Libby stirred, reaching across the bed. She was so many layers deep that it took a few moments for her to come to the surface. “Markos?”
He didn’t answer, nor could she feel the solidness of his form.
She sat up, aching all over. Memories flooded her tingling body. The spanking, the sex, the incredibly vivid dream of Constellia.
“Markos?” she called again, this time across the room.
His clothes were on the floor. Strange. She climbed from the bed and walked to the bathroom. No sign of him. She looked in the closet, as if he might be there. She picked his shirt up off the floor, smelling his scent.
The only part of him still there.
Hurriedly she dressed. Was he in the lobby? Where could he have gone? He was naked, how far could he get?
She asked at the front desk, receiving little for her trouble but a raised eyebrow and a polite shake of the head no.
“Are you sure?” she asked, sounding as desperate as she felt.
“Madam,” said the goateed clerk, reasonably enough. “I think I should have remembered a six-foot man, unclothed with long hair walking through the lobby.”
How about a half man, half horse? she thought.
The clerk cleared his throat. “Will madam be checking out now?”
“In a little while,” Libby said, feeling more defeated than she ever had in her life.
She nearly cried in the elevator on the way back to her room as she remembered their adventure of last night. It wasn’t fair, losing a man like Markos. It could take a lifetime to find another. She was fairly well convinced now that he had gone back to Constellia without her. The way he had talked when they were with his friends made her believe that he had decided against involving her.
She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did.
He must have vanished right from her room, using his amulet, saying his magic words. That was a good thing, she supposed. A centaur on Earth? It would never work. And what could she have done on his world?
Other than save his life.
Libby locked the door behind her and turned the bolt. There had to be a way to get to him. She had reached his world once, in her mind. And the crab Argos had sent her dreams across the void. There was magic, she knew there was. If she could at least get Markos a message. Better still, if she could find her way there. To defend him. He was innocent, he deserved freedom.
Plus she was missing him…already.
But exactly how would she go about this? It was a nice theory, but she didn’t have any amulets or magic words.
The only thing she had ever known to do—and she hadn’t done this in many years—was to pray.
Was that appropriate in a case like this?
Libby knelt by the edge of the bed. She folded her hands together and bowed her head. “God, I know it’s been a long time and…I hope this won’t come across as…lame, and maybe this isn’t even your area but…”
She sighed, cutting off her own pathetic attempt to communicate with the Almighty. Honestly, she was not sure what she even believed anymore about the universe.
She tried again, this time speaking out loud. “Whoever’s out there, whatever you want to be called, I hope you’re listening now. I made a mistake, I didn’t take Markos seriously enough. I didn’t hold on to him and learn from him when I should have. Now he’s gone and I want to be where he is. He needs my help. He came an awfully long way to find me…and I have to answer.”
Libby squinted her eyes, waiting for something to happen. Nothing did.
Feeling very silly and more than a little sad she got back up and collected her purse. She would have just enough time to run home and change and shower and make it to work by nine. She was just deciding what to do with Markos’ clothes when she got a new idea.
The sense of smell was capable of bringing memories back in a powerful way. They could virtually make a person feel as if they were traveling in time. Could that work with Markos’ shirt?
She picked it up, her fingers tingling. Pressing it to her nose she inhaled once again, this time trying to conjure the man…and the beast. She ran it through her mind, like a movie, from the first moment she laid eyes on him, holding court for a squad of police. The way he touched the faces of those horses, the love and respect he showed. And the way he looked at her, strong and fierce and proud, like a soldier, a champion athlete and a centerfold all rolled into one.
Not that Markos would know what a centerfold was. He truly was of another world. It should have been obvious to her sooner, the way he carried himself, the pride and courage he showed. Turning up at her office. With flowers and all that silly candy. And that cockeyed smile on his face, telling her he was here to get her into bed.
What Earth man could get away with that? Shameless is what he was. Wanting her, he would not take no for an answer. That first kiss, confirming it all, letting her know this was no bluff. And from there a whirlwind that resulted in her being exposed in an elevator, Markos inside her, riding straight up to the room where they would consummate their love.
So delicious. Every inch of him to die for. What did she do to deserve this? The covers of romance novels paled in comparison.
Clenching the shirt, she exhaled and inhaled, again and again, trying so very hard.
It still wasn’t working. Libby was going to cry. Tough as nails Libra Daniels, who took no guff, knocked down girls at the orphanage twice her age. Every other day in the director’s office, only to receive the quiet approval of all the other littler kids like her.
They said it was poor impulse control, they blamed her father for driving her mother to an early grave and then dumping her off shortly after her sixth birthday for strangers to care for. But Libby knew better. Like her namesake mother before, she was an October child, born under the sign of Libra, which made her a natural lover of justice, determined to have balance in her universe.
