School Days
Part XIV
With Friends Like You
By KittyCaro
Disclaimer: Characters from the Adventures of Voltron and the New Adventures of Voltron are copyright 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1997 by WEP. Any and all new/original characters belong to the author.
Rating: R for some sexual situations, violence and bad language.
Author’s notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. C&C are welcomed.
Originally Published 07/30/2002 - Revised 03/08/2015
Rating: R for some sexual situations, violence and bad language.
Author’s notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. C&C are welcomed.
Originally Published 07/30/2002 - Revised 03/08/2015
Click on the following links to move along to that chapter.
December 30th, 2303
For an instant, I was at home at Polydeuces Castle in my sunlit bedchamber, waiting to hear Bandor's shuffling steps at my door with news about our brother.
Suddenly, I felt tremendous weight strike my back and I went hurtling to the ground. Slowly, I pulled myself to my feet, but I fell against a huge shadow, whose hands moved urgently over me, down my belly, around my thighs. I could hear his breathing in my ear, heavy and rasping with lust.
"You will yield to me, Romelle," he whispered, and his mouth covered mine.
"Lotor!" I screamed and twisted frantically to free myself from his hold. I pushed against his shoulders and tried to free my mouth, but he dealt with my struggles as easily as a stallion swishing his tail at a fly. A moment later I was pinned underneath him, my mouth aching from the brutality of his kiss. When his hand went to his skull belt, it frightened me into frantic resistance.
And then there was a buzzing in my ears. The buzzing continued for several seconds, insistently nagging at my mind until I realized that it was an alarm. The noise distracted Lotor as well; he froze just long enough for me to free one hand and grabbed my dagger. I raised the knife high above his chest, but before I could attack, I found myself sinking into the depths of a pit. I fell hard on the ground, knocking the air from my lungs and bruising my ribs.
Shadows flitted across the cave as streams of silvery light flooded through the mouth of the pit, casting images that intertwined with my pain.
A more manly form took shape in the thickening fog of my mind, and I looked up to find the detail in him in the darkness. He stood tall and silent before me. His hair was long and tousled; his jaw lean and firm, and I imagined dark eyes glowing at me from the shadows. The presence stayed with me, unmoving, unchanging, always staring, and I had an inexplicable urge to escape. But the ground moved wildly and brought me upright with a startled gasp.
I glanced dumbly about me, peering into the shadows and dark recesses of the room. They were empty, nothing stirred in the shaded stillness. And with a trembling sigh, I sagged back against the pillow, bemused and disappointed.
That man had been a figment of my imagination, and yet I felt somewhat relaxed by his appearance.
The intensity of the fluorescent lighting overhead increased. I sat up and gazed about the cabin, remembering what had happened. Two Drule soldiers had brought me to this sleeping cabin, and when I tried to flee, one of them had zapped me with a stun gun.
Suddenly, the door was opened and I leapt up from the bunk. Unfortunately it wasn't a slave who could tell me what was happening, but Commander Mogor.
"Prince Lotor requests your presence at the bridge, Your Highness."
I gazed at him, not speaking. He was uglier than Cossack, if that was possible.
He strode toward the table in the center of the room. Upon it was a tray a food. He removed the cover and shook his head. "You haven't touched a morsel since we left Doom, and that's not good. You need to keep your strength."
"I shall starve to death," I told him dramatically.
He swallowed back his laughter. "Suit yourself," he said mildly, "but this chicken is really delicious, and the rice was prepared with Terran spices. Would you like a fresh orange? They are very sweet."
"Go to hell!" I cried angrily, my hand inching toward a pewter goblet.
He was quick on his feet, and before I might throw anything at him, he dragged me up from the bunk and across the cabin. "Well, if you don't want to eat, then I shall take you to Prince Lotor."
As we made our way to the bridge, I almost cried in angry despair. I needed to know that Allura and my friends were all right, that they had gotten my message.
What in the name of heaven was I going to do now? How could I save myself? How could I convince Lotor to ransom me? It seemed the only option. The only other course was to kill myself, and I didn't have the courage to do that. Besides, I didn't want to die anyway. I wanted to see my father and brothers again, and my castle too.
What if Voltron was able to blast the Omega Comet off course and Lotor decided to keep me as his slave?
I shall continue being the most difficult, the most impossible, the most awful woman he has ever known; and he will certainly send me home, having concluded that a ransom was a better bargain than an uncooperative woman.
With a low hiss, the bridge's hatch opened, and we stepped into the chart section. Mogor ordered me to stay with him, but I edged away. He gave a slight snort and held my arm.
I looked around, and a big holographic display swept up my attention. Semitransparent images drew long shadows across the walls and over the navigational terminal where a drone sat, keying numbers and gazing at its screen. A red blip designated by tiny letters as Voltron lay at the holographic center. The blip flashed as it moved toward a pulsating circle, designated as the Omega Comet. I watched, fascinated, as the mighty robot came to a halt, poised before the black hole.
The drone swung around and cocked a brow at Mogor. "Sir, there's a ninety-eight-point-one percent chance that Voltron will be destroyed."
"Those are the kind of chances that I like," he replied, a flicker of a grin appearing on his lips.
I glared at him, wishing that he would dematerialize into the shadows, but then I cringed as I heard Hagar's raspy voice. "I guess they didn't find the secret attack plan."
Lotor strayed toward the view port stretching from deck to overhead. The comet now dominated the view.
"Hmm… if they only knew the right settings," he mused.
"If they would put their power crystals in a force sector setting, they could put their feet up, that's the secret attack plan," Hagar said matter-of-factly.
I gasped. ~Secret attack plan? I must tell them!~
"Yes, soon they will use all their power, and Voltron will be completely hopeless, am I right?" Lotor said, looking over his shoulder at everyone on the bridge.
"Yes, Prince Lotor," Mogor said in a monotonous voice. "They won't have a chance-"
I shouldered my way to the terminal and pressed the commlink button. "Voltron! Listen to me. Put your crystals in a force sector setting!"
"What?!" They shouted.
"That's the secret attack plan," I continued. "If you keep shooting, you will use up all your power. Use your crystals!"
Now came a long period of silence from Voltron. Lotor stood behind me, muttering an occasional interjection but otherwise silent. The Force changed settings, and slowly made their way to the comet.
And what I saw then froze the blood in my veins.
Like a cosmic predator with claws of gravitational force, the Omega Comet reached out and clutched Voltron, pulling him to the surface.
"We've been betrayed!" Keith cried over the intercom.
The taste of bile rose to my throat, and tears welled in my eyes. "No… it can't be."
Lotor chuckled softly. "But it is!" he pointed out triumphantly. "You told them exactly what we want it you to tell them. Thanks to you, Voltron is utterly defeated. You've been very useful, Princess. Thank you."
"Oh no!" I cried, dropping on my knees.
"Keep the communication link opened," he ordered, "I want to listen to their conversation."
Then he smiled indulgently at me. "Oh, my pretty little slave," he cooed. "Look what you've done. With friends like you, Voltron doesn't need enemies."
Oh my God, he was right. How could I believe that Lotor and Hagar would speak so freely about the secret attack plan? They knew that I would hear them. I was such a fool! I will never be able to forgive myself.
"We're getting out of here pronto!" Keith urged. "Can you reach the controls?"
"Yes!" The team replied in unison.
"Alright," he breathed. "Let's get out of this force sector setting, and back to normal power. Reset the power crystals… that's better."
"We're at full power," Allura stated.
"Good, let's get out of this ugly comet," Keith said, the conviction of his tone growing as he spoke.
"All right!"
"We got it team, we're lifting off!"
But the radiation rings acted up once again, and Voltron came crashing face down.
"The gravitons are too strong!" Pidge wailed.
"We're completely out of regular power," Allura said. "I think we could use our booster supply, couldn't we?"
"What good would that do?" Lance snapped. "If our regular power wasn't enough, our booster supply can't possibly help!"
"We have to try," Keith gasped. "Lock in boosters!"
But they still had the same results.
"If we don't get out soon," Allura warned, "the gravity will crush us!"
I shuddered in revulsion, unable to drag my eyes away, wondering if I'll ever see my friends again.
For an instant, I was at home at Polydeuces Castle in my sunlit bedchamber, waiting to hear Bandor's shuffling steps at my door with news about our brother.
Suddenly, I felt tremendous weight strike my back and I went hurtling to the ground. Slowly, I pulled myself to my feet, but I fell against a huge shadow, whose hands moved urgently over me, down my belly, around my thighs. I could hear his breathing in my ear, heavy and rasping with lust.
"You will yield to me, Romelle," he whispered, and his mouth covered mine.
"Lotor!" I screamed and twisted frantically to free myself from his hold. I pushed against his shoulders and tried to free my mouth, but he dealt with my struggles as easily as a stallion swishing his tail at a fly. A moment later I was pinned underneath him, my mouth aching from the brutality of his kiss. When his hand went to his skull belt, it frightened me into frantic resistance.
And then there was a buzzing in my ears. The buzzing continued for several seconds, insistently nagging at my mind until I realized that it was an alarm. The noise distracted Lotor as well; he froze just long enough for me to free one hand and grabbed my dagger. I raised the knife high above his chest, but before I could attack, I found myself sinking into the depths of a pit. I fell hard on the ground, knocking the air from my lungs and bruising my ribs.
Shadows flitted across the cave as streams of silvery light flooded through the mouth of the pit, casting images that intertwined with my pain.
A more manly form took shape in the thickening fog of my mind, and I looked up to find the detail in him in the darkness. He stood tall and silent before me. His hair was long and tousled; his jaw lean and firm, and I imagined dark eyes glowing at me from the shadows. The presence stayed with me, unmoving, unchanging, always staring, and I had an inexplicable urge to escape. But the ground moved wildly and brought me upright with a startled gasp.
I glanced dumbly about me, peering into the shadows and dark recesses of the room. They were empty, nothing stirred in the shaded stillness. And with a trembling sigh, I sagged back against the pillow, bemused and disappointed.
That man had been a figment of my imagination, and yet I felt somewhat relaxed by his appearance.
The intensity of the fluorescent lighting overhead increased. I sat up and gazed about the cabin, remembering what had happened. Two Drule soldiers had brought me to this sleeping cabin, and when I tried to flee, one of them had zapped me with a stun gun.
Suddenly, the door was opened and I leapt up from the bunk. Unfortunately it wasn't a slave who could tell me what was happening, but Commander Mogor.
"Prince Lotor requests your presence at the bridge, Your Highness."
I gazed at him, not speaking. He was uglier than Cossack, if that was possible.
He strode toward the table in the center of the room. Upon it was a tray a food. He removed the cover and shook his head. "You haven't touched a morsel since we left Doom, and that's not good. You need to keep your strength."
"I shall starve to death," I told him dramatically.
He swallowed back his laughter. "Suit yourself," he said mildly, "but this chicken is really delicious, and the rice was prepared with Terran spices. Would you like a fresh orange? They are very sweet."
"Go to hell!" I cried angrily, my hand inching toward a pewter goblet.
He was quick on his feet, and before I might throw anything at him, he dragged me up from the bunk and across the cabin. "Well, if you don't want to eat, then I shall take you to Prince Lotor."
As we made our way to the bridge, I almost cried in angry despair. I needed to know that Allura and my friends were all right, that they had gotten my message.
What in the name of heaven was I going to do now? How could I save myself? How could I convince Lotor to ransom me? It seemed the only option. The only other course was to kill myself, and I didn't have the courage to do that. Besides, I didn't want to die anyway. I wanted to see my father and brothers again, and my castle too.
