I turn my eyes down, my heart pounding in my chest. I hold my breathe in suspense.
The scan lasts just seconds, but it seems like years. Then, finally, the camera tucks itself back away into the roof, apparently detecting nothing, and the doors of the elevator open in front of us, revealing a degenerate’s paradise.
The noisy ring of slots machines and clanging jackpots hits us. Tables all around us are filled with men playing cards, and I instantly notice there’s not a single female customer here… but not a single man working behind any of the tables or bars.
More than that – all the woman who work here are topless. Whether they’re dealing poker, serving drinks, or just walking around as eye candy, all these gorgeous women are being constantly oogled…
…until we stepped in.
The sounds of slot machines being yanked slows. The cards pause for a moment from being pitched onto the felt. All around us, one-by-one, customers and staff of this club pause to stare at the three, huge Aurelian warriors who’ve just entered the establishment.
It’s a fair reaction. Aurelians aren’t a common sight this far beyond the borders of Aurelian territory – and the arrival of three of the seven-feet tall warriors instantly draws all the attention.
I feel so small compared to Daccia, Kitos and Hadrian. I stand between them as we step into the seedy glitz of this casino, and I feel like a superstar. In fact, I even feel a pang of pity as I see women of all different shapes, sizes and races around us – women I’d normally feel unattractive and bland in comparison to. When my triad looks at these exotic beauties, they might as well be looking at furniture for all the lust they throw in the direction of these nearly-naked women.
It’s crazy to imagine. Aurelians have hundreds of human women vying for their attention. Their species is infinite for building huge harems of eager volunteers.
Yet, in my case, I’m the only woman any of these Aurelians want. It’s hard to believe, but as the three of them scan the droves of topless women, there’s isn’t even a hint of lust within their auras. They’re looking at all these beautiful women, sure – but only for the only purpose of finding my little sister among them.
Yet, every face is a disappointment.
I knew it was crazy to think I’d find Lilac immediately – conveniently serving drinks or dealing Blackjack – but some part of me had visualized the joy of seeing my little sister – just a little older than when I last saw her – in the crowd. My triad would then begin the negotiations for buying her, and we’d peacefully and discreetly end the horror of her kidnapping.
The three Aurelians haven’t ever seen Lilac, but I know they’ll identify her if they see her. When she was taken, three years earlier, you could have mistaken her and I for twins. My only fear is that the harshness of life as a slave hasn’t hardened her looks to the point that I wouldn’t recognize her.
Oh, Gods! Stop, Allie! You’re already thinking she’s alive again. Curse this poison of hope the Aurelians warn about. Curse it!
Daccia turns to Giovanni and asks the greasy-haired henchman: “When can we speak with the owner. Where is Mr. Torelli?”
“Right this way, sir.”
20
Daccia
I feel naked without my weapon.
No, that’s not quite true.
I don’t feel naked, or defenseless – I know with my hands alone, I could break the backs of a dozen human men.
Instead, I feel the lure of thought before feeling – of self-doubt – which I must never let materialize inside my mind. At times like these, even a shred of doubt could poison my aura – and all three of those I share it with would sense it.
No, I must remain stoic. I am a rock for the three people I am Bonded with – who I am responsible for. My triad has grown to encompass four now, and I will continue to lead them.
I follow the greasy little sleaze-ball, Giovanni, back into the elevator. The small man is nearly drooling in anticipation at the thought of bringing what he believes to be three high-rolling investors to his master. The host slicks back his hair back as we enter the elevator, and I can smell his nervousness. It’s a rank stench on his already unpleasant scent.
Giovanni takes us back to the top floor, and then scans a card that grants access to an even higher level – parallel to the towering glass ceiling high above the landing bay.
I remember the little man using that card – logging the information away in case we ever need to take that access card from his body.
The elevator doors open – revealing a hallway lined with a thick, purple carpet.
Two burly guards in suits stand there, with guns at their hips. They try to look intimidating – but even without our Orb-Weapons, I know my triad could get to those guards and disarm them before they could even draw their weapons.
No, they aren’t the threat. The two high-powered rifle barrels, mounted to swivels hanging from the ceiling, are a different story. They’re pointing straight at us. The guards we could quickly overpower. The rifles would cut us down before we got halfway to them, however.
“Right this way.” Giovanni leads us forward, and I sense his nervousness increases. This Mr. Torelli character can’t be an easy boss to work for – not by the way Giovanni’s anxiety is increasing with every step he takes towards the thick, wooden door at the end of the hallway.
We finally reach it. Giovanni opens the door, revealing a huge room with a big, wooden desk in the center of it.
Behind the desk sits an Aurelian, just like us.
So, this is Mr. Torelli.
The Aurelian is older than me – deep into middle age, and at least fifteen-hundred-years-old. He’s let
