The walls were painted black, with strips of red and pink fabric hanging from the ceiling every few feet, and a dozen tables were piled against the far wall, chairs stacked on top, leaving the main sitting area completely empty aside from the many blue aliens standing at attention.
A stage dominated the far wall, and a row of poles gleamed behind a large chair set in the center.The walkway that jutted out from the center of the stage was stacked with seemingly random objects, most of them shiny and I gawked at the pile of glittering jewelry that stood at the center.
“Jiith,” a light voice hissed.“I feared you had abandoned me, I was preparing to send out a party to capture you and bring me your skin.”
Jiith tensed, two tentacles at the back of his head twining around each other before calming down.He touched the tips of his fingers to his chin and crossed the empty floor to stand in front of the stage.
Rijish followed after him, forcing Tovis and I to tag along.The only light in the room came from two of the weird cylinders the sytos had used in their camp last night, one on either side of the large chair.It made it hard to make out the small figure on the chair, and I peered up at who I assumed was the Kwin everyone had been warning me about.
She was pink, I could see that much.Dressed in drapey, sparkly white gauze that did little to conceal her body.
As far as I could tell, she was the same general shape as the males.Though her build was narrower and her tentacles were slender and a bit longer than the others’.
“We captured a human female on our mission, glorious Kwin.Her mate attacked us and we were forced to delay our return.I offer you both as signs of my eternal devotion.”
The Kwin released a vaguely menacing purr and leaned down, the change in angles finally allowing me to make out her face.Her wide eyes stared down at me consideringly, and her attention made my skin crawl.
“A breeder slave,” she hummed, a wry smile quirking her lips.“How useless.But the turoch...”her voice trailed off as she turned her attention to Tovis.
“Your kind has caused me no end of trouble and grief,” she mused, her voice light and amused despite her words.“I wonder would it serve me more to use you to entertain myself and punish these,” she flicked a look at all the standing sytos below her, “disappointments.Or should I simply torment you to soothe my hurt feelings?”
No one moved and I held back a shudder.I did not like this lady.Two minutes breathing the same air as her was too much.
The Kwin sighed and slouched back into her chair.
“Someone restrain Jiith while I decide what to do with him.”
Three sytos rushed forward and one of them shocked Jiith with a baton.He dropped to the floor and was dragged off so quickly my head spun.
“You, breeder.”She kicked one leg over the other, her foot twitching like a cat’s tail as it watched a bird.I darted a glance up at her.
“You’re this one’s mate?”She sounded bored but I doubted she was.She was enjoying terrifying everyone too much.
“Uh,” I shot a panicked glance at Tovis.It felt like a mistake to reveal anything to her, let alone information I could guarantee would be used against Tovis.He nodded at me, his expression calm and I swallowed hard as I looked back at her.
“He claimed me,” I finally croaked out.
“Hmm.”The Kwin tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair and fell silent.I swore the whole room held its breath as we waited for whatever terrible thing she’d do next.
“I have no use for a breeder while I’m trapped on this primitive planet.There’s no one to sell you to, no lab to dissect you in, no arena where you could be offered as a prize.And yet, you are the first live human to be offered to me.”
I cringed at the list of terrible things she would have done to me if she could.
“I supposed that makes you a rare prize, as much as that means in this terrible place.You’ll make a fine pet, until I tire of you.”
When I didn’t respond, she let out a hiss and leaned down to glare at me.
“Aren’t you honored, breeder?Won’t you thank me for sparing your life and taking an interest in your pitiful self?”
I gaped at her.
The blunt “No” that came out of my mouth escaped before my better judgement could stop it.
The Kwin’s pretty face twisted with fury just before someone stepped forward and shocked me unconscious.
