrow."

"It is very strange," Christof said settling on a chair across from me. "We are to be escorted by four other families of Warriors to the cabin. You will rest there overnight and the other families will watch the cabin. In the morning the other men leave and the women will escort us to Nu-reeh's home mountain."

That was odd. The convoy made sense with the disappearances, but the staying overnight did not. We'd never broken travel to the mountains into a two day event. 

"Oh no," I moaned pitifully, "I hope she isn't putting us in a cave again."

I flopped unceremoniously back down on the chaise and the men chuckled. Evan picked up my feet and then pulled them across his lap as he sat down. 

"I doubt it," he said seriously rubbing the soles soothingly. "Nu-reeh has become unduly interested in your comfort. She even requested we bring cushions so you could rest during the transport ride."

Odd for the men, but not for me. I told them about cars and how humans sat to travel in them. The men shrugged and stated Nu-reeh must want me to act like we are in a car. 

I spent the day relaxing. Damien called off the House Cleaners and I just rested in our apartments. Most of the day I slept, I was exhausted. 

Damien and his Brothers apologized for lying to me during lunch. It had never been their intention to cause me pain; they only wanted to protect me. 

"The sadness the breeding caused you was too strong and we feared you would break again," Christof said solemnly. "We wanted to protect you." 

I shook my head and picked at my plate absently. 

"The truth is important between us," I told him. "You can't tell me I'm free and still make all my decisions for me."

They didn't understand and I knew the root of their confusion. In their hearts they didn't believe I was strong enough to be free the way they were. My family still had my position caught somewhere between slave and free, but not entirely either. 

After lunch they left me to go talk to Tyle and his Brothers. When they got back they told me the young men were upset their mentors had to leave for a time, but Damien had promised to return. He asked the young men to continue to do extra work and gain strength. We would return and expected them to be ready when we did.

We'd trusted Tyle's family with a lot of knowledge about the outside world. Nothing we ever said to them leaked out. They were loyal and discrete. Damien told me that's what made him decide to trust them with our greatest secret. 

In hushed tones outside the view of the cameras in the Children's area Damien had told them some women could be trusted. The boys had been right and the world was not what it seemed. He'd told them if a young woman named "Hannah" or "Kennedy" wanted them to go somewhere, they should go. There was a life beyond these walls and it was better than what we had here. The boys had solemnly swore to keep the secret and heed the advice if they ever had need of it. 

There were boots the men preferred and other things they liked to have. Those things were packed up to take with us to the mountains. We decided to risk taking Kennedy's pad with us. 

"No one can see this," Christof told me seriously. "We will hide it in the sleeping area of our lodgings. Your friends cannot be told about this."

Damien made me swear I understood that the pad could be dangerous. He knew it could burn and made me swear to throw it in the fire if anyone got too close. No one could find this secret. 

"I understand now," I told them. "Some things must be kept in the family. I would not endanger you all or my daughters."

It was the truth. I'd learned a lot about how to keep a secret. There were just things I could not go blabbing about. The family came before everything else. This secret protected Hannah, Kennedy, and all of us; there was no way I would not keep it. 

The men were satisfied and continued to pack while I sat and watched. 

I was upset about this unexpected pregnancy, but I knew my family had done this out of love. It was a misguided attempt to protect me from the pain of a forced conception. I mourned the larger problem and wrestled internally with how to handle it. They still did not see me as an equal.

Still, for all their faults, Damien and his Brothers cared deeply for me. I cared for them, too. I wished that one day we could love one another equally. It seemed that time was a long while off. 

We played a card game in the evening and went to bed early. The next morning as we ate our morning meal there was a knocking at the door. 

I was surprised by a guest this early. Fredrick and his Brothers greeted Damien and strode in. It was evident the men did not know why Fredrick was here either. Damien and his Brothers were polite, but indicated they had ordered nothing recently. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 28



"It was a rush job, but Mistress Nu-reeh wanted this done," Fredrick said pulling one of those brown covers from his bag, a large bulky one. Gloves of the same material were handed to Christof as two long boots were pulled out. 

It looked like a brown leather coat that would go to my feet, but Fredrick looked expectantly at Damien. Evidently it was something more. 

"Try to cut it," he said proudly. 

Christof handed over a small knife and Damien slid it along the coat sleeve.

"Harder, man!" Fredrick said taking the knife and stabbing repeatedly at the coat.

It wasn't even scratched, causing my family to surround the outfit and really look at it. 

"Made from the leather of some animal the women catch and skin. They have to provide us with special tools to cut and sew it. Your slave would be undamaged even if you put it in the middle of a battle," Fredrick said proudly. 

The hood on the outfit had a shield for my face. The men could attached a fine, strong mesh to the front. No one could see in, but I could see out just fine. If the men wished me entirely covered they should just pull up the hood and attach the mesh to the front. 

"Some men," Fredrick said conspiratorially, "require such material for their pants and coats. The Administrators instruct the shopkeepers when they are making clothing. Those of us that work with fabric talk. We know of a few men that require such specialized clothing."

Fredrick looked at Damien and stepped slightly closer. 

"Can you tell me why certain men require such tough clothing?" Fredrick whispered. 

Damien was confused and didn't really understand the question. I could see it from the look on his face. Inspiration hit me and I touched my stomach as I gasped. 

Men with human ancestry may not have the same tough skin as a full blooded Paterian male. My fragile skin was what Nu-reeh wanted protected, just as she would protect my son. 

Christof looked at me when I made the sound and he saw where my hands lay. Our eyes met and I knew he understood now. 

"Certain creatures," he said slowly, "have softer skin than us. I imagine that the offspring of those creatures would have to be protected."

Fredrick smiled at Christof and looked him up and down. "At first," he said, "your clothing was made that way. After a while the Administrators sent down word you could wear what your Brothers wear." 

Fredrick wanted to know what we knew, namely that Christof had human ancestry. Obviously no one had been sure how tough his skin would be when he was small. I was personally uncomfortable sharing such information with him. Evidently Damien was also. The family had to be protected at all times. 

"We aren't sure, Fredrick," he said politely opening the main door. "We must be on our way. Nu-reeh expects us to reach the cabin around night fall." 

Evan and Bane assisted Damien and Fredrick's family was guided out quickly. Christof's ancestry was family business and not for public knowledge. I personally was relieved that Damien had shooed Fredrick out. Certain things just shouldn't be spread around, I understood that now. 

After dressing me in a warm blue outfit, the new coat, gloves, and boots were put on me. The material was very light, but I felt no wind at all as the transport started. The outfit would be very protective and not uncomfortable. 

I looked around as we flew and four other transports went with us. Through my mask I examined the other families. They were all armed and tough looking. 

"You notice your guard?" Bane asked looking down at me.

I nodded and looked up at him. 

"They will fly with us all the way to the cabin we stay in tonight," he said. "We are to share shifts with them and protect the cabin. The Administrators ordered that a family stand watch at all times. The other men are to leave in the morning, we assume before Nu-reeh arrives." 

That was the oddest thing I'd ever heard. We'd stayed several times in cabins by the mountains. Never once had we had a guard when we went or even while we slept. 

My hand strayed to my belly. I'd never been pregnant with a son before, either. I wondered if all this was protection for my son. It seemed like the only answer, but I was sure that couldn't be it. 

The other transports flew near us, but Damien wasn't bothered by them. We talked and joked like we usually did. They even took the face mask away so we could watch each other. Things seemed normal in that regard. 

"You should rest now," Evan suddenly said about mid morning. 

I looked over at him surprised. He pulled several cushions out of a bag and laid them on the floor of the transport.

"Lay down and rest," he ordered.

I did as he asked, but couldn't really understand this. Bane wrapped a blanket around me tucking me in securely. Christof pulled my hood up so it kept the sun from my eyes. They were acting so odd, but I was very comfortable on the cushions they had brought. The low hum of the transport soothed me and my eyes drifted closed.

It would have seemed impossible for me to sleep on a transport in the middle of the day, but I did. I dreamed of baseball fields and little boys playing. In my mind's eye I saw the life of a child playing out before me.

"Time to eat, little Sister," Bane whispered and I opened my eyes. 

My hood was pushed back as I sat up. The transport was stopped in the middle of nowhere. Everyone was off their transport and the men were pulling out something to eat. 

All the men sat on the ground and I sat on a cushion as we had the midday meal. Two of the other families stated they would have preferred to hunt for something to roast. They were rebuked by Damien. We could hunt for the evening meal, it was imperative we reach our destination before sunset. 

We ate and were off again. The same pattern repeated as in the morning. I stood with the men enjoying their company until Evan determined it was time to rest. 

"You know," I said as Damien knelt over me, "I don't have to sleep all the time. You've said yourself it's good to be up when the sun is up. Talking with you all is very enjoyable to me."

Damien grinned at the sentiment. He pushed me until I lay down cocooned in the blankets and cushions. The blanket was pushed up to my chin and around my legs. 

"We told Nu-reeh you were tired and it upset her. She wants you to rest," he said.

I settled on my hip and frowned. Training with them had been fun, but I guess that was over. Sleeping for the rest of this pregnancy would just make me fat and bored. 

"Tell me," he ordered crouching beside me.

"I liked training with you all," I whined, "and I like swimming. If she makes me sleep all day every day I'll go crazy. I can't just lay around all the time."

All five Brothers thought that was funny. 

"Nu-reeh wants you to rest now, because you are weak and tired," Damien soothed. "You know she listens to the Healers and they like you active. I'm sure once you have recovered some she will allow us to continue to train you."

Kein spoke from behind the controls, "Or we'll train you in our rooms at night," he offered. "You don't need to worry."

I relaxed on the cushions and smiled up at Damien. They would take care of me.

I dozed on and off as we flew. I heard the men talking above me. Their voices lulled me into a dreamy state of semi-consciousness. 

In my state I heard a sound suddenly, it was soft and regular. The sound was so relaxing. It seemed to pulse in time with my own heart beat. The melody soothed me into a deep, restful sleep. 

When I roused next the sun was just below the horizon and my face was cold. I woke up riding in Bane's strong arms. He carried me off the transport and I heard his boots crunching the rocky ground. 

"We're at the cabin," he said pulling me tightly to his chest. "We'll hunt something for dinner and eat. Our family will take the first watch."

I mumbled an answer and pressed my face into him. The weather here was much cooler than I remembered. Of course, I didn't know when the seasons changed, but I assumed they must. We just probably had not been here during this time of year before.

Inside the cabin I was set on my feet. The men pulled some of their bags inside. Almost everything was left outside on the transport. They only brought in what we'd need tonight. 

The fire was lit and I stood beside it waking up. Bane took my gloves and long coat off. With the fire going there was no need for the extra warmth and protection it provided. 

My needs were met before I could ask. Kein provided me a cup of water and Christof took me into the room with the lacquered pots where I relieved myself. We walked back into the main room where the men were standing and talking. 

"Take a seat," Damien commanded pointing to a chair. 

His tone brooked no argument and I did as he asked. My knitting needles and my yarn were handed to me. 

The men planned out a hunting party as I sat there. One family would stay with me inside and one would guard the cabin, but it wasn't going to be Damien's family. Kein's ability to ferret out game in the mountains was legendary and when Evan went they always got the best to eat. Bane and Damien could physically take down a beast single handed and Christof could outrun the fastest creature. This was a large group to feed and my family had to hunt. 

"Ciara is not to be touched while we are gone," Damien said flatly. 

The other men looked surprised at the order. Of course they wouldn't touch me, I was Damien's slave. They wouldn't lay a hand on something of Damien's. 

The concern made sense to me. Damien was preparing to go back to the mountains. He didn't trust the men there at all. These poor guys were just bearing the brunt of his worry. 

I sat and knitted quietly as the men left with me puttered around. They were evidently preparing side dishes to go with the meat. They talked and joked together. For all it mattered, I wasn't even present. 

We had a very good dinner that night. The creature Kein had tracked and Bane had caught was in its prime. The meat was thick and cooked perfectly over an open flame. I enjoyed it as much as everyone else. 

Despite napping on and off, I still slept well that night. One family shared the bed with us and the others slept on pads they'd carried with them. Except for standing watch, the men all rested well. 

I dreamed of the heartbeat again. That subtle, lulling sound comforted me greatly. Listening to it was utterly peaceful. I'd never heard such an enchanting sound.

Evan woke me as the sun rose the next morning. His blue eyes twinkled as he kissed my sleepy lips and nuzzled my neck. I luxuriated in the attention as I tried to burrow further into the warm bed. 

"Today will be interesting," he whispered against my ear. "You have to wake up."

He was right and my eyes opened fully. We had defied Nu-reeh by getting pregnant too soon. There was no telling what she would do to us. Fear coiled in my belly and I sucked in a horrified gasp. 

My obvious distress was not what Evan had intended and it upset him. 

"We go to the mountains is all, my woman. Don't be upset," he murmured soothingly while stroking my hair. "Nothing will happen we cannot handle. Get up now, I want you to bathe."

I heard the implied supposition. If Nu-reeh was angry again we may be spending many days in a cave with no baths. They knew I liked to be clean, at least I could start out that way. 

After my bath I was dressed in a flowing blue dress and the boots Nu-reeh had sent. I sat with all the men in the main room and we ate a filling morning meal. I decided to try to get my family to eat extra. I hated the way they'd been starved last time Nu-reeh took us to the mountains. 

"The meat was good this morning, Master Damien," I whispered watching my plate. "Did you get enough, Sir?"

Damien sounded confused as he answered that, yes, he had gotten enough. He also reminded me not to call him Master or Sir. I heard the other men gasp, but my family just ignored them. 

"If you and your Brothers ate more, you might stay full longer," I said playing with my food. "Just in case you couldn't eat later."

Evan sighed beside me and Damien spoke quietly. "We are fine Ciara. Hunger will not best us, should it happen again. My Brothers and I will eat our share and nothing more."

I looked up in his eyes and saw he understood, but that he would not change his mind. 

Christof sat next to me and stroked my hair, "You worry too much," he said simply.

A grumbling laugh got my attention and I realized there was still a roomful of men from the compound here. 

"Your slave instructs you?" one of the other men grunted and his Brothers laughed. 

Damien wasn't bothered by the comment, but rebuked the other man. "Worry about your own family, Steth," he said simply.

The other men had instructions to leave after the morning meal. Like good soldiers they had their meal and were off. 

"What if she hurts you all?" I fretted anxiously as we sat around the fire. 

Damien scoffed and the others just grinned. They hadn't been bested by a punishment in countless moons. There was nothing to worry about. 

I didn't have long to worry about Nu-reeh's reaction. We hadn't been sitting but a few more moments when I heard her call Damien's name from outside the door. 

The wind outside was frigid as we stepped outside into the early morning. I wrapped my arms around myself, but the cold blew through my blue dress. Nu-reeh saw me and growled like the beast she was. It terrified me. 

"Damien," she said angrily, "I sent a coat for the slave and warm gloves."

Evan bounded inside and returned with my outfit, which I was quickly wrapped in. Inside the coat I was instantly warmer. With the hood lifted only my face still felt the chill of the morning. 

Nu-reeh stepped toward me once I was bundled and spoke very softly. 

"Did you sleep well last night, human slave?"

Damien started to answer and she shushed him. Nu-reeh wanted to know how I'd slept from me. 

"Well, Mistress," I answered politely. 

"Are you eating well?" she asked. "Are you vomiting again?"

"No, Mistress, my Masters feed me the root drink and I am eating well."

Nu-reeh considered me for a moment before her clawed hand settled over my belly with her talons laying against my mons. I was terrified. She seemed not to notice and merely touched my bump for several long moments. 

"It is a boy, then," she said contemplatively, "and the slave is not as sickly as I expected. You did well, Damien."

"Thank you, Mistress," the men all said sounding confused. 

Nu-reeh turned to our transport and inspected it carefully as she spoke, "I will tell you now that I expect the slave to not breed for a time after this birth. I will make sure the slave receives the correct drink this time..."

Nu-reeh's voice faded off, but it sounded like she went on to say something like 'you have to do it yourself, if you want it done right'. 

"Come," she suddenly said straightening, "follow me into the mountains."

The men loaded our overnight bag onto the transport and prepared to take off, but Nu-reeh stopped them. 

"I provided a face shield for the slave," she stated. "It will protect against cold wind and accidents. Where is it?"

Christof clipped the face shield over me and I did feel markedly warmer. I had not realized how chilly my face got while we were outside. This outfit really had been made with my specific needs in mind. 

The flight to Nu-reeh's home mountain took longer than before. Nu-reeh wouldn't let Kein take the transport up to full speed. Compared to before it seemed like we moved quite slowly. She also yelled and scolded Kein on several occasions. Evidently, Nu-reeh found him to be a reckless driver. She wanted him far from the mountain sides and to keep the transport steadier than he was. 

The men muttered about how damned overbearing she was becoming, but I was starting to understand. There was a boy in my belly, one that she claimed. Nu-reeh was doing as she probably always did, she was protecting her son. 

My eyes misted as I realized how grateful I was. It did not matter that I was the female breeder. Nu-reeh would place my boy and give him a mark. My little one would not be an outcast on this world. He would be protected and looked after by a strong female. 

Nu-reeh's home mountain came into view before it was time for the midday meal. We landed and Nu-reeh walked us to our quarters. She told Damien the cooks would have special meals for me and Healers would be visiting to evaluate me. 

"You train the slave to fight," she said calmly. "Why is that?"

Evidently she had see us in the Children's yard practicing. 

"Exercise, Mistress," Damien answered. 

The answer pleased Nu-reeh. Exercise would keep me healthy. The activity should continue, but my men were forbidden from using metal weapons around me. She would have wooden training staffs made and brought to us. 

"I want the slave in her new coat and gloves anytime she leaves your area," she demanded. 

Damien agreed and I had no issue with that. The mountains were certainly colder than every other time we'd been here. The colder air in the tunnels would be distressing to me if I wasn't dressed well.

The quarters that Nu-reeh had for us looked just like they had last time we'd been here. The pool was still present and filled with warm moving water. We carried our few bags into the rooms we had used last time. Everything was as it had been before. Smokeless torches already lit the main room, giving it a warm feel.

Inside the safety of our rooms the men couldn't contain themselves any longer. 

"She didn't punish us?!" Kein exclaimed incredulously, pulling the mesh away from my face. 

"Not even a day in the cave," Bane added, lighting the central fire pit.

I peeled off the gloves and slid the coat off as Christof marveled at this strange chain of events. 

This was unheard of. They had anticipated punishment for defying Nu-reeh's wishes, but she had surprised us. She just seemed gentle with my family and protective of me. The new Nu-reeh disconcerted my men more than the old angry Nu-reeh ever had. 

We relaxed and talked until it was time for the midday meal. Damien led us to the big dining area and all talk stopped when we walked in. My men didn't falter as they walked to their table, but I felt glad I was so well protected. The attention was unnerving. 

Several women appeared in the doorways and the usual chatter in the room started again. I saw Damien and Evan pass a look between them. I agreed internally, the women were at it again. 

The day's surprises weren't done yet. Christof and Bane went to get the meal and returned looking perplexed. 

"We did not choose your food," Christof said setting a large bowl before me. "Nu-reeh is portioning your meals herself. Eat it all."

The food in the bowl looked familiar, which was strange. It looked like Earth food. I would swear there were chunks of sweet potato floating in the thick broth of the bowl. 

Bane handed me a large spoon and the men watched me carefully. I scooped up a chunk and tasted it. The familiar starchy flavor exploded in my mouth and my eyes went wide. It was sweet potato! 

"This is food from Earth," I whispered looking down.

"The cooks said it would build your system," Christof said. "They told us the Healers had told them that you will be healthier eating food from your native world. This should be very good for you."

There was unease on the faces around me. The idea that someone else was looking after my well being was disconcerting. I was their responsibility and they were happy to take care of me. 

"She will stop, you know." I said quietly. "Once the boy is no longer inside of me, she won't care if I live or die. You all have never been like that. I can always count on you all."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 28



The sentiment brightened them somewhat and everyone grinned. 

"Eat," Evan encouraged, patting my back, "this is good for you."

The broth was thick and creamy, the meat chunks in my meal were certainly Paterian. I remembered my Grandmother had often spoken about the sweet potato and how healthy it was. Patting my belly, I hoped she was right. 

After lunch Damien went to find the man with assignments. The men weren't sure where they should be. 

"Mating," the man told them simply, "you are go to the arena area and wait."

I was dropped in our rooms to sit by myself, but that didn't last long. Nu-reeh came and handed me a bag with knitting needles and fine feeling yarn. The deep blue hue of the material was lovely and it would make a warm, soft blanket. 

My jacket and gloves were replaced so I would be cozy and I went with Nu-reeh. She walked with me to the area the men mated in. Several cushions were on the platform for me to rest on. As I sat beside her I felt like a prized poodle.

Knitting with the gloves on was difficult, but I did what Nu-reeh seemed to want and kept them on. Much like the men, I'd do whatever I had to in order to keep her happy. I was lucky not to have fully experienced it, but I understood her anger could be brutal. 

My reason for attending this afternoon event soon became apparent. Nu-reeh didn't like leaving me alone. Humans needed companionship and my companions had not arrived, yet. My health was her highest concern and being left alone was not good for me. 

The women talked as they watched the men down below. I listened carefully, but tried not to be obvious. They were discussing the rebel females. 

"Another female was launched," Tosu said to Nu-reeh, "her female-breeder wore beads and her male-breeder is not named." 

Nu-reeh growled, got up, and paced a moment. Her claws seemed to dig into the floor as she walked. The big woman was livid. 

"Do they harm them?" Nu-reeh asked hotly. "How do they breed so fast with our stolen men?"

Dinah said she didn't know and then Tosu spoke softly. 

"You have heard the claims Nu-reeh, they say the men that live without fear of us have a more potent essence."

The liberal cursing Nu-reeh did had me cringing against my cushions. If I could have run away I would have. Sitting very still, I just prayed not to be the outlet for her frustration. 

"You are scaring your human," Tosu said lightly and Nu-reeh crouched before me. 

I'd never heard Nu-reeh speak gently. When she did, it terrified me. It was like the calm before the storm, but the storm never came. 

"Little slave, I will not hurt you. You are here for your health, agitation is not good for my male offspring. Sit and do your work, but do not fear me."

"Yes, Mistress," I whispered staring up at her. 

The answer satisfied Nu-reeh and she went back to the conversation with her Sisters. 

"What proof do we have they do not hurt our men?" she asked. "How many times were the boys forced to breed to create these offspring? What threats do they lie at their feet? There are no strong women to protect them. They could suffer anything..."

Tosu motioned down into the pit before us where my family was being beaten and mated. 

"They say this does not happen," she said. "The rebels say the men come to them willingly. They protect the men with the same fierceness we would, but they do not make them suffer. The beaded ones claim men are intelligent and can help run the society. Men are powerful in their own way and they do not need to be sequestered away."

The conversation went round and round. I learned that there had been many girls born to the rebels. Several sons had been brought to gatherings to pair them with their families. The rebels were certainly breeding.

"They must continue to bring the little boys to the gatherings," Nu-reeh said cursing again. "It will kill our own if the families are not completed."

Tosu and Dinah agreed. It was generally accepted that if a woman with beads arrived with a son, she must be treated with care. A woman that could breed sons must not be wasted, even if she did steal men. In addition, the stolen men must still be alive to have created offspring. Killing their captors would surely result in their death. 

They would have to meet and decide how to deal with these women. For now, women like Tosu would speak to the beaded ones and perhaps persuade them to give back the taken men. This was certainly a time for negotiation and not brute force. 

The stolen mens' owners, like Nu-reeh, had been scouring the planet looking for their stolen men or at least signs of them. They had found nothing. No one was sure where or how the men were kept. All that Nu-reeh did know was that they were healthy enough to breed. That comforted her somewhat as she searched. 

I was surprised listening to the women. Nu-reeh was a leader, but I had assumed her power was all the result of her physical strength. It seemed Nu-reeh's position was based on political prowess as much as anything.

As I sat and knitted I thought about it. These women were truly mothers to this planet. They weren't just giant, controlling beasts. When a gentle hand or thoughtful consideration was necessary, they could do that. It was enlightening for me.

The mating lasted the prescribed amount of time and I was relieved to see my family coming toward me. I rose and met Damien with a gentle kiss. Kisses for the rest of the family followed and I realized the women were watching us greet one another. 

"This is your breeder?" one of the women Damien had mated asked, coming toward me. 

Quite suddenly I found myself staring at Nu-reeh's wings as she stepped in front of me. The conversation was polite, but the warning was clear. No one approached me without the big woman's express permission. 

I caught Bane's eye and he looked as surprised as I felt.

"Go bathe and take your evening meal," Nu-reeh instructed Damien pointing to the exit. "If you wish to play your games in the stadium the slave sits very near you in a warm, comfortable place."

Damien responded with agreement. I would not be left out of their sight. 

We walked back to our rooms and I told Christof in whispered words what I'd heard. He found it as interesting as I had. The women's dealings with the beaded ones was something we were just beginning to learn about, we all found it very interesting. Soon enough we expected Hannah and Kennedy to be earning their beads. 

Talking of Hannah made the family tease Damien quietly. His daughter had promised retribution. Knowing Hannah's temper as they did, everyone wondered what she would do. 

We walked back to our quiet quarters and I washed the men. The women this time had really enjoyed fighting with them and they were beaten up. My hands rubbed softly, trying to avoid the sore places. 

"Perhaps a game after the evening meal would be good," Bane commented stretching his back. 

The evening meal came complete with a bowl of strawberries for me. Everything was quiet and normal until two women we knew very well stalked though the men toward our table. Hannah looked livid and her eyes were settled on Damien. Ra followed, but was looking around carefully. 

A step before Hannah made it to our table I heard Nu-reeh call her name. Hannah wanted to hiss and spit, I could see that much from her, but she refrained and called politely back to Nu-reeh.

The rest of the men in the hall went back to their food as Nu-reeh approached Hannah. 

"You know the rules," she said cooly. "It is inappropriate for you to enter this mountain without first announcing yourself. What has made you forget?"

Hannah straightened her spine at the public rebuke, but it seemed to calm her slightly.

"It is too soon for...my female breeder to have another offspring," Hannah said tightly. "I was surprised to hear she was here."

Nu-reeh seemed unaffected by Hannah's response and demanded she follow protocol. With me in these mountains Nu-reeh would tolerate no aberrations in security right now. 

Ra spoke then, "It is a male then? You have my congratulations. My female breeder will send her regards. You have done a great thing." 

Nu-reeh seemed to puff with pride for a moment and accepted the accolades. 

"You must understand, Hannah," Nu-reeh said in a kinder tone. "Males must be protected at all costs. I cannot have just anyone around your female breeder now. We will have to have a plan for you to come and go. You cannot simply arrive as you are used to doing."

I saw the wheels turning in Hannah's head. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Damien. There was no way Nu-reeh would allow her to punish him with me around.

"Your protection of my bloodline is greatly appreciated," Hannah said simply.

"Come," Nu-reeh ordered, "they must eat," she motioned to us. "Speak with me and we will arrange what you need, perhaps a short visit after their meal." 

"No chuke tonight," Bane laughed under his breath.

"But at least our Brother will live to play another day," Kein finished and they all cracked up laughing. 

Hannah and Ra visited later that night in our rooms. She wouldn't touch Damien because then Nu-reeh would ban her. Our daughter wanted to hurt him, though. I think she was surprised he agreed with her. 

"I was not honest," he told her. "Even if I did it to help your Mama, I should not have kept it from her. She is family and has a right to know what we are doing. We were treating her as we were trained to, but she is family, not a slave. Family is strong and can best obstacles together. We understand that now."

In my opinion, seeing the sincerity on his face as he spoke went a long way to soothe Hannah's temper. She knew her father inside and out. He did not like secrets in the family. When he'd said he did this to make it easier for me, it was the truth. His enlightenment also seemed to make her happy.

We talked a long time and it soon became apparent the men had been very unhappy lying to me. They'd felt the breeding time had been too stressful though. They thought I would do better if it just happened. 

It had taken some luck and some timing to do it right. They'd intentionally told the men to deliver the wrong drink, but were still surprised when it happened. They did not understand human breeding and Christof had spent a long time with the Healers. In the end, they were surprised their plan had worked. 

Hannah very grudgingly forgave him, but demanded he not do it again. Damien almost seemed relieved to promise her he would not hide things from me. He really had hated doing it. My men had felt they were committing a grave crime the entire time.

"Your Mama is family to us," Damien said seriously. "We are learning to treat her as such. My Brothers and I will not make this mistake again." 

Rose and Fuji arrived with their owners after several day cycles. I was thrilled to see my friends. The men were also glad to be back around their favorite cousins. It was good for all of us. 

My pregnancy continued and it was very unlike the previous two. Every meal I was given included some sort of Earth food, which I obviously enjoyed. I was permitted to continue to learn to battle with the wooden staffs, because it was good exercise. My swimming was encouraged, but monitored this time. 

Nu-reeh had developed a fear I would drown in the water. One of the Healers had mentioned to her that I could develop cramps and may breath the water, which could kill me. After that my family was excused from part of their afternoon chores to watch me swim. We found it odd, but did not express that to Nu-reeh. Her utter paranoia about this pregnancy was obvious.

The dreams continued and I began to slowly realize what they were. By the time I was fully showing I heard four distinct beats in my dreams. The sound was immensely soothing and I knew what it was. My boy's family had already bonded to him. The strange invisible link between men formed before they were even born. I was hearing the heart beats of my young son's family. 

Nu-reeh's desire to protect me like I was fragile china now made perfect sense. If something happened to me all five little boys would suffer. My health was paramount until this birth. Since I could not protect myself, she was doing it for me. 

Damien and his Brothers found my growing belly fascinating. They understood what was in it now and they knew this family would not hate them. My family loved to caress the growing baby bump.

My exhaustion with this pregnancy continued. Usually when my men played their card games at night I lay down and napped in the bed. They would join me at their regular time, but often it was not sleep on their minds. My men missed the closeness of the bond during our prior pregnancies. 

"You are lovely," Evan whispered dragging his tongue over my bulging belly late one night. 

"So sweet," Kein agreed.

I'd woken slightly cranky to find my clothing removed and the men surrounding me. Kein was nursing at a breast and Evan face pressed to my stomach. They required the closeness and hated that I wasn't bonded to them this time. Playing together in our dreams had been fun. Now when they went to bed, they wanted connection before sleep. 

Trying to fight them when they were like this was useless and just resulted in hurt feelings. No one would be satisfied until we'd done something together. Since my belly was still fairly small being sexual was still very possible. That was what they usually wanted to do when they loved on me at this time of night. 

My sleepy eyes looked up into Christof's caring ones. He always took the time to make sure I was agreeable to their night time foray's. Sighing I pulled his lips to mine and kissed him softly.

"I need a drink first," I requested and he was gone. 

No one could say my lovers weren't interested in pleasing me. 

After my water I looked up to find all five of them staring at me. Getting to my knees I looked at them and tried to guess what they wanted. It became obvious pretty quickly.

My family wanted to play together. My preparation was done as I knelt over Christof. With his tongue in my mouth I couldn't fight as Kein wiggled his hand between us to fondle my breasts. Evan's mouth found my cunt and Bane's hands caressed my backside. Damien rubbed my back and shoulders, leaving no flesh unstimulated. 

Someone aimed Christof and I moaned as he slid easily in. A hand wrapped in my hair and I stopped kissing my chosen man. Damien dragged my lips to his shaft as he looked hotly down at me. He stood at the edge of the bed, hard and ready. 

"Suck it, please," he requested quietly.

Christof continued to slip in and out as I licked Damien tip to base. My lips opened and I let the thick head pass while laving it with my tongue. The whole organ was soon slipping along my lips and bumping my throat on each pass. 

I froze when I felt teeth on my shoulder. The sharp points grazed the flesh and a tongue soothed the stinging places they had been. A warm body settled against my back and I felt a cock resting against my ass. 

"I adore your flavor," Evan whispered hoarsely in my ear. His sharp secondary teeth nipped at my ear and then he licked. 

"Control, Brother," Damien reminded him squeezing his shoulder. 

Sharp teeth receded and Evan licked down my earlobe to nibble at my neck above my collar. He just wanted to be close and watch me devour his Brother. As I rode Christof I felt Evan dry humping my backside. His cock slid against my ass until I wanted it there. 

I pulled off Damien and he grabbed the back of my head, intent on having my lips wrapped around his shaft again.

"Fuck my ass, Evan," I said quickly before going back to Damien's tool. 

The permission had been what he was waiting for. My ass was something I didn't always offer them. They respected my right to choose to do this with them. 

Christof rocked slowly beneath me and the oil was slicked between my cheeks and up my dark star. 

"So tight," Evan moaned opening me with his fingers. 

He was right, we wouldn't be able to do this much longer. The pregnancy was making it more difficult. Even normal sex was difficult, multiple sex partners was challenging. 

Christof stilled completely and Damien only took slow movements into and out of my mouth as Evan filled me. He pushed until there was nothing left. I was stuffed and then they all moved as one. 

The sensation of being crushed and controlled by them was amazing. I was somehow tense and relaxed all at once. When my body spasmed around the cocks inside of me, no one was surprised. 

Damien came first, unable to hold out watching his Brothers together. 

Without my mouth occupied I could focus on my stretched lower region. One pulled out as his Brother pushed home. It was a very slow sensual dance. 

Kein knelt beside us and seemed enthralled. I watched his hand drift to his long cock and he started to stroke. 

"Do you want my mouth?" I panted and he shook his head. 

Kein liked the side view. He enjoyed watching my breasts crushed against Christof. Evan made it better by leaning on just one hand and using the other to torment a nipple. 

"You could spray me with it," I offered and I saw Kein's balls start to tighten. 

The first squirt hit my shoulder, the second hit my back as Evan backed away to give him room, the third landed on the side of my breast. In a move that surprised me Evan caught the rest in his hand. As I licked Kein's seed from his palm Evan exploded in my ass. 

Christof was so close beneath me, but Bane wanted him to wait. I panted over Christof as he held my hips tightly. I felt him strain at not finishing. 

"I want to come on her ass while I see you inside of her," Bane said moving into the position Evan had been in. 

Kein's seed was drying on my back and shoulder. I got the feeling looking at it laying on my skin was turning Bane on. Masturbating had been such a taboo thing for them, seeing the evidence of it made them wild. 

Christof grinned up at me as his long fingers pulled my ass open. Bane groaned loudly and I heard his hand moving quickly over his shaft. Bracing myself on the bed I started to slide up and down Christof's staff. His grin faded as his secondary teeth dropped and his eyes glazed. 

Bane's spending sprayed across my ass as Christof pressed in and came inside of me. 

Looking around the room I saw everyone was hard again. If they wanted another go at me, I felt for sure I would not enjoy it. Being woken in the middle of the night for sex was difficult for a pregnant woman, but I should never have doubted them. 

"Come," Evan said offering me his hand.

I slipped tiredly off of Christof and stepped off the bed. Kein was already adjusting the water in the shower. They ignored their own raging erections and cleaned me quickly. 

"Soon even this will be too much," Evan said patting me dry. "Thank you for letting us still ...," Evan looked at his Brothers before continuing, "share pleasure with you. We know this isn't easy for you."

In all this time, only Christof had ever thanked me. I took Evan off guard when I grabbed him and kissed him. He held me up as I looked into his surprised blue eyes. 

"You are welcome, my love," I whispered in his ear.

I had to laugh as they all said thank you and insisted that I kiss them too. Never, never, never had I expected to hear that in this place. It was wonderful. 

My belly grew slowly with my son. I feared something was wrong, but I didn't want to worry anyone in my family. Finally, I decided I had to ask someone. 

Nu-reeh or one of her Sisters checked on me at least once a day. Tosu came most frequently. She would sit with me for a moment and make sure all was well. She wanted to know if I was nauseated or vomiting. Most pointedly she always asked about my sleep and my mental state. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 28



I was still quite embarrassed, but everyone seemed aware I had been sad to the point of wishing to end my life. Privacy was a privilege I wished I could earn back. Nothing about me was a mystery on this planet. 

Taking a breath, I asked Tosu if my stomach was the right size. I admitted I feared my child was too small. Perhaps something was wrong and I should do something different. 

Tosu reassured me quickly.

"Boys are smaller than girls," she soothed. "Your little one is the right size. It will be an easier birth."

"Thank you, Mistress Tosu," I sighed stroking my rounded belly. "I worry for him, for his future. I know I have no control..."

"He will be born a slave," she said very softly and I looked into her eyes, "but he will not stay that way."

I couldn't keep the shock off my face, but it did not stop her. 

"I believe freedom is a right, Rachel, you will be free again. I promise you. This will end," she said with whispered fierceness. "We are close, so very close." 

It had been so long since anyone had called me Rachel. The strange men at the cabin had and she had in the past. I barely recognized it as my name. My mouth opened and shut, but nothing came out. 

"It is your free name," Tosu said laying her hand on my arm. "I will not sully it while you are in bondage. Remember it, little human, you will answer to it again."

I sat shocked into silence by her statement. Tosu just smiled and wished me a good afternoon as she walked away. 

For a long time, I sat at the little table and stared after her. It was only when Rose approached me about doing our afternoon work that I finally roused myself. Slowly I moved to sit with her and Fuji.

We were making stories for the young boys again. It was a chore that Rose loved, so she hated it when I interrupted her work. 

"What was your name before?" I asked Rose. 

She looked up and smiled. "I supposed they won't care if I tell you now, will they?" she asked rhetorically. "It was Ruth, Ruth Ann Marshall. I've decided that my husband's name was never really mine. That was my maiden name."

"Ruth," I repeated, trying the name out. I'd have to remember it. 

"And you Fuji?" I asked watching her. "What name did you have before your Masters named you?"

Fuji looked confused for a moment, like what I'd said made no sense. 

"I had no name," she said simply. "The owner of a female names her on my planet. If the male wishes the female to have a name, he gives her one. I was granted my own name to use by Master Stayne and his Brothers. It is the only name I have ever had."

Rose and I both sat and stared at Fuji. 

"You never told me that," Rose said, almost accusingly. 

Fuji sat and thought for a moment before she shifted and spoke. "Master Stayne and his Brothers demand that I speak honestly with my friends, because I wish to. I have never been given this directive before."

Rose and I started to speak at once and had to take turns. What Fuji had said made almost no sense. Either you spoke freely or your said what your Master demanded. It took us a while to understand that Fuji didn't feel she could talk, unless they gave her permission. Still it was impressive she wanted to talk to us. 

"You are changing Fuji," Rose said with a smile. "The girl I have known all this time would not have asked her Masters for anything." 

Fuji just grinned at us. 

Kennedy and Hannah visited several times during my pregnancy. We had to be careful, because we could not walk and talk. Nu-reeh demanded we stay in the space she had made for me. 

Since we couldn't leave the ever present cameras the girls didn't say much. We knew that the cameras didn't transmit sound, but it was unnerving to be watched. Although Tosu had no issue speaking freely to me here, my daughters were wary. I appreciated their caution. 

I used the pad in secret every day. My family and I continued to learn about the world, so we would be knowledgeable when we left. All of us were bent on escape from slavery. 

At some point my stomach finally grew to what I considered acceptable size. The little boy in my womb was active and playful. He liked to kick and stretch. My bladder must have fascinated him, because he pummeled it all the time. I shuddered to think how active he would be when he came out. 

The contractions started one morning after breakfast as Rose, Fuji, and I sat talking. No one was in the rooms, besides us, so I didn't give it much thought. The men would arrive for lunch and I would just tell them then. For now I just paced and breathed through the steadily increasing cramps. 

We didn't panic until I sat on the lacquered pot to pee and my water broke about mid morning. 

"This is your third," Rose said worriedly. "It is coming quickly."

The contractions started to come faster and more regular. Rose and Fuji finally decided someone had to get the men. I told them how to get to the sorting room and Fuji bolted out. Rose elected to stay with me, because she knew more about human child birthing.

This was happening so quickly this time. I took off my dress and my boots in the birthing room and crawled up on the warm slab. It had never occurred to me Nu-reeh and her Sisters would watch the camera for that room. They arrived before the men did and shooed Rose out. 

My family barely made it to the birthing room before the birth. Kein crawled up behind me and supported me, so I could wrap my arms around my belly and grab my legs. It took only three pushes and my son slipped onto the slab. 

Damien and his Brothers stood transfixed staring at our boy as Nu-reeh picked him up. I saw them try to grab the child, but Dinah pushed them back. 

"Stay," Tosu demanded, "let us check him. We will not harm him."

Much like before the cord was cut and seared shut. Unlike any other time, Nu-reeh treated this infant like a precious gift. She held him gently as he started to cry and inspected him thoroughly as she dried him.

I stared at the little boy in Nu-reeh's hands. He had hair, that surprised me. Wet, blonde locks hung past his shoulders on all sides. When he was calm and still, my boy was pale, like me. As he started to become upset with the cold and the handling his skin took on the prominent stripes of a Paterian male. It relieved me to see the change, although I hated to hear his upset. Watching Nu-reeh it was obvious she was not trying to hurt him, though. 

The only thing Nu-reeh did that horrified my family was circumcise the child quickly with a talon. Damien and his Brothers yelled and tried to get past Dinah and Tosu, but the two women held them back. It was necessary for cleanliness, Tosu patiently told them. 

Seeing the mens' distress, even I tried to tell Damien what she was doing, but he refused to listen and cursed Nu-reeh. She barely noted the inappropriate commentary. 

"It will be healed by the next nightfall," Nu-reeh said absently, while swaddling the little boy tightly. "Each of you had this done as did every other male. Do not upset yourselves."

My son was up to a full fledged wail by this point. He sounded like a small cat caught in the rain. When Nu-reeh finally handed him to me it was such a relief.

The men huddled around as I brought his tiny mouth to a breast. Instinct took over the moment the firm tip of my nipple met his lips. He rooted around and latched on right away. 

"Like Hannah," Damien said proudly. 

In that way, yes, he was like Hannah. Feeding seemed to come naturally to him. This little one wasn't shy and took what he wanted. The hair was very different though, long and blonde. 

A moment later his eyes opened and I knew this was not Damien's child. 

The child's eyes were huge and blue. The irises took up the entire space, giving him a surreal look. Nu-reeh looked down and I saw her mouth curve into a wide grin. 

"Most certainly Evan's first male offspring," she announced to her Sisters. 

"Good man," Dinah said patting Evan's back. 

I looked up and Evan was stunned. Fingers traced the little boy's brow as Even stared down at us. 

"We will send in Healers," Nu-reeh said in a business like manner. "Feed the boy as often as he wants. He will begin to look for his Brothers soon. We believe he will find them. All boys born to us seek out their Brothers."

"He must have them," Dinah commented, "all men do."

As my young son suckled contentedly I spoke without thinking.

"He has them already," I said watching his little face. "I felt them when he was inside of me. I've heard their heartbeats for many turns of the moon."

The room was silent as I pushed a wet, sticky lock of hair back from his face. It would need to be washed soon. It would never be cut, though, that much I knew. 

"You heard them?" Nu-reeh said sounding surprised.

"Humans cannot..." Dinah started to say and stopped. 

"Most humans cannot," Nu-reeh said and I looked up to see her looking quite pleased, "I chose my breeder well. This human's mind is well suited to this world."

The men looked perplexed, which I suppose is why Nu-reeh continued to talk. 

"You are born into sets determined by a force outside of our control," she said conversationally. "Most female breeders feel it the moment each of their offspring's Brothers connects. Your slave's ability to adapt to our world is quite impressive. I am glad we chose this slave. It was a wise decision, Sisters," the last two comments were directed to Tosu and Dinah. 

The women were talking about this, so Christof took the chance to clarify. 

He spoke softly and let the question hang without pushing the women. "You chose this slave for us, Mistress?"

"Your Brothers wanted a human slave," Nu-reeh answered him, "we saw this slave and knew we would give her to you all. We sent you to the auction and we...assured no other Paterians would bid on her. She was paid for before you first saw her."

It felt so strange to be reminded I was just a thing the women traded at will. My very existence was theirs to play with. Ever since the moment I left Earth, my life had been theirs to control. I was swept by the old feelings of abject helplessness and that depressed me greatly. 

The conversation continued as I stared down at my baby, but I did not hear it. I felt the comforting hands that Evan and Damien laid on my head and shoulder. They understood how this made me feel. Gratefully, I rubbed my cheek on Evan's hand as it lay on my shoulder, as I fought the tears that wanted to flood my eyes. 

The women left and the Healers showed up after the placenta had been delivered. Once again, they wanted it. Damien still found it an odd request, but he didn't see any harm in it. 

My lower body was dried and then coated inside and out with a generous portion of the powerful healing salve. I felt my flesh tighten after the application. 

"He is so small," Evan said as Bane picked me up.

That was accurate. The little bundle in my arms was tiny compared to both Hannah and Kennedy. It could have been Evan's genetic makeup or it could be that's how boys were, I just didn't know. 

"His hair is all stuck together," Evan continued as Bane walked us toward the bedroom. "We need to bathe him."

"Patience," Damien warned pulling back the covers on the bed, "let them rest a little, like we did with our other children. You don't need to rush, Brother."

Damien's words seemed to impart some calmness to Evan and he allowed us to be settled on the bed. He tucked the covers around my feet and helped Kein prop me up with the pillows so our son could finish feeding. The child and I were made absolutely comfortable as he finished and I burped him. 

The other men went to clean up the birthing room, but Evan would not leave. He was fascinated with the tiny boy now sleeping in my arms. Nu-reeh had wrapped the child tightly, but his head was exposed. I watched transfixed as Evan tasted the boy's ear and licked his cheek. 

"It tastes of you and me," he said curiously, "but I taste him also." 

"Do you want to hold him?" I asked.

Evan did. He held the sleeping child and practiced rocking him as I'd done with Hannah and Kennedy. I let my eyes slip closed as I heard Evan murmuring to the boy. 

I woke on the bed with Evan still beside me. Our son was nestled in the covers between us. I looked down to find the little one sucking loudly on Evan's smallest finger. 

"He started to make loud sounds," Evan said, "and I put my hand near his mouth. Now he is happy."

"That will work for a bit," I assured him, "but if the child is hungry, he must eat."

I sat up and picked up my wide eyed baby. He was absolutely voracious when he found the nipple again. He had been practicing on Evan's finger for quite a while it seemed. 

"Do you know his name?" Evan asked suddenly. "You have not told us this one's name yet. I wish him to have a name."

Evan's eyes bore into me as he watched our son feed. 

"Well," I said hoping this decision would not offend his Brothers, "do you have a name you would like to call him? Is there a name you've heard that you like?"

Evan looked confused. "I wish to call him by his name, not the name of another. What is his name?"

I smiled at Evan and remembered how new this was to them. The name would be mine to choose. 

On Earth I'd helped my cousin pick out baby names. We'd gone through books and books of names for her child. One had always reached out to me. 

"His name," I said with authority, "is Jonathan." 

Evan repeated the name several times as he grinned down at our boy. 

"Jonathan," he said still smiling.

It didn't seem anything could take the happy look off his face. 

The rest of the family came in and sat on the bed around us. 

"He is Jonathan," Evan informed his Brothers proudly. 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 29



Welcome back, loyal Lit! 

This chapter is all plot (no sex) and it isn't really a pick me upper - fair warning. We're about to make some real progress in the story, though! 

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his tireless efforts to keep me consistent and readable. The proofreading has been invaluable for all of us. 

Please read and vote! If you weren't able to vote last time...you could always vote now (hint, hint!). I know the system was up and down. 

Thank you and please enjoy - DW.

Next installment should be out March 21

************************************

We washed little Jonathan the same way we had washed Kennedy. 

I was fascinated by the light markings on the baby's skin. Unlike the men, who wore their stripes all the time, Jonathan's only appeared when he became upset. Now as we bathed and he was relaxed in the warm water, they were invisible and he was as pale as me. 

Evan held Jonathan as his Brothers cleaned his baby's body thoroughly. They handled him so carefully, but Evan was still protective. He demanded Kein be the one to clean his hair.

"It is matted and stuck together. You have the best hands, Brother. Clean it without causing him pain," Evan instructed Kein solemnly. 

After our bath our baby was diapered in an absorbent towel. He was then dressed in an outfit that Nu-reeh had sent for him. It was like a bag with arms. The men told me once he started to move around small pants would be brought for him. For now, this was warmer and safer. 

"This leather," I said touching the smooth brown of the outfit, "it feels like..."

It felt like the coat Nu-reeh had made for me. 

I was surprised when Damien answered the unasked question. "It is like your coat," he said putting mittens of similar consistency on Jonathan's tiny hands. "Tosu told us the men that make his clothes will always beat the material until it is soft. Still it will give him great protection against sharp things."

Small lashes were tugged to secure the little mittens to his hands. Evan made sure they weren't too tight. A cord was present under his feet and when it was tied it encased his legs in the outfit. A small hood was attached and fitted over his head. One of the large soft blankets I had made was handed to me and we wrapped him tightly for warmth. 

Clean, dry, and secure Jonathan looked up at me with those strange blue eyes. 

"It is Evan's line," Kein said looking down into the baby's face as I held him. "All males born to it have eyes that look this way. It is a dominate trait, like the hair." 

Little Jonathan started to fuss, so Evan took him and let him suck on his finger. Big eyes drifted shut and the infant was back asleep.

"Come, little Sister," Bane said happily, "take a meal with us."

My form was draped in a warm blue dress and we walked slowly out into the main room. I saw a table and chairs had been added so we could eat in here. 

"We are not to travel in the caves with Jonathan," Damien informed me. "The women want him in a safe place at all times."

That was fine for me. I was just as glad not to have to drag an infant all over the mountain. It had been difficult enough with Hannah and Kennedy. 

The men were beyond excited as they sat and uncovered the feast that had been brought to us. The table was laden with platters. We would eat very well tonight. 

As soon as they started to remove the lids I smelled the pungent aroma of the leaves. 

"Eight days," Evan said excitedly, "this mountain receives the bounty of the tami for eight days. All the men get this treat. It is a celebration."

"Strange," I commented taking a seat beside Evan, "we've never had a feast like this before."

"No sons were born when we were here before," Damien said pulling the meat apart and laying a large serving in front of me. 

I sat silently in shock. We'd spent many moons in the mountains. Long enough to raise two girls. No sons had been born that entire time? The men had sex with women daily, how was it no children were born to these women?

The race would cease to exist if this kept up. 

It made sense now, the need to mix genes with a weak human. At least I was making children. The women here did not seem to manage it. 

Our first night with Jonathan was interesting, to say the least. He got fussy after we had dinner, so I fed and changed him. He was fine for a little while and then he got fussy again. The men soon learned how nice it had been with Hannah and Kennedy, the girls could at least tell us what was wrong. 

Jonathan cried and screamed for no reason. He didn't want the breast, he wasn't wet, and we were keeping him warm. Just like a human infant, he was irritable. 

In the middle of his wailing Nu-reeh appeared, which frightened my family and me. Damien and his Brothers stood between Nu-reeh and our son, until she promised not to hurt me or the babe. 

They watched her carefully as she checked him over. Huge, taloned fingers examined his soft flesh and touched him delicately. I feared for myself and for my family, but Nu-reeh did not wish to harm any of us. She just wanted to be sure Jonathan was well. The screaming she expected, to some extent. 

"He will be a difficult young man," she said handing him back to me. "Walk him," she instructed the men. "It should calm the child." 

The men were shaking they were so angry after Nu-reeh left. Evan leaned over and passed a gentle hand across his wailing child's face. His other hand cupped my cheek. With utter tenderness he kissed me and then kissed his son. Nu-reeh had no right to touch us as she had. 

"She is correct," I grudgingly admitted to them. "Babies on Earth are often soothed by movement. Walking and rocking him may calm him."

The men took turns the first night walking Jonathan. I was ordered to stay in bed and rest. Exhausted as I was, I complied easily with the edict. 

Jonathan stayed calmer as they paced the interior of our cave. I'd sleep until they determined it was time to feed him. After I was done, I was tucked back in to sleep while another of them walked the baby for a while. Moving around was the only thing that kept him calm. 

The night passed fitfully, but at some point it got quiet and I felt myself fade into a complete sleep. 

"Damn it!" Bane cursed and jumped out of bed.

I was startled awake and looked for my son. He and Evan were gone. I tried not to panic as I followed the men out of our living area. There was no one walking by the pool. 

"She's going to skin us," Damien ranted walking faster. 

The men had not bothered to dress and still wore their simple sleeping shifts. I wore my crumpled blue sleeping gown and no foot covers or boots. We were half dressed at best. 

"Where is Jonathan? Where is Evan?" I asked in a slightly frantic voice. 

"He told us he was walking the boy," Kein grumbled. "He told us to rest and let him take the last shift."

Bane growled and answered the question, "He won't listen to us. Evan wants to show his boy the moons. He's taken him to an opening in the mountain."

The men ran and I tried to keep up. It was obvious that I was not going to be able to. Christof waited until I caught up, then scooped me up and ran with me in his arms. 

We rounded a bend and there stood Evan at a large opening in the rock wall. He turned when he heard us and smiled. Evan was dressed and Jonathan was wrapped and laying in his arms. The little one sucked contentedly at Evan's finger.

"Hiding things," Damien said coming to stand beside Evan, "is not good, Brother. You knew we would not want you to do this. Nu-reeh does not want the child out of our section."

Evan shrugged and grinned back at his Brother. "He needs to see the moonset," Evan explained simply. 

I wanted to reach out and grab the baby to take him back to the warm safety of our apartments. The contented look on Evan's face as he looked down at Jonathan stopped me. 

It made sense suddenly. Of course Evan would want to show his son his first full day. This was important to Evan. His life revolved around the pattern of the moons.

Damien leaned on one wall as Bane and Kein leaned on the other side. Christof set me down and then he bounded back the way we'd come. 

I shivered and stepped close to Damien who wrapped me in his arms. 

"My Brother will bring your warm outfit," he murmured into my hair. 

Cold morning air whipped into the cave and I looked over at my son. He was warm and covered, not at all bothered by the weather. The cold wind immediately made me miserable. Damien's warm arms helped, but it felt as though my bare feet would freeze and drop off. 

The world's moons took the pattern they always did before they set. I stood and watched with Damien as the first and smallest dipped below the horizon. Evan watched and spoke to the baby the entire time. He explained to the infant how the moons worked. 

Jonathan's attention never wavered off of Evan. I assumed his eyes weren't developed enough to distinguish anything other than light and dark. He seemed to like the gentle, murmuring voice of his male breeder, though. Evan held his entire attention. 

Christof ran up to us a moment later. He pulled my boots up my legs as Damien pulled the long jacket around me. The warm gloves were dragged up my arms and I sighed with relief. This time the bitter cold in the mountains was unbearable for me. 

The second moon had started to set and the sky was becoming lighter when the rustle of wings interrupted us. Tosu had dropped from above and stepped into the cave next to Bane. Nu-reeh approached from behind us. 

The women stood silently for a moment before Tosu spoke. 

"You see, Nu-reeh," she said quietly, "this is how the women with beads say it is."

Nu-reeh made a sound like someone that had already had this argument to exhaustion. 

"I explained the rules to them," she said directing the comment to Tosu.

"There was no danger," Tosu argued. "I have sat and watched the entire time they have been here. I will do it each time the male wishes to bring his young to see the sky. I knew what he was doing when he left their quarters."

The women had a staring contest as the sky got brighter and brighter. 

"Wait for my Sister," Nu-reeh begrudgingly told us finally, "and she will take you to see moons rise and set. I forbid you to go alone, Evan."

"Yes, Mistress," the men answered her and she turned and left. 

Tosu stood at the entrance to the cave, off to the side. I recognized the slightly defensive position and realized she was alert for danger. My young boy meant a great deal to these women. 

The sky became much lighter and Jonathan gurgled and cooed reaching for the light. The sound absolutely melted my heart. I put a gloved hand on Evan's arm and looked at our little boy. He made the noise a second time and yawned big. 

"It is not time for sleeping," Evan said softly. "Wake and see the morning."

"New children sleep at odd times," Tosu told him gently. "The little one will sleep when he is ready and wake when he is done. As he gets older he will follow the moons as you do. They often do not feel the pull until they begin to walk." 

Interesting information and it seemed to calm Evan's nerves. He could not understand how his child wanted to sleep in the day. I was glad Tosu had taken the time to explain. 

We took breakfast in our rooms once Evan was satisfied with Jonathan's introduction to the day. I fed the littlest member of the family as the men passed out plates of food to each other. Much to Evan's dismay Jonathan fell sound asleep after he nursed. 

"The moons are set," Evan said sounding upset, "the sun is in the sky. He should not wish to sleep now."

Damien and Christof soothed him and reminded him what Tosu had said. They also remembered Hannah and Kennedy. It was normal for a baby to sleep after feeding. Jonathan had also been awake most of the night being cranky. Of course he would rest.

The family calmed Evan's fears and we had a very pleasant breakfast. 

While Jonathan slept I took a chance to use the pad Kennedy had given me. I wanted to send both my girls a note about their birth brother. It seemed important they should know. 

I should have known nothing about me was a secret on this world. I had three messages on the pad. Kennedy sent love and congratulations and so did Hannah. They'd heard of the successful birth while they traveled. A boy with Evan's talent made a strong family. Jonathan was already quite celebrated. 

The third message was under Kennedy's account, but it was not from my girls.

Damien and his Brothers crowded around the pad to read the message. Tyle and his Brothers had escaped. Bane's son was living free beyond the mountains. 

The young men thanked Damien and his Brothers for the education they had been given. Living outside the compound was very difficult. It would have been harder if they had known less. 

"Men approached us," Tyle wrote, "as we were on one of our first solo patrols. They told us Hannah had sent them. We remembered what you had told us and we went with them willingly. They made it looked like we had fought them, though. The men ruined our transport from the compound, so it appeared we had battled."

My men were shocked how close to the compound the bandits came. Young Warriors were never sent very far. Tyle explained how the bandits used a series of underground tunnels to reach them. They had transports built that ran in the hidden spaces. The transports that ran underground were different from the ones above. Tyle told us they ran on something called ore. It was a harrowing ride to freedom deep beneath the surface of the planet.

Aryn sent his thanks to Bane and stated he wished to see him again. He told us his family missed the instruction from Damien's family. The boys had never met men that treated them as Damien and his Brother's did. Aryn looked forward to being together with us again. 

Jonathan started to fuss after we'd read the message through for at least the fifth time. Evan handed me the tiny bundle and stroked his back. 

"We will save you, too," he promised the baby. "You will not die this way."

Jonathan grew quickly sequestered in our mountain home. The first lunar cycle was the worst, because he had no order to his sleep and wake cycles. He slept a great deal in the day and wanted to be awake at night.

To be honest, I got the feeling Jonathan liked to be around Evan. He was always more lively and animated when his male breeder held him. My little boy knew exactly who he belonged to. 

Despite understanding Jonathan, his schedule was still frustrating. My family's devotion was something I was unfailingly grateful for. The men had no issue taking turns at night to rock and hold the infant. When I'd had all I could take and needed to rest, they took over his care. 

The men became good at recognizing Jonathan's sounds. They would cajole and rock him pacing the area by the pool. When the noises meant hunger, they'd bring him to me straightaway. 

Evan never had an issue with caring for Jonathan. If the boy kept him up all night, he didn't really care. He'd do whatever was necessary to keep his little one happy and well. We all noted Evan's devotion and the bond that seemed to form between he and his son. In my heart I loathed the day Jonathan would be taken from us. 

Rose and Fuji helped to entertain the infant and keep him happy during the day, once he finally was more awake then. His happiness was Nu-reeh's most important goal. When he screamed more often than not she appeared to ensure he was treated well. I felt I was under a microscope.

The scrutiny worried me at first, but I soon relaxed. Nu-reeh had no desire to bring me any harm. I fed Jonathan from my body and was his sole source of nourishment. I was as important as the young boy she already claimed, at least while he needed me. 

My health and well being were still a priority. She watched what I ate and what I did every day. The men still came and watched me swim every day. It was much like when I was pregnant. 

Also like during the pregnancy, my contact with my daughters was limited after Jonathan's birth. The girls had to ask permission to see us and Jonathan could not go out into the mines. My girls visited in our area for specified amounts of time. I knew Nu-reeh monitored us. 

Nu-reeh had given the girls instructions. Jonathan could touch them if he wanted, but they were never to lay a hand on him. He was virtual royalty in our little world. 

Jonathan crawled over the girls and tasted their fur. When they sat Indian style he liked to settle in the warmth of their laps and sleep. My little son adored his birth sisters and squealed with joy whenever they came to visit. 

Not surprisingly, my girls were still at it. When they physically came to see me, they couldn't say much. The messages on the pad I got from them told me what they were doing to help the freedom effort.

As they traveled around they did different jobs, usually reconnaissance, for the rebel leaders. Hannah was also involved in rescues from the compounds. Just from the way she told me stories I knew she protected the men fiercely. 

I didn't know exactly how human children grew, but I knew about Paterians. Much like his sisters Jonathan started to try to walk after his first moon. By that time, he finally wanted to sleep when the men did and wanted to wake when the moons sat. It was relieving to sleep at night, but walking brought new challenges to us. 

Nu-reeh kept him well dressed as his needs changed. The day he started to stand she had little pants sent for him. As soon as the clothing got tight on his growing body, the right size was sent. She was very attentive to his needs. 

Those strange big eyes began to look slightly more normal as he grew. His face seemed to grow around them. The long blonde hair framed his face, making him look almost angelic. He was a markedly handsome little man. 

There were issues, though, and things I would never have considered I could screw up. Inadvertently I slowed his ability to speak. I sang to him and spoke around him in English. I didn't do it to be rebellious, I was just used to Hannah and Kennedy, who knew both languages. 

For instance, when I knitted Jonathan was enthralled by the movement of the needles. He'd watch them carefully for a time and then reach out to grab them. What usually happened after that was a tug of war as half a morning's worth of knitting fell apart. 

"Gimme," I'd say in English, laughing at his antics, "mine, not yours."

Jonathan learned the words from me quickly. When he started to babble it was a blend. Some of the words were Paterian and some English. Only Rose and I could truly understand the strange mixture of words and phrases that he started to use. 

Nu-reeh was displeased at his language, but gruffly informed me it would be fixed at the Child Keepers. I swallowed the tears I wanted to shed and merely thanked her. Hannah and Kennedy would free my baby boy. One day he could speak any language he wished. 

By the time the child had passed three moons, he could have been termed a devil. He was curious and strong. Evan brought him toys and he dismantled them. He threw his blocks and bent his puzzle pieces. His favorite trick was to drop things into the pool and watch them sink. Shiny stones the men brought him to play with were perfect for that. All in all, I could barely keep up with him.

Evan feared for the boy around the water and taught him to swim. It wasn't so much a lesson as a way to alleviate our fears. As it turned out, Jonathan had no fear of water and swimming in it came naturally to him. As soon as he was allowed to swim he'd swim down to the bottom and collect the things he'd thrown into the pool. Of course all he did was toss them back in to retrieve again. He'd play that game all day if I allowed him. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 29



Early on it had become apparent that Jonathan was too adventuresome to be left alone. My friends and I developed a system when we cleaned our rooms. One of us would watch the boy as the other two worked. As we moved from room to room he'd grab the side of my dress or Rose's dress and babble away to us. Our time to clean was his time to talk. It seemed good practice for him since he was usually too active to stop and converse. 

Most of the time activity was Jonathan's motto. He ran circles around all of us. When I used a table he'd climb onto it only to jump off. The furniture in our apartment was his own personal jungle gym. He'd bound from chair to chair, never touching the floor. It wasn't possible to stop him. The word 'no' was like an ignition switch. Damien laughed and said it was just like Evan. 

Jonathan was like Evan in other ways also. His hair grew so it ran down his back. When it reached a certain point it seemed to stop growing. We kept it tied back to keep it from tangling in everything. Getting a knot out of Jonathan's hair always resulted in screams that sounded like bloody murder. Damien remembered that having been a frequent issue when they were young also. 

There were things about Jonathan that were certainly human attributes. Curiosity could have been his middle name. He wanted to do everything we did. Meal time was always a challenge. Without teeth he couldn't really eat the food on our plates. He'd nurse and then he wanted to taste what we were having. 

Lucky for us, as it turned out, I found he'd eat mashed up food. I would crush soft things, like my sweet potato chunks and feed that to him. It didn't make him sick and he was growing well, so we always shared with him. 

He nursed frequently, but ate something off mine or Evan's plate at most meals. It seemed to make the little one happy. I was always glad when he was happy. 

Jonathan was an all consuming task, but we all loved him. He loved us, too, in his own wild, childish way. Jonathan needed more though. 

By his fifth moon something strange started to happen. The first time it did my family panicked. 

We were sitting around the fire in the late evening before bed. We'd finished a note from Hannah and were just talking. All of the sudden the men jumped back out of their chairs. The entire focus was on Jonathan who was babbling happily at my feet. 

My quizzical expression met their wide, shocked ones. 

"He tried to..." Evan said and stopped.

Jonathan got up and walked toward Evan talking and reaching. He wanted his Daddy to pick him up. Evan backed toward the far wall slowly.

"What is wrong with you?" I fussed standing to pick up our son. "He just wants to be close to you."

In a very human gesture Evan shook his head 'no' and stared mutely at me. 

"He tried to..." again Evan couldn't finish and just stood there. 

"It was like he tried to bond with us," Damien said slowly. "I felt it, we all did. It was so strange."

"For a moment," Kein said in awe, "he was part of us. That has never happened before. We didn't know anyone could do that..."

"He didn't like it, though," Bane said stepping toward me. "We weren't right, we didn't fit, but he wanted to try."

The mens' postures relaxed and Evan finally came toward us. A hand stroked the boy's head. Jonathan caught Evan's hand and commenced sucking on his fingers.

"He is lonely," Evan said quietly. 

"I cannot remember not knowing you, Brothers," Bane said resting a hand on Kein's shoulder. 

Christof came to stand by Evan as Jonathan gummed his fingers. "He is sad. It is like when I was separated from you all after the women had me in the mountains. He knows he has Brothers, but he cannot find them."

"Remember what Ronal told us many moons ago?" Damien asked. "When we thought Hannah was a boy he told us they put the boys together."

"It needs to be soon," Evan said sadly. "He needs his Brothers."

A tear slid down my face and I saw the same emotions in Evan's eyes. 

"He will not be lost to us forever, Sister," he said softly. "Hannah and Kennedy will save him...they must."

My family murmured assurances to us. They had saved Bane's boy already. My girls would help save this son. Again, I had to put my faith in their promises to control my emotions, otherwise sadness threatened to overwhelm me.

I knew time was short, so I enjoyed Jonathan as much as I could. Every waking moment was spent playing with him and talking to him. He still spoke in that strange language he'd invented. I understood him, though. 

Children have no basis for sad and I knew that. Jonathan started to do things that told me he was not happy. He didn't talk as much and played with his toys less. He slept poorly and had to be reminded to nurse. I knew Nu-reeh would notice and she did. 

"He needs his Brothers," she told me as she stalked in one day without warning. 

"Yes, Mistress," I agreed watching the unusually quiet little boy sitting listlessly by the pool. 

"Usually we wait until they have teeth and are eating on their own, but this cannot continue," she informed me. 

Nu-reeh left after her proclamation, but Tosu returned later to explain what would happen. 

The women knew the boys had to meet and match with their families. Gatherings were held regularly in predetermined sites. Any woman with a son was welcome to attend. Women flew from all over the world to meet, but I was a special case. 

Jonathan needed me to feed and it was deemed foolish for Nu-reeh to be dragging a human across the planet. The women had agreed to forgo the usual site and hold the next meeting in our mountain. 

"Be strong, Rachel," Tosu whispered to me with her back to the cameras, "he will be fine to grow for a while with the Child Keepers. He will be brought back to you."

I fought for inner peace as I thanked her. 

It was less than four day cycles later when I received my summons to attend. Jonathan and I had been sitting with Rose and Fuji. Dinah came to our rooms and demanded I bring my knitting needles, yarn, and Jonathan. I followed her out the main door toward the area where the women stayed. 

We walked to the huge wall and Dinah scooped me up. When we took flight Jonathan screamed, but not like I wanted to. That was fun and he wanted to do it again. He cried and fought when Dinah put us down at the top. He begged in his jumbled language to do it again.

Dinah was never friendly with me; I was barely tolerated. Jonathan was a different story. She took him from me and flew him up and down five times before she walked us inside. Jonathan was ecstatic and grinned broadly at the huge woman. He was enraptured with Dinah. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at his taste in women. 

In the past I'd been in the women's area and it had been sparsely populated and quiet. The large central area was a common pass through, but the women didn't congregate the way men did. Today was entirely different. 

The stone pit my girls dipped their talons in was literally walled off. The rest of the area was alive with activity. 

The main floor was lit with torches and scattered with brightly colored toys. Cushions were all over the place and I soon noticed why. As two large women stood and talked a boy was nestled between them. He was wrapped in a blanket on the soft, little make shift bed, sound asleep. 

There were perhaps fifty women here all with their boys roving about or resting. 

Jonathan rode in my arms and took it all in for a moment. He'd never been in the presence of this many before and he'd never seen other little boys.

He was content to sit in wonder for all of about twenty heartbeats. 

"Mama, down. I wan!" he demanded struggling out of my arms. 

He hit the floor and couldn't decided where to go first. A moment later he bolted toward a group of boys playing. 

I wasn't sure what to do and thought perhaps I should stop him, but Dinah corrected me. 

"Let him be," she demanded grabbing my arm. "He will come to you when he is hungry."

"Yes, Mistress," I said watching Jonathan boldly approach the other children. 

My little one had no fear, only curiosity. He went from child to child, babbling and touching. Some of the other children interacted with him and some shied away. He was smaller than most, but he had a mighty personality. 

Dinah led me to where Nu-reeh and Tosu were. I was directed to rest on a larger cushion. Tosu pointed out that they had brought me refreshments should I need them. 

Jonathan inspected every child at the gathering. He played longer with some, but he never stayed with anyone. It was like he was looking for someone. 

Eventually, he was spent. He sat in the middle of the floor and let out an ear splitting cry. It didn't matter that I shouldn't, I went to him immediately. 

Weaving between the boys and their toys I picked up my wailing son. He was so upset; he didn't want to be held and rocked. Food was not a concern and he refused the breast petulantly. Jonathan just continued to scream.

"Nurse, Baby," I begged him, but he wouldn't.

I carried his wailing, squirming body back to the pile of cushions Nu-reeh had directed me to. Singing softly, I tried to comfort my boy, but he was uncharacteristically irritable. Pacing in front of the cushions I rocked him until he calmed. 

Tosu reassured me, her only male offspring had done the same thing. His brothers had not been at the gathering the first day and it frustrated him. That little boy had done the same thing Jonathan was currently doing. 

It took time, but my boy relaxed slowly. I put him on the cushion beside me and he just stayed there. He sat and played absently with things Nu-reeh brought to him. The other little boys would wander by, but he ignored them. Jonathan knew what he needed and these children were not it. 

"More women arrive for the next many days," Tosu told me. "This gathering will last here for five day cycles."

Nu-reeh and her sisters talked. They hoped at least some of Jonathan's Brothers would be brought to this gathering. At lease one of them should be having the same sensations manifesting. Their female breeders should be delivering them soon. 

The hall we were in was loud. The women met and talked as the boys screamed and played. It was constant noise and stimulation. I feared it would be too much for Jonathan, since he was unused to this much activity. He didn't seem bothered by it all. 

"I do not believe it," Nu-reeh said suddenly as the women in the hall all turned. 

I looked where they were looking and saw a woman limping into the room.

The woman was large and looked powerful, but she was gravely injured. Even from where I sat I could see the streaks of blood down her legs. Her stomach had been slashed open and viscera could clearly be seen. 

My hand went to my mouth as I saw what she carried. A small boy with brown hair was nestled in her arms. He was still, from my perspective, and his color was...off. 

The woman moved further into the light and I saw the flash of colored beads that had been used to decorate her fur. She stood silently watching the other women. 

I wondered what they would do. She was seriously injured, would they complete the job? Would they torture her? She could not fight back effectively the way she looked now. 

I had no more time to consider the issue. Trapped in my musings I had not seen Jonathan get up. He had crossed the room and I didn't see him until he was at the woman's legs. 

"Gimme," he demanded loudly in English reaching toward her boy, "mine no yours!"

The woman's brow quirked and Jonathan repeated the phrase over and over again, still reaching for her boy. 

It must have made sense to her, despite the strange word. She sat the little brown haired boy on his bottom in front of Jonathan. More beads caught the light as she stood back up. 

I'd gotten to my feet and moved toward my baby without thinking. If there was to be a fight between the women, I didn't want Jonathan in the middle of it. This woman, even injured, could kill my son if she fought with Nu-reeh. I could not let it happen. 

Jonathan plopped down in front of the new little boy and grabbed his hand. In a gesture I was very familiar with he started to suck the other boy's fingers. A slight smile appeared on the beaded woman's face watching the children. 

I reached the trio and tried to pick up Jonathan to move him. The beaded woman stopped me with a gentle command. 

"Leave them," she said, "Aiden is his Brother and they will not tolerate it if you take them apart."

I was frantic and looked back at Nu-reeh as she came toward us. I knelt behind Jonathan and prayed my body would take the impact of whatever battle was about to happen. 

Talons stopped behind me and to both sides. My breathing revved up and I hunched protectively over my boy, but what happened was unexpected. 

"You are injured, cousin," I heard Nu-reeh say calmly. 

"I am," the beaded woman replied. "I will not live to see the next sunrise." 

The conversation continued and it was pleasant. The beaded woman was named Halil. She had been protecting her men from Racks and been outnumbered. She'd destroyed the dreaded creatures, but had suffered mortal injuries. 

Her Sisters had flown here with her, but she'd made the last moments of the journey alone. The beaded ones did not wish to be captured by Nu-reeh and her followers. They had men to protect at home. 

Nu-reeh bristled at the comment. She and her followers had sworn not to harm women from these gatherings. This was a neutral event. Despite how she feared for the men the beaded ones took, she would not seize their protectors and risk their health. 

Halil laughed at the idea that Nu-reeh feared for the taken men, blood seeped from her wounds faster at the noise. "They are free men, Nu-reeh, that come and go as they please. Our men are strong and have taken up the positions they should in our society."

"Men should be protected," Nu-reeh insisted. "You have taken ones under our protection. We fear for them."

Halil dropped to her knees suddenly and we were all silent watching her. A large hand came down and stroked the head of her boy. He looked at her and whimpered pitifully. 

He was watching his mother die and it broke my heart. Tears started to fill my eyes and I wasn't paying attention to Jonathan. When he shoved me backwards, I toppled and ended up sitting on Nu-reeh's feet. I slid off her talons and sat on the floor feeling surprised. 

"Come, nurse from Mama. Lots o' milk, we share. No be hungry," Jonathan promised Aiden.

As I sat stunned, Jonathan lifted the other boy under his arms and dragged him onto my lap. 

"Baby, what are you doing?!" I asked as Jonathan moved my clothing aside and pulled out a heavy breast. 

"Hungry, Mama," he stated simply pushing the new little boy's head to my teat.

The little, brown haired boy let Jonathan guide him and took a nipple between dry, cracked lips. As I sat and watched he took a tentative pull. Three voracious children had taught my breasts how to produce enough food for an army. Two half hearted sucks later the new little boy's mouth filled with milk. 

"Mistress, I..." I had no idea what to say. 

I didn't want to refuse the boys, because I feared that would be rude for a slave to do. It wasn't clear to me that I should nurse another woman's child. None of the women looking down at me appeared upset with this, though. 