Justice and balance. Determination. That was it!
What were Markos’ words? Let nature find a way? Let the pieces fall into place? Was it that simple—merely a matter of her own will, broadcast out to the Cosmos? Had the power been literally under her nose all along?
Like Dorothy who could have gone home any time she chose, never needing to wait for any magic slippers.
Libby cleared her mind, focusing, the way she did before court, the way she did when she was onto the truth, clenching it with her teeth, determined to never let go.
Markos…do you hear me…Markos…I’m here…
The blood pounded in her ears. She felt her own pulse, her heart racing. She held out her arms, lifting her palms to the sky, ready to fly. Was Constellia up…or down?
She rose onto tiptoes, arching her back, graceful as a swan. She held herself until gradually the rhythms of her body slowed. She felt lighter and lighter, like a bird, prepared to alight from a treetop.
Yes, whispered her soul, take me.
Let nature find a way. The pieces, falling into place.
Like the Cheshire Cat, bit by bit she vanished, all but her smile, all but her laugh.
* * * * *
Libby materialized in a fountain of sweet syrup, light blue in color. She was thankful for the covering over her skin, though, for she had appeared in her new environs quite naked. Her first enunciation was a sputter as she sought to remove the syrup from her mouth.
It wasn’t unpleasant-tasting, but she had simply not bargained on a mouthful of a mixture of honey, blueberry and chocolate. Especially not with a small army of scorpions scuttling toward her.
For a moment she considered running. They were outside, beneath a pink sky. There were trees in one direction, with puffy white leaves. In the other direction was a castle, layered like a birthday cake. Flags flew from ramparts with pictures on them of creatures, crabs and rams and fish.
“Put up your hands in the name of the High Protector of Constellia,” hissed one of the scorpions, larger than the rest, with a medallion around his neck. Unlike the others who were red, this one was black. Libby’s hands were a bit occupied, covering her private parts. Whether or not scorpions were embarrassed by human nudity she didn’t know, but she certainly was.
Where was Argos with his magic cloak when she needed it?
“Please, give me some covering,” she said.
It occurred to her she was not speaking in English. Nor were the Scorpions. She hadn’t thought about language in her dream encounter with Argos and Dalion, likely because they were reading each other’s minds.
“Criminals don’t deserve covering,” said the scorpion. “Get out of that fountain and prepare to be dissolved to the Four Winds.”
A good many other creatures had gathered by now, some animal and a few that looked nearly human, though the coloring of their skin was practically translucent. A number of them voiced concern.
“You mustn’t banish her,” said a woman with long curly hair holding a set of scales. “Until she is found guilty of a crime.”
“It’s not safe that way,” the scorpion hissed. “We must dissolve her first and put her on trial later to confirm our actions.”
Typical government, thought Libby glumly.
A goat stepped forward, draped in a red cloth. His hide was gray in color. He wore a medallion upon his neck, two circles interlocked. Upon his head was a pointed gold hat with a star. A pair of identical young men stood on either side, their hair fine like strands of curled copper, their eyes silver and vapid like moons. “Have you any idea what it will cost to repair this damage?” the goat asked.
“No,” said Libby. “I haven’t.”
The goat made a clucking noise behind his teeth. “Most irregular this is.”
“Most irregular,” said one of the twins.
“Most irregular,” agreed the other.
“The cost of calculation will be added to your bill,” the goat informed her.
“You are wasting time, you old goat,” the scorpion said. “Maybe I should kill you, too and sort it out later.”
The twins gasped in unison.
“This is terrible,” lamented the lady with the scales.
“Is it?” asked a fish, flapping on gossamer wings like a butterfly, body black and white, striped like a scaled zebra.
“Is it?” asked a second fish, identical in every way.
Pisces, thought Libby, and those twins are Gemini and the lady with the scales was Libra. There were others in the crowd, sets of fish and humanoid twins, and women with scales. So these were Constellia’s inhabitants.
Libby stepped from the fountain, sputtering once more as she planted her bare feet on the yellow and blue tile. Scorpions surrounded her. She was not scared, strangely enough, because they were so large. Were they small, like she was used to, they might have seemed scarier, but these were movie prop creatures, comical beings.
The stingers looked real, though and they were aimed at her.
“I mean you no harm. I am looking for Markos.”
A low hush passed through the crowd, followed by whispers.
“Silence!” ordered the chief scorpion. “The name of Markos shall not be mentioned.”
“Sir, you just said it yourself,” one of the other scorpions pointed out.
The leader hissed again much more loudly. “I will dissolve you all, do you hear me?”
