Enslaved Read online

  “I guess we could go after him and try to find out,” Charlie suggested although the idea of seeing Two face-to-face again made her stomach twist into knots.

  Stavros shook his head. “No. I have the sense that we were given this link to Trin and Thrace and Two to observe, not to act. I think the Goddess will let us know when and if we should get involved.”

  “Well, you started seeing them first so I guess you know best,” Charlie said. “Although you never did tell me what caused Trin’s bad dream.”

  “It was what I saw in my own vision. I couldn’t see much because the room was dark but there was some kind of control panel. It had a row of vid screens and one of them was showing Trin and Thrace’s room,” Stav explained. “They were sleeping peacefully to start with. Then I saw a hand—I think it was a male hand—turning a knob on the panel. After that, a kind of black, swirling mist filled the area above their bed. Thrace breathed in a lot of it—more than Trin—but after that, she was the one who started thrashing around and moaning.”

  “Dream gas?” Charlie asked. “Or maybe that nightmare vapor we saw coming out in some of the bubbles from that weird silver fountain?”

  “Possibly,” Stav said.

  “But if Thrace breathed in more of it, why did Trin have the nightmare? And who gassed them in the first place?”

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “But I do know that they are not clear of trouble yet. I pray the Goddess will guide and protect them.”

  Charlie sighed. “I guess that’s all we can do. But if I ever meet Trin in person, I’m going to give her a big hug. She could use it.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  “Good morning.” Trin smiled as she seated herself beside Lady Malroth at the long table in the huge First Meal Hall. Thankfully, the first meal of the day wasn’t nearly such a formal occasion as dinner. The slaves were eating at a separate table, specially reserved for them, and the mistresses were on their own.

  The menu included steaming bright green porridge which smelled sweet and bland and large, curving blue fruits longer than Trin’s arm. When the fruit was opened, however, it was revealed to be mostly thick blue peal. Inside were three to five tiny, tender morsels no bigger than the end of Trin’s thumb.

  These sweet, juicy nuggets were apparently quite a delicacy and, after inquiring discretely to be certain they wouldn’t have any strange effects on her, Trin had eaten several of them. They were said to expand in one’s stomach and keep you from being hungry the rest of the day. An effect she was sure she’d be glad of if she had to spend anymore time at Dreaming Hills. Although she had been planning to leave today.

  “Good morning, you say?” Lady Malroth demanded, frowning at her. “And what’s good about it, I’d like to know?”

  “Well…I…” Trin wasn’t sure what to say to this. She’d been hoping that she’d fulfilled her obligations by attending the feast the night before as Lady Tam-tam had wanted, and that Lady Malroth would consent to make the deal. But Lady Malroth’s lips were pursed as though she’d been sucking on an unripe sour fruit—clearly she wasn’t pleased.

  “I heard about your performance—if you can call it that—last night,” Lady Malroth snapped.

  “You did?” Trin felt like she might faint from embarrassment. “Did you…see us?” Knowing they were probably being watched and actually having it confirmed were two different things. The idea of Lady Malroth watching her and Thrace do…intimate things made her feel sick with shame.

  “No, I didn’t see it,” Lady Malroth snapped, to Trin’s intense relief. “Lady Tam-tam rarely allows anyone inside her private viewing room. But she told me all about it—she was very disappointed. Apparently all you did was let your slave suck your nipples and finger you a little. He didn’t even penetrate you with his tongue—though I understand he kissed you quite a bit!”

  “Of course he didn’t penetrate me!” Trin exclaimed, feeling her cheeks get hot. “I’m one of the Unpenetrated—the elite of Zetta Prime.”

  “Is that right?” Lady Malroth said nastily. “Well I’m afraid you’ll have to relinquish that title after tonight’s banquet.”

  “What are you talking about?” Trin demanded. “I could never let my slave do that. I mean—”

  “No, no—I don’t mean you should let him penetrate you with his shaft—we’re not all as depraved as Lady Needra. Imagine—letting her slave put his cock right in her pussy! And at the dinner table no less. Ugh!” Lady Malroth made a face.

  “Well, I’m glad you see it the same way I do,” Trin said carefully. “But I wasn’t really planning on being at the feast tonight anyway. I was hoping we could conclude our deal today.”

  “What—so you could leave? While Lady Tam-tam is still in such a terrible mood? I don’t think so,” Lady Malroth said flatly. “You will attend tonight’s banquet and you will wear the ritual uniform as will we all.”

  “What uniform?” Trin looked down at herself. She had on another of the ridiculous Yonnie Six dresses. This one was scarlet with black lace across her breasts and crotch. It had tiny red and black panties to match. She hated it but could something worse be in store for her? The idea of some kind of “uniform” sounded ominous.

  “It’s the celebration of male submission so you must wear a phallus,” Lady Malroth said. “If you didn’t bring your own, you can get one from the slave set up in the corner as you leave. He’s handing them out to everyone who needs one.”

  “A phallus?” Trin had heard of such things—the mistresses of Yonnie Six often called such an accoutrement “the rod” and used it to punish wayward slaves. But she’d never thought to wear one herself. “You mean the kind that straps on?” she asked.

  Lady Malroth gave her a very unpleasant smirk.

  “Among other things.”

  “But what if I don’t want to wear one?”

  We’re all going to be wearing them tonight—you will as well or the deal is off. You have to at least look like a proper mistress, even if you’re not going to act like one.”

  Trin stiffened in her seat.

  “I don’t like being threatened, Lady Malroth.”

  “And I don’t like being made to look a fool in front of my most important business client,” Lady Malroth snapped. “Your crystals may be good quality and cheap but there are others in the universe, you know. And if you don’t behave like a proper mistress—if you don’t wear what everyone else is wearing and act like everyone else is acting and most important, please Lady Tam-tam—then I will be damn sure you never have an opportunity to sell those crystals anywhere.”

  With that, Lady Malroth got up and flounced away, leaving Trin to sit and stare after her and wonder what she was supposed to do. Aside from strapping on a phallus, that was. Please Lady Tam-tam, Lady Malroth had said. But if their “display” from the night before hadn’t made her happy, Trin didn’t know what would. Or rather, she did have an idea of what might please Lady Tam-tam but she didn’t think she could go there.

  “Well, she doesn’t seem too happy.” Thrace’s low voice in her ear startled her and she turned to see him standing on the other side of her, a concerned look on her face.

  “She’s not,” she said and sighed. “And she doesn’t want to do the deal. Not yet. Not until we ‘please’ Lady Tam-tam by attending the feast tonight.”

  “About that,” Thrace growled. “I have some bad news for you—it may be a deal breaker.”

  “I know.” Trin’s cheeks felt hot. “I’m supposed to wear a phallus.”

  “Huh—thought you’d be more upset about it than that.” Thrace looked surprised.

  “Why? I mean, it’s sure to look ridiculous but every mistress is going to be wearing one. Apparently it’s the ‘uniform’ for tonight’s theme.”

  “Right—the beauty of male submission.” Thrace sounded grim as he helped her up from the table.

  “Don’t worry,” Trin said, squeezing his arm. “I’m sure it’s just for show. I would never use it on you.”