The first taste of milk must have been different for Aiden. He seemed surprised, but swallowed it after a mere moment. Evidently it was deemed fit because he started to suck ravenously burying his hands in the soft tissue and gripping fiercely. 

Halil fell gracelessly to her side and watched us with half lidded eyes. 

"Aiden will not die, then," she whispered watching her son drink like a starved man. "I have not been able to feed him for two day cycles."

Nu-reeh made a horrified sound, "You should have brought him sooner. My slave can feed them both."

"Your slave," Halil repeated sadly, "my male offspring is your slave now also. How I wished to save him from this life. He should have been like his cousins and bonded with free boys in other camps. I prayed he would be like the many we have bred and kept from your ways."

"Cousins?" Nu-reeh asked suspiciously.

"We have our own gatherings before we bring our boys to these vile events," Halil whispered. "Our numbers are not small and we will grow quickly. Slavery stifles men, they cannot reach their potential with your ways."

Aiden continued to drink as Jonathan crawled up beside him. My little one wiggled around until I held both of them. Jonathan wasn't hungry and just watched his Brother. He wanted, he needed, to be close to him. 

Nu-reeh's voice was thick with emotion, "What do you do to our men?" she asked. "How do you force them to breed with you?"

Halil's voice became ragged and her breathing was coming in gasps, but she answered. 

"We treat them as equals," she said. "They choose us as we choose them. We are all part of a happy, functional home. My men are my beloved as are my Sisters. I care deeply for all of them. My emotions for my male offspring I cannot describe..."

Halil's eyes closed and she took a few more gasping breaths. A small tremor passed through her hands and feet and then she moved no more. Halil had died less than five handspans from me. 

The little boys didn't notice the drama that unfolded just behind them. Women came and took Halil's body and the boys did not see them. Aiden finished drinking from both breasts and then his eyes drifted shut. Jonathan did the same thing and they were soon snoring softly. 

Sitting on the floor and holding both boys was difficult, getting up with them would have been impossible. Tosu took Aiden and Dinah picked up Jonathan. I got to my feet and followed as we walked back to the area we'd been in prior. Nu-reeh asked me to sit on my cushions while I ate and drank. With two children to feed I would require more water and food. 

"Aiden is weak," Tosu told me as she tucked him under a soft blanket on the cushion beside me. "Jonathan is completing the bonding with this child and it will affect him. Feed them both so they will be strong."

Dinah put Jonathan down next to Aiden so they were touching and seconded Tosu's statement. If Aiden got too weak it would kill Jonathan. They were both my responsibility to feed back to health.

The women stood around me talking. Nu-reeh had heard the things Halil had said in the past. The beaded women always claimed the same thing. She had not heard what prolific breeders they were before this. 

I sat silently with the children while the women discussed. In my own heart and head I mourned for Halil's loss. She had been a brave, noble woman. Her son would be the same and I felt honored that he was bonding to my baby. 

Nu-reeh walked off with her Sisters to talk to other women. I was left with the two sleeping children. I just watched the room with amazement about what had just happened.

After a long while, Aiden woke and started to fuss. Jonathan woke instantly and assisted as I pulled his Brother back into my lap. I nursed Aiden again and checked the absorbent wrap on his bottom. It was bone dry. 

I took the time to really examine Halil's son and I knew he was in trouble. Even after drinking twice his mouth looked dry and his eyes appeared sunken. This little boy was very dehydrated. 

Despite the recent dehydration I saw his strength. Aiden's stripes were prominent and his features were strong. It was obvious he was pure- blooded Paterian male. He would be powerful when he grew up. 

More awake after two feedings Aiden looked around. His wide brown eyes met mine and he held my gaze. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 29



"Halil?" he finally asked quietly.

"Gone for now," I whispered, "you are here with your Brother."

Mentioning Jonathan distracted the boy and he grinned at his new playmate. I sat them on the cushions together and they seemed happy. The rest of the room didn't exist as far as they were concerned. 

Jonathan seemed weaker and more tired than he had when we got here. He sat with Aiden on the cushion next to me and played calmly with the toys. My son was usually wild, Aiden's condition was slowing them both down. 

I sat with the two boys for the remainder of the day. Food was brought for me and I fed the boys whenever they wanted. New little ones arrived throughout the afternoon. My two boys didn't pay any attention to the other children for the most part. They just sat and attended to one another. 

Tosu approached late in the afternoon and crouched beside us. 

"They still feed from the breast, so they will stay with you. If their other Brothers come the women may force you to stay in this area with us," she said stroking Aiden's head. "Their Brothers may be so young their mothers will not bring them yet. If that is so, we will have another gathering like this one in another lunar cycle."

Tosu guided me and we walked back toward the incline. Jonathan walked with me, but Aiden had to be carried by Tosu. He didn't want to leave the great hall we'd been in, though. 

"Halil?" he continued to question Tosu.

"Your Brother is here," Tosu told him softly. "Halil has gone to The Great Harmonious Spirit. She brought you to your Brother."

The answer did not satisfy the little boy completely, but it moved his focus to Jonathan.

"He calls her by her name," I said absently as we approached the incline. 

Tosu laughed lightly. "The answer I wish to give you is 'Of course he does', but I understand you humans have titles for your male and female breeders. Nu-reeh was quite surprised when Hannah referred to you as Mama. She thought your name had been changed."

"On Earth, it's what they would have called me," I said picking up Jonathan.

I propped Jonathan on my hip. He was usually rambunctious and impulsive. I didn't want him jumping off the incline. Aiden's presence calmed him, but I wasn't sure by how much. 

"You could go back to Earth," she said quietly and I stopped walking I was so surprised. "It is not impossible. Think about what you want," she finished turning to face me. 

My mind swam with the possibility of going home. No more monsters and no more forced breedings. I could go back to school and get training as a teacher. 

Jonathan yawned in my arms and stretched, laying his head against my shoulder. "He couldn't go with me," I said sadly watching my boy, neither could Hannah or Kennedy. 

My children would be alien monsters on Earth. They didn't look human and could never pass for it. I thought of the movie, "Starman", where the government had hunted down and killed the first ambassador from another civilization. My children could not even claim diplomatic immunity. They'd be poked and prodded and kept in cages. Their freedom would be much more limited than mine was here. 

Damien and his Brothers obviously couldn't go either, they would be treated as foreign invaders. If I left, I did so without my family.

"Think on it, Rachel," Tosu said softly. "One day you will be given the option."

Clattering talons announced Dinah had come to help Tosu move me and the two little ones down the incline. I composed my features and allowed myself to be lifted and moved down. 

Once we were on the ground Jonathan was curious again. He only got to come out here when Evan showed him the moons. He scrambled out of my arms and walked with us, exploring everything. 

The women did not let me walk unescorted to the quarters I shared with my friends and family. Tosu and Dinah walked us all to the cave entrance. 

"We will come for you tomorrow," Tosu advised me, "after the little ones have fed after moon set move them out into the room with the pool. We will come for you all after that."

Tosu handed me Aiden and I carried him into the large outer room. Jonathan gripped my skirt and walked beside us. He babbled amicably to Aiden until he saw the pool. 

"Mama, 'wim!" he demanded loudly pulling insistently on my outfit. 

My men must have heard him and came out to greet us. They stood still when they saw I carried another little boy. 

"Baby, it's late and Aiden is tired. Come and have an evening meal. We will swim later," I coaxed. 

Jonathan threw a tantrum and sat down on the floor. He screamed and his stripes became dark and prominent. The upset seemed to spur the same emotion in his Brother. The little boy I held started to fuss and wiggle, suddenly finding the energy. 

Damien took control when it became apparent what was happening. 

"Enough, young ones," he said firmly, "we will eat our meal and then you may play in the water."

The firm male voice soothed both boys and they looked up at the older man expectantly. 

Evan followed Damien and picked up a disgruntled Jonathan. "Evidently," he said quietly, "you have much to tell us, Sister."

I was so glad that Jonathan could eat some solid food. He nursed a bit, but was satisfied easily with mashed up things from our plates and messy sips from his Daddy's cup. Aiden had obviously never eaten solid food and he nursed me dry.

My family was enthralled as I told them about the process of finding Brothers and Halil's death. None of them really remembered finding one another. They had foggy memories of the time before they were together, but their first solid memories were at the Child Keepers. 

"It has always been just us, together," Bane said patting Kein's back. "I do not remember a time when you were not with me."

"It has always been us," Christof said looking fondly at his Brothers, "just us, together."

"Except the other," Damien said looking pointedly at Evan, "there is someone else, isn't there?"

I looked curiously around the table and Evan was deep in thought. 

"It makes sense now, though," he said suddenly, as he fed Jonathan bits of soft bread he had dipped into his cup. "I have always sensed...another. It is someone important, as important as my Brothers. This one is not near, though, and the sensation fades almost completely sometimes."

Aiden rested in my arms and I placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. He was sleepy as I dried a little milk from the edge of his mouth.

"Your female breeder," I realized out loud. 

Of course, Evan had tasted her. He'd fed from her daily for many moons. 

"It has been a constant in our lives," Evan said checking Jonathan's diaper. "I always have this sense. It is so normal we don't even notice it anymore."

"Your female breeder," Kein mused stretching out his legs, "do you think she feels you?"

The pleasant conversation lasted and I was caught in my internal musing. Would Jonathan always feel me? If we were in the same compound, would he seek me out?

" I wan 'wim, Daddy," Jonathan demanded suddenly standing on Evan's lap. 

Aiden had been getting near to sleeping, but his Brother's energy flowed into him. He sat up on my lap and looked at Evan, too. 

"Wha 'wim?" he asked.

Jonathan turned and saw the question in his Brother's eyes. He started to explain in simple, childlike terms swimming. Aiden got more and more excited as he talked. The looks between them got more animated as Aiden silently watched a now quiet Jonathan. I got the feeling Jonathan was "showing" Aiden swimming through their bond. Now we had two of them demanding to swim. 

When we got to the pool Basin's family and Stayne's family were already there soaking. All the men tried to talk casually as we introduced Aiden to swimming. It was obvious he'd never done this before. The men watched carefully as Aiden tried to do what came so naturally to Jonathan. 

"Watch him," one of them would warn when Aiden floundered in the water. 

Someone's hands always were there in a moment to keep him afloat. No one in the pool was interested in anything other than the two young ones. For having never been fathers I found the mens' reactions to children telling. They were markedly protective of the young. 

Aiden stayed with us for a full lunar cycle. He asked for Halil and Rynal almost every day. I assumed Rynal was his male breeder and I had no answer to that. I started to tell him what Tosu had said about Halil. The Great Harmonious Spirit had her and he was here with his Brother. I could only assume The Great Harmonious Spirit was God, but it wasn't a religion my men knew anything about. 

The only time Aiden had issues was at night. I did not know how the Paterian women slept, but it must have been with their young male offspring at their side. At least, considering how we slept, I assumed that's what Halil had done. 

Aiden discovered my hair on the first night. Even with Jonathan he was restless and anxious, wiggling all over the bed. As I lay on my side, he maneuvered up by my head and his hands sunk into my hair. I was woken from a near sleep as he pulled my hair tight against my scalp. Aiden wound the long strands around his little fists and burrowed into it. I heard him sigh and finally settle down.

For the first time all night, Aiden was comfortable. Jonathan lay at my back against his Brother's legs and they finally fell asleep. It felt strange to have my head used as a security blanket, but I was exhausted and drifted off myself after a few moments. 

It became a pattern and we tried to break Aiden of his habit. He found comfort with his hands wound in my hair at night. I assumed he'd clung to his mother's fur in the darkness and this sensation was familiar. He just couldn't sleep unless he was wrapped around my head. 

After a few days we gave up trying to change him. For being an orphan Aiden was adapting very well. If he needed to sleep that way at night, I would not begrudge him. Evan just used a brush and detangled my hair every morning as I nursed the boys. The solution was simple enough. 

It took a moon for the boys teeth to come in. For that one moon they were mine to care for full time. My entire world revolved around their needs and they were absolutely consuming. I was Mama and they were mine. The time seemed to blur for me and went by much too quickly. 

At the next gathering I felt myself tearing apart inside when my boys found their three Brothers the first day. It took all my strength and fortitude not to break down screaming. Jonathan and Aiden seemed thrilled to be playing with these other children. If I acted upset I was sure it would be disconcerting to my young ones and they meant everything to me. I stood stoically and buried my nails into my palms to distract from the mental anguish. 

The women watched them during the gathering. They were fierce boys who liked rough play and movement. Nu-reeh commented they would never be content in a shop all day. Despite my weakness, my little boy was a Warrior like his father. That's how he would be raised. 

The design for the tattoo was created by a group of women. There was far more information in those marks than even Runen and his brothers understood. A woman finding a lost man would know exactly who he was when she saw his mark. 

I watched solemnly as the boys were tattooed. The women took them into a room and distracted them as they marked the children's skin. One Brother at a time received the distinctive tattoo. The pain was spread out, so the little ones barely noticed. 

The next step was for the family to choose their colors. This was important, it was a point of pride to decorate their lodgings distinctly. The women knew the men liked this and let it be the boys' choice. 

The women had pages and pages of colors. The mothers each picked several colors they liked and pasted the colors to different balls. They sat the balls down and watched the boys. 

Jonathan's lead Brother liked a deep red color, but something about the light blue appealed to my son. The other boys had no real opinion. I saw them deciding which ball to play with. 

I almost cried when I saw them choose the blue. Our son had chosen something like his father's colors. He'd been raised in a room full of blue, no wonder that shade called to him. No matter what happened I was happy he would always be reminded, in a small way, of Evan and his home with us. 

After all that was done we all walked into a smaller room. I was to be permitted to be present for this as long as I made no trouble. My tears dripped silently down my face, but I made no sound. Nu-reeh had been clear that she would not tolerate outbursts from me. It was an honor to see my son sold and I should appreciate it. 

The sales floor was a place the women gathered and discussed the boys. Nu-reeh and her cousins sold my son and his family as Warriors. They would be raised to be fighters. 

Their new owner's name was Trenal and she looked powerful. Tosu informed me quietly she lived in mountains not that far from here. Jonathan's compound would be the one we associated with the red mountains. Not that it mattered, I felt like I would never see my son again. 

We left the sales floor and walked out to a large opening in the mountain. The boys were all wrapped warmly in coats and matching mittens. I noted that Jonathan's was made of that strange fabric my coat was made of. He would be safe and warm for the trip. 

Transports were lined up waiting to take the children. The men driving were all armed and obviously Warriors. Tosu explained the transports took the children most of the way. Trenal would "leave them" with the Child Keepers, once they were close. That is how it was always done. 

Looking at the children as they were herded I realized there were so many of them, but still so few. 

In my jumbled state even I knew this was not enough children to populate an entire planet. Something was very wrong. The community hospital at home had delivered more children than this in a week. 

Jonathan didn't really notice as we parted ways for the last time. He was fascinated with his Brothers. I watched his shiny, blonde head leaving as Trenal walked the boys toward a transport. She carried the lead Brother and the rest just followed obediently. 

I wrapped my warm coat around me as I shivered in mental anguish. I wanted to scream and cry, but I could only imagine what that would do to my little boys. Our last meeting should not leave them confused or upset. The image of Jonathan burned into my brain and I swore never to forget him. Sweet, difficult child that he was, I would miss him unbearably. 

Only once did Jonathan note he was leaving me. I saw him turn and look toward me with the question on his face. 

"Good-bye, my love," I called to him waving with a false smile and fighting for a steady voice, "enjoy being with your Brothers." 

He answered me in a jumbled English and Paterian. He did not understand this was good-bye forever and told me he wanted to swim tonight. Jonathan asked if Daddy would take him and his Brothers to swim.

"Perhaps," I called, my voice finally breaking, as they loaded him on the transport, "it will be a busy night. You have much to do and a long way to travel."

The pull of the new family was too strong. He couldn't stay interested in something they weren't worried about. His attention quickly went back to his lead Brother, who was placed beside him.

The transport was driven by a man and he herded the children to the center. It raised up and began to move forward. Seeing Jonathan leaving me tore my heart, but I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He had never been on a transport and squealed with delight as it moved. My boy took joy in every new experience. 

"She is a good woman," Nu-reeh said, "powerful. She and her Sisters own many Administrators. They run their compounds well."

"Thank you, Mistress," I whispered hoarsely as the transport got smaller and smaller in the distance. 

I prayed as I watched him. He would be happy and safe now, I hoped. It was all I could do. 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 30



Hello again, Lit!

Please enjoy this next installment!

Steve150177's continued assistance with proofing and reading over and over is really appreciated. 



Don't forget to vote and comment! DW

*************************************************

We'd been home in the compound for almost two full turns of the large moon. I didn't menstruate because Nu-reeh saw to it that I was given the bitter drink daily to prevent conception. I was so very grateful I would not have to go through pregnancy again so soon. I used the time we were given wisely. 

It was a fight and a battle not to fall into the depression. I remembered how it had taken my will. Coming back from that had been painful and I wasn't sure I could do it again. Using my friends and family I sought to center myself on the future. I would never give up. The only way to get my precious boy back was to be strong and escape. 

Every day I swam in the inlet with my friends and exercised with Damien and his Brothers at night. My men and I read the pad every day finding out about the planet and it's other inhabitants. Our one goal, our only goal was to be ready for escape. 

Every day I thought of Jonathan. I dreamed of him at night. In my mind I saw him growing up and changing. Quiet moments always found my thoughts drifting to his expectant face the last time I saw him. 

"Stop it," Kein demanded firmly during the evening meal one night.

I looked up from my food confused. "Are you talking to me?" I asked stupidly. 

"When you think of him, talk to us," Kein demanded. "Stop pretending you are eating and mashing your food up. When you think of Jonathan you do that. We are all hurting, you can talk to us and you know that. We miss him, too."

Fierce golden eyes met mine across the table and I realized what I'd done. Before, little Jonathan had teeth I'd crush up part of my meal for him. In unconscious rebellion after he left, I was still doing it. 

Evan wrapped a hand over mine and squeezed. "I miss him, too, Sister. He is far from us, I know, but I still feel him. He is alive, you must know that. I am...sure he is well." 

The father without his child looked tortured. In quiet moments I saw the looks on his face and knew who he was thinking of. We all knew. Evan missed his wonderful son.

"I wonder what he is doing now?" I said trying to keep the tremors out of my voice 

Bane had paid the most attention to how they trained the young boys. He explained what a boy Jonathan's age would be doing. It was mostly play, still. 

There were fundamental things he'd be taught now. He'd be learning to do things like use the lacquered pot to relieve his waste. The Keepers would be teaching him to bathe himself. He'd be learning to dress himself. His Brothers would all be learning with him, so the lessons took quickly.

The tears did fall as I heard those things. 

"I should teach this to him," I cried openly. "He should be with me and I would show him all of this."

My family hated to see me cry like this and I tried to stop. It was upsetting for all of us. Tears reminded us all of how fragile I was. I didn't want to be that weak. 

"We will see him again," Damien promised. "I swear to you both, when Hannah saves us, we will save him next. It is my promise."

Wiping away unshed tears I thanked him and so did Evan. In the back of my mind, I still wondered how many more I would have to give away. I feared it would break me, despite all I did to prevent it, if there were too many more. 

"Do something happy," Bane insisted rising from the table.

Evidently, we'd all lost our appetites. 

Evan brought out Kennedy's pad and encouraged me to check it. I lay my palm across the screen and saw a message from Hannah. I wiped my face clean of tears and pulled it up. It was in English, so I would have to read it to them. 

Dear Family,

You will be rescued soon.

It is important you go quickly with the men we send for you. They will tell you my name.

Nu-reeh no longer is allowing Mama out to the cabins, so we will have to take her from the compound. This is good, because we wish to rescue her friends also: Rose and Fuji. We will arrange to have them taken from the Keepers.

Damien, your family, Basin's family, and Stayne's family will be taken from your patrols. Send me a schedule of all the patrols for the next moon. That will make it easier to find you. Be cautious and let the bandits talk before you attack them, they may be from me. Do what the men tell you and they will bring you to me. 

It is important you are not difficult. The men from the camps will not risk being caught near the compound. 

We will see you soon.

Love, Hannah and Ra 

I was ecstatic and jumped gleefully in the air to do a happy dance. It was over, finally over. My celebration was cut short when I realized only I was happy. 

Damien and his Brothers did not like it. This is not how they wanted to escape. The last time Kennedy's friends had approached me, I'd been injured. They weren't willing to risk it again. 

"NO!" I screamed to Damien as he tried to take the pad. 

He was going to tell Hannah to wait. There had to be a way we could be taken as a group. Splitting up was too dangerous, he believed. 

I held the pad to my chest and backed away from them. "I cannot do it again. Please, I beg you. If you love me, allow her to take us. This is too much for me to bear." 

Evan disagreed and tried to take the pad, "It is not good to have other men near you. Let us do this a different way."

There was nowhere to run in this little apartment and going outside was not an option. I took the one action I knew might get their attention. My fingers refused to give up the device and I dropped to my knees. 

"Please, Masters, please help me, I cannot survive this way. You must let me escape. I will do anything to get away."

"You are not a slave," Bane said pulling at my arm to make me stand. "Get off your knees and do not address us this way."

Tears ran down my face as I shook my head and refused to rise. 

"I am your slave if you keep me here, Masters. I am bound by your will. As long as you make my choices for me, I am only a slave."

My statement offended them greatly. Damien bent and scooped me up as I cradled the pad to my chest. 

"Please protect me," I begged him. "Please allow me to escape this."

"It is not safe," he said quietly, setting down on a chair with me on his lap. "They may hurt you without us there to protect you."

"Hannah is sending them," I pleaded. "She would not send men that would hurt me. Please, my love, please save me."

I ended my entreaty curling my head under his chin. It further protected the pad against my chest. There was no way I was giving it to him only to have him rip my chance at freedom away. 

Damien's heart beat slow and steady in his chest. I listened to it as the men had their silent conversation. Glancing around I saw the consternation on the faces around me. 

Christof's eyes met mine and he explained the difficulty they had with this. Leaving me at the mercy of "others" was something they had always been told was wrong. Besides that, every time I'd been left with "others", I'd been hurt. 

Damien's heart sped up and I knew the decision had been made. Clutching the pad to my chest tighter, I waited for the proclamation. 

"You are our Sister," Damien told me slowly, "and we wish to respect your choices. We will do this Hannah's way because you wish to."

I'd never felt so elated. I looked up at him and saw the concern on his features. This was not the decision they would have chosen, but they were respecting the wishes of the most opinionated family member. 

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," I gushed kissing his chin, his jaw, and finally his mouth. 

"Evan, go get Stayne and his Brothers. Kein, find Basin's family and bring them here. We must talk," Damien ordered. 

I was bouncing I was so excited. As we waited for our guests I helped clean up the eating area. I straightened the whole apartment as we waited. Everything was put away when the men returned. 

Basin and Stayne's families weren't surprised we were planning an escape. Stayne had guessed it right away and Basin had wondered for a while. Damien's family had been much too intent on learning about the world beyond the mountains. 

"We have no interest in going," Stayne told Damien quite bluntly as we stood around the sitting area. "My brothers and I are happy in this compound. We have a good life here and we are quite satisfied."

I was shocked and looked at Fuji, but she didn't seem at all perturbed. She knelt on her cushion at Stayne's feet and looked adoringly up at him. If he didn't want to go, I was sure she did not either. 

Damien was shocked at their decision, but respected it. 

"We will leave with you," Basin said after their silent conversation. "My Brothers and I seek to escape this pen. We are sorry to leave such good friends, though."

Stayne and his Brothers didn't care if their friends left. They would be sad to see them go, but they just had no desire to leave this compound. The idea of abandoning this comfortable life did not appeal to them. They had learned there would be new dangers to a free life. They were content here.

"Not that we wish to stop you, cousins," Stayne told us politely. "You are friends and always will be. We wish you well."

Basin and his Brothers wanted out. They had no urge to stay here and have things continue. Rose walked over and gripped my hand as she smiled. I felt glad that I got to leave with at least one friend. 

Plans were made through Hannah and we would be taken away soon. Hannah asked for the full patrol schedule, so her men would know when it was safest to approach. All in all, it would be a harrowing, dangerous escape. She told us to be strong and warned us to listen to the men she sent. 

Stayne and his brothers bid us good night and left casually. It shocked me, but I guess it shouldn't have. They had what they wanted. In the past they'd lived in a place they did not like. None of Fuji's owners wanted to risk that again. 

Basin and his Brothers left a while later. 

Our friends had left and I was alone with my men, my family. I was excited and jittery. It was late, but I was full of energy. I wanted to do something special for them that they would appreciate. 

"Wait here," I ordered. 

I bolted into the closet they stored our clothing in and tore through it. In the back I found my favorite outfit, the belly dancing costume. 

Yanking the decorative strips of fabric off by myself, I pulled the belly dancing ensemble over my body. Just like normal it felt constricting. I tied the jingling hip scarf and adjusted myself one last time before stepping out of the closet. 

My family was all sitting in chairs looking slightly pensive when I reappeared. The outfit made Damien's eyebrows rise and Bane sat a little straighter in his chair. I walked with the sultry confidence my old instructor had never thought I'd master. It seemed to have the right effect on my audience. 

The room had not been cleared for dancing, so I moved around the fire pit, letting the tight space play into the dance. I imagined myself to be one of the flames writhing and turning behind me, caught and burning in that confined pit. There was a beat in my head and I used that as I twisted and swayed, shaking the coins at my hips. 

When Kein started to play his instrument for me, he patterned the music to what I was already doing. The rhythm was slow and sensual, just like I wanted. As I danced I hoped they'd realize every undulation from my fingers to my hips to my toes was designed to thank them. 

Damien loved to watch my stomach as I rolled it. He sat mesmerized as I stood in front of him and the flesh rippled like a wave. Just as he reached out to touch me I moved away. Grey eyes turned feral and I saw the hint of his fangs dropping, I was teasing the beast in him now. 

It was fun, watching them lose their closely guarded control. I shook my clothed ass in front of Bane and knew the skirt dipped low in the back to give it just the right effect. My breast were entirely confined in the top of the outfit, but touching them as I danced made Kein miss several notes. I got to Evan by licking my own fingers like a lollypop as I swayed in front of him. Christof looked ready to pounce by the time I got to him, it didn't matter what I did. 

I loved the reaction I was getting. Their cocks were hard and straining against the fabric of their pants. Evan readjusted himself several times and I saw Bane stroke himself. Their excitement fed mine and I felt wet and ready. 

Slowly, I made my way back to Damien. He looked intently at me as though ready to pull me close, but I didn't give him the chance. Grabbing the slit in my skirt I pulled it open and straddled his legs as he sat, fully clothed. I adored the look of confusion I had so easily put on his face. 

Leaning forward I licked his lips before placing tiny kisses across his mouth. He smiled at my game as his hands came to rest on my hips and over the swell of my ass. The pull was subtle, but undeniable, even clothed Damien didn't like the distance between our bodies. 

My hand drifted down and began to unlace his pants. The thick cock sprang into my hand as soon as there was enough room. I pumped him several times until he pushed my hand away. Damien slid forward in his chair and I scooted toward him. A raise of my hips and I sank down on his length. The tight stretch felt wonderful. I fucked him slowly in the chair as my hands gripped his strong shoulders. 

A low growl issued from his throat and I knew that my pace was maddening him. When he suddenly rose and took me with him, I wasn't surprised. What did give me pause was when he walked to nearest wall and pressed my back against it. Now Damien was able to truly fuck me. I dug my heels into his ass and hung on as he thrust brutally against my center. 

"You are full of surprises," he whispered in my ear as he ground his pubic bone against my straining clit, "but so am I." 

Damien had never taken me fully clothed, or in this room. He and his Brothers always liked the warm safety of their bed chamber. We were all ready and amped for change, though. 

Being suspended in the air as I was every time Damien pushed up, gravity pulled me down. He felt enormous inside of me and I scratched at his back seeking to pull myself up. Nothing had ever prepared me for the intense stimulation of being dropped on his thick shaft repeatedly. 

The kiss Damien pushed onto me left me breathless. His mouth slanted down and he pressed himself into my mouth just as he forced himself into my pussy. His chest crushed my breasts in their casing, forcing them against the fabric. The pace quickened and I ground down against him seeking release. It came like a thunderbolt. 

I clenched around him and yelled into his mouth, but Damien wasn't done with me. He continued to fuck the spasming tunnel and only found his release many heart beats later. The experience had been intense and had he set me on my feet I would have slumped to the floor. 

It was Bane's strong arms that gripped me as Damien stepped away. He lifted me under my knees and looped an arm around my back. I looked up at him feeling dazed and was surprised at the fire in his eyes. It made my nipples tingle beneath the tight cloth and my breath catch in my throat. 

Kein lit the lamps in the sleeping chamber as Bane lowered my feet to the ground. His strong fingers deftly undid the outfit I wore that was now wet with sweat. When I stood naked before him he grinned down at me with pure lust on his face. 

"I was cleaned today," I told him boldly while placing a hand on his chest, "and I took the plug. Evan put it in my ass for you."

My hand drifted down to grasp his cock through the material of his pants. It throbbed under my palm and Bane groaned as my fingers gripped the thick width. 

"Fuck me hard and make me scream your name," I whispered rising on tiptoes to caress his short beard with my lips. 

Bane stepped away only long enough to strip himself. While I knew he liked to have me undress him, he was in too much of a hurry. I took the time to tease him by taking a position I knew he loved. 

I knelt, facing away, with a wide stance on the bed and let my top half drop until my ass was prominently raised. One hand drifted to play with my soaked clit, so my hindquarters swayed and twitched seductively before him. I moaned low in my throat as the passion that Damien had so excellently quelled started to rise again. 

Powerful hands stroked up the backs of my legs until his thumbs came to rest over the plug. I didn't notice it much anymore, unless they played with it, and Bane was in a mood to play. 

It was slowly withdrawn and then reinserted several times. My fingers were replaced by Christof's long ones stroking my clit. I found myself gripping the sheets and getting wetter every stroke the two of them made. 

"We enjoyed your dancing," Christof said in a low voice tinged with desire. "We wish to make you feel what we are feeling." 

The plug was gone, but I didn't get what I expected. Bane's thick tongue was laving my buttocks and then dipped where the plug had been. My automatic reaction was to move away. 

"You can't do that," I said dropping my hips and dragging myself forward. "You'll get sick. It's nasty..."

My arguments were cut off as Bane grabbed my hips and pulled them back where he wanted them. 

"And you like it," he said, "now stay and let me finish."

My face flushed hot as he licked from my clit over to my readied ass. It was erotic to feel his wet tongue and prickly beard stroking such delicate flesh. He didn't stop until I'd given up my embarrassment and was thrusting back lustily against his tongue. 

The feel of his cock resting at the crease of my ass was a welcome surprise. Nothing filled the aching emptiness like Bane. The big man stood behind me and slowly thrust his oiled shaft between my cheeks. 

The head of his mighty tool pressed into me and I cried out as he pushed it forward. 

"More," I whispered, when I felt him stop. 

My cries had been of want, not of pain. I wanted all of him. 

The massive shaft filled me and I begged him to touch me as he fucked me. I couldn't quite rub myself against him in this position. Christof solved my problem for me. 

My friend scooted so he lay beneath me and latched his mouth to my waiting cunt. He clamped his lips around my hard clit and flicked it repeatedly with his tongue. My eyes rolled back in my head as Bane started to slide in and out of me rapidly. 

Christof rock hard cock brushed my cheek and I opened my glazed eyes to see the engorged, but ignored organ. A long lick from head to base was rewarded with a rumbled moan from between my legs. Intent on feeling the sound again, I devoured Christof's shaft. 

The rhythm Bane set was steady. I made sure Christof got the same pleasure as I sucked him with increasing urgency. The pace became more frenzied and I knew both men were close, I was too. Christof nearly bit me as his seed exploded in my mouth and I came as Bane's shaft swelled impossibly in my tight channel. 

Christof's orgasm seemed to last forever. He pulsed my mouth full of his potent seed repeatedly and I had a wicked idea. I didn't swallow his last squirt and held onto it. After Bane pulled his spent organ from my ass I found Evan staring hotly at us from the side. 

Crawling across the bed like a jungle cat, I rested directly in front of Evan. Very slowly, I opened my mouth. I showed him Christof's spending still on my tongue. The image may have been offensive to a man on Earth, but to Evan it was tantalizing. He watched, thoroughly captivated as I made a show of swallowing and licking my lips clean. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 30



It should not have surprised me when he pounced on me. Squealing girlishly, I was pushed onto my back and Evan's tongue was forced between my lips. I flicked my tongue playfully against his and felt his razor sharp secondary teeth. My show had excited him perhaps more than I intended. 

Evan broke away from tasting me for a moment and I looked into his eyes. The pools of blue were utterly feral as he dipped his mouth to taste my ear. Laps of his tongue went down my neck until he reached the collar. Skipping the metal he went further down to suck relentlessly hard on my nipples. 

I felt the growl and his sucking became more frenzied. He wanted milk and I had a feeling my breasts would give into this desire. I buried my fingers in his hair and turned the long strands around my fingers. Sharp teeth scraped the underside of my breast as Evan viciously pinched the other nipple. It was a warning and I groaned releasing my hold on his hair. This was his reward and this was how he wanted to take it. 

The tongue bath did not finish once Evan had gotten what he wanted from my tender nipples. He went lower, exploring my belly button and then lower still. It was a surprise when I was dragged to the edge of the bed. My legs were laid over Evan's shoulders and he continued his feast on my flesh.  

"I like it when they stand out like this," Kein said eyeing my erect nipples. 

The ruddy red flesh had been primed by Evan's mouth. Kein played gently with them and I saw his teeth drop as a drop of clear fluid started to bead on the tip. Evan moaned into my cunt as Kein's mouth dropped to devour this essence. They were connected and both getting something they wanted. 

My clit and my nipples were so sensitive, but my men played with me gently. I peaked again as Kein moved to straddle my chest and Evan's cock plunged into my cunt. The oil was dribbled all over my chest and Kein rubbed it in with his long shaft. Evan stood and took my lower half as he grinned watching his Brother in ecstasy.

It didn't take long for the last two men to find release. They'd been excited and ready the entire time. This was probably the fastest we'd ever finished together. 

I lay on the bed thoroughly sated as we slowly recovered from our encounter. 

"Thank you," I whispered to the group reaching out to stroke the man closest to me. 

"Just promise us you will be careful with whoever they send," Evan begged. 

"Don't do anything to anger them," Kein said softly. 

"You are family to us," Damien said sounding worried. "If they treat you with disrespect, say our names and tell them you are family to us."

I smiled at all of them and promised sincerely to be very careful and to not make any mistakes. 

The next day passed slowly at the Keepers, as did the one after. Hannah had not been able to tell us exactly the day she would take us. We had just been instructed to stay ready. 

"We shouldn't swim," Rose had said quietly to Basin on the first day. "If they came and we were in the water..."

Damien and Basin agreed with her. They told the Slave Keepers we were not to swim again until they cleared it. I was elated Damien was allowing the escape to happen. 

Instead of swimming, Rose and I sat on the beach with Fuji in the afternoons. 

"We wish you could come with us," Rose had whispered to her as we sat on the beach several days into our vigil, but Fuji wasn't bothered. 

Her men didn't have any desire to change their lives. They were perfectly happy here, so she was also. Their happiness was her only measure. She was a mirror of their thoughts and wishes. 

"You three," a Keeper announced suddenly from beside us, "come with me."

Looking up I saw one of our Keepers with two men I did not recognize. The two men were well armed. Their clothing was different from Warriors in the compound or the shopkeepers in the village. They looked rugged with thick vests and shirts patched many times. 

We stood and followed the three men up the sandy incline and through the room for dancing and relaxation. They kept walking and we went though the room we worked in during the morning. 

We were led out into the bright sunlight toward the entrance to this compound. Several men stood around. Rose and Fuji both looked down. I did, too. Without Damien here to defend my rights, I felt it best to follow the flow. 

"Thank you, Keeper," I heard an unfamiliar voice say, "we will take these beings off your hands." 

"Just give me back my Brothers unharmed!" the Keeper demanded fiercely and I looked up. 

The Keeper's family was all on their knees with swords at their throats. The family that held them looked as mean and dangerous as any I'd ever seen. A second family was doing the talking. 

"Come, Rachel," a man said as he reached out to grab my arm, "bring your friends and we must be gone. Hannah sent us." 

The man grabbing me looked rough. His brown hair was cut short, but you could see several days worth of scruff on his face. The hand wrapped around my arm was calloused and dirty. 

"Only Rose and I go," I stated resisting him a little. "Fuji, the cool one, she stays."

"No, she doesn't," he informed me pulling harder. "She knows too much and would be tortured for it."

The Keepers were bound on the ground as the ten men pushed Rose, Fuji, and me toward the exit. Fuji started to become frantic. Her owners had said they weren't leaving, so she would not go. 

Fuji started to fight the men and it was over before it began. They bound and carried her as she shrieked. Even that wicked tail she had was rapidly tamed. Rose and I tried to tell them, but they would not listen. We tried to resist them and were toted off in their arms. 

I looked up at my captor and noted he didn't look mean or angry, just firm. He had large hazel eyes that darted around continuously. Beneath the fabric of his clothing I felt the strong sinew of his chest. If he wanted to, this man could cause me great harm. Still, I persisted. 

"Sir, please, you don't understand," I begged him. "Her owners will not go, she will be alone."

The man looked down at me quizzically for a moment before he spoke. "She will be free, Rachel, just like you. There is nothing to fear in our camp. No one will harm her or disrespect her. Relax and allow us to help you and your friends."

I continued to plead and the man just would not listen.

There were two transports waiting for us outside the Keeper's compound. These transports were larger than I'd ever seen before. Two and perhaps three families could easily fit on each one. They also sounded different. Unlike the quite hum of the transports I had seen, these almost growled. 

Fuji writhed and screamed on the other transport and I saw the men gag her. I felt for my friend and tried to help. 

"YOU CAN'T TAKE HER," I begged loudly one more time as I was carried onto the transport. "PLEASE!" 

"She goes," he said simply, "we have our orders."

This man was as resolute as Damien would have been. Clearly, nothing I could say would change his mind. 

Shutting my mouth I looked into the man's eyes. He smiled gently and put me on my feet as the transport raised frighteningly fast into the air.

The transport took off going forward and I had to cover my mouth to not scream. I'd never been on something that accelerated this quickly before. The men all seemed to find my reaction strange. 

I couldn't look and stared down at my feet. The transport soared through the air at a speed I'd never experienced before. The growl it had made when on the ground was nothing compared to the roar it made now. Chancing a glance up I saw how far we already were from the main compound. The speed was unreal. 

Small hands found my arm and Rose was suddenly against my side. I couldn't tell if I was shaking, she was shaking, or the thing we were on was shaking. Looking into her eyes I could see we were both terrified. 

Boots were pulled from a chest on the transport and the men put two pairs at our feet, motioning for us to put them on. I was used to dressing myself, so I took off my sandals and slipped the new boots on. They had a sturdy sole and rose to my mid calf. This was hardy clothing and not what I was used to. As I got used to the feel, Rose just stared at her feet where the boots lay. 

"Go on," one of the men encouraged, "it is your body to dress. It will be cold where we are going. Hannah sent these for you to wear."

I grabbed the boots from in front of Rose and put them on her. She didn't fight me, but she wasn't pleased. 

Coats were produced and I dressed both Rose and myself. The fabric was very thick and heavy. I chanced a look at the other transport and I saw the men wrapping Fuji's bound form in the protective fabric. I guessed they didn't know what it took to make her cold. They must just be working off assumptions. 

The compound was a distant speck when the transport dropped suddenly and I did scream. Rose and I held onto each other as we were swallowed up in darkness. Luckily, our movement stopped a moment later. 

Lights flickered on around the transport and I realized where we were. The transport had dropped through a large hole in the desert floor. We were in a cavern deep beneath the surface. 

"Shut it up, Thom," one of the guys said. 

Our transport went closer to the wall and the man that had carried me leaned over and turned several dials embedded in the rock. The giant hole we'd come through was soon covered by a slab of rock on a complicated conveyor. 

I looked around and saw where we were. The cavern was just wide enough for a transport, with a little leeway on each side. I looked over the side of the transport and saw water flowing beneath us. 

"Back up, Rachel, the air shield is off." the man named Thom said, "The air shields will come back on when we start to move forward."

I nodded silently and took a step back. I didn't want to fall off and the air shields on the transports were powerful, getting caught in one would probably hurt. 

"Welcome to freedom," another man said smiling at us and the transport took off. 

Several of the men stood and stared at us grinning broadly. Rose and I were glued to the spot and scared out of our wits. I watched the men, but Rose refused to look at them. Perhaps her idea was better, looking around was terrifying. 

If the transport was scary above ground, underground was a nightmare. The machines roared through the tight passageways. There were places where I felt I could reach out and touch the walls we came so close to them.

There was very little light down here and I had no idea how the driver saw where he was going. It seemed like he must be navigating on memory and not sight. The feeble lights on the transport seemed to barely illuminate the cave as we rushed through it. 

I held tight to Rose and she to me. The men didn't understand our terror and in no way showed consideration for it. 

"I am Brand, rescued from the Youly compound. What will you do now that you are free?," one of them asked jovially. "I have heard tell that some of our women are going to arrange portals back to Earth. Will you do that?"

Rose refused to look at the man and stared into my eyes looking shocked. That displeased him. 

"Come now, you are free. Talk to me, no one will harm you for it. Tell me how you feel."

He was quite a persistent man. 

"I do not wish to leave my children," I croaked out.

"Children are important to you?" he asked stepping closer. "Are they important to all humans? I have wondered a long time."

The man's inquisitive nature made me smile despite my fear.

"You have human breeders in your line, don't you?" I asked. 

The man laughed and now I had their attention. 

"How did you know?" the man named Thom asked. "The women told us he does."

"He is curious," I said wincing as the transport careened much too close to the wall. "Men with Earth breeders in their line seem more curious. Christof has Earth breeders and he was always the most curious Brother."

The men were confused. They didn't know a "Christof". 

"He is Damien's Brother," I answered. "He is the fourth Brother in my family."

Their faces darkened and they looked angry suddenly. "He should have known better then," the lead Brother said firmly. "Once he knew he was the offspring of a slave he never should have continued to participate. He should have made it stop."

Our conversation was cut short as one of the men made a sharp sound. Rose and I were ignored as the men drew their weapons and took up posts around the transport.

"Steady, Brothers," the man in front said and then it was like the transport was swarmed. 

Creatures that looked two foot crocodiles were jumping on the air shield around the transport. One of them managed to get past the air shield and it came at Rose and me, jaws open. Brand sliced it in half. 

The thing twitched and writhed in two pieces for several moments before the lead Brother stabbed it in the head. That stopped it. 

The men cursed in volumes about the nasty creatures. Thom called them giles. I vaguely remembered reading about giles. The readings I'd done had noted them as pests in the lowlands where water was plentiful. They could rarely overwhelm a woman, but they could be trouble for men in large enough numbers. 

"Ciara," Rose whispered clinging to me.

She looked as scared as I felt. "Hannah sent good men," I whispered. "We will be okay."

Rose's eyes were wide and she didn't look like she particularly believed that statement. We were tearing though a poorly lit cave with our friend tied on a transport behind us. Things were not looking good for us. 

After the attack of the giles the men stayed on alert. I was happy they didn't want to talk to us. I wasn't that comfortable with men other than Damien and his Brothers. It would probably take time for me to get over that fear, I mused. 

The caves we travelled through eventually opened up a little and got wider. There were places we passed over massive underground lakes. I could see the glassy surface below as we roared over it. I remembered Christof had told me about the underground lakes. He must not have known about the underground rivers and tunnels. 

"Tell me," Thom asked focusing on Rose, "what is your name? My name is Thom rescued from the Youly compound."

Rose refused to look up and answer, instead she huddled closer to me. 

The man's eyes narrowed as he watched her. 

"They trained you, I know. If you looked at other men they put you out to be hurt. If you spoke the punishment was worse. That part of your life is over. We will treat you well in our camp. You will not have this fear any longer. If you wish to speak, you do so. Do not fear, silent human," Thom said with conviction. 

Rose didn't look up, she couldn't. I knew that countless moons of indoctrination was preventing her from hearing what the man said. Freedom did not exist the way he said it. Even if Basin had said she was "free", she'd witnessed too much punishment to stray from the rules. 

I stroked her hair in comfort and felt her shiver against me. 

"Her name is Rose," I told the man softly.

"Is that the name the men called her or it the name she had on Earth?" he asked sternly. 

I watched the man's eyes and didn't see anger, only a certain resolve. He called me Rachel so he knew slaves were renamed. This man expected to hear Rose's original name. 

"She was named Ruth on Earth," I told him and he smiled approvingly. 

"Ruth it is then and what about the poor, bound girl?" the man asked. "What was her name?"

"Always Fuji," I told him honestly, "women from her planet are not given names until they are owned. If their owner wishes to give them a name, they get one."

That gave the man pause. He and his Brothers found it odd. That didn't fit into the way they thought things always were and it confused them. In their experience, everyone was given a name. 

"Fuji is from Batra," I tried to explain, "I don't really know where that is. From what Fuji said all the women are slaves. She doesn't know another way."

"She will learn," Thom said with conviction turning his attention back to the void of nothingness we were passing through. 

The twists and turns in the cave continued. Eventually I got used to the lack of scenery and the lack of light. The air started to get colder and I felt the chill on my face. Despite being underground it felt like we were making for the mountains faster than I'd ever done before. 

The men we were with watched out for attack and protected us, but not the way Damien or Basin did. It was strange to realize that with freedom came responsibility. If I was cold, I had to button my own coat. There was no one who would do it for me. 

Water was passed around in something like a canteen eventually. I took a drink and tried to pass it to Rose. She looked at me and took the container slowly, but did not put it to her lips. 

"Drink, Ruth," one of the men said, "it is good water and will refresh you."

"I am Rose," she said staring at the floor. "Ciara, please, tell these men I am Rose."

"You are Ruth," Thom said from behind her, "and you may speak to us. There is no owner to hurt you. Drink your water and be calm. You are free now."

The man's assumption irritated me. Damien and his Brothers did not hurt me. They had it all wrong and I was about to tell them. Rose's voice stopped me cold.

"I was free before," Rose said harshly still staring down, "and I was hurt. Basin and his Brothers protect and cherish me. My name is Rose and I want to know where Basin and his Brothers are." 

The men all made sounds that told me they felt sorry for us. "Drink, Ruth," the man said in coaxing terms, "do not worry over those men anymore. You must not fear."

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that had nothing to do with the transport and it's erratic path. 

"Where are they?" I asked the man, starting to panic. "Did you take Damien's family and Basin's family or just us? Didn't my female offspring send someone for Rose's family and mine?"

"The slavers," Thom spat out, "were offered safety in our camp. They are being transported separately. Hannah and Kennedy are well respected or such a request would never have been honored."

I stared at the man in the dim half light of the tunnels. He had referred to our men as "slavers" and I had that sinking feeling again. Free men would view men like Damien and his Brothers as no better than the women. 

"I am free with Damien and his Brothers," I said quickly taking a step toward Thom. "They said I was not a slave and made me family one night long ago-" 

Thom snorted and his eyes flashed, "They told you this? They told you one day you were family to them?"

"Yes," I said eagerly nodding my head, "they said I was family and not a slave. Damien and his Brothers decided on their own that slavery was wrong. I asked to be free and they made me family."

"That was their decision, was it?" Thom asked lowering his voice and sounding slightly menacing. "They told you what you would be and you accepted it. It doesn't sound to me as though it was a real choice."

I was startled by the statement and stared blankly at him. Thom just continued to speak, "You cannot make someone family, Rachel. Family between men and women is a choice. I don't think you ever had the option of choosing another family. You were told where you belonged. This is no different from slavery."

The man's words cut deep for some reason. Probably because there was a measure of truth in them. It wasn't like I had been offered the choice of Damien's family, it was just the only option. 

"Drink, Ruth," Thom said, "it is still a long ride to our destination." 

It took a several tries for Rose to finally lift the canteen to her lips and take a tentative sip, then a couple of gulps. She looked amazed as she handed me back the container. This had been a first on this planet for her. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 30



My friend and I rode hand in hand, silently for the most part. I wasn't sure what to say. Freedom from Nu-reeh had been such an overriding goal, I hadn't stopped to think what problems may lie ahead. 

It never had occurred to me that my men would be judged harshly by their peers. 

The air was bitingly cold on my face when light suddenly shone ahead of us. We passed out our narrow passage into a larger cave. There appeared to be a flat, black lake with a large circular island in the middle. A series of big camp fires lit the island and surrounding area. In the dim light I could see small openings all around the lake. It was like a hub with spokes running off from it. 

On the beach were several transports like ours. I saw men milling around passing in and out of the light.

"We lost this bet, Brother," one of the men on my transport laughed. "They beat us." 

Our transport came to rest next to another and settled down the with a slight crunch on the ground. Men were everywhere. The noisy engine cut off and men approached us talking happily to their friends. Looking to the side, the other transport that had been traveling behind us also came to rest on the beach. I could see the lump that was Fuji laying very still.

Men approached and one leapt onto the other transport to examine my friend. 

"You bound a freed slave? Cousins, what were you thinking!?" the man's voice asked angry and incredulous. 

Rose and I rushed toward the voice and Fuji. She lay listlessly on the transport as the man pulled off her bindings. The man undoing the ropes cursed our rescuers severely for their incompetence. His hands on Fuji were gentle as he removed the ropes, though. He seemed intent not to harm her. 

"She fought us, Gunth," the men tried to explain. "She refused to come with us and lashed out with....her tail. We did not want her to hurt herself and we thought if we could just get her here..."

The man, Gunth, just ignored our rescuers and eased Fuji out of the last of her binding. He was a powerful looking man and slightly graying. Even in this dim light I saw his prominent stripes. The men present all seemed to defer to him. 

The men on the transport continued to talk about how Fuji resisted. They had not meant to hurt her. Obviously Gunth's opinion was very important to everyone present. 



"Looks terrifying," the man named Gunth said caustically while picking up Fuji and cradling her, "tiny thing like this and you idiots-"

The man's rant was cut short as Fuji screamed and bounded out of his arms. When she wanted to be, Fuji was fast. She moved between the men, intent on the area behind their camp. Rose and I followed and were shocked at what we saw. 

Damien's family, Basin's family, and Stayne's family all sat, bound hand and foot. Fuji got to Stayne's side and screamed in her native language. That wicked tail whipped around and the sharp tip cut through the bindings on her owners. 

"Release our friends, Fuji," Stayne growled as he jumped to his feet. 

The men around us gasped in obvious fascination as Fuji's tail made short work of whatever was holding our men. Rose and I used their confusion to move quickly beside our respective families. 

"Almost nothing can break stike rope," I heard Thom's amazed voice say. "The knives we use to cut it are made out of a rack's claw..."

Damien's family and Basin's family rose to their feet and faced the other men. Their shirts were torn and all of them looked bloody. Rose and I were quickly pushed to stand behind them. 

Fuji's tail whipped furiously around, but one of her owners forced her back behind them. Her tail never stopped moving though. 

"What are you doing with the women?" the man named Gunth demanded to know. "They are not yours to control and I do not like the way I saw you touch them."

Damien's voice sounded furious. "We discussed our difference of opinion earlier and the debate became physical. None of us wish to see our weakest family members involved in a brawl."

Gunth made a sound in his throat as did the other men present.

"Family!" Gunth said angrily. "How exactly do you see things. You take and abuse these small, soft creatures excusing it as 'family'? You make no sense."

"We do not abuse-" Basin started to say and he was cut off.

Gunth clenched his fist and his teeth grew, "I have lived free my whole life, boy, so don't mistake me for stupid. I know what you do to slaves. Little things can't shit without your permission. Those women are free now and I don't like seeing them pushed around. Allow them to stand where they wish. Your ways are not permitted here and they won't be tolerated."

Damien's voice was low and forceful. "Cousins you have brawled with us once already today. The women would be destroyed if they were caught up in that. Their bones are fragile and their skin is weak. We fear you will fight us again and put these females in danger."

Gunth and Damien stared hard at one another for many moments before Gunth's stature relaxed. 

"You battled us because you did not wish your friends there," Gunth motioned to Stayne's family, "to be brought with us. It is not a point of discussion. Several of their female breeders are part of the resistance. They will not allow their male offspring to stay at the compound. It will not be safe for the family there. Once you all were taken the women might have demanded answers from them."

Fuji made a low whining sound in her throat followed by several soft clicks. I'd never heard her make that noise before. Stayne's family stiffened and one of the Brothers moved toward her. He spoke to her in a firm voice, but I did not recognize the language. 

Fuji made the sound again and her tail increased its tempo behind her. 

Stayne's brother continued to speak to her and once he was close enough he stroked her spine. The caress and the words seemed to soothe Fuji and the tail slowly receded back into her body. 

Gunth's attention shifted back to Stayne and I saw his eyes narrow. 

"You and your family go with us, slavers, whether you like it or not. The females are free, whether you like it or not. None of these things are points of discussion," Gunth said forcefully.

The strange clicks from Fuji started again and the tail whipped out going back and forth. Stayne glanced back at her and I saw the silent communication between him and his Brothers. 

"Give us a moment and make no moves toward us," Stayne finally said sounding defeated. "Our...girl is upset. The way you speak has upset...her. She would fight you to the death so that we can do as we wish. Any...creature from Batra would do the same. Allow us to calm her."

Gunth relaxed his posture and so did everyone else. I felt like we were playing a large game of red rover and someone had just called time out. My assumption was that attacking Stayne when he'd said he would be distracted would be dishonorable. At least the sense of honor was consistent. 

Stayne's family made a circle around Fuji and started to talk softly to her. I'd heard Fuji pray in her language once before and what the men did sounded like that. Apparently they could speak whatever language it was that Fuji did. 

"Ciara," Damien said softly and I looked up into his face, "are you well?" 

"Yes, the ride here was strange, but it seems I fared better than you," I said, touching a cut on his cheek. 

"They expected to battle with us," Christof said as way of explanation. "They had weapons we had never seen before..."

I smiled at my friend and touched his arm. My family was rarely defeated in battle. Looking at the line of men facing us, I knew how outnumbered they had been. There had to be forty men over there. If some new weapon was involved, then their defeat made even more sense.

Stayne's voice got all our attention a moment later. He addressed Gunth and he did it very politely. 

"We are happy to take your kind invitation to visit your camp," he said facing Gunth. "My Brothers and I only ask this female be left in our care for the remainder of the trip."

"No," Gunth said sounding irritated, "that is not a slave and you are not owners. You may not keep her. Release her and allow her to be free."

Stayne and his brothers separated, so Fuji faced the men. Thom and his family approached her, intent on taking her away. The tail was out as soon as their intent became evident. 

I watched as a lock of Fuji's vibrant hair dropped off her head and fluttered to the ground. The men saw it too and stopped moving toward her. They looked back at Gunth as though seeking direction. 

"She fears you," Stayne said nonchalantly. "When her kind are taken by the conquering side on her home planet they are treated with great indignity. The hair falls out only when safety is supremely threatened."

I heard the horrified sounds the men behind Gunth were making. Several stated that must have been what Stayne had told her they would do. Stayne just grunted a laugh at that. 

"My Brothers and I have put much effort into keeping this small creature healthy and fit. We know every nuance of her makeup. It would bring us no pleasure to see her destroyed. We are aware it could be done simply. You would do it and not even know," Stayne said coolly. 

"The clicking," Gunth asked fiercely, "what was that?"

"When this creature will give her life in battle, she warns the opponent. That sound is well recognized on her home planet. It is considered honorable on her world to tell your combatant if you would die for your cause," Stayne said simply. 

No one really knew what to say to that. It could be the truth and it might not be. Stayne and his Brothers were the only ones here with any knowledge about Fuji. 

"Humans," Gunth said directing his comment to Rose and me, "speak to me honestly, is this true?"

I didn't know and looked at Damien. He patted my back and gestured to Gunth. 

"Answer the man," he said simply, "just tell him what you know."

"I'm not sure, Sir," I told him hesitantly. "I've never heard that sound from her before and I've only seen her tail twice. Fuji has rarely spoken to me about her home planet."

The men stared at Rose and I. Finally, Gunth spoke. 

"The red haired one, Fuji, for now, may stay near her...former owners," the last word seemed to be forced from his very depths. "The humans will be watched over by men of my choosing."

I gripped Damien's sleeve and Rose grabbed Basin. 

"If you cannot let your former slaves go," Gunth said to Damien and Basin, "we will send you back to your compound and keep the women. We have no use for those of your mindset in our camp."

My eyes went wide as I stepped toward Gunth. Rose walked quickly to me and took my hand. Neither of us wanted to be the reason our men were sent back to the slave pen. 

"Basin and his Brothers don't think that way," Rose said softly.

"Neither do Damien and his Brothers," I added as we walked away from our families. "I told you, I am not a slave of theirs, only Nu-reeh's. My family set me free and trained me to fight with a sword. Do Masters normally train slaves to sword fight?"

I looked up and watched carefully as we approached Gunth. The big man seemed absolutely unmoved by my words. His mind was set on the matter of my family. 

I wondered what his next move would be. It was to be a lesson. 

"The first thing," he said as we settled in front of him, "that you both must do is look around." 

Rose was gripping my hand and staring at the ground. She was acting just like she'd been trained to. Despite our strange circumstances it took her a long time to look up into Gunth's face. 

"Good," he smiled once she finally made eye contact with him. "You are a free woman now. No one will tell you where to walk and you must be alert for any danger that may approach you." 

Rose looked at me and I saw the tears in her eyes. This experience was terrifying her. She couldn't wrap her mind around what Gunth was telling her. From her perspective it made no sense. 

"Next," Gunth continued amicably, "we will greet one another. I am a free man and always have been, so I know the place of my birth. I will tell you my name and my origin. It is expected you answer me the same way."

We stood and stared at the man as he introduced himself as Gunth from the T'scar Mountains. He went on to introduce his Brothers next. The family was strong and powerful, but obviously older than everyone else here. They all smiled at us in greeting. 

"Now you do it," Gunth ordered.

I took the challenge first and introduced myself. "I am Ciara from Eart-" I started to say and was interrupted. 

"Gunth wants your free name," Thom interjected. "He doesn't wish to know what the slavers called you."

"I like my name," I said softly. "It is a good name, Sir..."

Gunth interrupted me to remind me I was not a slave. 

"I am not Sir. You must use my name. You are no longer controlled by owners and I will leave them here if I continue to see signs of their prior control. Now please introduce yourself as a free woman," Gunth said in a commanding tone. 

I flushed and was embarrassed. "Gunth, my name is Rachel," I said very softly, "and I am from Earth."

Rose was stubborn, first she wouldn't speak and when she did she refused to be called Ruth. Her cheeks flushed and she demanded to be allowed to stay with Basin. Tears streaked down her cheeks when Gunth told her no. 

"You will be retrained for your own good," Gunth told her. "We are used to retraining men that have been in the compounds. You will learn to be free just as those men have learned."

Rose looked livid as she glared at Gunth. He couldn't read her the way Basin and his Brothers could, but the anger was obvious. 

"You are to stay away from the slavers," Gunth declared. "We will send them back if we find them with you. Our camp is a free place and you must learn to be free. You cannot learn to be free under the rule of slavers."

"I am free," Rose spat out, "they told me I was free!" 

Gunth seemed to pity us. In fact, looking around, all the men here seemed to feel sorry for us.

"Go with Thom," he ordered us instead of continuing to argue, "I am sure you do not know how to start the fire that will keep you warm this night. Let him educate you both."

After his proclamation Gunth turned to instruct the other men what to do. We were obviously being dismissed. I turned to Thom and he gestured for us to follow. 

Starting one of the smokeless fires wasn't difficult, but Rose and I still struggled slightly. Neither of us had ever done this before. After it was burning we were each given something to eat.

"Hannah instructed us on what you could eat. The food we eat while out here would not be suitable for you," he said. "This meat is easy to prepare and it can travel with us. It is filling for us and also for you. It is a good food for you to bring on a long trip like this one."

The lesson continued as Thom told us what we were eating. He told us how the small animal we were enjoying was trapped and prepared. I remembered reading about them. The gapu reminded me of a squirrel when I'd learned about them. 

Thom watched Rose and me closely. If our eyes drifted to where our families were he would scold us. He didn't want us watching the slavers. We were two independent beings.

We were introduced to many men in the camp after dinner. The men all greeted us politely and welcomed us. Many congratulated us on our freedom. I noted privately that our men did not receive the same reception. 

Fuji joined us after a while. She seemed shell shocked and sat dully next to us refusing to speak. From her point of view, this situation seemed impossible. I wished she would listen to me as I told her we would be fine. 

Pallets were furnished us by Thom. Rose, Fuji, and I would sleep next to our fire. We weren't required to take a watch tonight. Later when we were trained and ready, Thom told us, we may help take watch. It just depended on whether that was something we would be good at. 

I lay on my side on the pallet and stared at the poorly lit beach in front of us. The flat black water did not soothe me. My mind was awash with uncertainty and questions. This alien place was unnerving. 

Everything had been so different since we'd been picked up at the Keepers. Even the transports, which I had become so accustomed to, were different. It was comforting to concentrate on the transport. It meant I could focus on something other than my family, who I wasn't even allowed to look at. 

The transports were larger and thicker, but the differences didn't end there. They appeared to be armed. Things that resembled sleek metal cannons were mounted at all four corners. From where I lay they appeared to be about the height of a Paterian man's chest. 

I finally fell asleep wondering if that's really what they were. 

My bladder felt ready to burst when it woke me up in the middle of the night. I realized I'd not gone since we were freed. I sat up looked around. I wasn't sure where to go. 

I noticed a man many body lengths away from me. He was standing and looking out over the black lake. His posture told me he was probably on some sort of guard duty. 

As I stood the man turned to look at me for a moment. He flashed a friendly smile before turning to stare back over the lake. 

"Excuse me, Sir," I whispered coming up beside him. 

"I am Tryne rescued from the Barnas compound," he said softly. "It is a pleasure to meet you. When we meet those we do not know from the camp we call them cousin."

"Rachel from Earth," I responded, remembering my lesson. "I need to make waste, Tryne. Where would I do that?"

"Bucket on the other side of the camp," he pointed. "My Brother is over there and will show it to you."

I walked quietly as I could across the beach and used the latrine there. The smell of waste was thick here. Most of the men were set up to sleep away from this area. 

Only three families were near the latrines. Evan's bright eyes met mine and I gave him a fleeting smile. He returned it and pointed me back to my pallet. 

I settled next to Rose and shut my eyes as the tears fell. What had I gotten us into?

The next morning I woke to the flurry of the men getting ready. 

"It is still long before the time the sun rises," Thom said as I stood and stretched, "but we do not wish to stay still in these caves for long. Other creatures would make a meal of us if they found us. The longer we stay, the more at risk we are. Were we to camp long we would have to fortify the area."

There was no day or night here. The caves were lit by our small fires and nothing else. If he said it was early, I believed him. It certainly felt very early. 

Thom showed Rose, Fuji and me how to tie our pallets up. We were given some of the same thing we ate last night. He also helped us get our fire put out and the pit cleaned up. The men believed the land remembered them. If they treated it well, it would welcome them back. If they treated it poorly, they would suffer on it next time. 

"It is the Great Harmonious Spirit," Thom explained. "All things on this world are part of the Spirit. We live on the world and only take from it what we need, as all creatures do. By respecting the rights of others, we reinforce our own rights."

I'd heard religious people get very pushy, but Thom wasn't. He just seemed to want to educate us. 

"I've never heard of this," I said, as Thom directed Rose, Fuji, and me to a transport.

"The Great Harmonious Spirit is not taught in the compounds," he said as he and his Brothers loaded things up. "How could they tell the men of a Great Harmonious Spirit when they know only suffering at the hands of the women? They do not know peace, only beatings, division, and forced coupling. Once we free men, we always teach them this fundamental concept."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 30



The transports around us roared to life. I chanced a glance around and saw Damien and his Brothers on a transport. It relieved me that we were all being taken. I feared these angry men would just leave my loves here. 

We took off down a passage across from the one we'd come from. I was just as scared today as I had been the day prior. These machines roared through the narrow tunnels. 

I focused on the things I'd seen at the corners of the transport. Thom noted my attention. 

"These are weapons," he told me proudly. "I cannot show you how they work right now and you may not understand. They project powerful focuses of energy. The energy can tear a hole in rock walls. We developed them in case we ever have to fight the slaving women."

They'd developed guns. I smiled at Thom and marveled at what the men had done. Sneaky little devils were free to do anything they wanted and they built weapons. Men would be men on any planet. 

We traveled a long way and suddenly one of Thom's brothers started to pace. He touched his head and his teeth were down. 

"Sit, Brother," Thom demanded guiding the man to a stack of pallets. "We will be out of the field soon enough."

"What field?" I asked watching the man continue to cringe. 

"The women have something at the far edge of the mountains designed to stop us from crossing out of them. It disrupts our bond with our Brothers. We could never walk through it above ground. In the tunnels only certain men still feel it. My Brother is one of them," he said wincing slightly himself. 

I watched the men and soon surmised we had left the field when they all relaxed again. 

We flew for a long while in the twisting tunnels. The men seemed to know this route well and flew through it confidently. Often we came to splits in the tunnel and the men never hesitated which direction to go. This was a well traveled path. 

Abruptly the transports came to a halt. The call came back and the men were instructed to switch the transports. I was confused as I watched the Brother doing the driving start moving levers around. 

The roar inside the cave died away swiftly. That loud growl I'd finally gotten used to faded away and the quiet hum of the solar craft was left. I turned and looked at Thom who was grinning broadly.

"We must stay hidden here, speed is not as important as stealth. All of our transports run on ore and stored solar power. Depending on where we are dictates which we use," he said.

I saw the man on the lead transport throw a lever embedded in the wall. The stone ceiling moved and shifted above him. Bright light came through the opening and I prayed this awful ride would soon be over. 

As the transport lifted into the sky I noted a man at each gun on the transport. They swiveled the barrels around as they raised into the light. Each transport rose the same way, with the Brothers each manning a gun. 

"Come, Rachel," Thom commanded, "you stand by me. I'll show you how to work this machine. Ruth, you stand with my Brother Thad. Fuji stand near Brand."

Our transport came to the opening in the rock and rose slowly. I blinked and squinted in the bright light as Thom explained what he was looking for. Racks liked to attack here as did other creatures. To fire the weapon he only had to squeeze the place his hand was wrapped around. It was a very simple system. 

We rose into the sky and I was struck dumb. Freedom looked different from anything I had ever imagined and the power of it took my breath away.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 31



Thanks to all of you for returning! This chapter is all plot - fair warning.

Steve150177 has continued to be unfailingly dedicated to giving you all the story in my head and I appreciate it.

I will concede this bit of consolation to those who fear Ciara's new path away from her hunky, although often misguided, men. I like Damien and his Brothers. I've tried to make the story realistic, so my men get to suffer some for their prior misdeeds. They have proved they can learn and change, so...don't give up hope.

I anticipate our next chapter April 17/18/19. For you Americans that's right after taxes! Something to lift your spirits, perhaps.

Please read and vote! Thank you! DW

***************************************

This world seemed to burst with life and color. Massive trees formed a perimeter around the opening. The deep green canopy above was magnificent. The plants were bright and exotic.

I breathed in the fresh air outside the tunnel and it smelled of wilderness. It wasn't the crisp pine scent of the forests on Earth. The sweet tang of flowers mixed with the natural odor of the trees and the leaves here. I could smell the rich aroma of the soil and, all mixed together, it was unlike anything I'd experienced before on this world.

Taking a huge breath I almost thought I smelled jasmine in the air. I remembered the vines that had clung to my grandmother's mailbox. Looking around I didn't see any, but when the breeze drifted by, I smelled it again. I wondered how much out here would be familiar to me.

A branch to the right moved and I watched a small green animal run to the tree's trunk. Noises all around us told me this area was brimming with animals. There were sounds like a large bird's call and other strange guttural sounds. Compared to the silence of the compound, this was unreal.

The area reminded me of a rainforest. Clinging purple vines crept up the trees with large purple flowers hanging down. I saw plants of vibrant red and yellow spotting the ground and growing in crevices in the trees. The area was a blaze with color and teeming with life.

"It's amazing!" I said and Thom laughed.

"What did you say?" he asked curiously. "I don't know much of your language. I have learned some, but not enough."

"Amazing," I repeated in Paterian continuing to look around.

"The entire planet was like this," Thom said as the transport rose higher. "The women cleaned the area around the compounds so they could watch the men better. Our world is meant to be filled with life."

I nodded and continued to take in the breathtaking scenery, still my heart mourned. This moment should have been experienced with my family. As I looked around and saw them on their transport surrounded by other men. Christof's eyes caught mine and I saw the sadness there as well. We should have been together for this.

The transports took off in single file toward a set of hills in the near distance. The transports moved quietly through the forest, cutting through the air just under the canopy. As we moved I saw small creatures frolicking and moving in the trees. This place was full of little animals, they were everywhere I looked.

Occasionally the trees would part and I could see the area around us. The hills went on forever, covered in trees, plants, and things I had no name for. Farther in the distance huge mountains could be seen rising far into the clouds. I had been right, this world was amazing.

Our line of transports traveled steadily up an incline. It was evident we were climbing a hill. I looked down at the steep incline and realized it would be hard, but not impossible on foot. Below us I saw several faint footpaths winding around the mountain. Someone walked here.

Looking ahead I watched the lead transport suddenly change orientation so it faced into the foliage covering the mountain and disappear. I sucked in a surprised gasp as the next transport did the same thing. We got closer and closer as the transports ahead of us dove into the mountain side, one by one.

"Watch," Thom said pointing to the magical spot, "the leaves and trees you see are not truly there. The main entrance to our camp is through there and hidden from view."

As we headed for the trunk of a very solid looking tree I cringed, but the crash never came. We'd passed through the illusion and into a large well lit cave. Behind the fake tree was a huge open area with many, many transports parked in it.

For all intents and purposes we were in an enormous parking garage. There was space in here for perhaps three or four hundred of the large transports it seemed, perhaps more. Much of it seemed unoccupied now. A family of men walked around gesturing to the drivers, instructing them where to land.

"Morning patrols have set out or there would be more here," Thom explained. "We have much work to do to keep our camp running well. Our campmates travel to the compounds near here on a regular basis. Whenever we can, we take men, but it is difficult."

"We always watch the compounds for a chance to take men when their guard is down," Thom's Brother, Brand, told us. "It is just a waiting game to find the right family at the right time."

"What do you mean the right family?" I asked not knowing what would make one family superior over another.

Thom grunted and his Brother answered. "We wait for men that come and go from the mountains. Men with slaves stay away from the mountains. We don't want slavers here."

I stood silently and felt Rose take my hand. When I looked at her she appeared as concerned as I felt. Our men were hated in this place.

The transport settled and the men doing the directing approached. He called a greeting and told us his name and place of birth. I called back my name and he smiled at me before moving on.

"You must learn to speak to us," Thom scolded Rose and Fuji. "The women will teach you and you will understand."

"Brother," one of Thom's family addressed him, "we need to see where we are scheduled today."

The men discussed it and it was decided Thom would show my friends and me around. His Brothers would link up with him after finding out what they needed to.

Rose, Fuji, and I followed Thom away from the transport. We walked with him through a massive arched passageway into the interior of the mountain. It was like stepping onto a busy city street from medieval times.

Smokeless torches hung on the walls and kept the area quite bright. In the center of the walkway the large smokeless pits that kept the area warm. Paterian men and women walked around busily going about their lives.

Light seemed to be coming from above and I looked up. Perhaps thirty stories above us there were several openings allowing light to come in. The top of this mountain had vents it seemed. Thom noted my attention and pointed them out.

"They are covered with the same shield you have already seen to avoid visible detection," he explained. "We can also shut them completely with large stone doors, like you saw in the tunnels. You are very safe here. Our camp is large and well defended. Nothing will harm you here."

I nodded and he quirked his head. "A nod," he smiled. "Kennedy taught this to us. It means yes."

On both sides it looked like a hotel with many stories of doorways and stairs. Some of the doorways had a leather drape and some did not. I only saw men using the doorways lower down.

Looking up, the openings in the rock walls continued, but there were not always stairs leading to them. I saw huge women flying into and out of those openings.

"Men stay lower down usually," he said gesturing to the seven stories of rooms all around us.

A large group passed and I stared at them. It was perhaps thirty families of male children all of varying ages. They were surrounded by, several groups of grown men as they all moved toward the parking garage.

"They are having lessons outside today," Thom said. "We did not learn the way the children here do. Most of those men are their male breeders. Some male breeders teach the young and some have talents otherwise. Each of us does what he is best at, although we can change jobs if it is needed or we wish to."

I stared at the backs of the children and thought of Jonathan. My beautiful, blonde boy would be here learning like this soon.

"Most of the industry is on the ground floor," Thom continued to explain as we walked.

He pointed out an open cave and told me those men produced shoes, another opening produced coats. Essentially, it was a town inside the mountain.

"We men eat together," Thom explained as we passed a gaping cave. The inside area was covered in tables. "You will eat with us, I believe. The women like their meals raw for the most part, but they often join us for company. There are several families of females that bring their kill and eat with us every time. Other women eat what we do and take every meal in the hall."

It was so much to take in and I was glad when Thom walked into a quiet opening off the main cave and motioned us in. The inside of the room was tight with tables and fabric. It was well lit, though. The men inside the room were busy, but stopped when they saw Thom.

"Hannah and Kennedy's special guests have arrived," Thom said cheerfully as the lead Brother approached.

"Wonderful, I am Armant rescued from the Barnas compound. It is a pleasure to have you here," the man said congenially.

The man speaking appeared older, hardly frail or infirm, just with more years than I was accustomed to. His shoulders were broad and his hands looked strong. He didn't look like any shopkeeper I'd ever seen on this planet.

"They need the outfits Hannah specified," Thom said.

Armant smiled as he looked at Rose and I. "I was told," he said, "that these females can make things, blankets and such. Also, I was told they could stitch."

Thom seemed surprised and looked at me.

"Rose and I can," I said to both of them cautiously. "She taught me to sew. I like to knit also."

"Ruth," Thom corrected me, before turning to Armant. "Let the Administrators work it out. I don't want to promise you something too soon."

"Put in a good word for me," Armant said to Thom. "My Brothers and I enjoy this work, but our fingers are stiff. We could use the help. You all have not taken enough shopkeepers to maintain this camp as it should be, old Warriors aren't always good at this type of work. They have no patience for it."

Thom sighed before he spoke. "If you want the rescues done differently, talk to the Administrators and give them your point of view. You know how hesitant they have been to take shopkeepers. Perhaps your argument will sway them."

"Doubtful," Armant's Brother said coming forward with an arm load of things, "they'd prefer to give the jobs to us old Warriors. Shopkeepers have never been taught to fight. They can be so difficult to retrain. They don't know their own strength."

It was like my friends and I weren't present. The men talked and I learned shopkeepers were hard to retrain. They'd been told they were unable to defend themselves their whole lives. Rescued shopkeepers needed protection until they figured out they did have power. They were hard to grab from the villages and annoyingly weak when they got here.

"I've told them we could train shopkeepers to fight. We've done it with the ones they've rescued," Armant said laying out the pieces his brother had brought. "We learned to sew and stitch. Shopkeepers are harder to rescue and to retrain, but we could do it."

Two outfits sat in front of Rose and me when the conversation was finished. The long leather skirts would go to our ankles and the thick brown blouses would cover our tops. Something that looked like boxer briefs were produced and laid on the table, there were several for each of us. Hannah must have told them what a bra was because Armant pulled out two of those also.

