Page 63 of Warlord's Mate
Jorrick was left with nothing but the camera orbs hovering above as witness to his failure. He watched Toren disappear into the trees like the others and ground his teeth then turned back in the direction he’d come. He’d rescue Mar-see alone. If Allok wanted him dead, then so be it. As long as Mar-see was safe, he’d die honorably.
The sound of those harmed because of her would haunt her dreams. Marcy lost count of the people Allok had tortured throughout the day. Every one of them, raped and beaten because of her. Every time she told him she couldn’t do magic, he’d force her outside to pick someone else, and they’d suffer for it. She’d learned the first time not to pick someone she knew. Not that the torture of an innocent made her feel any better. After the first couple didn’t get Allok what he wanted, he’d forced her to stand there and watch. When she closed her eyes and refused, he made her pick from the men who had been captured with her. She was ready to babble some nonsense and pretend to do magic but was scared it would get them all killed when nothing happened. He still believed wholeheartedly she could perform magic.
When she’d continued to deny her ability and refused to perform his miracle, he’d tied her to the wall inside his hut and left her there. As prisons went, it was nicer than the one she’d had inside the arena. At least here the floor was clean, she was provided a designated bathroom area instead of having to sit beside the stench all day long.
There were still constant screams in camp. Her imagination was all she had to tell her what was happening and nothing she saw in her mind’s eye was good. She leaned back against the wall, her butt sore from sitting so long. One arm had been tied to a support beam on the wall, her muscles so stretched now she felt fatigued from doing nothing but having her arm elevated. Worry crept in the longer she sat there. The sky outside was darkening. Allok had given her until nightfall and it was coming on fast. He was going to demand she do something or her fate would be the same as the others only he’d use her first, then hand her off to the others, one by one, until she gave him what he wanted.
The bed along the right-hand wall kept snagging her attention. Her heart thumped hard enough to take her breath every time she saw it. So far he hadn’t forced her to share it with him but she wasn’t stupid. His kindness—if her not being raped yet could be called such a thing—would eventually end. Allok forcing her into his bed was probably a given. She just hoped she was wrong.
The material around her wrist had been snug when she was bound but pulling on it the last two days had loosened it. She looked to the doorway. She’d not seen anyone for some time, not even Allok. Giving her arm a hard jerk, she grimaced as pain reached clean to her shoulder but she heard the bindings rip. The sound was loud in the stillness of the hut. Ignoring the pain, she pulled again. And again, the material loosening and ripping more each time. When she felt it finally give, her breath caught.
She sat for long minutes watching the door, her sore arm cradled against her chest. Not a single shadow moved outside. She climbed to her feet and craned her neck to see out. A large fire burned in the center of camp and caused shadows to streak across the ground. They undulated, almost as if dancing. From this angle, it was hard to see what they were doing, and she didn’t care to find out. The laughter and occasional frightened scream told her enough.
Tiptoeing to the doorway, she stayed in the shadows and peered out. There were so many. The sound of laughter was louder here. So were the screams. This camp was nothing like Jorrick’s. She’d once thought her warlord was a barbarian, but these aliens were more barbaric than Jorrick had ever been.
Another quick glance to see if anyone was looking her way showed no one was, which was odd. Did Allok trust her binds enough to think she wouldn’t get out of them?
Stepping back inside, she flattened her back against the wall and closed her eyes. She could make a run for it and try to find Jorrick, slip right out the door and stick to the shadows until she made it to the forest. The worst that would happen was she’d be caught and brought back and tied to the wall again. Allok needed her. He wouldn’t kill her. Could she make it without being seen?
“Would you like to join us, little witch?”
Marcy’s eyes shot open. She stared at the darkened room and noticed the noise from outside had disappeared. It was completely silent now. The only thing she heard was the crack and pop of burning firewood.
“I know you’re there.”
Allok’s voice held a hint of laughter and she wondered how he’d known she’d gotten loose. Had he seen her? A pain shot through her skull a moment later. She gasped and bent double, grabbing at her head, her mouth open in a silent scream. As it had when she’d been brought to his hut the first time, the pain had come and gone in an instant. Marcy slowly straightened. Goose bumps broke out across her skin as Allok’s voice carried across camp, his demand to her to, “Come out and join our party,” loud in the stillness.
She sucked in a few deep breaths, the throbbing in her head a dull ache now. The intense pain was gone, but she still felt—something. Peeking around the corner of the door, she saw Allok in his chair, his head turned in her direction. The moment she met his gaze, another pain shot through her head hard enough to pull a startled scream from her throat. She hit the ground, both of her knees slamming into the dirt and she cradled her head in her raised arms.
Allok’s voice filtered in once the pain had abated. It took her a moment to realize he was talking to her. She looked at him, those unusual red eyes still eery to see.
“I have to admit little witch, I didn’t believe you when you said you were not of the Acirassi race. There aren’t many that I can’t read and you are one of them. I can not penetrate your thoughts at all.”
He was trying to read her mind? Is that why it felt as if her head was trying to split wide open? She closed her eyes and took several more breaths before standing and stepping out of the hut. Everyone was staring at her. A few whimpering cries were coming from somewhere to her right. She didn’t look to try to see who it was or why they were crying. Her imagination was horrible enough. She didn’t need to see the reality of what went on in this camp.
The trees surrounding the area made Allok’s encampment look more sinister than it probably was. Deep shadows lingered over everything and gave off a creepy horror movie vibe she couldn’t shake. Marcy lifted her chin and hoped the false bravado kept anyone from seeing her hands shaking.
She took a few steps toward the fire and stopped when Allok stood and held out his hand to her and said, “Come sit by me.” She did as told, dragging her feet as she crossed camp. Allok sat back down. His chair wasn’t as elaborate as Jorrick’s was, nor as big, but he still looked kingly sitting in it. Another, smaller chair sat beside his own and he patted the seat when she reached him. The moment she sat down, everyone resumed whatever it was they had been doing, all of which turned her stomach.
The aliens here had no shame. They laughed and drank and fucked in front of anyone looking. The women she saw just laid there, their heads turned as if looking away made it less real. Marcy hoped it worked as she turned to meet Allok’s gaze when he spoke.
“Have you decided to give me what I want?”
The question had been asked so many times now, she was sick of hearing it. “I’ve told you—”
“And I think you lie.”
Marcy shook her head. “Why would I?”
“I’m sure you have your reasons.” He smiled suddenly, his pointed teeth shining in the low light. “Perhaps torturing the women you chose isn’t enough. Is it you I should be using?”
“Having your men gang-rape me still won’t make me give you something I can’t.”
“Perhaps a time in my bed will do the trick.”
“So you’re a rapist along with the other vile creatures that live here?”
“I don’t need to lower myself to such degrees to get a female into my bed.”