Transformation, M J Marlow [thriller books to read .TXT] 📗

of his chain to the ring in the bottom floor. He looked at her in confusion. She could not possibly mean to keep him slave? She was supposed to be helping him get back to Zen. “The slavers usually remain near our village for a few days after a delivery,” Chen’ya told her friend in a soft whisper. “I’m afraid you are going to have to play slave a while longer, Bird King.” She heard the slaver approachingand beckoned to one of the younger males. “Get this unworthy beast something to eatand drink. We will test him tomorrow,and I would not have him collapsing too soon.” She smiled at the slaver, baring her fangs. “He is not worth anything but the meat on his bones,” she said as she led the man into her hut. “We will set him looseand our hunters will bring him down while he is on the wing.” She laughedand motioned to a slave to bring her guest something to drink. “It is a fine game.” The man nodded,and tried to hide his uneasiness. He had heard about the Chen hunters. The Nydare would not have a chance. They would cast their weapons at him from every directionand he would fall quickly. It was not a fast death. He might even be alive when they put him on the spitand began to roast him. The man could feel his skin crawl at the thought. The Nydare might be half bird, but he was still man enough. He drained his gobletand the slave brought him another. There was a crashand Chen’ya saw the goblet falling from the man’s hand. She smiledand went outside to see her mates nodding. The slaver men were lying in cages on their own transport “Since there is not enough meat on the bird man,” Chen’ya said to the cringing slavers as she bared her fangs at them, “you will be part of the menu.” “You can’t do this to us,” one of the men protested. “People will hear of it. You will be under edict.” “Men vanish into the Scourge all the time, little man,” Chen’ya laughed in delight. She looked over to where the slaver captain was being dragged out. “Your captain shall be first. If he dies well, perhaps we will reconsider your fate.” The slavers watched in horror as their captain was trussedand readied for roasting. They passed outand the captain was freedand dragged off, replaced by a botek side. The slaver woke up a few hours laterand found himself trussed up like a beast in a roasting cage. He even had a jevis fruit in his mouth. He tried to spit it outand bit down instead. He cursed as the drug paralyzed him. Chen’ya came up to him, crouching down to look into his eyes, her rage plain. “You made amistake when you moved on the Nydare, slaver,” she said coldly. “They are creatures of the Goddess. They are also allied with the Chen.” She nodded to her mates. “Put him on the spit.” The slaver was sedatedand Chen’ya looked over at the others. They had been sedated after they had passed out in horrorand missed it when the slaver was put in a cage on a cart behind the huts. The botek side that had replaced him in the cage was roasting over the fire. When the slavers woke up, Chen’ya was looking in at them sternly. “Your captain died well, little men,” she said as she nodded over at the fire. “He is also quite delicious,” she added as she held up a ‘finger’and chewed on it. Several of the men were physically illand she was pleased. “We have no need of you for meat,” she said as she continued watching them. “You will be allowed to leave, with only water bagsand food. If you head directly east, you are only five days from the nearest village.” She did not bother to tell them it was a slaver village. If they did not realize it soon enough, they would become slaves. A fit end, she thought, for such scum. “Do not cry foul. Do not return to the Scourge,” she finished, her eyes glowing with anger, “or next time, you will join your captain as our meat.” The men were freed from the cagesand given waterand food. They backed away as the Chen moved in smacking their lipsand eyeing them hungrily. They ran, tripping over rocksand fallen boxes in their haste to be free of the Chen. Chen’ya went to the slaver captain, who was glaring up at her still paralyzed. She crouched down to look into his cold eyes. “I would free you, little man,” she said as she saw his rage, “but you would make trouble for us. So,” she said before he could speak, “my hunters are going to have a little fun with you.” She poked his arm. “Once the jevis clears your system, you will be given a water bagand some travel food. You will have an hour’s head start. If you can get past my males,” she said, with a look that told the man that was quite unlikely, “you will live.” She nodded to her malesand they bagged him. He could not see where he was being taken; he only knew he was being carried away from the village. Very probably, he was going further into the Scourge. Chen’ya watched the man being carried awayand went to the cage holding Daren. She opened the doorand freed the chain from the collar. Then she took the collar off of him, smiling. “You have given my young males a plaything, Bird King,” Chen’ya said as she took him into her hut. “For that alone, you are safe here among us.” She nodded to her slaveand they were given water to drink. “Now, my friend,” she said as she leaned back against her pillows, “tell me how we can be of service to youand the Goddess.” * Zen was taken to the Embassy in Belastia where the lady Treland her new