"How did you make these?" I said picking up a bra and staring at it.

The thing looked like it would probably fit me. The smaller one Rose picked up would probably fit her. The backs were made so they could be adjusted and they looked perfect.

"Hannah told us," Armant beamed as his family puffed with pride. "Your female offspring told us a human woman from your part of Earth would want to wear this. She estimated a size for each of you."

Rose and I were ushered to the back of the room to a secluded nook to change. Kennedy had explained humans liked privacy. The men wanted to do everything they could to make us feel human again. Thom explained we had been treated badly for too long.

Fuji wasn't offered clothing and I was glad. She would have been offended. Kennedy must have remembered her tolerance for cold and explained it before hand when they ordered our clothing.

Rose cried as I removed her ornamentation. She took the strips of translucent fabric from me and stuck it into a deep pocked in the skirt I handed her. That was a very good idea and I did the same thing with my blue ornamentation.

"We'll talk to Hannah," I told her. "My daughters will fix this."

In my heart I doubted this could be fixed that simply. These free men despised men that kept slaves. There was no Great Harmonious Spirit for men like Damien, Basin, and Stayne. They had made the wrong decision and were being punished for it.

The heavy linen of the shirt was warm and the bra was supportive. The skirt was nice and well suited for the weather here. I kept on the boots Thom had given me and felt totally dressed.

"Put the coats I gave you back on if you are cold," Thom stated once he saw we were finished.

Armant cleared his throat and stood looking pointedly at Thom. The other man just stood looking at him. Armant touched his throat and his wrist, but Thom still didn't get it.

"They aren't slaves, but they are still wearing the bands," Armant finally said sounding exasperated. "I cannot believe that Gunth did not remove them himself. The old man is not as observant as he once was."

Thom looked at Rose and I and muttered a curse to himself. He appeared embarrassed to not have noticed. Thom came toward me and I backed up.

"Rachel," he scolded, "I will not hurt you, but you cannot walk around wearing marks of slavery."

The idea of losing my collar terrified me. I'd been badly hurt when it was removed. My instinct was to wear it, even if it was a slave's mark. The thought of being surrounded by these men and no mark to prove to them I was cared for...

"No," I shook my head, "I like it. Let me keep it."

"You cannot wear a slave collar. This is a free society. You need to remove those signs of bondage," he said taking a step closer.

I cringed and Rose cringed with me. Fuji was behind Thom and made a strange sound low in her throat as a bit of hair fell off her head. Armant brought Fuji's strange hair loss to Thom's attention.

"Perhaps," Armant said slowly, "this should be left to the women."

"Yes," Thom said relaxing, "part of their retraining perhaps."

All the men murmured that this was a task the women should help us with. I got the feeling it was just a task they didn't want. My fingers involuntarily traced Damien's mark and I felt instantly calmer.

Rose, Fuji, and I were walked further down the wide interior walkway to a set of wide steps carved into the mountain. A literal stage was in front of the large opening to this cave. Thom stopped us and pointed into the well lighted area.

"This," Thom said, "is where the Administrators work. They can stand here and make announcements. There is a tool we have that can amplify and transmit sound. They use it when they are giving us directives or information."

Gunth's voice interrupted us as he came from the open area behind the stage. He walked slowly down the steps and thanked Thom. Gunth told him to go to his Brothers. They were part of the transport group that was collecting food from the fields today.

"Everyone has a job and contributes in this society," Gunth said to us as Thom took his leave. "All members are productive. Some men, like Thom's family, do multiple jobs depending on what is needed. They enjoy the diversity and wish to know how the entire camp runs. Should you decide to stay with us, we will expect you to tell us what you would like to do, also."

"Yes, Sir," I said softly and he smiled.

"My name is Gunth, Rachel, and I enjoy being called that," he stated and led us up the steps.

Behind the large stage was an open work space that was enormous. This seemed to be the nerve center for the camp. I saw several hallways branch off from this area and I wondered where they led. There were maps on the walls and many Paterians working over pads.

Women covered in glittering beads were working at tables that were a comfortable height for them. Men stood on blocks that put them at a good height for working at the same tables. Five men and two women stood at the head of the room. There was a short line of mixed men and women in front of them. I could just make out what was being said as we approached.

Two women were speaking to the Administrators as we approached. A family of men stood beside them.

"My Sister and I wish permission to mate with Darfus and his Brothers," the woman at the beginning of the line was saying to the individuals at the head of the room. "Neither my Sister or I have ever birthed a child. We are of age to mate and I believe we will succeed with this family. We get along very well."

The men beside the large woman agreed with her. They enjoyed the company of these women and thought things would work well between them. In the past they'd mated for fun, but they wished to create children, since the women were coming to that time in their cycle. The family of men stated they were ready for child rearing and felt they would be good at it.

One of the five men at the head of the room spoke to them politely. He asked exactly what sort of jobs the females usually did. The Administrator also wanted a list of the men's usual duties. He spoke with the group of female Administrators to insure all positions could be covered.

"They control breeding?" I asked shocked.

I had not meant to speak. Gunth didn't seem annoyed at the question and answered affirmatively.

"There are several families of Administrators, my Brothers and I are one. We ensure that those wishing to procreate do so in a way suitable for the whole of society. It would be unwise to have too many women carrying a child at one time or too many men relegated to child care afterward. Since our breeding numbers are so good, this is how we handle that."

I was confused and looked at Gunth with utter misunderstanding.

"The men do the child care? How can that be?"

Gunth smiled and continued to teach. Free men on Pateria were always the child care providers. Women knew when their young needed to feed, based on instinct. During the first year the women stayed close. As the children started to eat solid food, the maternal role became less and less.

"Women have no patience for the young," Gunth said quietly. "They are too independent. We men take care of the children as a group and arrange their care."

I was still shocked and turned to watch the Administrators at the head of the room.

They had a tablet that they used to access information.

"It would not be an ideal time for us to lose both your talents, cousins," one of the Administrators said, "but it is not the worst time."

The woman wasn't offended by the statement and wanted to know what made it not an ideal time. They discussed back and forth for many long moments. Eventually it was decided that one woman of the family could breed, but not both of them.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 31



"I will wait," the woman said politely, "but my Sister will try, she is older than me."

The Administrators wished them well and recorded the information. The group of men walked out with the women casually touching and caressing them. They were all pleased they could try to produce a child. The two families were entirely focused on one another as they left.

The next group was five men. They wanted to discuss growing a new type of crop. The men had been doing a good bit of studying and thought this new starch would be beneficial. It would easily grow in the soil here.

"We grow all our own food," Gunth explained to Rose, Fuji, and me. "We have hidden farms spread throughout the forest. Men go each day to monitor them."

"Women like Nu-reeh don't see your fields?" I asked curiously.

Gunth laughed quietly, "We hide our fields in plain sight and cover them with the false vision you already saw on the mountain side. They have not seen us yet."

The Administrators at the head of the room took the information from the family and thanked them.

"Let us study it," the lead male Administrator said, "we will put it to a vote."

The men thanked the Administrators and turned to leave. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw us.

These men looked different from Warriors in the compound. Their clothes were all leather, scuffed and patched. They were lanky, like shopkeepers, and with prominent stripes. I saw the thick callouses on their hands. They worked hard at whatever they did.

"Introduce yourself, Arik," Gunth said gruffly. "Do not stare."

"I am Arik from the T'rale Mountains," the man said. "It is a pleasure to meet a human."

I responded the way I had been taught by Gunth and the man just continued to stare at me as his Brothers introduced themselves.

"Is there more Arik or are you and your Brothers done?" Gunth asked gruffly.

"Would you join us for the evening meal?" Arik asked quickly. "I have many questions about Earth. We work to grow the food that is on the tables every meal. We enjoy watching plants grow. There is a plant from Earth we have been growing and you may come see it if you like."

I looked at Rose and she was staring at the ground, there would be no help from her.

"I don't know," I finally answered the man.

"Are you willing to have a meal with this man at your table?" Gunth asked patiently.

"I want to eat with Damien and his Brothers," I said feeling stupid and scared.

"That is not an option," Gunth said firmly. "Would you like to have a meal with this man and his family?"

"Yes," I answered hesitantly.

I thought perhaps if I played along, they'd let me see Damien. Whatever they wanted, I should provide. Getting on their good side was probably the quickest way to getting what I wanted. That's how it always had worked before.

Gunth seemed pleased and told me when it came time for the evening meal I should meet Arik and his Brothers outside the dining hall.

"Now, Gunth," the one of the women at the head of the hall interjected, "we have not even determined if these females wish to stay or return to their places of origin."

My terror doubled as I looked into her fanged face. "I don't wish to leave my family, Ma'am. I want to see my offspring grow. I wish to be with Damien's family."

"My name," the great woman said, "is Hassar. I am from the T'stelvic Mountains. You do not need to address me as Ma'am. If you wish to stay on this world for your offspring, we will not remove you. We must keep you away from Damien and his Brothers, though."

"Please," I begged, "I need them and I care for them-"

Hassar was patient, but firm. Damien and his Brothers had enslaved me. They had trained me with punishment until I believed that only they could be trusted. That part of my life was over now.

"I am Reed, Hassar's Sister, of the T'stelvic Mountains," the other women interjected. "We have spent a great deal of time studying slavery and its effects. You must learn to think again, if you wish to stay."

"I wish to stay," I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks.

The Administrators asked Rose to introduce herself and asked her if she wanted to stay next.

"My name is Rose," she said quietly while staring at the floor. "I was from Earth and I do not wish to go through the portals. I understand they are dangerous and unstable. I want to be with Basin and his Broth....."

Gunth interrupted to explain "Rose" was the name the slavers gave her.

The women looked patiently at us, but gave Rose the same answer they'd given me. Her reeducation would not include the men who had enslaved her.

When it was Fuji's turn she just refused to speak. She watched the floor listlessly and another lock of her hair fell out. Reed sighed and came forward.

"I own you now, slave from Batra. You are in my charge and I will protect you from harm. I am the leader here and the men who took you did so at my command. Tell me the name you have been given," she said stopping in front of Fuji.

Gunth gasped as did several others in the room. Reed and her Sister were not fazed by the obvious horror on the faces around them.

"I am Fuji, named by my last Masters, what would you have me do?" Fuji asked brightly.

Rose and I just stared at her looking stunned. She sounded pleased and relaxed.

"You will learn many things while you are here. These Paterians," Reed said pointing around, "are my agents and will instruct you. However, one of the first things I need to do is to remove your old Master's insignia from your body,"

Fuji didn't flinch as Reed removed her collar and cuffs. "You must look around and meet the eyes of those around you," Reed instructed. "I like the name you were given. You may use it when you are greeted. I wish that you speak with any that speak to you. I wish you to start at least three conversations a day. You may chose who to start those conversations with."

Gunth sputtered and made a sound that resembled a foul curse Bane had taught me. It wasn't a set of words Damien really liked me to say. Reed just flashed a toothy smile at Gunth and handed the metal to another man.

"You expect too much, too soon, my friend," she said simply. "My Sister and I have studied every culture, every species of slave, the slavers brought to this planet. It is apparent different species need different...assistance."

"Fuji, you stay with my Sister and me," Reed stated. "We will teach you what we wish you to do."

Reed stepped in front of Rose and looked down at her.

"It is time to lose those signs of slavery," she said reaching for Rose's collar.

"NO!" Rose shouted backing away. "My name is Rose. I want to keep this on. I want Basin, please. I am not safe here. They need me and I need them!"

"You will not live in a free society bearing the brand of a slave," Reed explained.

Rose crumpled to the floor sobbing. Reed just tugged gently at her extremities until all of her metal cuffs were off. Gunth helped her. They even removed Rose's boots to take off her metal ankle cuffs. He slid the leather back over her slender feet after the bands were removed.

I watched the big woman and knew I could not fight her. She reached to remove my metal and I stood stoically. Gunth knelt and slipped the boots off to remove my ankle cuffs and I cooperated, raising my feet, one by one.

"You don't fight, Rachel," Gunth commented. "You are learning."

"Yes," I answered looking at him as he stood, "I know my position. I will do as you say when you say. I will go by whatever name you tell me I have to. I will associate with only those you permit me to."

My answer was offensive to everyone present.

"Rachel," Gunth said, "your name is important. Your outlook is important..."

My eyes blazed as I fixed them on Gunth. "Do you know why my female breeder called me Rachel?" I asked hotly. "She was out of her mind on medicine for pain after my birth. The woman tending her, who she had never met before, was named Rachel. My female breeder had them put that name on the ledger recording my birth, because she couldn't remember any other names."

I was panting I was so angry and I couldn't stop. "Damien and his Brothers chose a series of sounds that were pleasing. They chose a beautiful name for me and I LIKE IT. I could choose to be Rachel, but it is not a name I have enjoyed. I enjoy the name Ciara. As Ciara, I am a female breeder with wonderful offspring and a loved member of my family. It is my name."

"I chose my own name," Rose said softly. "Basin and his Brothers asked for the most beautiful thing on my home planet and used that as my name. I adore roses, I always have. They are lovely flowers. Kennedy is even named after me. Her female breeder named her after the Kennedy tea rose. It reminds Ciara and me of Earth."

The Administrators around us were all silent for a long moment.

"You are free now," Hassar said. "If these are the names you want, you may keep them. They have meaning to you. However, we will not allow you to be kept as slaves to the families you have served. You will not have contact with them and you will learn to be free humans."

The rest of the conversation was pleasant, at least between the Administrators. They had lodgings set up for Rose and me already. We would live free in the camp and learn freedom that way.

Reed and Hassar would handle Fuji personally. They had long studied this issue and thought they could fix what had been done. It would take intensive retraining, though, and it had to start gently.

Armant's wish was fulfilled. Rose liked to sew and so did I. It was a skill we had, so when they asked what we wanted to do, I said that. The Administrators were pleased we'd made this decision. To me, it just seemed a safe place to go.

"Come," Gunth instructed, "we will go see your new lodgings and then have a midday meal. We will do more this afternoon."

We turned to leave and the males of our families stood silently in the hall. I started to take a step toward Damien and Gunth got in my way. Rose ran for Basin and Reed stopped her.

"The women you have previously enslaved are free now," I heard Hassar's voice boom behind me. "If you wish to stay in our camp, you must renounce your love of slavery and stay away from these women."

"I have no love of slavery and find it abhorrent," Damien said clearly.

Gunth turned to watch Damien speak, so I was able to look around him.

"My Brothers and I feel great remorse," Damien continued. "We have done horrible things in the name of training. None of us wish to see this female bound in any way."

I couldn't stop the cry that rose from my very depths, "Damien, I love you and your Brothers! Please, tell them we are family now. Don't let them separate us!"

Damien's face remained impassive, but I saw the flicker of feeling fly across Christof's face and I knew what they were doing.

"We do consider this female family. It has been explained to us that this arrangement is not accepted here. My Brothers and I mourn for our loss, but understand why you do not trust our words or motives. We love this female deeply. We hope that if you allow us to stay, you will see we are changed men."

I heard the promise whispered through Damien's words. Hearing him talk calmed me, they weren't giving up. If they stayed and I stayed, we might be together again.

Basin spoke next. He agreed with Damien. Slavery was wrong and his actions in the past had been reprehensible. Much like Damien, Basin professed a deep love for Rose. She added sweetness and light to the family. Her loss cut them deeply. Both families agreed to take punishment for their prior misdeeds.

Basin and his Brothers offered to take as many beatings as the Administrators thought fit. Damien seconded the idea and said he would receive his punishment gladly. He asked where the family could go to receive the well earned whippings or beatings.

In a surprising act, Evan spoke up and offered to cut his own hair as punishment. He'd never suffered like that before, but he had never done anything this bad either. The Brothers would do whatever they could to atone.

The Administrators all sought to silence the men. They weren't pleased with the solutions Damien's or Basin's families were coming up with. Several male Administrators in the hall harshly rebuked Gunth for not educating our men sooner.

"Just because they were slavers doesn't mean you do not have to retrain them!" a man working at one of the tables called out. "It is even more important with them!"

Several men agreed loudly and Gunth raised his hand as though accepting the rebuke.

"This is a free society," Hassar said, acknowledging Damien and Basin's families and speaking more kindly. "We will not beat you or hurt you to teach you. Those ways of thinking must be left now that you are here. You will learn, but not through physical violence. We respect one another in this place. You and your Brothers must learn to trust your campmates and depend on them. We do not want you to fear us."

I saw the confusion on the men's faces and felt for them. This was different for all of us.

Reed continued the strange lesson and asked our families not to be violent to their comrades here. The way they'd been trained in the compound was not acceptable here. We didn't inflict violence on one another. Physical strength was appreciated, but so were other forms of strength. If someone had a weakness, we did not exploit it. The camp protected its own.

"We discuss our problems," Gunth said in a calm voice. "When members of the camp cannot come to an agreement on their own, they come to us. We assist the camp members in coming to reasonable solutions. That is how decisions are made."

Our men all looked at Gunth quizzically and he continued to educate them.

"If I wished to punish you for something, I would sanction your family. Perhaps I would assign you work you do not like or forbid you some activity you enjoy. In this camp you will rarely find physical punishment acceptable. That is not in keeping with the Great Harmonious Spirit."

Damien and Basin looked very confused but, they agreed to the rule and thanked the Administrators for the information.

"We will teach you The Great Harmonious Spirit," Gunth said. "You will learn it from me as all men we rescue from the camps do. I know you do not understand this yet. It will be important to you, though."

My family and Rose's family thanked Gunth. All of our men were aware there were things they didn't know.

Fuji's owners seemed strangely quiet while all this went on. They made no grand claims to change and did not openly agree with Basin and Damien. I got the feeling this reaction was not lost on the Administrators.

"Stayne, you and your Brothers will stay and learn our ways. Your female breeders are old and powerful females. They have joined the rebellion openly and fear their new allegiance would have caused harm to come to you. One day soon you will meet them and then you will understand," Gunth said looking slightly annoyed at Fuji's old Masters.

The men answered politely, but it was obvious they were not happy about this turn of events.

Gunth lead Rose and me away, but I made a point to lock eyes with each member of my family. As I passed, each of them they broke eye contact to pass their left arm over their chest and bow their head. It was an apology and a sincere one at that.

I would get them back, I swore to myself. It may take time and I'd have to do whatever the Administrators wanted, but this wasn't over yet. My family wanted me and I wanted them. There had to be a place on this world we could be together and free.

Rose and I were led out the archway and away from the Administrative area toward a set of steps. We were still in the heart of this cave system. From here I could see the entrance to the dining room and Armant's small shop. Gunth climbed a set of stairs and let us to a small cave on the second floor. It was six entrances from the stairs I noted.

"We will carve your names here," Gunth said pointing to the left side of the door.

Gunth pulled the thick drape aside and allowed us to enter before following us. Once the drape dropped closed the busy area outside was almost entirely muted. A single torch cast a soft glow on the small sitting area. Gunth showed us where other torches sat in the room and how to use them. We could light them when we liked, but should extinguish them when we left.

The main room had simple elevated cushions to sit on. They reminded me of beanbag chairs. In the center of the room was a large fire pit. Gunth helped us light it for the first time. The whole area looked like a comfortable place to rest after a long day.

In a basket beside one of the chairs I saw knitting needles and something that resembled yarn. My girls knew how much I liked to knit. One of them had obviously left this for me. The small parcel was not the only thing in the room, though.

Behind the fire along the wall was a large tub. Gunth told us it could be filled with water and we could bathe in our rooms. There were pots by the fire to heat the water in. I eyed the heavy looking bathing tub and Gunth reassured me.

Strong men would gladly help us dump it when we were done. Our physical weakness was not a disability. There were certainly things we would be superior at. The camp would use whatever attributes we had.

"Hannah and Kennedy explained to us humans would want to have privacy. We realize this is something you have been denied for a long time," Gunth said pointing to two drape covered openings in the rock wall.

Gunth led us to inspect the smaller drapes along the back of the cave. Behind them were individual sleeping areas. A torch was present just inside. A narrow, low bed was in each room. Simple brown sheets and a quilt covered the beds. There was also some shelving carved into the wall itself.

I inspected the shelving and was surprised. There was a towel for drying, a hair brush, and what appeared to be a toothbrush. Several ties were also present, they looked like the ones Evan used to bind his hair.

"You and Rose may make yourselves another outfit," Gunth explained, "or you may ask one of the tailors to make something you would like. It is your choice. Your clothing pieces can be folded and stored here when you are not using them."

I stood in the middle of the first bedroom with Rose and I noted how small and lonely it was. The tears tried to come, but I swallowed them. Now was the time to figure this place out, not break down.

Placing a hand on the cool stone shelving I remembered what Gunth had said. We could have another outfit.

"How would we acquire outfits?" I asked. "We have no... way to pay..."

Gunth smiled gently and motioned us out of the tiny room and into the main area.

"Sit with me," he said, "and I will explain."

Rose and I sat together on one of the larger cushions. It felt like it was filled with small seeds and molded around us as we sat. The chair was remarkably comfortable.

Gunth was quite informative. Everything in this camp was shared. The food was grown and distributed equally. Housing was provided by the women, who dug it out for us. Beds were put together by woodworkers. Cloth was made and used by the tailors to make clothing. Weapons were made and distributed by the smiths. When we needed something, we only had to ask.

Greed was not well tolerated here. If we had more clothes than anyone else, our requests for more would be ignored. If we hoarded food and another went hungry, the Administrators would sanction us. Resources were to be respected.

I looked down at my skirt and was too numb to think of any questions. Rose had a more level head than I did. I felt her tense as she spoke to Gunth. It was a big step for her.

"How do we wash? Where is the water?" she asked tentatively. "How do we clean our clothes?"




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 31



I realized she was right. I'd never washed clothes on this planet.

Gunth explained there were two ways to wash our clothes.

There was a well located just downstairs, we could get drinking water from that and water to fill the tub. We could ask men to carry it up for us. We could wash our clothing here if we wanted.

Almost everyone used the lake hidden deeper in the mountain to bathe their clothing and bodies, but it was public. It was located over heated stones, so the water was very warm. That was the preferred place.

"Not many other camps have a bathing area like we have," he said proudly. "My Brothers and I find the water very soothing. It is a point of pride for us."

Since humans liked privacy, the tub in our rooms was a special adjustment for us. Some families had one, for one reason or another, but most everyone bathed together. We could be an exception and that was fine, though.

Gunth described the thing we would use to wash our own clothes near the lake. He called it a wash board and said we could get one if we wanted it. Rose noted the description was exactly like a washboard she had used as a young girl to clean things on Earth. She promised to teach me to use one.

As for waste, the camp had recently installed lacquered pots. There were several public rooms we could use to relieve ourselves. One was on this floor and Gunth would show it to us. Not many other free camps had managed to install the drainage for the lacquered pots yet. This place was ahead of its time.

"Tomorrow," Gunth said, "you will go to work with Armant. He and his Brothers have been desperate for help. The men in the camp are forever ruining their clothing. We patch what we can, but often must replace things."

A short noise sounded in the distance and Gunth smiled brightly.

"Feed time," he said happily and stood up. "Come and share a midday meal with the camp."

We stood and walked out the leather drape following Gunth. My mind was whirring with so much new information.

Gunth pointed to a large entrance on this floor several doors further down. That was the room with many lacquered pots. When we needed we could go there. Kennedy had even asked that two be set off private for us. The camp was honored to have its first freed slaves and had agreed readily with the request.

"How did you get to be an Administrator?" I asked as we walked down the steps to the first floor.

Men were coming down the walkway in groups talking and laughing. Several stared at us and others pointed, they all seemed amazed. Gunth ignored them as he answered.

"It is put to a vote," he said seriously. "Every family has a vote. We take three groups of females and three groups of males each time. The vote is held every third cycle of the sun."

Gunth walked in the direction of the dining room and we followed.

Rose gripped my hand as we moved down the wide passageway inside the mountain. The men were all around us and I felt fear being out here without Damien and his Brothers. Men in the mountains had always been more dangerous than men in the compound. I was terrified of what they would do. Out of habit I cast my eyes on Gunth's boots and followed them.

I noticed the little things, like the way Gunth's left heel dragged a little. The limp was well concealed, but he must have had some injury to that leg. He'd obviously been around a long time and we'd heard free life was hard. It probably wasn't unusual to have a limp as an older man.

"Little humans," a deep voice intoned from beside us, "look up. My cousins and I mean you no harm. You don't need to watch the Administrator's feet."

I cringed closer to Rose and she to me. Gunth stopped and turned around, causing a minor traffic jam. My eyes lifted to his and I saw the deep displeasure in our guide's face.

"You must stop acting like slaves," he said abruptly with a sour look. "I fail to understand your persistence in the matter. There are no slaves here. You are free women and must start to behave that way."

The man that had spoken had stopped when we did. He spoke again and I looked over at him.

"Come now, Gunth, relax a bit. You know how hard it is for the men to be retrained. These poor creatures are surrounded by men, men who look like those that have tormented them. It will take longer," he finished in an almost pleading voice.

I looked up at the man and he offered a lopsided grin. Light brown hair was cut short of his head. Seeing his purple eyes, I had to smile. He reminded me of Christof.

"Ratru rescued from the Youly compound," he said politely.

"Ciara," I said in a shaking voice, "and I am from Earth".

After Rose introduced herself, Ratru proceeded to introduce his brothers. They were all young from what I could tell. Their strong builds told me they would have been Warriors in the compound.

As we stood, men continued to flow around us heading for the eating hall. We were very much in the way.

"Go find your Brothers, Administrator Gunth," Ratru offered. "Eat your meal with them and let us take the new women into the dining hall. Hannah spoke to us about her female breeder coming here. We would be honored to help in this way. Hannah is a respected friend. We would gladly do this for her."

Gunth looked at the young man for a moment and then agreed. His Brothers were still in the Administrative hall finishing something. He wanted to go get them.

I watched Gunth leave with some trepidation and my eyes swung back to our new guide.

"Come on, women," Ratru cajoled, "don't be upset. We will share a meal together. It was not long ago we were rescued. We remember this place is strange if you are used to the compounds. No one will hurt you here. Let us eat together."

"Gunth?" Rose asked watching the big man's back disappear into the crowds.

"He is an old man," Ratru's Brother said quietly, "they don't like to be separated. It upsets them."

The dining hall, we soon learned, was a buffet. On the opposite wall were many long tables with food laid out. We got in a line with Ratru and were handed heavy, earthenware plates.

"Take whatever you need," the men told us gesturing to the food.

I looked at Rose and she at me. We had no idea what most of this food was. My memories of food were all borrowed from Damien and his Brothers. When we had been bonded I'd just used what they already knew and we'd never really talked about it or focused on it. Honestly, they always picked it out anyway. Finally I found something I recognized and took what looked like a serving. Further down I found something else the men had fed me several times.

Rose seemed to be in the same position I was. Neither of us was exactly sure what was on the tables in front of us. The preparation was different. It wasn't like either of us was that hungry either.

We picked the same things and followed Ratru to a round table with enough chairs for two or three families.

The family we sat with was very friendly; almost everyone that passed seemed to know them. Rose and I were introduced to countless other families. Everyone was kind and seemed happy to be together.

I nibbled on the food I'd taken as the room flowed around us. Ratru and his Brothers made polite small talk with us and inquired curiously about Earth. We answered their questions as best we could. It wasn't hard for anyone to tell that both Rose and I felt strange talking to these men.

Talons hitting the floor told me a female was coming. I turned my head expecting Reed or Hassar, but was thrilled to see Hannah and Ra instead.

"Baby Girl," I cried jumping up and hugging my daughter tightly, "I'm so glad to see you!"

Both girls greeted me fondly, then greeted Rose, and the men we were eating with. Men from an adjoining table pulled several larger stools over so Hannah and Ra could sit with us. They settled down looking very satisfied.

I wasn't satisfied and neither was Rose. I ignored the pleasantries and jumped into the issue.

"Hannah," I said urgently in English, "please you have to help us. They won't let our families near us. The Administrators here think our men would hurt us or keep us like slaves. You have to make them see reason."

"Was that an Earth language?" Ratru asked curiously. "The sound is so different!"

My eyes flitted to him, but settled back on Hannah pleadingly.

I knew her eyes, they were Damien's. Just like his eyes I could see her emotions reflected quite plainly in them. I did not like what I saw at all.

My oldest daughter sighed and wiped her hand across her forehead in a very human gesture and shook her head. My heart fell as I watched her.

"No, Hannah, no, please you know your father would never harm me. I am not his slave. Don't make us stay away from each other. I need them," I begged shamelessly.

Ra looked at her Sister and I saw the unspoken communication between them. They had expected this difficult conversation.

"This camp is built upon several important fundamental values, Mama," Hannah explained slowly. "Respect, equality, and hard work are all very important to the men and women that live here."

Ratru and his Brothers agreed with her and continued to watch the conversation.

"I can do all of that," I pleaded. "Damien and his Brothers can do all of that. We can do it together."

Rose grabbed my hand and spoke quickly. "My family can do that, too, so can I."

Hannah looked hard at me before she spoke.

"Damien does not respect you as an equal," she said simply. "He believes you are weak. My father doubts your ability to care for yourself so he has never taught you how to do so on this world. He thinks you will perish without his care."  

That made perfect sense. "Of course, I am weak here," I said exasperated. "I'm the weakest thing in this room. Anyone could do anything to me and I have no way to stop them. That's been proved countless times."

I saw the steel in Hannah as she gave me a critical eye.

"Were you stronger than Uncle Bob?" Hannah asked, unexpectedly referring to my family on Earth.

I snorted a laugh. Bob was a strapping minor league football player who had been permanently sidelined due to a series of knee injuries. He was doing automotive work last time I saw him. For his size and strength he had been a very gentle man. He didn't stay with us often. Of all my uncles, I got along with him the best.

"Of course not," I said, "Bob was huge and he worked out all the time."

Hannah continued her strange lesson, despite my obvious confusion.

"Were you afraid of Bob?" she asked simply.

"Never," I responded quickly, he just wasn't that kind of guy. Hannah should have known that.

My daughter nodded as she spoke. "Bob respected you. He made a conscious choice to do that. Much like Bob, the men and women here would not treat you badly on principle alone. You are equal to them because you are a living, sentient creature. Just by being yourself, you deserve respect."

"I'm not equal to them," I said gesturing around and I heard Ratru's family suck in a surprised breath.

My eyes met his and I saw the pity he had for me.

"I'm not," I argued, "they are stronger and faster. Their species is better than mine."

Hannah snorted a laugh. "When they do not feel safe they cannot breed and their race is being destroyed because of it. Men from the compounds take a long time to learn to trust our women. Once they are rescued it takes a long time for them mate successfully.

"Even with the bonds of slavery, you have produced more children than anyone in this room. Your bloodline is living on because of your genetic advantages and your ability to adapt. If the women had not limited human breeding, your species would have taken over this planet. Yes, humans are easily killed, but you reproduce so quickly your weakness is almost irrelevant."

All around us at the various tables men murmured in agreement with Hannah. I had not realized we were having such an interesting conversation.

"You are completely untaught and it makes you helpless here," Hannah told me. "Daddy would never allow you the freedom to learn how to take care of yourself. He believes you need him and he has managed to convince you of the same thing."  

"It isn't like that," I argued trying to understand this argument.

Hannah shook her head and pointed to my plate. "It is that way. Explain to me what you are eating right now."

I looked down at the chunks of brown and strips of light purple. The change in topic had surprised me. I had no idea what it was, but I'd eaten it before and not been ill.

"It's...I don't know. It's food," I said simply looking back at her and feeling frustrated.

"Daddy and his Brothers," Hannah said, "never taught you what the food you ate was. They served you food that was good for you, but never told you what it was or how to acquire it. In their minds there is no reason to do this. You could never live without them. They have denied you the most basic of survival skills."

I tried to put on a stern face, "Hannah, I love your father. I want to be with him. We can learn together."

"Mama," Hannah replied patiently, "Daddy is stubborn. He won't believe you are equal, until you prove to him you are. I don't think you will believe it either. His view of this world must change and so must yours."

I made a fluttering gesture with my hands and pushed the plate away.

"So I don't know food, Hannah, that's no reason to separate me from my family!" I argued.

Hannah sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"Do you know what the Earth equivalent of your food choices would be. Perhaps a small fruit salad and some lettuce. How long would you last eating that way? Are you trying to waste away? It is not easy for you get the right nutrients here. This is a vital lesson," Hannah said pointing at the discarded food.

"Well, I just didn't know and I wasn't hungry...." I said feeling her argument solidify.

I really had no idea how to take care of myself. She was right. I didn't know where to find water or food. I had no idea what foods contained the vital vitamins and such I remembered learning about on Earth. I had only just been taught to start a fire last night. If I needed shelter, I would not know where to look. I had a partial knowledge of what was dangerous here, from what I'd read, but it wasn't complete. My studies had been guided solely on my own curiosity. A lot of what I'd read about may not even be relevant.

"They taught me swords," I said hopefully. "I had my own at the compound."

"That is not enough," Hannah said simply, "and I think you are smart enough to know that."

Hannah and Ra stood picking up the plates Rose and I had. "Come with us and learn about the food offered," she commanded. "Ratru, it pleases me to see you have made acquaintance with my female breeder," she said politely. "It would make me very happy to see blades made for the female humans to carry."

Ratru's face split with a wide grin. "The lead smith has been teaching us. His family will make the best weapons for these humans," he said sounding happy.

"I believe," Hannah said with authority, "it would be good practice for your family to make the blades. You must begin to trust the skills you have been taught. You and your Brothers are very talented working with metal. It is well known you will be lead smiths one day yourselves."

My heart sunk as I watched the interaction. Hannah and Ra didn't just bring us here casually. They were respected in this place. The men listened to them. If Hannah didn't want me with Damien, I would not be.

I was angry and frustrated, but determined. In the past I'd always managed to find a "work around" for the rules on this world. Steeling myself, I decided now was no different. I would just have to figure this place out.

Rose and I were walked back to the buffet and tutored through it. Things we could eat were pointed out and explained to us. Things that were high in vitamins were specifically noted. Hannah made sure we understood what a serving of each would be. The measurements she used were simple enough. A handful, a slice, and so on, we were delivered back to Ratru with a meal more like what Damien would have given me.

My friend and I were left to eat our meal as Hannah and Ra walked the dining room talking to different groups. I remembered seeing politicians on Earth. The way my daughter and her Sister approached the families and the tone they used reminded me of that. The girls were well recognized and obviously well respected as they moved about.

"They are amazing," Ratru said watching where I was looking. "We were rescued, but obviously did not understand what was happening. My Brothers and I were bound on the transport. When we came through the opening on this side of the mountains racks attacked. Hannah and Ra swooped in and killed the creatures before our rescuers could do anything with their weapons."

I ate as I listened to him and had to be proud of the awe in his voice. Hannah was very well suited for this world. Whether she liked it or not, she had obviously absorbed her father's leadership ability, also. She was a powerful female.

"They flew with us here," Ratru continued, "and unbound us in the transport storage area. Hannah explained to us what was happening. We found her to be so unlike any female we had ever dealt with before. She touched us gently and spoke to us kindly. She also looks different than the other females and my Brother was curious. He noted her long hair on her head and the lack of it on her face. It surprised us when she answered. She explained her Earth heritage and we were amazed."

"No female had ever spoken to us as they did," Ratru's Brother said watching Hannah and Ra. "We asked more questions and they continued to answer politely. When we became upset they soothed us and tried to relax us. When they thought we were becoming alarmed, they moved away from us. My Brothers and I had never met females like that."

"My female offspring is quite wonderful," I agreed with him, "but I still disagree with her."

Rose seconded the comment and wiped a tear from her face.

"Hannah is wise," Ratru said. "She is not an Administrator, yet, but we all know it is her goal eventually. You would do well to listen to her."

My toddler I thought caustically. I would do well to listen to MY toddler. My eyes narrowed, but I kept my opinion to myself.

After the meal Hannah and Ra walked with us to a latrine on the first floor. It was just a large room with about thirty lacquered pots against the walls.

"Upstairs are ones just for you and Rose," Hannah informed us. "Use these for right now. Ra and I will not let any men in to give you privacy."

A line quickly started to form and I felt guilty. Rose and I quickly took care of our needs and darted back out.

"I'm sorry we took too long," I said seeing the line of men waiting for the room we had been using.

"Nonsense," Hannah said waving us to follow her, "you liked privacy on Earth. It was very important to you and having it taken away hurt. We will help you heal by giving you back what you lost."

Ratru and his Brothers agreed it was important. The camps made a large point to replace things the men had lost in slavery. It should be the same for Rose and me.

As a group we started toward where the weapons were made. Ratru made sure to tell me he worked on swords now, but one day he hoped to work on cannons and the hand-held pistol. His words stopped me in my tracks.

"That was English," I told him. "Those words you used are in English."

Hannah grinned and Ratru smiled. "The names our weapons designers had given them were complicated and descriptive. Hannah told us these things looked like weapons humans on Earth had. She told us the names they used. We like them, so that is what we call them."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 31



"The words have spread," Ratru's Brother told us, "all the camps make the same weapons and they all use the new words. We are proud the names originated in our camp."

The smithy was located a transport ride away from the main living areas, deeper in the mountain. We went to a second smaller parking area deep in the mountain and got on a large transport that would take us.

Rose and I rode with the men as Hannah and Ra flew behind us. The cave we were in got much hotter the deeper we went. I noted how high the ceiling rose and saw a slit at the top that must vent the heat. It didn't surprise me when we passed over a large open pit of boiling lava.

"The women dip their spears and talons there," Ratru explained as we soared past it.

I smiled and nodded, I knew what that pit was for.

We continued through a long tunnel before arriving in the area the men worked in to build weapons. I soon learned why we were so far from the main camp. Just after we parked our transport, an explosion shook the inside of the mountain and Hannah cursed.

"They have been told and warned. Stay here until we sort this out," she said loudly and then she and Ra flew ahead.

Several other women came flying by toward the sound. The seven of us left stood off to the side to get out of their way and waited. Luckily this parking area was well lit with torches.

"What happened?" I asked as another smaller boom came from the area Hannah went into.

"Rue and his Brothers have created terrible weapons," Ratru told me standing and waiting. "They are so powerful the Administrators have specific times and places they take them to test them. Those men aren't supposed to do it in the smithy. It is too dangerous."

The name struck me. "I knew a Rue," I said. "He and his Brothers were taken and held by Nu-reeh in the T'aran Mountains. They used to Keep me."

Ratru's face was grave suddenly and he turned to look at me. "Rue and his Brothers were slavers?" he asked seriously.

"I don't know if it's the same men, but no, not really," I said watching him.

Some large part of me wanted to lie and tell him yes, just to get Rue in trouble. Lying was probably really looked down on here, though.

"No," I reiterated, "Damien and his Brothers used Rue to Keep me before Hannah was born. I don't think Rue's family had any opinion either way on slaves. They just wanted to know about Earth."

Ratru and his Brothers seemed torn. These men had obviously been taught to hate the men who kept slaves.

"How were they taken?" I asked trying to change the subject. "They were in the mountain with the women last time I knew, if it is the same men."

"Oh, it's probably the same family," Ratru's Brother said watching smoke suddenly billow from the large arched passageway ahead. "Rue and his Brothers got curious and explored the mines deep in the T'aran Mountains. Using wind and smoke they somehow found our secret, underground tunnels."

"They opened them," Ratru said sounding amazed. "They figured out the levers and opened them. Once they were inside they closed the opening. It took them days, perhaps even a full moon, but they finally found an exit. Men from this camp found them wandering around in one of our fields."

I was shocked. "They made it all the way here, from the T'aran Mountains, on foot, and without any help?!"

"They're the smartest men we've ever met," Ratru said with a slight frown. "The Administrators tolerate their mishaps because they are so good at what they do. If they are slavers that will change how the men see them, though."

Another muffled explosion was heard and I sought to calm Ratru. "They did not have any interest in me as a slave. We talked and I told them things. Frankly, I think they were just curious about Earth. It wasn't like they ...."

It wasn't clear to me why I was defending Rue and his Brothers. They had been assholes to me. I guessed it was because I hated to see anyone ostracized the way Damien and his Brothers were being.

Also, the American side of me felt sorry for Rue and his family. Those men had been geniuses locked into a world that would not let them explore things. They'd been stifled for so long, this was probably a good change for them.

The smoke died down and Hannah was suddenly waving us forward. I walked toward her and she was ranting at Ra.

"Idiots," she said in English, "how many times do we have to tell them the ore is unstable? It can power a weapon, but it cannot be launched from one!"

"Sister," Ra soothed, "you are so worked up you're speaking in Mama's language."

"It's them," Hannah fumed, "I can barely stand them. You know how they treated..."

Hannah stopped talking and took several deep breaths. She had obviously hidden the relationship Rue had had with me. I wondered why she'd done that for these jerks and not her father. It piqued my temper.

"Hannah, could I speak to you privately for just a moment?" I asked stepping back from the group.

Hannah approached and leaned down waiting for the inevitable question.

"You didn't tell them, obviously, that Rue kept me as a slave for a time. Why did you have to tell them what your father did? Couldn't it have been hidden somehow? Couldn't you have convinced them somehow, so your father and I could be together?"

Hannah looked seriously at me and crouched down so we were eye to eye. "I couldn't hide what Daddy had done," she said. "The men here have their opinions and nothing I said could change them. I really do believe that you have become too used to your role and need help to regain your independence..."

The next part was said in a whisper, so quiet I had to strain to hear.

"I love my family," she said, "and I want to see you all happy and together. If you work hard and Daddy does, too, I think I can help. It will take time and you must all grow, but it can be done."

I saw the glint in her eyes. She hadn't given up on us, but she'd publicly done everything correctly. This wasn't over yet.

"Thank you, Baby Girl," I whispered.

Hannah just winked at me as she stood.

The forge was a mess and I saw where the accident must have happened. There was a smoldering work area along one wall. Rue and his Brothers were there picking up pieces of what looked like a large cannon and cursing. Reed and Hassar were there explaining loudly that the ore could NOT be ignited and launched. Only power could be projected out safely, power derived from the ore. The ore itself is just too unstable.

Rue got on a chair so he was Reed's height and yelled at her. The large room was silent watching the loud confrontation.

"The only reason you KNOW that the ore's power can be launched is because we did it. I am telling you the ore itself could be used as a powerful weapon. If you limit our studies we will never determine how to do it!" he shouted.

"You do not have to take that tone with me," Reed said calmly. "If you want to study the ore that way, you must petition the Administrators. Allow us to look over your plans and give you a safe-"

Rue exploded. He yelled and screamed saying he would not allow his family to be limited anymore. It was a tantrum and his lack of control shocked me.

Hassar started to speak next and Rue's family just yelled louder. The confrontation was interrupted as Gunth and his Brothers entered the workspace. Gunth took a firm, commanding tone with Rue and it seemed to work. The younger man stopped yelling and got off his chair.

Ratru was whispering in my ear suddenly, "Men raised in the compounds do not work well with the women," he informed me. "They never learned to talk with the women, they mostly react with either fear or undeserved hostility. They listen to the male Administrators better. We were warned and try to not be like that. It advertises your origins as a man from the compounds. Free men do not behave that way. Rue often forgets himself in front of the women."

He was right. As we stood and watched, Rue calmed instantly listening to Gunth. Rue and his Brothers even agreed to stop the testing and submit a request to the Administrators. They did everything Reed had asked, just not for her.

"Come," Ratru said directing us toward the area the sword makers worked in.

Rose and I both were measured for swords. Ratru and his Brothers, under the lead smith, would make weapons for us. It took the men time to realize what weight would work for us and what length. Rose and I were markedly weaker than even the weakest man.

Hannah took Rose and me back to the main area of the camp once we were done. My daughter looked troubled and I was concerned. My worry was forgotten as soon as I saw Kennedy walking toward us.

I rushed to hug my second daughter and her sisters. Kennedy hugged me, but looked over my head at Hannah.

"We haven't taken her to the viewing room yet," Hannah said and Kennedy sighed.

I looked between them and saw Kennedy's mouth draw tight around her fangs.

Hannah spoke and it was certainly defensive, "I had to tell her about Daddy, this one is yours."

I didn't know what they were talking about until Kennedy demanded that Hannah go get Evan. I would want him present for this.

Tears ran down my face and I knew something had happened to my boy. My little Jonathan had to be the reason for all this. In my panic I couldn't even hear them talking, until Rose scolded them loudly for scaring me.

"Is he hurt?" I asked looking between Kennedy and her Sisters. "Is he dead? Did the women torture him?"

All of them rushed to soothe me, "No, Mama," Kennedy said. "The issue is we can not take him. It was put to a vote and it was determined that a family of children should not be removed from the Child Keepers. Nu-reeh has no reason to harm Jonathan, because he has no knowledge and his owners would not permit it besides.

The issue is that if we start rescuing sons of the revolution, the women like Nu-reeh will not let our boys join with their families. We have an uneasy truce regarding the boys right now. That just cannot be endangered."

My breathing slowed and I leaned on the wall. Hannah disappeared with Ra, presumably to go get Evan.

"The rebels in the camps had already found a way to access the cameras the slaving women use to monitor the boys. Hannah and I thought it would be good for you to see Jonathan," Kennedy explained.

"You can't save him?" I asked quietly still fighting the desire to scream and cry.

I would never be with my little boy again.

"No, not now, perhaps one day..." Kennedy trailed off looking uncomfortable.

Nodding silently, I looked up at my daughter and sought to accept this latest blow to my life.

I followed Kennedy into the Administrator's main room. She took us into a smaller room and we waited.

"Jonathan is in a compound near the one you were at, Mama. The men call the mountain near it the red mountains, we call them the T'ylene Mountains. The compound is called the Barnas compound. It is about as far from us here as the T'aran Mountains and the Caras compound you were in. Right now, you reside in the T'lynien Mountains," Kennedy explained politely.

I nodded and stared at her, just trying to process how close and yet how far away Jonathan was.

Damien and his Brothers came in a few moments later with Hannah. Hassar followed the entire group in.

"This is not appropriate," she growled looking between Hannah and Kennedy. "I do not want them contacting the woman they used as a slave."

"Evan is Jonathan's male breeder and I am his female breeder," I choked out. "On Earth we would have lived in the same place and cared for him together. If I am being told I will never hold my male offspring again, I at least wish his male breeder here for comfort."

"You may turn to your female offspring or your female friend-" Hassar said and I lashed out at her.

"Allow me this moment with my men!" I demanded. "You offered us no time to say good-bye and that is all I am asking for. Comfort from those whom I love and a chance to wish them well in their separate future."

Hannah didn't give the woman any time to answer and flipped on the screen. It was in black and white, but that did not matter to me. I took Evan's hand as we watched a recording of Jonathan, Hannah said it was the first time he entered the Children's compound.

Tears poured down my face when I saw him look at the monitor. There was no sound, but I could read his lips. He asked where Mama and Daddy were. The Child Keepers herded the new little boys into the bunk house and the camera changed.

We stood and watched for what must have been hours. My girls had made sure to keep a record of Jonathan for Evan and me. The children were kept intentionally very busy. Hannah told me it helped them forget their breeders. Jonathan's owner also would have given them subtle commands that only their Brothers mattered. Soon the only focus of their world would be on the four other boys in their family. Their first home in the mountains would be a dream or distant memory. Eventually, they would not remember it at all.

Within the first several moons they had them using the lacquered pots and learning to dress themselves. Games were set up that they played every day to build endurance and strength. I watched Jonathan get stronger and more coordinated quickly.

As I stood, totally fixed on the monitor, I saw his bond with his Brothers get stronger and stronger. He touched them and tasted them constantly. When he slept it was often wrapped around a Brother and sucking the other boy's fingers. The entire little family seemed to sleep in a pile most of the time. They were never separated.

Less and less did I see the motions of his mouth that told me he was saying Mama or Daddy. He was forgetting us, as he was being forced to do. It broke my heart.

I didn't remember dropping to the floor as the crushing sobs gripped me. I clung to Evan as I mourned the loss of the son we would never know. He had been so sweet and wild. I would have loved to watch him grow and learn with his family. Now all I had was pictures on this black and white monitor of a boy who would find me alien very soon.

"It will not be forever, Sister," Evan whispered over and over again. "He will grow and we will take him. No more tears, please, he will be safe there."

"There is a cream," I heard Damien beg, "that will help her feel better."

"No," Hassar told him sharply, "grief is normal. This is normal. This woman does not have to be a perfect creature to represent your family's health anymore. If she wishes to be sad, she can."

"This is pain," Damien argued. "It will harm her. She does not survive well when she is sad. We must protect-"

"Daddy," Hannah cut in, "please don't worry. Humans can feel sad. Kennedy and I will watch her. It will not be like it was before. She is not trapped and she will not break like that again. We know this about her."

"The sadness is too powerful for her-" Damien started to say and Hannah interrupted.

"The bonds of slavery were too powerful Daddy, the emotion is normal. You have to let her be free. She can be sad or happy. Kennedy and I believe she will make the right choices now that she has the option. We will help her and she will be well."

Damien was silent as Evan soothed me with strokes to my hair and back. We knelt together and I knew the men were confused.

"You all may come separate from the female if you wish to view him," Hassar said after a moment.

"Thank you," I whispered squeezing Evan's hand and pulling myself together.

I stood with Evan and looked into his eyes. "I love you," I told him simply.

"As I love you, Sister," he responded.

Hassar made a bitter, grunting sound and tossed her head in irritation turning away. I took her moment to take one of my own. I moved to hug and kiss each of my men before she made them leave.

"Boys grow up in the Keepers all the time," Christof soothed when I hugged him. "Don't mourn him, Sister."

Hassar broke in and demanded the men leave. She also demanded they stop calling me Sister. It offended her that they would use the sacred bond she shared with her family to imply slavery.

Damien didn't flinch as he faced her. "You will understand one day," he promised her. "This is not our slave; she is our Sister."

My men were taken away and Hannah handed me a small, wooden square. Inside the square was a black and white drawing of Jonathan surrounded by his Brothers.

"One of the families here can draw," Kennedy explained. "We brought them here and told them what we wanted them to do. There is nothing in this camp like a printer. They exist, but we do not have access."

Hannah had tears in her eyes as she ran a finger over Jonathan's image.

"This is from just a moon ago. The boys saw something in the sky and they all looked at the camera at the same time. It struck me as something you would want," she said softly.

It was something I would want. I would put it on my shelf in my room and look at it every day.

"This room," Kennedy said, "is not the formal observation room for working. It is for mothers like you and fathers like Evan to come and see their sons. We have programmed the pad to recognize your human hand print and associated it with Jonathan. Any time you wish to see what he has been doing come in here and follow the instructions."

My tears refused to stop falling as I held the small picture to my chest. I'd kept what I could of Jonathan's baby clothes and blankets, but those were all at the compound. This was all I had of him.

Rose took my hand and I saw her drying the tears from her own eyes. She had helped raise Jonathan with me, as if he were the son she could never have. She felt the pain of losing him as much as any of us did. We all suffered for this decision.

"Dinner will be served soon," Hannah said pulling herself together. "Go put your things in your room and come down to meet us."

I shook my head and looked down at the picture of Jonathan's happy face.

"I promised to eat with someone named Arik," I said softly. "He grows things."

"Good," Hannah said decisively, "that will please the Administrators, keep doing things like that. The faster they see you acting like a free woman, the sooner we can start working on changing their minds about Daddy and his Brothers."

"Damien's family is going to have to change, too," Kennedy said softly. "Did you hear Damien ask for cream for her? They can't keep her like an orchid anymore. We need to talk with them. They have to understand."

"Let's take them hunting to make sure they eat and show them around," Hannah said and Ra agreed.

All the girls planned to spend some time with the men tonight.

Rose and I walked slowly up to our little room. I put Jonathan's family picture up on the carved shelving and sat on the bed staring at it. Rose joined me and held my hand tightly. We sat in the quiet until the dinner bell rang.

"Will you come with me?" I asked her softly. "I agreed to eat with these strange men, but will you come, too?"

Rose sighed and squeezed my hand. "I'm not leaving through those damned portals," she said bluntly, "so I best do what they want."

I smiled at my friend and was truly glad she was here with me. If we had to change, at least we could do it together.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 32



Welcome back, Lit!

Sorry about the confusion with Rue and Runen's families - the names are too similar. Rue and his Brothers were fake masters, kept our heroine in the wall, and wanted to know about Earth. Runen lived in the mountains with the women and tried to rape her to "teach Damien to share". Should have used more different names.

Steve150177 felt it important to give the next bit of info: The last two chapters have covered events that happened in just over one day. This is such a critical period that it had to be covered in detail. This chapter starts where the last left off, dinner time the day after the rescue, but will cover 4 or 5 months.

My thanks again to Steve150177 for his tireless efforts to edit and get this to you quickly.

Don't forget to comment and vote! Expect the next chapter May 2 or 3. Thank you!

Chapter 32

Dinner with Arik and his Brothers was strange. The men were farmers at heart. All they enjoyed talking about was plants, soil, and weather. It wasn't a wasted evening and they did educate Rose and me about what we were eating. It gave the men great pleasure to tell us about the different items we'd picked off the food tables.

Rose and I both made a real effort to behave the way everyone thought we should. We talked to the men and looked at them. Every time Rose looked down I'd pinch her thigh or arm to make her look up. For our first real try, I thought it went very well.

After dinner they insisted we come see the Earth plant they were growing. The women had brought them cuttings and told them it was a plant that originated on Earth. It had been found near a naturally occurring portal before the women shut the thing down.

Rose and I followed the men out the dining hall and into the main thoroughfare. They walked briskly and we had to run to keep up. Finally, I said something.

"Arik, humans walk slower than this! Could you slow down, please?"

The men found our pace slightly annoying, but they understood humans were different. They walked us out to the garage or transport storage space and climbed aboard one.

"I don't know if we're allowed," I said looking out at the dark night sky.

Arik laughed hard at that. The noise got the attention of the many other men out here, most appeared to be guards. Since this was their main entrance, that made sense.

"Allowed by who? There is no one to ask permission. You are free to come and go as you wish. Come with us, please. We want to know if it looks as it should. Hannah and Kennedy are too busy to go out and look with us."

It felt like getting into the back of a van with strangers offering you candy, but I climbed on. Rose followed, but the look she gave me was priceless.

"Use the stored solar energy and don't stay out too long," one of the guards called out in warning. "Don't make us come out to find you. There is no field work that can't wait until the sun rises, Arik!"

Before I could really feel good about this Arik's Brother raised the craft and we were outside. The men didn't turn on any lights and sped down the mountain slope. Luckily there seemed to be a path they were traveling, because otherwise it would have seemed like we were just wildly careening in the forest.

The moons spread some light and I was amazed at the scenery. Through the trees the mountains in the distance glittered in certain places. Closer to us I noted that several plants also reflected the light and some of the leaves almost glowed. This must have been what Hannah and Kennedy saw when they flew away from me. It was unbelievable.

The transport came to an abrupt stop and lowered to the ground. The men leapt off and moved into a patch of moonlight.

"What about creatures?" I asked hesitantly. "Are there racks or scars out there? We could not defend ourselves!"

Arik snorted and motioned us out. "The Administrators put up a shield several moons ago, men from this camp developed it. It keeps most things like that away from the entrance to our home. We have been much safer since then. There is nothing to be afraid of here. The boundary to the protection is farther down."

Rose and I followed as the men stood waiting for our reaction. The ground under our feet was quite damp as we moved through it. I touched the tight grouping of long, tall stalks in front of us and almost laughed.

"On Earth," I told the men, "this is called bamboo. We did not eat it. It was used for building, instruments, and could be cut and tied together to make a barrier. Some types of it can grow very quickly."

The men were enamored and stepped closer to me. I backed up.

"You know plants," they said sounding excited.

My hands went up and I backed toward the transport. "I know some things about plants. My female breeder tried to grow this as natural barrier between us and another human family. It didn't work and grew in a big clump."

The men were not deterred. "The women here are not interested in plants. They do not eat them and do not use them to build with. Would you like to spend more time with us? We could mate for fun," Arik offered.

I heard Rose's sharp intake of breath and I took one myself. My body shook with fear as the five of them eyed me lustily.

"I do not wish to mate," I said very quietly, but felt certain the men would take whatever they wanted. They could and I knew that.

"Will you please take us back?" Rose begged quietly. "Please, don't leave us out here. We will do whatever you want. Ciara, we cannot stay out here alone," she finished gripping my arm.

The men didn't seem to understand and motioned us back on the transport.

"Of course, we will take you back," Arik said, as his Brother started the transport. "Why would we not take you back?"

The looks of lust and want were gone and I felt very stupid. I tried to play down what we'd said, but Arik's family was persistent. Eventually, Rose was forced to explain how human men sometimes took a girl places only to demand sex as payment for a ride back.

Arik and his family were horrified. The very idea that Rose had thought them capable of that offended them greatly. When his Brother noted Rose must have been offering them sex as payment the men were almost speechless. They demanded to know why we thought they were like that. They wanted to know what they'd done to earn such a vile reputation.

"We didn't mean to offend," I pleaded as the transport lowered in the storage area. "Things are different on Earth and they are different on the compounds. We have nothing to compare this place to."

Arik didn't really accept that, but he tried to understand. The men had been told that ex-slaves would be strange and easily confused. The Administrators had asked them to welcome us but be cautious around us. The warning made more sense to them now. Still, the men seemed happy to leave us and moved quickly back into the camp.

Rose and I let them rush ahead and walked slowly back toward our dwelling. We both had to use the facilities, so we found the lacquered pots on the second floor. The men using the room were heedless of our presence and one simply pointed out the private area set aside for us.

Behind a drape were two pots separated by wood hanging from the ceiling. It was like our own private "ladies room". I was actually very glad for it.

As I washed my hands Rose laughed out loud. Whatever was funny amused her greatly and she couldn't stop giggling.

"What is so funny?" I demanded as we skirted quickly past the men using their latrine.

"Can you imagine," she asked, "what Gunth would have said last night if Basin was still putting the plug in my bottom? Can you imagine having to take it out in front of all those men last night? How strange would free men find something like that."

She was right and I had to laugh, too. It would have just solidified what the men already thought of slavers. They would have been totally offended.

"Thank God for small miracles," I said to her and we both laughed.

Rose and I determined quite quickly we could not sleep alone. After removing our ornamentation from our pockets and hiding it behind the bed, both of us folded our outfits and put them on the shelf under Jonathan's picture. We ended up huddled in my bed, together. The very idea of going into a room and sleeping alone made us both cringe.

We lay silently next to one another listening to the muted sounds in our little cave.

I'd left the fire burning in the main room and the leather drape to my room was open. That allowed warmth and light to still move into our sleeping room. The dancing light coming through the opening flickered and made shapes on the wall. I watched the patterns and allowed them to calm me. How many times had I sat and stared at the fire with Damien and his Brothers?

It took a long time, but I finally drifted to sleep with Rose curled up beside me.

"Psst, Ciara," a familiar voice whispered in my ear, "wake up."

I was warm and comfortable, but that wasn't Evan's voice. My eyes shot open and I was staring at Tyle's young face. He was leaning over me and grinned broadly. Rose roused beside me and stiffened as she realized we weren't alone. The men didn't even notice our initial reaction and continued to smile at us.

"Hello," Aryn said jovially from behind his Brother, "my male breeder, Bane, sent you a message."

I sat up quickly and the blankets fell to my waist. The young men didn't even notice as they all crowded into our bedroom. After having been truly dressed the entire day prior, I felt my nudity and pulled the covers over my breasts.

Aryn knelt in front of me and I saw a large purple bruise on his chin. His brothers were all similarly marked with several bruises and small cuts. He looked so much like his father. I automatically reached out to touch his bruise and only remembered myself as my hand slid across his face.

The boys looked shocked, but they didn't move as I pulled my hand back.

"I'm sorry," I stammered, "you look so much like your father, your male breeder. I just wondered how you got that mark on your face."

"We fought for him and his Brothers last night," Aryn said proudly. "We chose family over the camp and stood watch for a time while they slept. Arnold's family also took a turn. The other men told us we were wrong. They want us to hate Damien and his Brothers. We disagreed with them."

"Fighting is wrong, violence is wrong," I said, jolted, remembering what Hassar and Reed had told Damien.

"The men that attacked us were sanctioned," Aryn said simply. "We won't let them harm our family or friends, though."

The blanket and my nudity didn't matter anymore. I slipped off the bed onto my knees and hugged Aryn tightly.

"Thank you," I whispered kissing the rough stubble on his cheek.

When I pulled away from him the look of shock on his face was indescribable. He pointed quietly to his Brother and I knew what they wanted.

I thanked each boy the same way, with a hug and a kiss. They'd seen this affection at the cabin, but I was sure they thought they'd never experience it.

The young family found the activity novel. They were tentative in hugging me back at first, but by the fourth one they lay their hands firmly on my skin and squeezed. They murmured to me how they liked this type of thanks.

"They told us you are a Sister, not a slave," Aryn said seriously. "Damien and his Brothers assured us they have no love for slavery and we believe them. In the compound, I know they trained you like one would a Brother."

"Yes," I said quietly as I pulled my outfit off the shelf and put it on. When I was no longer under the covers with Rose it was quite chilly in here. "I wish I could talk to them."

"Basin and his Brothers," Rose cut in looking beseechingly at the young boys, "who helps them? They have no friends here," she said looking ready to cry.

"We stand together," Tyle said proudly. "Damien's family, Basin's family, Stayne's family, Arnold's family, and ours stand as friends. We protect one another and will not allow the others to be hurt. Poor choices were made, but those mistakes have been corrected."

I remembered Arnold. The tough man and his family Damien and his Brothers had helped Hannah rescue from the compound. They must have ended up here.

Rose was such a graceful creature. She somehow managed to get out of bed and stay wrapped in a single bed sheet. Much like I had done she hugged and kissed each boy. Suddenly, she looked at me appearing terrified.

"Do you think I can touch them?" she asked trembling. "Will Basin be...?"

I shook my head and took her hand.

"You are free and not a slave," I stressed. "You can touch anyone you want."

The boys seemed taken aback with Rose's concern and made sure they understand Basin's relationship to her.

"No, no," she said looking uncomfortable, "I am not a slave, but it has been so long...I have not touched anyone except Basin and his family or Keepers they left me with. This is all so strange..."

The young men watched Rose closely before seeming to accept her answer. It seemed to help that she cautiously had laid a hand on Tyle's arm as she spoke.

"We need to go," Tyle said and handed us each a small folded piece of paper. "This is an old fashioned way to pass a message, but it will have to do. We will come again when we can."

I rushed forward and put a tentative hand on his arm.

"Tell Damien and his Brothers I love them. Please tell them that I won't stop trying to be with them," I begged.

Tyle didn't seem to mind the strange job and accepted it without argument. Rose asked for the same thing and the boys agreed to take our messages to the men.

The boys took their leave as Rose and I sat on the bed next to one another.

The strange paper like substance opened to reveal a long hand written note. Rose and I each had one. It appeared the Brothers must have each taken a turn writing.

They loved me, the note said, and missed me terribly. Damien had talked to Hannah. He had told her she should have been honest. We would have still come, but we would have been prepared. My men knew I couldn't stay in the compound, the task Nu-reeh demanded was too much for all of us. He was sad we weren't together, but felt sure he could earn the right soon.

Evan was incredibly depressed about his son. Nothing else that had been done or said compared to the pain of having to leave Jonathan where he was. Evan wanted me to know that he felt our boy still. Even as far away as we probably were, our family was still connected.

Bane's part of the note was cheery. He and Aryn were finally able to be together. He mourned with Evan, but tried to use his own son to alleviate the pain. So far the young family had been invaluable. When no one else would speak to my men, Aryn and his Brothers stepped forward and helped them. It had been a stroke of good luck that we had sent them ahead of us.

Kein missed me, but he was fascinated with this place. He had hidden his excitement when the other men told them not to come to the dining hall. If my family wanted to eat, they would have to catch it themselves. Going outside and tracking the animal they'd eaten last night had been wonderful. My men planned to spend as much time as they could exploring.

Christof apologized to me again. He knew what they had done had hurt me. They had abused me even after they'd called me Sister. I'd forgiven them on many occasions, but it had not fully abated the guilt my best friend felt. Last night Kennedy had talked to them a long time. The men had all struggled with the things she had told them. Some of it had seemed too impossible, but they would continue to try.

I sat for a long time staring at the paper. Rose was beside me doing the same thing.

"We should get ready," she finally said. "The boys were up and dressed, we probably should be also."

I stood and sniffed myself. Rose raised an eyebrow and nodded at me.

"We both need a bath, but I don't know how long it would take to fill that pot in our main room," she said pulling on her skirt.

Taking a big breath, I made a decision.

"Let's try to find the bathing hall ourselves," I said firmly. "They keep telling us not to act like slaves. The free men use the hall, we can, too. I say we walk around until we find it."

Rose and I each took our towel from inside our bedrooms. We peeked out the drape and saw the hall was deserted. Since we wanted to explore, that was probably a good thing.

The central fire pits were all burning very low and casting almost no warmth. I shivered in the cool air in the massive cave.

"We should have brought our coats," Rose whispered to me and I agreed.

We'd have to think about these things now. No one was going to dress us or make sure we were prepared. These really were our own bodies again.

It was so easy to miss, we almost did. Right in the middle of all the little different shops was a tunnel. I touched the wall and it was damp.

"This way," I grinned at Rose.

This had to be the correct direction, I kept thinking. The hall was wide and obviously well used. There were many torches lighting the way, but most of them were burned out at this time of day. The air itself was wet and muggy, definitely a good sign.

The hall ended and I was shocked. We were in an enormous cave. The ceiling was low, but the "room" went on forever it seemed. I couldn't see the other side, it was swallowed in darkness. Steps had been carved into the rock and went directly into the massive pool of steaming, swirling water. The large pool was mostly unlighted, but it was awe inspiring.

Rose walked to the right and I followed her. Men's shirts and pants were drying on a line. The wall behind them was billowing heat from a low fire. It appeared fans pushed the warmth over the clothing to dry them.

Past that area was a stream running down into the main body of water. Neatly stacked to the side were what I would have called washboards in English. Rose remembered the Paterian word and we practiced it as we inspected them. There was a large tub of stuff that felt slick and little bars that smelled like soap.

Well, we guessed we knew where we washed our clothing now.

Rose and I walked back to the main area and stripped. We found a bucket of more bars of soap and rags laid out neatly. We each took one of each and ventured into the water.

The steps were slimy, so we were careful, but once we were in the water it was heavenly.

"It's so warm!" Rose said as she stood staring at me.

It moved against my legs and seemed to be traveling through this area. It was a natural widening of what must be a stream. I assumed the warmth was from the rocks underneath.

I started to wash myself. Rose just stood in the waist deep water and stared at me.

"Well?" I asked laughing at her. "Do you want to wash or not?"

Her concerned look made me stop and I realized this was a serious step for her.

"I have not touched my own body since..." she trailed off. "Even after they freed me Basin and his Brothers always did it. It feels like I should not touch myself."

This must have been what they meant by retraining. I'd been a slave for only a short time and had already regained bits of my independence on my own. Rose and Fuji had never done the things I did. My friends still followed the old directives unfailingly.

"Perhaps," I said seriously, "you start with your hands and arms."

It took a long time for Rose to wash herself. She cried when she had to wash between her legs. She had not touched herself there in a very long time. I suddenly realized she probably had not even wiped herself in the bathroom.

"We'll wash your underthings before we leave," I promised her once she was done.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 32



Washing clothes was something Rose had to teach me to do. I'd never used a washboard on Earth. Once in an antique store I'd seen one, but that didn't mean I knew what to do with it.

Being the one to give directions seemed to solidify Rose's determination. She'd used washboards with her grandmother. She took the lead and we washed our underthings together.

The dryers seemed powerful, so we just waited for them to dry the thin fabric of our underwear. We'd both put our skirts and shirts back on as we sat talking.

Seeing men emerge from the water startled us both and we shrieked. It had seemed we were alone, but we had been watched this entire time.

"Relax, Sister," Kein said amicably, shaking off the water, "we only need to get our clothing."

"You've been in the water the whole time?" I asked as the rest of the family walked up the stone steps toward us, followed by Basin's and Stayne's families.

Rose ran to Basin and hugged him tight. I did the same thing and clung to my damp family one at a time as they dried themselves.

"Yes," Christof said pulling on his pants, "I have been attempting to tell Basin and his Brothers that humans can clean themselves."

I didn't have an answer to that and watched Basin check Rose over. Christof made him stop.

"She is free cousin," Christof said forcibly. "Free creatures bathe themselves and take care of their own bodies. We have to understand this."

Basin argued. Rose had cried the entire time. She didn't want to do it herself. My best friend needed her family. They should be caring for her physical self, she obviously couldn't do it.

"She needs you because you trained her that way," Christof said softly. "Humans take care of their own needs on Earth, my offspring, Kennedy, has talked to us about this. The human women did not like it when we took this chore away from them. It caused them distress."

Basin didn't like what Christof was saying. Rose was free, he argued, but she still needed them. I looked at Damien and knew instantly that he agreed with Basin. Christof obviously did not and I saw the pain it was causing my family. Rose and I being here was very upsetting.

"We have to go," I said abruptly, surprising everyone. "If Rose and I are caught with you, you all will be sent back. We need to leave now and you should wait a moment before you walk out."

Basin stared at me and I raised my chin to stare back at him. I felt like a quivering mass of jello on the inside, but I hoped it didn't show. This was not a time to show weakness.

Basin spoke in a low tone and I knew I should drop my eyes, but I did not. "You dare tell us where to go and what to do?" he asked.

"It's for your own good," I answered reaching out for Rose's hand. "If we stay with you here, we will be caught. Come on Rose, we absolutely must go."

The looks I was getting from the men were a mix of furious and amazed. Only in Christof's eyes did I see pride reflected. They had never seen me act this way.

"Go," Basin finally said pushing Rose away, "go with your friend."

Once I had Rose I grabbed our underthings off the line and headed quickly for the exit. We each bundled our underwear into a ball and shoved them in our pockets. Just before we exited the damp cave we slowed our gait and walked slowly back toward our rooms.

The hallways were getting busier with men now. Several stopped to greet us and introduce themselves. One family was piling the fire pits with fuel and lighting the torches. Those men even stopped what they were doing to be friendly.

I walked with Rose back to the second floor and our private lacquered pots.

"You have to wipe yourself when you are done using the lacquered pot," I whispered to her. "It's not clean what you've been doing."

Rose nodded to me, but didn't speak before she turned into her stall. She still looked shocked. In truth, I still felt shocked. I couldn't believe I had stood up to a man on this world. It seemed impossible.

After a quick stop in our room, we found the dining room again and walked in by ourselves. Arik and his Brothers were in front of us almost immediately.

"Good day, Ciara and Rose," Arik greeted us with a smile, "we have decided to not be offended by your assumptions last night," he announced proudly.

"Thank you?" Rose said looking at me with a definite question on the end.

"You know plants from Earth and we know plants from here," Arik said. "We would like to trade with you. You tell us about Earth plants and we will tell you about Paterian plants. Some things may still exist in both places, we wish to know what they are."

I had forgotten. Everything here was shared. I had thought Rose and I had little to offer. These men thought differently.

We went through the line for the morning meal and having Arik and his family with us was surprisingly helpful. Rose and I barely remembered what Hannah had told us, so we thought we'd have trouble. We asked Arik and his Brothers and they were a wealth of information.

It wasn't that Arik's family knew anything about humans, but they knew everything about plant life. If something was edible for us, they were aware. When it came to the meats, Arik introduced us to the men cooking, Abram's family, and they knew more about that. For the second time in two days we had a thorough lecture on food while we picked out our food.

Hannah had talked to Abram's family before we arrived. She'd made sure his family would put out something we could eat at every meal. The entire family was proud to point out the things they'd made special for us. We made a point to take some of each of those things. The men made sure we understood exactly what we would be eating as we picked it out.

"Come to the kitchens with us one day and we will teach you to prepare these things," Abram offered. "We are used to teaching freed men how to cook and prepare a meal. It would be a pleasure to do the same for you both."

I did my best to make eye contact with Abram as I thanked him. From what Hannah had said I absolutely had to learn this type of thing. This particular family didn't seem dangerous, so I'd feel safe learning with them.

Rose and I sat with Arik's family for the meal. The food this morning tasted slightly different from the night before. The spices were not too strong, but the flavors were invigorating. There was nothing bland, as far as, I could tell.

I told Arik about cactus as payment for his help. He and his Brothers had never seen a plant with the spines I described. That surprised me. They had heard of plants that could store water, though.

Much like on Earth there was a plant in the desert the men broke open to drink from. It was how they got water in places with no fresh water above ground. Arik's Brothers described in detail what it looked like and how to open it to get the water out. Should I ever be in an arid area this information would be invaluable. It was how men in the compounds got water when they were on patrol.

Fuji arrived with her "Mistress" about halfway through our meal. Reed instructed Fuji to go select something she could eat from the trays.

"You may choose only from the brown bowls," Reed instructed.

"Yes, Mistress," Fuji said, happily walking off.

I looked at Reed and then back at the table laden with food. Of the bowls up there, ninety percent of them were brown. Her directions made no sense to me. It was essentially a command to pick out whatever Fuji wanted.

What was the point of giving Fuji such strange instructions?

Reed greeted us all as she pulled up a large stool to settle herself on.

"Eat," Reed said pleasantly, "I have had my meal and do not wish to interrupt yours."

Reed watched Fuji and grinned broadly as her charge struck up a conversation with the cooks. Abram's family interacted easily with everyone and Fuji was no exception. The men talked to her as she picked out a meal for herself.

Gunth and his Brothers appeared beside Reed and their faces were all held in a scowl. All the men eating seemed to be surreptitiously watching their Administrators. I took my lead from Arik and kept eating, but paid attention.

"She is choosing her own food," Reed said happily, "and she's talking to the cooks."

Gunth made an unhappy sound and crossed his arms. His Brothers all did the same thing with unnerving effect.

"You told her to do those things," he groused. "She is not behaving like a free creature-"

Hassar approached our table and interrupted Gunth mid-sentence.

"She will find she likes to make decisions eventually," she said pulling up a stool to sit beside her Sister. "Creatures like that have never been told they could do what she is doing. We will allow her more and more choices until she realizes she is taking care of herself."

Gunth and his Brothers weren't convinced. This decision had not been made through the Administrators. Reed and Hassar had done it themselves without anyone's input. Gunth and his family were offended.

"We sincerely apologize," Hassar said laying her left arm across her chest and bowing her head to Gunth and his family. Reed was doing the same thing. "We had only theorized between the two of us it would be an issue. Our thoughts and studies should have been shared with our friends and cousins. In no way do we intend to keep this creature a slave. She will learn freedom with us."

I was openly staring at the interaction between the groups. We'd been told they worked together and respected one another, but I knew the importance of that simple gesture. In my mind a Paterian woman would never apologize to a man like that.

The apology seemed to soften Gunth and his Brothers.

"You are thinkers," Gunth's Brother said addressing the women and pulling a chair up so he sat next to me, his Brothers settled beside him. "We should have asked your opinion on these matters. My Brother had thought you had more information than we did."

The morning meal was pleasant. Evidently it wasn't unusual for the Administrators to come down and sit with a family. This is how it was always done. They liked to make themselves very accessible.

During the meal I watched Gunth move his leg several times. He would rub it every time he did that. I even noted his Brother rubbed his leg. If the pain bothered the family, it must be horrible. These men rarely noticed physical pain.

The talk at the table soon turned to Rose and me. Men retrained other men and taught them the world. Gunth and Hassar both trusted their camp to do the same for us. Men from the compounds were as uneducated as we were. Our lessons would be taught the same way.