What if Voltron was able to blast the Omega Comet off course and Lotor decided to keep me as his slave?
I shall continue being the most difficult, the most impossible, the most awful woman he has ever known; and he will certainly send me home, having concluded that a ransom was a better bargain than an uncooperative woman.
With a low hiss, the bridge's hatch opened, and we stepped into the chart section. Mogor ordered me to stay with him, but I edged away. He gave a slight snort and held my arm.
I looked around, and a big holographic display swept up my attention. Semitransparent images drew long shadows across the walls and over the navigational terminal where a drone sat, keying numbers and gazing at its screen. A red blip designated by tiny letters as Voltron lay at the holographic center. The blip flashed as it moved toward a pulsating circle, designated as the Omega Comet. I watched, fascinated, as the mighty robot came to a halt, poised before the black hole.
The drone swung around and cocked a brow at Mogor. "Sir, there's a ninety-eight-point-one percent chance that Voltron will be destroyed."
"Those are the kind of chances that I like," he replied, a flicker of a grin appearing on his lips.
I glared at him, wishing that he would dematerialize into the shadows, but then I cringed as I heard Hagar's raspy voice. "I guess they didn't find the secret attack plan."
Lotor strayed toward the view port stretching from deck to overhead. The comet now dominated the view.
"Hmm… if they only knew the right settings," he mused.
"If they would put their power crystals in a force sector setting, they could put their feet up, that's the secret attack plan," Hagar said matter-of-factly.
I gasped. ~Secret attack plan? I must tell them!~
"Yes, soon they will use all their power, and Voltron will be completely hopeless, am I right?" Lotor said, looking over his shoulder at everyone on the bridge.
"Yes, Prince Lotor," Mogor said in a monotonous voice. "They won't have a chance-"
I shouldered my way to the terminal and pressed the commlink button. "Voltron! Listen to me. Put your crystals in a force sector setting!"
"What?!" They shouted.
"That's the secret attack plan," I continued. "If you keep shooting, you will use up all your power. Use your crystals!"
Now came a long period of silence from Voltron. Lotor stood behind me, muttering an occasional interjection but otherwise silent. The Force changed settings, and slowly made their way to the comet.
And what I saw then froze the blood in my veins.
Like a cosmic predator with claws of gravitational force, the Omega Comet reached out and clutched Voltron, pulling him to the surface.
"We've been betrayed!" Keith cried over the intercom.
The taste of bile rose to my throat, and tears welled in my eyes. "No… it can't be."
Lotor chuckled softly. "But it is!" he pointed out triumphantly. "You told them exactly what we want it you to tell them. Thanks to you, Voltron is utterly defeated. You've been very useful, Princess. Thank you."
"Oh no!" I cried, dropping on my knees.
"Keep the communication link opened," he ordered, "I want to listen to their conversation."
Then he smiled indulgently at me. "Oh, my pretty little slave," he cooed. "Look what you've done. With friends like you, Voltron doesn't need enemies."
Oh my God, he was right. How could I believe that Lotor and Hagar would speak so freely about the secret attack plan? They knew that I would hear them. I was such a fool! I will never be able to forgive myself.
"We're getting out of here pronto!" Keith urged. "Can you reach the controls?"
"Yes!" The team replied in unison.
"Alright," he breathed. "Let's get out of this force sector setting, and back to normal power. Reset the power crystals… that's better."
"We're at full power," Allura stated.
"Good, let's get out of this ugly comet," Keith said, the conviction of his tone growing as he spoke.
"All right!"
"We got it team, we're lifting off!"
But the radiation rings acted up once again, and Voltron came crashing face down.
"The gravitons are too strong!" Pidge wailed.
"We're completely out of regular power," Allura said. "I think we could use our booster supply, couldn't we?"
"What good would that do?" Lance snapped. "If our regular power wasn't enough, our booster supply can't possibly help!"
"We have to try," Keith gasped. "Lock in boosters!"
But they still had the same results.
"If we don't get out soon," Allura warned, "the gravity will crush us!"
I shuddered in revulsion, unable to drag my eyes away, wondering if I'll ever see my friends again.
"Isn't Voltron pitiful?" I chortled. "And we owe it all to Princess Romelle, who betrayed her friends and sentenced planet Arus to a miserable end!"
And with a soft gasp, she threw herself on the floor and sobbed, unable to bear the sight of her friends' suffering. The poor thing was such a faint heart.
Hagar cackled with glee. "Yes, Prince Lotor. Even now, Arus is being wrecked by disaster for the Omega Comet is drawing nearer and nearer. The comet is drawing up everything on the planet's surface and under the surface out. And that's only the beginning!"
"You have done a good job, old witch."
"You know your father doesn't appreciate me as much as you do, and with Voltron out of the picture I can put you on the throne. You can be more powerful than Zarkon ever was… with my help of course."
"You speak too soon, old witch," I cautioned. "After all, you have only trapped Voltron… you haven't destroyed him!"
"I'll remedy that right now, Prince Lotor," she replied, walking toward her crystal ball.
The thought of knocking off my father was tempting, but I had to play my cards right this time. "You destroy Voltron, and then will talk about the throne."
Placing her hands on the ball, she said, "Voltron will perish - now!"
And with a wrathful shriek, Romelle came to her feet and ran toward Hagar. "No-"
But her exclamation was cut off in mid-sentence when I raised my sword and caught her gown, sending her sprawling onto the floor. And then I heard nothing but her soft weeping.
"And now," I said amusedly, "let's give a fun farewell to Voltron, eh?"
Hagar gave a quick nod. "I left this little device on the recognizant ship," she said, pointing at the screen. "It's called the Iron Gripper, but you can think of it as a metal muncher, with sharp teeth and a very big appetite!"
Her contraption quickly made its way to Yellow Lion, ripping its left side, and I heard with deep satisfaction as the Voltron Force cried in agony and Romelle's weeping became louder.
"We've got to hold on!" Keith said fervently.
"For what?!" Lance choked out. "It would take a whole star fleet to save us now!"
And, as though on cue, an enemy star fleet suddenly rippled across the screen.
"Hmph! Look what the Alliance sent over," I sneered.
Romelle looked up and smiled a joyful smile. "It's my brother's fleet. He will save Voltron!"
I rose from my chair and clenched a hand into a fist. "I'll crush them… I'll squash them like insects!"
We listened as Keith asked Bandor to finish the job they had started, and blow the comet off course. He was shocked by the request, because if he complied, they would certainly perish. But Keith told him that he was prepared to make such sacrifice. Lance seconded that motion; Hunk and the rest quickly joined them.
Such courage… such generosity…
How sickening.
Bandor finally agreed to do it, swearing that my father and I would pay. The whole fleet pointed their lasers at the comet, and opened fire. The radiation rings that Hagar had created were neutralized, and the comet changed direction, moving away from planet Arus.
Arus was saved… again.
"They have kidnapped my sister," Bandor said hotly, "and now they've destroyed Voltron. But I swear I'll make them pay!"
"Come and try it, strange one," I hissed.
Mogor stepped forward. "Sire!"
I turned to him. "What?!"
"The Omega Comet has changed course!"
I lounged against him. "I know that, you imbecile! What makes you think I care about some stupid comet? Get out!"
"My brother will save me," Romelle said feebly.
I looked down at her trembling form. "Don't make me laugh! I'll crush your brother's fleet and planet Arus, and then the entire Alliance! With Voltron out of the way, there's nothing to stop my Fleet of Doom!"
And then turning to my helmsman, I said, "Set course for Planet Arus."
And with a soft gasp, she threw herself on the floor and sobbed, unable to bear the sight of her friends' suffering. The poor thing was such a faint heart.
Hagar cackled with glee. "Yes, Prince Lotor. Even now, Arus is being wrecked by disaster for the Omega Comet is drawing nearer and nearer. The comet is drawing up everything on the planet's surface and under the surface out. And that's only the beginning!"
"You have done a good job, old witch."
"You know your father doesn't appreciate me as much as you do, and with Voltron out of the picture I can put you on the throne. You can be more powerful than Zarkon ever was… with my help of course."
"You speak too soon, old witch," I cautioned. "After all, you have only trapped Voltron… you haven't destroyed him!"
"I'll remedy that right now, Prince Lotor," she replied, walking toward her crystal ball.
The thought of knocking off my father was tempting, but I had to play my cards right this time. "You destroy Voltron, and then will talk about the throne."
Placing her hands on the ball, she said, "Voltron will perish - now!"
And with a wrathful shriek, Romelle came to her feet and ran toward Hagar. "No-"
But her exclamation was cut off in mid-sentence when I raised my sword and caught her gown, sending her sprawling onto the floor. And then I heard nothing but her soft weeping.
"And now," I said amusedly, "let's give a fun farewell to Voltron, eh?"
Hagar gave a quick nod. "I left this little device on the recognizant ship," she said, pointing at the screen. "It's called the Iron Gripper, but you can think of it as a metal muncher, with sharp teeth and a very big appetite!"
Her contraption quickly made its way to Yellow Lion, ripping its left side, and I heard with deep satisfaction as the Voltron Force cried in agony and Romelle's weeping became louder.
"We've got to hold on!" Keith said fervently.
"For what?!" Lance choked out. "It would take a whole star fleet to save us now!"
And, as though on cue, an enemy star fleet suddenly rippled across the screen.
"Hmph! Look what the Alliance sent over," I sneered.
Romelle looked up and smiled a joyful smile. "It's my brother's fleet. He will save Voltron!"
I rose from my chair and clenched a hand into a fist. "I'll crush them… I'll squash them like insects!"
We listened as Keith asked Bandor to finish the job they had started, and blow the comet off course. He was shocked by the request, because if he complied, they would certainly perish. But Keith told him that he was prepared to make such sacrifice. Lance seconded that motion; Hunk and the rest quickly joined them.
Such courage… such generosity…
How sickening.
Bandor finally agreed to do it, swearing that my father and I would pay. The whole fleet pointed their lasers at the comet, and opened fire. The radiation rings that Hagar had created were neutralized, and the comet changed direction, moving away from planet Arus.
Arus was saved… again.
"They have kidnapped my sister," Bandor said hotly, "and now they've destroyed Voltron. But I swear I'll make them pay!"
"Come and try it, strange one," I hissed.
Mogor stepped forward. "Sire!"
I turned to him. "What?!"
"The Omega Comet has changed course!"
I lounged against him. "I know that, you imbecile! What makes you think I care about some stupid comet? Get out!"
"My brother will save me," Romelle said feebly.
I looked down at her trembling form. "Don't make me laugh! I'll crush your brother's fleet and planet Arus, and then the entire Alliance! With Voltron out of the way, there's nothing to stop my Fleet of Doom!"
And then turning to my helmsman, I said, "Set course for Planet Arus."
"My object all sublime
I shall achieve in time-
To let the punishment fit the crime-
The punishment fit the crime."
W.S. Gilbert, The Mikado II
January 2nd, 2304
The clash of battle on Arus had ceased. The screams and moans of the wounded were silenced one by one. The day was quiet and time seemed suspended. The sun shone upon the indistinct horizon, and the Doom fighters were returning to the destroyer, satisfied with their actions. The view port focused in a village, covered with the heroic blood of their inhabitants.
Shreds of smoke drifted through the ruins. Drule soldiers had gone in rampaging search for the smallest item of value, and taking people who weren't able to escape to the caves as prisoners.
