A short time later, the ten slaves were corralled in a corner of the great hall. The familiar pit in the center was surrounded by alcoves swathed in hanging curtains. Each alcove was filled with plush benches, wine, food, and an array of questionable substances. Wealth and opulence drowned every molecule in the room, serving only to show how very abused of basic rights the slaves were. Saedah and his lot were practically invisible as they played. Saedah purposefully played only the songs they had practiced in the hours previous.
He couldn't help but chuckle as people filed in, taking seats around the hookahs and twirling around the small spaces serving as dance floors. He spotted the tell-tale patches adorning the attendees. Of those present, people bearing the Litigion patch were in large numbers. The three Litigion septs were little better than organized pirates. In addition to the Litigions, known to work in the Darker places, many emblems and insignia were visible. The crest of the great house of Hyphos glinted from lapels and proudly displayed sleeves. The emblems of the Traid Cental Command adorned many 'robed-ones'. The robed-ones were people who were covered head to toe in Annon Robes, concealing their identities. Only the crest of their supporting faction was shown to hint at their identities.
Saedah's head was throbbing and his eyes were heavy. The concussion was dragging on him, but he could not allow his weakness to show. He had to appear strong. He wouldn't allow…
Saedah forced his posture into correctness. He fought the shaking of his hands, and held his head high. He even managed to wink at a patron or two, to his absolute disgust. He hoped it was enough to spare the others from the Pit.
All the while, they played their music of hatred, death, and imprisonment. The music fell on the ears of child-killers, rapists, and worse. He called them Neanderthals, idiots, and more, and they loved it. They clapped. They listened to him ridicule the government. They listened to him calling out to the Conclave, and they did not know.
Three songs in, however, Saedah felt the burning sensation of eyes boring into him. The hair along his arms and at the back of his neck stood on end and the muscles between his shoulder blades tensed. Scanning the hall discreetly, he found the eyes. They belonged to a Pteroisian Maverick, one of the three Litigion clans, identified by the circular patch on her left shoulder. A bold 'M' rested between the wings of a black and white owl. The owl was overlaid on a wreath of wheat, all on a slate gray background. At the top, on the wide black border, the word MAVERICK was spelled out in white. 'LIBERTAS AUT MORTEM' adorned the bottom and decreed their motto: Freedom or Death. Below the emblem, a black patch with red letters identified her Maven sept. She was a captain by her standard, worn proudly below the red 'MAVEN' patch. On her other shoulder, below the square black, muddy green, and gray striped Litigion flag, another circular patch bore another black 'F' on a gray background.
He'd seen a similar 'T' patch on a small number of the Litigion fighters. Saedah had no idea what either patch meant. He and Vector had once come across a hostile group with two highly experienced fighters bearing the T and F. Both patches had been ripped and sloppily mended with bright red thread. Had Vorn not exploded into the den with fire and Mac in tow, the two could have done serious damage. Vector had learned to watch corners and check blindspots after that incident.
Saedah watched the woman. Distrust and hope mixed together in a nauseating combination. Skin of vibrant red and cream stripes highlighted the contours of her face and exaggerated her scowl. The narrow cream and red banded, spike-like fronds covering her scalp bristled about her shoulders and down her back while wider fronds fanned from her forehead and cheeks. They protected her ears and gills along her neck.
And she was watching him with that intense stare. She watched him throughout the song. What worried Saedah was the way her large brown eyes shifted when he sounded 'Conclave'.
They took a moment between songs after that, while the hookahs and drinks were refilled, to calm his racing heart. He beat out a short 'can you hear me' message, acting as though to stretch and reposition the Hang.
He watched as she tapped the arm of her chair.
Y-E-S.
Well, fuck me in a monkey suit, He thought. He was shocked to discover that he didn't know what to do now. He'd been doing this for so long, for so many months, yet he'd never planned on a next step. He had nothing to fall back on, now that someone actually understood his messages.
Then the slaves were given a break, where a water jug was passed down the rows. The Ceeder moved between them dropping bread and pills into eager, waiting hands. Their doses. He greedily took his, wanting… no, needing the release from the pain. He smiled, feeling the sweet relief kick in minutes later.
He was too high to really care about the consequences, then. He beat out a slight alteration to a song they had played for months. Thank the gods the other slaves took it in stride and quickly adapted.
Ghost. Seek V. Red Horizon, IcoMera. S-A-D-A-H….Ghost. Seek V. Red Horizon, IcoMera. S-O-S.