Our other issue was that as former slaves we had to learn to be more independent. Hannah had told them that was really what we needed. My friends and I had had our autonomy totally stripped. We had to relearn to take care of ourselves and trust in our ability to do it.

"Perhaps," I said quietly, "we could start working as you discussed with us yesterday. We both enjoy being productive. We had small jobs at the compound and we enjoyed them..."

Gunth and his Brothers liked that solution. Hard work that produced something for the camp would make us feel part of it. We could stitch cloths then switch jobs in the afternoon, so we could learn different things. They were all for it.

"They could do that in the morning," Arik said hopefully, "and in the afternoon we take the women to the fields. They could help us tend the crops. It may help them understand the food better. We could teach them about the plants outside, as we do the men."

Reed and Hassar thought that was a brilliant plan. They had been offended that Rose and I weren't even taught what to eat by our past "Masters". One of the first steps to being more self sufficient would be to know about food. While we were out there the men could teach us other things as well.

Gunth and his Brothers delivered us to Armant and his family after the morning meal. The little clothing shop was already bustling as Rose and me were given a seat. Men were dropping off things for repair or picking up completed orders. Most were in a hurry, but they made a point to quickly introduce themselves before they left.

I noted several families toted infants and small children with them. The men carried the little, furred girls and tiny boys the way I had carried mine. The young were bundled and wrapped before being strapped to the chest of one of the men in the family. I mourned that my own children had never known their male breeders this way.

It was especially striking with the girls. I saw the adoration in their eyes as they watched their male breeders go about their day. Females raised this way, surrounded by loving caring family, would never put men into the compounds. No wonder the resistance was growing.

"How do they feed the children?" I asked out loud and unintentionally. I jumped when the men in the shop looked at me

A man with a tiny girl smiled at me as he answered.

"Her female breeder comes to us at regular intervals," he said, stroking his small daughter's head. "She knows when the young will need to feed. We take her with us outside and let her get stronger. This will be a powerful female one day soon."

The little girl on the man's chest just gazed around at him and his Brothers. I had no doubt he did not mind caring for her and she did not mind his attention. Her memories would be mainly those of her female breeder, but all her experience would be the love of her male breeder. I imagined it balanced the girls born here.

Men cared for the children almost exclusively, I was told. Women were not good with children. After the birth men were the predominate parent in their child's life. Paterian women were a good food source, but past that took a limited role. The men laughed saying it was hard enough to get them to feed the young, much less anything else.

I looked at Rose and she was as shocked as me. We would never have guessed that. Everything here was different from what we expected.

The men coming and going thinned out some and the shopkeepers settled down to work on the day's orders.

"Take a break when you need it," Armant's Brother, Reil, told us. "Drink from the jug there when you wish. Don't let the task overwhelm you, it will still be there when you return."

"It always is," another Brother laughed.

We sewed in silence at first, but the men were very friendly. Armant and his Brothers liked to talk to pass the time. They were pleasantly surprised when I spoke to them freely. They'd seen slaves in their old compound, but never spoken to a human.

"It is wrong what those men do," Reil said, as he sat making a new shirt for a man. "We were so uneducated then, but now we know. It offends us men like that are in our camp."

I stopped his rant before he really got started.

"No one understands us," I said quickly. "Rose and I do not hate the men who used to own us. We fell in love with them and they freed us. The way they are being treated isn't right!"

No one stopped working, because there just wasn't time to, but the men were fascinated by the conversation. They believed we had been tricked and told us as much. The evil hold that the slavers had over us must be broken.

The rest of the morning was the same conversation. Armant and his Brothers hated slavery and could not understand our fascination with our families. Armant's family talked about the "training" our families had given us. It was designed to make us entirely dependent on our owners.

"Do you feel safe here?" Armant asked, gesturing to the small, but well lit, cave we were in. "Do you think we may harm you?"

I looked at Rose and she looked at me. We were both trying very hard to do what we had been told to do, but it was difficult. Rose was staring at the cloth in her hands and silent as a stone. I was literally forcing myself to interact.

Armant was right. In the back of my mind I feared these men. I only felt safe with Damien and his Brothers.

I tried to impart to Armant's family that our families had changed. Neither Basin nor Damien wanted to own a slave anymore. They wanted a Sister that loved them.

Armant's family listened to my argument and seemed to relent slightly. It was good that Damien and Basin were acting better, but it didn't excuse past crimes. Armant and his Brothers certainly believed Rose and I needed to be away from the men who trained us.

Hannah and Ra arrived at the midday meal to say they and Kennedy had to go. Females were needed in a camp northwest of here that was suffering from racks. They wanted to be around for me, but this was just turning out to be a bad time. They were needed elsewhere and I would be quite safe here now.

I worried about Nu-reeh catching my daughters. She had to know they were involved. It was clear to me she would not let them survive if she thought they were tied to the disappearing men.

"Since freeing you, Mama," Hannah told me, "Kennedy and I are on the Most Wanted posters all over the planet. We're tied to the resistance now for good. Planning the escape of three families earned me my first beads. You don't have to worry when we go places, we only travel to other rebel camps."

I saw several bright beads sparkle in her fur and smiled wanly. It didn't really make me feel better, but neither girl noticed as they kissed me goodbye before taking off.

After lunch Rose and I went to the main transport storage area. Arik and his Brothers were waiting for us there. They took us outside in the daylight and it was as beautiful as it had been the day before.

Sun shone down on the forest and small animals skittered in the branches of the tall trees. Again that smell of jasmine was wafted on the breeze. I imagined that Damien and his Brothers had enjoyed coming out here and hunting. It was probably really fun and I wished I could have joined them.

Not that they would have taken me, even if we were together, a tiny voice whispered in the back of my mind.

Damien and his Brothers would never let me hunt with them here. There were too many unknowns and they thought I was too weak. I would be sequestered in their quarters, hidden away from danger.

Arik and his Brothers blithely pointed out trees and plants to us. Many things out here had a use: food, clothing, healing. If it could be harvested for something, the men did it.

The boundary of the defense system was pointed out by Arik's Brother Calen. He mentioned it right as we sailed past it.

"Racks are the biggest danger here," Calen said arming one of the transport's cannons and swinging it back and forth. "They don't usually attack this close to the camp, because the women are always around."

I didn't feel all that comforted surrounded by these five lanky guys. With Damien and his Brothers I would feel absolutely at ease. I felt like Damien and his Brothers could protect me from anything.

I shook my head at my own logic. My men could easily protect me against threats they engineered themselves. When it came to real threats, they were no better than these guys, for all I knew.

It felt as though I suddenly had two warring parties in my head. For the first time ever, I doubted Damien and his Brothers. They were stronger than me, but they were as naive as I was in this new place. They wouldn't know the dangers or the defenses any better than me. Arik and his Brothers, for their seeming physical weakness, knew exactly how to protect themselves. Odds are, left out here alone, Arik's family would probably fare much better, as opposed to the men I trusted so wholeheartedly. It made me feel unnerved and insecure.

There was a huge pile of vines ahead of us and I yelped when the transport lowered through them. It was another illusion. Beneath the false visual floor was a massive field with many men already working. They talked to one another as they worked.  




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 32



Despite the chill in the air the afternoon work was hot and dirty, but enlightening. Rose and I were small and closer to the ground than the men. They thanked us heartily for helping them pull the unwanted weeds from around their plants.

The field we were in today was growing something that seemed familiar. It looked an awful like corn, but Arik called it spota. It was something Rose and I could eat. As we pulled weeds the men told us about where it grew wild and how to prepare it. It was a staple in this part of the world.

The men were friendly enough until they got on the topic of slavers. Men like that had no right in their camp. Even if they had been male breeders for Hannah and Kennedy, they still were horrible creatures. Slavers should be left at the compounds to rot was the general opinion.

It took courage, but I finally said something.

"That isn't fair," I said firmly to the man picking the sporta off the stalk next to me. "Our families have changed. They know they made a mistake, now, you can't judge like that without giving them a chance."

"Slavers," the man said pulling off another mature piece of the plant, "have an entirely different way of viewing the world. They do not know respect for other living creatures. We do not want them here."

Rose spoke in an almost begging tone while looking at the ground, "Then you need to teach them," she said. "If you don't like how they view the world, you must be patient and teach them."

The men grumbled and fussed. Slavers weren't worth teaching, they were poisonous and evil. Just look at how Rose was acting, slavers had made her that way. She was scared and shy, still staring at the ground. The free men around us did not understand why men on the compounds kept slaves or why we were defending them.

Both Rose and I worked hard to change our behavior as the afternoon went on. Continuing to act as we'd been trained to would only hurt our families. We had to start acting like free women again.

After a day in the field Rose and I were both dirty and sweaty. The bathing pot in our rooms was small and we had really liked the warm bath that morning. Before the evening meal we went back to the bathing place and washed ourselves and our clothing.

It was a good thing I was accustomed to being naked. I had to strip off my outfit and wash it before getting into the water to bathe my body. It had been a long time since I felt self-conscious without clothing. After being dressed all day, I found my bare skin made me shy. Still, I was determined not to cower in our rooms with Rose.

Arik's family and Ratru's family ate with us again that night. Rose and I were getting used to the new families and even relaxed enough to laugh at their jokes. It wasn't the same closeness I was used to with Damien's family, but it was nice.

One of the families I rescued from the caves, the same one that brought Kennedy's pad to me, even showed up and sat at our table. We all squeezed together so they would fit. I got the feeling the men liked to be this close to one another. It was different from the almost isolation the families at the compound were used to.

The lead Brother's name in this family was Rayn. It was easy to recognize his family because of the one tall Brother. Rayn had pulled up chairs so his family could take a meal with all of us. He and his Brothers worked almost exclusively with rescues from the compounds or exploration of the surrounding area. They were rarely in the camp.

"We like to be outside," Rayn said between large bites. "Some men like the safety of the camp, but we find it confining. My Brothers and I want to be out in the world."

I smiled at him and nodded. He and his Brothers looked like the most rugged men I'd seen here. Listening to their stories it sounded like they had seen a great deal. Had we been on Earth, I imagined they would be explorers living on the edge of civilization.

Rayn's family had even brought back a bag of seeds for Arik and his Brothers. It was a fruit the men had difficulty cultivating here, but they all liked it. Rayn and his family were positive Arik's family could figure out how to grow it this time, though. Although Arik's family was obviously physically weaker than Rayn's they were well respected for what they did.

I watched the men interact and noted that Hannah had been right. Free men believed strongly in equality. Rayn's family didn't shun Arik's because they were smaller. There were things Rayn just wasn't good at and he could acknowledge that.

Thinking back I realized the compound had been divided in a very physical sense. Shopkeepers behind one wall and Warriors behind another. Even the Administrators kept closely to themselves. None of the groups mingled the way I saw them purposefully doing here.

Our meal finished and we were left to go back to our lodgings on our own. I walked with my friend through the camp and found myself wondering about Damien and his Brothers.

"You know," Rose said quietly as we walked, "I bet if we get up early again, we would see our families in the morning."

She was right and it quickly became an addictive pattern. Rose and I met our families almost every morning in the bathing hall. It was deserted that time of day so no one noticed what we were doing.

We never had long with them and there was always the threat someone would come in. It was just a few stolen moments everyday to say I love you and check on each other. I wanted more, so much more, but it just was not possible for us to be together.

Our men were fairly happy in the camp, but very isolated. They were not invited to dine with everyone and they were not included in group activities. If it hadn't been for Arnold's family and Tyle's family they would have been very lost.

Our men were essentially left on their own. They had to catch and cook their own food. They had their jobs and they usually took them far from the camp. I know some part of them missed the camaraderie of the compound, but they made do. Instead of complaining they used the free time to explore and learn. Nobody limited them and they adored the freedom.

Our men were usually given the worst jobs and the most dangerous. None of them ever complained about that either. Instead they were becoming the toughest men in the entire camp. Damien told us they saw things and places the other men rarely did, due to the danger. That was fine, because they had new experiences everyday.

The only thing they ever complained about, the only sadness that seemed to touch them, was the loss of Jonathan. Evan mourned for his lost child just as I did. He could sense the boy and knew he was alive. All our other information came from the black and white pictures we watched from time to time.

Jonathan was a fierce little boy and so was his family. They fought each other to get stronger and fought other little boys to prove dominance. Everything seemed to interest them.

I noted that Jonathan's curiosity got him and his Brothers in loads of trouble. He wanted to know everything. I cried each time I went to watch the monitor. Tears poured for the little man I would not know any more than this. Evan told me he felt the same as I did when he watched our raucous child.

Our men's opinions regarding Rose and me changed slowly. I knew that Hannah and Kennedy talked to them frequently when they were here. Gunth counseled them, also. My family made comments to me and I knew they were being educated. It was just a very slow process for them to change their thinking. They couldn't believe we didn't need their protection.

The main issue was that Rose and I associated with other men all day. Our families weren't sure they liked the way we lived our lives. We talked to them about the friendly men we talked to and worked with. Men in the camp taught us things and we told them about Earth culture or knitted them blankets. The continued little interactions concerned our men. One day they'd finally had enough of it.

"Hannah can bring food to your rooms," Damien said. He'd had a bad day prior and his irritation won out. "You cannot move around these men as though there is no danger! It isn't safe."

"It is perfectly safe," I argued soaping my arm. "No one here would touch us if we didn't want them to. They won't act like the men you are used to. These men respect our choices."

Bane cursed a foul stream and Basin seconded it. Rose and I were weak and defenseless. We'd be taken advantage of soon enough. We were just too stupid to see the signs. Without our families we were just a warm place to put a cock. The men couldn't believe it had not happened already.

I liked Armant's family and Arik's family. Ratru's family was always eager to help us learn to use weapons. Rayn and his Brothers, when they were in camp, told us about the wild world outside. They'd been many places. For the first time in who knew how long I had friends I had chosen. Damien's attitude infuriated me.

"They have never taken my body after I said no," I said grabbing Rose and heading for the exit of the bath. "They've never beaten me. I believe I have more to fear in here than I do out there!" I finished gesturing to the cave entrance.

Damien looked shocked.

"And you, Rose," Basin growled, "you enjoy your time with these other men? Do they provide for you?"

Rose stiffened her spine and was suddenly pulling me up the steps and out of the water.

"They have asked me for nothing," she said simply, "in return for granting my total freedom. I provide clothing for them because I chose to and that simple price has afforded me the entirety of what you and your Brothers denied me. Yes, Basin, they provide for me."

The men were now all livid as we grabbed our clothes and ran for the entrance to the cave. I knew they could catch us in an instant. We could be beaten to death before we could raise a hand in self defense. Terror rose in my gut and it didn't relax until we were at the exit to the bathing cave.

Just before exiting the darkened cave, Rose and I pulled our outfits over damp skin with shaking hands. The things we'd said had been true and brutal. I wondered if the men would forgive us. I wondered if they would try to punish us for saying those things.

We made our way slowly up to our rooms and sat in front of the fire as we shivered.

"I don't know what made me say that to them," Rose whispered suddenly. "I don't understand how I feel. Basin and his Brothers have been my whole world for so long..."

I stared at the fire and thought about the way I'd felt in the cave. My heart had been pounding out of my chest and I had been shaking like a leaf. I'd been afraid, terrified of the pain they knew how to inflict.

"They beat me," I said slowly, "when they found out I told you about Hannah..."

Rose nodded and hugged herself.

"I thought they would have," she said quietly. "The things the men from the red mountains taught them were evil."

"Just now," I said glancing at our covered door, "I was fearful they would hurt me again, because they could."

Rose straightened in her chair and her mouth took on a firm line.

"They won't hurt us. They wouldn't dare, but we don't go back," she said stoically, "until we don't fear them. They like seeing us and enjoy talking to us. Our presence in that bathing hall is a choice everyday. Let them see how they like it when we do what we want, without thinking about what they want."

It took three days for us to walk into the bathing hall in the morning. I spent all three days getting angrier and angrier at Damien and his Brothers. When Rose and I finally returned one morning the men were in the water bathing quietly. Rose and I stripped and stepped into the water and cleaned our own bodies carefully.

"Hannah and Kennedy talk to us," Damien said standing several paces away from me. "They tell us that you have made friends and that the men respect you both."

"They do," I answered quietly as I rubbed the cloth over my own shoulders. "The men here have never beaten me or raped me."

The men were silent and I heard Basin and Stayne's family moving away. Even Rose offered some privacy, by stepping away.

"We have apologized," Damien said softly, "for our prior actions."

Fire boiled in my veins and I felt the anger I had long denied.

"You beat me between my legs," I told them in a low voice. "You gave me such pain I had nightmares about it. I trusted you with everything and you treated me like that. I couldn't even be angry at you! Where would I have gone and what would I have done if you abandoned me?!"

My voice was ringing in the cave now and I saw the shock on the faces of the men.

"After you did that horrible thing to me I had to smile and accept your cocks there as if nothing had happened! It was obvious I could not fight you and you made our relationship clear. I was never anything but a slave to you!"

The room was still for a moment before Damien spoke, but I didn't wait. I stormed out of the water with Rose hot on my heels.

"We felt fear, Sister," Damien pleaded to my retreating back.. "We acted out of terror that the women would take you. None of us wanted to do that, but we knew you had to learn."

"THEY DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE!" I screamed at him standing on the steps and facing them. "THEY NEVER SAID A WORD TO ANY OF US ABOUT IT! YOU BEAT ME BECAUSE YOU COULD!"

Christof spoke softly and quickly as I grabbed my clothes off the line. "We did not know that would happen. We thought they would be angry. My Brothers and I were foolish and acted out of fear. Please forgive us, Sister."

"And then you BRED me like a dog," I seethed pulling my wet garments over my half cleaned body. "You forced me to birth a son I will never know. Nu-reeh may not have even gotten another child from me before we left, but you all made it happen..."

"It was a stupid mistake, Sister," Evan begged. "We wanted to protect you-"

The anger rose and I threw a bar of soap at him hitting his shoulder. "YOU HAVE NEVER PROTECTED ME!" I shouted with righteous fury. "You men have beaten and controlled me from the first day you met me! I mean nothing to you! You do not understand family!"

I stormed out of the cave alone and went back to the small room I shared with my friend. I was so angry. My fists were bloody from hitting the wall when I finally stopped that. Instead I sat on the bed and looked at Jonathan's picture. For the first time in a very long time I allowed the anger and frustration out. Time had no meaning as I railed against the unfairness of it all.

I was as good as dead to my Earth family and I'd never see them again. My daughters were grown and gone. I was unable to raise my precious boy. The men I thought I had loved, I'd been tricked into caring for. Nothing seemed real anymore. On this world and in this life I had absolutely nothing.

It became a cycle. I'd sob for a while watching Jonathan's picture and then scream into my pillow until I was hoarse. Rose appeared at some point, but I ignored her until she left. I just continued with my raving until I was too weak to do anything save stare at my young son's face.

"Mama," Kennedy said softly, "come out and talk to us."

"No," I rasped not taking my eyes off Jonathan's image.

"It's time, Mama," Kennedy said softly. "Come out and talk to us. You've held this in for too long."

Much against my wishes I dragged myself into the sitting area around the fire. Kennedy and her Sisters had arranged themselves and sat cross legged on the floor. They were there for the long haul, so to speak.

Kennedy and her Sisters were wise beyond their years. They said they'd been waiting, very patiently, for me to become angry. I had a right to be mad, they told me, Rose had the same right. We'd held our feelings inside and denied them long enough. The loving relationships we had with our families were based in a very dark place. We had to accept the whole truth and we'd never done that.

I talked to the girls all day. Rose came back and after some prodding, she did the same things I'd done that morning. We both slowly came to terms with the way we felt and it made no sense.

My body felt horrible and raw. My mind was in turmoil and I wanted two very different things. I wanted Damien and his Brothers to comfort me. At the same time I wanted to hurt them as badly as I could. If I could have I would have beaten them all to a bloody pulp and felt vindicated doing it. It was very confusing.

I did not like discussing this with Kennedy one bit, but she seemed not bothered by my ambivalence about her father. She knew me at my most intimate level and I suppose the questions had always been there. Evidently she'd come to terms with it long ago.

The next day I went to work with Armant and I helped in the fields, but I didn't meet Damien and his Brothers in the morning. For days I thought about how I felt and it never got any clearer. I had a choice now, I realized. Damien and his Brothers weren't the only men on this planet.

I sought out men that looked attractive to me. At night I had dinner with different families and even flirted with some. We'd go back to their rooms and talk a little. I just couldn't find a connection with any of them. It just felt like friendship.

Thinking about my own sexual needs started to make me frustrated. I wanted relief, but I was having trouble finding men to provide it. In the middle of the night I'd find myself curled in a chair as Rose slept in the bed. It was hard to sleep when I was this horny.

My memories were filled with arousing images. As angry as I was at Damien and his Brothers, they were magnificent looking men. Inadvertently I began to remember times I'd seen them wet with sweat and seeking release between my thighs. I tried to imagine other men and always ended up focusing back on the bodies I knew so well.

Evan's chest as it tapered down to his flat stomach and long, thick cock. Damien's powerful arms with his hands gliding possessively over my skin. Kein's mouth nearly making me orgasm as he nibbled at my sensitive nipples.

As I sat by the fire I felt Christof's long fingers gliding up my thighs. I recalled the first time he'd experimented with using his mouth on my center. The tentative strokes of his tongue had grown bolder as he'd seen my passion rise. He could own the wetness between my legs when he wanted to.

Last but not least was Bane. He had an insatiable fascination with the tight puckered flesh of my ass. How many times had I looked back to see his massive form poised, ready to impale me? Big hands separating my flesh as his chest heaved with the effort of holding back. It always hurt a little when he started, but my resistance always faded as he slowly stretched me.

The sturdy linen dress I wore at night became too much on my sensitive skin. Glancing furtively back at Rose's form sleeping in our bed, I slipped the offending fabric off.

There were times I'd masturbated for Damien and his Brothers. It was not something I did because I wanted to. This had been like everything else sexual, their choice to see me do it. There was just me here right now, though.

Now as I sat I stroked the round, fullness of my breasts. My nipples stiffened in the air and I pinched them hard. The slight pain felt good and I did it again. Biting back a moan, I remembered the lash Damien had wielded. I imagined the stinging little slaps warming the pendulous flesh. There was no fear of abuse anymore and I only recalled the pleasure.

My hands drifted lower and I spread my legs. The flesh of my stomach felt soft and feminine under my fingertips. I reached the tops of my thighs and slowly traced down to my knees. As I dragged my fingers back up goosebumps spread up my body.

It had been so long since I had done this. There was no one here except me and I was doing it for me. I wanted to orgasm, because it would feel good, not as a show for anyone else. My breath rushed out as my fingers slid over my plump lower lips.  




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 32



I leaned back and the soft seat I was in allowed me to recline almost entirely. One hand separated my soft vulva and fingers explored the wet area between. Two fingers explored the entrance to my vagina. I fucked myself slowly and then dragged the moisture over my distended clit.

It felt so good I couldn't help myself, a moan slipped out and I heard Rose shift on the bed. The lust cooled some and I waited for her to either awaken or fall back to sleep. Her breathing stayed slow and deep, so I continued to play.

Ever so slowly I rubbed my slick clit. The protruding nub got larger as I stroked it. Images filled my head, but they were no longer ones I'd seen. Now it was my imagination and my game as I played with myself.

In my mind, I stood over Damien with the lash in my hand. His cries of want and frustration were music to my ears. With each stroke of my fingers I brought the flogger down over him. I warmed his chest and upper thighs, but I came just as the strips of leather slapped his erect cock.

The power felt so good as I lay recovering on the soft chair. I'd forgotten how wonderful it felt to be in charge. It had been so long since I'd been in charge of anything. Now my body, my mind, my sexual needs, and all my other needs were mine to control. I decided to test out what I could do for myself.

I tried again to find a family that I could have some fun with. For some reason, I didn't want to ask any of my friends. Ratru and his Brothers were cute, but asking them for sex felt wrong. Armant and his Brothers were too old and they were coworkers. Arik and his family didn't appeal to me "that way". Instead I introduced myself to other men, most just didn't understand what I wanted.

One family of men understood my overtures. They offered to mate with me for fun. I walked with them to their rooms before I decided against it. Feeling like a real human woman, I feigned a headache and left. The next day I heard they'd just found another willing partner.

No one in the camp begrudged me my choices. The men and women here just trusted that left on my own, I'd do what was best. It was my life and I was allowed to live it how I wanted.

I needed time to think when I wasn't surrounded by my talkative campmates. That was hard to do in what was essentially a commune. I did find one place that I could work and think.

There were things the men grew that tended to do better wild. Arik and his Brothers had spread berry seeds in nooks and crannies all over the protected area in front of the camp. I wandered the mountainside in the afternoon plucking the wild berries inside the defensive barrier. It gave me a chance to think without interruption.

I walked the sunny slope finding the elusive fruit and pondering my circumstance. This wasn't a job the other men in the camp liked, although they liked the berries. Everyone was perfectly happy to let me have my afternoons to myself if this was my preferred activity. It gave me time.

There were things I did like about Damien's family. When I met other men I always compared them to the men I knew best. Everyone always came up lacking. They didn't have Christof's gentleness, Kein's fierceness, or Evan's sense of humor. I appreciated Damien's forthright command and Bane's quiet strength. To me, Damien's family was the perfect blend.

There were other things, too, that I found I liked. Damien and his Brothers had tried to change when it became apparent they should. The novelty of the situation was just something they weren't prepared for. Even now they were struggling to let go of their old teaching. The beliefs they had were deeply ingrained.

Change was difficult for everyone on Pateria. At least Damien and his Brothers had made an attempt. The men in the camp couldn't seem to let go of their old thinking about slavers. They didn't even give the new men a chance. Damien's ability to adapt was unique.

It struck me that my own actions may have made the situation worse. Damien and his Brothers had quickly trained me to do what they wanted and let them provide. Even after they had freed me I'd maintained that out of habit.

When I thought back on it, I'd rarely been forceful in helping to lead the family. The times I was persistent, they took my feelings into account. Honestly, I was rarely forceful with them. More than once, I'd just blithely assumed they would care for me.

In truth, I'd known I was not taking any contraception when I'd become pregnant with Jonathan. Instead of demanding the men discuss it with me, I'd just let it continue. I'd allowed them to care for me entirely. I'd followed the slave training and not thought about the responsibilities of a free Sister.

I sat with my basket of berries and looked up into the sunlight. In the distance I could hear men talking and laughing. Birds and other creatures called out into the bright afternoon. There was no gloom here, except in my thoughts.

Perhaps I could have told them how much they hurt me when they punished me. The morning after I had expressed some of it, but I'd buried most of it. I'd kept the dreams a secret and not really helped them understand the psychological damage they had inflicted on our relationship.

While I could not have stopped the corporal punishment, I could have helped them understand it was a mistake. If I'd really been honest about how scarring that experience was, they might have listened. Instead I had buried my feelings and let things go on. It was a slave's reaction to accept their will without question. I should not have done that.

At the end of the day, the issue was clear. I loved Damien and his Brothers, despite their past mistakes. They had forced me into performing sexually for them, but they'd never asked that I come to love them. In the beginning I don't think they'd even been aware I could feel this way about them. Now everything about this situation was my choice.

There were two options really. I could ignore the way I felt and let it fade into a memory. We would share offspring, but be no closer than a divorced couple in a similar circumstance. The second option to offer Damien and his Brothers real forgiveness and a chance to do right. If I really had it in me to pardon them for their past crimes and failures we could try again. Neither option was without flaws and I risked something either way.

Several days later, I went to the giant bathing cave in the early morning and sat beside the dryer on a warm stone. Men's clothing was there, so I was sure Damien and his Brothers were in here somewhere.

After many moments Damien and his Brothers moved into the light. They looked pained as they filed out of the water. I watched stoically as they dried themselves and sat in a semi-circle around me. We didn't speak and merely sat quietly with one another.

"You made mistakes," I told them after a while. "I won't tolerate those mistakes again. No one is going to beat me or force me to do things. I won't be tricked or trained anymore. Our relationship must be as open as the one you share with each other."

"We talk to Kennedy and Hannah," Christof said softly. "They help us understand things. My Brothers and I acted dishonorably many times. We know that things are different here from what we were taught. We are learning to think differently."

"Pain is not a tool we should use," Kein said bluntly. "Bringing pain is a way to train someone. We are all intelligent. If we are taught we can learn to change without pain. My Brothers and I don't need pain, neither do you. What we did to you never should have been done, especially after we called you family."

"Thank you," I said accepting his understanding. "I am not as physically strong as you, but that does not give you the right to dominate me. I demand your respect and consideration in all things."

"We believed you weak, Sister," Evan said solemnly. "We thought we had to protect you, but the things we did were wrong. Even if it brought you pain, you deserved the truth as we knew it. My Brothers and I were so desperate to keep you, we pushed you away."

I nodded and knew they were learning, finally.

"We apologize," Damien said, "for our wrongdoing, all of it. We wish to change and learn the new ways. All of us want you in our life, we are lonely without you."

Heads bowed with left arm crossing each chest the men waited for my decision.

It was a huge choice and turning point for me and I chose to stay. My men had made mistakes, loads of them, but they were willing to change. I wanted to be with them for that. Somehow I knew I would treasure this about them as time went on.

"Promise to respect me," I whispered getting down on my knees in front of Damien, "and I will promise you the same."

I didn't bathe with the men that morning. We hugged and kissed, promising to meet like this every day. We were family and family does not separate.

Over the next moon, my men learned and the relationship changed, which was good, because all sorts of things were happening.

Rose and I both got callouses on our fingers from the hard work with Armant's family and the time we spent outside working. The rough patches on our hands were a point of concern at first. Our families realized the patches weren't hurting us and it was normal.

As time went on we got more callouses, so it was good the men understood. Hannah, when she was around, insisted we become proficient with weapons. Rose and I carried our swords and were taught to use them. Much like the rest of the camp, we would be responsible for ourselves in case of attack.

Ratru's family taught us to fight and to use the swords they had made for us. The men were surprised and impressed I already knew some of the drills and moves. That Damien's family had actually trained me seemed to startle them. It gave them a tad bit more respect for the men they still called "slavers".

Rue and his Brothers, much to their dismay, were instructed to teach Rose and me about the guns. Much like everyone else, Rose and I should be fully armed. No one was surprised by Rue's treatment of us. Apparently Rue treated everyone horrid, not just humans. They were good teachers though and I learned to use the weapons they'd made.

As time went on, I was getting braver and braver. While everyone else was indifferent to Rue's subtle underhanded remarks, they finally put me in a mood. Even in the middle of many families I felt my temper flare. We were standing in the "training range" where we learned to fire the weapons when I exploded.

Rue had explained in an exaggerated fashion how to aim the weapons, since I had missed, which was actually unusual for me. His Brothers laughed as he repeated his instructions. They commented about how slow and stupid I was. I heard the remarks and couldn't resist.

"So," I asked loudly, "will you lock me in a box overnight for this? Perhaps there is another punishment you would like to inflict on me KEEPER?"

The training ground was suddenly silent as the men around us registered the comment.

"Why do you call these men Keeper?" a man asked from the side. He was a rescued man from the Barnas compound. That word had meaning to him.

I crossed my arms and stared at Rue with open malevolence. "Didn't you tell them how you used to keep slaves in exchange for stones? Aren't you proud of your role in supporting slavery in the compounds?"

"For stones!" Rue's Brother said loudly, "We never used you for your purpose or showed any interest in you."

"Slavery is an abomination," a man said loudly to our left and I grinned.

"You participated," I said to Rue smugly. "Really, what kind of men does that make you?"

I turned and stalked away, leaving Rue and his Brothers to deal with whatever mess I'd stirred up. Some part of me wanted to feel guilty, but I didn't. I deserved a little payback for all those nights locked in that little vault. Odds were the Administrators would sanction the other men, but in my opinion it was worth it.

The men weren't supposed to fight and usually they behaved. I heard the scuffle begin behind me and grinned knowing what it meant as I walked out. A little payback wasn't a terrible thing.

I saw Fuji rarely in this new life, but when I did the differences were striking. The more freedom Reed and Hassar insisted she take, the better she looked. Her skin practically glowed and when her hair started to grow in, it looked like I'd never seen it before. It was an extraordinary difference.

Instead of the thin mangy look her red hair had always had, it was now thick and lush on her head. A strip of it even ran down her back along her spine. She looked truly magnificent and wild.

Fuji's favorite activity was hunting and the women encouraged her to do that. She roamed the outside world and brought back meat for many of our meals. I'd see her sometimes on the mountainside beyond the protected perimeter. She was fast and they'd taught her how to fight. My friend had become a brutally efficient hunter. Everyone respected her skill at it.

We'd talk sometimes when she came back into camp. She was so entirely different than she had been prior. Gone was the demure girl who had no opinions of her own. Fuji used the resources available to her and became an individual in her own right. She had become proud, stubborn, and opinionated. It was a miraculous change.

I saw her one day dragging the bloody carcass of a rack through a ground level entrance into the transport storage area. The men surrounded her as she entered and eyed her catch with appreciation. Every piece of a rack was valuable in the camp, none of it would be wasted, but catching and killing one was a feat. The men were honored when she gave her prize over and instructed them to make good use of it.

"How did you do that?" I asked as the men carried the body away with hoots and calls, alerting everyone to the bounty.

"Racks aren't hard," Fuji informed me, shaking her hair out. "I could catch more, but the Administrators only want me bringing the population down, not decimating it."

Up close I could see several healed lines on her flesh. My friend had no use for clothing and continued refused all offers to furnish her some. Fuji had scars that crisscrossed her torso and arms. Knowing what it took to penetrate her skin, I imagined learning to kill a rack had not been an easy chore. She was too proud of her ability to be worried about that. Her worth was not based on her perfect physical self anymore.

"You've changed, my friend," I told her. "I never thought you would be like this."

Fuji looked at me and then at the world outside the cave.

"My home planet was like this," she said. "I was not able to explore it. Women on my planet are only valuable for sale. My male breeder secluded my sisters and me underground. We were trained to serve and then sold, so he could continue his habit..."

I felt foolish, but I didn't know much about Fuji's home world. I wasn't sure what habit she referred to. My confusion was evident.

"I've learned about my home planet, Batra," Fuji explained. "The worms that are so nutritious for you are from there, but we hunted them to near extinction,once we discovered them. They are very difficult to afford, now. Before the worms, my people were proud fighters. We did not sell our children to be slaves on other worlds. The worms took away our sense."

I nodded sympathetically, knowing that drugs had ruined many proud humans on Earth.

"The hold of those things can be hard to break," I said sadly.

"I have broken their hold over me," Fuji stated with obvious pride. "I do not need the worms to feel good. Hassar has brought them here and I was able to sit and look at them. It made me feel strong to ask her to take them away from me."

In the distant past I'd seen Fuji react to the worms. If she no longer felt the pull for them, that was really saying something. It was a testament to her new strength she didn't need them to feel good.

Several men approached and wanted Fuji to hunt for them. They wanted to work at a place they knew to be infested with racks. My friend could help them keep the creatures away and under control while they worked.

We bid each other goodbye as she walked casually off with the men. I watched her leave with some awe. She looked like a radiant goddess and carried herself the same way. Freedom had done amazing things for her.

Rose was changing, too. Once upon a time, she'd been a bright energetic girl with strong opinions and midwestern work ethic. Her husband had started to crush her spirit and then slavery had taken away what she had left. Free and encouraged, she found herself again.

I watched with admiration as my friend took on the task of being a free woman. She was unstoppable when a job needed to be completed. When the men around us were tired and frustrated Rose became their cheerleader. Everyone appreciated having her around.

Time came and went and I timed it by my menses. They seemed to follow the cycle of the main moon, which I found odd. It took three cycles before things started to change in the way the camp's men felt about the "slavers".

During the day Rose and I talked nonstop to the men around us. We made every argument we could in favor of our families and it started to work. Actually the argument Rose chanced upon started to work. She had asked me innocently if all men on the planet were part of the Great Harmonious Spirit or just ones like the people in the camp.

By the time we tried it on our coworkers, Armant's family, we were sure it would be effective.

"Of course all men are part of The Great Harmonious Spirit," Armant answered her. "They must only accept that part of themselves and bond with us. We are all part of The Great Spirit."

Rose laughed, a light sound that did not even hint at the power of what she was about to say.

"Basin's family and Damien's family are not part of your Spirit," she scoffed. "They are outcasts and forbidden from blending into the camp. No, it seems to me you pick and choose those that are allowed to join your Spirit, everyone is not part of it.

Armant's family was offended and bothered. I saw Rose's sly smile as I stitched diligently. I would never have thought to try that argument, but it seemed to be working.

As we walked to our afternoon chore, we were in the fields today, I told Rose what a good idea that had been.

"It seemed to me the only argument they might listen to," she said quietly gripping the hilt of her sword. "Basin and his Brothers are learning and so is your family. They have been loyal to us, we must be loyal to them. We must fight for their rights."

I agreed and gripped the handle of my own sword, she was right. Damien and his Brothers had been willing to fight for my rights, I owed them the same. Since we'd finally found an argument that worked, we would use it.

Rose and I went to the garage with the transports and caught a ride with a friendly family. We both knew how to drive the transports now, thanks to men generously teaching us, but we didn't like to go out alone. There was just two of us, which was not enough to man the transport's weaponry. We were safer going with a family.

The men we went with today were Abram's family. They all wore their hair in a long style, tied back. They were nice men and liked to tell jokes. They usually worked in the kitchens, but it was harvest time for many plants. They'd do whatever job the Administrators put them to, including field work.

Rose and I rode with them outside the protected area to a large field growing rupe. We could not eat it, as I already knew, but native Paterians digested it fine. It was harvested and put on the tables when it was in season. Rose and I knew what it looked like and avoided it, just like any man with human ancestry.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 32



We worked in the field pulling up the vines and the root, which was the edible part. We were most of the way through the field when a shout went up and the men around us all drew their weapons.

Rose and I drew our weapons too and looked where the men were. Scars were crawling en masse out of the forest toward an isolated group of men.

Adrenaline shot through my system as I watched the drama unfold. I'd never seen scars behave like this, but the other men had. In this part of the world, the nasty creatures had the benefit of numbers.

When a second set emerged to cut the men off from the rest of us, Rose and I screamed a warning, but it was too late. Three families were cut off from the rest of us and surrounded.

The war cry was loud and compelling. Those in our camp would not die without a fight. Rose and I threw ourselves into the fray, attacking the eyes of the disgusting creatures with everyone else. Transports overhead told me more men were arriving, but I didn't glance up to see.

Somehow Rose and I were with the family that broke through the circle to get to the three trapped families. I lunged and jabbed like I had been taught, doing everything I could to help the effort.

Hannah landed heavily beside me and killed three of the creatures in quick succession. The scars scattered and ran at the sight of the woman.

"Get underground!" she ordered. "Slaving women have been sighted! Get on the transports and hide underground. They heard the commotion and are coming this way!"

I saw a man on the ground and rushed to him, he wasn't moving, but I knew him. It was Abram's brother, Ruse. He had a bloody bite on his lower leg. Abram lifted him and ran to a transport that had landed. I followed him and jumped on, not even noticing it was Damien's transport I'd boarded.

"Solar!" Ra ordered as the transports lifted almost silently.

We rushed into the forest and suddenly dropped down through the floor. Transports followed us until fifteen transports were inside and then the 'ceiling' of our cave moved to conceal us beneath the stone.

The lights of the transports flickered on as they all settled to a stop on the floor. For a moment, no one moved.

"We are dying!" I heard Abram gasp as he looked down at his Brother. "He cannot breath! I cannot stand it!"

A scar's bite would paralyze so the creature could take its time dismantling the victim. The man's ability to breath would be forfeit to the toxin. Anyone bitten by a scar would suffocate as everything shut down.

"Help him then!" I said fiercely stepping forward.

The wounded family took a defensive position around their Brother laying on the transport and their teeth dropped.

"He is wounded," Bane whispered in my ear pulling me back, "they will attack any who come near him. Let the man and his family die in peace."

Everyone around us seemed to have the same sentiment. Let them die in peace.

"NO!" I shouted. "You can breath for him! It can be done! I learned on Earth. This man doesn't have to die."

In health at my high school they had taught us CPR. I'd even taken the class the community college offered so I was certified to baby sit. Paterians were like humans, certainly it would work here also.

I looked at Damien and pleaded with my eyes.

"Give me a chance to help him," I begged quietly. "I know what to do! I just have to touch him."

There was an unspoken agreement that passed between Damien and Basin before they acted. I saw it and was shocked at what they did.

Damien and his Brothers were fast. Faster than I remember them being, they had restrained Abram's family and pulled them away in a flash. Basin's family stood between my men and everyone else. The men from the camp roared in outrage. I knew I had to act quickly.

I rushed to the fallen man and knelt at his head. My memories of CPR were distant, but I pulled them up. A hand on his still chest proved he had a heart beat. I tilted his chin to open his mouth and held his nose. I breathed a huge breath into his mouth and watched his chest barely move. I counted to five and did it again and then again.

The cave was silent watching me. The fallen man's Brothers were no longer struggling with my family and I looked to see if perhaps they were still dying, maybe this didn't work here.

They were staring at me, all of them. No one looked angry, just shocked. The men in the cave seemed to have paused, just before attacking Basin's family. Now they watched me looking utterly amazed.

"Teach us," Abram demanded hoarsely, "show us what you are doing. We feel this is helping."

Damien's family released them and they came to kneel beside their Brother.

In the silence of the cave I taught them the basics of 'rescue breathing'. Since they could feel their Brother's needs they could tell after a while he only needed one of their breaths at the count of seven, not five.

I stood back and looked up into Damien's amazed face. He looked stunned as he held his hand out to me. I took it without thinking and continued to gaze up at him.

"You knew what to do," he said quietly. "You knew how to save that man..."

"Because Ciara can take care of herself," Christof finished in a near whisper. "She is powerful in her own right."

"We are proud to call you Sister," Bane said leaning over to kiss my cheek.

The whole family followed him. The gentle brushes of lips to skin held so much love, so much respect, that I could feel it.

We stood in the dimly lit cave and I felt something like a breeze. It wasn't from outside, it was from inside. When I wanted to, I could reach into the undulating swell and feel what my family did.

If I wanted to be I could tap into my family and I looked at them amazed. It was a bond, I'd experienced this enough to tell that much, but it wasn't like before. This wasn't forced on me, it was something I wanted. This connection was gentle and subtle, not overbearing and controlling. It was a choice we had all made.

"It is a connection of equals," Christof murmured brushing a strand of hair off my face. "Like we have always shared, Brothers."

Dipping into the feelings I knew what they knew. The other men, when they talked to them, had smugly bragged about the bonds they had with females. They were mate bonds, different from a bond with Brothers, but still powerful. There could be no fear and no disrespect in a mate bond. It had to be as pure as what a man shared with his family.

Damien and his Brothers had not known the word 'mate' before they came here. It was a new phrase meaning connection to a female, but they never thought they would share such a sacred thing. No one knew a human could form this type of bond.

You could call out to your mates from long distances through the bond. Experiences could be shared, but things could also be kept private. This was different from anything we had experienced before.

"We are honored, Sister," Evan said quietly as I stared up at him. Through his mind I felt our son, the strong vibrant pulse bonding us as family.

I smiled with a new found peace. We were finally and truly family.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 33



Hello, Lit! 

Glad everyone seemed to like the last chapter. Hope this continues to entertain!

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his work reading and rereading! His work makes the finished product much more polished. 

The next chapter is due out May 16. 

Fair warning: my "bun in the oven" is due to be done baking at the end of May. I think I'll have everything set up so we can stay on the same schedule for ASttS . I expect 4 more chapters after this. Would have been nice if I could have timed it better... I know. I'm just enough OCD I won't leave my story hanging. It would make me crazy to see it unfinished and lose all the readers.

Please vote and comment! 

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Gunth's gruff voice broke through the intimate moment. He and his family looked angrily at Damien and his Brothers as he spoke. 

"You are not to be with that female," he said harshly. "We will remove you if-"

I cut him off and moved several steps away from my family. "It was not intentional, Gunth," I said politely. "During the excitement I jumped on their transport. Their only choices would have been to shove me off or take me with them."

Gunth moved through the men with his family after I moved away. He'd come from a different part in the tunnel. He was monitoring the events above ground using a pad like the one Kennedy had given me. Once it was safe to move up, he'd signal all of us waiting below ground. 

"We felt The Great Spirit for just a moment after you all came down here," he announced, "but the sensation faded. What has happened?"

The men around us looked sheepish, but stayed silent. One of Abram's Brothers called Gunth over to show the Administrator the reason for concern. 

"He was bitten by a scar outside. We breath for our Brother," Abram explained. "The human, Ciara, did it first and showed us how. We will do it for as long as we need to."

Gunth's family turned to look at me and I just stood stoically. "How did you get near an injured man with his family here?" Gunth asked, plainly confused. 

Evidently the way Abram and his Brothers had acted was normal. Tapping into Damien's memory I suddenly knew that was right. I should not have been able to approach him. 

Healers had to be respected to get near an injured man. Only a family of Healers with great skill, or those under the tutelage of a skilled family, would be allowed near the injured. I was not of that caliber when it came to healing. 

"We trust Ciara and let her through," Abram said quickly. "She convinced us this was the right thing to do."

Men around us quietly agreed with the statement and I was shocked. It was a lie, a blatant, outright lie. My family had forcibly restrained Abram's family giving me the chance to help. I waited for someone here to say that, nobody did. 

Gunth's Brother indicated action on the pad and the Administrator's attention was diverted. I looked at Abram who looked at Damien and then me as he smiled. 

Christof's voice was gentle in my mind. The confusion was evident on my face. It would be considered a heinous crime to force his Brothers away from one that was dying. That was a sacred time when they had to be close. What Damien and the family had done should be judged very harshly. The other men's forgiveness was shocking. 

"Stay here until we let you know it is safe," Gunth ordered looking around. "Continue to do as you are doing for Ruse. We will get you out of here quickly." 

The men around us all agreed and promised to continue to help the injured man. Gunth took one last look as Abram breathed into his Brother's mouth before boarding his transport. The Administrators glided away into the caves, intent on checking on another group of men waiting below ground. 

The silence was very uncomfortable for a moment. I stepped back toward Damien and ran a hand down his arm. He smiled back at me and was glad for the contact, but we said nothing. The only sound was Abram and his family breathing for their Brother. 

"We don't think it is wrong if you stand near Damien's family," a man I'd only met once said quietly as he sat down on his transport to wait. 

Murmured agreement all around us told me that no one here objected to me being with Damien. He'd done what I wanted, at his family's grave peril. Obviously the men they called "slavers" didn't think of us as slaves anymore. They'd listened to me, at great personal risk, and that was notable. 

Basin and his family were getting the same treatment as my men and me. No one objected if Rose wanted to be with them. They'd listened to me, a human, and risked the wrath of the whole camp. They obviously respected us. 

Rose and I both took the opportunity to be close. As I hugged Damien and his Brothers, Rose hugged Basin and his family. 

We sat on the transport and I sat on Damien's lap. 

"How long will that man stay like that?" I asked Damien softly. 

No one in my family knew. Damien called to men across from us and asked them. Would this family live forever breathing for their Brother? I shuddered thinking what horror I might have just created. 

"When the women are bitten," a man called back, "they feel ill and weak. It only lasts a day and then they are better."

There was murmured conversation around us, perhaps men were the same and this would only last a day. A man had never survived the bite of a scar, so there was no way to know. This was a unique circumstance. 

I sat quietly with my family. The strange new bond pulsed and ran between us. When I wanted to, I could dip into it and be one with my family. Unlike before I could also pull away from them, mentally, and have my mind to myself. 

"It's so strange," I whispered against Damien's neck and I felt them all feel surprised. 

"It isn't strange," Evan whispered, pulling my legs until I sat on his lap, "we always knew we were family. This is how it should be between us."

I nuzzled his neck and kissed his lips. This bond, this closeness, was wonderful. It was what I had always wanted. It's what we had always wanted. 

A man I didn't know well approached and my family all stood, pulling me up with them. 

"I am Mund rescued from the Barnas compound. The Administrators must be made to see reason," he said watching us.

"Ciara, from Earth and they won't," I said bitterly. "They can't understand how Damien and his family see me. They can't understand how I see them."

The man and his family stood considering. They must be powerful because I sensed Damien's desire to protect me. He was fighting the urge to pull me away. Instead he stood calmly and I stood next to him. Basin's family joined us and we all talked. No one knew how to explain this to the Administrators without telling them what Damien's family and Basin's family had done. 

Even if the outcome was good, it was still a crime the Administrators would want to sanction. Fighting within the camp and pulling a dying family apart were two separate crimes. The other men seemed sure the Administrators would be angry at Damien's family and Basin's family, just because it was them. Administration had much hate for slavers and may not understand they were changed men. 

It took a while, but we were eventually told we could leave the tunnels and return above ground. Except Abram's family and all those who came to help at the alarm, we went back to the field to collect our day's work. We could not leave the day's pickings to rot on the ground. It was very late by the time we got back to the camp. 

Rose and I freshened up in our room upstairs and walked to the evening meal. It had been a long, eventful, and strange day. We were looking forward to a nice, quiet evening. 

The dining room was in turmoil when we got there. The men that had witnessed Damien's actions earlier had decided the isolated families should join the camp completely. They insisted Damien, Basin, and Stayne join them for the evening meal in the dining hall.

There was yelling and arguing. Finally the powerful man, Mund, from earlier stood on a chair and made a proclamation. 

"The Great Harmonious Spirit is not about division!" he argued. "We have taught our cousins and they have learned. The Spirit calls us together and we must answer!"

As Rose and I had already learned, that was the correct rhetoric. The men couldn't argue that The Spirit was wrong. It quelled the room to quiet grumbling as everyone got their food. 

We got in line with everyone else and picked out a healthy, full meal for ourselves. Rose and I were both quite hungry and took filling items. I could tell by the aromas alone that the men leading the cooking tonight weren't as adept at it as Abram and his family. Those men would be missed until they returned. 

We chose our regular table and scooted close to one another. An extra family or two may join us. It would be rude to take up too much space. 

"We really should have thought of that sooner," Rose mumbled, building a makeshift sandwich out of her food. "I can't believe we never thought of it before, although it feels like we are using their religion against them."

"Not really against them..." I said mixing the flavors on my plate how I liked. "Some arguments just get to the heart of the matter." 

We sat and talked, barely noticing the room around us. 

"May we sit?" a deep voice asked and I looked up.

We had not heard the group of men approach. The now familiar faces of Mund and his family were holding their plates and waiting for permission. 

"Of course," Rose smiled up at them, "take a chair."

We had a pleasant meal with the other men. They were hunters, usually, and brought in most of the meat we ate. They had been called to the field today to help protect the men there when the scars attacked. Neither Rose nor I was very familiar with this group of men. 

"Family likes to be together," Mund said quietly as we were all finishing up. "We enjoy our quiet time at night with one another." 

It was a strange comment, but all Mund's Brothers agreed. They liked quiet evenings by the fire. I smiled wistfully remembering quiet nights with Damien and his Brothers. 

"We have had your families' lodgings moved near ours. It was many of our friends that saw what happened today," Mund said quietly. "Come visit us tonight and we will not notice where you go when you leave our company."

"It is a private alcove," Mund's Brother said under his breath. "Our friends and I enjoy peace and quiet in the evenings. No one bothers us once we have retired there." 

I blinked stupidly at Mund until Rose thanked him. She got directions to the place he lived just before the men got up and left. Understanding dawned on me and I was shocked. 

"He's going to let us-" I started to say and Rose cut me off.

"Visit him tonight, Ciara. We will visit with our new friends," she said firmly, "Now come, we both smell and we should bathe before we visit with...Mund and his family."

Rose and I bustled out of the dining hall and stopped short when we ran into Fuji coming in. It had been many days since we had seen her. On Earth I would have said weeks. Fuji's hunting kept her outside, so she was rarely at meals. 

Fuji looked amazing. Her skin glittered brilliantly and her bright red hair was thick and lush. That strange wicked tail was out moving powerfully behind her. She walked with confidence and poise. 

We greeted each other and that tail flicked forward trailing down my front and then Rose's front. Fuji's eyes narrowed and she stepped right into my face. Her aggressive stance was not lost on me. 

"You were with them!" she accused angrily looking between Rose and I. "I sense them on you. The rules must be followed. They are for your own good!"

Fuji's tail was sensitive as well as deadly. I assumed she "smelled" our male family members on our clothing. Rose and I had freshened in our rooms, but not changed our attire. 

Rose and I rushed to explain how we had leapt onto the transports and ended up with our respective families. It had not been intentional and there was no reason to worry. It had happened in the middle of a mass scar attack. 

"Slavery is wrong," Fuji said firmly. "What those men did is wrong. The way they think is wrong. You cannot go back to the way you were. I will never go back!"

Rose and I both sought to shush Fuji. Luckily the dining hall was a slightly chaotic place and no one was watching us. 

"Fuji," I explained patiently, "if you remember my men tried to stop being slave owners long ago, so did Rose's family. I know Stayne and his Brothers-"

"Have never respected me," Fuji growled. "They continued a lie I was told my whole life. I was born to live free. Your men never respected you, either."

The argument continued and got slightly heated. Fuji didn't seem to be listening at all. She was adamant in her beliefs about slavers. Eventually Rose and I had to say good-bye and left Fuji. She refused to listen to us. There was no use arguing with her, so we ended the conversation as politely as we could.

Rose and I scrubbed ourselves in the warm water of the communal bath after washing our clothes and leaving them to dry. Tonight was the first time we would see our men in a place we could freely be together. Neither of us said it, but we both expected to be intimate with them. We wanted to be clean. 

Rose and I walked slowly to the place Mund said he and his Brothers stayed. It wasn't on the main corridor like our room. Some men disliked the busy thoroughfare and wanted a place to be close to their friends, but away from others. 

Women had dug a few deep pockets in the side walls of the mountains. Inside these pockets would be a small complex of twenty or thirty rooms with their own set of lacquered pots and a large communal fire pit. I thought of them like small villages. The men that lived that way tended to be similar in demeanor and very close to one another. It impressed me that men like that had invited our families to join them. It was essentially like opening their home to someone. 

I felt Damien and his Brothers as we walked. They were talking to the Mund and his friends. My men had never experienced the absolute openness that these men allowed.

Tyle and his Brothers, as well as, Arnold's family had just come to stay in this place, too. They were glad to be re-accepted into the camp. It turned out both families had not enjoyed being ostracized, but they'd done it out of loyalty. Damien was thrilled they were no longer cursed by his presence. 

As the men sat around the large communal fire pit and talked, Damien was shocked. Men from the camp didn't guard their family's secrets around other families. Mund's Brothers feared the scars and freely admitted it. The idea of suffocating terrified all of Mund's family. As Damien and his Brothers sat and conversed they experienced a closeness they'd never shared with other men before. 

We turned into the area and many men were sitting around a large smokeless pit. I saw Damien's family and didn't more than notice the rest of them. My feet carried me to my family and I was in their arms before I knew it. 

It did not matter we were in the middle of perhaps twenty curious families. I kissed each member of my family and hugged them tightly. It had been much too long since we had been together. 

"What is that the women are doing with the mouth?" I heard Mund ask. "Why do they grab the men that way?"

Tyle happily informed him what a kiss and a hug were. Mund's family found the activity interesting, they had not seen it before. 

I couldn't keep my hands off my family. My family couldn't stop touching me either. 

"Do you have a bed here?" popped boldly out of my mouth and I saw Bane's face split with a broad grin. 

"Are you tired, little Sister?" he asked wickedly and I punched him in the shoulder. 

"I am tired of waiting, husband," I stated, knowing they would have access to the meaning of that word. 

The word husband slid quickly through my five men and they liked it. We were mated and husband was a word I associated with mated. They were happy to use the term.

Kein grabbed a hand and tugged me toward one of the openings around us. I noted their symbol was carved just outside the doorway. I felt their joy at seeing it there. 

My family had lived for many moons on the outskirts of this camp. They never stayed anywhere long, because no one wanted them around. Having a stable home that was theirs would be such a blessing. They were grateful to Mund and his friends for the lodging and acceptance. 

"I didn't know," I said stopping just inside the doorway. "You never said you all were living like that."

I felt horrible. While I had been comfortable and cared for, my men had been tormented day and night. 

"Do not pity us," Evan said gruffly, pushing me farther into the large room as he entered. "What we did was wrong and we were punished for it. We have come to understand the indignity you suffered for many, many moons at our hands. My Brothers and I suffered far less. We had our family."

"And our freedom," Kein said tugging me close to his chest and pulling my lips to his. 

Our tongues met in a fierce tangle and I felt devoured. I accepted the voracious kisses from each of them. The excitement was overwhelming. 

"If we are husband what are you?" Christof asked. 

Wife was the word he was looking for and I gladly wore the title. In my mind I envisioned a wedding and what that would entail. My men found the idea very interesting. They'd never seen a ceremony like the one I imagined. 

Pulling away from my loves I explored the space we were in. It was much like my lodging. The main room was markedly large with a fire pit and a doorway led off into a darker space, the bed space. 

I undressed slowly in the area between the two rooms. I slipped off the boots first. My top and skirt came off and I saw the men eyeing my underclothes lustfully. I undid the bra and my heavy breasts swung out. 

"So lovely," Kein breathed out as he stared at my chest. 

The other men down here never looked at me the way Damien and his Brothers were right now. It was a special feeling to be wanted so badly. I felt lucky to get this much attention. I didn't realize how loudly I was projecting those thoughts. 

"If it is only attention you want," Bane laughed taking off his shirt, "the other men would give it to you willingly. They only let you and Rose alone because the Administrators told them to after the first night. Arik and his family complained you had thought them evil for wishing to mate. The Administrators forbade the other men from asking to be intimate with you."

"Many would like a taste of your treasure," Evan grumbled sounding sour. "They bragged to us each time you had dinner with them or helped them in any way."

I was surprised and it showed. Except for Arik's strange request the first night, the men here never looked at me. 

"Some are curious and those men look all the time," Christof said standing before me completely disrobed. "What I think you are offering us now, they want very badly."

"You are all I want now," I told him. 

They grinned at the authority in my voice. 

"Show me the bed," I demanded tilting my chin. "I want you. I want to fuck you all." 

Damien grinned at the tone and Evan's teeth dropped in excitement. They'd found they liked it when I was aggressive with them in the bedroom. Any remaining clothing was dropped to the floor as I grabbed Christof's hand and pulled him into the sleeping chamber. 

Kein lit the small torches around and the room brightened. The circular bed sat right in the middle of the tight space. Carved into the walls were five sets of shelves, much like in my room. 

"This is your room now," Bane said hesitantly, "as long as you are in it and as long as you want to stay."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 33



Releasing Christof, I went to Bane and ran a hand through his thick golden chest hair and down his stomach. My fingers encircled his girth and I tugged on the staff lightly. 

"I will stay as long as I can, because this is where I wish to be."

It wasn't long before I found myself kneeling on the bed with Evan's tongue in my mouth, Kein's lips on my breasts, and everyone else's hands busily exploring my flesh. My pale skin flushed red hot with the stimulation. 

"Damien!" Mund's voice called out shattering the moment and I cursed out loud. 

Bane laughed at my words, but was already off the bed toward the sound. Someone must have found us. The men dressed hurriedly and stepped out of the bed chamber going toward the main door.

I threw on the clothing I'd left in their main room and stepped out into the larger cave to see Fuji standing by the central fire pit. She looked livid. 

"Fuji!" I shouted angrily. "Go away! We are happy here, leave us to ourselves. No one is bothering you!"

Fuji just stood still and took in our flushed faces and thrown together state. She walked toward me and her strange tail flicked around to hover right near my crotch. Damien swatted at it. Fuji started hissing loudly at him, baring her teeth, while taking an aggressive stance. 

"They are bringing me pleasure, Fuji," I argued stepping between Damien and Fuji. "I am not being hurt! I came here for this. Leave us alone."

"I sense the pleasure," Fuji growled. "You reek of it..."

No one spoke for a moment and then Fuji continued, but what she said shocked me. 

"I should report this," she announced to the many families that had come out to watch the drama. "I will not, if I get what I want." 

Her tail flicked furiously behind her and her eyes flashed in the light. She looked ready for a fight or for...something, but I wasn't sure what. 

We all stood silently until Damien finally spoke. 

"What can we do for you?" he asked calmly.

"Stayne and his Brothers," Fuji said coyly, "I want them to bring me pleasure for the night. That is my price." 

I was confused and it bled through to my family. Through my memories they saw how angry this female was at Stayne and his family. It made no sense to want them. 

"I thought you hated them," I said tilting my head and looking at her. 

Rose appeared at my side and seemed to understand. She took my hand and nodded to Fuji. 

"I imagine," Rose said quietly, "she does hate them, but they are the only males here who know how to pleasure a female from Batra. Fuji is a very...sensual creature. I'm sure she is feeling the loss of that acutely."

Well, that did make sense and no one was surprised when Fuji agreed with Rose. She wanted pleasure and Stayne's family could provide it. Our friend had not had a way to demand the family's services until now.

"It is a trade, then," Mund said from the other side. "You are willing to make this trade with us? You won't tell if they give you pleasure?"

Stayne and his Brothers appeared from their doorway slowly and watched the unusual interaction. While they looked distrustful of Fuji, I also saw them admire her form. 

"Yes," Fuji said looking straight at Mund, "I will not tell if they give me what I want."

Fuji was a sight to behold. She almost glowed in the low light. Her flame red hair cascaded down to her shoulders in thick waves and then ran down her spine like a mane. She looked radiant and fierce. 

Considering the vicious women on this planet and how beauty was judged, I imagined Fuji currently was a prize catch. She had a predatory look, even if it was unusual. The men all seemed to be admiring her. 

"This is suitable to us," Stayne said as his teeth descended and Fuji let her own little teeth show in response. 

We all watched as Fuji approached the men who used to own her. Her tail was out and constantly moving. Unlike before, the strokes her tail made were broad and confident. She didn't walk toward them, she stalked them like prey. Fuji was certainly setting the tone for this meeting. The men would be bringing her pleasure on her terms. 

I'd heard Fuji with Stayne in the past and I didn't want to hear it again. Pushing on Damien's chest I moved past him and grabbed Evan to come back with me into their lodging. We had things to do. 

"No talking by the fire, Damien?" I heard a man call out jovially. 

"Our woman doesn't want talking by the fire," Damien answered pushing Kein and Christof to their door. "Our woman wants us and we are happy to oblige!"

As soon as we were in the main room of their dwelling, I tore at my blouse to get it off and Evan fussed.

"Don't ruin it just because you can fix it," he chastised. 

I felt the pull of the family. They invited me into their bond. The men always took good care of their things. It was a point of pride. The knowledge slowed my fingers and I removed my own garments carefully. 

Evan was correct. If I ruined it, I'd have to make another. There was no reason to wasteful.

We ended up back on the bed and this time nothing stopped us. I knelt in the circle of continually moving men and did what we had wanted to do for so long. 

I kissed them each deeply, running my hands over skin I had never forgotten. God, how I loved the feel of them. They were addicting.

The feel of me was evidently just as amazing. They couldn't keep their hands off. Hands explored every inch of me until I felt my center was molten wet with excitement.

I pushed Kein to his back and mounted him slowly as he watched me. His long cock was soon bumping the back of my warm tunnel. Propping myself on one hand the other I ran through his short hair and down his neck. He shivered as I touched his flat nipples. Shifting my hips I started to move and he watched enraptured as my large breasts swayed temptingly before him. 

"I have missed this my sweet wife," he panted breathlessly as he writhed beneath me.

I grinned in response and leaned to take his lips. His skin was warm and I felt the blood flow as his stripes darkened. Running my tongue along his teeth I sensed the drop of his sharp secondary teeth. He was primed and ready.

Joined like this in body our minds melded seamlessly. I felt it all and when Kein exploded with pleasure, I did too. My body clenched around the cock filling me and I bit Kein's shoulder at the intense experience. 

"Biting is bad, wife," Damien said with a smile on his face. 

Thanks to the communal flow my husbands knew I didn't mind the play discipline. My fear of them had long since evaporated, but I wanted to be close right now. None of us wanted to tie anyone up and watch them squirm. We wanted to be close 

I moved off of Kein and crawled over toward Damien who stood by the edge of the bed. As I made my way to him he got on the bed and knelt before me. His cock was right in line with my mouth and I salivated with anticipation, just as he was. He'd dreamed of seeing my lips wrapped around his straining erection for many moons. The look of my mouth pleasuring him never ceased to arouse him.

For a moment I wished I had lipstick. The bright, glossy red would be in sharp contrast to Damien's thick stalk. He would love the look of that. 

"Hardly," he murmured stroking my scalp and pulling me closer, "I enjoy the look of your lips, just as they are."

I took a trial lick of Damien's flat stomach and the muscle beneath twitched and flexed. Grinning up at him I allowed myself to be guided to the head of his tool. Just like our first time I took a tiny lick over the head, tasting the salty fluid there. Unlike the first time Damien didn't pull away. He begged for more. 

Big hands wrapped in my hair on either side of my head. Damien wanted to hold my head, so he had some control of the act that made him lose his mind. Never in his life had someone made him feel as crazy as I did. I wanted to smile at the sentiment, but my mouth was otherwise occupied.

Bane watched my butt sway and shift in front of him as I knelt on all fours on the bed. The thick meat of my thighs was more muscular now, after many afternoons in the fields. The look was mesmerizing. 

The scratch of his beard got my attention as Bane scattered kisses over the round swell of my ass. I felt him kneel behind me as he stroked his cock over my wet folds. Bane wanted the tight star of my ass. He loved the feel of it gripping him, but I was not readied for that sort of play right now. 

"This is also my favorite," Bane growled as the heavy head of his cock brushed my slick folds. 

Damien pushed the length of himself into my mouth and Bane pressed into the wet heat below. I was startled for a moment as they held themselves still, watching for my reaction. The only thing I could do was hum around Damien and clench myself around Bane's shaft, as my pleasure surged into the bond. The answer was satisfactory to them. 

Kein moved so he lay beneath me and watched my breasts. He played with them as they swayed before him. The stimulation had me moaning around Damien's shaft, which he loved. 

When Christof's fingers found the magical button between my thighs, I saw stars. Bane's hands gripped my hips mercilessly as he sped up, intent on finding his pleasure as I found mine. Damien's threaded his fingers through my hair and used that to hold me as he also found his rhythm. 

I teetered on the brink of the intense stimulation for several moments before I felt hot breath on my ear. As Evan's tongue caressed the outside of my lobe my world exploded. If it wasn't for multiple hands holding me up, I would have sunk to the level of the bed. 

Lost in my own wonderland I was only half aware of Damien's cock throbbing on my tongue. I didn't swallow quickly enough and a bit dribbled out. Intent on not losing anymore I sucked and swallowed, until Damien pulled his rapidly softening cock from my mouth. 

Evan fingers replaced the lost appendage. He touched the wet semen on my face and then watched entranced as I licked it off. Nothing in life prepared him for the erotic look of a tongue taking his or his Brothers' seed. 

Bane's curse was long and loud. I was pulled back tight against his rod until the fullness bordered on pain. Two more hard, near violent thrusts and he emptied himself into me. 

My arms and legs felt weak and shaky. Kein sensed my desire and scooted so I could stretch out on my stomach. I panted on the soft covers for a moment before looking around. Turning my head slightly I saw Christof and Evan, still raging with desire. Both wanted nothing more than to sink into my soft body. 

"As long as you are willing," Christof said watching my sweating form. "If we are too much..."

I smiled at the sentiment. How many times had I taken all of them? Many times! 

"You are never too much for me," I purred rolling to my side and then getting back on my knees. 

It was an offer neither man could refuse. I took them as I had Damien and Bane. Over and over I sucked on Evan's staff as Christof made slow love to me from behind. It felt like the replay of the best movie I'd ever seen. 

After the fireworks were over I lay on the bed and felt like a sticky mess. I assumed I would have to wipe off and make a dash for the communal bathing pool, I was wrong. Damien and his Brothers had thought I might allow them to have sex. 

My husbands had been busy while Rose and I went back to finish the work in the field. They wanted to be prepared and a large tub had been delivered to their rooms. The thing was not built as a private bathing tub, it was a huge soup pot. They had asked Mund for two of them and he had obliged and found them. Basin had one like this in his rooms. 

Water was heated in smaller pots over the fire and we each took a quick bath.

"This is how men from the other camps bathe," Bane told me as he rinsed off. "The natural pool here is quite a unique thing."

We sat around the fire and talked late into the night about all manner of things. I'd learned things they hadn't and they'd learned things I had not. As a family we just enjoyed sharing with one another. 

"Stay with us until the moonset," Evan begged finally. "I will wake you and you can go back then. Spend the night with us."

I looked around at the adoring faces of my family and could not say no. We were risking everything by me staying here, but I couldn't bear to leave them.

Curled up between Christof and Evan I couldn't say I'd ever felt more at home. 

***************

Rose and I ran from the men's quarters together the next day. We bolted to our rooms and made it before anyone saw us. Our hearts were both pounding as we stoked our own small fire and congratulated one another on our victory. 

"Basin and his Brothers are so different!" Rose marveled. "I knew they'd changed, but we never had time to experience it before. We talked together. I've cared for them for a long time and they really appreciate me..."

"Best feeling ever," I agreed with her as our rooms warmed up. 



We were both wonderfully keyed up and talked to one another about how our respective families had been. The sound of talons hitting the floor outside stopped us both. 

"Mama?" Kennedy called out softly. 

"In here," I said smoothing my dress out and looking frantically at Rose. 

The flap for our door was lifted to reveal Kennedy's face. She smiled as she entered with her Sisters and commented how early it was. The girls had thought we might still be asleep. 

I could not lie and I could absolutely not look frantic. 

"We try to be up early every day," I said noncommittally.

Rose seconded the statement and said she had always been an early riser. 

"The men you saved yesterday," Dara said, "Abram's family, they have been asking for you. Their Brother is recovering slowly. The Healers, as well as other men, have spent all night in their rooms. He is not dying, which is what they expected. He lifted a finger this morning and has been taking several breaths himself. They want to thank you."

"You are a hero, Mama," Kennedy said stoically and eyed me critically. "The other men wonder what you said that made Abram feel you could approach his Brother. They think you must have amazing sway. The men from the tunnel yesterday refuse to say how you convinced Abram's family. They say you spoke too softly for them to hear."

I didn't agree or disagree. I just stared at the girls and knew they must have assumed at least part of the truth. Kennedy and her sisters were smart girls. It would not have escaped them that something strange was going on. 

Lucky for me they didn't force the issue and only walked us quietly to the rooms Abram shared with his Brothers. 

Abram's rooms were a good walk from ours. They were closer to the kitchens, since that's where they spent most of their time. Outside their door was a mass of men sitting and lounging around a lit fire pit. Several dozed in the chairs, but woke as we approached. They greeted us politely and with some reverence. Kennedy told me many of these families had assisted with the breathing during the night. 

"Instructions for rescue breathing," Dara said in Paterian, "have been sent to every other camp. No man must die from the attack of a scar. We are all very grateful, Mama. Your name is known across the world now. You are quite well respected."

As we drew closer Kennedy dropped her voice and spoke in English. 

"There are many things you could ask for now, Mama. If it were me I would not ask for what you want most. Let the Administrators see the change themselves, don't force the issue...We know how the men really feel, but the others will not be so forgiving. It will take time, you must be patient and not rush things."

I wondered how many times Kennedy and her sisters had come to our rooms last night. They knew where we'd been most likely, but kept it a secret. 

"Thank you," I said softly and received a knowing nod from Kennedy and both of her Sisters. 

Abram's Brother, Ruse, lay on their bed unmoving. Another man knelt beside him and blew breath into him at each count of seven. When someone announced our arrival Ruse's hand lifting off the bed and then flopped back down. 

The room cheered at the small gesture. 

"You were right," Abram said from the side rising stiffly from a chair, "we feel our Brother's weakness, but it is improving. He can take some breaths by himself and he is moving more and more."

"We expect," Kennedy said politely acknowledging Abram, but addressing me, "he will regain his full motion in a day or so. The men here are taking turns to help him. Our Healers are studying it all diligently. We have discussed with them the intubation equipment you saw on Earth. Rue and his Brothers think they could build it."

Rose and I stood with the men for a few more moments, but not long. They were obviously tired and needed to rest. Kennedy assured me the other men with them were watching the whole family for illness. The health of Abram's family had become a communal effort. 

Kennedy and her Sisters went to breakfast with Rose and me in the dining room. They didn't eat, but just sat with us. Much like last night Mund's family walked in with our families. There was less argument this morning as the men settled on the far side of the room. 

All around us men were talking about the horror of "slavers". I saw steel in Rose's eyes as she spoke loudly to me. 

"It's hardly fair don't you think," she asked harshly, "to judge someone without really knowing them? Remember how we looked on all these men when we got here? How evil did we think they might be? We forced ourselves to speak to them until we understood them!"

Kennedy's sister Dara grinned and spoke next, "That is the Great Harmonious Spirit," she said clearly. "The Spirit seeks to connect us and bring peace to all of us. We must learn about one another and live in harmony as The Spirit asks." 

The talk interested the other men and they had a grand time discussing The Spirit with my daughter and her Sisters. They loved to talk about their beliefs. Kennedy reminded them that staying divided from Damien, Basin, and Stayne just because they'd made a mistake was not in keeping with The Great Harmonious Spirit. The men fussed about that, but later I saw several groups go introduce themselves to the ostracized families. 

"So it begins..." I said quietly smiling. 

"Yes," Kennedy said quietly, "so you don't need to force anything. It will happen on its own."

Rose and I ate quietly as Kennedy talked to her Sisters. Suddenly Eve's face drew into a frown. She looked at me and then at her Sisters. I saw the unspoken concern pass between them. 

"You know you have to do things that won't get you pregnant," Kennedy bluntly told me. "You are very fertile, Mama, and so are they."

I nearly choked on my food when Kennedy said that. I'd forgotten.

"Come on, Mama!" Kennedy exclaimed. "You have to take precautions. Do you even know what time in your cycle you are at?"

I shook my head dumbly and just looked up at her. I'd forgotten to think about protection. It had been a long time since I'd needed it. I wasn't even sure what I'd use. 

"We'll teach you to time your cycle," Eve said quietly. "That's the way it used to be done on Earth. There are days in your natural cycle you should not have sex."

"Didn't Daddy check?" Kennedy asked incredulously. "He knew this could happen. Didn't he ask you before they started?"

Oh, how I hated, hated, hated that the girls had all my memories. They knew exactly how I used to interact with Damien and his Brothers. This was so humiliating. 

"No," I said straightening my shoulders, "I asked them to show me the bed...and they did." 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 33



We all sat quietly for a moment as the girls conversed internally. 

"Well," Dara said still deep in contemplation, "it is a good sign for the men. They trusted Mama to take care of her own body. She said she wanted them and they assumed the fertility was up to her. How often have we told them they had to leave her body to her to care for?"

"If we're talking about breeding it's up to ALL of them," Kennedy said staring down at me darkly. "It does take two of them." 

A thought prodded me from outside. Christof was curious what had our offspring looking so serious. I thought about lying to him and hiding my mistake, but that would be frowned upon by the family. Secrets were not tolerated in the family. 

Instead of hiding it, I told Christof I was not using anything for birth control and I did not know if I was fertile. 

I saw the stunned looks from across the room. The men had been trying to be respectful of my rights. They had been told I could control my own body. Damien's Brothers did not ask if I was fertile, because that was my business. 