I braced my hands on the floor and swallowed back a rush of tears for the deep, tormenting knowledge that our twin planet was being destroyed and many people lay dead upon the earth, and that I was helpless to remedy it. Was mercy so lacking in the Prince of Doom that even now, when his battle was won, he could not let the proper burial of the defeated?
"Why do you make me watch this horror?" I asked Lotor, who was sitting in his chair, keeping his rapt gaze upon the fleet's progress.
"So you can witness, my revenge," he said coldly. "I will demolish every building, every tree and every blade of grass. Every living thing will be destroyed, down to smallest insect. The people of Arus have defied me again and again. Now that Voltron is out of the way, they will learn the price of their defiance."
He paused for a few moments, and then added, "But first, I will destroy the thing I hate the most- the castle. I won't stop, till is leveled."
Meanwhile, Bandor's Fleet was trying to pull Voltron out of the comet, by using grip bins. Unfortunately, Lotor had predicted this maneuver and had ordered part of his fleet to attack them. The Eleventh Fleet counterattacked, but they had used most of their energy for the grip bins and couldn't keep up. In a matter of minutes those magnificent ships were turned into shreds.
But miraculously, the command ship was still linked to Voltron. Was it possible that Master Coran had managed to activate part of the robot's circuitry by remote control? If that were the case, surely they would succeed.
"Prince Lotor," the leader of the robot fleet said, "something is protecting the command ship from our lasers, and it looks like they may take Voltron off the Omega Comet."
"Fools!" he snarled. "Blast their grip bins!"
"Yes sir!"
And I watched in horror as they attacked my brother's ship, hurling it to the end of the universe. Lotor erupted in laughter.
"Haha, Voltron will ride on that comet forever. I have proven once and for all that I'm superior!"
"Superior!" I sneered. "You're nothing but a monster!"
He growled, and I backed away fearfully as he looked down at me with hatred in his chatoyant eyes. "Monster." He tasted the word with his tongue, greatly offended. Then he turned away and said, "I have never liked the word… monster. Robeast, on the other hand has a better ring to it. Don't you agree, Mogor?"
"Yes, sir."
"Mogor always agrees. That's why I have given him the honor of sending the robeast to Arus. A robeast so powerful, that it will destroy everything on the planet." Then he chuckled. "I wish Voltron was here, so that I could see him turn into little bits of metallic dust."
Lotor stood and strode toward me. He reached down and yanked me to my feet. "Don't you think is time I get a reward for my efforts?" he mocked, lifting a white brow.
Hagar cackled her delight, but it was enough to spur my temper, already seething beyond caution. My humiliation was past bearing. My pride burned like a flame, engulfing me, goading me to unreasonable action. With a flare of rage burning within me, I drew back my arm and struck a stinging blow across Lotor's cheek.
The men and drones in the bridge held their breaths in stunned surprise. They expected Lotor to kill me. Everyone feared his dark moods. When he bent his cold, ruthless gaze upon them, they fled out of his way to safety. Yet this princess, with so much to lose, had braved far more than any other had.
In the brief moment Lotor stared at me, I regained my senses and knew a sudden prickling of fear. I was horrified by my action, as he was astonished.
Without a word or warning, Lotor's hands were upon me, jerking me to him and crushing me against him in a powerful embrace. "Your display of gratitude is strange, princess," he said softly. "Do you forget that I could order your father's execution?"
I gaped at him, unable to utter a plea or an apology.
He laughed shortly. "Do not fear, my sweet. You shall see your father again alive and well as surely as you will share my bed."
Hagar's laughter swept the bridge at his words, and my heart gave a sickening lurch. "Bastard," I hissed in his face, deriving small pleasure from the startled expression on his face.
"Remember one thing, Romelle," he said harshly, "the next time you hit me you will suffer greater shame than you just have."
With that he thrust me from him, and I fell upon the floor and lay quivering, my body aching, my shame intense. I heard him move and glanced up to see him take a length of chain from Mogor. As he approached me with it, I cringed in terror. Had my actions provoked him so that now he must beat me to have revenge? He was going to kill me, I was certain. My heart drummed in my ears, and as he bent to me, I leapt away, kicking at him as I tried to flee his outstretched hands. He dropped the chain and bounded after me.
"No!" I shrieked and eluded him by running under his arm. I darted past him in a spurt of strength and flew to the doors, but to my horror, my foot got caught in a cable and I stumbled. Before I could regain my balance, he dove at me, throwing his arms about my middle. As we went crashing down, he twisted his body so that he bore much of my weight against him and took the full impact of the fall upon himself though it caused him no slight discomfort as his leg was jolted.
My limbs flailed about as I sought to free myself, then I turned in his restraining arms to press a frontal attack. I saw the error of my ways when he laughed and pinned me to the floor beneath him.
"Let me go! Please!"
Surprisingly, Lotor rose and drew me to my feet. He peered down into my face with a twisted smile, reaching up to brush some of my hair from my cheek.
He laughed and taking my hand into his dragged me to a small platform that was connected to the ceiling by a chain, and to my utter astonishment he shackled my waist and ankles to the steel structure. He picked up the chain, and fastened one end of the shackle to the platform and the other around my wrists. Then he signaled Mogor, and immediately I was pulled up, until I was suspended over their heads.
"You cannot be allowed to attack me without being punished," Lotor said softly. "If you keep still, the chains will not break your skin and do serious harm. I am being merciful because you are new to my ways; others haven't had the benefit of the platform."
"I don't care what you do to me," I retorted, anger riding again over my fears. "Your cruelty will not go unpunished, I swear!"
And he grinned like the devil. "Romelle, if you're my punishment, then the punishment fits the crime."
I shall achieve in time-
To let the punishment fit the crime-
The punishment fit the crime."
W.S. Gilbert, The Mikado II
January 2nd, 2304
The clash of battle on Arus had ceased. The screams and moans of the wounded were silenced one by one. The day was quiet and time seemed suspended. The sun shone upon the indistinct horizon, and the Doom fighters were returning to the destroyer, satisfied with their actions. The view port focused in a village, covered with the heroic blood of their inhabitants.
Shreds of smoke drifted through the ruins. Drule soldiers had gone in rampaging search for the smallest item of value, and taking people who weren't able to escape to the caves as prisoners.
I braced my hands on the floor and swallowed back a rush of tears for the deep, tormenting knowledge that our twin planet was being destroyed and many people lay dead upon the earth, and that I was helpless to remedy it. Was mercy so lacking in the Prince of Doom that even now, when his battle was won, he could not let the proper burial of the defeated?
"Why do you make me watch this horror?" I asked Lotor, who was sitting in his chair, keeping his rapt gaze upon the fleet's progress.
"So you can witness, my revenge," he said coldly. "I will demolish every building, every tree and every blade of grass. Every living thing will be destroyed, down to smallest insect. The people of Arus have defied me again and again. Now that Voltron is out of the way, they will learn the price of their defiance."
He paused for a few moments, and then added, "But first, I will destroy the thing I hate the most- the castle. I won't stop, till is leveled."
Meanwhile, Bandor's Fleet was trying to pull Voltron out of the comet, by using grip bins. Unfortunately, Lotor had predicted this maneuver and had ordered part of his fleet to attack them. The Eleventh Fleet counterattacked, but they had used most of their energy for the grip bins and couldn't keep up. In a matter of minutes those magnificent ships were turned into shreds.
But miraculously, the command ship was still linked to Voltron. Was it possible that Master Coran had managed to activate part of the robot's circuitry by remote control? If that were the case, surely they would succeed.
"Prince Lotor," the leader of the robot fleet said, "something is protecting the command ship from our lasers, and it looks like they may take Voltron off the Omega Comet."
"Fools!" he snarled. "Blast their grip bins!"
"Yes sir!"
And I watched in horror as they attacked my brother's ship, hurling it to the end of the universe. Lotor erupted in laughter.
"Haha, Voltron will ride on that comet forever. I have proven once and for all that I'm superior!"
"Superior!" I sneered. "You're nothing but a monster!"
He growled, and I backed away fearfully as he looked down at me with hatred in his chatoyant eyes. "Monster." He tasted the word with his tongue, greatly offended. Then he turned away and said, "I have never liked the word… monster. Robeast, on the other hand has a better ring to it. Don't you agree, Mogor?"
"Yes, sir."
"Mogor always agrees. That's why I have given him the honor of sending the robeast to Arus. A robeast so powerful, that it will destroy everything on the planet." Then he chuckled. "I wish Voltron was here, so that I could see him turn into little bits of metallic dust."
Lotor stood and strode toward me. He reached down and yanked me to my feet. "Don't you think is time I get a reward for my efforts?" he mocked, lifting a white brow.
Hagar cackled her delight, but it was enough to spur my temper, already seething beyond caution. My humiliation was past bearing. My pride burned like a flame, engulfing me, goading me to unreasonable action. With a flare of rage burning within me, I drew back my arm and struck a stinging blow across Lotor's cheek.
The men and drones in the bridge held their breaths in stunned surprise. They expected Lotor to kill me. Everyone feared his dark moods. When he bent his cold, ruthless gaze upon them, they fled out of his way to safety. Yet this princess, with so much to lose, had braved far more than any other had.
In the brief moment Lotor stared at me, I regained my senses and knew a sudden prickling of fear. I was horrified by my action, as he was astonished.
Without a word or warning, Lotor's hands were upon me, jerking me to him and crushing me against him in a powerful embrace. "Your display of gratitude is strange, princess," he said softly. "Do you forget that I could order your father's execution?"
I gaped at him, unable to utter a plea or an apology.
He laughed shortly. "Do not fear, my sweet. You shall see your father again alive and well as surely as you will share my bed."
Hagar's laughter swept the bridge at his words, and my heart gave a sickening lurch. "Bastard," I hissed in his face, deriving small pleasure from the startled expression on his face.
"Remember one thing, Romelle," he said harshly, "the next time you hit me you will suffer greater shame than you just have."
With that he thrust me from him, and I fell upon the floor and lay quivering, my body aching, my shame intense. I heard him move and glanced up to see him take a length of chain from Mogor. As he approached me with it, I cringed in terror. Had my actions provoked him so that now he must beat me to have revenge? He was going to kill me, I was certain. My heart drummed in my ears, and as he bent to me, I leapt away, kicking at him as I tried to flee his outstretched hands. He dropped the chain and bounded after me.
"No!" I shrieked and eluded him by running under his arm. I darted past him in a spurt of strength and flew to the doors, but to my horror, my foot got caught in a cable and I stumbled. Before I could regain my balance, he dove at me, throwing his arms about my middle. As we went crashing down, he twisted his body so that he bore much of my weight against him and took the full impact of the fall upon himself though it caused him no slight discomfort as his leg was jolted.
My limbs flailed about as I sought to free myself, then I turned in his restraining arms to press a frontal attack. I saw the error of my ways when he laughed and pinned me to the floor beneath him.
"Let me go! Please!"
Surprisingly, Lotor rose and drew me to my feet. He peered down into my face with a twisted smile, reaching up to brush some of my hair from my cheek.
He laughed and taking my hand into his dragged me to a small platform that was connected to the ceiling by a chain, and to my utter astonishment he shackled my waist and ankles to the steel structure. He picked up the chain, and fastened one end of the shackle to the platform and the other around my wrists. Then he signaled Mogor, and immediately I was pulled up, until I was suspended over their heads.
