Page 13 of Master
“Nobody can know I’m a human... got it.” Clara gave a jerky nod.
"Right. Plus, meeting someone's gaze is considered consent to many species, and...." I hesitated, then added. "I don't want you to see what goes on down here."
She released a breath tinged with a groan of apprehension.
“Stay close,” I murmured, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “And don’t make a sound.”
Clara let me pull her against my side, and my body reacted with a flush of heat.
Sweet Valana, she’s right. I am a pervert. Here we were about to encroach into a bastion of debauchery in an escape attempt, and all I could think about was pushing her up against the wall and settling between her sweet thighs again.
Gritting my teeth against the urges of my ornery cock, I pushed the door open.
The hallway was dark, filled with smoky air as though the dark souls that inhabited this place floated about like ghosts. There might be plenty of true specters around as well. Many died from the level of debauchery practiced here. Most acts took place in open areas, so one could observe unfettered should they choose. A bank of private rooms for actions so depraved that they needed to be performed behind closed doors was on the right side of the wall. With luck, anyone who noticed us would assume we were just another couple on the way to partake in our fetish of choice. While I wasn't above tying up a willing partner now and then, some of the goings-on here turned even my jaded stomach.
A group of males howled with pleasure as they whipped a small Romvesian female while one fucked her mouth and the other buried himself in her cunt. A little further down the hallway, a Bolari male lay strapped to a table while three females dripped hot wax on his flesh. In another section, a Kerzak fucked and feasted on a female that moaned with pleasure at his every bite. From the pool of light green blood on the floor, she wouldnot survive much longer. Though each of these acts turned my stomach, none issued the horror I felt at the sight of a Ntavian male strapped to a pole, his two cocks enslaved in barbed silver cages, while another male flayed his flesh with a whip.
Beside me, Clara shivered. I might have her gaze averted, but she could hear the otherworldly noises from those who confused pain with pleasure. I felt enraged at the thought of her embarrassed or discomforted. Vaktaire are bred to be protective of weaker beings, but with Clara… this felt like more than that. Exactly what I didn’t stop to consider. I zigzagged through the gauntlet of depravity, holding her tight. My attention focused on Clara so fully, I nearly missed the approach of two Ntavian guards, one I recognized from the fifth-floor entrance.
Fuck!
I had a choice. One—meet the guards’ head-on and hope they didn't question the oddity of a Vaktaire visiting this level. Two—enter the hot wax area, which would indicate an intent to participate. The third option was to seek shelter behind the door on the right and face whatever awaited beyond it. It was a simple decision. Out in the open, protecting Clara might prove difficult. I felt certain that whatever lay behind the door was no match for a warrior of my skill. Plus, whatever fracas arose would stay hidden from prying eyes.
They did not allow door locks on the Hartouk Lenaii. It made enforcement and clean-up easier. It also made slipping inside the room and out of the guard's field of notice easy.
The doorway gave a faint groan as we slipped inside, a pale green light giving off a haze that made everything appear deep underwater.
"Qaimus," a high-pitched voice squealed with excitement. "I didn't know you acquired playmates."
Clara's hands clutched at my waist, and the arm I held her with tightened. I would kill anyone who tried to touch her.
“I didn’t know, Ordeesia.” A high-pitched male voice answered.
Jerking my head toward the voice, the reason for the dark green lighting became clear. The couple was Kwado, a species that lived in marshes and swamps. The beings had long muscular legs and short arms with webbed fingers and toes. Wide bulging eyes sat atop their skulls, over two nasal holes and a mouth that spanned the width of the face. Their skin was a mottling of greens and yellows, and while the male was hairless, the female had long pale strands sprouting from the top of her head that reminded me of seagrass from my home world. Kwado were a weak species, but even the weak could alert the guards. I needed to buy time to figure a way out of here that didn't include fucking two slimy Kwado.
The couple occupied the only piece of solid furniture in the room. A large bed with chain covered metal posts extending to the ceiling from each corner. Beside the bed sat a couple of rickety tables loaded with paraphernalia I didn’t care to discern.
"We are a gift from Luarian since you two are such valued customers," I announced with a wide grin. At my side, Clara poked a finger angrily into my ribs.
"Goodie!" The female—Ordeesia—clapped her webbed hands together as she bounced on the bed. Completely naked, her form was unappealing, especially the two gelatinous mounds at the center of her chest. They didn't hold a candle to the softbreasts Clara pressed to my side. Ordeesia snagged something from the bedside table and swung it above her head. It was a short whip with nine knotted leather cords tipped with sharp blades. "Who gets to go first?"
"Reveal yourself, little one." The male gestured at Clara.
"All in good time," I promised. "First, you must ready yourselves."
"I'm ready," Ordeesia announced, spreading her legs and running her webbed fingers against a bumpy purple slit.
Beside me, Clara made a faint gagging noise. I bent my head, putting my lips next to her ear, and whispered. "Follow my lead." Thankfully, the Kwado appeared as hard of hearing as I expected of beings without prominent ears.
"Soon, my lovely," I promised Ordeesia, trying to act like the sight of her didn't make my cock shrivel. I gestured to Clara with my free hand. "But this is a special treat indeed."
Qaimus issued a snort that bounced around the room. "She's tiny." His gaze grew salacious. “Can we break her?"
I felt Clara's tremble increase, although, from the faint growl she issued, I expected it to be more from anger than fear.
"You will not want to break this one," I assured the Kwado, swallowing the desire to kill them both and be done with it. “The pleasure she bestows can drive a one to oblivion.” It was a true statement, as my experience went.
“Really?” Ordeesia sighed with anticipation.