There was mixed feeling in my family. Damien thought I was not learning to take care of myself well enough. Perhaps Hannah or Kennedy could do something to intensify my education. Freedom and responsibility went hand in hand, he believed. My body was mine to protect and monitor. 

Bane and Christof understood the mistake. We had just been too long without one another. Yes, we had all done something foolish, but if it resulted in more family, that was not necessarily a bad thing. 

"Hey, Earth to Mama!" Kennedy snapped waving her hand in front of my face. 

Dara's eyes narrowed and Eve cocked her head at me. Damn, these intelligent girls, they'd figure it all out if I kept acting strange. 

"Interesting," was all Dara said, as they all rose from the table.

"We are due to patrol today and we have responsibilities to help at a camp not far from here later today," Kennedy said. "My sisters and I will help determine your...cycle. Don't do anything foolish until then."

"Perhaps you could train some with Rue and his Brothers today," Eve added. "They have developed shields on the transports. If the men had to defend themselves from attacking women the shields raise and enclose the transport. You and Rose should learn to use them. Your skin is softer than anyone else's." 

A hug and a kiss and the girls went to bid Christof and the family goodbye. 

Life changed slowly over the next many day cycles for Damien and his Brothers. More and more men approached them. They were invited to more functions. The camp began to truly accept them for the first time. 

We quickly learned the way campmates interacted was different from the way men had in the compound. Men in the camp relied on other families. Physically weak men would not feel ashamed to ask a stronger family to help them do something. Men like Damien and his Brothers were encouraged to ask questions when they didn't understand. Their lack of knowledge did not have to be hidden. Everything was shared.

This trust the other men encouraged them to take part in was a little confusing to my husbands. In the compound you always kept your family's secrets close. While friendships were encouraged, you couldn't depend on other men. A family had to watch out for itself and be very cautious. Things in the camp were the polar opposite. 

For instance, Damien had panicked when a man from another family noted Christof's mark in the bathing pool one evening. My men had feared that the Earth heritage would make Christof and the family a target. It did not. The other men merely introduced my family to other men with Earth ancestors. 

It was common knowledge Christof's skin might be weaker, but that wasn't looked down on and no one wanted to test the theory. Our campmates wanted to know about each of my men individually. Men in the camp knew there were things my husbands would have hidden in the compound. Damien and his Brothers found the entire thing amazing. 

Once the other men got over the label they'd put on Damien, Basin, and Stayne the dream of freedom became a reality. This way of living was far better than anything they'd experienced before. The free men encouraged them to form strong relationships outside the family and that felt so right to my men. They had not realized how isolated they'd been. 

Our bond grew stronger as the days went on, too. I could connect to them and they to me during the day. It wasn't like before, though. The bond now was something I could control. When the men's collective thoughts were too loud or too distracting, I could literally turn it off. I had the freedom of my own mind and the collective of the family when I needed it. I was not lost or controlled in this bonding. 

At night, my family and I were physically inseparable, but we tried to do things that were "safe". Mund's family and their friends continued to look the other way when Rose and I visited every night. It was wonderful.

Even Armant and his Brothers capitulated to the change in the camp. Rose and I were certainly different from before, perhaps the men we claimed were changed were different, too. Our co-workers decided they would take a meal with the ex-slavers. It was the appropriate thing to do. 

Armant and his Brothers found they liked our men. Both our families were tough and genuine. They had grown and learned since coming here. When asked Damien and Basin freely admitted they had made mistakes. Our friends found them different from what they expected. 

Stayne and his Brothers had been a question in my mind. I noted they never said anything publicly about liking or not liking slavery anymore. However, when Fuji appeared, which was often, they deferred to her wishes. They appeared to appreciate her changes. Damien thought they might finally be understanding the importance of freedom. 

It had helped when Stayne's female breeder visited the camp. She was a fierce looking female, but her eyes were sad. Watching the little boys grow up in the free camps near their breeders was far superior. She freely admitted slavery had stifled Stayne and his Brothers. The woman apologized for her mistake. 

Everything was looking better and brighter until the inevitable happened. I woke one morning about a moon cycle later feeling...off. Rose and I made our usual early morning dash to our rooms. We got there and I felt worse and worse until I vomited. 

Rose wasn't sick, so it wasn't something contagious and I felt better once I was done. After I rinsed my mouth I sat in front of our small fire and stared into it. The subtle connection to my men was still there, pulsing just beneath my own thoughts. It was stronger now, though, less like an option to participate and more like a compulsion. 

"Well," Rose said hesitantly placing a hand on my still flat belly, "the camp is accepting them better. Perhaps it is time to..."

We sat and stared at one another. Neither of us was sure what we should do. There was very little we could say that would make a difference to the Administrators. Their minds were made up. 

"We have a few moons before I even start to show," I said firmly. "The men will have to continue to try and we will have to continue to try. Between us, I'm sure we can affect a change."

Rose nodded, but I saw the uncertainty in her features. We'd all changed, but it had not impacted the Administrators yet. Hassar and her Sister were the lead females. They watched Rose and I. They liked it when we interacted with any member of the camp except our families. We couldn't seem to make them understand. 

Rose and I were well connected in the camp, especially since saving Abram's family. Our request for the root was honored quickly. No one even asked why we wanted it, they just helped us acquire some. I took it steadily in my diet and the nausea stayed unnoticed by everyone who mattered. 

The pregnancy went on and I learned this child was almost as curious as Kennedy. She wanted to know how things were built and how they ran. In the evenings I sometimes walked with Rose down to the parking garage and watched the men work on transports. They found my curiosity healthy and taught me all they could. 

Other days I actually sought out Rue, as horrible as his family was. I made them each a nice, new shirt as a peace offering. At my request, they taught me the mechanics of guns and how they built the weapons. It was fascinating. 

I wondered sometimes whose child this was. It felt similar to Kennedy's pregnancy, but not the same. The curiosity was not an all consuming thing. Much like Hannah's pregnancy this child went with the communal flow. She was certainly an equal mix of Paterian and Earthling. 

The men found my curiosity about her parentage funny. They'd play games with me to try to determine who the father was. It seemed I should know as I looked into their eyes, but the truth of it eluded me. 

My belly started to show sooner than it ever had before. For the first time I imagined the life inside of me to be a little alien. I'd never experienced a pregnancy so rapid before. 

It became imperative I hide my condition. I only bathed in the pot in my rooms or Damien's rooms now. Luckily, I made my own clothes, so I altered things so my growing stomach would not show. Under the guise of 'feeling cold' I bundled up so no one could see the steadily growing lump in the front of me.

I thought I hid it well, but Kennedy and her sisters surprised me several times. I was sure they had seen the telltale bump, but they just ignored it. Those girls seemed to have the worst habit of just popping in to talk early and late in the day. 

The tiredness was the only symptom I could not hide. I was exhausted again. I started to take naps at lunch and Rose would bring me food. I'd scarf my mid day meal between my nap and my afternoon chores. 

"Ciara," Armant said as we prepared to leave the shop one afternoon, "can you take this stack of shirts to Gunth and his Brothers. I know they need them, but have been to busy to pick them up."

Oh, how I had longed to spend some quiet time asleep in bed. 

Yawning, I took the stack and moved toward the Administrative rooms. Rose didn't come with me. She was secretly meeting her family for the midday meal in their rooms. She promised to bring me food. My own family was out on patrol. 

In my mind I felt the exhilaration of soaring around outside. My men were hunting today with Arnold's and Mund's families. They loved these dangerous assignments. The things they saw still amazed them.

I smiled to myself as I walked the busy halls of the camp. This home was good for all of us. We just wished we could be together and not in secret. 

The main Administrative area was empty today. No line of men and women asking for things. A sign announced there was a meeting today and Administrative business would be held until tomorrow.

I walked through the open area with the shirts. I had no idea where Gunth and his family stayed, so I wanted to drop them off here. Instead of leaving, I followed the sound of voices toward what turned out to be a huge meeting room at the end of a hallway. If I could just find Gunth and his Brothers I'd leave this with them. 

I stepped from the hallway into the back of the massive auditorium. Tables were set up facing a central and well lit stage. All the attention was on a large woman talking at the head of the room on that stage. I recognized Tosu immediately and froze. 

"The ships are not here idly," she was announcing. "They have been surveying the planet, we believe. They do not answer our hails and leave once they have been noticed."

Gunth and his Brothers sat toward the back of the room. He saw me standing in the doorway and waved me over. He pointed to a chair next to him and I sat dutifully. I knew I wasn't supposed to be here, but he didn't care. I sat the shirts on my lap and listened silently.

The meeting was about aliens. There were many different alien races the women worked with. They were well acquainted with the different races and their different ships. Right now, far above our heads, alien ships were flying around the planet for some unknown reason. 

The women had what sounded like satellites and telescopes, so they monitored the visitors. On the other side of the world women built ships and were well versed in the different types. What they had seen through the monitoring devices had concerned them. 

The ships were all war class, scouting vessels.

"We believe as I know you do, too," Tosu said, "that they want our ore. The numbers on this planet have suffered. I believe, as do many, that these ships are going to attack one day. If they can destroy us, they can take the ore." 

The assembled in the hall didn't panic openly, but a low murmur went through everyone. 

"I have examined the pictures of their ships and I have brought them for your inspection as well," Tosu continued. "There are many, many flying above us. There are even more floating behind the largest moon, thinking they are obscured from view."

Another low murmur went though the group and I shuddered in fear. Tosu saw the general reaction and raised her hand in a peaceful gesture. 

"We have hope," she said. "None of us will give up."

The talk in the room got louder suddenly. I saw a man up front gesture for several pictures Tosu had brought. She handed them over before continuing to speak about her beliefs regarding the alien ships. 

"What is your plan?" Gunth called out suddenly.

Tosu looked back at him and saw me. I saw her smile before she answered discussing protecting the men in the compounds first and foremost. They were in the most dangerous place. 

The Warriors were now kept in the compounds and traders were not allowed to roam. Women waited in the deserts, vigilant for attack. The slaving women did not want to disrupt the compounds and believed they could stop the invaders if they came. 

Men in the mountains could be hidden in the caverns. Women would swarm the enemy ships and fight to the death. It would be war as it had always been fought before, as far as they were concerned. 

Gunth stood up and walked stiffly with his family to the head of the room. The slaving women would not protect us. This was Gunth's camp when it came to defense. We would have to defend ourselves, men and women. 

The talk got more complex and I tried to follow. Someone was discussing the make up of the alien ships, but it was hard to hear. As they stood up, I realized it had been Rue and his Brothers talking. 

"Your talons and spears will not be effective against these ships," Rue said forcefully as he stood and turned to face the crowd. "We have studied alien races and their technology. If the women think they can best these particular invaders with their old methods, they are foolish!"

The crowd murmured and Gunth demanded Rue explain himself, politely. 

"These ships will be resistant to your old weapons," Rue said sounding perturbed at repeating himself. "I know our cousins in other camps must have mentioned this. They alerted us to this danger many day cycles ago. This will not be a simple war against slavers. The men in the compounds will die if you leave them there. Your defense is essentially none at all."

I saw the horror start to take the room and Gunth took control of the meeting again. 

"What is your solution, young man?" he asked Rue with just a hint of irritation. "I can't believe you and your Brothers are without a plan."

Of course they had ideas. Rue and his Brothers were problem solvers, annoying as they were. They'd come to this meeting ready to be heroes.

"The weapons my Brothers and I developed will be effective," he said proudly. "We created offensive weapons and defensive systems based on the most dangerous things we could find. Most of those things were not on the planet, yet, but it appears they have come." 

It was not hard to hear the condescending tone Rue used, but that didn't detract from what he said. We had weapons and we could protect the planet. This battle was not lost. 

I sat silently as the plan was laid out by Gunth. Men would be sent into the tunnels. Stocks of ore and food would be left where it could be used when and where needed. We would prepare silently for war with the enemy. When it came time, men from the camp would protect our cousins in the compounds, as well as, ourselves. Our weapons would be effective. 

I used that magical connection I had with my family. They heard and saw the meeting as I did. We marveled together at the strangeness of it. 

Tosu smiled stepped back as the planning went on. She moved around the room until she approached me. I rose to greet her, setting my package back in my chair. The big woman moved out of the hall and I followed. 

We stood in a dimly lit corridor and faced one another. 

"They say you are still Ciara," she said quietly when we were outside. 

"I love my family," I said simply, but I had a more pressing question. "We can't protect the entire world."

Tosu smiled and I saw her fangs. "Every camp I have contact with has been alerted and they all have the same plan. Rue and his Brothers are not alone in their quest for knowledge. Others have told me the same thing, though not as abruptly. I thought the men in the camp would be offended if I didn't give them the chance to own the salvation they alone can provide. This world will be protected." 

"How many camps exist?" I asked.

Tosu sighed and smiled at me. "More than even I know, the rebels outnumber those of the old ways. Many women have been seeing the truth and have been giving their daughters that truth. The resistance has only wished to avoid outright war because of their belief in The Spirit. Most of those that follow The Spirit find the idea of harming another Paterian to be evil." 

I nodded and looked up at her, shivering lightly. A war was a frightening proposition, but my family and I would be safe in this camp. My heart sped up as I thought how scary an alien attack would be in the compounds. The men would not understand and they didn't have the weapons we did. They'd be unprepared sitting ducks.

Terror made me suddenly dizzy and I leaned on the wall. Distantly I heard Tosu speaking to me, but I felt as though I would faint. 

My boy was in a compound. Jonathan was in an undefended, dangerous compound that was about to be attacked by warships. No one there could defend him, he'd be as frightened and vulnerable as the rest of them.

I screamed my son's name and bolted for the storage area with the transports. I had my sword and a gun on my hip. The only thought in my mind was getting to Jonathan and bringing him back to safety. 

My stride was ungainly as I ran, but I went as quickly as I could. Tosu was calling me, but I didn't hear her. I just kept repeating Jonathan's name. 

Men in the transport storage watched me as I jumped on a loaded transport and started it up. 

"Stop!" one of them called waving frantically, "that transport is slated to leave on a mission! You can not take it!" 

I didn't care. The big machine lurched forward toward the entrance with me at the controls. My actions were frantic and I wasn't driving well. The transport nearly clipped the side of the mountain as I sped out of the storage area. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tosu push the edge of transport so I wouldn't have a collision, she'd taken flight and was calling to me. 

"I have to get to him!" I screamed tearing down the mountain toward the tunnels. 

My driving was erratic because tears were blurring my vision. My boy would die and I had to save him. The transport swerved dangerously close to a tree before I righted it. I nearly wrecked when I landed by the closed tunnel at the base of our mountain. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 33



The control to open the tunnel remotely was not something I had used before. I was pushing every button on the transport trying to make the damn thing open when I found myself surrounded. 

Men had followed me from the garage and landed five transports around me. They looked very confused. Tosu landed lightly on my transport and gently pulled me away from the controls. I fought her like a wild woman. 

"LET ME GO!" I screamed, "HE IS JUST A BABY! I HAVE TO GO GET HIM!"

I tried to pull my weapon to make her go away and she knocked it from my hand. Before I had a chance to go for my sword, I found myself wrapped in her arms and pressed into her chest. 

"Calm, little human," she crooned holding me tight. 

My terror made me frantic. I kicked and screamed against her strength and made no headway. She just held me. The stress made me dizzy and my powerlessness made it worse. The last thing I remember was the confused faces of the men around us as I faded out. 

Murmured words soothed me. I remembered the inky blackness I'd experienced when my family broke. This seemed similar. It wasn't me looking for them this time. It was them searching for me. The familiar voices of family broke through the hysteria and it faded as the calm of the family descend on me. 

The voices in my mind relaxed me in ways I could never have dreamed. I felt the bed beneath my back and the enclosed air of the caves. Opening my eyes I saw I had been put back in my bedroom in the camp. 

I turned my head and my stomach lurched. The vomit rose in my throat and I was lucky to get it into the waste pail. Rose was there and she wiped my face to clean it, afterward, she took the nastiness away. 

"Jesus, Mama," Kennedy said from the main room as she stuck her head in, "was that a panic attack?! You completely flipped out!"

"Jonathan," I said weakly sitting up, my stomach still felt questionable.

"Like Daddy and his Brothers wouldn't be there when the shit goes down. The men's weapons will work," Kennedy huffed. "Like Hannah and I won't be there to defend him! Don't go loosing your fucking mind now!"

"Don't curse," I scolded rising unsteadily from the bed and stumbling to the main room. It wasn't like Kennedy to curse, I must have really scared her. 

My men were in my head and I felt the jumble of their concern. They had felt my mind break and they had not liked it. For a moment they'd all felt like falling apart, but luckily our bond wasn't like that. I was still separate, although they felt my pain acutely. A quick talk with Arnold's family and they were on their way back to camp. 

Hannah and her Sister crammed themselves into our main room once they heard my voice and the little cave I shared with Rose felt tight. The girls were talking rapidly about what had transpired. 

"Here," Rose said pushing a cup into my hands, "drink this."

I sunk into one of the chairs by our fire pit and sipped the strange, tangy liquid. I felt drained, but I was still so worried for Jonathan. Tears burned my eyes and Rose encouraged me to drink more. 

Arik and his Brothers had been alerted to my situation and knew of a newly discovered plant with calming effects on humans. Abram had instructed Rose how to prepare it. This concoction wouldn't dull me completely like the men's calming cream did. They hoped this herb would just center me. Rose had made the drink to try to settle my mind. I had been to out of it to try it before now. 

"How long?" I asked embarrassed. 

"The evening meal is in a little while," Rose answered pressing a cool cloth against my forehead and cheeks. "Our camp mates understand your distress. Many of them have children in the compounds."

"I have to help him," I said whispered to Rose as she snuggled next to me on the chair. 

"You don't do well when you have no way to control your children's safety," she said seriously. "That is what usually creates this panic for you. We will help him, but you can't do it alone. Trust in your campmates and friends." 

I nodded and sipped at the liquid. 

My stomach felt queasy, so I told Rose. A bit of the root was produced from the shelf in my room and Rose cut a serving off for me. The rest she put back. I nibbled the food and focused on calming my raucous thoughts. 

I'd let myself panic because I'd felt powerless, but Rose was right. The camp had pledged itself to the compounds near here. Other camps had the same plan. I could help and I would help, but losing my mind did nothing. A free woman needed to be strong, I needed to be strong. 

Hannah and Kennedy were busy discussing their own jobs in the coming fight. They planned to be at the Barnas compound when the war happened. Both sets of girls wanted to be there to protect their younger brother and his family. They'd have to hide carefully before the fight, but they were sure they could do it. 

Suddenly, Hannah focused her attention on me. She cocked her head and stared at me. I watched her eyes narrow and her nostrils flared in anger. 

"Why," she asked harshly, "do you have root here? Why would you need a ready supply of that?" 

"My stomach is weak sometimes, Hannah," I explained as Rose gripped my arm.

Hannah wasn't buying it and crossed her arms just the way Damien would have done. She looked absolutely livid. My stomach was only really weak around one time and Hannah knew when that was. 

"You are carrying their child again, AREN'T YOU?!" she roared and the main drape to our room was pulled hastily back from outside. "You aren't getting heavy because you're eating well! You just could not stay away from Damien and his Brothers? What is wrong with you? Why are you so irresponsible?"

"It is my body and they are my family," I told her simply ignoring whoever had decided to listen in from outside. "If we have conceived a life together it is not your business. This new life is ours and not yours."

Hannah's eyes seemed to glow with contained rage as she stared at me. I met her gaze with one of my own. 

"You are such an embarrassment to me!" Hannah shouted and suddenly switched to English. "My God, you are acting like some two dollar whore!" 

I'd never feared my children, despite the great power they carried. It suddenly struck me I should handle Hannah very cautiously right now. She was acting slightly uncontrolled. Although I wanted to give her a talking to, I reigned in my temper and sat quietly staring at her. My mind churned looking for some way to explain this to her. Although, it really wasn't any of her business. 

I had no reason for concern on that score. Turning, I saw Gunth and Hassar staring into our living space watching us with shock on their faces. They must have been just outside when the argument started. The Administrators demanded Hannah and Ra come to them. 

My men were in my head and almost here. I heard their thoughts loudly. 

It would have to be Damien's daughter that caught us. Christof's was so much calmer. Bane's son was like that, too, calm, for the most part. Evan's child was wild like him. If Jonathan had been old enough this would have been the same disaster. Kein had no idea what his children were like, but he hoped they were without Hannah's ridiculous temper. 

Hassar's voice could be clearly heard as she asked me to please bring myself to the Administrative area. It seemed something needed discussing. 

I made my way to the Administrative suites with Rose after I straightened my clothing out. Since I was no longer hiding it I wore a simple skirt and blouse that showed the prominent bulge in my front. The warm jacket still buttoned over my chest, but flared out prominently over my belly and wouldn't close. It didn't matter if anyone saw it anymore.

Word always traveled fast in the camp, now was not an exception. Men and women lined up and watched Rose and me walk proudly to the Administrators' suite. I heard the murmured comments. An unsanctioned breeding was a very dishonorable thing to do.

"Let them talk," Rose said firmly. "It should not bother you. They don't matter." 

I looked to the side and could see the pride in Rose's stride. She had earned it back. There was no fear in her face, only determination. We were taking this fight all the way this time.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 34



Welcome back, Lit!

As always, many thanks to Steve150177 for his tireless efforts to make the story better. The finished draft is always better than the original! 

I hate to do it, but the moms I know tell me I should... 

I apologize because the next chapter will be out at the end of June. I should be stoned for keeping the last several chapters like this, but I don't think I'll be in any condition to have a hobby for several weeks. My delivery is scheduled for Thursday - which is about a week sooner than initially planned. The time has just run out. 

Most of the last chapters are at least partially written, but they need work. I thought I could get it done, but I'm just not that fast. The story will absolutely NOT be left hanging - that makes me nutty. I do hope you all return to read the ending! 

Please vote and comment and again - I apologize for the hold up. I know it's no consolation to those who enjoy the story, but I think my little girl will be worth it! 

Thank you! DW

Chapter 34

We walked up the Administrator's steps and marched into their hall. It felt a little like the first day as I approached the head of the room, but today I had no fear. Gunth's family stood with Hassar and Reed staring at us with obvious frustration and irritation. The other Administrators stood at their tables busily working. They tried to ignore us and failed. My stomach was quite the attention getter. 

Hannah and Ra stood to the side. I heard Hannah's shocked sounds as she saw how truly large I'd gotten. I looked like a woman at least seven months pregnant, but it had been nowhere near long enough for me to look like that. 

Kennedy and her Sisters entered behind Rose and me. They stood to the side, as though waiting for something. This was not their battle, so I was glad they were letting us fight it on our own. 

"Children," Hassar announced formally, "must be planned for carefully. We do not encourage unsanctioned breedings in our camp."

"Moreover," her Sister, Reed, continued, "if this breeding occurred with the men we think it did, that is even worse. You were forbidden to have contact with your former owners-"

Rose interrupted and the sound of her voice carried. "Only YOU," she said with great authority, "still call them owners. They do not think of themselves that way and neither do we. You are unaware of what has been happening in your camp, Administrators." 

"I am not unaware of what has been happening in this camp, Rose," Reed answered sharply. "You were tricked and trained. We thought you were learning freedom from us. It is evident neither of you have learned anything!" 

Rose snorted and lay her hand over the hilt of her sword. It was clear she was pointing out her obvious changes. 

"I have had other options," Rose said blithely. "I talk with many men and I made my choice. Basin and his Brothers have made mistakes, but they have atoned. We enjoy each other and I wish to be with them."

The sound of foot steps got my attention and I turned to see Damien's family and Basin's family come into the hall. They were running and looked worried. 

"You defied us," Hassar said simply, addressing the men. "We invited your families to experience freedom and you have kept a slave-"

I shouted, but didn't mean to be so loud. "I - AM - NOT - A - SLAVE!"

The undercurrent of the men's feelings flowed through me and I felt their pride. I was strong and powerful, certainly a good addition to the family. 

"We will separate you permanently," Reed said cooly and I shook my head at her.

"No, you won't, it isn't your place to make my decisions for me. I am not a slave to anyone. Besides that, I am carrying a female and she needs her male breeder. I will not leave these men. They have learned to respect me and love me. Send us out of your camp if you wish, but don't think you have the power to separate us."

Rose spoke next and what she said stunned me. "You can't separate mated creatures, anyway. It wouldn't do any good. No matter the distance or the space you put between us, we are bound together. As a family, we are joined." 

I turned to look at Rose and she smiled that calm smile she had. I had kept private the bond I shared with my family, even from her. It would have seemed like bragging to tell her what we had, but apparently Rose and her family had the same thing. I should have asked. 

"We are not so different," Rose continued, "Paterians and humans. I am part of this family now and I will NOT leave them."

The Administrators all made a variety of sounds. Humans didn't do that sort of thing, only Paterians did. They thought Rose was lying about having a mate bond. Before Rose or I could correct the Administrators, Kennedy barged into the fight. 

"A mate bond with a human is more than possible," Kennedy said putting her hands behind her back and walking between us and the Administrators. "We know humans share many of our traits. It is not impossible. In fact, my Sisters and I have long thought this a possibility. I will tell you why."

The Administrators looked livid, but talking out turmoil in the camp was always how it was done. Kennedy's calm demeanor and level speech got their attention. She was handling this correctly. 

"We noted how quickly Mama grew," Kennedy said. "It is unusual for human fetal growth and only matches the rate of growth in one of our mountain cousins." 

Kenned paced casually like a lawyer in a courtroom. She talked about each of Damien's Brothers in turn and discussed their unique family tree. My daughters had put a lot of thought into Damien's family's genealogy for some reason. 

"You will note," Kennedy continued, "that Mama, my female breeder, has not seemed overly distracted these last few moon cycles." 

No one cared. The Administrators were still frustrated and angry as Kein placed a hand on my belly. He smiled as I looked at him. Kein rubbed the baby inside gently. Family was always cherished. Any amount of trouble was worth this. 

Kennedy would not be ignored, though. She snapped her fingers and demanded attention. 

"You all talk to Armant and his family. I know you have surreptitiously kept a watch on these females. No one has ever told you they seemed...strange or confused. Am I correct?" Kennedy asked pointedly. 

Hassar looked like she wanted to roll her eyes, but she politely answered we had seemed fine, then added, that was not the point right now. Kennedy disagreed. It was the point, she was building her case. 

"Carrying a female of our species is difficult for a female human," Kennedy interjected. "The influx of the mens' collective mind is quite disruptive. Mama has done it twice and been very bothered both times. My birth sister, Hannah, can tell you that when Mama carried me, she was impossible to talk to."

The Administrators looked to my oldest and she begrudgingly agreed with Kenndy, even Ra agreed. I had been quite distracted when I carried Kennedy. The older girls told the Administrators how I'd fade in and out of conversations as the men's thoughts invaded my mind. It seemed like I was present one moment and gone the next. It had been hard to ignore. 

"But not this time," Kennedy finished. "Mama is growing more rapidly than normal and she has been calm and focused the entire time. It has been very rare for her to have those moments where she loses focus. My Sisters and I believe this is because of the mate bond she shares with Damien and his Brothers."

The conversation made no sense to me, but I saw Hassar suddenly furrow her brow. Reed did the same thing and I heard murmured conversation among women in the hall.

"This time is faster?" a woman said from the side. 

I had met her briefly and knew her name to be Ganta, she was an Administrator, but not with the same authority as Hassar and her Sister. 

"Much faster," Dara said. "By the look of things now, we believe the offspring will be of T'vailk Mountain heritage."

"It isn't possible," Reed said firmly. "What you claim is not something that can happen. Ciara has merely been carrying a child longer than you have known."

Kennedy's teeth showed as she smiled. "I know when this started," she said. "The day Abram's family was saved from death. I know about humans and I know about Paterians. That stomach is too large to be anything other than female and of T'vailk heritage."

My men didn't know what the point of this conversation was and neither did I. Whatever Kennedy was saying was very interesting to the Administrators in the room, the rest of us were confused. 

"Kennedy, I don't understand your point," I finally addressed her. 

"Females of T'vailk heritage," Kennedy said with flourish, "will not be conceived outside of a mate bond. We don't know why, but only men with T'vailk Mountain heritage are born from men in the compounds. In the camps, only two Sisters of this line have been born to a mated family."

I didn't say anything and just nodded. That was interesting, but I wasn't sure of what her point was. She seemed quite sure of herself as she talked. The Administrators were starting to look less angry and more puzzled. 

"Do you need to sit?" Kein asked softly putting a hand on my lower back.

I really did and wan't surprised he'd picked that up. My feet and back were a little sore. The rapidity of this pregnancy had not given me much time to adjust to my body's demands. Still, it seemed impolite to sit in front of the Administrators.

Bane huffed and smiled before turning to the side. The Administrators should be respected, but family came before them any day. I needed to sit for my comfort and my family had no issue catering to my needs. Bane brushed past several men and picked up a chair, bringing it back to me. 

I was settled comfortably as Kennedy continued her talk about what sounded like genetics to me. My men stood calmly around me as we watched our daughter make her point. This had become her show entirely. We were watching just like everyone else was. 

Much of what Kennedy said, we didn't understand, but it didn't matter. What I'd told the Administrators was the truth. I would not be separated from my family again. I'd rather leave this camp. 

A rustle of feet came from behind us as several men entered. It was Mund and his Brothers with several of our friends. The men walked boldly forward and stood behind Damien after clasping my men on their shoulders and me on mine. The symbolism was not lost on me. Our friends were coming to our defense and it made me smile. 

I kept an ear out and men continued to enter and stand with our families. The men that came were all friendly with us and had seen the change in all of us. They knew that Rose and I were not slaves to our respective families and they were not owners. We had made this choice because we wanted to be together. 

The push and shove behind me became louder and I turned my head to see Armant and his Brothers striding purposefully through. The younger men either stepped aside or Armant moved them bodily. The old Warriors were as resolute as I'd ever seen them. Our coworkers walked in front of me and I saw the concern on their faces. 

"You want this?" Armant asked me firmly, interrupting Kennedy at the front of the room. "This wasn't forced on you? You are safe with us here. We will protect you if this is not what you want."

I smiled and took in the concern on our coworker's faces. "I love them, Armant. I've forgiven them and we have moved on. I most certainly want them."

After assessing it was also what Rose wanted, Armant grunted as he and his Brothers took a spot beside me facing the Administrators. They stood for my right to decide this on my own. 

Kennedy finished her monologue, finally. Her point was that if we had truly bonded, then there was no way our men thought of us as slaves anymore. 

"They have all changed," Kennedy had announced at the end. "The women have found their independence and their strength. The former slavers have atoned for their bad behavior and put that way of thinking behind them. While these relationships are not what you wanted to see happen, it is what the individuals involved wanted. We must respect that choice."

The Administrators didn't seem to want to believe her, but the camp felt differently. Ratru's and Arik's families had showed up and stood next to Rose. Even Rayn and his Brothers came inside and made their stand with us. We had a right to our own choices, even if it wasn't the popular option. 

The Administrators watched Rose and me for a moment before Hassar spoke. 

"We do not want you with slavers," she said stoically and I sighed taking Kein's hand in mine. 

It didn't matter what they thought and I told Hassar so. 

"I appreciate all you've done for us, but we won't stay apart. This isn't your choice to make. It is ours. If we can't be together here then we will leave this camp and find another that will accept us." 

The Administrators just stood and stared at us all. They didn't want to let us go. Hannah and Kennedy had worked hard to get this camp ready for a human. Other camps were less safe. Letting Rose and me leave may be our death sentence. 

"This is an impasse, then," Damien said, voicing the thoughts I had. 

"Quite the stalemate," Basin agreed while nodding. 

Hassar and Reed cocked their heads and Gunth crossed his arms. "What are you two saying?" Gunth asked the men curiously. "You both used words I do not understand."

Damien was surprised as he looked at me and shrugged. 

Basin looked at Rose and smiled. He explained the word he'd used was in English and he had not meant to offend. Rose's way of looking at this situation was so clear. We were not coming to an accord. The English word was so clear in her mind it was hard to ignore. 

"As I stated already," Kennedy said happily, "they are bonded. That word Basin used refers to a game on Earth. When you reach that point in the game, neither side can win." 

The Administrators were a cross between angry and surprised, but that single word Basin had used changed their minds. They looked to Hannah who had to admit the word was English and it had been used correctly. There was no way Rose had taught them an English word to fit this exact situation. She was bonded to her family. 

Somehow, someway we had managed to connect our minds across the species barrier. It was strange and unheard of, but it did attest to the respect the men must feel. It was impossible to bond with someone that you didn't respect. Everyone knew that much was true. 

The decision was made and the Administrators weren't entirely happy with it, but I was thrilled. Rose and I were free to make our choices and stay where we were. The former slavers respected us and we loved them. 

"And what of Fuji?" Hassar asked in a resigned fashion. "Will she also be returning to her...family."

"Hardly," Stayne snorted from along the far side wall. He and his Brothers were here to watch the proceedings, but had not really taken part. "She comes to us and uses us when she has sexual needs, but we have no other attachment. Fuji is entirely a free creature."

Hassar promised to talk to Fuji. The Administrators didn't like the way Stayne described his relationship with her. A coupling was something both sides should be agreeable to. Stayne made it sound like he and his Brothers were at Fuji's disposal. 

"Go back to your chores," Gunth ordered to the general crowd once Hassar was done talking. "Get everything settled before nightfall." 

"And sanctions for the unplanned pregnancy?"  Kein asked as the men behind us started to disperse. 

Gunth's eyebrows shot up and I knew we'd used a word he didn't know. 

"The new child," Damien clarified. "We created a child without the Administrators' consent. In Ciara's native language the word is pregnancy.  Our owners never taught us the Paterian word, we have always used the human equivalent. What are our sanctions?"

I shook my head and smiled. My men were always willing to take punishment they felt they deserved. Now was no different. 

"Go to the evening meal," Gunth said gruffly. "You already take the jobs I would send you to do if I wished to sanction you. You have taken your punishment already. My only warning is I do not want this...situation to cause distress in the camp."

I shrugged and smiled at my men as I stood. The day had been a strange mix of stressful and exhilarating. In addition, I had missed the midday meal. A nice, quiet evening meal would suit me fine. I was hungry and I didn't feel all that well right now. 

"Hannah," Damien called, "will you come sit with us later in our rooms? Perhaps we could talk?"

My oldest was livid. I wasn't quite sure exactly why. She glared at Damien and huffed off with Ra right behind her. Their talons practically dug into the stone as they stalked away. They had no intention of speaking to any of us right now. It made me sad. 

"We will join you, Uncle," Kennedy said, smiling as she strode past. "My Sisters and I wish to feed, but we will return to your rooms later. Many congratulations to all of you on the pregnancy."

Damien and his Brothers murmured thanks to Kennedy as she passed. We were all curious about her impassioned speech. Whatever she had said must have had some weight to it. We would have to ask her later. 

It was habit the way I traveled with my family. Damien at the lead and me following, surrounded by his Brothers. We started to walk that way and Kein realized what it would look like. Before we had made it out of the Administrators suites I was walking next to Damien as the family followed. 

The hallway was crowded with men heading to the evening meal. Unlike usual the bustling hall was quiet, though. The only sound was the tread of boots on stone. It was unnerving. 

"So," a strange man announced loudly sidling up next to us, "what now? Is she back to being your bed slave full time? Will you put your slave bands back on her?"

"No," I stated firmly before Damien could answer, "I am a free woman. I just happen to enjoy spending my free time with Damien and his Brothers."

The man had a mop of dark brown hair and thick stripes. He was really angry, as was his family. I saw the hint of their fangs as they threatened to drop. These men wanted to fight.

"Listen, buddy," I said stopping in my tracks and putting up my hands, "Damien and his Brothers are very special to me. I get that you don't understand our relationship, but it is not what you think. None of us should have to justify this to you. It isn't your business."

The men stood staring at me and I felt my family's desire to put my fragile body behind theirs. A fight was looming in the crowded hall and I stood at the center of where it would be. Grabbing me and moving me may infuriate the other men, so Christof was ready, but not moving for now. A free woman would stand where she wanted to stand, even if it was dangerous. 

"What," the dark hair man asked, "is bu-ddy?"

Unbidden, English was sneaking back into my vocabulary. 

"Friend," Bane answered calmly, "it is a word from her native language for friend."

"How do you know it?" the man's Brother asked.

Damien spoke and explained that we had a bond. It was stronger now because of the little girl growing in my belly. Even without that we had a mate bond, Damien and his Brothers had access to my knowledge.

I bristled at the conversation and crossed my arms impatiently. 

"Our mate bond is not his business," I snapped angrily and loudly. "It isn't anyone's business except ours!"

Kein's hand smoothed down my back. I was being quite temperamental right now. The family had a reputation for steady reserve and they really wanted me to be like that, too. I'd been erratic all day. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 34



"I don't want to be calm!" I said turning angry eyes on Kein. "It is absolutely absurd to me how nosy everyone is. I feel like we are living under a microscope and I DO NOT LIKE IT!"

Christof grunted a laugh under his breath and I turned to find him trying to hide his amusement. "It isn't funny. This is so RIDICULOUS!" I railed. 

Temper tantrums were funny to watch here, just like on Earth. On my home planet I would not have been subjected to feeling how outrageous my actions were to everyone around me. Their humor infuriated me and I slammed our bond closed, so I didn't have to hear them thinking. 

"FINE," I shouted throwing up my arms, "have a big fight! See what that solves! I am going to eat."

Feeling a little foolish, but still quite upset, I marched toward the dining hall. Damien and his Brothers could battle it out in the hall. My patience for this game had worn thin. 

The men that had stopped to watch the disagreement stepped quietly to the side so I could pass. No one got in my way as I walked toward the plates on the buffet table. There was not a line yet, because most of the men were in the hall watching the excitement. 

I refused to take part in the communal conversation Damien and his Brothers were having as I picked out my dinner. I settled myself at a table in the mostly empty hall and stared down at my food, suddenly feeling lonely. Rose and I always ate together. Tonight I'd been looking forward to sitting with my family. Dammit. 

What a jerk I was to leave them out there. Especially after the indignity of yelling at them. Family should not do that to one another. Perhaps they wouldn't want me for family after all, maybe we'd made a mistake. 

I looked up to see Damien and his Brothers getting food. The men they'd been ready to fight with were picking out dinner behind them. All of them seemed to be having a pleasant conversation. 

Kein turned when he noticed I'd looked up and gave me a friendly wave. I was confused but waved back. When I peeked into their thoughts, I didn't get the sense they were even irritated with me. 

My men's musings were all about what was on the table for the evening meal. They were really hungry and the food looked great tonight. They were glad that Abram's family was back to leading the cooking. Bane noted the rich smells from the roasted meat and Evan was happy the sporta was seasoned spicy how he liked. Kein had noted green stalks at one end of the table and he was absolutely getting a couple on his plate. They were all ravenously hungry. 

The men were still happily buzzing about the meal as Kein settled on one side of me and Bane on the other. Damien was talking with the head of the family from the hall, discussing a way of preparing this type of meat that the other man didn't know about. It was something my men had discovered during the many moons they'd had to fix their own food. 

"Kein," I whispered softly putting a hand on his arm, "I'm sorry for acting badly. I apologize if I embarrassed you."

He quirked a smile at me and patted my hand. The family was not even perturbed. 

"We understand," Damien answered for him, turning away from his conversation with the other man. "You do not enjoy having others invade into our family affairs. It is your Earth heritage. Privacy is much more important to you than it is to us." 

I felt flustered at the family's seeming acceptance of my actions. They certainly had not been pleased in the hall. 

"Kennedy educated us," Christof explained. "There is a great deal we do not understand about you, because we did not try to in the past. We are trying to be less ignorant of your motivations. We apologize for our humor in the hall. It was not appropriate."

I couldn't fight the sincerity in their faces and stuttered out a thank you for the apology. 

The other men at our table weren't interested in the family drama. They were curious about Earth and asked how things worked there when it came to creating children. They were surprised that two humans could choose to mate without getting approval first. It seemed to them that would be a very messy situation. 

Here mating was monitored by the Administrators, as was everything else. What I considered a personal choice, everyone here considered a societal choice. It was very odd to me, as were Earth's ways to them. 

All this conversation still didn't explain how men ready to fight Damien a few moments ago were now engaging him in friendly exchange of information about culture and friends in common. I prodded Christof's memories and found my answer quite fast. My scene in the hall had changed their minds. 

Men from Pateria had never seen a human yell at a Paterian family and then walk away. Everyone understood how a slave should act and that wasn't it. Damien and his Brothers hadn't even been put off by my display. My family had merely watched me leave and then continued where they'd left off with the other men. It had amazed the onlookers and stopped the fight cold. 

We finished dinner and it was very relaxed. The men were happy we were together and so was I. For the first time in a long time, I felt I was where I belonged. 

After the meal, I walked with Damien and his Brothers out of the dining hall. Since we were done hiding, I threaded my arm through Christof's and we sauntered casually toward the area Damien and his Brothers had their rooms. 

"You will stay with us now, won't you?" Kein asked earnestly. "Some women stay with men, but I know some women prefer to keep their own dwelling space."

I smiled at Kein's bright eyes. He always appeared so much younger than the other men. There was a genuine quality about him that bled into the rest of the family, but it started with him. 

"I love you, Kein, and I want to stay with you," I said reaching a hand out to him.

A man on either side felt good and I held onto both of them as we walked and talked. In the back of mind I knew that we needed to talk about our son. The small blonde boy was still dangerously alone in the undefended compound. His tender skin would be in trouble if the warships reached him.

I imagined Jonathan would be terrified when the alien ships attacked. There would be no one in the compound that could explain to him what he was seeing. The men there didn't cherish the young like we did here. I wasn't sure they would not even try to protect him. He'd be alone with his family of boys, and with no one to defend them. They would be slaughtered like sheep. 

"WIFE!" Bane scolded, "you will worry until you are sick! Stop this nonsense."

I had come to a standstill in the hallway and was gripping Christof and Kein fiercely. The emotion threatened to overwhelm me. 

"YOU MUST STOP THIS!" Bane said loudly. 

He felt my terror and it had to stop, losing control solved nothing.

The other men in the hall watched closely when Bane's voice rose when he addressed me. I couldn't pay attention to them as I started to breath faster. My attention was refocused on my little boy and my concern for him. 

Damien was in front of me suddenly. He looked seriously down at me and I felt the calm radiate from him. 

"Let us find out what is going on," he said softly. "If we need to, we will take a loaded transport and live in the caverns by the Barnas compound. Rue's family has made strong weapons, we will defend our family."

I took a deep breath and relaxed myself. Panicking only distracted from the necessary conversation. If I hadn't flipped out this morning I could have gotten more information from Tosu. This was a time for a level head. 

I could not control whether or not Jonathan lived or died if I was curled up on a bed. Doing what I'd done today had endangered the other baby in my belly. The only way to assist my children was to stay sharp. For the first time, I had a modicum of control over their welfare. I had to help as best I could. 

"Better than calming cream," Evan muttered as my steady gaze met Damien's. 

"Kennedy always seems to know what's going on," I said in a strong voice. "It's a shame Hannah is so angry with us. We really need to talk to both of them."

There was no more instability in my mind. I had a goal and I just needed more information to work toward it. Tugging at Christof and Kein I pushed past Damien toward their quarters. 

"Come on," I ordered, "we can't keep Kennedy waiting!"

My youngest daughter arrived with her Sisters and information. While I'd been passed out on the bed, Dara had talked to Tosu. The women were watching the aliens very closely and they were certainly preparing an attack, but were not quite ready. 

The alien ships focused their studies on the mountains with ore. Places the rebel women and men lived tended to be without ore and the aliens didn't seem to notice us. In addition, the protections the rebels had put in place seemed to be hiding us from the aliens, as well as, the women. 

"Gunth will make announcements tomorrow to the entire camp," Kennedy explained. "Other camps have pledged 'warriors' and supplies to defend the compounds. We believe this camp will do the same thing." 

We talked about the weapons we had at our disposal. Eve and Dara thought they might work. Neither girl had had the time to really study the designs of the alien crafts, though. They only had the information Tosu had hastily imparted before having to leave, but that was it. 

The girls left after I yawned the first time. They knew that the day had been stressful and tiring. If I didn't sleep some tonight, I'd be a mess tomorrow. From what they'd heard from Tosu there would be a lot of meetings and decision making. We all had to be sharp. 

I fought the worry as I stripped down and moved into the bedroom. I didn't feel particularly relaxed or tired, just exhausted. Damien and his Brothers followed me and slowly undressed themselves. 

It didn't matter where I put my clothing, everyone was willing to share their space. I folded it neatly and sat it on Kein's shelf. My things would be moved here tomorrow and we'd make a formal space for me then. 

"You are very worried," Evan said quietly placing his things on his shelf. 

I needed to be distracted. The thought came clearly into my head and I whipped around with my palms out. 

"NO," I said forcefully, "I am very pregnant and very worried, but I do not need to be distracted right now. It would not be fun for me."

I knew what distractions meant to them. They'd done it before by bringing me pleasure until I passed out from it. I found the idea disconcerting and I was not in the mood. 

"We are a family and I can say no to you all," I said covering my bare breasts and backing away. 

"There is more than one way to distract you from your worry," Damien sighed calmly, approaching from the side. "Sit with us and let us help."

Damien settled himself on the bed and I watched him warily. 

"Come," he instructed, pointing at the bed along his flank, "rest here on your side."

They didn't want to fuck me, I realized suddenly. My family just wanted to relax me. The anxiety was distressing to all of us. 

Without thinking further I crawled beside Damien and lay on my side with my back to him. Big, warm hands slowly kneaded shoulder and upper back. A second set of hands went to work on my legs and feet. Evan's hands ran lovingly along my scalp and I melted into the bed. 

The gentle massage was just what I needed. Their hands found all the tight places the day had left and slowly worked them out. None of the family pushed too hard, but they made short work of the tension in my body. When they were done it felt like I was floating. 

Damien and his Brothers were Warriors. They had been trained to fight since they were very young. The coming battle did not scare them; it intrigued them. 

"You aren't afraid," I said opening one eye and watching Christof as he watched me.

"No," he answered simply and he spoke for all of them. 

My family would fight to the death to protect Jonathan and that didn't scare them at all. For family, they were always willing to give whatever it took. Nothing less would do, ever. 

"You will be safe here," Kein said touching my stomach. "The men and women in this camp believe you have inherent rights to be free and survive. Even without us, you will do well."

"I will fight, too," I said laying my hand over Kein's, but he shook his head. 

"You will stay safe in this mountain. You will give birth to our daughter and nurse her so she is strong. My Brothers and I watch you. Your gait is slow and awkward. Battle is not a good place for you," he answered simply. 

They were right and I knew it. I could not go to fight like I was; it would endanger our youngest child. 

"I'll do what I can," I murmured watching Kein's hand rub over my distended belly.

"We all will," Damien responded pulling a blanket over my body and settling himself behind me. 

Damien's warm skin brushed my own as he breathed and I felt the last of my tension slip away. Snuggling against him felt good and safe. My family would defend our young. There was nothing to be afraid of. 

The relaxed mind of the family created a sense of peace within my mind. Fear was a wasted emotion right now. Tonight we would rest and tomorrow we would listen. When it came time, we would fight for the planet and nothing would stand in our way. We were strong and we were together. All of us found solace in that. 

Evan roused us the next day before the moons started to set. He wanted to bathe in the warm water. My men had gotten quite accustomed to starting their day that way. 

It was just us, as we cleaned ourselves in the communal bathing pool. No one else really preferred to be here this time of day. Basin and Stayne had long ago started taking their families' baths in the evening. The whole place was ours to use. 

I sensed the growing excitement in all my men. They were gearing up for a fight. I hoped they could contain themselves until the battle actually began. My men were ready to grab their weapons and chase the aliens down, but there was no one here but us. 

"Eh, if we can't we'll just fight with each other," Bane laughed, bumping playfully into Evan, who was pushed down into the water. 

The two started to tussle and I smiled watching them. Evan was fast in the water. He swam and knocked Bane's legs out from under him and the real battle began. Bane wasn't suited to fighting underwater. It just was not his talent. He couldn't get a grip on his Brother and was dragged under as soon as he broke the surface several more times. 

Kein joined the battle as did Christof and Damien. My men reminded me of children before a big event. They were all amped up and ready for this. Shaking my head at the exuberance I used the soap to scrub myself clean. I felt their playfulness, but knew this rough game was not for me.

I dunked myself after I was clean and opened my eyes beneath the water. My family was a swirling, swimming ball of flesh. They were really going at it and having a great time doing it. Jealous from not being able to take part I surfaced and wrung my wet hair out. Too bad I couldn't play with them... 

"There are other games..." Kein said popping up behind me. 

Flicking his tongue out, Kein lapped at the water dotting the skin of my neck. His hands traveled over my hips under the water and came to rest beneath the belly one of them had given me. 

"And you would teach me these games?" I asked coyly turning my face to look at him over my shoulder. 

One hand drifted up over my belly to hold a round, supple breast. Gentle fingers found the nipple as Kein played with the sensitive flesh. The simple touch was my undoing as my head tilted back and my eyes shut. 

Kein's mouth was over mine as he teased my lips with his own. Behind me I felt his cock rubbing tantalizingly over my ass. Reaching back I stroked the sinewy muscle of his hip and pulled him closer. I wanted to bend forward and invite him to take me fully when Damien interrupted. 

"You like privacy, do you not?" he whispered in my ear.

Awareness settled on me and I realized how wantonly I was behaving. We were in the main part of the bathing pool, standing in waist deep water. Anyone entering could watch us. Just as I started to pull away and apologize, Kein spoke quickly.

"Hold my shoulders," he said turning away, "the pool is large and there are places we can go." 

It was like holding onto a moving torpedo in the water. The light slipped away a moment after we took off and we were flying through the inky blackness. In Kein's mind I saw the layout of this natural pool. We were headed to the far left side. 

Men didn't usually swim this far out to bathe. Being outcasts, my men had found this private spot and enjoyed it. Smooth rock jutted out and created a secluded pool, pocketed away from the main area. Thanks to a small waterfall along the back wall fresh water flushed it out well. 

It wasn't a deep area, you had to sit in the water to bathe, but that was fine for us. We needed the dry rocks that sat above the water line. 

There was little light here, but the men saw just fine. I could see the well lit area we had come from, but my eyes adjusted slowly to the low ambient light here. It didn't really matter, I didn't need my eyes for this anyway. 

Kein pulled me into the shallow water and turned in my arms. I felt his lips on mine as his hands traced idle designs on my hip and ass above the water line. My own fingers explored the lithe muscles in his upper arms. For being smaller than his Brothers, he was certainly no less fierce. 

"I am as large as I need to be," he whispered in my ear. "How about a sample?" 

My stomach made me ungainly and I couldn't lay on my back or my front. Kein's wicked mind had found a compromise. Hands lifted me out of the water to lay on my side on a large warm stone that rested well above the water line. The height was perfect for what Kein had planned. 

On my side with my knees bent, my center was quite accessible. Long fingers slid against my flesh and the men murmured approval as I shuddered. It was certainly more than the water that had left a slickness there. 

The playfulness had not left them and I felt the naughty thoughts bled into my own a moment too late. Kein's fingers closed on my sensitive clit and squeezed. I yelped and then moaned as he started to stroke firmly. 

Evan attacked my mouth leaning over the slab and kissing with vehemence. I sucked his tongue into my mouth and mauled it into submission until he pulled away from me. In the low light I couldn't tell what he was doing until the smooth head of his cock was at my lips. If I wanted to suck something that badly, he was willing to help me.

The sensation of a second cock sliding between my lower lips was electrifying. I pulled on Evan and sucked what I could into my mouth, rapidly pushing him toward orgasm. Kein made good use of the position we were in and fucked me easily as I lay on the warm slab. 

We were in a strangely hidden place in this public venue. While I would have seen virtually nothing from the entrance, a Paterian would see just fine. Bane sat behind me, between me and the entrance, and stroked my back and hips. He dipped his fingers against the slick moisture that seeped from my pussy as Kein fucked me. 

Bane's strong fingers stroked the moisture up over my anus and I knew what he wanted. His fingers became more insistent and I felt him slowly rimming my ass, dipping in and out and stretching the flesh. I was willing and this was what he desperately wanted. 

Bane longed to bend me over this rock and wet himself in my sopping cunt. He knew the tight flesh of my ass would welcome his cock if he was slick. The erotic image he had in his mind included me orgasming madly around his shaft after he came. He wanted to pull out and watch my ass and my sex continue to spasm as he and his Brother's seed seeped from my stretched openings. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 34



Evan's cock started to twitch on my tongue. Bane's thoughts were more than he could handle. The long shaft was pressed as far as it could go into my throat and I felt it start to pulse. I held my breath until Evan pulled back. I nursed the salty spray from his cock and tasted his essence with relish. Above me I watched his eyes almost glow as he watched me savoring him. No one else had ever done that for him and it almost made him hard again. 

The mental masturbation Bane had started was pushing Kein over the edge, just as it had done with his Brother. Kein's strong hands gripped my hip as he allowed himself to peak. His fingers dug into the soft flesh, as he buried himself and moaned loudly. I looked back and watched him shudder.

Their pleasure was erotic and my pulse sped up as I licked the taste of Evan's cock from my lips. 

"Do you want to come around my shaft?" Bane whispered in my ear as two of his thick fingers slid easily into my ass. "I want to bend you over and fuck you until you are stretched completely around my cock. My Brothers are going to play with your clit and twist your nipples until you scream for us." 

The power of the joined mind was hypnotic and the picture Bane painted was too much. I slid off the rock and stood in the water as it lapped at my thighs. 

"Take what you want," I told him seductively as I leaned over with my hands on the warm stone. 

Bane moved like lightening. One moment he was beside me on the stone, the next he was behind me. The thick head of his cock prodded my wet cunt and then he slid home. 

"You promised me an orgasm," I whispered in a moan as he slipped in and out of my liquid heat. 

Breath on my ear made me squirm against him as he answered.

"I promised to make you cum around my shaft in your ass," he said slowly withdrawing himself, "and I can stay hard as long as this takes," he continued to whisper.

I shuddered as the thick head was pressed against the tight star. Bane was slick with the wet mixture his Brother had left. I felt him press into me until his hard pole popped inside. He went so deeply I felt as though I would burst. My eyes shut as I reveled in being filled by him. 

A hand slipped over my mons and Christof's fingers started to strum lightly over my clit. My body was hypersensitive and any more pressure than Christof used would have hurt. These men, my men, knew how to please me, though. The light glide of fingers over flesh left me nearly begging him to finish me. 

Kein's fingers began to fondle my engorged teats as Bane slipped into and out of my body. The light stroke over the firm flesh of my breasts, occasionally brushing my nipple was absolutely unnerving. It felt like I was drowning in sensation. 

My hips started to quiver and twist in Bane's grip, but he wouldn't let me get far. Strong hands forced me to stay still and take him all with each plunge. He buried his shaft each time until his balls slapped my pussy with each thrust. Behind me I heard his breathing speed up as he sprayed himself deep inside my body. 

I thought I had won the little contest we were having and then I realized I had not. Bane could stay hard as long as he wanted. He wasn't sensitive like Damien. He rested a mere moment before continuing to fuck me in the water. 

"Don't hold back," Evan murmured in my ear before attacking my neck with his lips. "Bane won't stop until he sees what he wanted to see." 

The image of me Bane had in his mind was absolutely out of control. Again I felt myself start to rise above the plateau, twitching against their relentless stimulation. In my mind I felt the pleasure Bane was getting slipping into and out of my loosened ass. He could spend all day with his cock wrapped in that hot channel. My own body tipped over the edge in response to him. 

The tingling started behind my eyes as my body exploded around Bane. I would have screamed, but Damien's tongue in my mouth stopped me. Sucking madly at the lead Brother's tongue, I felt Bane withdraw and knew he was getting the show he had planned. My lower half was gripping futilely on air before Christof grabbed my hips and filled my gasping cunt with his staff. 

My friend did not last long. He buried his face in my neck a moment later as he spasmed behind me. Watching his Brothers had made him nearly crazy with anticipation. His orgasm was short and powerful thanks to his Brothers' game. 

Damien had also had enough of waiting. Once I was done with Christof, Damien asked that I sit on a low rock shelf. While the warm water soothed my messy lower half, I sucked Damien's long staff until he spent himself between my lips. Once he was done he virtually fell into the water beside me, panting. 

All of us sat in the warm, dark area for a while recovering. This unplanned interlude had left us all breathless. 

My family and I slipped out of the water after washing ourselves knowing we were going to be a little late for the morning meal. It had been worth it. I dried and dressed quickly, smiling at my family the entire time. I had truly enjoyed this stolen moment. 

The dining hall was packed by the time we got there. We took our meal with Basin's family today.

"There is to be an announcement after the meal," Basin informed us. 

Everyone at our table was already aware of what was going on. By the strange energy in the room, so was most everyone else. There were certainly no secrets in this camp and this was no exception. 

We stood in the main hall after the meal, all of us, every man and woman in the camp was present. Hassar spoke and Gunth spoke and the story they told was terrifying, even though I'd already heard it. 

The planet was going to be attacked, there was no question about it. Warships were waiting and hiding. Everyone that observed them was sure they were gathering their forces and planning an offensive very soon. 

"They will steal from the land," Gunth said standing on stage and speaking into the thing that amplified his voice. "They will kill those of us that stand in their way. The weak will be taken as slaves."

The men in the hall called out loudly. The women made growling sounds that reverberated off the very walls. No one in this camp was going to give up if those were our options. 

"We could hide," Gunth said and the room roared again as he smiled and raised his voice, "but we will not! We will fight for our rights to stay here and be free!"

"I will not be a slave again!" a man called out from up front. "I would die first!"

The room seconded that statement. Gunth raised his hands and asked for silence before he spoke again. 

"We have great weapons," he announced, "but they will not protect all of us. Some of you will die, many of you will suffer. Is this the choice you all make?"

Had our home not been a literal mountain, the wall would have shook with the battle cry. That was the choice we made and we would see it through to the end. We would not give up. 

Gunth had a plan already in the works. From what Tosu had said the women would not remove men from the compounds. They thought they could protect them. Gunth and his Brothers thought the men would need more help than that. 

The male Administrators divided the men into teams as Hassar divided the women. We had to help defend the ore in the mountains and stop the massacre that was sure to happen at the compounds. This camp was near two different compounds and we vowed to protect them both. It would take careful organization to make sure that happened. 

Damien and his Brothers volunteered to defend the Barnas compound. My men were put on the rotation roster and I was slated to stay here and help with preparation. I noted that both Hannah and Kennedy were assigned to stay close to the Barnas compound. 

"Come on," Armant said walking by and getting my attention, "we need to get to work. If men are going to be living away from camp, we have to send them with supplies."

It was an insanely busy day. Damien and his Brothers packed bags and loaded a transport. They were gone with a large contingent of men by the time the sun was midway through the sky. They would sit in the caves beneath the land in preparation for an attack. 

I barely caught up to my daughters before they left on their assignments. Hannah was still angry with me and only begrudgingly accepted my hug. I saw the anger in the fierce line of her brow and the thin line of her lips. 

We stood in the garage and it churned with activity around us. This was not a good place for a long talk, but that was irrelevant. I had to let Hannah know I loved her, despite not understanding what had her so angry. If this world went to war, I had no doubt she would place herself on the front lines. 

"Hannah," I begged, "forgive me for loving your father past all reason. I did not mean to upset you. I'm not even sure why you are upset. You know Damien cares for me. You told me you wanted us happy and together. I think your anger is misplaced."

Hannah's eyes darted left and right before she spoke quietly and in English. 

"My Sister and I will be Administrators someday," she said without emotion. "I can't have everyone thinking I come from breeders that do not have good forethought. It would affect my selection. You act so rashly sometimes and you ignore the rules, they know I think like you do..."

I had not realized how driven Hannah was, but it made sense. She wanted to be in charge and take on leadership roles. I would never begrudge her those goals. I hoped one day she'd learn sometimes rules were meant to be broken, but I appreciated her conviction. 

"You come from breeders that love each other very much," I said passionately while placing a hand on her arm. "Your parents are determined and nothing will stop them. We will not hamper your dreams, Hannah, I promise you. We just couldn't allow the Administrators' prejudices to continue to control us."

"The rules are important. Society's goals are important," Hannah said firmly and then looked at her Sister, "but I understand family must come first. I just wish you all had made your arguments, before..."

She wished we'd been up front with the Administration and I had to smile. 

"Sometimes, Baby Girl," I said slyly, "it is better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. Sometimes no one will believe the truth until they see it."

Hannah's face softened a little as she rolled her eyes and pulled me into a hug. "I love you, Mama," she sighed. "You are so stubborn. Now would be a bad time to further test the rules. Just please be careful. Try to stay safe."

Promising to be careful, I hugged my girls as I held back the tears. Kennedy and her Sisters approached and I was able to say good-by to them, too. In all honesty, both my daughters were as excited as their male breeders had been. None of them seemed that worried about what they were preparing to do. 

"We all have communication pads, Mama," Kennedy informed me just before she left. "Use them sparingly, but contact us if you need to talk."

They were gone a moment later, springing into the air and flying off with bold strokes of their wings. 

I couldn't stand and watch them dwindle to a speck as they flew boldly off. I turned away and hurried back to Armant's shop and found the Brothers just leaving. Today they would go to the fields and harvest. I would stay and do the work in the shop. 

"You have become very slow in the fields," Armant informed me. "The other men thought you were merely getting larger. Now that we know you carry a new life, none of us want you beyond the safety of our camp. Females that are heavy with a child rarely spend much time outside the main camp. Their Sisters take up their responsibilities or they are shared by other females. You have no Sisters and you do men's work, so we will help you."

I had enjoyed the hard work in the fields, but the labor was quite taxing. Bending to pull weeds was very difficult and I was frequently out of breath. The inside work was still tiring, but it was easier to get done. 

"If it is truly a female of T'vailk heritage," Reil continued, "that would be quite a unique thing."

The Brothers all agreed and I suddenly realized I had not asked Kennedy about that. In the rush to find out about the warships, I had not asked about the baby's parentage. My hands rested automatically on my large belly. 

I smiled wondering if this was Kein's little one growing inside of me. Hannah had told us his line was from those strange, wild mountains. The girl in my stomach rolled under my hand as I thought about it. If she was his, I was sure this would be a wonderful, strong girl. 

"T'vailk females are unique," Armant said knowingly, "we've never seen them, but we've heard about them."

The Brothers all agreed about the interest in my belly as they headed out. I wondered what that knowing comment referred to. I would have liked to have them stay and talk, but this was not a time for idle conversation. We had much to do and less hands to do it with. Taking my cue from Armant's family, I settled down to stitch as quickly as I could. 

My family traveled far from me in the coming days. I felt the distance between us and it made me yearn for them. It was only the knowledge that they protected my precious boy that made it bearable. The little one inside of me craved contact with her male breeder. As the days passed I sensed her struggle to stay connected to him. Both of us missed them terribly. 

Rose and I moved our things into the rooms our men lived in. Both of us worked to make the dwellings cozy for our families when they returned. We had faith they would come back to us. Even when our bond with them felt weak and fragile, because of the distance, our love for them was as strong as ever. 

The little one in my belly was restless and upset with the loss of her male breeder. There were times we couldn't feel the men at all. She wanted him and his experiences, but that just wasn't possible. 

I read all I could, whenever I could, but it wasn't enough. She wanted more than I could give on my own. I quickly found that while others could not completely satisfy her, it did tame the curiosity. 

I sewed in the small shop all day, every day. When men came in I started to ask them for information. Anything would do really, it just had to be something I didn't know already. It quickly became a game in the camp to see who could give me the most amazing piece of new information. It was all I could do for my girl, but it seemed to partially satisfy her.

The men from the camp told me things I never would have thought to study. They taught me history and geography. Other days it was plant life and survival skills. It was all immensely interesting and I was grateful for the effort they put into soothing my growing daughter. 

A moon passed and we knew the warships were still gathering above our heads. As a woman carrying a female, perhaps a very special female, I was not encouraged to go outside. Men and women talked about sightings of the crafts zipping through the sky. They may have been real or imagined, either way the stories were unnerving. 

Everywhere I went, even though it was inside, I always went completely armed. The sword stayed on my left hip and the gun on my right. When we were attacked it would be everyone fighting. I was no exception. 

I felt the men sometimes. My child and I relished the snatches of communication with them. They were restless and bored. Everyday they paced the underground tunnels keeping themselves ready in case of attack. As soon as the fight started they would spring from beneath the surface and protect the other men. 

It was a long and frustrating wait and one day, it all changed. 

The warships cut through the air on the day of the attack. We'd known they were gathered at the edge of our system of moons and weren't surprised when they blasted through our atmosphere. Still the sound was deafening and I cringed on the floor of the shop for a moment. 

My training took over and I got up off the floor almost instantly. I had a station, just like everyone else. My job was to help any men that came back injured. I went to the area we'd set up and waited with Rose. 

The "infirmary" was large, and took up a huge amount of space inside the mountain. The floor was covered in the raised warm stones the women liked to sleep on. Should a man be bloody or damaged it was believed the stones would be a superior place to put him and his family. The Healing devices were all set up and ready for us to use. The few men we had left here that were considered Healers were ready for anything, but nothing came. 

The sound outside was distant and far away. I ended up sitting on a large warm stone waiting. There was no attack where we were. The aliens either had not noticed the rebel camps or planned to take out the compounds first. 

Beyond the mountains my men were fighting for their lives. They had burst from beneath the ground when the warships approached and started to fight back. Legions of Paterian men soared through the sky intent on defending their home planet. 

In my mind's eye I saw flashes of the fighting. The transports sent from the camps moved in harmony with one another. It was as though the separate Paterian families were communicating and moved as one being to fight the invaders. I mentioned it to the men around me and they bowed their heads to the Great Harmonious Spirit. 

This was a fierce world. The men were trained to fight and raised to do battle. The weapons the aliens brought were quickly evaluated and strategy for defense was decided upon. The shields Rue and his Brothers had developed worked perfectly.

The aliens shot at us with some sort of beam. The thing would explode on contact with almost anything, except the shields. The men on the transports raised theirs and deflected the beams to hit harmlessly in the desert. There were very few direct hits on the compound or the village. 

The weapons Rue had developed using the ore were also very effective. They couldn't seem to breach the armor on the sides of the warships without three or four direct blows, but they could down one by aiming for their engines. Once on the ground, the warships could be targeted and destroyed. 

Rue had several cannons developed that could actually project the ore itself. That cannon tore open an alien ship in one hit. The men were hesitant to use this powerful tool. If they missed the ore exploded pointlessly on impact with the ground. It was wasteful. That particular weapon was preserved and used only when they were sure of a direct hit. 

All in all, Rue's weapons were disastrous for the aliens. The defense had been totally unexpected and it was effective. However, that wasn't to say there wasn't any damage on our side. 

The women that owned men had been waiting above ground in the land surrounding the compounds. They didn't understand what the free men could do. Unfortunately, they put themselves between the rebel men and the aliens. Many of them were destroyed by the alien weapons before they realized that the rebels could defend themselves. 

Unlike before, the ships the aliens had brought would not be bested by the women's native weapons easily. The slaving women were almost helpless before the onslaught. Had the rebels not been present, the world would have fallen within the first day cycle. 

I sat in the quiet room in the camp and heard the commotion as my men did. Just like them I experienced the screaming wail of the dying women and the panic from the shopkeepers in the villages. None of it distracted my men, we had a job to do and it would be done. 

The damage to the women was immense and we knew what it meant. Gunth sent out a plea. A second contingent of men was sent to the mountains. The women could fight the warships, but many were being lost in the process. We moved to defend them when it became apparent they would need us. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 34



Night fell and the battle continued to rage. The Paterian men and women were not affected by the dark, although it perhaps made them more vicious. By the middle of the night the aliens had stayed their attack and seemed to be regrouping back above the bounds of our atmosphere. 

The men on the battlefield did not trust the aliens to stay gone, so they took turns keeping watch. In the eerie quiet after the battle the gravely injured women could be heard on the ground and the men could not stand it. The rebel men collected the injured women and took them back to the underground caves, just as they did the injured men. The women were infuriated, but in no position to fight. 

I began to understand, through my family, that Paterian women believed themselves above simple things, like healing. A strong woman should either live or die on her own. The men did not agree and set to cleaning and patching the women's wounds. 

My men patched up many women before they lay down to rest. All of them knew it could have been one our girls laying out there. Damien and his Brothers felt a duty to the injured women. All the men from the camps felt that way. 

Live to fight another day. 

The saying was from Earth and it was the first thing that I thought of when I understood the women's strange beliefs. My family found the phrase usable and started saying it in Paterian to the stubborn women refusing healing. By way of the communication pads, the saying spread across the planet. 

"Do not die now!" Damien commanded one of them that was refusing to get on his transport. "Live to fight another day. There is no strength in dying in the sand right now! Help us defend this world when the sun rises!"

The woman had listened, begrudgingly. She'd not appreciated Damien's help, but she'd taken it. Most of the women were the same way, they'd never been in a situation like this. 

I had one tiny spot of relief. Both Hannah and Kennedy had left me messages. The girls were a little beaten up, but none were gravely injured. They had trusted the men's weapons, although it had taken Hannah and Ra longer to realize their effectiveness. My girls had become scavengers, destroying the aliens that were knocked down by the men. It became a good system. 

"Tosu was here," Kennedy wrote me, "as were Nu-reeh and Dinah. Tosu took a direct hit from a beam so it would not hit me. I dragged her behind a large boulder myself and sent men to tend her later. She lives, but she was badly damaged."

I felt for my child. Guilt could not claim her. She had to stay strong in this fight. 

"Tosu made her choice," I wrote to Kennedy quickly. "Whether you would like it or not she promised long ago to do this for me. Feel grateful and fight, but do not feel guilty. This was her choice."

I didn't hear back from my youngest daughter, but I hoped that she would not be affected by this badly.

In the quiet of the camp Rose and I settled on a warm stone to rest until the next battle began. No one believed it was over. We wanted to be at our post when we were needed. The warm stones were a fine place for us to rest until the next day started. 

"You must eat," Rose whispered to me in the pre-dawn of the next day. 

She was right and we moved to the food area. Men were there already, eating quickly so they would be ready. No one was really talking, we were all just waiting. Rose and I picked out our meal and finished as fast as we could.

There was still no sound from outside. I saw men, heavily armed men, coming inside. They had obviously been on a night long watch, waiting for the attack that didn't come. All of them wore the same frustrated scowl on their face. It gave them the image of a dangerous gang and not a group of men we might have a pleasant meal with. 

"Sirs, can you tell me what is going on?" I asked as they passed. 

My voice came out more formal than I intended it to. The men's demeanor was unnerving. Even Rose, who was now usually calm and collected in the face of uncertainty and stress was cringing beside me and gripping my hand. Our fearful reaction to them seemed to startle the men out of their funk. 

"Raif, rescued from the Barnas compound," one of the men said attempting to relax and smile, "there isn't much going on out there. We've been sent inside to rest until mid day. There is to be an announcement by the Administrators in a few moments."

I thanked the men for the information as Rose and I headed for the Administrators' area. 

The announcement was brief. The Administrators listed names of families that had been killed. They told us that the attack had subsided for the moment and they told us to be ready for more. 

"Women on the other side of the world do not just build warships," Hassar announced. "They also know how to operate them. It is not their favored way to fight, but the women have seen the devastation being done to our planet. They will take the fight to the warships above us."

The men and women around me murmured. This certainly was unusual. The women's weapons had always been the first line of defense. If they'd decided to use the ships, that indicated how fierce the battle was. 

Everyone was dismissed. Those that had been on patrol or watch were sent to rest some. I was learning Paterian men, if they were healthy, had a great tolerance for sleep deprivation. Their replacements had heard this already and were at their posts. Most of the men left in the camp were assigned to load transports with supplies. When the men on the front lines were sent home, their replacements should be ready to leave. 

Rose and I were sent to the tailor's shop to work. 

"I think they just want us out of the way," Rose said quietly as we stitched and sewed. 

It made sense. I was not allowed out of the safety of our camp and Rose was too weak to do much fighting. This little part of the cave was a safe, out of the way place for both of us. 

I felt my men in flashes as I sat and sewed. They were taking a rest, while another part of their division took patrol. Their dreams were full of fighting and the wild prior day. I did feel their comfort in that their group had kept the aliens away from the compound. That success let them sleep peacefully as the sun shone. 

It was later in the day when the fighting started again. It was different this time. The women had their ships waiting and went after the aggressors as soon as they breached our atmosphere. From what my men saw, it was like watching stars explode in the sky. 

The falling bits of alien craft streaked through the sky and slammed into the ground. Burning metal covered the desert around the compound in places. The smell, at least according to Kein, was horrific. He could barely stand the odor and kept his nose and mouth covered. On and off I felt his disgust at the rancid stench. 

The women's counter measures made the alien attack scatter. In their rush to escape the Paterian women's ships, the aliens accidentally found some of the rebel camps, including ours. It brought the fight to our door. 

The alien ships were damaged, many of them, and they crash landed in the jungle around us. The strange creatures evacuated their burning ships only to be attacked by the fierce, native creatures. Racks, scars, and the like saw the aliens as a new food source. 

The aliens scrambled to find somewhere to hide from the creatures and unfortunately they stumbled onto our camp. The land outside the entrance was marked with trails where the men walked to the crops the men planted. If you were on foot, which the aliens were, the illusions didn't protect us. We heard the war cry as they found our hidden entrance. 

The men and women left behind to defend the camp did their job well. The aliens were cut down before they breached our defenses. Rose and I waited in the infirmary again, but this time there was something to do. 

Men and women were brought to us injured, I thought, beyond repair. The Healers in the camp politely scoffed at my ignorance. There was much that could be done for them. 

The men were hesitant to have anyone around their injured family, but I was considered a Healer. They didn't fight when they saw it was Rose or me approaching them. Humans had a strange knack for healing it was believed. Rose and I knew we were naive about healing, we just cleaned the wounds thoroughly so the real Healers could do their job efficiently.

The men took our cleaning and the Healer's care. The beaded women from the camp that came in injured fought it a little. Most still had the undercurrent of belief that an honorable death was preferable to needing help with one's healing. Strength was measured by personal ability and accepting help meant defeat. All of us acting as Healers sought to dissuade them of such thoughts. 

"Live to fight another day," I begged them over and over again as I washed the dirt from their wounds. "There is still much fighting to be done. If you survive today, you can fight more tomorrow."

The argument seemed to settle their upset to quiet grumbling. The beaded women took our help and rested. They would do what the little human said and live to fight another day. It was unprecedented, but so was the volume of this fight and I had made a good point. 

The true battle for healing started when the first women without beads was brought in. The large woman and her Sisters had followed a crashing ship and fought the aliens when they disembarked. One woman had lost an entire wing, another was cut deeply down the middle, and the third had severe damage to her face and one eye. 

Thom and his Brothers had seen the women fight and destroy the aliens, despite their injuries. Our men could not stand to see such women die from the Racks that lay in wait around the fighting. Thom's transport swooped in and loaded the women to bring them into the camp and safety. 

The hall we were in exploded in dissension as the females were brought in and laid on warm slabs. The men and women we were healing could not decide if this was the right thing to do. Despite their injuries they sat up and argued. Thom had endangered the camp some said. He was following The Great Harmonious Spirit, others called. The three women just lay bleeding and looking around. 

I watched the women closest to me as her head bled profusely. A large portion of her face appeared disfigured. I saw the metal sticking out from one eye and knew it needed prompt attention. Grabbing a pail and a fresh cloth, I approached her from her good side. 