"You cannot be allowed to attack me without being punished," Lotor said softly. "If you keep still, the chains will not break your skin and do serious harm. I am being merciful because you are new to my ways; others haven't had the benefit of the platform."
"I don't care what you do to me," I retorted, anger riding again over my fears. "Your cruelty will not go unpunished, I swear!"
And he grinned like the devil. "Romelle, if you're my punishment, then the punishment fits the crime."
I felt a modicum of pity for the rebellious princess swinging back and forth above me. I knew the chains were digging into her tender flesh, although she wasn't carrying her entire weight on her wrists like other captives. But pity was not an emotion I dared to entertain. I would lose the respect of my men if I allowed Romelle's behavior go unpunished.
"Are you comfortable, Princess?" I asked with bland indifference. If she admitted her discomfort, I would release her immediately.
She glared at me. "As comfortable as I can be amidst an army of Drules."
"Then you shall remain up there for the duration of the trip."
"Someone will come to my rescue, you'll see."
I gave her a smug smile. "I beat Voltron and that little brother of yours. No one can defy Prince Lotor."
She raised her chin mutinously. "You're wrong. They will come back for me. I know it!"
"Don't be a fool. There's not the slightest chance they'll ever come back here-"
And a shadow wiped over the view port, followed by a second, then a third. A tremendous thunder shook through the entire bridge as though a fusion bomb had detonated at its core.
"We have been shot down!" I said stiffly, clinging to the arms of my seat as the ship continued to tremble violently.
Mogor stumbled on the deck. Hagar lost her grip as well, and thumped to the floor beside him.
I glanced to a bank of screens that showed images from the external cameras. "How did they get past our defenses?"
Mogor struggled to his feet. "Renegade cruiser. There it is!" he said, pointing at the view port.
The image was amplified a couple of times, and Romelle immediately recognized that ship. "Bandor! I knew it!"
"Bandor? That little fool!" I scoffed.
Seconds later, the whelp appeared on the screen. "Lotor! I challenge you to fight me - man to man!"
I snorted. "Fight you? Why should I? See?" I said, tilting my head toward the Princess. "You forgot something; I'm the one in control here."
Bandor gasped as he followed my gaze and saw his sister in chains. "Alright, if you won't fight, I'll fight you!"
Reacting to his words, I raised my sword and aimed at Romelle. "Try it, and you'll lose your sister!"
And his young face creased in terror. "Romelle!"
"Bandor!" she cried, growing desperate. "Don't worry about me. You must stop Lotor."
"No! Romelle…"
"Bandor!"
And Bandor looked at me with virulent hatred. "You call yourself a prince, but you have no honor."
"You and your honor," I sneered. "I found them extraordinarily boring. Victory is sweeter, when you cheat."
Bandor's face took on a deeper hue of red, and he gritted his teeth.
"I have destroyed this planet. My robeast stands at the gates of the castle. And unless you do as I tell you, it will be completely leveled." And then I laughed at him.
"What do you want?" he hissed.
I met his questioning gaze and grinned. "Unconditional surrender!"
"Don't do it, Bandor!" Romelle pleaded. "You must not surrender to him!"
"I have to," he said, his voice cracking. He watched his sister with what seemed like resignation, and she turned away as tears came streaming down face.
I suddenly felt sick inside for making her cry. But dammit! She deserved what she got for siding with them.
"I'm waiting!" I said impatiently at the little prince.
"This is Prince Bandor, I'm coming to surrender-"
The screen changed to an aerial view of the planet, and I squinted at a flickering gleam in the distance, a gleam that quickly burst into a ringlet of light.
"What's that?" Bandor asked.
"It's Voltron!" Someone exclaimed.
"Voltron? How did he get here?" I demanded.
"Voltron!" Romelle cried happily.
"He's twice as powerful as ever!" Mogor cried. "Watch out!"
The destroyer convulsed as Voltron came abreast, its cannons spewing thousands of bolts that struck and irresistibly weakened her shields. Klaxons blared. Overhead lights switched to the dim crimson of battle. Behind me a panel of life-support monitors sizzled and shorted out, heaving a pungent scent that wafted through the bridge.
"Sire!" A drone said. "Voltron has targeted the ion engine control. If he scores a direct hit, we'll lose all propulsion."
I don't like this. How did he get off the Omega Comet? How?!
Voltron formed his blazing sword, and with a roar, he charged toward the robeast and drove his weapon into its armor. The robeast crumpled, and its massive form fell against the castle, a black cavity in its chest. There was another flash of steel, and the robeast shattered into a millions pieces.
"Let's get out of here!" I ordered, before he decided to finish us off.
"Are you comfortable, Princess?" I asked with bland indifference. If she admitted her discomfort, I would release her immediately.
She glared at me. "As comfortable as I can be amidst an army of Drules."
"Then you shall remain up there for the duration of the trip."
"Someone will come to my rescue, you'll see."
I gave her a smug smile. "I beat Voltron and that little brother of yours. No one can defy Prince Lotor."
She raised her chin mutinously. "You're wrong. They will come back for me. I know it!"
"Don't be a fool. There's not the slightest chance they'll ever come back here-"
And a shadow wiped over the view port, followed by a second, then a third. A tremendous thunder shook through the entire bridge as though a fusion bomb had detonated at its core.
"We have been shot down!" I said stiffly, clinging to the arms of my seat as the ship continued to tremble violently.
Mogor stumbled on the deck. Hagar lost her grip as well, and thumped to the floor beside him.
I glanced to a bank of screens that showed images from the external cameras. "How did they get past our defenses?"
Mogor struggled to his feet. "Renegade cruiser. There it is!" he said, pointing at the view port.
The image was amplified a couple of times, and Romelle immediately recognized that ship. "Bandor! I knew it!"
"Bandor? That little fool!" I scoffed.
Seconds later, the whelp appeared on the screen. "Lotor! I challenge you to fight me - man to man!"
I snorted. "Fight you? Why should I? See?" I said, tilting my head toward the Princess. "You forgot something; I'm the one in control here."
Bandor gasped as he followed my gaze and saw his sister in chains. "Alright, if you won't fight, I'll fight you!"
Reacting to his words, I raised my sword and aimed at Romelle. "Try it, and you'll lose your sister!"
And his young face creased in terror. "Romelle!"
"Bandor!" she cried, growing desperate. "Don't worry about me. You must stop Lotor."
"No! Romelle…"
"Bandor!"
And Bandor looked at me with virulent hatred. "You call yourself a prince, but you have no honor."
"You and your honor," I sneered. "I found them extraordinarily boring. Victory is sweeter, when you cheat."
Bandor's face took on a deeper hue of red, and he gritted his teeth.
"I have destroyed this planet. My robeast stands at the gates of the castle. And unless you do as I tell you, it will be completely leveled." And then I laughed at him.
"What do you want?" he hissed.
I met his questioning gaze and grinned. "Unconditional surrender!"
"Don't do it, Bandor!" Romelle pleaded. "You must not surrender to him!"
"I have to," he said, his voice cracking. He watched his sister with what seemed like resignation, and she turned away as tears came streaming down face.
I suddenly felt sick inside for making her cry. But dammit! She deserved what she got for siding with them.
"I'm waiting!" I said impatiently at the little prince.
"This is Prince Bandor, I'm coming to surrender-"
The screen changed to an aerial view of the planet, and I squinted at a flickering gleam in the distance, a gleam that quickly burst into a ringlet of light.
"What's that?" Bandor asked.
"It's Voltron!" Someone exclaimed.
"Voltron? How did he get here?" I demanded.
"Voltron!" Romelle cried happily.
"He's twice as powerful as ever!" Mogor cried. "Watch out!"
The destroyer convulsed as Voltron came abreast, its cannons spewing thousands of bolts that struck and irresistibly weakened her shields. Klaxons blared. Overhead lights switched to the dim crimson of battle. Behind me a panel of life-support monitors sizzled and shorted out, heaving a pungent scent that wafted through the bridge.
"Sire!" A drone said. "Voltron has targeted the ion engine control. If he scores a direct hit, we'll lose all propulsion."
I don't like this. How did he get off the Omega Comet? How?!
Voltron formed his blazing sword, and with a roar, he charged toward the robeast and drove his weapon into its armor. The robeast crumpled, and its massive form fell against the castle, a black cavity in its chest. There was another flash of steel, and the robeast shattered into a millions pieces.
"Let's get out of here!" I ordered, before he decided to finish us off.
January 3rd 2304
Six hours later, we landed on Planet Doom. I knew that Voltron wouldn't follow us; they just couldn't leave the people of Arus in the hour of need. As for Bandor, his cruiser wasn't in any condition for another long flight.
At this moment, I would prefer facing all of them than my father. I came this close to conquering Arus, but it appears that some higher entity protects that damned robot.
I rose from my command chair and rubbed a tight muscle in my neck. I looked up and saw that Romelle was still unconscious. She had become hysterical when we fled Arus, and I had ordered Hagar to silence her.
Cossack entered the bridge and stood beside me, his complexion blanched, his pupil-less eyes fixed on her. "The princess was mad," he uttered.
"More than mad," I retorted. She was crazy, insane, and without concern for her own safety.
"I thought she was going fall from there," Cossack turned even paler. "And break every bone in her pretty little body."
As usual, old Cossack was squeamish. Surprisingly, I found myself to be a little squeamish at the thought of her, lying broken and lifeless…
I grimaced. Damn! What is happening to me? Why am I worrying about her welfare?
"Force the Princess to your bed, sire," Cossack advised. "You have been patient longer than most men in your place would be. Once you have feasted on her flesh, you can turn your mind to more important matters."
I glared at him. "Yes, like sending you to the coliseum to fight the robeasts," I said tersely.
Cossack flushed and looked away. "Forgive me, sire, I meant no disrespect. It is wrong of me to tell you what to do. I accept whatever punishment you deem proper."
I heaved a heavy sigh. "I don't have the time or the inclination of punishing you, Cossack. But you're right; I have given Princess Romelle ample time to accept her fate."
I used to think I understood women. In fact, I had flattered myself into believing I understood them very well. On the whole they were a simple gender, delighted by little tokens of affection and awed by a man's strength and bravery.
Father disagreed with me. He told me that women only acted amiably because I was a prince. He said that when women were on a manhunt, they acted like damsels in distress. After a man had been trapped - he claimed - they became bold and disrespectful. And that was the signal to get rid of them and find another.
But that didn't explain Romelle. She had not trapped me; on the contrary, she had fought tooth and nail to stay out of my bed. Was I so repulsive then? My concubines didn't think so.
When had the gentle Princess of Pollux changed so much?
I remembered her well, when I met her at the coliseum, all smiling grace and amiable goodness, obedient and mild… and somehow she has become a fiery termagant, just like Allura.
I pursued her relentlessly, listened to her yearning for her brothers and her castle, and then tried to seduce her. I had frightened the princess with my impetuous appetite, an appetite that had even taken me by surprise. If only I could have had her then, I now would have been glad for it.
She wouldn't have informed the Voltron Force about our plans regarding the Omega Comet. Instead, she would be in my arms, contented from my lovemaking, and, when I was done stroking her supple body, kissing her luscious mouth, suckling on those magnificent breasts, she would be looking forward to our next encounter.
I have never been particularly enthralled with the idea of marriage, until I met Allura. But with her out of my grasp, I decided to focus all my attention on Romelle. I knew that other men would consider my attitude toward her ridiculous. If a woman belonged to a man, and he desired her body, she gave it… or he took it. Yet from the beginning, I had not been able to force her.
