Tarth City
Hell Tower, Office of the Brigade Commander
Sumertsag 34, 4664
The royal hoversine arrived at Hell Tower, a pure-white alabaster building rising twenty stories without windows. Prisoners sentenced to "Hell" never again saw the light of day, even after death. Androids buried them without ceremony in an unmarked grave the next moonless night.
Alitus fidgeted in the silence. The trip to Hell never failed to sober Destoiya. This was the only destination where she remained on her side of the vehicle during the entire trip, too preoccupied to speak.
He stepped out of the hoversine, moved aside and resisted the urge to assist her. She expected it anywhere else -- but here, the Conqueror showed no such dependence. She stepped out of the car and paused, head held aloft like a wary huntress scenting prey, the morning breeze catching and ruffling her hair, tousling a few unpinned curls. The streak of silver near the right side of her brow shone in the early sunlight.
Stars, she's magnificent. Alitus fell- in two steps behind her, following her personal android bodyguard.
A dozen guards in the stark black- leather uniform of the Palace Praetorian lined their path. The golden fists emblazoned on their upper right chests and arms marked them as the elite handful who guarded the empress herself. Bristling with weapons, the massive Kin males stood with feline ears back, shoulders stiff, spines erect. Destoiya's height put the top of her head at the tip of Alitus' nose and though he stood six feet tall, the shortest Praetorian's shoulder was above Alitus' head and the Kin weighed half again as much.
Destoiya paused and spoke to each, calling them by name and asking about family. She always knew if her soldiers had siblings or cousins serving. While she spoke to him, each Kin male softened into a smile and flicked his ears outward in respect. Each accepted her gloved hand and bowed over it, but the moment she passed, back went their ears, fangs bared at Alitus as if he were the enemy.
The ultra-sensitive Kin sense of smell made them susceptible to the influence of Betters. Indiscreet use of pheromones around a Kin was like smearing yourself with honey and jumping into a bear cage.
A stray thought brought a tinge of jealousy to the fore. Has she slept with any of these guys? I'll bet they can smell her on me. He swallowed.
At the end of the gauntlet stood Captain Dhia Ruh, the senior Praetorian. As Destoiya approached, the Kin female snapped to rigid attention, slammed a fist over her heart in salute and bowed.
Destoiya tightened her gloves as she made a fist. "Good morning, Ruh."
The captain purred before responding, "Welcome to Hell, Your Majesty."
Alitus shuddered at the ritual greeting. The previous month, Captain Ruh had disregarded a question he'd asked during the annual inspection, only answering when Destoiya repeated it. Today, the captain acknowledged him with a slight bow and a curt nod.
Well, this is a first. Kin females generally ignored males of any species unless they expected some type of service or wanted sex. On their homeworld, the feline race of warriors subjugated males. If Ruh could intimidate males with the physical size and attitude of these soldiers, Alitus would have preferred she hadn't noticed him at all.
The Conqueror made a small gesture to beckon him to her side and brushed her fingers across his hand when he came closer. Alitus caught her faint but reassuring smile. He followed her and Ruh for the usual tour of the facility. Generally, the Conqueror came here but twice a year and never failed to visit the three governors she'd imprisoned for raping Khyff Antonello. Do they ever sense her studying them through the blackened glass wall overlooking their isolated cells? And what of Destoiya? Does it give her some kind of perverse pleasure to see them locked in empty metal boxes not high enough to stand in, nor long enough to stretch out fully and sleep?
They would leave those dim coffin- like cells only after a long, wasting demise. Faceless androids brought them enough food and water to ensure their starvation wasn't quick. It could take them years to die. Lots of time for regret. Animals in a slaughterhouse fared better.
True, Khyff had been the Conqueror's favorite for the brief time she'd owned him and he had nearly died from what these women done to him. But surely, the man wouldn't want this kind of vengeance. Had he known of it, no doubt he'd implore her to cease. Though Destoiya said not a word, the unabated rage on her face when she finally turned away warned Alitus not to ask questions.
Exactly why did Khyff still mean so much to her? She only owned him for a couple of days. Lights turned off beyond the blackened glass, revealing no clues from the prisoners. The antiseptic scent of the place invaded.
"Alitus."
He started at Destoiya's voice and hastened to catch up to her. She held out her left hand. When he put his right into it, she drew it around her waist, wrapped an arm about him and held him close to her.
The captain appeared as shocked as he felt, darting looks everywhere but at him and the Conqueror.
Destoiya lifted her silvery gaze. "You're wondering why I sentenced them here, aren't you?" Alitus stood stock still. "Let me tell you. Khyff was mine."
He held his breath, scorched by the savagery in her eyes. Here was the ruthless killer her detractors abhorred. Alitus understood suddenly why her soldiers feared her, her enemies loathed her. Yet that same pride and remorseless ferocity made her a lover beyond compare.
The Conqueror never flicked so much as a glance at Captain Ruh. "Anyone who takes what is mine and thinks to keep it for herself, to abuse or misuse it, pays for that sin with death. Full recompense. No mercy. Alitus, my love" -- Destoiya reached up and stroked his cheek -- "if anyone ever did to you what those bitches did to him…" A fierce sweep of anger transformed her to an avenging angel, hell bent on retribution. "I wouldn't let them die that fast. I'd make them suffer for centuries."
Alitus remained motionless, riveted by the glint of raw fury in her eyes.
"Captain." She turned toward Ruh. "When your troops get their hooks into these rebels who want to steal my empire, remember that. I want a Kin's vengeance with blood, fangs and claws. They dare even think to take my empire? Not while I live!"
The Kin hissed like a mad cat. Folding a fist over her heart, she bowed deeply toward Destoiya. "My Empress, by the hallowed blood of my foremothers, while I live, no traitor will ever take this empire. If you give me the power, I will rally the entire Armada." She took a bold step forward. "Let me serve Your Majesty in a greater capacity than this" -- She gestured around her. -- "and I will break the back of this petty rebellion."
After the briefest hesitation, Destoiya inclined her head toward the Kin warrior. "I will see to it."
Ruh growled, fierce as a jungle cat. Extending her claws, she bowed as she swept a hand toward the door. "Your loyal Praetorian await you, Your Majesty."
With his hand still linked with Destoiya's, Alitus accompanied her toward the square outside Hell Tower. There, she would speak to the assembled crowd of more than five hundred Praetorian. He stood aside with Her Majesty while the captain opened the final door. Alitus dropped his hand and remained behind when Ruh introduced the Conqueror.
Outside, the gathered Praetorian cheered Destoiya's entrance.
Alitus followed a moment later and stood at the rear of the platform. While the Praetorian stomped, rattled weapons and roared their battle cry, Destoiya turned her head and met his gaze, the unspent shimmer of a satisfied smile in her eyes.