The message repeated for roughly three minutes. He didn't know if he was too high to make any sort of sense, but he saw the Maveric woman tap a nearly-unnoticeable 'confirmed' just after the song ended. Then everyone's attention, including his, followed the shimmering, graceful figure as she strode into the Grand hall. Akumini took her place at the podium before the 'band', quietly hissing 'hurry with the water' before turning away.
"Now that we are all refreshed, shall we start the entertainment?" she called out, voice echoing around the hall. Saedah took three quick gulps from the jug, once again thrust unceremoniously into his hands, before passing it along. Cheers echoed around the hall, as all in attendance were of the particularly deranged variety. Saedah knew what was coming and rose with the others when bid to do so.
Males and females alike walked past the podium to stand in a single line along the lip of the Pit. Males were directed to the left, females to the right. Some stared into the sandy bottom of the Pit. Others stared wide-eyed at the onlookers. Still more swayed on their feet, eyes glazed and unfocused, seeing something worlds or lifetimes away. They were all waiting to be chosen, but praying desperately to see the cells again.
They could see the blood stains in the pit below. A small number of the men standing with Saedah may have already spent time in the sand, from the pallor of their faces. He turned his eyes away from his frightened fellows to the distant door swing open. More women were ushered inside to join the line.
Patrons were hooting and yelling, screaming out their choices. One soldier was chosen to go down the line and hand each 'contestant' a white card with a blue or pink number. Males were given blue numbers, females the pink. Saedah was familiar with this part. The patrons would enter the number of their favored male and female contestants on their console. Those with the most votes would participate in the fight.
He watched the large screen above the pit that displayed the tally in live time, as each vote was cast. His turned his number card to allow him to see the blue four.
So far, that was the winning number for the males. Judging by the number of huge figures amongst the onlookers, they would want to watch the halfbreed bleed. He was followed closest by the blue twelve. That would be his opponent. He looked down the line to a mid-twenties male, glaring at the ground in fear, anger, confusion, shock, or a combination of all, the number card hanging loosely in his left hand.
The pink six was 'winning' for the females. He heard a faint sob and craned his neck to get a view of the small brunette as she fell to her knees. With a gut-wrenching wail she covered her face with both hands, still clasping the card. The crowd cheered at her display of despair. The pink three followed closely behind the six, but Saedah couldn't find her.
The final votes announced that Saedah would fight. Of course.
Each male pat his back as they were led away. His crew, the musicians, were led back to the band section. Saedah remained on the podium with the other fighters. A girl stood over the card with the 3, glaring angrily at the air in front of her. She glanced at him and he tried to give her some advice. She turned her head and scanned his body with eyes full of hatred.
"I am sorry." He whispered, not understanding why he needed to say it. She would not understand. She probably heard of the horrors of the pit. They all had. But only those who had been subject to the pit would fully understand the hopelessness and helplessness of being under whatever that drug was.
The girl was beautiful. What had she done to deserve… No.
No one deserved this.
What had she done to anger the Lady so badly to get this as punishment? She would have gotten quite the check at auction.
"Fuck you" she spat. "Worthless mongrel. Bet you love this shit, eh? Being Baultoni triad-lover." Her eyes burned into his, daring him to deny it.
That simply pissed him off. He bit his cheek, but couldn't help the comeback.
"Listen, asshat. I'm a prisoner too. Just because I'm half Baultoni does not mean I support the triad. Hell, if I did, I probably wouldn't be here, you think?" He bared his teeth at her. Even lacking the large incisors typical of the Baults, it was a display of agitation and anger he'd yet to abandon. When she simply turned away from him, clenching her fists tight, he exhaled frustration. "Not smart, this one."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
The girl just growled at him. He had to try again.
"Just a bit of advice. Don't fight it. It'll be worse on you. Embrace it, and do your best. If you fight it, you'll lose faster." The drugs were hard. All you could do was fight and hope you killed the other first.
"pig." She spat at him, to more cheering. The patrons sensed the conflict to come and it fueled their excitement. Saedah hung his head. This was not going to go well.
Nyx watched the man slowly breathe in, turn his head away, and close his eyes. It was clear he was giving up on the woman. She didn't hear the conversation between him and the female, but could clearly see the hurt on his face. Did they know each other? He was the one who had beat the messages. They were confusing, but she would figure it out. Presently, though, she had to play her part and remain focused.
This was her first invitation to Akumini's events. Each High Captain in the Litigion septs had gone to at least three. Coming here was something of a rite of passage and she'd been unable to decline. Even though it was barbaric, it would open doors to new opportunities within her sept; promotions being one of those opportunities.
She watched as the man, presumably Saedah, met her eyes once again. The same hurt look was still on his face, but his eyes were more intense. Almost as though he was begging her.