My frustration at my own stupidity and constant taunting from my father makes my blood race, and deliberately I turned my mind away. She had been reckless and wayward, and she deserved what was coming to her. I should have suspected her plan, but… when had Romelle become the kind of woman who would climb down a tower to escape her destiny?
To escape me… Crowned Prince Lotor of Doom!
I looked up at her once again. But I'll show you… you will yield to me whether you want to or not. I have spent months dreaming of our coupling, and you will not deny me, Romelle. You will never deny me again!
"Take her back to her chambers," I told Cossack, "and tell the headmistress to treat her gently."
Six hours later, we landed on Planet Doom. I knew that Voltron wouldn't follow us; they just couldn't leave the people of Arus in the hour of need. As for Bandor, his cruiser wasn't in any condition for another long flight.
At this moment, I would prefer facing all of them than my father. I came this close to conquering Arus, but it appears that some higher entity protects that damned robot.
I rose from my command chair and rubbed a tight muscle in my neck. I looked up and saw that Romelle was still unconscious. She had become hysterical when we fled Arus, and I had ordered Hagar to silence her.
Cossack entered the bridge and stood beside me, his complexion blanched, his pupil-less eyes fixed on her. "The princess was mad," he uttered.
"More than mad," I retorted. She was crazy, insane, and without concern for her own safety.
"I thought she was going fall from there," Cossack turned even paler. "And break every bone in her pretty little body."
As usual, old Cossack was squeamish. Surprisingly, I found myself to be a little squeamish at the thought of her, lying broken and lifeless…
I grimaced. Damn! What is happening to me? Why am I worrying about her welfare?
"Force the Princess to your bed, sire," Cossack advised. "You have been patient longer than most men in your place would be. Once you have feasted on her flesh, you can turn your mind to more important matters."
I glared at him. "Yes, like sending you to the coliseum to fight the robeasts," I said tersely.
Cossack flushed and looked away. "Forgive me, sire, I meant no disrespect. It is wrong of me to tell you what to do. I accept whatever punishment you deem proper."
I heaved a heavy sigh. "I don't have the time or the inclination of punishing you, Cossack. But you're right; I have given Princess Romelle ample time to accept her fate."
I used to think I understood women. In fact, I had flattered myself into believing I understood them very well. On the whole they were a simple gender, delighted by little tokens of affection and awed by a man's strength and bravery.
Father disagreed with me. He told me that women only acted amiably because I was a prince. He said that when women were on a manhunt, they acted like damsels in distress. After a man had been trapped - he claimed - they became bold and disrespectful. And that was the signal to get rid of them and find another.
But that didn't explain Romelle. She had not trapped me; on the contrary, she had fought tooth and nail to stay out of my bed. Was I so repulsive then? My concubines didn't think so.
When had the gentle Princess of Pollux changed so much?
I remembered her well, when I met her at the coliseum, all smiling grace and amiable goodness, obedient and mild… and somehow she has become a fiery termagant, just like Allura.
I pursued her relentlessly, listened to her yearning for her brothers and her castle, and then tried to seduce her. I had frightened the princess with my impetuous appetite, an appetite that had even taken me by surprise. If only I could have had her then, I now would have been glad for it.
She wouldn't have informed the Voltron Force about our plans regarding the Omega Comet. Instead, she would be in my arms, contented from my lovemaking, and, when I was done stroking her supple body, kissing her luscious mouth, suckling on those magnificent breasts, she would be looking forward to our next encounter.
I have never been particularly enthralled with the idea of marriage, until I met Allura. But with her out of my grasp, I decided to focus all my attention on Romelle. I knew that other men would consider my attitude toward her ridiculous. If a woman belonged to a man, and he desired her body, she gave it… or he took it. Yet from the beginning, I had not been able to force her.
My frustration at my own stupidity and constant taunting from my father makes my blood race, and deliberately I turned my mind away. She had been reckless and wayward, and she deserved what was coming to her. I should have suspected her plan, but… when had Romelle become the kind of woman who would climb down a tower to escape her destiny?
To escape me… Crowned Prince Lotor of Doom!
I looked up at her once again. But I'll show you… you will yield to me whether you want to or not. I have spent months dreaming of our coupling, and you will not deny me, Romelle. You will never deny me again!
"Take her back to her chambers," I told Cossack, "and tell the headmistress to treat her gently."
January 5th, 2304
I opened my eyes. Blue gauze draperies surrounded me. Slowly I turned my head. I was lying naked upon a bed. I moaned softly and instantly a young blue face appeared before me. I gasped, trying to cover myself.
"Your Highness, I'm Betina. You must be thirsty." She braced my shoulders in a half-seated position and held a goblet to my lips. "Drink it slowly, Milady," she advised.
"It's a mixture of fruit juices," she told me, and she lay me back upon the bed.
"Where am I?"
"Prince Lotor ordered that you were brought back to your chambers. You are to be treated gently despite your behavior of the previous days." Her oval face wore a disapproving look.
"I couldn't convince him to leave me on Arus," I said defensively.
"Perhaps he has fallen in love with you, and doesn't want to lose you," she said timidly.
"That's ridiculous. He doesn't love me." I almost laughed at the thought. "This is only a game for him."
"I don't understand," the girl replied, looking puzzled.
"Don't worry; I don't understand it either."
"May I ask you a question?" Betina looked embarrassed, but continued when I nodded. "Is it true that you tried to kill Prince Lotor with a dagger on planet Neeva?"
"Yes, because he hurt my family and friends."
Her saffron eyes widened. "I did not believe Jakar, but now that you tell me, I must believe." Then she smiled. "You're very lucky that Lotor has decided to forgive you. You will be the envy of every girl in the harem."
Lucky! I had been kidnapped and tortured both physically and mentally. Was this girl so enamored of Lotor that she didn't see that he was an evil, cruel man?
"Is the Princess awake?" a melodious voice enquired.
I turned my head and saw the voice belonged to a very beautiful Terran woman with blond hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in an elegant dark blue gown, and there was an amused smile upon her face.
"I'm Rinah, the head mistress of Prince Lotor's harem. How are you feeling now?"
"Tired," I replied. "Weak. What's the matter with me?"
"The long voyage, the distress of battle, I fear," Rinah said quietly. "And I suspect you are in shock after being chained in the bridge. I don't imagine you were ever treated so harshly before, my child, were you?" The woman's face was genuinely concerned.
"Of course I have never been chained before," I answered indignantly, feeling the tears pricking sharply behind my eyelids. "I only learned about pain and suffering when I met Lotor."
The older woman reached out and squeezed my hand. "Let the tears come, my child. You will feel better afterwards."
"If I cry, you will think that I'm weak," I said stonily.
"I understand," she said calmly, "but when you're alone, cleanse your sorrow with your tears, my child. Are you hungry?"
"Y-yes."
"Betina will see that you are fed, and then she will take you to the baths," Rinah said, rising. "I will come back later when you have finished your meal."
After the meal I was taken to the baths. The domed room was constructed of white marble, its pillars of pale blue marble. In the center of the room was an oval pool directly beneath the dome. There were marble benches in varying heights set about. The room was warm and damp, and the air was scented with jasmine. Several women hurried forward, bowing politely to Rinah.
"You must prepare Her Highness properly for our master. She has been aboard ship for many days, and is in need of attention."
The bath attendants took me in their charge, and talked over the condition of my golden hair, admired my blue eyes, and then set to work.
Two women holding large sponges with a foamy soap washed me very thoroughly. When they finished, and I had been rinsed off a third time, another woman applied a topical band adhesive on my wrists and ankles to minimize the damage done by the chains, and treated the bruises on my knees with a clear gel that had a minty scent.
While they waited for the adhesive to work, my hair was thoroughly washed, and then toweled almost dry. Rinah lifted a handful of my curls admiringly, feeling its texture and thickness. "Your hair is your crowning glory, Your Highness."
"Does Lotor listen to you, Rinah?" I asked, as I was led into the bathing pool. "You must tell him that he can't keep me here any longer. I must return to my family."
She was quiet for a long moment, and then she said, "I cannot lie to you, my child. I once thought as you did. My heart was broken when Zarkon brought me here, and only when I accepted my fate I was able to be happy again. When the king took me aside, Prince Lotor put me in charge of his harem. He has been kind with me."
"Rinah, he's sending me to his harem, isn't he?"
"Princess, you are clever, and you're intelligent. You can win him over with those qualities if you will try."
"Win him over? Surely you can't be serious!"
"I do not believe the Prince has ever loved, which is why it is so easy for him to give his women away when he tires of them, and that is often, for they bore him. He trusts no woman entirely, not even me. If you displease him enough, he will ransom you, or if your anger him, he will give you to his soldiers. He has done it before."
I shuddered. "Lotor doesn't have a heart," I declared vehemently.
"Oh, he has a heart," Rinah said, "but it is buried deep within the ice of his soul. Someone must help him melt that ice, and I think that someone could be you, Princess Romelle of Pollux."
"You are asking too much of me, I won't surrender to Lotor."
She chuckled softly, and patted my cheek comfortably. "Come now, and let them give you a massage. You will feel better afterwards."
I stepped from the warmth of the pool to be dried with thick, fluffy warm towels. Then I lay down upon a bench, and the masseuses began to knead my body with fragrant oils, their strong fingers digging deep into my muscles, until I finally began to relax.
When the masseuses finished, I rose to be dressed. Rinah chose a blue silk gown, with a low neckline and short sleeves adorned with pink lace. Soft leather slippers covered in beaten gold were slipped upon my feet. My hair was brushed, and was fashioned again in a Roman style, with a thick braid as a headband, and the remainder falling down my back.
A slave brought the headmistress a jewel case, and the bath mistress chose a pair of gold pendants, which she carefully fixed in my earlobes.
"She's ready, Lady Rinah," the bath mistress said.
"She's lovely, Matina."
"Thank you, milady," she replied, beaming.
"Come, Your Highness," Rinah called me, and she led me back to my bedroom. "I will return for you when it is time."
"Time for what?" I said quickly, my nerves tightening again.
"Your Highness, surely you understand that Prince Lotor wishes your presence in his chambers this evening," she said, patting my hand.
I was horrified. For months I had defended myself against Lotor's advances, fearing that I would end up in his harem. But instead he had locked me in a dungeon, mocked my attempts to escape, and forced me to watch as he and his men took their pleasure on female slaves.
And tonight he would take me to his bed, and there was no turning back for me. I would never go home again. Never see my father, my brothers, or the castle.
I lay upon my bed and, closing my eyes, prayed that I could find a way to convince Lotor to relent and send me home in exchange for ransom.
I opened my eyes. Blue gauze draperies surrounded me. Slowly I turned my head. I was lying naked upon a bed. I moaned softly and instantly a young blue face appeared before me. I gasped, trying to cover myself.
"Your Highness, I'm Betina. You must be thirsty." She braced my shoulders in a half-seated position and held a goblet to my lips. "Drink it slowly, Milady," she advised.
"It's a mixture of fruit juices," she told me, and she lay me back upon the bed.
"Where am I?"
"Prince Lotor ordered that you were brought back to your chambers. You are to be treated gently despite your behavior of the previous days." Her oval face wore a disapproving look.
"I couldn't convince him to leave me on Arus," I said defensively.
"Perhaps he has fallen in love with you, and doesn't want to lose you," she said timidly.
"That's ridiculous. He doesn't love me." I almost laughed at the thought. "This is only a game for him."
"I don't understand," the girl replied, looking puzzled.