The creatures all cowered. Libby did a quick rundown in her mind of the astrological signs. In addition to the ones she had seen there were some Aquarian water bearers in the audience, some Cancer crabs, a ram or two and some fancy-looking women who were probably Virgos. All were accounted for but the centaurs. And the Leos, too.
Where were they? Did their absence have anything to do with this Scorpos character taking over?
“Zinox,” spoke a new voice, calling the scorpion leader by name. “You will do no such thing, upon my orders.”
“Argos,” exclaimed Libby.
“What am I?” demanded Dalion beside him. “A statue?”
She ran up to both of them, bending down to give them a hug. It was a bit awkward, but well worth it. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you both.”
“Argos,” said Zinox. “Do not presume to throw your weight around. You are no longer in office. The king, may I remind you, lives no more.”
“The king lives always in our hearts,” said Dalion fiercely. “You scrounging desert cockroach.”
Argos restrained Dalion, who was about to butt heads, quite literally. “No fighting, Dalion, not today.”
Another goat came up beside them. “Zinox, you are wasting time and money. I’ll tell you how much if you like. Scorpos will not be pleased. I think you had better detain the woman and pass the matter to your superiors before you make any more mistakes.”
Zinox approached him menacingly. The ram squared off to repel him but it was the woman with the scales who intervened. “In the name of mercy.” She put herself between them, holding the brass scales in the face of the scorpion. “No more.”
There followed a moment of silent tension, both sides braced. Zinox hissed a few times, as if to attack and then he backed down. “Take her away,” he said. “We’ll lock her up with Mar—with the one who remains nameless.”
Libby’s heart soared. She was going to see Markos.
Argos lifted himself on his hind claws. “Hold on tight, my dear, we are going to arrange for you to be Markos’ lawyer. Have him tell you all he knows of the case.”
Libby kissed his brightly colored shell. “I will, Argos, I will.”
“I am Kalos, by the way,” said the second goat, the one who had defended her and the others.
“Thank you.” She tried to kiss him, too, but the scorpions were poking at her, trying to move her away.
Zinox had shackles for her, gold bracelets with a long chain between. He also had a collar for her neck, smooth silver, encrusted with jewels. There was a chain at the end of it, which Zinox held like a leash. He pulled it very tight, forcing her against his side as they walked.
The words hissed in her ear were most definitely for her alone. “I’ll lock you up, all right, in the dungeon. And I’ll teach you respect, too. Humans are slaves as far as Scorpos is concerned. As for whatever little plot you are hatching, you can forget it. You’ll be working for us from now on.”
Libby gasped as he pulled her collar tight, cutting off her air. She stumbled forward over the tile on her bare feet. They headed straight for the castle. There was a moat, filled with a thick murky fluid and a drawbridge over it, clear as glass.
She was still contemplating the scorpion’s ominous words as he heaved her up onto his back. His shell was hard and warm to the touch. She was forced to spread her legs as wide as they could go. The experience was not joyful as with Markos and yet she could not help but feel something.
The sense of helplessness in the hands of this monster, perhaps. Chains on her body as he took her, leashed and collared into this strange castle in this strange world.
The castle itself was beautiful inside. The main door opened into a huge open space, three stories high, walled with colored bricks, bright as a rainbow. The roof was vaulted and the chamber was lined with columns. The roof was painted blue and there were depictions of stars, with carefully drawn lines and patterns.
Banners hung on each of the columns, which were made of colored marble. One showed a green dragon, another a centaur with a long spear. He looked something like Markos.
At the back of the chamber there was a dais and above it a yellow and gold banner hung on two poles and featured a lion wearing a crown. She was reminded of the symbols of Earthly royalty. Was this a representation of the king they had spoken of, the one who was dead but still lived in the hearts of his subjects?
If Libby had any hopes of exploring further they were soon squashed as Zinox took her quickly across the green marble floor to a wide bronze door on the side of the chamber. It opened with a loud creak that did not bode well.
“I hope you like your accommodations,” said Zinox. “This underground cavern has only recently been converted to a dungeon.”
“You shouldn’t have gone through all the trouble for me,” she quipped as he ambled down a dark stone ramp leading straight into darkness.
Zinox laughed, at least she assumed that was the meaning of the strange noises it was making. “You are a clever one,” he said. “I shall enjoy breaking you.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” she wondered, trying not to sound terrified. “Considering all the allies I have?”
“They are nothing,” he spat. “They are as good as vanquished.”
At the bottom of the ramp more scorpions were waiting with torches. They were in a tunnel made of rounded stone. Zinox took a left turn. They passed a series of wooden doors with small openings, barred with metal. She thought she could hear breathing within.
Was Markos nearby? Oh god, she needed him.
One of the doors was open. It was wide enough for Zinox to fit through. Oh, goodie, she thought.