For what, though? She thought, I can't help you. She wished she could let her face reveal an ounce of reassurance, but it could mean her death if she were found. No single person was worth her skin.
Motion caught her eyes as the soldiers stepped up to the podium. Polearms similar to a dogcatchers' were ready for resistance. It would be futile to do so against such vastly superior forces.
Saedah looked around and Nyx could almost see the 'fuck it' thought flash through his brain as he decided to fight. What the hell was this man thinking? He was wearing a loincloth, and decided to fight armored soldiers? He was mad.
Surprisingly, he still did a good bit of damage. One soldier fell into the pit, landing heavily on one shoulder. He rolled to a stop in a winded and broken heap. Not dead, but something was definitely broken.
The other patrons soaked it in with glee. Nyx took another hit from the hookah, letting the soothing vapor run through her veins and calm her. She'd not been prepared at all for the agenda, and was relieved to see that she would not have to ask for the substance.
A fierce echoing growl forced her attention back to the scene below here, where the soldiers were forcing the man to his knees. They looped the noose around his neck and drug him down the steps into the pit. When they finally had him in the sand they shoved a needle into his neck. The drugs hit his system quickly. He stumbled as his face reflected a state of euphoria, never noticing the soldiers as they unlooped the noose and backed away warily.
The man went limp, landing on his knees and right arm. He narrowly avoided falling flat on his face before sitting back onto his heels. His head tilted slowly until he looked as though he were basking in sunlight. Rolling his head slowly, he locked eyes with her.
Vibrant green eyes held her captive, unable to breathe. The intensity behind his gaze was terrifying.
She was in a position of great honor, at the first tier, pit-side. She was all of eight feet from the bottom of the pit, separated by a ledge railed with thin glass. That meager rail only stood to her hip.. He was close to the center of the arena, roughly twelve feet from the wall. Suddenly it wasn't enough. His eyes seemed to glow, even from that distance.
The soldiers took advantage of his euphoria to yank the loin cloth from him, close his fingers around a chipped and rusted blade, and hastily exit the pit.
Saedah groggily looked around, stumbling to his feet. He stumbled aimlessly for a moment. He was faced with no certain destination, no foe. What he couldn't see was the soldiers fighting with the girl. She swung like a champ. It was likely the woman broke a few bones against their armor, seeing how she backed away cradling her hand.
The soldiers looked to Akumini with silent question. The woman, pausing in a conversation with another guest, only shrugged and flicked a wrist. The soldiers shrugged in response, turned, and set upon the woman without restraint. They no longer cared what harm befell her.
In the ensuing fight, the soldiers left deep cuts and bruises blooming across her flesh. As she continued to thrash gnash her teeth, attempting to land bite or kick on them, they gave up attempting to bind her hands. With a wild wave of a hand the forward soldier motioned the other two away, who quickly and gratefully obliged. The woman foolishly charged the soldier. He deftly stepped out of the way and caught her as she passed, pulling her off balance. Pivoting, the man used her momentum to propel her off the ledge. She landed with a cry in the sand, drawing Saedah's crazed eyes. One of the soldiers threw down a sword matching Saedah's, throwing sand onto the woman as she checked her body for breaks. She gingerly rolled her wrist and looked about the arena..
Saedah maintained enough sanity to recognize the woman; to fall to his rear and scramble backwards, putting as much room between them as he could. This wasn't a normal viewing. Whatever this was… it was bad. What he didn't notice, eyes locked on the brunette's, was the man dropping over the edge behind him.
Saedah backed right into his waiting embrace. Before he could react, the man placed one hand over Saedah's nose and mouth while the other twisted the blade from his grasp. The hand over his mouth was filled with a powder that exploded in a white cloud around Saedah's cough. When nature demanded that he inhale, the guard tightened his grip. The choking powder coated his nostrils and throat. It clogged his lungs and sent him into another violent coughing fit. The soldier still held him, spurring the onlookers with exaggerated waves and bravado.
The moment the drug hit Saedah's system was noticeable. He collapsed, with his head against the soldier's shoulder and every muscle lose. His eyes stared unfocused into nothingness while blood dribbled from his nose. Before Saedah could wake from the stupor, the soldier dumped him to the earth and scrambled to the ladder. All bravado forgotten, he quickly climbed from the pit.
The girl, having watched it, stupidly tried to stand and call out to him. The noise made Saedah return to the present. He slowly turned his head, looking over the girl. With the same scary slowness, he rolled to his hands and feet, never taking his eyes off her.
Squeals of delight filled the tiers as Nyx Finally realized what was to happen. She watched as Saedah attacked the girl.