"Don't worry; I don't understand it either."
"May I ask you a question?" Betina looked embarrassed, but continued when I nodded. "Is it true that you tried to kill Prince Lotor with a dagger on planet Neeva?"
"Yes, because he hurt my family and friends."
Her saffron eyes widened. "I did not believe Jakar, but now that you tell me, I must believe." Then she smiled. "You're very lucky that Lotor has decided to forgive you. You will be the envy of every girl in the harem."
Lucky! I had been kidnapped and tortured both physically and mentally. Was this girl so enamored of Lotor that she didn't see that he was an evil, cruel man?
"Is the Princess awake?" a melodious voice enquired.
I turned my head and saw the voice belonged to a very beautiful Terran woman with blond hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in an elegant dark blue gown, and there was an amused smile upon her face.
"I'm Rinah, the head mistress of Prince Lotor's harem. How are you feeling now?"
"Tired," I replied. "Weak. What's the matter with me?"
"The long voyage, the distress of battle, I fear," Rinah said quietly. "And I suspect you are in shock after being chained in the bridge. I don't imagine you were ever treated so harshly before, my child, were you?" The woman's face was genuinely concerned.
"Of course I have never been chained before," I answered indignantly, feeling the tears pricking sharply behind my eyelids. "I only learned about pain and suffering when I met Lotor."
The older woman reached out and squeezed my hand. "Let the tears come, my child. You will feel better afterwards."
"If I cry, you will think that I'm weak," I said stonily.
"I understand," she said calmly, "but when you're alone, cleanse your sorrow with your tears, my child. Are you hungry?"
"Y-yes."
"Betina will see that you are fed, and then she will take you to the baths," Rinah said, rising. "I will come back later when you have finished your meal."
After the meal I was taken to the baths. The domed room was constructed of white marble, its pillars of pale blue marble. In the center of the room was an oval pool directly beneath the dome. There were marble benches in varying heights set about. The room was warm and damp, and the air was scented with jasmine. Several women hurried forward, bowing politely to Rinah.
"You must prepare Her Highness properly for our master. She has been aboard ship for many days, and is in need of attention."
The bath attendants took me in their charge, and talked over the condition of my golden hair, admired my blue eyes, and then set to work.
Two women holding large sponges with a foamy soap washed me very thoroughly. When they finished, and I had been rinsed off a third time, another woman applied a topical band adhesive on my wrists and ankles to minimize the damage done by the chains, and treated the bruises on my knees with a clear gel that had a minty scent.
While they waited for the adhesive to work, my hair was thoroughly washed, and then toweled almost dry. Rinah lifted a handful of my curls admiringly, feeling its texture and thickness. "Your hair is your crowning glory, Your Highness."
"Does Lotor listen to you, Rinah?" I asked, as I was led into the bathing pool. "You must tell him that he can't keep me here any longer. I must return to my family."
She was quiet for a long moment, and then she said, "I cannot lie to you, my child. I once thought as you did. My heart was broken when Zarkon brought me here, and only when I accepted my fate I was able to be happy again. When the king took me aside, Prince Lotor put me in charge of his harem. He has been kind with me."
"Rinah, he's sending me to his harem, isn't he?"
"Princess, you are clever, and you're intelligent. You can win him over with those qualities if you will try."
"Win him over? Surely you can't be serious!"
"I do not believe the Prince has ever loved, which is why it is so easy for him to give his women away when he tires of them, and that is often, for they bore him. He trusts no woman entirely, not even me. If you displease him enough, he will ransom you, or if your anger him, he will give you to his soldiers. He has done it before."
I shuddered. "Lotor doesn't have a heart," I declared vehemently.
"Oh, he has a heart," Rinah said, "but it is buried deep within the ice of his soul. Someone must help him melt that ice, and I think that someone could be you, Princess Romelle of Pollux."
"You are asking too much of me, I won't surrender to Lotor."
She chuckled softly, and patted my cheek comfortably. "Come now, and let them give you a massage. You will feel better afterwards."
I stepped from the warmth of the pool to be dried with thick, fluffy warm towels. Then I lay down upon a bench, and the masseuses began to knead my body with fragrant oils, their strong fingers digging deep into my muscles, until I finally began to relax.
When the masseuses finished, I rose to be dressed. Rinah chose a blue silk gown, with a low neckline and short sleeves adorned with pink lace. Soft leather slippers covered in beaten gold were slipped upon my feet. My hair was brushed, and was fashioned again in a Roman style, with a thick braid as a headband, and the remainder falling down my back.
A slave brought the headmistress a jewel case, and the bath mistress chose a pair of gold pendants, which she carefully fixed in my earlobes.
"She's ready, Lady Rinah," the bath mistress said.
"She's lovely, Matina."
"Thank you, milady," she replied, beaming.
"Come, Your Highness," Rinah called me, and she led me back to my bedroom. "I will return for you when it is time."
"Time for what?" I said quickly, my nerves tightening again.
"Your Highness, surely you understand that Prince Lotor wishes your presence in his chambers this evening," she said, patting my hand.
I was horrified. For months I had defended myself against Lotor's advances, fearing that I would end up in his harem. But instead he had locked me in a dungeon, mocked my attempts to escape, and forced me to watch as he and his men took their pleasure on female slaves.
And tonight he would take me to his bed, and there was no turning back for me. I would never go home again. Never see my father, my brothers, or the castle.
I lay upon my bed and, closing my eyes, prayed that I could find a way to convince Lotor to relent and send me home in exchange for ransom.
"Awaken, Your Highness. It is time."
I slowly opened my eyes when I heard Rinah's voice in my ear. I rolled back over to ask the older woman, "Time for what?"
"Time for you to go to Prince Lotor."
I was suddenly awake and completely alert. Tonight? After the way he treated me in the ship? My heart was beginning to pound with anxiety.
She gently pulled me from the bed. "There is nothing for you to be afraid of, milady," she soothed.
"I am not afraid," I protested, but in truth I was terrified. I was determined not show fear no matter what happened.
Rinah ignored me, brushing my hair and instructing me to rinse my mouth with mint water. She led from the rooms into a hallway at the end of which were two large steel doors that opened slightly, and she stood back for me to enter.
"Go in, Romelle. He's waiting for you."
"Oh, no," I said, shaking my head, "I'm not going in there."
She pushed me into the shadowy chamber, shutting the doors behind me. I immediately became aware of the tangy scent of sandalwood. I could see the tall columns with their pale gauze draperies. The floor beneath me was black marble. I noted the rich mahogany paneling and elegant furnishings, quite fitting for a prince.
"Come here."
I jumped at the voice, and saw Lotor, holding his arms across his broad chest as he leaned against the wall, with a smile across his lips. His feline eyes now appeared black in the dim light of the chamber, darker than I remembered.
"Are you thirsty?" he asked as he offered me a goblet that had been resting on a tray with fruit. I glanced warily at the goblet, then at Lotor.
"This is just red wine, I swear it." And to prove his words, he took a healthy sip before handing me the goblet. I accepted, drinking thirstily before handing it back to him. Lotor set the goblet on the tray.
I watched warily as he crossed the chamber, and sat onto a high-backed chair, one of two that stood about a wood circular table.
"Would you sit down?"
I shook my head imperceptibly.
He gaze drifted downward. "That gown becomes you," he murmured. "It matches your beautiful eyes."
"Why did you bring me here?" I finally said, forcing my voice into momentary calm.
"I thought you had grown tired of hanging from the ceiling."
Then he grinned, his white teeth contrasting with his azure face. "Perhaps you would like to rest," he said, pointing toward the far end of the bedchamber.
My eyes went to a large dais of carved wood, decorated in gold gilt, which harbored a huge mattress covered with black silk sheets. Five people could stretch out side by side easily. I was sure he had enjoyed multiple partners in it.
Well, I will not be one of them!
"It's rather impressive, isn't it? And very comfortable, I might add."
I waved away his words. "If you don't mind, I want to know the meaning of your senseless behavior."
"My behavior is never senseless, Romelle."
"Then why do you insist on keeping me here? Sooner or later, Bandor and the Voltron Force will come to my rescue."
The humor fell from his face, and he sat forward in his chair. His rugged features softened as his eyes rested intently upon my face. "You're not going back to Pollux, Romelle."
"Why?"
He shrugged his great shoulders leisurely. "Because you're going to be my wife."
I jerked back at his softly spoken words and stared at him in shock. "I don't believe you, Lotor. Give me a ship so I can go back home, I demand it!"
"You're in no position to make demands, my sweet."
"I hate you!"
He didn't appear concerned. "Someone said that there's a fine line between love and hate," he said cryptically. "Besides, I don't have to love you to sleep with you. I desire you. That is enough."
"Not for me! I would never enter a loveless marriage."
He looked at me from under his brow. "Not even for your planet?"
I shook my head at him in disbelief, unable to grasp the enormity of his words. "There's nothing you can do or say that will make me change my mind!"
"I shall say and *do* many things to you, Romelle, that will prove the contrary."
I slowly opened my eyes when I heard Rinah's voice in my ear. I rolled back over to ask the older woman, "Time for what?"
"Time for you to go to Prince Lotor."
I was suddenly awake and completely alert. Tonight? After the way he treated me in the ship? My heart was beginning to pound with anxiety.
She gently pulled me from the bed. "There is nothing for you to be afraid of, milady," she soothed.
"I am not afraid," I protested, but in truth I was terrified. I was determined not show fear no matter what happened.
Rinah ignored me, brushing my hair and instructing me to rinse my mouth with mint water. She led from the rooms into a hallway at the end of which were two large steel doors that opened slightly, and she stood back for me to enter.
"Go in, Romelle. He's waiting for you."
"Oh, no," I said, shaking my head, "I'm not going in there."
She pushed me into the shadowy chamber, shutting the doors behind me. I immediately became aware of the tangy scent of sandalwood. I could see the tall columns with their pale gauze draperies. The floor beneath me was black marble. I noted the rich mahogany paneling and elegant furnishings, quite fitting for a prince.
"Come here."
I jumped at the voice, and saw Lotor, holding his arms across his broad chest as he leaned against the wall, with a smile across his lips. His feline eyes now appeared black in the dim light of the chamber, darker than I remembered.
"Are you thirsty?" he asked as he offered me a goblet that had been resting on a tray with fruit. I glanced warily at the goblet, then at Lotor.
"This is just red wine, I swear it." And to prove his words, he took a healthy sip before handing me the goblet. I accepted, drinking thirstily before handing it back to him. Lotor set the goblet on the tray.
I watched warily as he crossed the chamber, and sat onto a high-backed chair, one of two that stood about a wood circular table.
"Would you sit down?"
I shook my head imperceptibly.
He gaze drifted downward. "That gown becomes you," he murmured. "It matches your beautiful eyes."
"Why did you bring me here?" I finally said, forcing my voice into momentary calm.
"I thought you had grown tired of hanging from the ceiling."
Then he grinned, his white teeth contrasting with his azure face. "Perhaps you would like to rest," he said, pointing toward the far end of the bedchamber.
My eyes went to a large dais of carved wood, decorated in gold gilt, which harbored a huge mattress covered with black silk sheets. Five people could stretch out side by side easily. I was sure he had enjoyed multiple partners in it.
Well, I will not be one of them!
"It's rather impressive, isn't it? And very comfortable, I might add."
I waved away his words. "If you don't mind, I want to know the meaning of your senseless behavior."
"My behavior is never senseless, Romelle."