"Ma'm, my name is Ciara and I am from Earth. I only wish to help you heal. If you will let me help, you will live to fight another day. The planet cannot lose good fighters when we can prevent it. Allow me to clean your wound," I requested crawling up onto her slab. 

The woman stared at me with her functional eye for a moment before agreeing. 

Quickly, but diligently, I cleaned the wound. The rest of the room didn't matter as I did my job. Hopefully, they would have worked it out and a Healer would complete what I started. These women now knew where we were, so we might as well help them. 

Everyone must have agreed. Tyle's young family had been left here to assist the Healers and provide protection inside. He and his Brothers came and placed a support under the wings of the unbeaded women. It made it easier for the women to lay on their backs as we worked on them. 

The woman I was working on seemed surprised as the boys touched her to position her body. Tyle's family wasn't hesitant or fearful as they pushed the support beneath her wings. They instructed her how to move to help them and then moved on to their next chore. I could see the amazement in the woman's face, but she stayed silent. 

A Healer I knew well appeared as I finished cleaning. He addressed the woman and explained what he would do. I knew this man. He was older and I'd found him to be quite particular, so I didn't leave and stayed in case he needed my help. I thought he would be aggravated if he had to ask for it later. 

"Hold this, Ciara," he commanded suddenly.

I did as he asked and the woman stayed quiet beneath us. 

"Good," he said, "now when I tell you, press here."

I found the activity nauseating as he fixed her face and then her eye. He removed the shrapnel with a variety of tools. Thankfully, my stomach minded itself and I didn't vomit. I just made a point to think of something else as he reattached the muscles of her face back into their rightful places. What was left of her skin, he pulled to cover most of the damage. Once he was done her face looked almost normal. He continued to work on the eye once the face was done. 

"Cousin, you may keep sight in this eye," he said suddenly addressing the woman. "It may not have permanently damaged you. I am glad they brought you here. I am Rhane, born in the T'ylene mountains. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The woman was quiet for a moment before she spoke. 

"Kana, from the T'yonin Mountains," she said. "My Sisters are from there as well."

I was shocked the woman could converse as we worked on her eye, but I had forgotten how strong these people were. Bowing to pain would be dishonorable for anyone. 

"Beautiful mountains I have heard," Rhane, the Healer, said starting to stitch the edge of the eye with nearly invisible thread, "I have never been so far myself. My Brother was born near there, but he was too young to remember the place. We were raised by our male breeders here in this mountain. My Brother's female breeder brings us tanka fruit when she visits. It is our favorite." 

The woman seemed confused by the conversation. I'm sure it's the first time a man had addressed her with such informality and lack of fear. 

"Ciara," Rhane said to me, "press here...a little harder...good now hold that pressure until I tell you."

Rhane backed away and came to stand on Kana's good side. "I need to help my Brother with your Sister's injuries," he said. "Rest here and let Ciara hold the pressure. I'll be back." 

The Healer left quickly to go assist his Brother and I was left with a very confused looking woman. I shifted slightly and my belly caught her gaze. 

"Are you continuing the task Nu-reeh set for you? I see you are carrying another child for them, slave," she addressed me. 

I didn't have time to answer as a beaded woman on a slab just next to us growled a response. 

"There are no slaves in this camp, cousin. We saved you, so respect our ways. That is a free creature that chose to help you," she said harshly. 

The new woman, Kana, seemed taken aback for a moment before rephrasing the question. 

"You are carrying a child, human. Do they force you to breed as well?"

The woman behind me grunted, but I spoke quickly. 

"I love my men, Kana," I said politely. "It is a pleasure me for to carry their offspring. None of us here is forced to breed, we all do so because we choose it."

Kana looked quizzically at me with her good eye as Rhane reappeared. The Healer removed the cloth I was using for pressure and examined his work. He wrapped her head and facial wounds before addressing her. 

"Lay still, Kana," he commanded sternly. "If you sit up or walk the stitching will not hold. Stay here until the sun rises, your wounds should be better by then. I judge you will be well enough to go out and fight in two or three day cycles. I am placing a cloth over your eyes. I wish you to keep them closed as much as you can. Not moving your eyes will assist in the healing."

Kana bristled visibly at what was certainly a command, but she didn't speak. The Healer tied a band around her head. I saw two patches set in the fabric, those were fitted over her eyes. She would be blind with this on, but again, she did not complain. 

"Your Sisters will also live," Rhane commented. "They will take longer to heal. You all will fight for us again, just let us make you stronger first."

Rhane left abruptly as more women were brought into the hall. I gathered up what had been left around Kana and tided up her slab a bit. 

"Would you like a drink of water?" I asked her suddenly.

She paused a moment before answering. "Yes, that would be good."

I got the jug and brought it to her. She opened her mouth and I poured in a good portion. Kana swallowed and we repeated several times. Once she was done, she requested water for her Sisters. 

It was a strange and taxing day. I worked as hard as I could, just like my family was doing. Our jobs were markedly different though. 

Damien and his Brothers were not fighting like they had the day before. Much of the battle was happening far above them. They seemed to only be doing the cleanup work on the aliens the women shot out of the sky. It gave the men from the camps a chance to check the village and the compound. 

My connection to my men faded in and out. Through Evan, I still felt Jonathan, he was alive, but I didn't know anything else. It was frustrating, but I just focused on praying for my son in the few moments I had to myself. 

Hannah and Kennedy sent brief messages to me. They were staying near where my men were stationed. Everyone was working hard to keep the men in the Barnas compound safe.

Through the rest of the day and the next night we were very busy. Rose and I were sent to our rooms to sleep at the dawn of the next day. We were both so tired, I barely remembered the strange dreams I had of my men. They were soaring in a tight space with little light, but I felt no fear, only a strong concern. It was a strange dream and I could not place its significance. 

Rose and I woke to a big commotion. I had no conception of time, but Rose did. She guessed it about midday and said we should get back to work. 

We ran out and toward the healing area. Only half of the torches were lit and the skylight above was long ago closed. The passageway inside the mountain was dark and foreboding, much more so than it had been. I laid a hand on my gun and removed it from it's holster. Something felt wrong. 

The yelling started and Rose and I froze. Several gun blasts echoed in the passageway. They seemed to be coming from the main entrance. My senses sharpened and I saw the world as my family did. 

Rose turned and faced away from me, so we were back to back. We wanted to move closer to the wall, but before we could a creature rose from it's hiding place behind one of the fire pits. 

A tongue flicked out past the wicked teeth in the creature's snout and I met the yellow stare of the strangest thing I'd ever seen. It dwarfed me significantly, but it was not very wide. Long arms with sharp tips on the end slid out of it's skin and rose into the air like weapons. The creature seemed to move even when standing still. Whatever it was almost vibrated with some half contained energy. 

Rose and I stood our ground as it suddenly appeared to the right of where it had been. Now I could see all of it. The thick snake like body of it's lower half slithered with amazing speed. It shifted and swayed before rapidly moving left and forward.

It was coming for us and quickly. The thing knew it was no longer hidden, but it seemed to smirk at the knowledge. I couldn't speak its language, but the sounds coming from it sounded as though it knew it had won already. 

The weapon in my hands went off and I just missed the creature as it slid right and then forward. My blast hit the wall behind the thing. It moved so fast, I'd never be able to hit it where it stood. 

Try to hit where it is going to be, I suddenly realized. 

My next blast was a success. The thing moved left, as I thought it would, before coming forward. The gun I carried tore off a huge chunk of its side. The thing screamed and made a desperate attempt to dart into a room off the main hall. 

A woman dropped from above quite suddenly. She landed between me and the aggressor. Her talons made short work of the damaged creature. 




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 34



"Stay very still," she ordered curtly. "They see movement better than they see anything else." 

I recognized Kana's voice and did as she asked. 

Rose and I maintained our pose back to back as transports swooped in and the men started to fight creatures that dotted the hall. The thing I'd shot at had been one of very many lying in wait. Kana stayed with Rose and me, seemingly acting as a guardian. 

"Use your weapons if you need to humans," she commanded. "Aim for the place where the arms meet the body, they are weakest there."

I took several shots at creatures attacking the men and I heard Rose do the same thing. We did what we could from our position to help. Kana had been right, the best place to shoot was where the body and arms connected. If your aim was good, that type of shot dropped the creatures almost immediately. My aim was remarkably good. 

The men on the transports fought the snake like things with ferocious intensity. I watched amazed as they swarmed down the halls seeking out the hiding spots the invaders had found. The men moved with an odd synchrony. No words passed between them, but all of them seemed to be working as one unit. 

The hunt was strikingly quiet, organized, and ruthless. Kana, Rose and I stood rooted to our spots as the men removed the danger from the halls. Suddenly a transport dropped down beside us. I stared blankly at the men on the transport who weren't even looking at us. 

"Get on, women!" Thom growled suddenly. 

He turned to face us and looked thoroughly disgruntled. I got the impression he had been waiting for us to follow the same invisible commands the other men were. Unfortunately we had no idea what signals they were using to communicate. 

Rose and I leapt on and Thom continued to stare at Kana. 

"Get on," he ordered. 

"I will fly myself," she told him cooly spreading her wings. 

"Follow closely," he demanded facing forward again, "do not get in our way."

The transports were zipping around us in the interior of the camp. They were spreading out in a very organized fashion. The men seemed to be searching every nook and cranny for the attackers. The entire hunt was absolutely silent and utterly efficient. I'd never seen anything like it. 

It was like watching bees in a hive or fish in a school. The men seemed to be responding to something outside themselves that was guiding them. I looked back and saw Kana flying very close behind us. She did as she'd been asked and stayed out of the way as the men took care of their camp. 

Rose and I were delivered back to the large cave used for healing. Men were stationed at the opening to the infirmary now, looking alert. They separated long enough to allow us to enter and then took up positions in front of the opening. They formed a literal wall of flesh between the injured and the aggressors. 

"You are carrying a child," Thom said bluntly once we were inside. "The other women in your circumstance are staying in safe places, you must do the same. Do not leave this room. I will let you know when the danger has passed."

Kana had followed us in and she watched Thom with the oddest expression on her face. 

"Your eye is not well enough to send you out, but you can help us defend the injured in here, should it come to that," he said bluntly. 

Thom spoke with an authority I'd only ever heard from Gunth. He looked as firm and resolute as the old man usually did, too. His decisiveness seemed to surprise Kana. 

She agreed to stay and Thom was gone. The men at the entrance to our hall stood attentively, ready to fend off an attack. They seemed oblivious to the activity in the infirmary, their attention was focused outward. 

The Sister that had lost her wing walked slowly over to stand next to Kana. The men had wrapped and dressed the stump on her left side. They had tied it so she would not inadvertently move it while they tried to heal the flesh. 

"It is The Great Harmonious Spirit. They are answering to The Spirit," Kana said simply and the other women seemed taken aback. 

"That does not exist anymore," she said gruffly. 

"I have seen it," Kana said quietly. "The Great Harmonious Spirit is here. It is real and the men have embraced it again. It was not permanently lost to us when we put them on the compounds. They have found their essence again. This is where they belong."

The woman with one wing made a bitter sound and Kana ignored her. She settled behind the men at the doorway awaiting attack. I'd never seen a woman without beads take orders from a man, but that's certainly what she was doing. 

Rose got my attention and I went to help the Healers. We worked relentlessly for the longest time. When we had a moment to rest, Rose and I watched the men in the room. 

The Healers seemed as tuned in as the men in the hall had been. They worked with seamless efficiency on the wounded. None of the beaded women seemed the least surprised, but I saw the eyes of the unbeaded follow the men. 

Kana's sister sat on a warm stone as I carried dirty towels by. She called out softly and I stepped closer to her. I watched her war with herself before she bent her head to speak quietly to me. 

"Have you seen them this way before, human? Are they like this all the time?"

It was easy to see what she meant. The concentration the men seemed to have was amazing. Their focus was unbreakable. Even the injured seemed to be following the internal commands and accepted whatever needed to be done.

"No," I answered looking around, "never like this."

The woman looked down at me and I sensed she just wanted to talk to someone about what she saw. Kana was busy and her Sister with the stomach wound was too gravely injured to talk much. Evidently, I was a suitable set of ears. 

"The men used to become this way in times of great stress," she said slowly. "We called it The Great Harmonious Spirit. It bound them together and they became one. Their strength was in their perfect cooperation and numbers. My female breeder and her line have not seen this since we put them on the compounds."

I could connect faintly to Damien and his Brothers and I felt the calm buzz of their thoughts. It didn't feel markedly different from usual, but then to the men, I guessed it wouldn't. This organization would feel right. 

"It must be a defensive instinct," I said watching the woman. "When the men are free, happy, and connected; it seems they can help each other." 

The woman settled on her stone and looked around. "It used to be their strength, but it was not enough. They died and they made choices we did not..."

The large woman stopped talking and just looked around. 

"Everybody has to die sometime," I said thinking of my own children and remembering how I feared for them, but I still wanted them free. "Living free makes the time you have worthwhile. This is how anyone would wish to live."

"My Sister agrees with you," the woman said, looking over at Kana. "She has for a long time..."

We stood in silence as the woman watched her Sister. 

Tyle and his young family approached us suddenly. They stared at us as though waiting for something. 

"We must change the dressing," Aryn explained when neither the woman nor I moved. 

The woman hesitated and Tyle asked her politely to lay on her stomach. 

She didn't move. "There is no point to what you are doing," she said harshly. "I cannot fly even if this wound is healed. My wing will not grow back." 

The woman's refusal to do as they asked seemed to startle the young men for a moment. The wounded men in this hall were not refusing anything, most of the women were too injured to argue much. The compliance came from different places but it was the norm. 

A woman's prerogative, I thought to myself, it exists here, too. 

"I cannot fly either," Tyle reasoned thoughtfully. "If I wish to rise into the air, I take a transport. There is much to do on the ground, though. You have been left to us by The Great Harmonious Spirit. Your purpose must no longer be in the air."

The woman seemed stunned as the young man's statement.

"You must know The Spirit," Tyle insisted. "You are a woman and I know you carry many generations of knowledge. The Spirit is alive and well in all of us, just as it was long ago. Even without the ability of flight, you have a talent The Spirit needs. Lay down and let us help you."

It took a moment, but the woman slowly lay on her stomach. She gave the boys access to the injured areas and they worked quickly to remove the old dressing. It was soiled and bloody. The sharp smell that permeated the area when the bandaging was off told me infection was threatening to set in. The boys saw and smelled what I did. They cleaned the whole area very thoroughly. 

"I have heard there are places the women cannot fly, due to the wind," Tyle said as his Brothers murmured assent. 

I had heard this, too. The T'vailk mountains were supposed to be so wild that women couldn't fly during certain parts of the year. My attention went to my stomach where my little one seemed suddenly more active. She must be curious about those mountains. 

The woman on the stone looked back at Tyle before agreeing. She talked about the T'vailk mountains in detail. At one point, she and her Sisters had mined there, so she was quite informative.

I rushed and threw the dirty linens away before returning to listen. As Tyle and his Brothers applied a treatment to the damaged wing she told them all about that area of the world. The interest the young men had spurred the woman to talk more. She responded to them and they continued to interact.

She told us things I'd never even read about. As usual, there were things you'd only know if you lived there. The details of life in those mountains was fascinating to all of us. The storms made it a very different place. 

"They say our cousin still in Ciara's belly is a woman of that line," Aryn said proudly as the boys finished. "My male breeder is excited for his Brother. They say it is rare to breed a female of T'vailk mountain heritage."

I'd never seen a female on this planet look so startled. The woman's head raised and she looked right in my face and then down at my big belly. 

"That is not possible," she said firmly. 

The boys took her opinion in stride. 

"Our cousin Kennedy and her Sisters say it is," Tyle responded. "They say the growing life is too fast to be a Paterian that isn't T'vailk. They are very smart girls. Many that have heard their argument believe it."

The woman looked between us a moment before she settle back down. I got the distinct impression she wasn't going to argue, but she did not believe us one bit. 

"You call the women here cousin," she said instead. 

"Yes," Tyle answered, binding the injured stump with deft and practiced moves, "this camp is important to us. We would do anything for our campmates. We provide whatever they need, whether they are men or women."

The woman snorted and muttered something. It sounded like she said 'what can you provide a woman?'

Tyle and his Brothers grinned. Their attention switched seamlessly off the injured wing, which was now bound, to the rest of the woman's body. Aryn slid his hands along the woman's undamaged wing as his Brother touched her back. I recognized what they were doing probably constituted a massage. 

The woman flinched as Aryn's hands slid across the contours of her right wing. Her head whipped around and she watched him with narrowed eyes. The young family just ignored her reaction and continued to stroke systematically.

The wings were sensitive in places, I'd learned that from listening to my campmates. Men in the compounds would not know that and only focused on the spears, where the sensation was burned out. In the camps it was not uncommon for a man to find the places a woman liked her wings touched. Men talked and I'd overheard their conversations about it. Tyle and his family were well versed in this particular physical attribute. 

The soft parts of the wings that caught the wind and helped the women soar were very delicate. They could detect minute changes in resistance. It made the wings an extra sensory organ. Women liked to have those parts stroked lightly from the center outward. Even when the wings were folded, light pressure to those areas could be pleasing. It was supposed to be extremely calming. 

"You are tense, cousin," Tyle smiled, "let us relax you." 

I flushed hot remembering how my family used that phrase. The boys meant literally relax, though. They stroked her undamaged wing and rubbed her back. I watched her surprise fade as the gentle stimuli drove the tension from her muscles. Despite her resolve to be irritated by this, the stress of the last several days was too much. She fell asleep as Tyle's family caressed her. 

The young men finished and moved away. I realized I'd just been staring at the interaction. I wondered if what we did would be enough to convert the opinions of any of the unbeaded women here. It would be awful if they started to take men back once they were healed. 

"You look troubled, Ciara," Aryn said quietly approaching me. 

I was surprised when his hand came out and stroked my belly the way my family would have. The touch was gentle, just like Kein would have done. Aryn was family, though, and touch was important in the family. I smiled as the baby moved against his hand. 

"Is everything alright?" he asked. 

"The women," I whispered to him, "I'm worried they will try to take you all back to the compounds." 

Aryn smiled and patted my shoulder. 

"These women were sent to us by The Great Harmonious Spirit," he said. "They have a place in our camp now and will stand with us. Don't worry, Ciara. Everything is happening as it should."

I returned the smile and put on a contented face so Aryn would move away. This seemed like a pointless argument to get into right now. The men were very set in how they viewed things. 

The stubborn part of me wanted to tell Aryn that it wasn't a spirit that had loaded these injured women on transports and settled them here. Men from the camp had done this and I still wasn't sure it was a good idea. Most of the unbeaded women didn't believe The Great Harmonious Spirit existed. We had no proof the women wouldn't turn on us once they were strong enough.

I turned and watched our guard at the door. Kana had obviously seen the truth and was on our side. Her diligence and readiness to listen were testament of that. The rest of the unbeaded women here, I just wasn't sure. At the moment, most were so badly injured they couldn't fight even if they wanted to. When that changed, I wondered what would happen. 



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 35



Hello Lit!

Many thanks for all the well wishing! My little girl is happy and healthy. She was born 9 lbs 15 oz and 21 inches, I breed 'em big!

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his tireless efforts to make the story shine! I am very grateful for the time he puts into this.

I am WAY behind reading comments and feedback. Infants are time consuming, it seems, but I'll get the hang of it! I love knowing what you all have to say - good or bad.

I anticipate the next chapter will be out July 11 or July 12.

Thanks to everyone and please remember to vote and comment!

Chapter 35

The day dragged on and I felt more and more excited as the time passed. I could feel my connection to my family getting stronger. Still there was a...reservation resonating though the bond. Something had the men feeling uncomfortable as they neared home. Their happiness was tempered by this hidden concern.

I knew the discomfort wasn't a serious injury to one of them. I could begin to detect each of their individual thoughts and none were gravely injured. Even Jonathan's signal felt strong and healthy. Bane's arm had been cut, but stitching was holding the wound closed. Christof had a shallow gash on his head, it had bled a great deal, but needed nothing other than pressure. Neither injury was life threatening, just annoying to them. In the flurry of the infirmary, I just couldn't concentrate on whatever was bothering them.

The men in the main cave had quickly cleared the foreign invaders out of our living spaces. It was a relief not to have to worry about that anymore, but I felt a new anxiety I could not place. Something was wrong and my family went back on alert, although all looked calm here. It was disconcerting.

We still had our guard at the door, but they were more relaxed. When Thom arrived with his family I hoped it was good news. It wasn't.

The announcement brought tears to my eyes.

"Gunth and his Brothers have gone to rest forever with The Great Harmonious Spirit," Thom announced as he entered. "They were attacked in the tunnels beneath the mountains. The aliens have found our hidden passages and they were lying in wait. This means our men cannot progress further without danger. They are trapped."

My hand flew over my mouth and a sob escaped my throat. Gunth would have done anything to protect his campmates. I had no doubt he had faced the aliens head on and never regretted doing it. He and his family had been unfailingly loyal to this world.

Thom continued to name the killed and injured. It was an impressively long list considering how few had been lost in the main battle. The snipers in the tunnels were doing more damage than the open war had done. The men in the tunnels were trapped. They couldn't move above ground in the mountains, because the women's field prevented travel by men above ground in the mountains.

"Turn off the shield!" Kana yelled suddenly. "Asper, you can access the control through the technology here. That shield is getting the men killed! It is not protecting them. We are allowing their deaths to happen!"

The women in the hall argued furiously around us, beaded and unbeaded. Even the badly injured managed to speak up and call out their opinions. This was a serious step for the women. That shield had been in place for generations, turning it off was unprecedented.

A large woman without beads raised her head from her warm stone. She looked around at all of us before demanding access to a pad, NOW!

The force field in the mountains that had for so long trapped men in the compounds was turned off. Asper had accessed the system that controlled the shield. She had the codes and the authority to remove it. In fact, it appeared she had the authority to remove it from most of the world.

I watched the woman in awe as she lay her head back down and rested. The men had talked about her quietly when she was brought here. After her Sisters were killed, it appeared she had single-handedly killed off a squadron of fifty aliens before she was incapacitated. The invaders had almost killed her before our men arrived.

Asper was the toughest woman they'd ever seen. She was massive and her wing span looked huge, even folded. The powerful presence she exuded was almost palpable. If this world had a queen, it appeared she was right here. Hopefully, that was a good thing.

I felt relief move through my bond the moment the field was turned off. The men were connected to one another and they knew it was gone. I saw a flash of light in my mind as the men shot out the roof of their tunnel and resumed their journey above ground.

Rose and I worked through the rest of the day and part of the night. I was more than willing to keep working, but my body would not cooperate. When a stumble took me to my knees in front of Aryn, he demanded I lay down. Working to exhaustion could damage my baby. It was a good argument and I listened.

The men had a small alcove at the back of the healing room. When Thom had ordered I stay in here, they'd put several mats back there for me. The warm stones were needed for the wounded. They'd created a comfortable place for me to sleep, so I went there and slept.

The next day was more of what we'd already experienced. The organized alien attack was splintered and scattered. Our camp had been cleared of invaders, but I stayed safely in the healing room, from there I heard the reports. There was fighting here and fighting there, but it had lost the grand scale. This appeared to be the clean up.

My family got closer and closer. They were holding something back from me, but I couldn't tell what it was. Something had upset them and they didn't want to let me know what it was, yet. I thought perhaps it was Gunth's death that had them anxious, so I didn't push the issue.

I felt the moment my family entered our camp. The elation was like nothing I'd experienced before. I bolted from the healing room and ran as well as I could for the transport storage area.

The sight before me had me standing in awe.

There were hundreds of transports, loaded full of men, being directed to land. I saw men dressed like shopkeepers and Warriors from the compounds. Other men appeared to be wearing what the men in the mountains wore. They had brought everyone back here.

"They brought the whole world to this camp?!" I heard Rose say beside me.

She sounded as shocked as I felt.

"Not the whole world," a man laughed beside us. "We took who we could, other camps have done the same thing. No one is left at the compounds or in the mountains. We had to split the men up between several different camps. Some of these men are from the Barnas compound, some from the Caras, and some rescued from the T'aran Mountains. The compounds and the mountains are not safe and our resources are here. The women's ships are defending the ore in the mountains, but we will defend our cousins."

"As we teach them," the man's Brother said watching with us, "we will teach them freedom and The Great Harmonious Spirit."

All around us were murmured promises. It was time these other men understood. They had been kept in the dark for much too long.

I didn't dare move and stood still watching the carefully organized landing. I felt my family and knew they were there. In the mass of men, I just wasn't sure where they were.

Once the transports were settled the men all waited for instructions. A wave caught my eye at the far wall and I saw Christof's face beaming at me. I ran for him without another thought.

My men looked tired and dirty. Christof's left temple was bound where he had been injured. Still I couldn't stop myself from wrapping my arms around him. He hugged my shoulders tight. A hand drifted down to greet the offspring still in my belly as he smiled at me.

"We have missed you, wife," he said softly before handing me off to Damien.

Tears were running down my face as I passed my hands over Damien's shoulders and felt the tense muscles of his back. His face was rough with stubble and I could smell several days worth of sweat on him. Getting here safely had been a harrowing journey.

"I promised you," he whispered in my ear as he held me tight. "We all did, but we aren't sure..."

I backed away and looked at him. He was unsure. Over his shoulder Evan looked even more unsure. They didn't know how I would react and they didn't want me to panic. They'd been told stress was not good for the baby I carried, but I had to know.

The women had implants and controlled the men. They had used the implants to erase our little boys' memories of their mountain birth. It wouldn't do to have them remember their female breeders and a time when the mountains were a safe place.

Damien moved and I saw the sight I had waited many moons for. Little Jonathan, standing to just above my knee. My baby was dirty and his clothing scuffed, but he was unharmed. Jonathan stood with four other boys and they looked so very confused.

Instinctively, I reached for my son and he backed away, as did his Brothers. They looked nervously from Evan to Damien as though seeking reassurance. My heart broke as I drew my hand back.

"This is family," Evan said gently. "We told you about this. This is not a slave and you can touch her. You know this human Jonathan; she is your female breeder."

Big, blue eyes looked like they were trying hard to trust what Evan told him. He looked back at me and I saw the ambivalence he was feeling. His Brothers reached out to touch him in comfort. This was unsettling to them.

"He feels me," I said softly, "but he doesn't know why."

Evan stepped past Damien and wrapped his arms around me. He spoke softly into my hair. Had Evan been human his voice would have been breaking.

"Just as he feels me, but he doesn't know why he does. He can't understand what we are telling him. He can't remember. It upsets him and therefore them."

I buried my face in Evan's neck for a moment and breathed in his familiar scent. My body shook with silent sobs as I mourned for my boy, for our boy. All the love and care we had showed him had been callously wiped away. We didn't even exist to our own baby.

"We exist," Evan said tightening his hold, "he is ours to care for again. He is not lost to us."

Kein spoke from behind me and I felt his hands on my hips.

"He will learn and he will remember," Kein promised. "It has not been too long."

I wiggled from Evan's arms and threw myself into Kein's embrace. He was right. Jonathan was home now and we would remind him. Softly, I kissed Kein before greeting Bane. The big man was gentle as he held me and I brushed my lips against his skin. I was so glad to see all of them.

Wiping my eyes I looked back over at Jonathan's family. Evan knelt on one knee beside them and explained what a hug and a kiss were. He told the boys that was how humans greeted others they cared for.

I realized I'd never been introduced to Jonathan's family. Aiden I recognized, he was taller than the rest and I felt sure that trend would continue. The other children I'd only seen the day Nu-reeh had sold them.

"Mycah is the lead Brother," Damien said pointing out one of the boys.

Mycah was taller than Jonathan, but not as tall as Aiden. He had golden brown hair cut short on his head. He watched me with very wary eyes.

Niah and Rees were the other two children. Niah was darkly striped like Aiden and quite lanky, but Rees almost had a ruddy complexion. Looking at Rees' height, I realized it was closer to Jonathan's short stature. I imagined the second boy had some human blood in his line somewhere. It would explain the coloration and his smaller size.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and smiled at my men and my boys. Suddenly a familiar sight caught my blurry eyes. I grabbed Bane's left hand and looked at the small metal band on his left ring finger.

"What did you do?" I asked touching the metal.

It wasn't shiny metal, but I saw a symbol etched into it. My symbol was on it. Kein had the same metal band on. They all did.

"We were bored in the tunnels," Evan explained touching his. "We made these to show everyone we are yours. Some men have many mates, but that is not what we want. We only wish to mate with you. These bands tell everyone that."

"They aren't slave bands," Christof said. "You thought about these; they are wedd-ing rings."

I looked from one of them to the next and couldn't get over the surprise. I wasn't sure how they'd done this. Their memories told me. Men in the tunnels worked repairing metal weapons as they waited. Damien and his Brothers had asked to be taught the procedure and quietly made these with the same technology and scraps when they weren't doing other things.

"My Brothers and I talked," Damien shrugged, "we wish to let everyone know you are our mate, our only mate. This seemed a good way."

Usually both parties in a marriage or mating would wear rings. I felt a little left out.

"I also only want you and your Brothers," I told Damien firmly. If they were wearing rings, I wanted one too.

"We made you one," Christof said sheepishly. "It is not a slave band and you can take it off if you no longer wish to be our mate."

Damien took my left hand and slid the cool metal over my finger. The ring fit perfectly. It was etched with Damien's family symbol and each man's number.

I kissed each of them again in thanks. This was a very sweet gesture. In the middle of a war they'd been thinking of me.

The little ones watched us but they appeared slightly shell shocked.

"Have they slept and eaten?" I asked Damien. "They don't look..."

I let the sentiment hang, but the men understood. The little boys were stressed and they did not appear well. Life in the compound was based on pattern and repetition. Being trapped in the middle of a war and then transported a world away was too much, too quickly.

Damien took control and picked up his bag. The rest of the men did the same and the boys copied the men. Each boy had a small satchel of things. From what my family knew I understood it was a few things they'd grabbed before they were rescued from the compound.

"We will take our things back to our room," Damien said briskly. "We have responsibilities today. There are Child Keepers we can leave them with until our job is completed. The little ones stay with us when we are not working. They are ours to protect."

I looked longingly at Jonathan and wanted to be the one to take care of him, but that wasn't a good idea. The boys were not sure of me and needed to be left somewhere they felt safe. The family mind settled and I knew we would slowly remind Jonathan, but it wouldn't happen this instant. At this moment he'd be better off with Child Keepers and the other children.

A low sound like a horn cut through the air and everyone turned toward the center of the room. Men carried what were obviously the wrapped remains of our fallen men and women into the camp. We all stood still as the procession moved into the main area.

I watched the bodies pass and noted how different they all looked. The wrappings had obviously been hastily scavenged and were a variety of colors and fabrics. On the outside of each one was a family name and number.

It surprised me to see a family I knew carrying a body with their family symbol. The four men walked quietly with the remains of their Brother held proudly above them. Their grief was obvious, but I was shocked that they'd survived the loss.

"It is The Great Spirit," Damien murmured very softly. "We are not alone when we have our friends and cousins. They are part of us and keep us strong. We are not alone on this world."

Men could survive losing family, they just had to have the protection of The Great Harmonious Spirit. I watched closely and noted many men carrying their deceased Brothers. They were not dying like I would have expected. The men in the camp were made much more powerful by The Spirit.

I saw Gunth's five family members being carried in. The wrapped bodies were held proudly aloft. There was a charge that went through all of us as our fallen leaders went by. A sob caught in my throat and I started to tear. Gunth's family had been made up of great men and I would miss them.

My family was surprised at my reaction. Gunth was not dead in the simplistic way I thought of it. Gunth was part of The Great Harmonious Spirit now.

Gunth and his family had spent their lives dedicated to the ways of The Great Harmonious Spirit. They'd taught countless men the meaning and importance of it. Once their bodies were consecrated back into the pool of Paterian fire they would finally be a physical part of it. Gunth had lost nothing and neither had we. His whole family was alive and well in all of us who followed The Spirit.

The men looked serene as they watched their fallen comrades go by. These men and women were not lost to us. They were merely in the place where there was no pain or fighting, only peace.

It was the Paterian equivalent of heaven and I had to smile. The concept brought closure to the beings here. I couldn't imagine how isolated the men must have felt on the compound when they were denied that. The Great Harmonious Spirit certainly gave them a sense of completeness.

The stream of bodies continued, many of the large women toted on transports, and I wondered where they were going.

"The thing the women dip their wings into, the lava," Kein said softly. "We are delivered back to our planet."

The lava took the Paterians back to their source. As the bodies sunk into the strange substance it got hotter. Women had studied the lava or Paterian fire and knew the bodies literally melted deep beneath the surface of the planet. After a time the body was no longer separate from the fire.

The idea of burial beneath the dirt was quite foreign here. At the compound dead men had just disappeared, but this is what had always happened. All Paterians were always delivered back to their planet the same way.

I was saddened that Gunth got no headstone or remembrance. Damien quirked a brow at my memories. A plaque on the wall wouldn't be a bad thing. He would ask the Administrators to consider that.

We stood for a very long time watching the dead pass by. Even the boys stood stoically watching the procession. Everyone seemed to understand the respect that was due those that had given their lives for the rest of us.

Once the last body was gone I saw Thom striding toward us. He looked purposeful and his eyes were on me.

"Ciara," he called once he was close, "you have done a great deal for the Healers, but your skills are needed elsewhere."

I was stunned by his mannerism, he was acting quite official.

Damien wasn't surprised. Thom and his family wanted Administrative duties. He was probably "filling in" to prove his family a suitable replacement for Gunth and his Brothers. I nodded in understanding and agreed politely to do whatever would help the camp. Thom had been good to me and I wanted him to succeed.

"The men brought back many former slaves," Thom said lowering his voice. "They are scared and they do not understand. We need you and Rose to help us with them."

I wanted to stay with my family and get to know my little boy again, but I understood Thom's urgency. The former slaves were probably terrified and confused. At least Rose and I had some knowledge about what was going on when we were freed. These poor women would be completely lost.

"We'll see you at the evening meal," Damien promised as I turned to him, a nod and a smile to all my family and I was gone.

The transport area was busy as I followed Thom through it after we picked up Rose. Men from the camp greeted Rose and me, but the other men just stared. Our mannerisms weren't that of slaves anymore and we wore swords just like they did. Many murmured as they noted the guns we also carried. The men had seen the destruction those weapons could do. The new weapons gave Rose and me immense power. It must have been confusing.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 35



I did note that every family from the camp seemed to have one or two families that followed them. My assumption was that the men's education had been delegated to different families. Everyone was going to help.

The freed slaves were in a state when I reached them. Perhaps sixty confused women trembled on several transports. I could see all the different species of "slaves" I knew about and two others. The men had managed to wrap them all in some sort of warm clothing, so I knew they'd tried to keep them comfortable. The women still shivered in fear.

The men with them seemed frustrated and exasperated. They were trying to coax them off and the freed slaves wouldn't move.

"Friends," I called out to them, "look at me."

Every set of eyes raised to me and I saw the shock in their faces.

"My name is Ciara, I was a slave like you. The men from these mountains have freed you. You are not slaves here. No one is going to hurt you. We will never allow you to be enslaved again."

The men that had been with them all disappeared quickly by bounding into the main camp, which irritated me. They had obviously been annoyed with babysitting these women, but Rose and I would need help. Two of us couldn't tend to them by ourselves; it would take forever.

The freed slaves needed to be calmed down before we went anywhere. I tried to relax them by explaining what had happened and where they were now. It didn't seem that I was making much progress.

My efforts were cut off when a large Paterian woman landed beside me and another behind me. Several of the freed slaves screamed and I saw the terror in their faces. I was irritated with the women until I turned and looked at them. I'd never been so glad to see Hannah and Ra in my life.

"Baby Girl!" I cried throwing my arms around Hannah's waist. "I'm so glad to see you! I worried about you both."

Hannah looked worse for the wear. Her arms were cut up and she had a deep, healing gash on her side. The smooth, human looking skin on her face was scratched and marked. None of it appeared life threatening, though. Ra stood behind her and I looked her over as well.

"Your birth Sister, Kennedy, how is she?" I asked anxiously. "Her Sisters, were they hurt?"

"They fared better than us, Mama," Ra snorted.

"Kennedy and her Sisters are thinkers, Mama," Hannah said grinning. "We thought we'd have to defend our campmate men. Kennedy knew more about their weapons and thought differently. Ra and I took a beating before we learned to trust the men."

I couldn't stop touching Hannah and evaluating her wounds. She laughed at my concern.

"Mama, we love you and we just wanted to check in. You don't need to worry for us. Kennedy and her Sisters will check in soon. They took a patrol on a wider loop. I told her I'd see you and let you know we were all well."

I smiled with relief at her and saw one of the former slaves step cautiously toward us.

"This is your...child?" the woman asked hesitantly.

"My oldest and her Sister, yes, this is my child," I responded gently, but proudly. Hannah and Ra were a lot to take in.

"I had a boy," the woman said as a tear dropped from her eye. "He was taken from me. I have not seen him in four turns of the moon. I do not know if he survived...this."

I felt horrible for the woman and didn't know what to say. Her boy could be anywhere, dead or alive. My heart ached for her loss. I should have known Hannah would know what to do.

"Can you tell us the name you gave him?" Hannah asked quietly.

The woman looked terrified of my child, but Hannah was asking about her son. She refused to cower away.

"Branden, Mistress," the woman told us.

Ra had a communication pad strapped to her waist. She pulled it loose and started to slide her fingers over the face of it.

"What name did the slavers call you?" she asked the woman.

"Hema, Mistress," the woman answered wrapping her arms around herself.

The other former slaves watched the interaction with interest. As Ra did whatever she was doing Hannah spoke to Hema. My daughter's calm, patient tone distracted from her terrifying visage. She asked Hema, the former slave, not to address Paterian women as Mistress now that she was in the camp. She was free and needed to act like a free woman.

"I am Hannah, born in the T'aran Mountains. This is Ra, my Sister, born in the T'scan Mountains. You are free now and you do not have to be called by the name the slavers gave you. Your free name is yours to use. We will call you whatever name you choose. When free people meet we introduce ourselves the way I just did. Can you tell me your name and where you are from?"

The woman's body literally shook and I knew it was a combination of excitement and fear. What we were telling her seemed too incredible. She was not a weak person, though.

"I am Molly O'Donnell from Dublin, Ireland," she said proudly.

Ra looked up from her work and smiled at Molly.

"He's not far from here and he's well, Molly," she said lowering the pad she had been working on. "One of the other boys in his family was bred by a free man. Those men took them from the compound and they are caring for the young family now. Give us time and we will talk to the Administrators about moving you to their camp or moving those men and the boys here. You will be reunited with your child if you wish to be."

There was a moving picture on the pad and Molly walked right up to Ra to look at it. She covered her mouth and looked at the communicator.

"Their images were recorded when they entered the other camp a day ago," Ra told her. "I know it is not a close picture, but the all the boys in his family appear well. I can narrow the focus a little on this screen, but not much. I see no injuries on any of them."

Molly trembled as she watched her boy enter the other camp. I knew how she felt. She probably thought she'd never see him again.

"He won't know you anymore, Molly," I said sadly looking at the monitor with her. "When you get to him he'll have to relearn you. The women of the mountains, the ones that kept the men, they had a way of wiping out the children's memories. My own boy doesn't know me."

Hannah sighed and laid a hand on my arm. "Mama, you mustn't let that upset you. The hold the slaving women have on the men can be broken. Jonathan will remember and you fretting about it won't do any good. He and his Brothers are tired and very stressed right now. Let them sleep and feel safe in the camp. The truth will come back to them."

I smiled at my oldest. Getting upset would lead to disorder and now was not the time for that. We had to deal with the issues at hand.

Shaking myself out of my gloomy thoughts before they led to depression, I remembered that I was suddenly in charge of all these women and I had no idea what to do with them.

"Thom left us with them," I said motioning to the freed slaves, "but he didn't give us any instructions."

Hannah shook her head and Ra laughed. "The men are in large part still responding to the Great Harmonious Spirit," Ra said. "They forget we don't interact that way. While the men are this way you have to remind them to tell you what they want. Be very direct with them and they will answer you. They will all expect that you already know what their plan is."

I was about to explain that did me no good now when a group of men approached us. Ratru and his Brothers, along with several other families walked up and looked expectantly at me.

"Are you here to help us?" I asked plainly.

The men seemed stunned by the question and Ratru answered. Of course, they were here to help. They were surprised I had not known they were coming to assist.

Our day was planned in detail already. First, we'd be going to get the freed women clothing from the shop and anywhere else we could find clothes that fit them. Next, we would be taking them to the Administrators to remove those horrid bands and explain things. Rooms had been assigned to them and a guard would be posted to protect them from their former owners. There was an organized plan and the men couldn't understand how I wasn't already aware of it.

After all, this had been decided many day cycles in advance.

With a sigh, I encouraged the girls off the transports. I had the shock of my life when one girl pulled away from me and bowed her head. It took a moment to recognize her, Vesa.

Vesa held her right arm close to her body and slid away from me. I heard a mumbled comment from her mouth. It was repeated instructions not to touch Ciara, not to look at Ciara, and not to approach Ciara. My old nemesis appeared like a broken shell of the brave girl she'd been.

"What did they do to you?" I asked sadly as I watched her.

Her friends stayed with her and refused to look at me. When I caught one girl's eyes the terror was undeniable. Whoever had done this had made sure these girls would never interact with me again.

"There are no owners here to hurt you," Rose said softly stepping forward. "You can talk to us without fear. It will be okay..."

Rose tried to approach and they backed off the other side of the transport. Vesa stumbled off and let out a soft cry as she looked up. I got a good look at her face and saw the glazed look in her eyes and the sweat on her face. She was pale and trembling, but different from the rest.

"She's hurt," I told Rose simply. "Something happened and she's been injured."

It took us only a short time to figure it out. Molly had to be the one to talk to her, though. Vesa's arm was broken and had been for days. The wall of the room she'd been in had been hit with a beam while she'd been standing near it.

The Keepers didn't notice the injury when they moved the girls. Things had been too frantic and confused. The free men didn't know enough about humans to recognize it, because she refused to speak to them. Vesa had just been holding her arm and suffering as they traveled.

The rest of the day was an awful mess. Taking Vesa to our Healers resulted in her having a full blown panic attack. They fixed her arm, but her reaction sent the other girls into a tizzy. Just as we got them calmed down, Reed and Hassar came and took their slave bands.

The removal of the horrid slave bands was a disaster. The bands had ensured protection in a dangerous and uncertain world. All the women displayed some level of terror when they were removed. They screamed, begged, and cried; several even tried to run from us. I was sorely tempted to ask Hassar for calming cream for the women, but I knew that would not be acceptable. All we could do was offer them support as we tried to reassure them.

I could see why their prior guardians on the transport had disappeared so quickly.

A few girls started to understand as the day wore on. Molly embraced her freedom and started to help us. A couple began to recognize that the Paterians surrounding them had no desire to control or hurt them. It was just a very slow process.

Ratru and his Brothers, as well as the other men left with us, were unfailingly polite and friendly. They encouraged healthy behavior and started to get some minimal response. It helped even more when one girl's prior owners attempted to approach her. They wanted her back. My campmates literally formed a wall between them and the object of their desire. Freed slaves were not at anyone's mercy in the camp.

Still every little moment seemed to be a drama. The midday meal had been a trial in and of itself. Food was brought to where we were and everyone got a plate and a cup. The girls cried when we asked them to feed themselves. I realized many had refused food and drink on the way here.

They were terrified that we'd give them poisoned food or somehow make them sick. Some thought it was a test by the men who had bought them. Only their owners would know what they could eat. All of them were sure of that. A simple midday meal took forever.

A few times when things seemed quiet for a moment, I would touch the ring on my finger and think of my family. My men and my boys were here in the camp and safe. Despite the stress it was the best day I'd had in a long time.

When I saw several young beaded Paterian women arrive in the early evening, I was surprised. We had the girls sequestered in a secluded room with its own set of lacquered pots. They'd be safe here and we could start to sort out what they wanted to do. Those of us that had dealt with them all day were just exhausted, but I hadn't been sure when reinforcements would arrive.

It had never struck me how dependent slaves were made to feel. The girls were uncomfortable doing anything for themselves. They were used to being absolutely controlled and cared for.

"We take the next shift," one of the beaded women announced as she strode in. She introduced herself as Yahn of the T'aran Mountains and gave us a fanged smile.

I looked back at my charges and then at the Paterian women being sent to tend them. These new faces would terrify the freed slaves. Chewing on my lip I looked back at the beaded woman who had spoken.

"They are very scared," I said hesitantly. "They've always been told women would hurt them. This may frighten them too much."

Yahn didn't seem put off by my statement and looked at the girls now staring at her.

"I owe these females the truth, Ciara," she explained. "In the past, it was my line of breeders that encouraged the horrible slave trade on this world. We have come to understand how wrong we were. Let me help make this right."

Molly was the one who decided me. "Go, Ciara," she said calmly, "we see how far along you are with child. You should rest for a while. It isn't good to be on your feet so much. You and Rose have been good to us all day, so have these men. We don't wish to be a burden."

A few other girls murmured assent and I had to capitulate. I really needed to rest. My feet hurt and my stomach felt crampy. The stress of the last several days had been difficult.

"Tomorrow, come here after your morning meal, if you will relieve my Sisters and me?" Yahn asked and I nodded.

The woman's head quirked at my response and Rose told her, yes, we would be here. Rose explained nodding and the woman seemed interested in the Earth tradition. She asked if one day we could talk more. Yahn and her Sisters would like to learn more about Earth.

Rose and I wearily made our way down the hall. The men that had been helping us seemed ecstatic to leave. They bounded down the hall intent on getting anywhere else.

My connection to my family was strong now that they were home. I'd felt them peripherally all day, they'd been busy outside running a search for invaders and doing some hunting for the camp. Now they were hungry and frankly so was I.

The halls of the camp were alive with men. It was easy to tell free men from men in the compound just by their actions as we walked by. Our campmates greeted us and we welcomed them home. The men the women had been keeping in the compounds and mountains seemed amazed by us and just stared.

The dining hall was absolutely chaotic. There was at least three times the number of men in the camp and they all had to eat. I saw families sitting in the main hall by the fire pits on the ground eating. The tables inside were very crowded. The line for food was enormous. The frustration with all of it evaporated when I saw my little boy standing with his family.

Damien and his Brothers were still dirty and scuffed, but the boys looked liked they'd been scrubbed clean. They each seemed to have a fresh outfit on and their hair was brushed. I assumed the Child Keepers had done that and I was grateful to them. Poor little Jonathan had looked quite unkempt when I'd seen him first. I'd never admit to my men that the Child Keepers were certainly superior with children. I kept that thought to myself.

"You had a difficult day, wife," Kein said as I approached.

"It's better now," I smiled, kissing a cleaner spot on his cheek.

I met each of my husbands with affection and a gentle kiss. It had been so long and I had missed them dearly. Once I was done I looked longingly down at Jonathan and his little family. How I'd love to kiss each of them hello. My desire resonated through Damien and his Brothers before I could reign it in.

Bane's eyebrow rose and Evan knelt by the boys. He explained about kissing again and told them that was how I greeted family. Mycah's family was mine, too, so I'd be greeting them that way.

"Oh, no," I countered waving a hand at Evan, "I don't want to upset them..."

What I really didn't want was to reach for Jonathan and have him back away again. That simple act had cut me deeply. I couldn't stand for it to happen again.

Bane crossed his arms and smirked at me. I heard his thoughts loud and clear. It wasn't something he could say outside the family, because it was too rude. He'd called me a 'shopkeeper'. All those days in Armant's shop had taken my backbone. Kein punched his arm hard as a reprimand for the nasty comment.

My eyes narrowed at Bane for a moment before I leaned over Mycah. I brushed my lips against his cheek and told him I was glad he was here. Each little boy got the same contact and different bit of spoken love.

Jonathan went last and I saw him watch me closely. It took every fiber of my being not to grab him and hold tight. Instead I placed a simple kiss on his cheek as I stroked his hair.

"I'm glad you're home. I've missed you," I said simply before backing away.

My hands were shaking and I clasped them in front of me to stop them. Bane smiled at me as Evan led the boys toward the line for the food. He thought a little encouragement in the family wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

"You did good," Damien reassured me.

I wondered how the cooks were feeding everyone. This crowd was much larger than we were used to. Quietly I expressed my concern to Damien as we made it to the rapidly emptying bowls of the buffet.

"Things will be lean for a while," Damien shrugged, loading up Mycah's plate with a normal helping. "We will only take just what we need. There will be enough and none of us will starve."

I watched Damien put food on his own plate in an extremely conservative manner. All my men did that. They fed the boys well and took just enough to sustain their own strength. I frowned at them and found the answer quite shocking.

Growing boys had to eat or they would be stunted, especially young ones. Grown men could go without excess for quite some time . My family would not be harmed, they would just be uncomfortable. The boys would be hurt if they weren't cared for correctly. Children had to be protected at all costs.

As my men gave me their opinion on children, I was surprised. I had not realized they had been talking to the men who were male breeders with children in the camp. They had been training themselves for the day Jonathan and his family returned. Their knowledge about the boys' needs was not an accident.

When I'd seen the little boys all clean and well dressed I'd assumed it was the Child Keepers in the camp that had fixed them up. It had not been. Damien and his Brothers had put water in the pot in our rooms. They had wiped the boys down and found fresh clothes before delivering them to the Child Keepers.

I put some food on my plate and shook my head. Even being bonded to them there were things about them I didn't know. I couldn't rely on the bond and forget to communicate with them, that was obvious.

"Ciara," Kein said in an almost scolding tone, "you are a free woman and I respect you, but that isn't enough of an evening meal for a woman carrying my offspring. Grown men can afford to take less. You are not like us right now."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 35



Like the men I'd taken just a few things, enough to take the edge off of my hunger. My serving was quite small.

"They're right, Ciara," Rose intoned from several bodies behind us, "we've missed too many meals these last days. It isn't good to starve yourself. The little one will suffer, especially this close to her birth."

I took a normal share and felt embarrassed doing so. The rest of the adults in the hall were obviously rationing. I could have kicked myself for getting pregnant. It really wasn't a great time for it.

Damien's opinion on the matter was gruff. The pregnancy had not been planned as it should have been, but an alien invasion was not a foreseeable circumstance. There was no way any of us could have known this attack would happen. There was no reason for shame. My men agreed and I felt my embarrassment fade. We had done this but it wasn't like we had done it intentionally.

The next thought almost made me laugh.

Next time we'd plan the pregnancy and get permission first. If this was Kein's child, Bane wanted one next. As soon as I was healthy enough for it anyway.

I looked at my family around me and saw the thoughts in their eyes. They liked their big family. Seeing Hannah and Kennedy made them puff with pride. Aryn and his Brothers made them happy. Jonathan and his Brothers were their joy. More family with the woman they loved would make them very satisfied men.

"Not until I'm healthy enough and these guys have to be older," I said grabbing Bane's chin and meeting his eyes. I couldn't quite withhold the smile.

The big man beamed at me in return. Next time the child was his, he was ecstatic. He'd wait as long as I wanted.

A group of men finished at their table just as we left the line. They cleared their plates and wished us a good meal. Damien reciprocated for us and we settled down to eat.

Mycah's family was quiet at first. They watched everything and everyone in the hall, looking this way and that way. The curiosity seemed to be building in them and then Jonathan couldn't take it anymore.

"Why are there only two humans eating in here? Why is my female breeder human? Where do humans come from? Why does she look different? Why don't you call her 'it'? Why were we at the compound and not here?" burst out of his mouth suddenly and he looked quite ashamed.

Mycah looked at Jonathan harshly, but Christof spoke gently. Apparently, little boys were discouraged from asking questions. The lead Brother was tasked with controlling his family and not letting them "lose control", as the Child Keepers in the compound had called it. Christof wouldn't let that sort of training prevail.

"Questions and curiosity are important here," he told the boys gently. "You should be able to learn about everything around you."

The boys turned to look back and forth between Evan and Damien. They felt a connection to Evan, but Damien was the lead Brother. This was an important decision as far as they were concerned. Christof's opinion had to be confirmed by Damien.

"Christof is right," Damien said solemnly. "Learn about everything."

Evan nodded in agreement and seconded Damien's opinion, questions were healthy.

With that out of the way Christof explained as simply as he could about humans and where we came from. I was hesitant for him to explain slavery to them, but he didn't falter. Damien's family had bought me as a slave and then realized that was evil. I'd been freed and decided to stay with the family on my own.

Once Christof was done speaking the boys seemed to be mulling over it all. They sat and ate in silence and we did the same. My men ate slowly savoring the little food on their plates and the company of our children. A little hunger was a very acceptable price to pay to have the family together.

After the meal we walked through the crowds and made our way back to the place we stayed. The boys followed Damien and me obediently and the rest of the family walked behind them. Our young charges were watching everything and everyone around us. It relieved me that our rooms were off the main thoroughfare. I'd worry less about the little ones wandering off to explore. I knew they were curious children.

Men passed us heading for the transport storage area. They were armed and looked ready to fight.

"Night patrols," Damien explained, "we have young ones to watch at night. We will take day patrols. Those men are watching freed adults."

We turned off the main hall and walked into the complex of rooms where we stayed. It was usually quiet here with just a few men lounging around the central fire pit in front of all the rooms. Today it was crowded with men. Almost everyone had at least one family that were sharing their lodgings with them. They all became silent as they watched us enter.

"There are no slaves here," Mund announced loudly to the assembled crowd. "Damien's mate is with him and his Brothers by choice. We respect her and she respects us. This is a free female creature."

The men from the mountains and the men from the compounds seemed confused.

Damien took the lead and spoke to the men. He talked about innate rights to freedom and how wrong slavery was. The authoritative voice settled the crowd and they listened intently. When he wanted to, Damien could be quite commanding. I wondered to myself how long it would be before he wanted to be an Administrator.

Chairs were spaced around and lowered myself into one. Mycah's little family looked at the men and then looked at me. I saw their gazes dart all over the place. They were curious.

"Those are our rooms," I pointed them out. "You can go in there and look around. As long as you stay by us, you can look around out here, also."

Five heads turned to Evan in synchrony. Damien was busy talking and they needed to know if what I'd said was true.

"Mama is family and you can listen to her," Evan said firmly. "Go look around, but stay close."

The boys were gone in a flash to inspect our dwelling. As Damien talked, I sat with Christof and we watched the boys reemerge from our rooms. Mycah's family started to check out the community room. They found a pile of small rocks along the far wall and began to play with them.

"What are they doing?" I asked quietly as they sat the rocks in very specific places on the floor or cracked them together in the air.

Kein walked over to stand by the boys and he knew exactly what they were doing. They were making sounds as they moved the rocks around. He recognized the noises they made. The boys were remembering the battle and recreating what they'd seen. They were playing it out with the rocks.

I looked at Christof and he smiled. Evidently we needed to find them some toys. I appreciated their good imaginations, but children needed things to play with. For now they were perfectly well entertained though.

It didn't take long for me sitting in a comfortable spot to get sleepy. It became a battle to keep my eyes open and watch Jonathan. I nearly nodded off in my chair and Evan shook my shoulder.

"Go to bed if you wish to," he said with a lopsided grin, "we will join you later. We do not need to sleep yet and we will watch our sons."

I returned his smile and pushed myself up. Damien was still talking to a group of men about slavery and freedom. As I passed him I touched his arm and smiled. He returned the look and continued with his conversation.

As I left the room I heard several men comment that it was odd that I was going to the bed room on my own. They'd never seen a human decide when it needed to sleep or be left to go somewhere alone. None of them were sure how I knew I needed to rest. This new way of thinking was going to be a change for all of them.

I made sure the fire pit in the main room had enough fuel for the night. I didn't bother to light any of the torches. The men would not need them when they came to bed and I would soon be asleep. We'd be warm and comfortable in the space here.

In the quiet of the bedroom I slipped out of my day clothes and into my nighttime dress. It was a sleeveless linen shift that laced up the front and went to my knees. Smiling to myself I crawled into bed and lay on my side. It wasn't a moment before I fell quickly into my dreams.

The connection with my family was stronger now that they were here. In the periphery of my mind I heard their conversations and felt their emotions. It was a very soothing presence. When my men came into our rooms I felt the cool water they used to wipe the dirt from their bodies. In the morning they planned to go to the bathing pool, for tonight they would just clean up here.

We weren't sure the children could swim and the bathing pool would be busy tonight. It was safer to take the young ones in the early morning when we knew there would be less activity there. For now, the males all just got changed into their nighttime shifts and got ready to rest.

Damien and his Brothers lay down, but left a space on one side of the bed for our young charges. During the trip here Mycah's family had slept fitfully, clinging to one another. They hadn't used much room at all, even in their sleep they'd been anxious. The little boys crawled into their assigned spot and huddled together. Opening my eyes blearily I reached out to touch Evan in front of me and looked at our boys across the bed. I wanted to comfort them, but I didn't know what they needed.

"They need to feel safe," Kein said quietly from behind me. "This is a lot of change for them. Rest now, wife, take care of yourself. The boys will relax with time."

I assumed he was right. It was the same thing Hannah had said and it made sense. The boys had been trapped in the middle of a war and then whisked away to a new world. This was a big adjustment. We would just continue to provide a safe, stable home for them. I prayed they'd come around.

My eyes shut and I sighed. I would have been nice to sit and talk around our fire, but we had so many responsibilities now. My little boy would never get to know me if we were always doing something. I longed for a quiet day to spend with him. Perhaps then....I fell back to sleep thinking how wonderful it would be when everything calmed down again.

It was the middle of the night when I had the strong urge to wake up and stay still. The commands in my mind weren't fearful, just insistent. Breathe like I was asleep and don't move.

Mycah's family was awake and I sensed them sitting around me on the bed. The men had woken when the children did, but they wanted to see what the boys wanted. Like well trained soldiers my husbands had continued to breathe slowly and deeply, simulating sleep.

Someone's fingers touched my arm and I fought the desire to flinch. The boys must still think I was asleep because I felt all of them touching my arm. They stroked it and then pinched the skin of my upper arm. It took great fortitude not to move as they explored.

"Feels like us," I heard Niah say in a voice I'm sure he thought was a whisper. "You were right, Jonathan. You knew what Mama would feel like..."

Damien and his Brothers were glad the boys felt comfortable enough to explore, but they also felt some humor at their lack of stealth. The little ones had woken each other noisily and then walked across the bed to surround me. Damien knew we'd have a time teaching them to hunt quietly. It certainly wasn't something they would do instinctively.

Warm breath was on my cheek a moment before a kiss was pressed in the same place.

"I did it!" Mycah said triumphantly.

Each of the children pressed a kiss against my cheek. Jonathan went last and I felt him linger. Somewhere in my boy's memory was kissing. He knew what this was and he'd done it before. He repeated the gesture several times.

"Do you remember...?" he asked his Brothers in that same stage whisper Niah had used.

Aiden did. He sat behind my head and I felt him fiddling with my hair as he leaned down and pressed kisses to my temple. He remembered the gentle affection and the soft feel beneath his fingers. This was all so familiar to the two of them.

I felt the wet swipe of a tongue on my cheek and jaw. Jonathan was tasting. He did it over and over again before I felt him move away. Barely peeking, I saw him hovering over Evan's supine form. He licked his male breeder several times and then looked back at his Brothers.

They sat in silence for several heartbeats and we waited to see what they'd do next.

Jonathan stepped over Evan's head and knelt next to Damien. He tasted the big man's chin and then continued around the bed. My little boy tasted all of us until he came to sit pensively by Evan's side. Jonathan reached out and tentatively touched Evan's long hair. The sensitive locks were so much like his own, he must have recognized that.

Damien and his Brothers just continued to breathe evenly. The little family needed to do this experiment when they felt we weren't watching. This was the perfect time for it. We'd let them take as long as they needed. Finally, they reached a decision.

"We're okay here. I remember them. This really is family," Jonathan announced in that loud whisper and the little boys all murmured agreement.

"We will trust them, if you are sure, Brother," Mycah said with authority.

That familiarity they'd felt to us was a good thing. Apparently they'd decided to accept it. I almost smiled as I heard them relax. The tension they'd held in their little bodies had been palpable.

Mycah's family was yawning and stretching. Feet passed in front of me as two boys headed back to their original spot. Behind me someone stumbled over Aiden as they made their way past and hands dug into my hair. Aiden stretched out behind my head and wrapped the softness in his fingers. Glancing over I saw Jonathan curled up next to his father sucking on Evan's fingers.

"It's cold," I heard Niah complain.

He groused that he wanted his Brothers to come sleep with them. Mycah and Rees were also whining, they wanted to be closer. My men had had enough of being kept awake at night. It was time for sleeping.

Bane pulled Rees over his chest and cocooned him between himself and Kein. Niah followed his Brother and fitted himself in the crook of Bane's big arm beside Rees. Damien did the same thing with Mycah and the lead Brother snuggled between Evan and Damien, using Damien as a pillow as he yawned. My husbands tucked the boys in and I felt contentment spread around the bed.

Reaching out a hand I stroked Jonathan lovingly. He was sleepy and calm. I kept a hand on him and he didn't mind at all. In fact he seemed to relax further into the touch.

My men cradled the small family that had finally accepted them. For too long we had felt the separation of our family as an acute pain. We had our daughters returned to us, but our our sons had been lost. This night was the final step toward putting the family back together. We all felt right for the first time in a long time. The love in the room was throbbing round and round through the bonds that linked us.

The boys fell asleep almost instantly. They liked being surrounded by family. This new family was big and strong. Once they determined we were good, they fell into an almost instant deep sleep. Hearing Aiden snore behind me I knew they hadn't slept well in days.

I smiled at Evan in the dark and saw the flash of white as he smiled back. They were our boys again. We had nothing to worry about. I fell back to sleep feeling more loved than I'd ever imagined a person could feel.

************************

"I like it here," I heard Jonathan whisper and I opened my eyes.

Evan was propped on his side talking to our son. It was near moonset and Evan had woken when Jonathan did. Now they lay side by side talking in the early morning.

"We didn't like the compound," Jonathan said with conviction. "My Brothers and I knew there were more in the family and not just us. We didn't like the Keepers and we felt lonely...."

"We missed you all, too," Evan told him, as he stroked his boy's hair. "You are family and we wanted to be close to you. I promise we won't let anyone take you all again."

As they lay next to one another and talked, I knew what Evan was doing. He was reestablishing the connection we'd worked so hard to cultivate with our son. Jonathan said he remembered us and he loved us. It was all coming back.

The rest of the little ones were waking up, probably at Jonathan's mental prodding. I felt Aiden behind me stretching and snuggling in my hair. Jonathan's attention turned and was on his Brother immediately.

In a flash I was smothered under Jonathan's writhing form as he attacked Aiden. I pushed Jonathan up and over and he continued to wrestle with his Brother behind my head. I tugged my hair free and sat up to watch the boys.

Once Aiden was excited and awake, Niah and Rees were their next targets. The boys pounced on Kein and Bane, intent on getting to their Brothers that lay nestled between the two men. Rees was the hardest to wake up and he didn't rouse until Mycah crawled over Bane to get to him.

The boys tumbled and played on the bed until Damien clapped his hands.

"We go to swim and bathe, boys," he said in a commanding tone, "put on your clothing!"

They were up in a flash. Watching the boys try to dress themselves was somewhat amusing. They were too young to get it completely right. They put their shirts on inside out and used each other's boots. At the compound the Keepers would have assisted them, for the first time in a long time I was able to help my boy. It was a wonderful feeling!

Before we left for the pool, Evan spent a moment untangling my hair. I sat on a chair and let him work behind me. Aiden had made a terrible mess of the back, as he had always done before.

"Where is Halil?" Aiden asked crawling up on my lap with absolute familiarity. "Where is Rynal?"

The other little boys looked up from what they were doing and started to ask similar questions. It sounded like they were all asking for their breeders.

"Halil went to The Great Harmonious Spirit," I told Aiden gently, "and we will have to find Rynal."

The rest of the boys asked only for one name and I assumed they only knew their female breeders. Damien promised we would find them and the boys seemed somewhat satisfied with that answer.

The halls were mostly dark and quiet as we made our way to the bathing hall. It was still early. Mycah's family walked with us and they were all questions this morning. We answered everything and encouraged them to look around.

"The camp is new to your family," Evan told them. "You should pay attention to everything as we pass."

That was all the permission Mycah and his Brothers needed. They bounded down the hall and peered into the unlit fire pits. Nosy boys stuck their heads in different doorways to see what was in each room.

It was like watching five parts to a magnet. The boys would separate and see five different things. A moment later they would be back in a group talking rapidly about what they'd seen. In the blink of an eye, they'd be off exploring again. It was not behavior I'd seen on the monitors from the compound, but then the Keepers had never encouraged curiosity.

"I am jealous," Christof said watching them.

We were encouraging their inquisitiveness and wonder, and not stifling them. Christof would have liked to have grown up with this freedom.

"And I am sorry, Brother," Damien told him solemnly.

It had been his job to control Christof. He'd had to limit Christof's nature, so the family could succeed.

"We did what we had to, Brother," Christof told him. "This is much better, though."

Inside the bathing hall were many men with small children. Evidently everyone had the same idea. It would be easier to watch the little ones with fewer grown men here. We got the boys undressed and guided them toward the pool.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 35



Jonathan dove in the moment he was near the edge and Aiden followed. The other three Brothers had never learned to swim and yelled for their family to come back. They didn't like that they couldn't follow.

"Don't be upset," Bane soothed picking up Rees and Mycah. "We'll all bathe and then we'll teach you to swim."

Damien carried Niah in and we found a shallow area by the steps. Jonathan and Aiden showed up with shiny rocks they'd found on the bottom. They had gotten one for each of their Brothers. The gifts didn't totally soothe the hurt feelings of being left, but it helped.

We scrubbed ourselves and the boys in the warm, swirling water. Pretty soon we were all clean, our charges weren't worried about that, though. Mycah's family wanted to learn how to swim.

I figured we'd be late for the morning meal at this rate, but the boys loved the swimming lesson. Jonathan and Aiden had quickly disappeared to explore the pool as Evan taught their Brothers how to move in the water. The little boys were desperate to follow their Brothers.

My method of swimming was not the same as what the men did. There wasn't much I could teach them on this front. I pulled myself up the steps and dried my body by the fires. It seemed like a good idea to get dressed so I could help Mycah's family when they got out.

Several families had little boys and they were getting them re-clothed after their bath. It was funny to watch the other men battle with the little ones as they did up their outfits. Stubborn children were used to doing this themselves, even if they did it wrong. Male children in the Child Keepers rarely got the undivided attention they were all getting now.

The love and affection from their caregivers would allow them to form strong bonds. The Keepers were always kept too busy to really pay attention to one family. This type of attention was normal in the camp and created strong communal relationships. I was glad to see it happening so quickly.

Jonathan and Aiden were all over the water exploring. I'd see them pop up for air as they examined the contents of our bathing pool. The two boys had no fear as they explored the water. This was fun and liberating. They seemed to be having a grand time.

Evan felt Jonathan, he always had. My family was aware of their offspring, but except the one time he tried to bond with them, Jonathan had not seemed overly conscious of his male breeder. As I sat and watched my family, I realized that had changed. Suddenly I felt Jonathan projecting powerfully to Evan. It wasn't something I wanted to feel, though. It was a call to arms.

Before I could stand on my feet every man in the hall moved as one. Little boys were literally thrown from the pool and caught by men that were standing around me. Short knives were grabbed from the clothing laying around and tossed into the pool. Men's arms darted out of the water and grabbed the weapons in perfect synchrony.

I'd never been this close to the men when they were grabbed by The Great Harmonious Spirit before. The raw power of it silenced the scream that I wanted to let out. There was no fear in this room, only determination. Our quiet morning had become a battle and we would win.

It was like slow motion as the huge black shape rose out of the water near the edge of the light. I couldn't see into the darkness that well, but the men could. The snake like alien writhed and coiled. It's jaws were wrapped around something small and pale and I did scream.

Jonathan's body was caught in the creature's teeth. I saw Aiden biting frantically at the creature's neck trying to make it let go. That wasn't what forced the alien's actions, though.

Damien's family swarmed around the thing taking out chunks of its flesh. The razor sharp secondary teeth my men carried were not just for show. My family was joined by several other families of men and together they tore the creature to pieces.

More men rushed into the bathing room from outside. Mund's family led the charge with Basin's right behind. They roared a mighty war cry as one being and the walls resounded with it. They were being called and commanded by The Great Spirit. The men's power was in their numbers and their absolute cooperation, we certainly had that here.

The pool had to be searched and the danger neutralized. The new men stripped and plunged into the water intent on finding the invaders hiding in this space. Other men stood between the little boys and the water, weapons drawn and ready.

The men in the pool had torn the first creature to pieces in the water. There were other aliens hiding and they were treated the same way. The Paterian men attacked them the way a school of piranas would have. The aliens fought back viciously, intent of maintaining this entrance to our living space.

I didn't feel any panic from my family, despite the great risk. The Great Harmonious Spirit was in control and there was only order to their thoughts. Still, I couldn't quite tell what had happened to my baby boy.

Mycah and his two Brothers had been tossed out of the pool before Damien and his Brothers went after Jonathan. The little boys were standing and staring at the water. Their teeth were down, but they weren't frantic. The Great Spirit had them and they were doing what it commanded.

The men found many snake creatures hiding. I watched in horror as they tore them apart in the water. We had literally been on top of them, but they had been waiting for something. Realizing I stood defenseless, I pulled my gun out and trained it on the water.

Evan appeared suddenly at the steps, he leapt out of the water with our two boys. He placed them on their feet behind his armed campmates and disappeared back into the pool. I wasn't spared a glance as he returned to the hunt.

I turned and looked down to see Jonathan and Aiden panting. They were bloodied and had jagged bite marks on their upper bodies. What really got my attention was what was hanging out of their mouths. Both the children had taken a chunk out of the alien. Their mouths were full of bloody, dripping alien flesh.

"Spit that out!" I ordered, unsure if the nasty alien fluids were harmful to us.

Both boys complied and grinned up at me with their teeth down. They were Paterian children alright. Wicked, fierce boys whose instinct to fight could not be denied.

I was grateful neither child appeared too badly hurt. They were standing and breathing, for which I was thankful, but I didn't have time to fully examine them. We were currently at ground zero for the alien invasion and we all needed to be alert. I turned my attention back to the bath just as a long black shape shot out of the water toward us.

It wasn't a Paterian male and I didn't hesitate. I knew how these things moved. I shot my gun and tore the thing in half, right where the arms met the body. The alien dropped down into two parts and made a sickening splat as it hit the floor in pieces. The men didn't spare it a second glance as they stayed vigilant for more invaders.

The water in the normally calm pool roiled as the men fought beneath the surface. In my mind's eye I saw the plan the men were following. Once the pool was cleared we needed to find what access point the aliens were using. They must be swimming in where the water entered and we needed to defend that entrance. Right now, it was imperative that the children be moved to a safer place, as soon as possible.

Damien was out of the water suddenly, followed by the rest of my family. I saw the vicious predators they could be as they moved. Dark stripes covered trained and toned muscle, the men looked as dangerous as I'd ever seen them.

Other men, powerful like Damien and his Brothers, leapt from the water. None of the men bothered to dress, but they picked up their swords and guns. The Paterians made a wall around the children, reinforcing the guard we had been left with. It was time to get the small and weak away from the fighting.

The guard moved as a single unit and the children were herded along. Mycah's family needed no prodding to move with the group, but most of the other children were confused. The men moved without speaking. If you weren't part of The Great Harmonious Spirit, there was no direction.

"Ciara," Bane growled, as we moved down the hall away from the bathing pool, "if it isn't Paterian, kill it."

"Follow the men down the hall away from here," I called to the confused children.

The several families of children surrounded by men made their way quickly down the hall. We walked toward the large room used for healing, which was also near where the children were usually Kept. We were met by a group of guards that took the uninjured young toward the children's area. Mycah's family was herded inside the infirmary and my men left us with the large contingent of well armed guards at the door.

Jonathan and his family headed for an empty warm stone and scrambled up on it. They sat quiet and attentive, just like most of the other men in the hall. It was easy to see who The Great Harmonious Spirit commanded and who it didn't. I wondered why some and not others as I made my way over to my boys. There was no time to worry about the other men, though.

Mycah's family surrounded Jonathan and Aiden. I grabbed a pail of water and fresh cloth. Rose met me at the slab with her own pail and cloth.

"Oh, Ciara..." she said softly looking down at the boys' bleeding bodies.

Mycah's family looked up at her and then at me, before their attention was back on the doorway. What was happening outside had most of their focus.

"We just need to clean them up so the Healers can help them," I said trying to sound calm.

Rose and I cleaned the wounds on both boys. The teeth marks were deep in some places and Jonathan had some uneven tears that were bleeding profusely. Our charges didn't flinch or whine as we worked. Mycah's family watched us and didn't interfere. When the Healers approached I wasn't surprised when the boys accepted the poking and prodding without any complaint.

Then, I focused on my men and felt the order to their thoughts. The Great Harmonious Spirit that gripped them had them exploring the underground tunnels the water took. Rue's family had developed a way to breathe air under the water and my men were using them. They swam deep into the underground streams looking for the aliens. The organized search was very effective.

My family was close now and although I was not invited to participate in The Great Harmonious Spirit, I could witness it. My men were intimately connected to other men they knew well and trusted. For instance, I could sense Mund's and Basin's families deeply. Tyle's family was tightly bound into that original coil and so was Mycah's family. I felt Stayne and his Brothers fighting alongside Arnold's family. Those connections branched out and I felt other men, which led to bonds with still more men. It was like an enormous spiderweb of relationships.

This was what Thom had been talking about when he'd originally talked to us about The Great Harmonious Spirit. The men connected to other men they trusted. That's why little Jonathan had been able to call for help underwater. He'd used his love for his father and had initiated The Great Harmonious Spirit.

I felt a personal sense of relief it was Rhane and his Brothers helping my boy. These Healers were old and well respected. I knew they would not miss anything.

The Healer's worked quickly and efficiently cauterizing bleeding and examining the wounds. Every little cut was checked very thoroughly. Several of the more jagged bite marks received a stitch or two. My little ones did not fight the Healers.

Jonathan looked up at them and suddenly grew his secondary teeth, which surprised me. I looked at his wicked smile and gasped. He'd broken a tooth.

The Healers just used a device to grab the damaged tooth and pull it out quickly. That must have hurt because all the little Brothers touched Jonathan for a moment. The Healers used another device to stop the bleeding. I just hoped that tooth would grow back.

Rhane and his Brother applied healing salve and wrapped both Aiden's and Jonathan's wounds in clean cloths. The boys accepted the wraps and then lay back on the slab. The rest of Mycah's family lay down so they were all touching. Their eyes drifted shut and they stayed like that, seemingly asleep. Think about this, is it clothes or cloths?

"What is going on?" I asked quietly, looking up at Rhane as he packed up his tools.

The Healers were part of The Great Harmonious Spirit and they found my confusion unfathomable. It took them a moment to answer.

"Injured males must rest so they can heal. These boys will rest until the next meal and then we will check them. You stay here and watch them, Ciara," Rhane told me before he moved away with his family.

I looked at Rose and she smiled wanly back.

"That sounded reassuring," she said taking my pail and cleaning towel. "I know you must be worried, but they seem fine."

"FINE?!" a woman roared behind us.

The men in the hall that were being commanded by The Great Harmonious Spirit barely spared her a glance. Rose and I both jumped nearly a foot in the air hearing her outburst.