Two other scorpions came into the cell. The floor was stone and the walls and ceiling, too. The stones were rough-hewn and encrusted with white and purple jewels. It was like being inside a geode.
Zinox took off her shackles and hoisted her in the air like a rag doll. The two scorpions took her arms and attached them to cuffs hanging from the ceiling. They had her on tiptoes now, utterly at their mercy.
Taking buckets filled with unusually warm water, they poured them over her, washing away the blue liquid. She was left feeling like a drowned rat.
“Leave us,” said Zinox.
The other two hastened out of the cell, closing the door behind them.
“At last,” he said. “We are alone.”
“Whatever you want from me,” she said bravely. “You won’t get it.”
“Of course I will.” He approached her, extending his vicious-looking stinger. “I always do.”
She gasped as he leaned forward, pressing the tip of it against her belly. “Did you know that the venom of a Constellian scorpion has the power of hypnosis?”
Assuming the question to be rhetorical, Libby remained silent.
“Are you very frightened of me?” he wanted to know.
“Compared to facing Judge Waller before he’s had his morning coffee? Not really,” she quipped.
“You have answers for everything, don’t you? But here you know nothing. You are nothing. Constellia has been weak for too long. The old king missed his opportunities, his wife has her head in the clouds like all the Aquarians. The centaurs are useless too, wrapped up in their games and traditions as they are. And I won’t waste my breath on the rest, sentimental crabs, pigheaded rams and weak-willed fish. Only scorpions are fit and only Scorpos can lead.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all wrapped up. Why do you need me?”
“Because.” He ran his stinger along her hip, causing some very unwelcome stimulation in her nether regions. “Scorpos has enemies. We have rounded up many of the lions and centaurs who would oppose us but others are hidden away. Even in the court there are naysayers. The queen herself vacillates. Scorpos is working on fully seducing her. We know Argos is behind a lot of it but he would never talk. Crabs pull into their own shells under pressure. But Markos, he knows too, and you’re just the one to get him to talk. Yes, I am going to win great favor with Scorpos once I make you my spy.”
“I won’t cooperate, I hope you know.”
Zinox moved the stinger along her thigh, just enough to make her squirm. “Once you are stung, you will do anything I say. You will be anything I say.”
“No,” she defied, but it was too late. Prick went the tip into her skin, like a needle, surprisingly quick and painless. He withdrew, sounding like a nurse who had just administered a hypodermic needle. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Libby blinked. The scorpion was going out of focus. She opened her mouth, the words were slurred.
“It’s very fast-acting,” he said. “And potent. I didn’t give you a lethal dose, but it will take your freedom quite quickly.”
She writhed in her chains, trying to get away. She was sweating, a collared prisoner. He waited for her to exhaust herself and then he began. She couldn’t hear exactly what he was saying, not at first.
Whatever it was, it was making her hot. She could feel her pussy throbbing, juices dripping. She needed to be filled, conquered.
She turned her head, not wanting Zinox to see her eyes. If he should guess her desire, her incredible, irrational need for this horrible creature to touch her, to invade her, she would be lost.
Zinox gave no quarter. “Look at me,” he ordered.
Libby’s nipples were tight, her breath short and ragged.
“You are a natural slave, aren’t you, Libby?”
She tried to shake her head no.
“You like being chained, you like that I can do what I want with you. You would come for me if I told you, wouldn’t you?”
“F-fuck you,” she spat, finding it terribly difficult to get the words out.
“You’re fighting so hard,” he lamented. “It’s easier, so much easier to give in and be a good girl. A good little pet. You would like to be my pet, wouldn’t you? Crawling on all fours for your master?”
Oh god, she did want to give in, to plead and beg for the scorpion to use her body, to reduce her to a sex animal. Wasn’t this the point of her sex dreams? To get her to surrender her inhibitions? Wasn’t this her most secret desire, to be the plaything of a forbidden, evil creature, to be taken in ways that would shame even a therapist?
What would Aggy say?
It was her sudden thoughts of her quirky therapist that saved her. She could picture Aggy, sitting across from her, encouraging her to play, to have fun. But not to surrender her soul.
Especially not when Markos needed her, whole and free.
Summoning all of her embattled, stung and poisoned will, she gave the scorpion the answer he deserved.
The creature shrieked in shock as her spit landed in his eye. Apparently these creatures did not like water any more than they liked disobedience. Cursing at her, he retreated. “You can rot in here,” he said, opening the door for his escape.
To solidify his point, he slammed the door closed.
Libby tried to keep her head up, but things were foggy again.
She must have passed out because the next thing she knew she was dreaming of Markos.
He was calling her name and taking her down from her chains, cradling her in his arms. A wonderful dream, indeed. Or was it real?