"Then why do you insist on keeping me here? Sooner or later, Bandor and the Voltron Force will come to my rescue."
The humor fell from his face, and he sat forward in his chair. His rugged features softened as his eyes rested intently upon my face. "You're not going back to Pollux, Romelle."
"Why?"
He shrugged his great shoulders leisurely. "Because you're going to be my wife."
I jerked back at his softly spoken words and stared at him in shock. "I don't believe you, Lotor. Give me a ship so I can go back home, I demand it!"
"You're in no position to make demands, my sweet."
"I hate you!"
He didn't appear concerned. "Someone said that there's a fine line between love and hate," he said cryptically. "Besides, I don't have to love you to sleep with you. I desire you. That is enough."
"Not for me! I would never enter a loveless marriage."
He looked at me from under his brow. "Not even for your planet?"
I shook my head at him in disbelief, unable to grasp the enormity of his words. "There's nothing you can do or say that will make me change my mind!"
"I shall say and *do* many things to you, Romelle, that will prove the contrary."
I looked up and smiled, delighted at Romelle's spirit. She would not bend easily to obedience. But I was willing to overlook that flaw, for I was confident it was the only one she possessed. Only her eyes were what took me completely off guard. Now in her rancor they burned dark blue, glowering as she felt my perusal. But when her manner was calm her eyes were a soft blue, clear and bright as pools of water.
Yes, she would be a hard one to tame, but the prospect would surely be enjoyable.
In one swift moment, I tossed her over my shoulder, and she began to pound on my back and claw with her nails. I bore it, chuckling softly to myself. But when her feet kicked my groin, I stopped smiling and held those lethal weapons in a firm grip.
I strode to the bed and spilled Romelle unceremoniously onto it. There was a glimpse of long, slender legs before she scrambled up and leaped from the bed, dashing to the door.
I sat on the bed and regarded her in silence. I saw the stark fear on her face and suddenly regretted what I had to do. Better to get it over with quickly, I thought. I cleared my throat and said evenly, "As I said before, Romelle, I intend that you become my wife."
"You're mad!"
"And to make it easier for you, we will begin tonight in married intimacy."
"No!"
"Oh, yes."
"I will not let you. Damn you, you will not touch me!"
"Princess, listen to me. To allow you to continue your maiden state would be foolish, for it would encourage you to feed unfounded hopes and keep you all the longer away from me." I stretched my hand to her. "Come, my sweet, I will help you undress."
"No!" she yelled, her back pressed to the door. "You will not do this to me."
I could see she was terrified, her blue eyes gave her away, but her stance was pure defiance. I slid off the bed, curious as to how far she would challenge my authority over her.
I rose to my feet, coming toward her, and Romelle swung about, her fingers desperately pushing at the buttons on the control panel. She gasped as she felt me behind her, pressing my body lightly against hers. When I slammed my hand against the door by her head, she jumped in terror.
I laughed softly. "Don't be afraid," I said, pulling her hair aside, kissing the nape of her neck.
"Stop it," she managed to grate out, her face pressing against the steel door.
"I will not hurt you," I said, leaning around to nibble upon the delicate lobe of ear. "You will learn my touch and the feel of my flesh against yours."
She remained silent, but I could feel her body trembling. "You're a very disobedient little slave," I told her, my fingers playing with her curls.
"I'm not a slave," she said fiercely. "I'm a princess! You have no right to hold me!"
"You speak of what you were, Romelle, and not of who you are now. You are a spoil of war, and thus you have become my slave." I pushed my body hard against her, so that she could feel how aroused I was. "It is time you learned your place in my world. You are mine. Your sole purpose in life will be to please me."
"Never!"
I laughed at her defiance and nipped the back of her neck with my teeth. "I've had it with waiting," I said, pulling her into my arms. Her lips half-parted in surprise and her startled gasp was abruptly silenced when my mouth came down upon hers. I moved my hand behind her head, forcing her face to slant against mine, and my lips twisted across her mouth, seeking, demanding.
I wished that somewhere in the deepest, darkest recesses of her being, a small spark would ignite and flare upward, awaking her mind and body from their coldly held reserve, and fusing them in one whirling mass of sensation.
"You feel something for me, Romelle, I know you do."
To my surprise, she stopped struggling, and her arms crept upward around my back, and she took my kiss with sudden fierceness, parting her lips, clinging to me in sweet abandon.
"Oh Lotor, I need you."
I was not entirely certain I had heard right. Reaching out, I cupped her face between my hands and looked directly into her eyes. "Romelle?"
"I don't care what the others might think of me," she said huskily. "I want to be with you… completely."
I thought I was dreaming, but there was no pretense in the way her body responded to me. She craved what I could give her, and that was no lie.
"I shall kiss you and caress you until you beg me to relieve you from your virginity," I said thickly.
She blushed, and a tremor ran through her slender frame. "But please," she whispered, and then hid her gaze from mine. "Be patient with me. I had too much fruit juice before… that is… I need a few moments to get ready."
Sudden understanding dawned upon me, and I smiled down at her. "You have no idea, my beauty, how much I desire you," I said quietly, "but it is important to me that you're not fearful of what will transpire between us this night. Do you understand?"
She looked up at me, so vulnerable that it almost broke my heart… almost.
"Yes, Lotor."
"You have ten minutes, my love, no more."
"Thank you," she replied.
Yes, she would be a hard one to tame, but the prospect would surely be enjoyable.
In one swift moment, I tossed her over my shoulder, and she began to pound on my back and claw with her nails. I bore it, chuckling softly to myself. But when her feet kicked my groin, I stopped smiling and held those lethal weapons in a firm grip.
I strode to the bed and spilled Romelle unceremoniously onto it. There was a glimpse of long, slender legs before she scrambled up and leaped from the bed, dashing to the door.
I sat on the bed and regarded her in silence. I saw the stark fear on her face and suddenly regretted what I had to do. Better to get it over with quickly, I thought. I cleared my throat and said evenly, "As I said before, Romelle, I intend that you become my wife."
"You're mad!"
"And to make it easier for you, we will begin tonight in married intimacy."
"No!"
"Oh, yes."
"I will not let you. Damn you, you will not touch me!"
"Princess, listen to me. To allow you to continue your maiden state would be foolish, for it would encourage you to feed unfounded hopes and keep you all the longer away from me." I stretched my hand to her. "Come, my sweet, I will help you undress."
"No!" she yelled, her back pressed to the door. "You will not do this to me."
I could see she was terrified, her blue eyes gave her away, but her stance was pure defiance. I slid off the bed, curious as to how far she would challenge my authority over her.
I rose to my feet, coming toward her, and Romelle swung about, her fingers desperately pushing at the buttons on the control panel. She gasped as she felt me behind her, pressing my body lightly against hers. When I slammed my hand against the door by her head, she jumped in terror.
I laughed softly. "Don't be afraid," I said, pulling her hair aside, kissing the nape of her neck.
"Stop it," she managed to grate out, her face pressing against the steel door.
"I will not hurt you," I said, leaning around to nibble upon the delicate lobe of ear. "You will learn my touch and the feel of my flesh against yours."
She remained silent, but I could feel her body trembling. "You're a very disobedient little slave," I told her, my fingers playing with her curls.
"I'm not a slave," she said fiercely. "I'm a princess! You have no right to hold me!"
"You speak of what you were, Romelle, and not of who you are now. You are a spoil of war, and thus you have become my slave." I pushed my body hard against her, so that she could feel how aroused I was. "It is time you learned your place in my world. You are mine. Your sole purpose in life will be to please me."
"Never!"
I laughed at her defiance and nipped the back of her neck with my teeth. "I've had it with waiting," I said, pulling her into my arms. Her lips half-parted in surprise and her startled gasp was abruptly silenced when my mouth came down upon hers. I moved my hand behind her head, forcing her face to slant against mine, and my lips twisted across her mouth, seeking, demanding.
I wished that somewhere in the deepest, darkest recesses of her being, a small spark would ignite and flare upward, awaking her mind and body from their coldly held reserve, and fusing them in one whirling mass of sensation.
"You feel something for me, Romelle, I know you do."
To my surprise, she stopped struggling, and her arms crept upward around my back, and she took my kiss with sudden fierceness, parting her lips, clinging to me in sweet abandon.
"Oh Lotor, I need you."
I was not entirely certain I had heard right. Reaching out, I cupped her face between my hands and looked directly into her eyes. "Romelle?"
"I don't care what the others might think of me," she said huskily. "I want to be with you… completely."
I thought I was dreaming, but there was no pretense in the way her body responded to me. She craved what I could give her, and that was no lie.
"I shall kiss you and caress you until you beg me to relieve you from your virginity," I said thickly.
She blushed, and a tremor ran through her slender frame. "But please," she whispered, and then hid her gaze from mine. "Be patient with me. I had too much fruit juice before… that is… I need a few moments to get ready."
Sudden understanding dawned upon me, and I smiled down at her. "You have no idea, my beauty, how much I desire you," I said quietly, "but it is important to me that you're not fearful of what will transpire between us this night. Do you understand?"
She looked up at me, so vulnerable that it almost broke my heart… almost.
"Yes, Lotor."
"You have ten minutes, my love, no more."
"Thank you," she replied.
After taking care of my most immediate need, I stepped out of the bathroom and looked frantically at the clock. I only had seven minutes before Lotor would return to claim his prize.
I rushed to his desk and pulled open one drawer after another. Papers, charts, computer printouts; there appeared to be everything but the weapon I needed. I jerked at the bottom drawer and found to my surprise that it was locked.
I grabbed a hairpin from my hair and thrust it into the small lock. I muttered a frustrated oath, because time was quickly slipping away, before the lock sprang loose and the drawer slid open. My fingers curled about a small leather case; I pulled it open and saw to my delight a transmitter that I immediately put in a pocket hidden in the folds of my gown. I could get in touch with Allura and the Voltron Force again, provided I could escape from Lotor… but how could I do it? He didn't even have a letter opener or a pair of scissors.
I was on the point of rising when I saw a laser gun, half covered with a velvet cloth. I touched the shiny silver handle and drew it out. My jaw suddenly tightened. I was not familiar with Drule guns, but if Lotor tries to stop me, I will use it.
I was a new Romelle, no longer the docile daughter of a stern patriarch, or the terrorized victim of an evil prince. I was going to fight till the end.
I felt a light draft touch my face and looked up to see Lotor standing in the open doorway, the remnants of the smile on his face turning into a cold question.
"Just what the hell are you doing?"
I straightened to face him, my fingers curling about the pistol, and said curtly, "I am leaving."
"I don't think so, Romelle." He leaned against the doorframe, his arms across his chest. "Indeed, I believe it more likely that you will return that gun to its place." He added, "How fortunate that I opened the door so quietly. I had thought you were getting ready for our pleasure."
"Damn you, Lotor. I will not be your whore. Now step aside."
"My whore? You don't have enough experience to hold that position."
My body shook at the amusement in his voice. Slowly, deliberately, I raised the pistol and aimed it at him.
"I don't want to continue this conversation. You will now stand aside or I will shoot you."
Realizing that I would not be fooled by the conversational tone of his voice, his princely grace left him, for I saw the tensing of his body. "How enterprising you are, Princess. But also foolish, very foolish. Put the gun down."
"Go to hell, Lotor."
"Put it down, Romelle."
He walked toward me, his stride confidant, and his saffron eyes resting intently upon my face.
"Damn you," I cried, and pulled the trigger.