"They are not fine!" the woman raved. "They are children that were attacked by an ALIEN! This is not a safe place for the men! They will be killed here!"

I couldn't help but let out a sharp, coarse laugh at her outrage.

"The MOMENT my boy saw the danger he reached out for his male breeder for help," I responded angrily. "My family reached out to the camp. These boys were never safer. There is always danger, but you took away the men's ability to defend themselves on those compounds. They can't connect to The Great Harmonious Spirit when you keep them divided and isolated. The men have to have love and trust to survive."

The woman on the slab had a vicious wound across her neck. She still looked at me angrily and growled.

"We put them there for their safety! They are not safe here! You are nothing more than a slave and will never understand!" she spat out.

"What doesn't she understand?" Kana asked walking up from behind us.

She gently shooed Rose and told her to go help the Healers. I spared my friend a confused look as Kana settled on the edge of my son's warm stone. She pushed me around the rock so I rested behind her. I didn't really feel we needed protection, but my family and I were going to get it.

Rose moved away, but continued to watch as Kana spoke.

"Perhaps you should explain the whole story to her," Kana continued. "Tell the human how we tricked the men onto the compounds. Explain to her how we made sure the different ages never bonded. Tell her why we did all that. It was never for their safety and you know that. It was so we could sell the ore off the planet! The men are powerful when The Great Harmonious Spirit has them. They can even defy us. These aliens will never survive here."

The room was silent after Kana spoke and I saw the rage in the eyes of the woman she had been speaking with.

"How DARE YOU..." the woman started to say and Kana laughed.

"They know," Kana said blithely, "the men here know because their women are honest with them. You should be honest with yourself about our motivations and reasons. Arguing that these injured males are reason to undo the salvation of this world is foolish indeed."

A young family that had been standing along a near wall approached us slowly. Just looking at them I knew they were young Warriors rescued from a compound. They were not bonded to the camp and they were not grabbed by The Great Harmonious Spirit. They looked very suspicious of all of this.

"Why would we be put on the compound instead of living here?" the lead Brother asked Kana with a slightly defensive posture. "We have never heard this."

The boys looked nervous talking to females and I could tell they were ready to bolt away if Kana attacked. They must be brave men to do what they were doing now. Kana just settled herself more firmly on Jonathan's stone and started to speak with them.

The woman with the neck wound attempted to get up, most likely to fight, but she couldn't. Her wound was too bad and prevented too much movement. Tyle and his family further limited her by pushing her back down.

"Movement will injure you, cousin," Tyle said in a commanding tone. "We will not lose good women to this battle when we can help it. Stay still until you heal."

The woman wanted to fight Kana, but she was no match for men under The Great Harmonious Spirit's control. Several families approached quickly and literally bound her body to the table with stike rope. She would be calm and rest, whether she wanted to or not.

Kana watched the men bind the other woman impassively before continuing her conversation.

"Many generations ago we realized the ore on this planet was valuable to other races. It fuels the portals that allow them to cross between worlds," she explained.

Many older boys and men from the compound, left here for their safety, slowly surrounded her to listen.

"Men of this world did not like the idea of letting the ore leave our world. They fought the idea fiercely and called it wrong," she announced to the assembly.

"Why?" one of the young men asked, inching closer with his family.

I crawled on the slab beside Kana and looked to her to continue. I didn't know either.

"The ore is us," she said and her audience gasped in confusion. "The ore is in our very make up. When we are delivered back to the Paterian fire the ore accumulates. As our physical form sinks deep into the fire we become our integral parts and the planet has us back. The ore the women mine from the mountains is our physical presence on this planet. Without us, there is no ore."

The men and boys were still not understanding, but I did and found the revelation shocking.

"The ore is part of the matrix in our bones and muscles," Kana's Sister with one wing said. "Each of us has a little ore stored within us. The ore is the power that shapes us and connects us to each other and our world."

Both women took very non threatening postures and it seemed to encourage the men to ask questions. It took time but I watched the men from the compound and mountains slowly start to comprehend. They'd never thought about what literally composed their physical selves.

As I sat and considered it seemed the ore was comparable to Earth's coal and oil. It wasn't the same, not by a long shot, but it was similar.

Women all around us were paying attention to the conversation. I heard the shift of a large body behind me and looked back to see Asper watching the interaction intently. She did not speak or interrupt the proceeding, but I noted how pensive she appeared. I wondered what was going through her mind and whose side she would take in this argument. For now, she seemed to be holding her counsel.

Jonathan and his Brothers slept, as they had been commanded to do. I stroked their foreheads and watched them breathe. They seemed well and unperturbed, so my attention shifted back to the conversation.

Kana was talking about how the men were kept divided because, while one family was no match for the women, many men under The Great Harmonious Spirit could challenge any number of women. In fact, even the power of the women's venom could be overcome by the sheer force of numbers. When the men joined they became strong in many, many ways. In order to sell the ore, the women tricked the men onto the compounds and then slowly eroded their communal bond.

"We had thought once we were a rich planet we would free the men, but it never happened," Kana said sadly. "I don't even know why we continue this way. It was soon evident there is nothing we needed from other planets. We hoard the riches, but they have no value to us...."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 35



I shook my head and stroked Mycah's arm as he slept. He sighed and his fingers found my skirt. Little fingers gripped the fabric tightly, reinforcing his bond to his extended family.

"What good is wealth when you have to give up your children?" I asked sadly.

"That is the truth," the woman with one wing said watching me. I looked up at her and she smiled as she introduced herself to me.

"Rysell from the T'yonin Mountains," she said formally.

"Ciara, from Earth," I replied with a grin.

I was very glad to see these women coming to our way of thinking.

"They need protection!" the woman with the neck wound spit out from her bound position. "You should be protecting them now! They need you to go fight for them!"

Kana and her Sister weren't perturbed.

"My Sister and I are good teachers," Rysell said calmly from her spot on the floor. "The Administrators from the camp asked us to provide what the men they left in this hall needed. We have cousins that are physically protecting this room from the outside. If things changed, our jobs would change."

"Doubtful the camp would need us to protect them from the aliens," Kana mused watching the door. "The real danger here seems to be you, cousin. You cannot stay locked in the old ways."

Beyond the males questioning the Paterian women, I noted the former slaves and felt that I had shirked my duty. They stood as a group. They had been listening to Kana talk, also. Abram's family and several other cooks stood with them, diligently surrounding them. The healthy, young Paterian females left with them last night were probably assisting the men outside.

The former slaves seemed to be a touch better than they had been the day before. Many of them were looking around and several were attempting to talk to their guardians. Speaking to men under the control of The Great Harmonious Spirit was a difficult endeavor, though. I wanted to tell them that.

I caught Molly's eye as I sat staring at the women. She looked around and then confidently crossed the room. She watched Kana and Rysell warily, but they just smiled at her and introduced themselves. Molly responded, but her voice was still small and unsure. It would take time for her to feel comfortable.

"Come sit with me," I offered patting the slab beside me.

Molly hesitated before she sat with me. The old training was hard to break. Humans knelt on Pateria, we didn't sit.

We watched as Kana and Rysell moved away, saying they were worried their discussion was causing unnecessary disruption to those receiving healing. An area was cleared on the far side of the infirmary for Kana and Rysell to continue the men's education.

"One of these is your boy?" Molly asked quietly.

I stroked Jonathan's head and smiled at her. "My brave little boy, Jonathan, and his Brother Aiden found the aliens hiding in our bathing pool. It attacked them, but they fought back. They have some bites and scratches, but the Healers said they just needed rest."

"Branden liked to fight, too," Molly smiled. "He was so active I feared for him sometimes."

I laughed and remembered Jonathan's early days and his obsession with our pool.

Molly and I sat and talked as the boys slept. She wanted to stay on this planet with her boy, but she wasn't sure how it would be possible. Other than the men who had owned her, she had no one to help her. We just mulled it over between the two of us as Mycah's family continued to slumber.

"It was the drink," a high voice intoned suddenly from beside us. "You could have just told us it was the drink that kept us from carrying their children."

I wanted to roll my eyes and curse out loud. Vesa and her friends stood less than five paces away. They wore borrowed clothing from the camp, but they still managed to look haughty. Vesa had managed to be just as annoying as she always had been.

If I hadn't been so irritated with her very presence I might have been impressed with her ability to pull it off. Less than a day ago Vesa had been a broken mess. Thanks to our Healers, she stood in all her usual glory, despite the ragged, mismatched attire. The rebound was actually quite stunning.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know, now," I said forcing a polite smile. "I was a slave and so were you back then. There were things I just couldn't say."

Vesa almost ignored what I said as her eyes raked over my body. "Not like I'd want to be breeding with them anyhow," she said. "You can't seem to stop..."

The woman's tone was aggressive and so was her stance. I got the impression she wanted to hurt me for whatever reason. This was a place of healing and rest, though. I sought to defuse the situation promptly.

"My children are very important to my family and me," I said as calmly as I could. "We enjoy being surrounded by our offspring."

Vesa snorted and her friends did, too. She took a step toward me and felt myself tense as she spoke. "They say you STAYED with your slavers. How ridiculous is that?! You must have no sense of self-respect. You are an insult to the freedom we've had returned!"

There was no use arguing with her. In fact, there wasn't even a point to it. We just did not get along with one another and probably never would. I didn't even validate her comment with a response. I was currently in no position to fight and that's what had happened last time.

"So, will you be taking the portals back home to Earth?" I asked instead trying to ease any potential conflict. "I was told that was an option."

"Perhaps," she sneered and looked derisively around the room.

Evidently this whole place was beneath her. I really felt like introducing her to Rue and his Brothers. They'd probably get along wonderfully.

"Come on, girls," Vesa said to her comrades suddenly, "let's not spend anymore time here."

Molly and I sat and watched them retreat. Molly raised her eyebrow as she turned back to me.

"Nasty," she said simply.

I patted my large stomach and grinned. "Last time we disagreed I broke her nose, but I don't think I'm in any shape to be playing games like that now."

Molly agreed and laid a hand on my belly.

"You are very large, Ciara," she commented with a slight tinge of worry. "I hope this won't be a difficult birth for you."

Molly was right and I'd forgotten about it with everything else going on. My pregnant belly had gotten massive. It was bigger than even it had been when I carried Kennedy to term.

Tyle's voice calling my name broke me out of my thoughts as he and his Brothers approached quickly. Immediately, Aryn's hand was touching my shoulder as he placed the other on my belly. He looked into my eyes as though seeking an answer to a question.

"Is there a problem with our cousin you carry?" he asked finally. "Is there an issue with that former slave that just walked away? You look concerned."

"My baby is big is all," I said as his Brothers surrounded us. "The human and I have had...a confrontation before. We just don't get along. There is nothing to worry about."

Tyle's family relaxed a little at the statement and looked at Molly and me.

"We saw your faces while the other girl was talking to you. Neither of you looked pleased and Ciara had her hand on her gun. We have all been watching you. Is that human dangerous?" Tyle asked quietly.

I was surprised to find I had a hand laying over my weapon. It had been an automatic response and had evidently alarmed the men in the hall. The Great Harmonious Spirit had them very alert right now.

Vesa and her friends were standing and talking, but every man around them seemed to be watching them closely. If those former slaves were somehow dangerous the men would be ready. However, I didn't want to see Vesa and her friends beaten to death just because I didn't like them.

"We don't get along, Aryn," I pleaded, trying to relax my features. "She's just an unpleasant human is all."

Tyle's family looked at me and then at Vesa. I'd laid a hand on my weapon. Their instincts told them I wouldn't do that unless I felt threatened and the camp protected it's own. This situation had to be resolved quickly.

"She's nasty," I said directing the comment to Molly, "not dangerous, just mean. We fought before, but I doubt she'd do that now. She's just out of sorts now. I don't like her and she dislikes me. She's hard to get along with."

Molly spoke softly and wouldn't meet Tyle's eyes, but she agreed with me.

"That girl is all talk. She doesn't feel confident enough here to attack anyone. For her it is all about looks and she is trying to look like she understands. None of us have been able to tolerate her attitude," Molly said while staring at the stone at her feet.

Tyle's family was hardly sensitive to human needs, but it was obvious Molly was frightened of them. Had they not been surrounding us, I'm sure she would have attempted to run away.

"Relax, human," Tyle soothed in a low voice, "I am Tyle rescued from the Caras compound. My Brothers and I will not harm you. Ciara is mate bonded family to my Brother's male breeder. We are not like the men you knew from the compound. We know that slavery is wrong. My family and I will not cause you any pain or harm."

Tyle's Brothers all introduced themselves and encouraged Molly to look at them. She did slowly and the boys seemed pleased. They encouraged her progress with gentle words.

"It's been very stressful," Molly said softly. "The girls I am with are so agitated and there are so many men here..."

"Good men," Tyle reassured, "these men from the camp will not harm you. We will teach the men from the mountains and compounds. This is not a place you should have fear. If it is too bad, you can leave. Our women will arrange portals. They have promised this. You are not trapped here."

Molly looked cautiously at Tyle as she spoke. I saw her flinch with every other word, but she was determined to overcome her fear.

"I have a child on this world," she told the Brothers. "I don't want to leave him. There are no offspring from me on Earth. I shall...I must find a way to live here."

The young men looked at Molly for a moment as though having a deep internal conversation. Knowing The Great Spirit it could have been a much larger conversation than even I guessed.

"Stay with us then," Tyle announced and his Brothers all smiled. "We will share our lodgings with you and since we stay near Ciara's family, you can be near Ciara. My Brothers and I will help you learn freedom as you prepare to meet your male offspring again."

Molly's mouth fell open and mine did, too. She stumbled over a few words, but couldn't seem to decide what to say. I saw her hand drift over the closure to the pants she wore and I understood suddenly what she feared they wanted from her.

"Female humans are used to be being used for sex on this planet," I said bluntly, there was really no other way when talking to men controlled by The Great Harmonious Spirit. "Molly might think you want to have sex with her."

Tyle frowned and looked back and forth between us. "We are not old enough to breed, yet. My Brothers and I will not be of age for at least two more turns of the sun. Rhane and his family have discussed it with us. Beside that, you know we would not force sex with anyone, Ciara. Our family creates honorable men."

"She was a slave used for sex and breeding, Tyle," I reminded him gently, as I laid a hand on his arm. "You have to be very clear about what your intentions are."

The young men seemed to accept the answer. All they wanted was to help Molly learn to be free on Pateria. No one shared their lodgings with them right now and she was welcome to join them. They could give her a safe, quiet home. Tyle's family had a strong sense of duty when it came to anyone in the camp.

"You could have a job," Aryn offered hopefully. "We are training with the Healers. It is well known humans are good Healers. Would you like to learn with us or perhaps teach us some of what you know?"

I had to grin at the sentiment. The reputation Rose and I had unwittingly earned humans would hopefully help other former slaves. Having a job did make you feel like part of the camp.

Molly smiled and sat a little straighter. "I was a Healer or at least a Healer's assistant on Earth," she said quietly. "I was what we called a nurse. I used to love my job."

Tyle's family was thrilled and demanded that Molly come with them. They were all Healer's assistants now. There was much to be done here and they could use more help.

"The former slaves?" I asked looking over at the women that still stood as a group, "I was supposed to watch them..."

"Others care for them, now," Tyle told me decisively. "You, now, have this family to watch. We will care for the former slaves. The camp will share the chore."

Molly followed the young family as they made their rounds and I was left with my sleeping boys.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 36



Hello Lit!

Thanks to everyone for the feedback and comments, Steve and I both read them! I will admit to still being behind on feedback via email. I'm catching up, just slowly! Thanks to all for the constructive advice about clothes vs cloth - oops.

A word of advice to aspiring Lit authors - don't procreate, they are s-o-o-o-o time consuming! In a good way of course, I've had a couple of requests for suggestions - that's the best one I have!

Many thanks to Steve150177 for his support and help. He keeps me on track.

The next chapter is due August 15 or August 16, I hope! My little girl doesn't appreciate computer time. Can you believe that?

Please vote and comment!

Mycah's family slept until the midday meal. They woke up as Abram's Brother, Ruse, came by with a tray full of food. The smell of something to eat woke them up right away.

I ate with Mycah's family and they seemed content. The Great Harmonious Spirit still had them because they were markedly calmer than they should have been. The Healers came and checked their wounds and they didn't mind at all.

It was abundantly obvious the moment the men deemed the camp safe again. The Great Harmonious Spirit released its hold and I had five edgy boys that wanted to do something. Actually, they wanted to do anything other than sit quietly on a warm slab in the infirmary.

"Mama, can we go look for aliens?" Niah asked crawling onto my lap, he had big brown eyes that pleaded with me.

"Can we go ride on the transports again, Mama?" Aiden asked, wrapping a hand in my hair and pulling at it roughly.

"I want to fight!" Jonathan demanded bouncing up and down.

The children explained to me in detail everything they wanted to do. They wanted to go back outside and see the trees. Mycah wanted to learn to swim. Rees wanted to know what Damien and his Brothers were doing. Niah was curious about the parts of the camp they hadn't been in yet. They seemed impossible to organize like this and I couldn't answer all of them at once.

"Stop jumping around and sit down!" I ordered them, watching Aiden and Jonathan start to roughhouse. "You'll tear open the wounds on your bodies. You need to be still, right now!"

One would listen for a second, but I couldn't get all five of them organized. I'd never been a "parent" in the real sense. Certainly not to five boys at once. This was very new to me.

"Speak to the lead Brother," the woman with the neck wound gruffly informed me when it became obvious I was losing what modicum of control I had over them. "The lead Brother will tame the others. They aren't old enough to focus their thoughts, yet, but you can help them do that."

I spoke to Mycah and looked him in the eye. It seemed to settle all of them. The questions and complaints now came from just one little boy. I could handle that better.

"You don't have clothing," I reminded Mycah, pinching his naked thigh, "so you can't go outside. Your Daddy and his Brothers aren't here to teach you to swim. You have to rest here until the Healers tell you it is okay to go play with the other little boys."

Restless did not begin to describe the five of them. I worried they'd pull out the sutures the Healers had put in. I begged them to be still, but they were bored and activity was normal to them.

They needed to be amused, so I told them stories. Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Peter Rabbit. The stories meant nothing to them.

"Do you boys know where aliens come from?" the woman with the neck wound asked pointedly, turning her face slightly toward us.

Mycah explained they came out of burning hunks of metal, which is what the boys had seen. He was quite sure of that. The aliens lived in burning ships that exploded on the ground.

"They come from other planets. Places very far away from here. At night, way up in the sky, you can see their home planet. It glows faintly red," the woman explained.

The boys didn't believe her, but this was a story they could get into. All my stories had been about things they'd never seen and could not imagine. When the woman talked about the aliens and the night sky, they had a frame of reference.

Tyle's family came by and quietly undid the ropes binding the large woman to the slab. They didn't interrupt her as she spoke to the little ones about other planets and different alien beings. She knew a lot about the alien race that I was most familiar with, the snake looking things, and talked mostly about those.

My five nude boys sat on the edge of their slab closest to her and listened to her talk. I sat with them and they were finally content. Aiden reached a hand into my hair and played absently with the strands. Otherwise, they were still and quiet, completely engrossed in her story telling. This was intensely interesting to them. I was just relieved they weren't tearing open their wounds.

The woman let the boys ask her questions, but she insisted they come from Mycah.

"The family needs to learn to communicate internally, so their bond is strong," she explained to me, almost begrudgingly. "They will each express themselves independently when they are doing different things. When they should be all focused they need to center themselves on their lead Brother."]

Focusing the questions on Mycah seemed to give the boys more stability. They could stay calm when everything was funneled that way. It was a lesson for me and one I appreciated.

"Thank you," I said directing my comment to the woman, she had no interest in me and turned away. I felt good having been polite, though.

Paterians were different from Earthlings. Over many moons I'd learned to appreciate the way Damien's family interacted with others. Unless something was going on, Damien spoke for the group. It should not have surprised me that Mycah's family should behave the same way. These boys would probably be a lot like Damien's family and I should anticipate that.

When I thought about it, I knew more about Paterian children than I admitted to myself. Rose and I had written stories for them, I knew what they liked to read and hear. These were males that liked stories based on what was around them. Treating Jonathan and his family like Earth children would not work. My baby was part of this world, so I had to treat him accordingly. I needed to treat him as what he was, a Paterian.

Tyle and his Brothers passed by and the woman demanded their attention.

"Those children cannot even be three turns of the sun yet," she said gruffly. "Find them something to do to keep them calm. They can't be left with nothing to do."

Aryn smirked just the way Bane would have as they moved away. The woman's mannerisms were funny to them, but they listened to her. She certainly had a commanding presence.

The boys were given that paper like substance and something like multicolored crayons. The woman demanded they draw pictures of the aliens and their crafts. She wanted them to draw a ship and an alien they'd seen. The activity was interesting to the boys and kept them busy, but still.

"Do you have a male offspring?" I asked hesitantly, unsure if she would speak to me.

It took a few heartbeats before she gruffly informed me she'd never had offspring.

I got the impression this was a sore spot for her and thought the matter would die quietly. It did not.

"You should stay in the camp, cousin," a grown man said from a slab in front of us. "Our essence is strong here. You would breed powerful, fine offspring and we would be honored to try with you. We sense you are near your cycle."

It was, by far, the worst pick up line I had ever heard. My face flushed red and I turned to see a family looking lustily back at the woman. It was like being in the middle of a bar and your girlfriend is getting hit on.

The man talking wore his hair long and he and his Brothers were shirtless. Heavy muscle lay underneath their deeply striped skin giving the men a powerful appearance. They were scarred from fighting beasts outside, but not from whips or women's teeth. These men had lived a rough life, but it had been on their terms. Given my experience, I could see these were free born, full-blooded Paterians.

I saw the wound on one Brother that must be keeping them here. He had a nasty, deep burn across his chest. The Healers had coated it in a clear salve, but I could see the edge of a bone beneath the treatment. The man stayed very still on the slab, but he did look over at the woman. Even he was eyeing her like he'd eat her for dinner.

"Are you even old enough to breed?" she asked curtly, although it was obvious they were.

The lead Brother wasn't injured and slid off the slab to approach the woman. His three uninjured Brothers followed him like they were stalking prey. They were quite good looking men, in a rough animalistic way. The woman must have thought the same thing, because I saw the look she was giving them.

"I am Eran, born in the T'lynien Mountains," he said proudly before introducing his Brothers. "I am fifteen moons past old enough to breed. We enjoy powerful women and are still looking for permanent mates. None of the women we have met have matched our needs, though."

The men had reached the edge of her slab and they lined up along it watching the woman. Their eyes took in her muscular physique and her prominent fangs. One Brother slid his hand along the edge of her powerful wing as it sat next to him. She seemed startled at first, but I think their bravery was wooing her. She finally relented to her obvious interest.

"I am Sotar, of the T'scan Mountains," she told them haughtily.

It felt so gross and so wrong to watch this happen. I twisted my body so I was no longer facing the uncomfortable conversation and watched my boys color. In my time at the compound I'd had more than enough of watching other couples together. This was not an interaction I needed to see.

The drawing was good for the boys. They lay on their tummies around the paper and each drew part of the picture that was in their collective thoughts. This activity was entertaining and it connected them. I'd have to remember this.

After a while I realized none of the boys had used the lacquered pots all morning. In my worry and anxiety, I had not either. Since I did not want to clean up a mess on our warm stone, I got us all up.

"Come on," I ordered, "let's go relieve ourselves of fluid."

The boys jumped off the slab and started to look curiously around. Now that they were down, they wanted to see everyone else in here. Most of the other Paterians on the slabs were badly injured. They didn't need curious little boys crawling all over them.

I remembered seeing Trenal walk with the boys. She'd picked up Mycah and the others followed obediently. It had felt like she was abusing their bond, but it had worked, so I decided to do that.

Mycah was a little surprised as I lifted him up and settled him on my hip. Luckily, he wasn't heavy, so it was easy work. Mycah wasn't used to being carried and looked back at his Brothers before looking quizzically at me. I took several confident strides forward before turning my head to look. The boys followed their lead Brother without straying. They would go wherever he did.

We moved without pause through the wounded toward the back of the healing chamber. There was a room with lacquered pots back there, but almost no one used them except those doing the healing. Most of our patients released their fluid into the urinal like gourds.

I put Mycah's feet on the floor and he went to the closest pot. Jonathan and the rest of the boys followed him so they all stood and used the same pot. Pulling up my skirt I sat and used one beside them. They finished first and now I had their full attention.

"Why do you sit down to urinate?" Aiden asked putting a hand on my thigh.

Jonathan stood at the other thigh and tugged at it. Mycah was peering between my legs and I couldn't have been more uncomfortable.

"Come sit with me and I'll tell you about it," Molly called from the door laughing at my predicament.

Five heads turned to me and I gladly gave them permission to go with Molly, anything for a moment of privacy.

I left the room with pots and found the boys perched on the edge of a healing stone. Molly was explaining to them the differences between men and women. She was doing a very good job of distracting them, while teaching them. There was so much they needed to understand. It was good to know I would have help.

A rustle of activity alerted me and more men were brought in injured. They were being laid on slabs and I knew Molly would be needed. We took our leave and let her get back to her new job.

Molly went right to work with Tyle's family on the badly wounded men. She was obviously trained and I got the feeling the Healers really appreciated her. Unlike me, she was not squeamish and did the job with confidence.

Mycah's family was content to color again in our original place. I looked them over and assumed it was Jonathan's and Aiden's age that had us confined to a sick bed. Compared to everyone else in here using a healing slab, my boys were in excellent condition.

Along the far walls I saw the make shift classroom that Kana and Rysell had set up. Older boys and men from the compounds sat and listened as the women talked.

I'd been vaguely aware of Damien and his Brothers all day. Most of the thoughts and emotions were geared to the hunt and occasional skirmishes with aliens. None of it had seemed overly concerning, so it was just background. I wasn't really listening and they weren't intentionally projecting.

The feeling of shame welled inside of me so suddenly it took me off guard. I wanted to hide under our stone. In all my life I'd never felt this embarrassed. It was like being caught masturbating by your grandmother. I was baffled as to where this feeling was coming from. Then I realized it was clearly the result of something happening to Damien and his Brothers.

"Mama, why is your face all red?" Jonathan asked standing right in front of me.

Niah stood right beside my son and he was also staring into my face. I looked like a familiar color to them. Rees could turn that shade in his cheeks, especially when he was upset. It wasn't like their stripes, this was different. They were very curious why I could turn the same color as their Brother.

Something my husbands had experienced had made them feel terribly humiliated, but I couldn't focus on them. The little boys were right in my face poking at my pink cheeks.

"It feels the same, only warmer," Niah said and the rest agreed with him.

They'd definitely seen this before, when Rees got red cheeks sometimes. The Child Keepers had thought it was illness, but the Healers said it wasn't.

"Why are they red?" Mycah asked reaching to pinch the cheek again.

"I felt...embarrassment," I said pushing them all back a little. "Humans get red in the face sometimes when they feel certain things."

That didn't explain to them why Rees would get the same way. I pulled the little boy toward me and examined his family mark.

"Rees had a human breeder in his line," I said pointing to the mark. "It was a long time ago, though."

The boys all looked at Rees' mark and then at each other's marks. Mycah was excited to find the same symbol on Jonathan. They couldn't understand why they all didn't have one. They wanted their marks to look the same. I was ready to explain when I sensed my family close.

Damien and his Brothers strode through the infirmary's entrance and I smiled broadly seeing them. I knew they weren't hurt, but it was good to be sure, nonetheless. Seeing them unscathed and dressed for battle made me feel better. It still wasn't clear what had made them so upset a little while ago.

I noted a second family following Damien and his Brothers. The second family all had long hair and their thick, leather coats looked to be for travel. Considering the thin layer of dirt coating them, they must have been traveling. Each of the five men carried a large bag over his shoulder, a sword on his back, and a gun at his waist. The family following my husbands looked as tough as Rayn and his family, but without the friendly smiles.

I got flashes of conversation bursting through the bond. Damien was ashamed and he didn't really want to show me what had happened. Secrets were not tolerated though and I felt him relent a moment before the men stopped in front of me.

"Rynal!!!" Aiden shouted jumping up and down on our stone.

The new men picked up our five little boys and examined them each thoroughly. The little ones reacted to these new faces like they'd been fast friends for ages. Mycah and his Brothers hugged their necks and kissed their cheeks. Jonathan tasted the man who held him, which didn't seem to bother the man at all. Aiden's hands immediately sought the long hair of his breeder and caressed the locks lovingly. The boys knew this family from Aiden's memory.

In my mind's eye, I saw the conversation.

"We do not enjoy being connected to SLAVERS!" they had roared when they'd met Damien and his Brothers in the transport storage area.

Aiden's male breeder and his Brothers had loudly bemoaned that they had to be linked through their boy to such dishonor. These men wanted their extended family to be honorable and noble. They would have to spend time with us and be close to us, because of our boys. Slavers were not what they would have chosen at all.

I stood and made up my mind to greet the new men. The best way to dispel their anger was to prove to them I was not a slave. They were obviously confused about this ongoing relationship.

"I am Ciara, from Earth," I said pleasantly to the man that appeared to be the lead Brother, he was holding Niah. "My mates are Damien and his Brothers. It is good to meet you all. Aiden has been asking for Rynal for ages."

Before the man had a chance to speak I rose on my tiptoes and brushed my lips against his cheek with a smile. I also hugged him lightly before backing away.

"It is how humans greet family," I explained as he looked quizzically down at me.

I explained hugging and kissing and then waited for the man to respond to me.

"I am Hodlen, born in the T'sparian Mountains," he said sounding surprised.

I moved from man to man and introduced myself. Each of the men got a kiss and a hug. I made eye contact and smiled congenially. I made sure my mannerisms were of anything but that of a slave. These new men Hodlen, Rynal, Spartian, Tos, and Kee seemed genuinely taken aback by the greeting.

I looked at their bags and noted the sleeping pads wrapped on top. These men had no place to stay and the camp was really crowded.

"Our bed is small," I offered politely, "but we would share with family. Would you stay with us?"

Damien had never felt more pride. I was acting exactly as I should. Our bed was mine to share and offering it to these men would be the honorable thing to do. They would have refused my husbands, but Damien had a feeling they would not refuse me.

"You must have been traveling a long time. I'm sure a bed would be a nice change. We would all fit and you would be more comfortable," Damien interjected politely.

Hodlen looked from Damien to me and I saw the first hint of a smile as he responded.

"We left our mountain with a group of twenty families coming this way as soon as the fighting in our area decreased. That was five day cycles ago," he said.

"The fighting ended sooner there?" I asked curiously.

The isolated mountain camp Hodlen and his Brothers had lived their life in had almost no ore. The dry barren area surrounding it had none at all. It was the perfect place to hide a camp because of that. The minimal aliens that had attacked that area had been quickly destroyed.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 36



"We had never felt safe to travel far from there," Rynal said as he held Aiden. "Our mates feared for us to travel here, because we had to pass a mountain full of ore. With things as they are, no one even noticed us as we moved past it."

"Your mates?" I asked curiously. "They did not come with you?"

"Of course they came," Holden answered, "still, there used to be much danger from the slaving women in the past. Travel was dangerous. Our mates would do anything to protect us, but they could easily be outnumbered..."

"Halil," I said softly, "she was your mate?"

The men all smiled lightly and touched one another. "She is still part of us," Hodlen said with some reverence. "We felt her go to The Great Harmonious Spirit. Halil's Sisters would have preferred to give her back to the Paterian fire in our home, but it was not possible. I wish she had lived long enough to have seen her male offspring bonded before she joined The Spirit, as was her fervent desire."

I nodded solemnly and told them how she had instructed the slaving women on the benefits of freedom before she died.

"She was always an agent of The Great Spirit," Spartian said softly and his Brothers agreed.

Hodlen and his Brothers focused back on the boys and Mycah's family was happy for the attention. They described the bathing pool and the alien attack. Jonathan told them about coming here from the compound. The little ones wanted to show them their scars and the men all discouraged them. No one wanted to interrupt what the Healers were doing for our boys. The wraps over their wounds stayed in place.

"Let the Healers show us when they are ready," Damien said patting Mycah's head.

Holden looked to Damien to tell them exactly what had happened at the pool. I saw Rynal almost puff with pride looking down at his boy as Damien spoke. Our sons had fought with valor.

"Strong and loyal, like us, Brothers," he said holding Aiden happily as his Brothers patted his shoulders.

Damien and his Brothers had picked up the clothing that Mycah's family had left at the pool. We helped the little ones put on their pants and shoes. Since Jonathan and Aiden couldn't wear a shirt, yet, we only fully dressed the other three. As we were finishing I heard a happy shout come from across the room.

Tyle and his family ran to us and looked excitedly at Hodlen and his family. I saw the resemblance in an instant. Tyle was Hodlen's male offspring. He absolutely had to be.

By now Hodlen's family was getting used to hugging and kissing. It wasn't their way, but they accepted the affection from Tyle's young family. They looked at me as they took the greeting. My influence was hard to deny. It was a testament to my freedom that I felt I could share Earth tradition. I was glad I had.

"We have talked many times on the monitor since coming here," Tyle explained to Damien's family. "They contacted us soon after we were brought here. We didn't tell you all because..."

The young man faltered looking at Hodlen and Damien patted the young man's shoulder in reassurance.

"Slavery was not something we should have been a part of," he said simply and the surrounding family agreed.

The Healers came and unwrapped the wounds on our youngest family members. It amazed me how fast Paterians recovered. Aiden's cuts were well on their way to being healed and most of Jonathan's were not even oozing. My boys and their male breeders were all proud of the resulting scars. Our boys were fearless.

The Healers re-wrapped the worst of it after applying some salve. They allowed us to take the boys from the infirmary, but insisted we keep them calm for the rest of the day cycle.

"No fighting, no climbing, no jumping, and no running," Rhane explained plainly. "The little ones must rest. If there is any concern bring them back to us without hesitation."

"Will water hurt the wounds?" I asked.

"They can swim tomorrow," Rhane's Brother said thoughtfully. "Do not let the wounds get wet tonight."

Tyle's family listened to the instructions as well and piped up to remind the Healers Molly would be staying with them. Tyle's family stayed near us in the same secluded complex. Our new Healer's assistant would help watch the boys, also. That seemed to please Rhane. Molly had already proved herself to have a knack for healing. We should trust her judgment.

It was easier to control Mycah and his Brothers with so much family around. As we walked through the busy halls I was glad for the assistance. I imagined that in the distant past it was always like this. The children's care could be spread between all their breeders. It would have been a superior system.

"We need to find the others," Hodlen was saying to Damien. "Our families share male offspring with several other families. All of us should be in the same place. Now that we are all free men we should be close."

"We must contact the others, now that they are all free," Kee said seriously.

In the past, at least one of those families would be men that were good at Keeping and training children during the day. Hodlen's family didn't want to use unrelated Child Keepers if they had an option. Family would be the best to care for the young.

"Things are going back as they should be," Rynal said happily. "This is how we always wanted to live. We have dreamed of this a long time."

Our conversation was cut short as the boys grabbed our attention.

"Daddy," Jonathan suddenly wailed loudly, "I want to swim! We didn't get to swim enough this morning!"

We all looked at my upset little boy. The tunnel to the bathing pool was coming up and Jonathan obviously remembered that.

"There might be aliens," Mycah said as his eyes lit up with excitement and then I saw the fear. "Do we need to fight the aliens in the water to swim every time?"

"They might catch us!" Rees intoned sounding alarmed.

Niah's little teeth grew and I saw him getting upset. The boys were caught between excitement and trepidation. They wanted to swim, but the big aliens were something to worry about.

Damien's calm voice settled the boys as the men picked them up.

"The aliens that got inside are gone now and won't come back," Damien said. "We barred all the entrances they were using. Men protect those entrances now, also. There are no aliens to fight and none will catch you. Your older family will protect you. In the morning we will swim again."

The little ones looked around at the ten powerful men. It eased the distress that they had been feeling. Mycah in particular seemed to relax in Spartian's strong arms. He wasn't solely responsible for his small family anymore. My family realized how much better this life would be for our boy. He and his Brothers should grow up protected and loved.

"My Brothers and I cannot swim," Tos said as we passed the damp tunnel leading to the bathing hall. "We lived in a dry area. There was very little underground water and none above ground. We have never learned."

Evan shrugged and patted the other man's arm in reassurance. There was no shame in this lack of ability. Certainly this family would have much to teach us. We would share everything with them.

"We will teach you, cousin," he said simply.

We took our evening meal in the dining hall early tonight. Hodlen's family was hungry after the long trip here. Damien thought they might be tired, also. Since they would have to work for the camp tomorrow, we should give them food and let them rest tonight.

After our meal we retired inside our private rooms. There were lots of men in the main communal area, but none of us wanted to be around such activity. Despite Hodlen's initial reservations about Damien and his Brothers, I got the impression he felt a duty to this extended family. His family really wanted to know my husbands.

Hodlen and his Brothers had brought toys for Mycah and his Brothers, which I was glad to see. The small wooden swords would be useful for practice later when the young ones were healed. They had also carved small figurines of animals. The boys played make believe games with those as we talked. It kept the little ones distracted and happy.

The mats that the other men used for sleeping were spread on the floor around our fire pit. The men sat on them or sat in the few chairs we had. They lounged and started to get to know one another.

This conversation was interesting to me, but I made it a point to let the men talk. Hodlen's family was still evaluating Damien's. I was part of the family, but I wasn't the part that concerned them. The men needed to have this time to converse, so I sat and knitted, only interjecting occasionally.

The families became more familiar with each other as they discussed life in the T'sparian Mountains compared to the compound. The camp Hodlen's family had come from was smaller than this one and even more tightly knit. Leaving there to come here had been a very big deal, the children were worth it, though.

"Why did you decide to become slavers?" Hodlen finally asked. "We shared male offspring with Kein and Bane and then we were notified you had bought a slave. My Brothers and I were sure there was a mistake...."

Damien looked deeply into the fire before his eyes turned to me.

"We, our bond, were broken. We were lonely," he said quietly. "The gentle affection Ciara gave us healed our bond. Still, we foolishly believed what we had been told about her weakness. It took us a long time to realize how wrong we had been."

I had settled in a chair and Kein moved to kneel before me.

"So many stupid mistakes, Brothers," he said with great sadness.

"You are forgiven," I repeated for what felt like the millionth time. "We have talked about this many, many times. I love you all. Family is allowed to make mistakes."

They remembered the lines cutting across my flesh and the cruel lashes Damien had laid on my delicate areas. Punishment had been a tool and they'd never known lasting effects from it. It had never occurred to them that I was different. Those horrible marks had scarred deeper than they'd known.

On the compound everyone just expected me to be Paterian. Respecting my thought process or considering I felt differently would have been scoffed at. My husbands tried very hard to respect my human differences now.

"Thank you for that," I said leaning forward and caressing Kein's cheek. "There is no use remembering bad times, though. We have learned and have much to look forward to."

Kein continued to look troubled as his fingers pushed my skirt above my knee. He stroked the delicate flesh they had started their torture on and began to apologize again.

"Enough!" I ordered pushing the skirt down and eyeing Kein sharply. "We are done with this!"

There was absolutely no way I was letting them describe to Hodlen's family what they'd done. It was a private matter, it was the past, and it wasn't something anyone else needed to know. I wasn't going to look back.

Kein's eyes met mine and then he leaned forward and kissed my knee. He wouldn't press the issue farther, but they still felt bad about what they'd done.

"Then you need to teach the men who used to own slaves why it is wrong," I said answering the unspoken plea. "Stop apologizing and do something about it! Guilt about past mistakes without doing something about it is pointless!"

Hodlen laughed and slapped Damien on the shoulder.

"A fine mate, cousin," he said jovially, "strong and to the point!"

A young man's voice sounded from outside requesting admittance and Damien called out to come in. Tyle's family entered and promptly sprawled on any unoccupied mat near the older men. They just wanted to be close to their male families.

Molly followed the young family in looking slightly uneasy, but they didn't know enough about humans to understand that. They'd just assumed she'd come with them if she wanted to. Tyle's family did not really understand how her life had been controlled until the day she was freed.

"Sit with me," I offered scooting over in my oversized chair.

The oversized beanbag I was sitting on would easily accommodate both of us.

Molly and I chatted as the men talked. She was so unused to the way she was treated here. Tyle's family had taken her to eat and Abram's family had told her about the food. Tyle had pulled a chair out for her and been happy to sit beside her. Another family sat with them and insisted she look at them and take part in the conversation. The camp was used to assisting freed humans. They knew the help these women would need.

As Molly and I talked I saw the flap to our door drawn back and a head peaked in.

"Knock, knock," Kennedy said in English as she peered inside.

Christof and I were up in a flash to greet our girl. Dara and Eve followed Kennedy in and I understood why this room was so large. It was made to contain an extended family and we certainly had that.

Kennedy was less injured than Hannah had been. She and her Sisters looked as though they had fared well in the battle. I examined all three of them before I remembered Mycah and his family.

The little boys were staring intently at Kennedy and her Sisters. They edged closer and closer to the girls, approaching them. None of them seemed afraid. They looked like they were trying to control their curiosity.

"You aren't Hannah, but I feel you," Jonathan announced loudly. "You look a little like Hannah, but you don't feel like her. She is not here."

Mycah and the rest agreed as the adults stared at them. We had no idea how Mycah's family knew Hannah.

"I am Kennedy, born in the T'aran Mountains," my daughter said as way of introducing herself to everyone present.

Eve and Dara also introduced themselves, but the boys weren't interested in names. Mycah's family was barely tolerant as Hodlen's family introduced themselves.

"Can we touch your wings?" Rees asked and the barrage of questions began.

The small boys were fascinated by the Paterian women and wanted to get close to them. Every part of the girls fascinated the small boys. Mycah's family was getting used to feeling connected to those around them. They wanted to be close to those they thought were extended family

"Mycah needs to ask," Hodlen said and Damien agreed with him.

The boys needed to work together. They had a bad habit of splintering apart. My husbands wanted the boys to build a strong bond and thinking as a team made that happen. We wanted them to feel free, but they also needed to be connected to one another.

It took several heartbeats for the boys to focus on Mycah. Kennedy and her Sisters just smiled and sat down Indian style along one wall, inviting the young ones to explore. They had no hesitation at all.

The boys were all over the girls. They inspected their wings and their talons. I watched them stand on the girls' legs and scramble up on their shoulders. Not surprisingly Aiden found Kennedy's long hair fascinating. It was different from the body hair she had and closer to what Rynal had. Jonathan went girl to girl, reaffirming their taste. Overall, Mycah's family crawled all over Kennedy and her Sisters and inspected them.

Molly and I readjusted ourselves so we faced the girls and waited for the children to calm down.

"Mycah, how do you know Hannah?" I asked pointedly and the little boy turned to look at me.

"My Brother felt her close when it was really noisy outside at the compound," Mycah said pointing to Jonathan. "We went outside when no one was looking and went to find her. We kept feeling Damien and his Brothers, but they weren't as close. Hannah was really close, we wanted to know who she was, why we felt her, and if we could find her."

Jonathan had tasted his birth sisters many times in the mountains. Evidently he had not completely forgotten any of us, his memory had just been temporarily blocked. I looked over at Damien and he looked as stunned as I felt. Hodlen's family watched the interaction closely, but stayed silent. Tyle's family looked as curious as us.

"How close was Hannah? How do you know her name?" Damien asked quietly. The boys were talking about the compound during the battle, but he didn't understand how or when they would have come across Hannah.

"When we were in the compound, she dropped out of the sky," Mycah said plopping down on Dara's thigh facing the family. "The tall, thin aliens were coming toward us and she cut them in half. They cut her, too, but she just roared at them."

My mouth dropped open and I felt the same amazement from Damien and his Brothers. We had not known aliens had gotten into the compound. No one would have dreamed they'd been that near the children.

"Ra came, too, and then the Warriors all came running. Hannah and Ra made all the aliens fall down and then they talked to the Warriors," Mycah said as his hands explored Dara's talons as her hand lay at his waist.

We sat in continued amazement as Mycah blithely explained how Hannah had introduced herself and quickly taught the Warriors how to fight aliens. She told the Warriors how the aliens moved and how to destroy them quickly. As she talked, she'd plucked Mycah's family from their hiding place and demanded the men put the curious boys in a safer spot.

"War is not a place for little boys!" Mycah said wagging his finger at us, as he must have seen Hannah do. "You have to do a better job watching them!"

None of us knew what to say and I looked at Kennedy to find her expression sheepish.

"You were worrying so much about him, Mama," she said softly stroking Aiden and Jonathan as they sat on her lap. "We didn't want you to panic if you heard that. If the men told Damien and his Brothers...we thought we'd just let it happen if it did."

"No secrets, Sweet Girl," Christof said mimicking the pet name I'd given her. "Mama can't be strong if we don't treat her like an equal. You have to trust that she'll make the right decision."

Kennedy rolled her eyes in a very human gesture and hmphed before she spoke again.

"Like tearing down the mountain on a transport trying to get into the tunnels?" she asked quietly.

"Be respectful," Bane chastised, "Mama was upset. Many of us wanted to do the same thing when we heard what was going to happen. We all worried for the young ones."

Kennedy apologized, sounding somewhat like a sulking teenager, and I admitted to my mistake. What I'd done had been foolish. I assured the girls I wasn't going to do that sort of thing again. Protecting our family would be a shared job, as it should be.

We sat and talked for a while longer and the conversation was pleasant. Damien watched Mycah's little family and knew they were still healing. With no more excitement they started to become sluggish and sleepy. Paterian men healed when they rested and the boys were slipping toward doing that. We would let them rest out here with the family for now.

Mycah's family stayed with Kennedy and her Sisters and, soon, started to doze as the girls held them. They fought to stay awake, but the warm, soft hair covering Kennedy and her Sisters made a nice place to cuddle. The little family started to stretch for sleep as their eyes closed.

Niah was pushed off Eve's thigh and looked blearily around as Molly and I watched trying not to laugh. His Brother, Rees, had stretched out and unintentionally shoved him off. He looked disgruntled at the loss of his space.

"Niah, baby," I called out, "come sit with me."

The little boy dragged himself over so I could pull him up on my lap. He stretched out across Molly and me, quickly falling asleep. My new friend was tentative as she stroked the young boy. He sighed and snuggled against us, absolutely at ease. I felt her tremble and looked over to see tears in her eyes.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 36



"I long to see my baby boy," she said softly.

"You absolutely will," Dara said as Mycah snoozed on her lap. "Hannah and her Sister are championing your cause. They are being quite persistent about it."

"It is politically correct," Eve said in Paterian, but I caught the modern English meaning. "It will probably get them loads of attention for their selfless devotion to the freedom cause."

"Selfless..." Kennedy repeated softly, rolling her eyes and I saw her Sisters agree with her.

Damien raised a brow at the girls' tone, but I understood. Kennedy and her Sisters just did not have political ambitions. Hannah must be being quite vocal about reuniting the human women with their offspring. It was a noble thing to do, but obviously had some secondary gain for Hannah and Ra.

I shook my head and smiled at Kennedy. My girls were day and night different. I wondered how this little girl in my belly would be and my hand drifted over my stomach.

"They will be healthy and strong, Mama," Dara said looking at where my hand was. "I think you will be surprised at how powerful T'vailk women are. I am sure they are glad their family is close again. T'vailk women feel a powerful drive to be close to family...at least they used to."

The girls agreed and started to discuss the uniqueness of this event. Hodlen and his Brothers had some thoughts about what T'vailk women would be like and shared that. None of the rest of us knew much about the history of this particular race of women. They had literally disappeared when the men went to the compounds.

I was glad they'd be strong, though. Smiling at Dara's comment I felt the movement under my hand. Suddenly all of what she'd said struck me.

"What do you mean 'they'?" I asked as my eyes shot wide.

Kennedy and her Sisters looked surprised.

"Women of the T'vailk mountains are born with their Sister or Sisters," Dara said. "They are always born in groups of two or three..."

"Didn't we tell you that?" Kennedy asked furrowing her brow.

I shook my head mutely and understood now why I was so large. This was not a singleton pregnancy.

Kein's happy shout rocked the room as all the men congratulated him. I had to laugh at the goofy look on his face. He startled Molly when he approached us and kissed me deeply. The man could not have received better news.

The little boys barely opened an eye as the men celebrated loudly. Kein and I had been blessed by The Great Harmonious Spirit. We would have more than one child and he was thrilled. Anticipation at meeting our new female offspring rocketed to a new high.

My men talked happily about how much they planned to enjoy this new family. No Nu-reeh to stop us from bonding and force the men away. Kein could be there as his girls got stronger. He would be the first Brother to be able to care for his female offspring.

It wasn't much later when I started to feel as sleepy as the boys. Damien took that as a sign that perhaps the children and me should be in bed. I agreed with him wholeheartedly.

Hodlen's family helped and we stripped the little ones of their boots and daytime clothing. They whined and fussed as they were moved. The boys were cranky when their sleep was disturbed. After the boys were undressed, we wrapped their waists in sleeping shifts and settled them on the bed together. Once they were all piled under the covers, Mycah's family fell back to their dreams and became peaceful again. The sleep tonight would hopefully finish letting them heal.

"You really should rest, too," Molly said softly standing and watching the boys. "I remember how tired I was at the end..."

Molly and the other families retreated to our main room and I stayed in the sleeping chamber with my boys. After closing the drape between the two rooms, I stripped myself and put on my nighttime shift. I'd made this one myself and thought I had been very creative. It had a series of ties down the front. Once my girls were born I could tighten it over my stomach and loosen it at the top to expose one breast at a time. For now the outfit was loose over my belly and tied securely over my breasts.

Laying down with Mycah's family I realized how good I felt about myself. I'd gone from free to slave and survived. Then I'd gone from slave to almost free. In the last many moons I'd learned to be totally free again and now I took care of myself. Through all the changes and stress I had maintained my sanity. Reaching out I stroked the little snoring family in front of me and fell deeply asleep.

It was the middle of the night when I woke again. The men had tied the drape between the rooms open. The fire pit had been left to burn for warmth and cast a soft glow in here. It was dim in the sleeping chamber, but I could see Rynal, Aiden's breeder, asleep just beyond the boys, in front of me. Not surprisingly Aiden was laying by Rynal's head with his hands wrapped in the man's hair. Behind me I felt my family resting comfortably.

The bed was warm and I was very cozy, but my bladder would not be denied. I rose as quietly as I could and tiptoed into the main room. The belt with my weapons hung near the main entrance to our living space and I quietly slipped it on. I was just putting on my boots when I heard a noise behind me and turned.

"Why are you awake?" Mycah asked loudly. "The moons aren't set and it isn't time to be up, yet."

The young family was standing and staring at me. They were as bright and awake as I'd ever seen them. The observant, nosy little boys had heard me get up and followed.

"I drank water before bed and now I need to go release it," I explained in a quiet voice. "Go back to the bed with your male breeders. I'll be back in a moment."

I saw them thinking and then Jonathan and Rees were putting their hands over their private parts. I'd seen that gesture on Earth. The power of suggestion was too much and now the little boys needed to use the pot, too.

"Get your boots," I sighed. "We'll all go use the pot and then go back to bed."

I helped the little ones with their foot wear and felt Damien's family in my mind. Assuring them all was well, I walked through our leather drape into the central area where the men congregated. The room with the lacquered pots was close to our rooms. It was late and I expected we would be the only ones out here. We were not.

Three families sat morosely around the communal fire pit in the central area. From their dress it was easy to tell they'd been Warriors at one of the compounds. They must be particularly stressed to still be up at this time of night. I knew Paterians like their routines. This wasn't when these men should be up if they weren't on guard duty.

Mycah's family followed me but started to go toward the men. They were always curious, but this seemed like a bad time. I reached down and grabbed Mycah's hand to pull him with me.

"Come with me, boys," I said in a commanding tone. "Leave them alone and let them talk. We are using the pots and then going back to bed."

From the fire I heard some low, vile cursing and chose to ignore it. The men couldn't believe I'd dare to touch Mycah and the idea I was commanding his Brothers was horribly offensive. My awareness was raised, but the men didn't move as I pulled Mycah to the room with the lacquered pots.

The little boys followed their Brother and proceeded to repeat the things they'd just heard. The filthy cursing was not what I wanted Mycah's family to learn. Bane had taught me these words, but we didn't use them except in jest. It wasn't appropriate for the young ones to say.

"Those aren't good words," I told Mycah. "We don't need to use those types of words. Your male breeders will teach you better words. Honorable men speak respectfully to everyone. You and your Brothers need to act honorably."

While we used the pots the boys wanted to know what those words meant. I explained they were ways of saying you didn't like someone, but they were very impolite. No one would respect you if you spoke to others like that, I tried to tell them. It was a difficult and trying conversation. Certainly not one I wanted to have this time of night.

Now the boys wanted to know why those men didn't like them.

"They don't like me," I told Mycah's family gently as I straightened the wrap on Niah's waist. "Men on Pateria used to be taught that humans aren't valuable. They think I should be a slave. Daddy, Christof, and Damien have talked to you about this. That isn't how we think."

In preparation for the boy's curious nature I took Mycah's hand as we walked out of the room with the lacquered pots. Jonathan took my other hand and the rest of the family followed as we made our way back to our rooms.

The boys had no sense that this was the wrong time to talk and started to say the things Damien's family had taught them. Slavery was wrong. Humans were strong and should be valued. Mama was special and we were lucky to have her in the family. Their bright, clear voices seemed to resonate in the contained space.

I saw the men by the fire start to rise and now they had my full attention. My eyes took in their enraged features and their clenched fists. Unfortunately, watching them infuriated them further, but they were a danger and I couldn't look away. My safety and the boys' safety was my business.

The men were coming toward us, prowling really. They wanted to hurt me. As far as they were concerned a slave that did what I had done deserved to be punished. With my girls nestled in my belly and Mycah's family right here, that just could not happen.

I released the boys' hands and shooed them toward our rooms.

"Mycah," I commanded pushing him toward the door, "take your family to Damien and Daddy."

As soon as I sensed the boys moving away, I pulled my gun and aimed it. Over the last moon I'd proved to myself I knew how to shoot. Paterians weren't as fast as the aliens and I had a fighting chance with this weapon.

"Stay away!" I said firmly to the men. "There are no slaves here, only free men and women."

"Silence, slave!" one of them ordered. "You have no right to touch our young or hold those weapons! There are no bands on your form, so no owners to protect you!"

"I can and will protect myself, cousin," I stated in a low, firm voice.

"We will reprimand you and you will not make this mistake again!" another of them stated.

My whole form was tensed and ready. I felt fear and used it to heighten my senses; it did not own me. Unlike any time other time a man had approached me like this, I felt ready to defend myself.

Killing these men was not an act I would relish, but it would have to be done. I trained my gun and took a breath. Their ignorance was signing their death certificate, but I had to keep my daughters from harm. It was my only option to stop them so I could get away.

A moment before I pulled the trigger, and ended the first man's life, I sensed movement beside me. The aggressors stopped approaching and I watched the looks on their faces become concerned. They glanced around and I furtively did the same thing.  

Tyle's family, as young as they were, could look as vicious as any Warrior was trained to. Still in their sleeping shifts, each of them carried either a sword or a gun. The guns were aimed and the swords were at the ready. Once I noted their presence, they slipped slightly in front of me. None of them got in front of my weapon, though. If I shot something, it wasn't going to be one of them.

Mund's family was out of their room and so was Basin's. They were tightening the circle on the aggressors. Damien and his Brothers moved in synchrony with Holden's to add to this side, as Stayne and his Brothers moved with Arnold's family and closed off the exit from the other side. The men from the camp had emerged from their rooms and surrounded the Warriors.

I sensed it now. The Great Harmonious Spirit had the men. Damien and his Brothers had not called the entire camp, just our close friends and family that lived in this section with us. We needed them for added security.

The large show of force was only so the aggressors would not attempt to fight back. My men could have handled this themselves, but it may have endangered our offspring. The other men did not mind helping and this way was safer. We could depend on the camp to help us keep an altercation from ever happening.

Now, we all waited.

The men stood at the ready. I felt their thoughts and knew they were merely bidding their time. The entire thing was planned out and very organized, as far as The Great Harmonious Spirit was concerned. Next was a period of education and then sanctions.

A transport landed outside our area and five male Administrators walked briskly inside.

Everyone kept their weapons trained on the aggressors initially, so I did, too. As the male Administrators approached closer the weapons were lowered, but not put away. I was not part of the Great Spirit, so my actions lagged behind the men's. It seemed appropriate to follow their lead, though. Dealing with unpredictable Warriors was their domain.

The Administrators that came in were wearing clothes that had been hastily thrown on, as opposed to sleeping shifts. They carried weapons on their waists, but had not drawn them. They were here to teach and not agitate these aggressive Warriors.

The Administrators took in everyone down here as they stopped several body lengths away from the troublemakers. I knew these Administrators vaguely and was surprised it was them that had come. Gunth and his Brothers were who I expected, but they were not with us anymore. I shook my head at my own foolishness. It would take me some time to stop looking for the big man and his family.

The lead Brother in this family of Administrators was named Carg. He and his Brothers were masters of organization. Carg and his family monitored our food supplies and our textile supplies. It was because of them we never went hungry and always had materials available. Unlike Gunth's family, they didn't appear physically powerful. Carg and his Brothers were of small stature and a light build. Their power was in their minds and their capacity to anticipate the camp's needs.

"There are no slaves in this camp," Carg said in a firm, but slightly nasal tone. "You are not slaves to the women and the humans are slaves to no one. You must learn to respect those around you. The way you were taught in the compound is not acceptable here."

The Warriors cursed a foul stream. They started toward the Administrators with the obvious intent of harming them.

Tyle's family tightened around me and Hodlen's joined them. The camp would not endanger the life of a child during this altercation. My girls would be kept safe by their extended family. Mycah's young family was inside our rooms. All the precious ones were perfectly safe.

"We do not listen to shopkeepers!" one of the aggressive Warriors yelled as they sprang forward.

Damien's family moved like lightening and in synchrony with the other men to subdue the raucous Warriors. It was over before it began. The Warriors knelt defeated on the ground with swords at their throats in a matter of moments. Their weapons had been summarily stripped from them. I saw their fear and their awe as they took in the men from the camp.

The silent, organized attack had bewildered the aggressors. It was impossible not to be impressed by my campmates. They made every movement look planned and choreographed, which in a very real sense, it was. As a group, the men from the camp were unbeatable.

"The Great Harmonious Spirit gives us every advantage," Carg said in a very calm voice coming to stand in front of the defeated men. "We respect one another and we gain strength together. You will come to understand this fundamental belief and it will give you strength, also. In order to join us you must let go of the evil teaching that prevails in your minds."

The defeated Warriors looked just that, defeated. They were held in such a way they had no hope of escaping. It was very obvious the men that controlled them held their lives in their hands. Now that they were forced to listen, Carg spent time explaining the importance of respect and equality.

Transports arrived and men filed quietly in behind the Administrators. I noted that these new men appeared to be guards that were on duty. They were dressed and outfitted with all their weaponry, so they must have been on nighttime patrols. The six families of burly, armed guards from the camp stood stoically watching Carg. The Administrator finished his speech and took a step back.

The Warriors were pulled to stand and their swords were placed in the scabbards at their waists. That particular act really surprised me. They'd attacked us and we were arming them? It must have confused them also.

"You have returned our swords?" one man asked quietly.

He touched the hilt lightly, but did not draw the weapon. The formerly aggressive Warriors were grossly over matched right now, so that made sense.

"There are dangers all around us, cousin," Carg said, continuing to instruct. "This is not like the compound where peril is kept at bay by an external force. You will not be stripped of your weapons here, unless it is clear you must die for us to live. In case of attack, you are responsible for the defense of yourselves and this camp."

The Warriors stood and looked around at the men they would have called bandits several days ago. Their cohesive organization was obviously disconcerting. The Warriors couldn't comprehend the way things worked here. The lesson was being driven home, though.

"Since you wish to be awake and you want to fight," Carg continued, "I will leave you with this patrol. It is apparent your families are having difficulty changing. Perhaps protecting the camp will give you incentive to adjust your attitude."

"Our punishment...?" one of the Warriors asked sparing a glance in my direction.

I met his uncertain gaze before his eyes swung back to Carg.

"You are being sanctioned," Carg said firmly. "I have no doubt you would prefer to rest with your Brothers when the moons are up. These men run night patrols for the camp by choice. It is valuable protection they provide for us. They will guide you and you will learn. Your families will stay with them until I feel you have learned from this mistake."

The Warriors looked utterly confused. I could see they had expected to be stripped of their weapons and beaten badly. The peaceful way the camp handled miscreants was very confusing to men from the compounds.

"Pain is not a tool that we use," I said clearly and Carg seemed to understand the purpose of my statement.

He didn't think the way men from the compounds thought. It had not occurred to him to harm these men.

"Your families deserve to be treated with respect," Carg said looking over at me. "You will learn to respect others the same way. Pain is not a tool that needs to be employed. It evokes the fear response and you do not need to know fear inside this camp. This is your home. This is a safe place for your family. In time you and your Brothers will come to trust us and we will trust you, then you will join with the Great Harmonious Spirit."

I watched from behind my guard as the Warriors were led away. Their guides would teach them tonight, as they let them expend their frustrated energy. Change was difficult on this world and changing to the camp's mindset would be a staggering feat for these particular men.

With the danger contained and leaving, I slipped my gun back in its holster. I breathed a sigh of relief that I had not had to shoot those men. The camp would probably have forgiven me, but they wouldn't have liked it if I had killed a Paterian.

The moment The Spirit released the men was obvious. Mycah and his Brothers were instantly around my legs watching the retreating backs of the Warriors. They looked up at me and explained in no uncertain terms that slavery of any sort was not right. Attacking a camp mate was even less acceptable. They spoke with clear resolve about what was right and what was wrong.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 36



"They have to learn fast, Mama," Mycah said clearly. "Men like that can't stay in the camp if they don't accept our values."

"It would be bad for them to be sent out," Rees stated. "They will not survive long without cousins to help them."

Niah agreed with his Brother and yawned loudly.

The boys were making virtually adult statements and I examined them intently. They were done with it, though, and looked like they were asleep on their feet. Hodlen's family bent and scooped them up, resting the children on their hips.

Spartian held a sleepy Jonathan and I stroked my boy's hair. The little blonde head dipped until it was resting on the man's shoulder. Jonathan fought to keep his eyes open and failed. He let out a snore as he fell to sleep.

"The Great Harmonious Spirit teaches them," I said out loud and in wonder as I realized what had happened.

Girls had their female breeder's memories, primarily, at birth and boys would have their male breeders', once they were absorbed into The Spirit. The teaching didn't start with boys until they bonded to the men. It linked the men through generations, just as the girls had their links.

Putting the men on the compounds and isolating them from one another had been designed to systematically erode this. It had been a devilishly effective system. Kept from their young and prohibited from forming bonds, the men lived in isolation from everything. They couldn't pass anything on at all.

"We are not isolated here," Damien informed me as Kein hugged me from behind.

"Quite the opposite," Kein whispered in my ear as I felt his erection nudge my posterior.

Damien and his Brothers demanded my attention and I felt the flow of their thoughts. Humans liked privacy, but my men really needed something. I'd shown them a part of me tonight they'd not seen before. In the past an aggressive female would have turned them off. Seeing it in their mate had a different effect.

They had sensed a fierce, protective instinct inside of me when I thought my family was endangered. There was no loss of control, only determination. I would have killed those men and left their corpses to rot. When they'd exited their rooms all the men had witnessed my steady gaze and ready stance. If The Spirit had not been in control, it would have been a very erotic pose for Damien and his Brothers.

"Spend a little time with us in the main room of our lodging," Kein pleaded quietly in my ear.

Damien and his Brothers knew I couldn't have sex with all of them tonight, not in my condition. They were more than happy to masturbate their sexual energy off, but it would be more fun if I was around. My men were shamelessly begging for something very simple. I could not deny them.

Damien addressed Hodlen as we walked back toward our chambers. The other men had no problem watching the boys while we took our time together in the main room. Damien quietly explained they just wanted a moment with their mate. The drape would be closed because humans liked privacy.

We walked into our rooms and Mycah's family was essentially asleep. Rees grumbled as his shoes came off, but the rest seemed oblivious as Hodlen's family took them to the bed. Injured little boys would sleep like this and the men knew it. Mycah's family was just taking what they needed to get better.

The heavy drape separating the rooms was closed and I stood in the sitting area looking at my family in the dim fire light. There was no noise from outside and the sleeping chamber was also silent. We stood looking at one another until Damien moved to place his weapons away.

All the Brothers placed their weapons to the side and I started to as well, but was stopped. Bane pulled my sword from it's sheath and placed it in my hand. I twisted the weapon in my grip and realized I had everyone's attention. Their attention was riveted on the weapon and on me.

The heat in their eyes was hard to deny. My mates were excited and the image of me holding my weapon was doing it for them. In response to their obvious interest I raised the blade and touched the tip to Bane's chest, they shuddered as one being. Every stripe on Bane's wide body flushed with excitement. This was what they wanted.

In the not too distant past, my men had suffered from the women's talons, but they'd always been rewarded with the gratification of release afterward. Now their brains were wired to appreciate a little aggression from their partners, especially since then knew I wouldn't really hurt them. The notion I knew exactly how to use the weapon I carried was actually exciting to Damien and his Brothers.

The sharp blade could easily slice into skin, so I was very careful as I touched the tip to Bane's chest. Our eyes remained locked on one another's and his breath caught in his throat. The cool metal traced the line of his sternum and down the firm muscles of his stomach.

In that moment I knew he'd do anything I asked.

"Take it off," I said in a low commanding voice as I tapped the wrap at his waist.

Bane was shaking with excitement as the material was removed. He dropped it to the floor without a second thought and waited for directions. I felt his eyes boring into me as he trembled.

"Eyes down," I ordered and watched him struggle to comply.

Never in his life had Bane had someone this near him with a blade and been unable to watch them. The relinquishment of power was maddening and exciting.

Slowly I circled him, my fingers touched his hips and trailed across his firm buttocks. I let the blade in my other hand follow my fingers. Cool metal contrasted violently with the heat his body was emanating. It was a vivid reminder of the threat I currently wielded.

A low murmur spread through Bane's Brothers as they all remembered the erotic pleasure he'd gotten when I'd dominated his ass. The big man had felt the intrusion of the plug in his ass and been excited by my ability to put it there. This control was similar and intensely exciting.

Bane's rock solid cock bobbed in front of him and I knew he needed release, the teasing was only to make it better.

"Stroke yourself with your hand," I ordered and Bane quickly complied.

The thick head swelled and stared to leak as his grip became more firm and the motions faster. I thought about the things I'd like to do to him and I felt his eagerness for more. My games were strange, he'd never imagined being treated in the way I imagined. Even odder was thinking he might enjoy it. The ideas excited him terribly.

I put the sword back in it's scabbard and ran my nails over the strong muscles of Bane's back. My left hand raised and buried in his hair, my right hand grasped the firm muscles of his buttocks. He was caught in the moment.

In all his life only the women, with their talons and spears, had managed to force Bane's submission. In my imagination, he was eager to bend to my desires. A willing supplicant that would crave my touch. It was unique and consuming, a role he wanted to try.

I delved a finger between his firm buttocks and teased the outside of his puckered little hole. The light teasing strokes were intended to make him want this and he did. Bane saw the image I held in my mind of a strap-on. He saw himself bent over, tied, and at my mercy. The teasing strokes became firmer and a needy moan left his lips.

As his excitement reached its peak and release, I reached forward and caught his spending. His knees were weak as the thick ropes coated my hand and slid toward the floor. Bane had no strength left as a grinning Christof wiped my hand clean.

I stepped back from Bane and he sunk into a chair with a glazed look in his eyes. The goofy grin on his face was the most relaxed I'd seen them since they returned from the battle at the compound. It was good to see.

"You know us, wife," Damien said softly as he approached.

I did know them. Each of them had needs different from the rest, but they had needs they shared as well. Right now they all needed release.

The tie in front of my outfit was made of a thick piece of soft leather. I undid it and pulled the strap free. The length of leather had run from the top to bottom. Its loss had allowed my night dress to fall open, exposing my belly and pendulous breasts to view. Teasing my audience I drew the leather strap over my breasts several times.

Folding the leather thong onto itself several times made it look like the leather whip with many tails that Damien had once used on me. His breath caught in his throat as he saw what I was doing. I had long fantasized about doing this type of thing with him.

Kein was enjoying watching my breasts hang so freely. He'd not been able to ogle them since he got home. Off to the side he sat down and began to pull furiously at his long staff as he stared. My outfit allowed them to peek out as the fabric shifted and the effect was intoxicating for Kein. It was hard not to laugh at his exuberance.

I wanted Damien's wrap off and his cock exposed, he obeyed without question, throwing the fabric to Evan. Damien's powerful form almost vibrated as he waited for me to start. He wanted to feel this.

Ever so slowly, I walked around Damien and took in the entire expanse of him I was presented with. The lead Brother was a large man, but more compact than Bane. The firm muscles in his back spoke to a life lived with a sword in his hand. Faint marks crossed his own natural stripes, were evidence of discipline at the compound. That had never been delivered like this would be, though. I took in his beautiful form and brought my makeshift flogger down on his back.

Damien tensed as I whipped the instrument across his back and firm buttocks. It didn't hurt so much as warm the flesh. Still Damien had never been treated like this by me. As I moved to start on his chest he began pulling on his cock. The mock abuse made him crave more.

I wanted more, too. As I whipped it across Damien's chest, Evan knelt before me. He scooted forward until I couldn't see him under my large belly. My right leg was lifted and laid over his shoulder. Christof steadied me from behind as Evan began to pleasure me with his long tongue.

The movements of my "whip" became more erratic as Evan worked. His tongue slid between my folds and I closed my eyes for a brief moment. It felt so good as his lips slid higher and found the bud buried there. My clit swelled and I nearly dropped my whip it felt so good.

Behind me Christof acted to steady me as he pleasured himself. One hand was on my hip and his body was flush to mine. His cock was nestled in the warmth of my buttocks as his hand worked furiously up and down. My friend's breath was hot on my neck as he watched me "discipline" his Brother.

Evan was relentless below me. He suckled my clit and ran his tongue over every part of my sex. His deft appendage even fucked me with shallow motions before he returned his attention to my swelling nub.

The intensity grew and I found myself striking Damien harder. He arched with each strike as I gave his skin a glow, from his neck to his hips and down over his upper legs. The soft striking sound reverberated in each of us as we enjoyed the erotic pleasure of this willing submission.

From my side I heard Kein groan loudly. His cock was ready to explode as he watched my breast. Beneath me I realized Evan was also seeking his own release as he took my flavor on his tongue. Damien eyes were lit with passion as his breathing became faster and choppier. I heard the same excitement from Christof and knew we were all close.

One last swipe of the flogger over Damien's chest and we'd all had enough of waiting. Evan's tongue pushed harder on my wet cunt making me insane. The pressure built and when it released it took all I had not to call out. Around me, my husbands all found their pleasure as well. Feeling the orgasm of the five of us all at once was so intense, I felt as though I was floating for a moment.

I woke up surrounded by strong arms and looking into large brown eyes.

"You were almost clumsy, wife," Bane laughed softly as he held me in his lap and re-laced my outfit.

In my moment of passion Bane had caught my dropping form. While I'd been in a haze of bliss, he'd made sure I was safe and unharmed. Now he redressed me as I lay languidly in his arms.

A cool rag ran between my legs and Evan grinned and cleaned me up. He was proud not to have lost his ability after our separation. I had to be glad also as we quietly got ready to go back to bed.

Hodlen's family was resting and barely spared us a glance as we opened the drape and crawled quietly into the bed. They may have heard our game, but they had no interest, which I was glad for. Mycah's little family was sprawled around the bed, most of them resting on their larger family members.

We found our spots and cuddled together. There was not much space and I tucked myself quite comfortably between Kein and Bane. The bed was soft, my family was close, and we were safe. It wasn't long until I was soundly asleep.

It was early morning when I was awakened again. The moons were not set, but this was the time my men liked to go to the public bath. Evan's humor at the situation was the first thing I noted; warm breath on my face was the second. Little fingers pried my left eye open and I was staring blearily at Jonathan's face.

"Are you awake, Mama?" he asked seriously, as though anyone could sleep with their eye pulled open.

Hands turned and twisted in my hair and I was positive Aiden was sitting behind me, feeling frustrated.

"Is she up, yet?!" Niah whined pushing himself past Jonathan into my field of vision.

Mycah's voice sounded behind me and he practically begged Evan to wake me. The little family wanted to go back to the bathing pool.

Grunting at the loss of sleep, I had to smile. A few moments of rest I would gladly give up to have my little boy here with me. Pushing myself up I heard Mycah's family cheer, now we could finally go!

The walk to the bathing pool was interesting. I soon learned that Damien's family was the lenient parent. Hodlen demanded Mycah and his Brothers walk together. If the boys wanted to see something, they all had to look as a group. It was not stifling, the way Damien and his Brothers had been raised, but it was more orderly. I thought the two families created a nice blend for the boys.

We turned into the tunnel leading to the bathing hall and I was immediately struck by the difference. Every torch in the tunnel was lit. As we reached the main pool, I sucked in a gasp. The place looked entirely different.

The men had installed torches all over the inside of the large cave. Even the secluded areas we used to use were well lit. There were men and boys in the pool, but I noted several nude families that carried weapons strapped to their thighs. They appeared alert and were not here casually. One of the families jumped into the water as we entered and began to patrol the pool.

I snorted and got everyone's attention. It was the Paterian equivalent of a lifeguard. Of course, these men intended to kill any sharks they found. I actually felt a little pity for any aliens that dared enter this pool.

Hodlen continued to be an excellent male role model. He and his Brothers had brought the boys' and their own dirty laundry from the day prior. Hodlen insisted they clean their clothes first, most especially the boys too, although Mycah's family wanted to just strip and jump in.

"You must keep your things clean and in good condition," Holden explained to them. "Your clothing is dirty and cannot be worn again until it is cleaner."

The little boys looked at the pool of water longingly, before turning back to Holden. I knew what they wanted.

"I could wash the clothing for Mycah's family, so they can swim," I offered the group.

Holden was firm, but polite as he refused the offer.

"They must learn to care for their things," he told me. "Life is not like it was in the compound. Men care for themselves and the boys must learn. We will help them, but they will be self-sufficient."

The logic made sense and I understood. This was a new world and I had a lot to learn about free Paterians.



A Slave to the Servants Ch. 37



Mycah's family had never washed anything and that was obvious. The point was not that they did every piece of their clothing, just that they started to learn. Free men knew how to care for themselves and did so independently. This was just one of many things we had to teach them.

Rose's instruction on the use of the camp's washboards were still fresh in my mind. I taught the boys the way I had learned and they did a fair job on the item or two they cleaned. We did most of the work, but one or two of the young ones started to get the hang of it. I encouraged and congratulated them each time they did it right. The boys liked the feedback and tried very hard.

"You do well instructing, Ciara," Hodlen said appreciatively.

I blushed at the compliment.

"On Earth, Jonathan would have been mine to care for and teach. Women do most of the child care where I am from," I said simply. "I enjoy being part of his life in every way."

I saw a faint smile start on Hodlen's face. "Do you know letters and numbers?" he asked. "Do you know how to use a sword, in addition to, the gun?"

It was hard not to puff with a little pride. I'd made a point to learn about the things he talked about. I also knew a great deal about the planet and its inhabitants. Men from the camp had taught me and I'd been reading. Frankly, I felt quite well versed.