mate, Quern, waited for herand Omri. They were welcomed into the complexand given the quarters that had been Zen’s prison only months ago. Zen saw the redstone mirror had been caged so that it could not be touched. She bit her lip to keep from crying in despair. Her one means of escape had been taken from her. Omri grabbed her by the hairand yanked her to him, his lips punishing her as he forced her towards the bed. “The lady Trel has been very patient,” he said as he stripped herand tossed her gown on the floor. He had her wrists bound before she could move. “You will be taken to her laboratory where her researchers can examine your glorious little body to their hearts’ content.” He stroked her cheekand she turned away from him. “I’m afraid they may damage you, pet. They are not known for their gentleness.” “Then they have that in common with you,” Zen hissed. She whimpered as his hand clamped on her throatand he closed off her air. When he finally released her, she was dazedand gulping in the air. Omri was brutal as he took her, seeing no need to be gentle with her now that she was being given away. He would tell his followers that the Goddess was with childand needed to be sequestered while she awaited its birth. He could find plenty of sluts who would sell him a baby at the appropriate time. He beat her as he continued to fight himand left her dazedand bleeding. He removed the bonding collarand took it with him, leaving Zen sobbing in pain from the injuries he had inflicted on her. “You are doing the Directive a great service, lord Cardinal,” Trel said later when he left without Zen. “There is much the princess can teach us.” “Just keep an eye on her,” Omri said. “She will give you trouble.” “I am certain we can handle a mere child, lord Cardinal,” Trel replied, bowing her head slightly. She waited until the transport was gone, not wanting to appear too eager,and then she went to Zen. “The bastard,” she hissed as she cut Zen freeand called for Quern. He came to the roomand picked Zen up in his arms, frowning as he saw the damage. “He was not gentle.” They took Zen to the infirmaryand the Medic, the sole survivor from the collapse of Reo’s private complex, frowned as she saw the extent of the damage. She had them put the girl in a support harnessand examined her as the glass cylinder lowered around Zen. The injuries were mostly minimal, she noted in relief. She gave Zen a sedative. “Broken ribs,” the woman reported. “Broken wrist.” She looked at Trel. “This child will not be ready for testing for at least three days. These injuries must be dealt with first.” “You will do it nonetheless,” Trel replied. She stroked Zen’s cheek as the girl hung sedated. “We have waited too long, Miri,” she continued as she looked down at the girl. “Stabilize her but continue on the schedule as ordered.” Miri bowed her headand bound the broken bones with querin. She looked at the sleeping girland found herself hating her job. This angel did not deserve what was about to happen to her, she sighed as she fit the IVand feed linesand made the connections to the drugsand sedatives chosen for the tests. Miri took the blood sample firstand had the DNA display ready by the time Zen woke up. She closed her eyes wearily as she noted the harnessand cylinder. She was a prisoner still. Miri put on the control circletand saw the girl stiffen as she realized her body was under control. “I apologize if this causes you any discomfort, Princess,” Miri said as she readied the machines. “Truly.” Zen bit her lip to keep from crying as the pain hitand remained constant for the next several hours. She passed outand was brought back awake by the judicious application of drugs. Miri explained to her that they needed her awake so they could have true results from the tests they were running. By the time it was through, five days later, she was shaking from the lack of sleep. The appropriate nutrients were given to her on a feed lineand she was allowed to close her eyes for a few hours. When she woke again, she was back in her bedchamber. “Did you get everything you wanted, lady Trel?” Zen snapped as the woman came into her rooms. “Physically, yes,” Trel nodded. She sank down on the bed near Zen,and looked regretful. “But that is only the beginning with you. Unfortunately, our initial scans have shown that your mind is locked.” “Damage caused by the device used on me at the Temple,” Zen told her. “I was sent down too deep.” “Perhaps,” Trel frowned. She had no evidence that the girl was lying. “It does not matter. We are going to concentrate on your knowledge. You knew how to use the mirrors; you will tell me how.” She saw the girl hesitateand ran her finger over the control in her ring. Zen stiffened as she was punished. “Please tell me, Zen,” she said softly. “I do not wish to hurt you.” “The mirrors were designed to be used by those of my bloodline,” Zen replied shakily. “I can access all of the mirrors; use them to communicate those on the other side of the other mirrors.” She looked at the cages. “But I must touch a mirror to do so,” she finished, her eyes closed so Trel would not know she was leaving out a very important fact; that she could travel through the mirrors. Her eyes shot openand she grabbed Trel’s arm; her expression pleading. “Please let me go, lady Trel. I’ll give you any information you want, but I need to be free to help the Nydare.” “You can forget