A deafening roar filled the chamber. Lotor grabbed his shoulder, the impact of the laser hurling him backward.
I rushed past him, through the door and along the corridor. I heard him shout my name, but I did not slow. When I reached the main hall, I forced myself to a walk. Guards were looking about with surprised faces at my presence. I paused for a moment, gauging the distance to the entrance of the castle.
"Halt!" Someone cried.
"Look what she's got!"
Mogor leapt forward, yanking away my only weapon of defense, and throwing me on the floor. "I'll let His Majesty decide what do with you," he growled. "To the dungeon!"
"Wait!"
I looked up and saw Lotor rubbing his bruised shoulder.
"Sire!" Mogor cried. "Are you seriously injured?"
He smirked. "Do not fear, my evil Mogor. I am only slightly grazed. Her aim was dreadful, but she has ripped my tunic."
Then he signaled to two of his startled guards. I was immediately pulled up and taken to where he stood.
"Look at me!" he commanded me, and when I did, he reached around me and fondled one of my buttocks. He put arm around me suddenly, and drew me back against him, cupping one of my breasts in his hand. "You shouldn't have done that, my love," he whispered in my ear, while his fingers caressed me. "Now I'll be forced to punish you."
"Let me go!"
"No, I will never let you go, you belong to me."
"I will die first," I replied grimly.
"Little fool," he growled low in his throat. "Do you think I will allow that to happen quickly? First I would give you to the guards for their pleasure, and they won't accept your feeble excuses. They will strip you naked, holding you down while they take their pleasure on you, again and again. You will be subject to every kind of perversion known to man, my little princess, and when they had finally destroyed your spirit and your beauty, you will die of disease or starvation. Is that what you really want?"
"No," I whispered, terrified.
"This situation can't continue. We're getting married next Saturday, and if I didn't have to go to planet Mora to appease my father, it would be sooner."
I shook my head. "I agree… we can't live like this anymore…but there isn't going to be any marriage. I don't love you."
"I don't want your love. I only want your complete surrender."
"No, I won't submit to you."
"Stop it, Romelle! You've been arguing with me for months. When are you going to admit that I know what's best for you?"
"Go to hell-"
He pulled me into his arms and lowered his head to kiss me. "Silly girl," he warned me, "I shall give you a lesson you will never forget." And grasping my arm, he dragged me down the corridor to the back entrance of the castle.
I rushed to his desk and pulled open one drawer after another. Papers, charts, computer printouts; there appeared to be everything but the weapon I needed. I jerked at the bottom drawer and found to my surprise that it was locked.
I grabbed a hairpin from my hair and thrust it into the small lock. I muttered a frustrated oath, because time was quickly slipping away, before the lock sprang loose and the drawer slid open. My fingers curled about a small leather case; I pulled it open and saw to my delight a transmitter that I immediately put in a pocket hidden in the folds of my gown. I could get in touch with Allura and the Voltron Force again, provided I could escape from Lotor… but how could I do it? He didn't even have a letter opener or a pair of scissors.
I was on the point of rising when I saw a laser gun, half covered with a velvet cloth. I touched the shiny silver handle and drew it out. My jaw suddenly tightened. I was not familiar with Drule guns, but if Lotor tries to stop me, I will use it.
I was a new Romelle, no longer the docile daughter of a stern patriarch, or the terrorized victim of an evil prince. I was going to fight till the end.
I felt a light draft touch my face and looked up to see Lotor standing in the open doorway, the remnants of the smile on his face turning into a cold question.
"Just what the hell are you doing?"
I straightened to face him, my fingers curling about the pistol, and said curtly, "I am leaving."
"I don't think so, Romelle." He leaned against the doorframe, his arms across his chest. "Indeed, I believe it more likely that you will return that gun to its place." He added, "How fortunate that I opened the door so quietly. I had thought you were getting ready for our pleasure."
"Damn you, Lotor. I will not be your whore. Now step aside."
"My whore? You don't have enough experience to hold that position."
My body shook at the amusement in his voice. Slowly, deliberately, I raised the pistol and aimed it at him.
"I don't want to continue this conversation. You will now stand aside or I will shoot you."
Realizing that I would not be fooled by the conversational tone of his voice, his princely grace left him, for I saw the tensing of his body. "How enterprising you are, Princess. But also foolish, very foolish. Put the gun down."
"Go to hell, Lotor."
"Put it down, Romelle."
He walked toward me, his stride confidant, and his saffron eyes resting intently upon my face.
"Damn you," I cried, and pulled the trigger.
A deafening roar filled the chamber. Lotor grabbed his shoulder, the impact of the laser hurling him backward.
I rushed past him, through the door and along the corridor. I heard him shout my name, but I did not slow. When I reached the main hall, I forced myself to a walk. Guards were looking about with surprised faces at my presence. I paused for a moment, gauging the distance to the entrance of the castle.
"Halt!" Someone cried.
"Look what she's got!"
Mogor leapt forward, yanking away my only weapon of defense, and throwing me on the floor. "I'll let His Majesty decide what do with you," he growled. "To the dungeon!"
"Wait!"
I looked up and saw Lotor rubbing his bruised shoulder.
"Sire!" Mogor cried. "Are you seriously injured?"
He smirked. "Do not fear, my evil Mogor. I am only slightly grazed. Her aim was dreadful, but she has ripped my tunic."
Then he signaled to two of his startled guards. I was immediately pulled up and taken to where he stood.
"Look at me!" he commanded me, and when I did, he reached around me and fondled one of my buttocks. He put arm around me suddenly, and drew me back against him, cupping one of my breasts in his hand. "You shouldn't have done that, my love," he whispered in my ear, while his fingers caressed me. "Now I'll be forced to punish you."
"Let me go!"
"No, I will never let you go, you belong to me."
"I will die first," I replied grimly.
"Little fool," he growled low in his throat. "Do you think I will allow that to happen quickly? First I would give you to the guards for their pleasure, and they won't accept your feeble excuses. They will strip you naked, holding you down while they take their pleasure on you, again and again. You will be subject to every kind of perversion known to man, my little princess, and when they had finally destroyed your spirit and your beauty, you will die of disease or starvation. Is that what you really want?"
"No," I whispered, terrified.
"This situation can't continue. We're getting married next Saturday, and if I didn't have to go to planet Mora to appease my father, it would be sooner."
I shook my head. "I agree… we can't live like this anymore…but there isn't going to be any marriage. I don't love you."
"I don't want your love. I only want your complete surrender."
"No, I won't submit to you."
"Stop it, Romelle! You've been arguing with me for months. When are you going to admit that I know what's best for you?"
"Go to hell-"
He pulled me into his arms and lowered his head to kiss me. "Silly girl," he warned me, "I shall give you a lesson you will never forget." And grasping my arm, he dragged me down the corridor to the back entrance of the castle.
At the rear of Doom Castle, the ground sloped sharply downward. Lotor and I walked beside a high wall followed by a firing squad, and the chill of the stone made me shiver. Finally I was led to a field covered with human remains; the smell was so foul, that my knees felt weak with the beginnings of pure terror.
A choking sound escaped from my throat as I realized where Lotor was taking me; the recurring nightmare I have had before coming to this planet was becoming a terrible and frightening reality.
I was going to be executed and then thrown into the Pit of Skulls.
I raised my gaze to Lotor, and felt myself chill as I saw the taut line of his jaw and the clenched fists.
"You can't put me down there."
"Of course I can," he said harshly. I clawed at his arm as he tried to drag me to a mount of skulls. He slapped me hard, and with a cry I fell over the skulls.
A choking sound escaped from my throat as I realized where Lotor was taking me; the recurring nightmare I have had before coming to this planet was becoming a terrible and frightening reality.
I was going to be executed and then thrown into the Pit of Skulls.
I raised my gaze to Lotor, and felt myself chill as I saw the taut line of his jaw and the clenched fists.
"You can't put me down there."
"Of course I can," he said harshly. I clawed at his arm as he tried to drag me to a mount of skulls. He slapped me hard, and with a cry I fell over the skulls.
Romelle wept, hands covering her face, shoulders trembling. My throat tightened, and every instinct made me want to go to her, but I would not. The deceitful bitch wept because I had been rough with her. But the evil gods help me, she had inflamed my senses.
The touch of her skin, the softness of her lips. They had all conspired to drive me to madness. She hated me, but I didn't care. Why should I care about how she felt? She had deceived me.
"You could have been my queen, but you sided with Voltron and the Alliance. This is your last chance to change your mind."
Slowly, she lowered her hands from her face and glared at me. Ahh, some spirit, I thought with relief. Come on, my sweet… tell me what I want to hear!
"Never! I'd rather die than share the disgrace of your throne."
"Fool! Do you know how many princesses would like to be my bride?" Then looking back, I shouted, "Soldiers! Prepare your stun guns!"
I turned on my heel and walked toward the firing squad. "I really didn't want you anyway," I told her venomously.
And I heard a soft gasp coming from her throat. Had she finally realized the seriousness of the situation?
I gave her sidelong glance, and feasted on those blue eyes filled with fear. "You didn't think I'd really do it, huh?" I said softly.
I whirled around and pointed at her. "Fire!"
She yelled and covered herself. The lasers hit the skulls around her piling on top of her as a shield.
"Into the pit!"
The laser blasts continued, and Romelle screamed as the ground beneath her opened and she fell into the pit.
I stood at the edge of the pit, looking down into the blackness and kicked a skull into it. This was all her fault. She shouldn't have tricked me. She was no different from other women. She was a liar, and a cheat. I will not be patient this time.
I will bring Princess Romelle to heel like the any wench in my harem. And I will never give her another opportunity to betray me. I will kill her first. And that thought gave me renewed strength.
I looked up and grinned at the firing squad. "Voltron ruined my plans to conquer Planet Arus," I stated. "Now I pay him back!"
The End.
07/30/2002
Revised 03/08/2015
The touch of her skin, the softness of her lips. They had all conspired to drive me to madness. She hated me, but I didn't care. Why should I care about how she felt? She had deceived me.
"You could have been my queen, but you sided with Voltron and the Alliance. This is your last chance to change your mind."
Slowly, she lowered her hands from her face and glared at me. Ahh, some spirit, I thought with relief. Come on, my sweet… tell me what I want to hear!
"Never! I'd rather die than share the disgrace of your throne."
"Fool! Do you know how many princesses would like to be my bride?" Then looking back, I shouted, "Soldiers! Prepare your stun guns!"
I turned on my heel and walked toward the firing squad. "I really didn't want you anyway," I told her venomously.
And I heard a soft gasp coming from her throat. Had she finally realized the seriousness of the situation?
I gave her sidelong glance, and feasted on those blue eyes filled with fear. "You didn't think I'd really do it, huh?" I said softly.
I whirled around and pointed at her. "Fire!"
She yelled and covered herself. The lasers hit the skulls around her piling on top of her as a shield.
"Into the pit!"
The laser blasts continued, and Romelle screamed as the ground beneath her opened and she fell into the pit.
I stood at the edge of the pit, looking down into the blackness and kicked a skull into it. This was all her fault. She shouldn't have tricked me. She was no different from other women. She was a liar, and a cheat. I will not be patient this time.
I will bring Princess Romelle to heel like the any wench in my harem. And I will never give her another opportunity to betray me. I will kill her first. And that thought gave me renewed strength.
I looked up and grinned at the firing squad. "Voltron ruined my plans to conquer Planet Arus," I stated. "Now I pay him back!"
The End.
07/30/2002
Revised 03/08/2015
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