The girl stood no chance against Saedah. In his drugged state, he seemed to take great pleasure from her torture. She fought and Saedah teased her, letting her slip out of his hands, only to wrap one in her hair as she made to run. The sudden stop took her feet from under her and she landed on her back. Saedah allowed her to stand and kick him twice before catching her foot and flinging her to the ground again. This time, she stayed down.
The drugs in his system made him sloppy. As a result, the 'viewing', and the womans torture, lasted far longer than it should have. The girl pleaded and cried under his abuse, showering him with blows and scrapes. When he finished his fun with her, the onlookers cheered as he pinned her down and buried the blade deep in her chest.
She watched as another woman was thrown in with him. This one did not fight nearly as much, seemingly resigned to her fate. She antagonized the male enough to bring the blade across her throat relatively soon, but instead of delivering the killing blow, piercing her heart, he kneeled over her and drew a line through the blood flooding from her neck. It seemed to bring him intense pleasure to feel her life force between his fingers, and brought his red-smeared fingers closer to his face. His eyes took in the glistening stain hungrily. His body stilled as he rubbed the blood between his fingers, his weight still holding the thrashing, dying female beneath him.
Nyx looked to her second, a look of horror on his face to match her fear. From the corner of her eye, she saw Akumini approaching. They could not offend this woman. Fear seized her heart at the prospect. Thinking quickly, and refusing to look around, she jumped to embrace him and pull the curtains close.
"Captain!" he exclaimed, startled.
"Shhhhh!" She hissed in his ear. "I couldn't watch any more. Just… do this for me." She tapped her ear then discretely gestured around the small enclosure and the simple Sheets of fine, expensive fabric serving as partitions. "Please?" she purred.
"Anything for you, my lady." He growled back in a low barritone, putting a hint of lust into his voice. His eyes, however, were full of worry. "What would you have of me? I need you to show me." He was teasing her!
Nyx leveled a stare at him with a raised eyebrow. She wouldn't have taken the silent giant for a dirty-talker. The man was so quiet! And propper. It was difficult to imagine him in a lewd situation without glowing. Speaking of which, he was already blushing so brightly she was concerned that Akumini's people could see the red through the curtains. Beyond that, he'd hardly speak a word that was not true, and certainly not one that would unduly offend. Despite it all, she pulled him close before mewling lowly. To make it believable, her voice gradually grew in volume until she was crying out and shaking the curtains with her foot, mimicking the sounds from around them. When the neighboring noises were 'sufficient' around them, she began whispering the plans into her Second's ear.
Half an hour later, Nyx staggered from the enclosure, struggling to straighten her disheveled clothing and tangled fronds. Akumini smiled at her knowingly.
"Were you pleased with your first viewing?" She asked, winking to Nyx's male companion, likewise disheveled.
"Mmmmm….. Most definitely!" Nyx breathed in a satisfied manner. She watched her second's eyes droop sleepily. "Could I… Could I rent the male? I have a female I have been saving…"
"Ooh, now there is a question! I do not believe I have considered studding him out, before now. He is of mixed blood, you see, and quite unstable."
"But he is... virile." Nyx forced a smile, remembering the debauchery of the Pit before the poor women had been killed. "He is damaged, but I can see the potential. My female is of powerful blood, as well. I believe the pairing would result in a fine product."
Akumini thought for a long moment before nodding slowly and hesitantly.
"There must be precautions in place if I am to agree to this. I will not be responsible for any damage done to the female, or any of your staff or property." Nyx examined a trimmed thumbnail, nodding distractedly as Akumini spoke in a sharp, biting tone. Quickly, with a dismissive air, she added, "In addition to the fee, of course. Understood?"
"Of course" She had to grind her teeth to force the words to sound anything less than offensive.
"The male would be under chain the entire time, here. In a room for your property." Now she sounded rehearsed. This was clearly a common conversation for her.
"Of course. Could I also schedule a private viewing?" She asked, rushing to give an explanation and struggling to put excitement in her voice. Nyx prayed her shortcoming here, born of nervousness and revulsion, was taken for nervousness. This was her first trip to the Keep, after all. "I have a few friends who should find… immense pleasure from this, as I have." Nyx flashed her teeth at the woman, hoping it passed for a smile. Darkness consume me, she thought, resisting the urge to glance at Troache, am I picking up his mannerisms? That was not a good development.
"For the right fee, anything is possible." Akumini smiled back, crinkling the edges of her eyes. As they turned to exit the Hall, Nyx laughed and responded.
"Name the price, Lady Akumini."