"The slaving women, as well as Damien and his Brothers, taught me to read and write," I told the men, "and I have enjoyed having this skill. I read about the world around us and even wrote some children's stories. My friends and I wrote about things we thought the children should know."

"And swords?" Hodlen's Brother, Kee, asked again. "You obviously know the guns, you handle them with ease, but do you know swords?"

I shifted my weight and laughed a little. "Damien and his Brothers were Warriors and they taught me the fundamentals of sword work. Men from the camps have taught me to fight. I am hardly in any condition to show you right now, but I can easily use a sword."

"And you like children," Tos said sounding excited. "You enjoy teaching them."

I smiled and answered affirmatively. Being with the little family made me very happy.

"So you could Keep Mycah's family in the day," Hodlen said with authority. "We do not need to use unrelated Child Keepers."

I was startled and looked up at the men. Doing what he said would be a dream for me, but I wasn't sure it was possible. Obviously, I'd gone to school on Earth, but I had not trained to teach. I didn't know exactly how the children were organized here and I didn't want our boys to have an education too far from the norm.

"The young ones are all kept together in the day," Damien said gently, pausing in his work. "The various men that care for them work as a team based on age, although each is responsible for only a few families. You learn very quickly, Ciara, and I know you want to do this."

Bane snorted and looked around before he spoke, "You can't tell us you wish to continue to work as a shopkeeper."

Some of the old prejudices were still there and Kein shook his head as he scolded Bane. Shopkeepers were necessary. Bane needed to amend his way of thinking.

"He's right, though," Christof said quietly. "You don't enjoy the jobs here the way you enjoyed writing for the children or spending time with the young..."

"Rose could help me," I contemplated. "We could work as a team. She knows more about teaching than I do. I'm sure she'd be willing."

It was decided, as far as the family was concerned. I was going to teach our young. The education of Mycah's family would be my responsibility. Everyone was sure the Administrators would approve this change in jobs. It was the appropriate thing to do.

After our lesson on cleaning, we hung up the wet garments and stripped out of our clothing. Evan and Rynal took the protective wraps off of Jonathan and Aiden. We all examined the marks and I was shocked. Everything was almost entirely healed. The boys looked as good as new. Tos assured us the Healers would take the stitches out later today. The skin was holding together just fine.

Mycah's family was a little hesitant to get in the water after we finished examining them. Our attention to their wounds had reminded them of the excitement the day before. The aliens had been frightening and too much for the young family to handle. We coaxed them and pointed the guards in the bathing pool out to them, but they wouldn't get in until Damien's family patrolled the pool.

"They trust family," Hodlen said watching my men make their sweep. "Your family has done a good job with them. This is how they should feel. We had thought it would take much longer to earn their trust."

"Evan and I loved Jonathan with our entire being when he was born," I told the man stoically. "We would have done anything to keep him. It nearly broke us when he was taken. I cannot imagine giving up as many male offspring to the compounds as you have."

Hodlen was thoughtful for a moment before he spoke.

"Our mountain home was a dangerous place," he said looking out across the pool. "My Brothers and I knew that our young would grow strong in the compounds. The Great Harmonious Spirit was at work and we would not be separated forever. We never doubted that they would join us eventually. It is a pleasure to finally be able to care for at least one family as we should, though."

I nodded as Damien and his Brothers bounded out of the water in front of us. They were dripping wet and grinning broadly with their teeth down. They looked ferocious, but I knew the visual was to reinforce to the children we could protect them.

"No aliens," Evan said, shaking the water out of his hair, "just lots of places to swim."

"We bathe together and then learn to swim together," Damien commanded, eyeing Aiden and Jonathan. "You two need to help your Brothers learn to swim. No one goes off on their own today."

Hodlen and his Brothers were impressed Aiden could swim. After our bath, the men all practiced swimming some. The boys progressed very quickly, probably thanks to the Aiden and Jonathan's influence.

Hodlen's family wasn't lying, they'd never been in this much water. Damien's family, as well as, several others around us took the time to instruct them. By the time we left the bathing hall the men had a solid grasp on the movements they should be making in the water.

Breakfast was a happy affair. Rose and her family ate with us and she was honored to be asked to help teach our boys. My friend adored children and the idea of being such a fundamental part of their life really appealed to her. We preformed a valuable function in Armant's shop, but it wasn't what we wanted to be doing.

Rose and I both respected the camp's Administration. We would not change jobs without officially notifying them and being granted permission. Our current job duties split us between the infirmary and the clothing shop. My friend and I put an official written request into the Administrators, but we would to continue our duties until a decision was reached. The leadership was so busy, neither of us expected an answer for a while.

Damien and his Brothers had been assigned to patrol today. Since Hodlen and his family were new, they would follow my men around. Before they left for their duties, the men took Jonathan and his Brothers to the Child Keepers.

I walked with Rose down the crowded main hall to Armant's working area. The camp felt a little gloomy, because the skylights were all closed. I knew this was necessary for all of our safety. Still I missed the sunlight that used to stream in from the ceiling. It would have made it feel less cramped. It would take time for the women to excavate enough room so the camp didn't feel overburdened with men.

As we got closer to the area with the shops, I was surprised to see tables placed between the fire pits. Men sat at the tables working on boots, coats, and shirts. It was the shopkeepers from the compounds. These men were diligently doing the jobs they had always done. All of them stopped as we passed by and watched us intently.

"These are free humans," Armant announced loudly while walking toward us. "They have mates they have chosen in the camp. You may touch them with their permission and we encourage you to speak to them. Just as you are not slaves to the women's demands these humans are slaves to no one."

The men around us murmured, some tried not to stare and others watched us openly. There wasn't really malevolence in their faces, just abject confusion. They'd never seen a human up close and they seemed to be waiting for something. Armant stood a body's length away from us, waiting also, and it dawned on me.

"Good morning, Armant," I said loudly and cheerfully, "Rose and I came to help you sew today."

Apparently, the conversation was what Armant wanted. He grinned and watched the shopkeepers around us as he spoke. I assumed he wanted them to see a normal interaction between us.

"The shopkeepers from the compounds are helping us now," Armant said motioning. "We have many more tailors than we need. Perhaps you and Rose should go to the infirmary, your skills may be put to better use there. It is your choice, of course."

Rose spoke up and I was surprised by her concern. "They need to learn about the world, Armant. It is very important they don't limit themselves. Sitting and sewing all day will not teach them freedom. This is a very different place from the compounds."

"Not all today, cousin," Armant answered in a gentle tone. "We will teach them slowly, just as we taught you at your pace. They feel comfortable sewing, so we will start with that. This afternoon we may have some lessons with swords or perhaps about the creatures that live in the forest outside."

Rose was insistent as she looked around at the men surrounding us. None of them were armed and some of them looked ready to hide under the tables. Shopkeepers had been kept from exhibiting any form of strength or self reliance.

"You should not let their fear limit them," she said decisively. "This is a very wild world-"

"Relax, Rose," Armant chuckled, "you would have them fighting racks by this afternoon. They need to be slowly introduced to new things. We will encourage them to explore more once the aliens are under control. I promise you we will not bind them to this job."

Rose was hardly deterred, but then she was never deterred. My friend was stubborn and decisive. She'd made up her mind about this and would not stop.

"They should at least be allowed and encouraged to carry weapons," she said crossing her arms. "If something happened they couldn't even begin to defend themselves."

Armant watched Rose with appreciation on his face. She'd come a very long way from the girl who refused to look at him.

"It is not forbidden for them to have weapons, but they did not have them in the villages. You have my word that by the end of eight day cycles every man here will have a weapon," Armant said solemnly. "The smiths will start to measure them today. I will make sure of it myself."

Rose seemed pleased as we walked to the infirmary. She didn't like to see the shopkeepers unarmed. This was not a place to be without a weapon. I had to agree, how many times had I drawn my own to protect myself from danger?

The infirmary was the same story as Armant's shop. Healers from the compounds were already helping out. Even with all the wounded they were well staffed with trained professionals. Rose and I would not really add anything to what they already had. Rhane and his Brothers suggested we go see if Armant needed help today. They seemed so frazzled by the confusion their extra helpers created we just politely agreed and left.

Our next idea was the hall where they were keeping the freed slaves. We had been helping with them, perhaps they could use our talents. It was the next best place to try to work.

Today Hassar and Reed along with several male Administrators had stopped by to discuss the options the freed women had. Our leaders had come down to have a frank discussion about future choices. There were risks to staying and risks to going. It was all being openly talked about.

Off to one side I was surprised to see Fuji surrounded by women that looked a lot like she used to. These women glittered and stood nude, even in the cold, but I was sure it didn't bother them. They were demure and attentive, as good slaves from Batra should be, but they couldn't take their eyes off Fuji. Something about her had captured their attention.

Rose and I made our way toward Fuji's mane of hair. She had new scars on her back and sides. Our friend must have been part of the war outside. Fuji looked battle tested.

"I will teach you freedom," Fuji was stating in a resonating voice to her audience. "You will grow strong and powerful like I am. You cannot go back to Batra as you are, we have much to do first."

The women didn't say anything, they just watched her. It was obvious her appearance had the desired effect. Fuji's appearance was shocking; she looked powerful.

Our friend turned to greet us and walked toward Rose and me. I noted right away Fuji was moving differently, almost prowling. There was a speed and fluidity to her movement I'd never seen before. Her eyes seemed to take in every part of Rose and me before settling on our faces. Fuji looked very much like she was hunting.

My heart sped up a little as Fuji got nearer. I heard Rose catch her breath beside me. It was hard not to feel like prey when being approached in such a manner.

"Do you fear me?" Fuji asked in an almost laughing tone as she stopped less than a body length away. "I didn't expect the smell of fear from you, old friends. There is nothing to be worried about."

It was hard not to feel a little concerned. Fuji looked like a predator you'd see in a zoo, one you'd want held safely behind the bars. My finely honed instincts screamed caution.

Rose regained her composure and smiled a warm smile.

"You just seem different," Rose stated, trying to shrug nonchalantly .

"My race are hunters," Fuji practically purred, stepping closer, as he tail moved hypnotically. "We are carnivores and I have rediscovered my natural tendencies. Being outside hunting everyday brought most of it back. The battle gave me the chance to fully explore my instincts."

I felt the girls roll in my belly and found honesty the best policy.

"Do you eat humans now?" I asked bluntly. If she did, we'd be having this discussion with the business end of my weapon aimed at her.

Fuji laughed for a moment before calming down and meeting my eyes.

"No," she stated simply, "I don't think so, but I won't change who I am to make you happy. I've done that for too long."

I looked into Fuji's strange purple eyes and understood her, probably for the first time. You could tame a creature, but you could never take away its basic instincts. The things that made Fuji who and what she was had been beaten down, but never dissolved. Her spirit had lay silent and dormant, but it was back now.

"If you're going to start hunting Paterians, they aren't going to like it," I warned her, while dropping my voice.

Fuji flicked her tail and seemed almost bored with this conversation.

"We aren't going to hunt Paterians," she remarked almost flippantly. "These women are going to become strong and then we will go reclaim our home planet. This world has no interest for me. We cannot breed and grow my race here."

I looked past Fuji at the perhaps twenty huddled women from Batra. They didn't really seem like a fighting force. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Rose. She had the same look on her face; it irritated Fuji.

"It will take time and I have to get all of them here," Fuji said in an exasperated tone. "I know I can't win with just this."

I was incredulous as I questioned Fuji, "You're going to take over the whole planet with just the few slaves on this planet? It just seems impossible."

My old friend brushed off my concern with a casual air. "My planet is weak," she stated with conviction, "wait and see what I do."

It was not an idle threat Fuji was making and I understood that. She was commanding, now that she'd discovered herself. I felt for sure she would surprise the slavers of her home world.

Rose and I stayed for a few moments to listen to Hassar speak to the other races of women, but it was obvious we weren't really needed. Hassar made it quite clear the choice Rose and I made should not influence the other women. Our behavior had been quite frowned upon at the time.

The women asked many questions, but Hassar and her Sister answered them. Rose and I were not asked to participate in this session. We almost seemed in the way. My friend and I slipped out when we realized we were just sitting and listening like everyone else. This was not how we could provide for the camp.

Rose and I walked through the halls and found a quiet place to sit beside a fire pit. Neither of us was sure what to do. Distantly we heard the occasional boom that told us of skirmishes still raging with the aliens outside. It didn't feel like a good day just to take a day off. There had to be something we could do.

"We could help with the children," Rose said innocently. "I'm sure the Administrators won't object to you teaching your own young. We could go and see how the children learn today..."

I smiled slyly at her and had to agree. Spending the day with our little boys would really appeal to me. It wasn't like we had any clue what the boys did all day. We should go down and watch for a while before we tried it ourselves. There was most likely some sort of curriculum they used.

The children's area was near the infirmary, deep in the mountain. It made sense to cluster the weak and defenseless together. The entrance was set back off the main thoroughfare. We had to walk a short distance down a hall to reach the actual entrance. I was a little surprised to see a door at the end of the hall. The strong metal structure was a powerful reminder of what children were worth. They would always be protected.

Outside the entrance to the children's area an armed guard of three families stood. We'd had too many close calls with sneaky aliens and we certainly had enough Warriors to spread around now. The men were friendly it seemed, but vigilant as we approached. 

The guards from the camp made a point to introduce themselves and speak politely to Rose and me. There were men with them that must have been Warriors from the compounds. I assumed our campmates had been told to model good behavior. Rose and I returned their greetings and made small talk.

Unlike the men last night, these Warriors seemed more accepting of our equality in the camp. They watched us curiously and spoke to us cautiously, there was no malice. I figured they either had no real opinion on humans or were just going with the flow of the camp. Either way, I was relieved not to have to fight again. The night before had been stressful.

The door was opened, after it was unlocked, and the guards allowed us entry. After we stepped inside I heard the heavy structure closed and re-secured. The men were leaving nothing to chance.

The inside of children's area was a shock for Rose and me. It was so well lit I blinked a little. I had not realized they'd brought this many young ones back, although the size of this space still dwarfed the men and boys in here. It was like the inside of a football stadium. It appeared all the boys were taught together, although they seemed to be divided by age group.

Older boys sat to one side and they sat at tables. As the children got smaller they tended to have them grouped sitting on the floor. I imagined they'd run out of tables and the little boys probably didn't mind. Several groups of men were with each different age group, presumably teaching.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 37



Sparing a second look at the room we were in I had to smile. If I had to imagine a Paterian school, this would be it. Based on the marks on the floor the periphery was a track the boys could run. On the left wall were huge diagrams of wrestling moves and the sword fighting positions. The right wall was dedicated to plants and animals in the forest. The far wall was a map of the entire planet. Beneath the map I could just make out short descriptions of the different areas.

Even in this dangerous time the boys still had their lessons and their physical exercise. My campmates had made sure the children would not suffer if they had to stay inside for some reason. Everything continued and they still got to learn, even in times of danger.

"Mama!" I heard five voices yell out in synchrony.

Mycah and his Brothers dropped what they were doing and ran to me. Instinctively, I knelt and held my arms out to them. The boys expected a kiss on the cheek and a little hug. Daddy and Damien had told them that's how I should greet them. They returned the affection with their usual exuberance,

"We're learning about animals in the forest today!" Mycah told me excitedly.

The little ones couldn't wait to tell me all the things they'd learned already. The Child Keepers had even promised to take them to see for themselves, once the aliens were gone. The boys were enamored with the idea of getting on the big transports and experiencing the bright green world they'd seen outside the tunnels.

I noted men approaching and I encouraged the boys to go back where they had been. My presence here should not be detracting from their education. Mycah's family didn't want to leave me, though.

"Come with us, Mama," Rees begged. "We like it when family is with us."

As I stood, I smiled down at him and then greeted the lead Child Keepers. They were campmates I'd never gotten to know, but it was evident to me they were formidable men. The five of them were muscular and commanding. This family was obviously in charge of everything here.

"Ciara, from Earth," I said politely to the man who appeared to be the lead Brother. "I am Damien's mate. My job is usually with the tailors or the Healers, but I am not needed there today. My friend and I would like to assist with the children. It is something we both enjoy. Our families want us to Keep Mycah and his Brothers during the day. We wondered if we could help today, just to get an idea of what you do. We have put in a written petition to the Administrators."

"Hyun, born in the T'lynien Mountains," the lead Brother announced in a deep bass. "We would be glad for more help and you are encouraged to Keep your own family. My Brothers and I would be happy to help you learn."

I smiled realizing Hyun was born in this very mountain. He was probably a wealth of information about the world around us. The children were lucky to have men like this teaching them.

Introductions were made between Rose and the rest of the Brothers. After my friend said her name a slightly smaller Brother in the back, named Lul, pulled out his pad and started to slide his fingers across the face. His face brightened as he looked back up at Rose.

"You are mated to Basin's family, rescued from the Caras compound?" Lul asked.

Rose was proud of her family and smiled as she answered affirmatively.

"Saves us a trip, then," Lul said happily, "we have a young family here that was bred by the third Brother in Basin's family. My Brothers and I have been watching them, but they should be with their breeders. There has been so much to do with all the boys we have not had time to bring them to Basin's family."

Hyun misunderstood the look of shock on Rose's face.

"They were to be returned sooner," Hyun pleaded. "We have so many children here right now. Caring for their immediate needs was our first priority."

"We could not continue to leave them with Child Keepers from the compounds," Hyun's Brother continued. "Those men do not understand the right way to treat children. We have been finding the children's families as fast as we could. There is training that must happen with many of the men first. It is time consuming and we worry about who the children are left with..."

"Especially the very young," Lul said agreeing with his Brother. "The little ones need special care. They couldn't be left with just anyone..."

Rose regained her composure and sought to calm Hyun's family.

"We did not know there were children," she said. "My mates and I would gladly care for them and we are not upset you kept them safe. No one had ever told us these children existed..."

Hyun and his family relaxed visibly as Lul turned and called out toward the smallest boys in the whole hall.

"Edas, bring your Brothers and come here! I want to introduce you to your new Keeper."

Five small boys were running toward us a moment later. They were younger than Mycah's family, that was obvious. In fact, they barely looked old enough to be at a compound. In their haste, one of them tripped and fell, dragging a Brother down with him. Their lack of coordination told me these were very young boys.

Rose didn't hesitate and went toward them, just like Hyun did. She picked the little boys up off the floor and set them on their feet before examining them closely for injury. They were surprised, but didn't fight as she fussed over them. The little family watched her closely until one boy spoke.

"You no have stripes!" he announced proudly.

Rose smiled as she knelt down in front of him and he grinned up at her.

"I do not have stripes," she crooned. "You are a very observant boy. What is your name?"

The five little ones announced their names proudly. Edas and his family didn't have any fear of Rose. Hyun told them Rose would Keep them today. The children seemed to like the attention this new strange looking Paterian was paying them.

I noted how the boys instinctively wanted to be close to those around them. The compound had not started to teach them the devastating lesson of drawing in yet. These boys would be socialized the way they should be.

I could not imagine how crushing it must have been for Damien's family to grow up in a compound. Isolation was not natural on this planet, far from it. Men needed groups and other Paterians. Their nature was to be outgoing and trusting.

Jonathan jerked me out of my thoughts as he pulled hard on my skirt.

"Mama, where's Daddy?" he asked looking at the door. I got the impression I had a heart beat before he tried to get out the entrance. Remembering his family's persistence, they might actually succeed.

"Daddy is working," I said grabbing Mycah's hand and Jonathan's hand. "We have to learn about the animals in the forest today."

I pulled my boys back to where they'd been and Rose walked with Edas and his Brothers. It wasn't even mid-morning when Hyun and his Brothers left us alone to continue instructing our boys.

The method of instruction was unlike I'd experienced on Earth. I sat in a circle with my family and we talked. It was my job to teach them about animals in the forest. I had access to a pad so I could show them pictures of the things I talked about. I made up stories about the animals to keep the boy's attention. They were expected to answer questions after I was done.

I had to puff with a little pride when several men settled their boys behind mine. My imaginative stories captured the attention of my audience. The lessons were interesting and they picked up the facts quickly. It felt good to be someone the other men trusted their young with.

Rose was doing something similar with her young boys. Edas and his family were learning their colors today. Rose used her pad to help the boys learn the colors of the things in the forest. While she was at it she also taught them the names of things. The young ones picked it up with ease.

I felt a little guilty as the morning wore on. My men were out looking for dangerous aliens and I was sitting safely inside. It seemed grossly unfair to me, until I concentrated on Damien and his Brothers.

My men had been raised to be Warriors, but they were never really allowed to fight. Now they soared through the forest hunting invaders with their cousins. This was exciting. The Great Harmonious Spirit linked them to the other fighters in the camp and they battled as one being. It was exhilarating.

The aliens were systematically removed from the area around our camp. As each section was cleaned the men moved on to the next area. By nightfall the men would have a massive area cleared of invaders. Frankly, they were having a great time.

Time came for the midday meal and the young boys were all ravenous. The food was delivered here and set up on a series of tables along one wall. Whoever was Keeping the children was responsible for fixing their plates. Rose took the initiative to look at her boys' marks before preparing their plates.

"No rupe for them," she announced peering down at one little boy. There was a human slave in his line one generation back.

He looked up at her and frowned. His Brothers liked rupe. They had given it to him the day prior and the day before that. The family had been forbidden it in the compound. He and his Brothers thought it was a treat that they could have it here.

Rose looked horrified. She'd seen what rupe had done to me. Humans, and those with human ancestors, couldn't eat rupe because we didn't absorb the nutrients from it. In the compounds, families like mine, with a human ancestor, never touched that food. Families would share and it was dangerous to risk them sharing rupe. The fact these boys had been given it was awful. One of them may have had no nutrients for days.

The men Keeping these children must have been too busy to have noticed this detail.

"How sick would he have been if they'd been left with those men?!" Rose said to me in English. She seemed very offended that her boys had not been cared for correctly.

Rose's attention turned back to Edas's family when she spoke next.

"Rupe isn't good for you," she said firmly and glanced at the table of food. "I'll bring you something better to eat."

Edas' family wasn't sure, but they knew Rose was Keeping them. When she returned with their meals she also brought chilled green stalks, I was sure she'd win them over. The boys each got to try one and they really liked those. These were much better than rupe. They all ate the healthy meal Rose picked out and then chewed on the stalks happily.

Our afternoon was slightly different from the morning. Healers showed up and removed the stitches from my little boys. Mycah's family wasn't nearly as calm as when they were placed. It took a good deal of effort to get the boys still enough for the men to do the job. Luckily, the Healers cleared the children to join in the physical activity that commonly occurred this time of day. That was a relief

It was late afternoon when we all had a jolting surprise. Damien and his Brothers watched as one of the women's ships drew close to our camp. The men outside didn't run and held their positions, waiting to see what would happen. Still, I knew there must be some apprehension. Mycah's little family was grabbed by The Great Harmonious Spirit, as were many families in the hall we were in. Nothing was left to chance as this strange event played out.

Whoever was steering the large vessel did a good job. The warship came to rest slowly in a small clearing along the mountainside, just outside our main entrance. The engines to the metal beast shut off and it sat unmoving at our very doorway.

I was inside, with the mostly quiet children, but I saw what Damien and his Brothers saw. My focus was riveted on the drama they were watching. None of us knew what to expect.

It was like a scene from a movie as a piece of the ship lowered to the ground and a ramp was formed. From the size of the ramp I imagined you could have run two transports inside the ship side by side. Something big and dangerous could come down that ramp and I personally felt fear, although the men were as calm as ever. They were always calm and organized when The Great Harmonious Spirit had them.

Many moments passed and there was movement at the top of the ramp. A Paterian woman walked down the ramp with two large bags slung over her shoulders. It took me a moment to recognize Dinah, Nu-reeh's Sister.

I gasped loudly and so did Rose. My eyes met hers and we both wondered what was going on. My feelings intensified when Nu-reeh strolled down the ramp behind Dinah. Much like the other woman she carried two enormous sacks. Tosu came down last, limping heavily, but carrying a load similar to her Sisters'.

The men evaluated Tosu's wounds from a distance and I felt their concern. She had a bloody mark still oozing from her upper stomach. From her gait and the strange look of one leg it was either broken or just badly damaged. One wing hung oddly and the men could see where something had tried to tear it off. Our friend would not survive with these wounds much longer unless they were tended.

The women walked toward the ground level entrance of the transport storage area. The men didn't stop them, but they watched observantly from all around. Except for Tosu, these women had not been invited here, but The Great Harmonious Spirit would not turn them away. They were Paterian and at least one of them was in need of our help.

Nu-reeh and her Sisters passed into the entrance and walked slowly through the transport storage area and into the main cave. There were countless men controlled by The Spirit still inside. They came out and lined the hallway as the women passed through.

Men from the compounds and men from the mountains hid behind my campmates and in the interior caves. Most of them had not been grabbed by The Spirit. They didn't feel safe with the slave owners here.

Seeing things that my mates saw was one thing. Over many moons I'd become accustomed to seeing with their eyes. Watching the world through the kaleidoscopic lens of thousands was somewhat different. There was no place in my mind to take in everything that the men controlled by The Great Harmonious Spirit were perceiving and acting on. To end my discomfort I got up and went to watch this for myself.

"Watch the boys for me?" I asked Rose and she nodded.

Her little ones were quietly coloring together. They were not bonded to the men here, yet, and they were oblivious to what was going on. Edas and his Brothers were continuing the task Rose had put them on.

Mycah's family sat quiet and pensive. I didn't think they'd go anywhere right now. The Spirit would keep them safe. Rising as quickly as I could I bolted out the door and into the hallway. The guards at the door didn't spare me a glance as I passed them, but they did re-lock the door. All of them, even the Warriors from the compound, had been grabbed by The Great Spirit.

As I ran I considered the implication. Men from the compounds were acclimating to the camp, some faster than others. It was good to see, because being bonded to The Spirit gave them enormous strength.

I moved quickly and quietly, intent on watching this strange display for myself. Much like the men, I had no idea what slavers were doing in this camp. They didn't act like they were here to take men, but I was sure that was the point.

Perhaps they wanted to make a trade for whatever it was they carried? I just wasn't sure.

The scene in our main passageway was amazing. The men from the camp stood in vast numbers watching and waiting for the women to walk past. They didn't speak and they didn't move around. It was unnerving. I made my way behind them down the passage.

I moved until I saw Nu-reeh and then I stopped cold. She was almost to the Administration area. The big woman noticed me and I saw her eyes flash in anger, but another more pressing matter got her attention. Still, my hand was already on my gun and I was ready for anything.

"Nu-reeh!" Hassar called out. "What a surprise to see you and your Sisters in our home."

Hassar stood on the stage in front of the Administration's main room looking left and right, taking in the crowd lining the halls. The men were absolutely quiet. It was that eerie silence that The Spirit imposed on them. Reed joined Hassar and the Sisters shared a look before turning their attention back at Nu-reeh.

"It appears you have taken all of our men," Nu-reeh said calmly, but pointedly. "Our loyal cousins that saw this place have alerted us. We could not leave them here without sustenance for their bodies."

The bulky bags must be grain or some sort of food product, it was an interesting turn of events. Nu-reeh and her Sisters had loaded supplies from the compound or mountains and brought it here. It was a good, believable ploy to get inside.

Hassar and her Sister had no time to answer as the hall responded to Nu-reeh. The men grabbed by The Spirit spoke to her as one being and it was thoroughly creepy and unexpected. The walls seemed to vibrate with the combined sound.

"We took our cousins from your bonds and have given them freedom," the men said clearly. "They did not belong where you had them and they were in danger. We will stay together. You may leave the food you have brought in our dining hall."

Honestly, judging by their faces, I don't think even Reed and Hassar had seen the men respond to someone like that. Nu-reeh and Dinah had certainly never seen it. Tosu's face looked so tired, but I saw her almost smile. She was surprised, too, but obviously pleased.

Hassar cleared her throat and pointed down the passageway.

"The men eat in a place just several openings down-" she said and the men interrupted her as a group.

"We will escort the slaving women Nu-reeh and Dinah to our dining hall. Tosu will be taken to the infirmary for rest and healing."

Nu-reeh stiffened her spine and her eyes blazed with anger. She didn't like being told where to go one bit.

"My Sister, Tosu, will heal from her wounds if she is able," Nu-reeh said in a growl. "My family will not act like those weak-"

The men cut her off, not by speaking, but by moving. Waves of men controlled by The Spirit forced Tosu past the other Sisters. Transports swarmed the hall above our heads, reminding the women the men could fly. Tosu's load was taken from her and she was pushed forward and away from her Sisters until she sat on a transport. It began to glide toward the infirmary.

"THAT WOMAN IS NOT YOURS TO CONTROL!" Nu-reeh roared dropping her bags.

The men did not answer. Tosu would be helped by us and Nu-reeh's opinion was irrelevant. Tosu had not refused our help. The silence enraged Nu-reeh and Dinah further. They looked furious and the men continued to look impassive.

This camp just would not let a Paterian die without doing everything they could. The men here felt an obligation to the other men and the women on this world. In addition, Tosu had been in this camp as a friend many times. The men had a personal reason for wanting to save this woman. Tosu was our friend.

"You will heal and you will help us rebuild our world," the men stated as they took Tosu toward the infirmary. "We will not see good women die when we have the power to stop it."

Nu-reeh started to curse and push at the men, but it was like fighting the sand. They avoided her claws and held her at bay by constantly moving and shifting. The swarming transports above even stopped her from taking flight. The men wound around her in a graceful ballet of movement. Nu-reeh was livid and I was shocked.

"Do not fight them," Tosu called back weakly. "I wish to heal and help rebuild the world with them. I have not been honest before now, Nu-reeh, my allegiance lies with the rebels. Their beliefs are my beliefs and have been for a long time."




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 37



Nu-reeh and Dinah both looked too angry for words. I saw the venom start to sprout from their fangs and I felt intense fear. A single drop of that could kill the men. It was a deadly form of attack and it was intended for Tosu.

My campmates saw the women's rage start to boil out of control and they stepped back in unison. Weapons were drawn and the men stood innumerable and ready. Cannons from the armed transports were aimed before the men spoke again.

"You may not stay in our home if you threaten us with death. We have a right to be free and be together. Tosu has a right to heal and help us in the future. We will protect our rights," they said pointedly.

The women's tempers were reigned back in and I saw Nu-reeh's analytical mind start working. She wanted her men back and getting kicked out of here limited her ability to do that. The women both licked the venom away and put on peaceful faces.

"We only wish to help nourish you," Nu-reeh said as sweetly as I'd ever heard her. "My Sister and I have much more we have brought you all."

The men separated and opened the way back to the main entrance. I looked up and down the hall, but they'd already moved Tosu into the infirmary. Now it was just a long passageway dotted with fire pits and lined with men.

"You don't even attempt to protect them," Nu-reeh said cooly, addressing Reed and Hassar who still stood stoically on the stage.

Hassar didn't seem perturbed by the jab.

"They didn't seem to be the ones that needed protecting," she retorted.

My eyebrows raised at the slightly inflammatory comment, but our Administrator was correct. The men had complete control of the situation. In fact, they could have handled many more aggressive women without an issue. There were just so many men and they worked so well together. The women just weren't cohesive like that.

It wasn't like the men had been without their female cohorts, though. I looked up and saw women standing just inside the caves all over above our heads. They had taken Hassar's lead and stayed away, but they had never abandoned their male campmates. The women had merely let the men handle this the way they wanted to.

Several families came forward and grabbed the bags the women had brought and dropped on the floor. It took two men to lift each bag onto a transport. All six bags were flown toward the dining hall.

Nu-reeh and Dinah watched the men and then walked back toward their ship. Several of our transports followed them, partially to watch them and partially to get the food they had brought. The men would not waste the bounty these women had delivered.

I felt The Great Harmonious Spirit shift. Not everyone was necessary to keep a watch on the slaving women. Most of the men were released to go about the jobs they had been doing. A contingent of men was assigned to stay vigilant in case the women tried something.

Quickly as I could I walked back to where Mycah and his Brothers were. They would have gone from calm to wild in an instant and I knew that. With only Rose to watch them, who knew what trouble they could stir up.

Some of the men gave me a look when I returned to the Children's Hall, but no one said anything. The camp was respectful of my rights to do as I wished, even in they didn't understand the incentive. I had to appreciate their silence on the matter of my wandering off.

All in all I had to admit that training the children would not be as difficult as I'd thought. The men who Kept the children had a curriculum and we all loosely followed the same one. As the boys aged the things they did and learned changed, but there was a fairly standard set of things we taught them. The only difference would be who taught the boys.

Rose and I both felt that this was a job we could excel at. Our boys would not suffer from having us as teachers. When we had more dangerous lessons, like the ones outside, there would always be others there to help us protect our families. This was a very workable solution for both of us.

We sat and talked and I didn't notice Basin and his Brothers until they were standing less than five hand spans away. Edas' little family was busy wrestling on the floor. They didn't look up as the men stood and stared at them.

"They are...ours?" Basin asked quietly.

He seemed stunned. I suppose he'd never thought about his family having children. The women had used him and his Brothers frequently while they were at the compound. No one had ever told him there was this outcome, though. Seeing the physical proof of a mating was evidently amazing him.

Rose called the little boys over and the men introduced themselves. Edas and his Brothers didn't feel any particular attachment to the five large men in Basin's family, but they weren't afraid of them either. I saw their confusion when Basin told them they'd be staying with him and his Brothers at night.

"We stay with them," Edas said clearly, pointing at Hyun and his Brothers.

I watched the anger flash in Basin's eyes as he looked up at Hyun. His instincts to care for this family were strong. He and his Brothers had watched my family with Jonathan, apparently they wanted that, too.

"Basin and his Brother are good men and they are going to Keep you," Hyun told the little ones as he stepped closer. "Rose stays with Basin and his Brothers. You will go with them tonight."

Edas and his Brothers liked Rose, a lot. She talked to them and played with them. She'd made them the center of her attention. At lunch she'd given them treats. The idea of leaving with her was very acceptable to the young boys.

Basin and his Brothers knelt and touched the little boys. They straightened their clothing and brushed their hair back. Edas and his Brothers didn't understand, but they wanted to see the weapons Basin's family carried, so the nearness was fine. The big men sat on the floor and let the boys examine their heavy swords, although they kept little fingers away from the sharp edges.

I had to admit watching this was odd. In all the time I'd known Rose and her family, I'd rarely seen her men look surprised and definitely not like this. The big men were sitting on the floor and talking gently to the young boys. They encouraged Edas and his Brothers and answered the simple, childish questions patiently. I would not have guessed they could be like this.

"The camp encourages us to revere the young. They are the future of The Great Spirit," Damien whispered in my ear. "The other men teach us how to treat children. It was part of what we learned while we were separated from you."

I turned to see my family a moment before Mycah and his Brothers saw them. I smiled at the contented faces my men had. They were enjoying watching their boys practice wrestling on the floor. Our little ones were strong and fierce. They would thrive in the world.

I had just a moment to kiss each man hello before the boys were on them. They said their greetings and then they wanted to know where Hodlen and his Brothers were. Mycah's family was watching the door intently for their other family.

"An alien broke Kee's sword with one of those beams," Bane said ruefully shaking his head, it had been a fine strong blade, losing it had been a shame. "They went to see the smiths to check about a replacement. His family will meet us for the evening meal."

The casual comment had my attention and I was able to delve into their memories. The fighting that broke Kee's favorite weapon had been intense. In my opinion, they were lucky they'd only lost a sword to it. My men just grinned at the memory. The battle had been fun and necessary.

I was worried as I looked at them. Without my family, I would feel lost on this world. Something happening to them was unfathomable. Kein shook his head as I received gentle, comforting touches from the whole family.

"You would survive and we would go to The Great Harmonious Spirit," Kein said. "The boys would stay with you and our surviving extended family. We cannot hide from this battle, wife. The aliens would take everything we had if we let them."

He was right, I knew he was. It didn't mean I had to like the danger they put themselves into everyday.

"Better us than them," Christof said gesturing to Mycah's family who was back to wrestling with one another.

We watched as the boys practiced the simple moves Hyun and his Brothers had taught that afternoon. Aiden was very, very good. He'd never suffer in hand to hand combat, even my untrained eyes were sure of that. Jonathan and Rees both seemed to have a slight weight advantage, if they could figure out how to use it. Their human ancestry gave them heavier bones and a smaller stature. They both had a lower center of gravity. My men watched them all with critical eyes, knowing what we would have to do to train them to reach their full potential.

For everything the men had done today, all the excitement and battling, this was more important. The moment they stepped next to Mycah's family, the boys were the focus of their attention. Damien and his Brothers had not realized how good it would feel to be responsible for their young.

The halls were again crowded with men as we moved toward the eating area. I saw huge boxes of something stacked outside the dining hall. Bags the women had brought were also stacked there. Mycah's family tried to climb on them and Damien's family quickly told them no.

"That is our food," Damien said pulling Niah and Mycah back, "it isn't a place to play."

Abram's family was at one end inspecting a bag and they greeted us as we walked by. I noted Rue and his Brothers at another bag and saw Arik's family inspecting a crate further down. Other men I wasn't familiar with were loading the different items onto transports. The bags they loaded were all marked with symbols that meant "checked" or "clean", unmarked items were not touched.

"They tried to poison us?!" I said louder than I meant to.

Rue's family heard me and they all snorted before turning to look at me. My truce with them was tenuous, but my outburst gave them reason to act superior. Usually we were just polite and professional around one another.

"The human that suggested the food may have been tampered with told us this was how wars have been won on your own planet. Don't you know your own history?!" Rue asked in a mocking voice.

Rue kept his voice down, because he was being rude. He knew he was being inappropriate, but he apparently couldn't help himself.

Damien wanted to hit the man for being this way, but settled for just staring angrily. His arms crossed in a gesture I was very familiar with. We didn't want to create more conflict for the Administrators when so much else was going on, best to just walk away. My family would have kept moving, but I was curious.

"I seem to remember Tosu was part of the delivery group," I said defending my surprise. "I can't imagine she would have allowed them to hurt us."

Rue's puffed a little knowing something I hadn't known. The delivery was made by Nu-reeh, but it had been arranged by several groups of slaving women. Tosu seemed to think it possible the other slavers would not tell Nu-reeh what she was delivering, if it were tainted. Had Nu-reeh and Dinah been detained, there would have been no lie when they said the food was good.

Abram's family approached and heard the last of the conversation.

"It all appears to be fine so far," Abram said to Damien. "We'll go through everything and make sure it is safe for the camp. There's been nothing so far we've found that could be harmful. Still, I'm grateful to Rhonda for telling us it could be a risk."

My brow quirked and I realized I didn't know a Rhonda and that it was an Earth name.

"She likes to cook," Abram said gesturing inside. "She is working with our friends now, but she will stay with us as she relearns freedom. The portals seem too dangerous to her, but give her time."

Abram's Brothers agreed that the portals were a danger. None of them felt Rhonda had made a bad decision and they enjoyed her company. It pleased all of them to help her. When the Administrators had asked for their help, the whole family had felt a real sense of pride.

Listening to their conversation I got the impression being allowed to help with a slave's retraining was quite an honor. Personally, I felt Abram and his Brothers were perfect for the job. Their calm friendly demeanors would make anyone feel more relaxed. 

"We will teach her freedom and how to survive here. If Rhonda wants contact with her former slavers," Abram said seriously, "it will be done in a controlled environment. All of her needs will be met as she regains her strengths."

I grunted a laugh and looked over to find my family appearing slightly sheepish. The camp knew we'd snuck around together. I guess the Administrators wanted to avoid having that happen again. While I'd enjoyed the absolute lack of structure, things could have ended badly if my men had not been able to change their outlook. This way was safer, to be sure.

Rue and his family had returned to their jobs when it became evident this was just a casual exchange. Damien and his Brothers reigned in the anger as we walked past. Those men were just not worth it. They were perpetually unpleasant. We walked our boys to dinner and just enjoyed the company of the family. There was enough fighting outside for now.

We wove our way to the cafeteria and I was surprised to see Mia standing outside with a group of men. In the shop at the village Mia had always been dressed in simple Paterian ornamentation. Now standing in the camp was a woman in a flowing multicolored gown with intricate designs. This had not been scavenged from the camp and I had no idea where it was from.

I stared at her until she turned and saw me. Mia walked toward me with a regal air and greeted me in a language I did not recognize. I had no idea what to say to her.

Mia had always had a certain confidence, but this was different. She acted like she'd never been a slave. I noted she wasn't with a family. Mia was alone and meeting everyone here on her own.

"I am E'rsan," she said distinctly. "The words I just used are a blessing, one I have thought each time I saw you breeding. I am a high priestess from a planet called Yallen. I was sold as a slave by my enemies."

Bane reminded me to close my mouth with a slight nudge. I was staring unabashedly at Mia...E'rsan. She seemed so different and in such a short time.

"The clothing you have...?" I stammered staring at the gown and the swirling pattern of gold thread all over it.

"I made it with found items," she said simply and her attention wandered to a group of men passing us. She offered them what sounded like another blessing and raised her hand with her fingers twisted in a strange gesture.

I thought back to the transport with the scared women and the room I'd been in just this morning. E'rsan had been in none of those places.

"Have you been here this whole time?" I asked.

"I was taken to another camp," E'rsan said waving her fingers as though casting a spell and murmuring a greeting to another group. "I wish to travel this world before I leave it. I must leave my blessing, so this world is not cursed by the ill thoughts I have had."

I wasn't sure what a high priestess of Yallen could do with ill thoughts, but she must think they were powerful. E'rsan's large oval eyes told me the sincerity of her words. She really believed she could hurt us.

"How did you get here?" Damien asked, clearly confused. The next closest camp was a three day transport ride away.

E'rsan turned to look at the lead Brother with a subtle grin. A moment later we were looking at the space she'd been in; it was empty. E'rsan was down the hall, almost out of sight, a moment later she was back in front of us. She moved like the wind.

"Slavery kept all of us from our true potential..." Kein said in awe.

E'rsan did not join us for the meal, she flitted about the camp and I heard she left later, traveling to the next camp as the second moon rose.

Life in the camp got stranger and stranger over the next several day cycles. Women, slaving women, appeared regularly. Some would bring gifts, some just demanded entrance; the camp didn't deny any of them. One group tried to grab some men doing patrols. The pathetic attempt was stopped quickly and the women reprimanded by Hassar. Considering the hold those women had prior, their lack of power now was shocking.

The formerly feared slavers were treated like they were a nuisance. Damien confidently informed me they were no danger to the men. The aliens were our main concern and the members of the camp worked hard to remove them from what we considered "our" territory. The slaving women were at this point nearly ignored, which I continued to find odd.

The main concern most all Paterians had revolved around the ore. Now that we were living openly, the men's opinions could be advertised. Kana had been right about how the free men viewed the sale of the ore. They'd had to stifle their objections to stay hidden. We weren't hiding now, though.

The free men were vocal and persistent. Women from the camps seemed to share this mindset. It didn't look like the sales would continue and that infuriated the slaving women.

Many of the slaving women had based their life's success on how much they earned from sale of the ore. Not that the proceeds had any worth or use, it was just a measure of how good a miner you were. The idea of stopping the sale was a big change for the women.

There were debates and talks amongst the various camps. Meetings that took place all over the planet indicated the same thing. Free Paterians didn't like the idea of selling the ore off the planet. That ore represented Paterian flesh and blood, or it had at some point. Selling it to aliens was offensive and had to stop.

I knew what it would mean and so did everyone else. We'd defeated the aliens that had come. All we were doing now was cleaning up the stragglers. If the ore stopped moving, the aliens would come back and in greater numbers. Any group that used the portals regularly would suffer the loss of Paterian ore. Our battle was far from over if this decision became planet wide and enforced.

Still, there was a more pressing threat at hand, in my opinion.

The slaving women continued to appear and it was obvious they were evaluating the camp's defenses. I wasn't stupid and I saw the looks they tried to so hard to conceal. Of course, some of the women relented and began to change their thinking, but not all of them. Many seemed to be waiting to take their men back.

Rose and I fretted about it, but the men were unconcerned. That didn't stop us from talking to one another about it at length and repeatedly. The two of us even talked to other women about it. None of us made any headway.

"The slaving women are going to try to take men," Rose said to me one day as we watched our boys run laps inside. "I know they are. You've seen the way they look at the men..."

Both our families found our concern unfathomable. They had linked up with The Spirit enough times that they shared the collective opinion. The slaving women would change their ways and join The Spirit. That was the accepted dogma.

"Tosu agrees with us," I told her quietly keeping my eyes on my young family.

I'd been to see Tosu on many occasions. We sat and talked as she rested in the infirmary. Her wing was healing very slowly and her leg had started to heal wrong. Those issues were keeping her in the sick area.

She would have preferred to be outside, but appreciated the help the camp offered her.

"I have cousins to talk to," she would tell me gesturing to Asper on the warm slab beside her.

Asper never spoke to me and only watched my interactions with Tosu. She usually lay there and stared at the ceiling when I came to visit. It seemed she was paying attention to everything. I was sure she was building to her final decision.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 37



The slaving women frustrated Rose and me no end. She shook her head and sat back heavily on a table behind her. Rose looked absolutely vexed as she spoke.

"Kana and Rysell have tried to talk to the men, but no one will listen," she said woefully. "They even expressed their concern to Hassar and Reed. The camp's Administrators want to respect the men's beliefs. They won't do anything proactive about it. The men want the women here so they can witness how healthy the freedom is. If the slaving women weren't allowed here, it would be insulting to the men and they won't take away their choices..."

"The men should stay close to camp and close to the free women," I told Rose for the hundredth time. "They can't just run around like there isn't anymore danger."

Rose agreed, just like she had all the other times we'd had this discussion. Our men, just like all the men, had no fear of slaving women. They came and went as they pleased. The only danger they believed existed was aliens.

A deep ache settled in my lower back and I paced back and forth as I spoke.

"I feel like we're watching a train crash in slow motion," I panted trying to stretch out the cramp.

"It's just going to have to happen," Rose said irritably. "Basin and his Brothers are as hard headed as the rest. They won't hear of my discomfort with this..."

A horn sounded indicating an end to running and the boys bolted back to us. We couldn't talk about this around them. They were confused by our lack of belief in The Spirit's power. Edas and his family, as they bonded to Basin's family, were becoming as stalwart as the rest of the men. Mycah and his Brothers were the same way. Rose and I put on smiles and just walked the children to their next activity.

As the afternoon went on the cramps in my back came and went. I tried to sit when I could and drank plenty of water. If it was time for the girls to be born that was fine, but I did not want to make them come early. There was still an alien presence fighting on this world and the potential conflict with the slavers made me very uneasy. I wasn't really ready to be a new mother right now.

By nightfall, I was exhausted. I went to bed long before anyone else. The men wished me a good sleep and spent their time in the communal living space. The cramps had stopped during dinner, but I still felt worn. Hopefully sleep would make me feel better again.

Our bed had become less of a private space, but sharing it with our extended family felt right. As I curled into my place I wondered when it would be that the women would excavate more rooms for us. Perhaps they could dig a second bedroom that entered into our small living space. I wanted to keep the family all close. I fell to sleep thinking about that.

It was Kein's worried voice that jostled me from sleep in the middle of the night. I'd been dreaming of a deep canyon. The wind whipped and howled through it, making a mournful sound. The noise still echoed in my ears as I woke up. Kein stroked my arm as he whispered my name. I was groggy as I turned my head to look at his face peering over my shoulder.

"Mama?" a small voice asked from in front of me and I turned my head to see Mycah's family lined up and watching me over Rynal's body.

The little boys were wide awake and obviously confused about something. My groggy mind couldn't decide what it was. All thought left me a moment later as the pain gripped my lower back and shot down into my stomach. Panting and writhing on the bed I realized the howling canyon must have been me, moaning in my sleep.

"You are in pain, wife, it will be soon," Kein said as he rubbed my lower back.

Our babies would not wait much longer.

"We don't understand," Hodlen said quietly, directing the comment to Damien.

He and his Brothers were awake and quietly watching our unfolding drama.

"There is cramping," Damien explained, "to push the new lives out of Ciara's body. The cramps are painful for her."

Our extended family had never seen their mates during this time and didn't know if the same was true of Paterian women. The Paterian women released the new life and brought their offspring to the men, but only after the child had fed the first time. Hodlen's family had never asked how the actual birth happened. It just wasn't done that way.

"I need to walk," I said as I pushed myself to a sitting position. The men's conversation was not interesting to me at this point.

Kein put my boots on my feet and Bane pulled me to stand. Pacing had always helped move the labor along in the past.

"Where are you going, Mama?" Mycah asked trying to follow me.

Hodlen held him back as his family restrained the rest of the little boys. It was too early for the them to be wandering around.

"I have to walk," I told them gently. "Sleep with your male breeders. It is still night."

The men didn't stop me as I moved toward our main room and then into the community room. The fire pits were almost out and the space was quiet. I began to pace along the wall and found Kein strolling beside me. He seemed utterly content to walk with me, which I found odd. Damien's family liked their schedule and now was time for sleep. This was off schedule.

"You can't sleep?" I asked him, keeping my voice low.

His wide grin told me all I needed to know. Damien's family was too excited to sleep. We would labor together.

The night moved slowly. I talked to my family and let the contractions happen. After a while Kein was replaced by Christof and so forth. When I leaned over with a cramp, whoever was with me would rub my lower back and make sure I didn't fall. My Husbands were gentle and attentive

My men were happy, very happy. For the first time we would have our child with no Nu-reeh to scare us during the delivery. I could lay on our bed and the children would be born to their family. It would be better than it ever had been before.

I tried to be calm as I paced the interior of the community room, but I was feeling anxious. A twin birth was not something I had done before. I was worried something would go wrong. Damien and his Brothers had witnessed three births, but they were hardly experts. In case of an emergency, there was no one to help my offspring.

"Women are the only experts on birth," Bane stated as he walked with a hand on my back.

"Not on humans, though," I panted as another contraction faded. "The women don't know anything about humans. The Healers from the compounds know about humans. The children are trapped inside of me. Healers might know more about what to do if something bad happened."

Our conversation was cut short as liquid filled the thick cloth I was wearing between my legs. This was not urine and it meant the time was almost here. My water had broken.

The rest of my family appeared at my side, dressed and ready for the day. Others were waking up now, so it made sense they'd gotten ready. From the sounds the camp was making everyone was waking up.

"Women and Healers," Christof said, "if that is what Ciara wants we should take her to the infirmary..."

"What is a c-section?" Kein asked taking Bane's place and steading me.

I had been thinking the word and wondering if I needed one. On Earth I'd watched shows and seen programs about twin births. The women there sometimes got a c-section, because a twin delivery could be dangerous. I remembered the line on the stomach of one of my friends from such a surgery. I wondered if after this delivery I would have a similar line.

"We won't like it if they have to cut you," Damien stated looking troubled.

My memories concerned my Husbands. Damien's face was held in a deep scowl and his arms were crossed. They'd seen my memories and were not pleased with what they'd learned. Cutting out the babies seemed wrong to them, dangerous and wrong.  

"It is done if the child is in trouble," I assured Damien.

We paced a few steps more before the family decision was made. Bane scooped me up in his arms and strode purposefully toward the infirmary. My men wanted a birth in our home, but my anxiety would not allow it. As the family member with the strongest opinion, they bowed to my wishes.

I wanted to birth these girls with Healers present. I also wanted there to be someone there that knew about births. In the infirmary lay many women and the Healers were always there. This delivery would happen there.

Damien and his Brothers couldn't stop being proud and happy as we made our way to the infirmary. Whoever we passed, my men made a point to tell them what was happening. By the time we'd made it to the infirmary, I was sure the entire camp was aware today would be the birth of Kein's offspring.

Rhane and his Brothers met us at the entrance to the infirmary and seemed confused by our presence. Women on Pateria birthed their young in their caves and men were rarely present. It was considered a rare honor for a male to witness a birth. Even in mated groups, the women still kept the births private. That's just how it always was.

"That is not how Ciara's Earth tradition handles birth," Damien told the Healers firmly. "She wants to be near Healers, as well as, other women. There is much that can go wrong in a birth and my Brothers and I are uneducated."

Damien was right, that was what I wanted and the reason why, but it didn't make sense to anyone present. The large room was silent watching our interaction. They'd never seen a woman want a birth with Healers present. I started to feel foolish coming here.

Tosu approached limping heavily and my apprehension melted.

"There is a slab by the far wall, Rhane," Tosu said pointing. "Ciara could lay there. I would be happy to be near. My former family and I learned much about human child birthing."

A family of men I didn't know approached from the side. They were Healers, from the stains on their smocks and the instruments they carried. The family appeared shy and uncertain. Their eyes darted from me to Damien several times, before addressing him.

"I am Casgar, rescued from the Barnas compound," the lead Brother pronounced with some trepidation. "Our Mistress made us learn about human child birthing, so we could help her human slaves. We could assist your..."

Casgar wasn't sure what to call me, but he obviously thought I was a slave. The concept was offensive here. I saw Rhane and his Brothers stiffen causing Casgar to cringe. The lead Healers were about to give Casgar's family a lecture when Damien interrupted. I wanted Casgar and his family around. It was my desire they not be scared off. We could deal with the slave or free issue later.

"Thank you, cousin," Damien stated politely and with a smile.

Damien approached the other man and clasped his shoulder in a friendly gesture. Casgar flinched, but relaxed as he watched Damien's face remain relaxed. My Husband tried to look as non threatening as he could.

"This is our mate," Damien continued sounding calm, "we would be grateful for your assistance-"

I missed the rest of Damien's comments and the ride to my slab was a blur. Another, stronger, contraction had startled me and taken my breath. I was panting through it when Rose appeared in my field of vision.

My friend's face was a rapid display of emotions from happiness to concern. She had grabbed a wet cloth and dabbed my forehead in a motherly gesture. Gritting my teeth at the pain I found her hand and squeezed tightly.

The wall in front of my slab was not decorated, but if you stared hard at it, you could see detail. I started to count the lines of rock to distract myself. The thick black of the Paterian stone was interrupted by thin lines of dark red and thicker lines of shiny blue. Small chunks of ore could be seen glittering in the rock as well. If I squinted hard it looked like the night sky.

"Breathe, Ciara," Rose said calmly as the contraction passed, "you are safe and the babies will be well. You will have all the support you need. The camp feels honored to share this with you, they are grateful you are giving them more life."

As Christof crawled behind me to support my back. I looked around and realized the infirmary was becoming crowded. Men from all over the camp had come down to see this.

"Children of T'vailk heritage, and we are here to see it!" a family said as they settled on the ground behind the slab.

"An honor cousin!" another intoned giving a friendly salute our way.

"We are grateful to share this with your family, Ciara," a man from my left said as he sat with his Brothers.

I had not intended this to be a public event, but it was becoming one. I was grateful to be facing a wall and not the throngs that seemed to be arriving. Privacy was important to me and I was surprised at this turn. The camp was joining us to celebrate.

Damien and his Brothers would gladly shoo their cousins out if I wanted it done. The other men were excited, but could be removed. I made my decision as I looked at the happy faces around me.

Men from the camp had no interest in gawking at my body. They weren't here to ridicule or for any nefarious purpose. The camp was just very excited about this unusual birth. They wanted to see their new campmates and were happy to share this with us as a big family.

"Leave them," I told my Husbands firmly, "T'vailk girls are special and they will need the camp to help care for them."

Damien's eyebrow raised and he looked at Evan who shook his head.

"Women," Bane muttered as he watched the room fill, he'd never understand my decisions.

"Sometimes it seems as though you do not know what you want," Kein told me with a smile, but he understood.

Privacy was not as important as the camp's desire to be part of this great event. They had generously shared with us, so I would share with them. It was the best gift I could give them.

The labor continued and the room swelled, with men and women. Many of the women I noted were slaving women and that concerned me. The men here far outnumbered them, though, and there were women from the camp present.

Casgar and his Brothers were helpful and did the things I would have expected them to do. Nu-reeh and her Sisters could never have checked my cervix, but these Healers could. Damien and his Brothers wanted to help me, so they made Casgar teach them. Rose acted as a doula. Tosu also offered her assistance and gave encouragement from the side. Honestly, I didn't really need any of them. Things progressed as they should have naturally. My concerns turned out to be overblown.

Kennedy and her Sisters arrived as did Hannah and Ra. I panted greeting to them during the momentary calm before the delivery. From the obvious concern on their faces I know I looked a wreck. My older girls watched and waited from the side, quietly talking among themselves.

The pain and the cramps grew and grew. I pushed with them and the room no longer mattered. Every part of my energy was focusing on delivering my girls, alive and well. Each time I did this I forgot the awe inspiring pain associated with it. Focusing on my new girls I ground my teeth and breathed through the agony.

"A little more," Rose said suddenly, "push, Ciara, I see her head!"

It was always the same as the head came out, awful and unfathomable. I felt the child slip from me and I slumped against Christof in a daze. My only focus was listening for her cry, I knew she had to cry.

They were drying her roughly to stimulate her, Kein and Evan, as Damien and Bane looked on. Suddenly a sound filled the room.

It wasn't like a cry I'd heard before. It was a cross between a bird's song and a newborn's wail. The piercing melodic tone echoed off the cavern walls. The cord was cut and seared before Kein lifted his first daughter. She continued to sing her melody in loud, penetrating tones as her limbs flailed in his grasp.

Except for her song the room was eerily silent. Kein showed me our girl and I watched as she opened her eyes for the first time. Large, bright green eyes were looking at me from a delicate face. Her ears were elongated and elfin as were her limbs. She had no hair and it was her skin that caught my eyes; she was golden. We gazed at each other for several heartbeats in wonder before she let out a high pitched sound that seemed to be a greeting.

Kein placed her tiny form on my chest and folded her wings on her back. They fit neatly and curved over her head, hiding behind it. With her span folded she appeared quite tiny and almost human. I saw how different T'vailk heritage made her.

My fingers traced the line of her face and her long fingers. Her wings felt different from Hannah's or Kennedy's. They were thinner and smaller. She looked healthy, though. The little girl cooed and my heart melted when she called me Mama in that high voice. She was utterly amazing.

Bane provided a soft run of cloth and the men bundled her on my chest as she watched me. A tiny smile lifted the corners of her lips and she looked up and sang Daddy. Despite his pleasure at her greeting, Kein was persistent in wrapping her small, nude body in the cloth. She just looked between the two of us, a soft twitter seeming to emanate the entire time.

I noted a woman's approach and only realized who it was when she spoke. Her aggressive tone made the hairs on my arms raise and I'd never felt more vulnerable.

"Give her to me!" Nu-reeh demanded. "She is mine, you are mine, the slave is mine! You have taken this from me. This is MY HONOR!"

Kein grabbed the child and held her tight as his Brothers stood between the aggressor and their family. The Great Spirit grabbed the men in the hall and they moved as one, forming a wall. They were patient and defensive, but it was obvious Nu-reeh was going to resort to outright aggression.

The sound that left my young daughter's mouth next left me cringing. The lyrical war cry bore through the stone of the camp. The high pitched notes resonated in my bones. My whole being shook with it and the men around me responded like they'd been struck by lightening. My daughter's voice was a catalyst for The Spirit's power. The men bellowed a response and raised their weapons.

Nu-reeh was swarmed. Stike rope bound her and a cover was over her deadly fangs. She was swept from the room in a wave of men. They had moved with an assurance that seemed to surprise all the women watching.

Kennedy and her Sisters, for all the calm they usually exuded, even looked shocked. My tiny daughter had either joined The Great Harmonious Spirit or at least had some claim to it. Her righteous anger is what moved the men to immediate action. Other women couldn't have done what she just did.

In all my days I'd never seen anything like it, but there was no time to be amazed. The next delivery was imminent and a mighty contraction made me scream out in pain.

"Push, Ciara," Rose instructed as the next one came and I did. It took less than sixty heartbeats for my fifth child to be born.

She was similar to her Sister, but different. The tiny, golden girl wailed a song so beautiful it nearly made me cry. It was a song of loss and birth, sin and redemption. She continued to sing as she was bundled for warmth and the sound echoed all around us.

We were all just amazed watching them. The room seemed speechless listening to the strange song. As the first fed, the second continued to sing and call out. When we switched them the first sang as the second took her first meal.

"What are their names?" Kein asked me as the first girl finally settled down in his arms.

I watched the tiny girl nursing sleepily on my chest. She was keeping tabs on me with half lidded green eyes. The second of the twins had spoken a few words to me, outside of her melody. I had heard conviction in her voice. She needed a strong name, as did her Sister.




A Slave to the Servants Ch. 37



The small build and sweet voice could fool you, but I'd seen the power these girls carried. They weren't going to be simple singers, content to create beautiful things. From nearly the moment of their birth they'd proved they were willing and ready to fight.

Long ago, in another life, I had looked at baby names with my cousin in a large book. At the time she'd been compiling boy and girl lists. It had been too soon to know what she'd have. I'd loved the names Kaley and Kelli and they had both meant "warrior maid", but my cousin had hated those names.

"I don't want warriors if I have girls," my cousin had said disdainfully, "I want princesses!"

Pink and frilly would never suit these little powerhouses and I knew that. For their delicate builds and singsong voices, they were leaders and Warriors. Their small statures would have no bearing on the power they would wield.

"This is Kaley," I said pointing to the first born of the twins, "and this is Kelli," I stated gesturing to the second in my arms. "Their names mean Warrior in my native language."

It was suitable, very suitable to the family.

A large woman limped slowly beside us and I looked up to see the woman I'd known as Asper staring at us. She had, it had seemed, been quiet the entire she'd been here. I knew she was virtual royalty on this world, but she had said next to nothing. The camp had found her continued silence odd. Asper didn't interact with almost anyone. Now she was looking at me and my family.

"I am Asper, born of the T'stald Mountains," she said formally. "I have never introduced myself to a human before or to males, but I feel it is time I changed my way of thinking."

I was shocked and too surprised to speak, but Damien spoke calmly and introduced himself. Shaking myself out of my amazement I followed his lead as Tosu approached.

"Ciara, from Earth," I stuttered.

Tosu sat on the edge of my slab, but made no move to touch my girls. She merely needed to rest her bad leg, which was still healing. I was glad for her presence. Despite what Asper had said, I wanted to be cautious.

"You have made up your mind then," Tosu said solemnly to Asper. "You know your opinion will make a difference."

"It will," Asper responded looking carefully around the room, "and I have withheld it until I was sure. Women in my breeder's line have not seen T'vailk girls in countless generations and yet here two sit, born to a female not of this world. We were fools to lose this gift. We gave the right to breed T'vailk women away to humans. That never should have happened."

The strain on the big woman's face was evident. She was frustrated and angry, but the aggression seemed to be directed inward and not at us.

"I have seen The Spirit here," Asper continued watching Kein intently as he held Kaley. "The strength the men have has returned in full. It scares me: their power and defiance."

My Husbands noted the same thing I did. Asper wanted to treat the men like children. Their determination to make their own decisions scared her. She wanted to make the choices for "her" men.

"The rebellion is educated," Damien interjected. "We are not simple men from the compounds doing as we please with no thought. None of us here make choices without understanding the consequences of our actions."

Tosu agreed with him as she gave Asper a patient look.

"The men are educated and intelligent," Tosu stated. "Yes, they are injured and some die, but they are happy and constructive. We lost a great deal treating them as we did. They were right about the ore, Asper, you know they still are. It should not be sold off this world."

Asper sat heavily on an unoccupied slab beside us.

"Free men," she said looking around, "I never thought I would see them for myself. I never imagined I would support them, but I do. What they have created here is precious and saved our world. The beliefs, though, will be difficult...We have obligations and contracts-" she started to say, but stopped and sighed instead. "Many alien nations will attack us if we refuse to provide the ore," she said plainly.

This woman had been the leader of the slaving women and here she sat, discussing politics with a family of men. It was unheard of and I was shocked, but Damien's family wasn't.

One at a time. That's what the men were seeing happening. The women saw the truth one at a time. The rebellion knew they just needed to be patient and it would happen peacefully.

The men had been right, frustrating as it was. The women had to walk freely in the camps and see the men. Then their minds would change.

Damien found the conversation with Asper, our new ally, thought provoking, but something cooled his interest. This type of problem should go through the proper channels. Asper didn't seem like the kind of woman who spoke casually, but she obviously didn't understand our organization. The Great Spirit connected the men, but there was a chain of command everyone followed.

"We have strong Administrators," he said to the woman, as he waved over some young men. "Your concerns are valid and should be addressed by our leaders. These men can take you to them."

Asper watched us closely for a moment before standing.

"Will you accompany me, Tosu?" she asked turning to our friend. "I find your counsel has been helpful and the company would be appreciated, much has changed."

"It is a new Pateria," Tosu stated as she rose slowly.

"And I am alone in it," Asper said with some sadness.

After a life spent in the company of strong Sisters, I imagined the large woman must feel abandoned. I pitied her situation.

"We are both alone," Tosu said smiling, "better to be alone together, perhaps?"

They would be strong together and I knew that. It made me feel better that neither woman would continue on without family.

Not surprisingly Hannah and Ra had tagged along with the group heading to Administration. They wanted to be part of the larger planning and the logistics. I suspected the more interest they showed the more often they would be rewarded with responsibility. 

It would have been interesting to Damien to be part of Asper's conversation, but he had other plans, ones that would take us far from here. We couldn't be locked into a set of jobs that limited our travel. It wasn't what the family wanted.

Kein cradled Kaley and smiled like a kid in a candy store. She slept in his arms peacefully. Our daughter felt secure under his watchful eye.

"They need to see the T'vailk Mountains," Kein stated as he stroked Kaley's brow and understanding dawned on me.

Administrators stayed in one place and managed their camp. We wanted to see the whole world. When the girls went on their first flight, Damien and his Brothers planned to travel with them. Kein had been mapping out our journey, it would be a lovely trip, and long.

"Hodlen's family will come," Bane said as he took Kelli from me and gently burped her. "They have long had curiosity and we need to collect the rest of our extended family."

"The trip will be good for Mycah's family and Tyle's family," Evan agreed handing me a cup of water as Christof tidied up around me. "The boys will learn the world by seeing it and experiencing it."

This alien issue would not be over for a long time, but it would soon be controlled. If the planet worked together, Damien was sure the next attackers would never breach our atmosphere. The planet could be made reasonably safe.

Kein had the entire trip planned out in detail. There were places we would camp outside and other regions we could visit with established communities. He knew where we could restock our water. Damien's family had always been superior hunters, so that was no issue. The excursion would be a good way to get new experience and meet new Paterians.

It wasn't like we'd do this alone. Damien explained many men wanted to travel. It sounded like they were setting up caravans from the Wild West. Some men were traveling for curiosity, some were going to find extended family, and some were just looking for a change. Lots of families had some reason to do this.

"There are so many places I would like to see myself..." I said thinking back on my studies.

There was a body of water in the coldest region of the world that shone red part of the year due to minerals. Other places had herds of giant beasts that didn't live near here. Kennedy and Hannah said they were like dinosaurs. These were things I'd found immensely interesting, but never thought I'd get the chance to see.

"We know what you want to see," Kein informed me proudly. "It is part of my plan."

*****

T'vailk girls, we soon learned, weren't like other women from this world. They never grew fur and their thick golden skin was impossible to breach. Unlike other women who liked it cool and dry, they preferred warmth and water. Kaley and Kelli were swimming before they were walking. They were at home in the warm dampness of the bathing cave.

The mountains Kein's ancestors were from was on the edge of a tropical sea. It was stormy and windy, but steamy hot. The rain that fell almost continuously was a blessing to cool the area.

Here, in these mountains, cold predominated, so Kaley and Kelli needed clothing to stay warm. They hated the cold. The tiny clothing that I made and put on them really did make them look like small elves.

As they grew it became obvious they would never have the towering stature of other women. Tosu estimated the twins would only be slightly taller than me full grown. Their delicate limbs were deceptively strong, though, and the talons on their fingertips grew in markedly soon. Kaley and Kelli were just as tough as typical Paterians, just built for a different climate.

Other things made me think they were slightly elfin and different from other Paterian women. They liked to play jokes and were into everything. No one around us minded their antics when they were small. Kaley and Kelli grew up surrounded by the families we knew well. The twins enjoyed livening up our days.

Once the girls learned to walk they'd sneak into someone's room and do silly things. Short sheet Basin's bed in the afternoon or tack the cover over the entrance to Stayne's lodging shut in the middle of the night. They would do anything and everything to amuse themselves.

As Kaley and Kelli got older their games began affecting the entire camp. The twins became more and more elaborate in their designs for practical jokes. Since Pateria was not a planet accustomed to this type of fun, there was mixed reaction. Kein and I quickly learned that losing sight of our girls resulted in trouble.

Luckily for me Damien and his Brothers took a very active role with our young miscreants. Unlike Hannah or Kennedy these girls explored the world outside our camp with their male breeder and his Brothers. Damien made sure they knew how to hunt and Kein helped them hone their tracking skills. Bane made sure they could use a gun and Evan took them for target practice regularly. My men did everything they could to keep the twins busy and constructive.

Despite all our best efforts, it was still far too common that we were asked to present the twins to the Administrators. Kaley and Kelli delighted in the irritated looks I saw Hannah throw them. Knowing Hannah's goals I did my best to control my youngest girls. The sprites were fast and sneaky. They were truly a menace.

Mycah's young family was a weapon in my arsenal against the twins activities. The attentive young boys kept a running commentary on their sisters' antics. While we often missed the subtle signs the girls were up to something, Mycah never did. He and his Brothers always seemed to know when Kaley and Kelli were planning a caper.

"They are bored again," Mycah would tell me quietly during the evening meal.

A frantic search would find the twins loosening the tops of spice jars in the kitchen.

"I don't know where Kaley is," Jonathan would inform me as we swam and bathed in the morning.

Kein found them painting bright eyes on a shadowed patch of wall in the very back of the cavern.

"Come on, Daddy," Kaley whined while she perched on a warm stone.

"It will be funny when someone sees it!" Kelli exclaimed as Kein quickly rubbed the haunting visage off the wall.

They just couldn't seem to stop their antics. The twins sharp wits were not entertained with simply learning about the world. I got the feeling they enjoyed the excitement their stunts caused.

Kaley and Kelli weren't all fun and games, though. They were fiercely protective when it was necessary. Damien and his Brothers had come across a Rack while with the Sisters one day. My youngest girls had just learned to fly and only sharpened their spears on their wings the day before. The Rack did not see the twins flying above and attacked my men. Kaley and her Sister did not wait.

"It was unreal," Kein told me later while watching the girls laugh and talk outside our dwelling.

The twins were playing a card game with Hodlen's family. They looked so delicate and small next to the men; it was deceptive. My girls were powerful like nothing my men had seen before.

Kaley and Kelli were fast and efficient. Damien and his Brothers had never witnessed a female fight the way the twins did it. Their lack of cold tolerance was their only weakness. My twin girls moved with fluidly and with precision. The Rack was distracted and neutralized before it understood who was attacking it.

It relieved me to know the twins were not as weak as they looked. This world was incredibly dangerous and they would not survive if they weren't tougher than everything in it. I was grateful once again for my strong, competent offspring.

Kaley and Kelli were using their teeth and eating before I knew it. They were small, for a Paterian female, giving me the illusion they were younger. Since there was no Nu-reeh to shove them out of our nest, I thought they might stay. I was wrong.

"We need to go," Kaley informed me after the evening meal one night.

I had been sitting with Mycah and his Brothers as they learned to sharpen a blade. It was an important lesson and my focus had been entirely on them. The comment took me by surprise.

"We have our bag packed," Kelli stated showing me the satchel slung over her shoulder. "We'll need clothing for the colder areas."

As a mother I always saw my girls as the tiny, weak creatures I'd first seen at their births. Now, I saw two Sisters ready for life in the world. Their wings were barbed with an impressive array of spears and their talons were sharp. The twins' needle like teeth had proved they could bite through anything. Still, they were my baby girls...

"Aliens-," I started to say and Kaley shook her head.

"Are an inevitable part of life now," Kelli said sounding unconcerned. She casually brushed the rock wall beside us with her talons and the solid stone easily chipped away. "We are strong enough to deal with aliens."

"Your father and I wanted to travel with you," I said standing and starting to feel frantic.

I hated it when my girls left.

"Mama," Kaley said in an exasperated tone, "you and Dad can travel with us, but not WITH us. Nobody's female breeder travels WITH their offspring. We could plan to meet up with you in a moon's time at the T'leen camp, that would work for us."

They were so absolutely assured that what they were doing was right and I just wasn't ready. My anxious state was transmitted directly into my voice.

"Some of the women still think slavery is an option. I know they think you two are symbols for the resistance. It could make you a target!" I argued as Kein approached from the side.

Kaley and Kelli stared at us with obvious frustration. They wanted to just be gone. Their instincts to make this trip were very strong. My desire to protect them was just as strong. The world wasn't like it once was and they faced new dangers, but they wouldn't listen to me. Their father had a plan, though.

"We won't travel WITH you," Kein said placing a hand on my back and watching the girls, "but we wish to travel. It would be safer for us if you both were near us during the trip. My Brothers and I wish to take a similar route to the one you have planned. We would never impinge on your freedom, but we would like you to watch over us."

I withheld my smile as the Kaley and Kelli processed this information. Asking them to guard us spoke to a deeply ingrained protective desire. I knew they'd agree as soon as Kein asked.

The great adventure started slowly enough three days later. We left the safety of the T'lynien Mountain with thirty two other families of men, several women, the mates to men like Hodlen, and the promise to be careful. Kein had drafted us an amazing journey and we were all anxious to take it.

Basin's family travelled with us. They were in search of the rest of their extended family, just as we searched for ours. I felt lucky to get to take this trip with Rose right beside me. We continued to teach the boys as we rode on the transports over deserts and through jungles.

************************

"On my home world, we would have called those things dinosaurs," I told the boys one day as we flew over something that looked very much like an apatosaurus, originally misnamed brontosaurus Earth. On Pateria they were called Untars.

The massive herd of herbivores was moving about a wide, shallow lake eating the tasty vegetation in the water. They had long necks, powerful bodies, and enormous tails, but they were essentially peaceful. We stayed far above on our transports to avoid other smaller creatures that tended to travel near them.

"You see the creatures in the water displaced by the Untars feeding?" I asked Mycah's family. "If they do not find cover soon they will be plucked out by the Crassas. The Crassas follow the Untars and eat the smaller creatures flushed out of their homes. Those things attack in packs and can overwhelm a single family of men. You must not be on the ground when they are near."

Jonathan had been looking like he was going to ask to get closer, but then stopped. The Crassas swarmed some amphibious mammals that had been living under the Untars latest meal. Even from our distance it was easy to see the danger. Only bones were left once the Crassas had fed.

"They could devastate a lake community..." Mycah said sounding concerned.

He was right, the Crassas ate everything made of meat in their path. They were a menace and one we took seriously. There were stories from the distant past of futile battles against these creatures.

"They only feed for half a moon cycle every year," I instructed the boys. "The rest of the year is spent in their dens: hibernating in colder times and breeding in the warmest time. You must know what period they will be active in. They cannot be defeated, only avoided."

Damien interrupted our lesson as he cursed under his breath and sent out a message to the rest of the caravan. Our lesson had his attention as a leader of this troop. We couldn't stop anywhere near here tonight. The wetland would have been a good place to refill our canteens, but safety came first.

Hodlen's family pointed to an open space far up the hill nearby. The rocky slope would put us on high ground and be easy to defend. Untars and hence the Crassas, would have no interest in that area. Hodlen's Brother had seen the shimmer that indicated a small waterfall cutting down the mountain near there. Our stores were low and fresh water would be a blessing. Relief spread through all of us as we made our way to the location.

"Where The Great Harmonious Spirit puts up a wall, we are always offered a tunnel," Tos remarked happily.