The Middle Kingdom - Eight
Lotor arrived on Yesarus unexpectly, sending the officers there into another frenzy. Lotor found out through one of them that his father was here. He nearly left when something told him he had better stay. He had overheard one the officers talking about an exceptionally beautiful woman who had been taken as a slave here. Lotor listened attentively when suddenly he saw someone familar - someone he wouldn't have expected here - Pidge!The boy was on a stretcher headed for the slave quarters.
He stopped the guards carrying the unconscious boy and barked, "Where are you taking this slave?"
One of the guards said, "Prince Lotor, we are taking him to the slave quarters."
Lotor snapped, "I know that! What is his destination afterwards?"
The guard replied, "Doom, my lord. He is to be in the Games."
Lotor suspected as much, but he needed to know if he was with anyone else here. If she was here -
He said, "Was this slave with anyone when he was captured?"
The guard on the other end of the stretcher said, "I was there when they were captured, my lord. He was with a beautiful woman.."
Lotor blanched. He said, "Describe her!"
The guard said, "She has golden hair, blue eyes - a very comely woman.."
Lotor felt sick. Allura a slave! Why she could be with the officers!
He said quickly, "Where was this woman taken?"
He swore he'd rip the officer's head off that took her!
The guard said nervously, "Your father selected her for the evening, my lord. "
Lotor paled again. His father! His eyes narrowed. He would kill him! Then he thought that that would not be a good idea. If his father knew he was here, that would be the first thing he'd expect from him. His father was smart that way. He had to get her out of here, but how without anyone knowing? He glanced at the unconscious Pidge and smirked. Perhaps this boy could be of use - perhaps the rebels on this planet too. They hadn't as easily defeated as his father thought. The more planets that left his father's Empire, the weaker his father would be. More and more planets were following him, not his father. But that was not the main problem right now. He had to get Allura out of here before his father defiled her! He barked an order at the guards to take Pidge to his ship. The guards obeyed, fearful of his temper. He also warned them not to let his father know or they would be shipped to the Tyrellian mines. They knew he'd do it, too. As Pidge was loaded onto his ship, Lotor's mind formed a plan..
She sat upon a cushioned chair, not speaking. She was tense - not wanting to be here, facing her father's murderer who walked around her, gloating. Her arm still hurt where he had grasped it. She knew that it would probably sport a bruise tommorrow..that is, if she lived tommorrow.
Finally Zarkon spoke. "Well, princess, It looks like I have the upper hand, eh?"
Allura glared at him and he simply laughed. He took his hand and chucked her on the chin. "You don't like that, do you, little rebel?"
Allura wanted to bite his hand off! Zarkon roughly jerked her chin. He said, "Answer me!"
Allura said, "No."
Zarkon slapped her face ruthlessly. He yelled, "You are stubborn!" Then he smirked, "I can rid you of that soon enough.."
Allura felt blood upon her lip from the force of his blow. She said, "Do what you want, Zarkon! My friends - my planet will never surrender to you!"
Zarkon laughed heartily. "Surely, princess, you are tired of spouting that tired retoric?"
Suddenly, he grabbed her waist and jerked her out of the chair. Allura fought him and Zarkon flung her to the floor hard. He towered above her.
He yelled, "Your friends will surrender! Voltron will be no more!"
Allura scooted away from him, fear in her eyes. She had never feared someone as she had feared him. Even with Lotor there was a sense of mercy about him, but not this fiend.
Zarkon stalked her, his eyes filled with anger. "I now have you where I want you! You are a fool, Princess Allura! You should have married my son while you had the chance!"
He came closer and Allura yelled, "I won't be forced to marry! Not by you, not your son!"
Zarkon bent and grabbed her arms, jerking her up to him. His breath was hot in her face as he yelled, "You are my property! You better watch your tongue, wench!"
Allura flung her head defiantly and said, "You'll never own me - or my planet! We will always fight you! I don't care if you kill me - it doesn't matter. They'll go on and keep fighting you!"
Zarkon was in a rage. He wanted nothing more than to throttle the life out of her! But she was of use to him - if he killed her outright, her martyrdom would fuel the fires of rebellion even more. No. He needed to keep her alive. He needed to be in control. Suddenly, an idea came to him. He knew how he could gain control of her - it worked before..
Allura expected Zarkon to lash out at her again. She didn't care. He was a bully and she wouldn't willingly surrender to his bullying ways. She forced herself to look at him, even though he repelled her. She would not cower in front of him. Before her eyes, his face changed from a face of rage to a calculating one. She wondered what he was up to...
Zarkon loosened his grip on her arms a little and said quietly, "It seems that lately I have been rather neglectful of my physical well-being..trying to defeat Voltron has taken most of my time."
Allura said nothing. Zarkon smiled and said, "What, my dear? You don't care? I am hurt!"
He took his hand and brought it up to her face, gently caressing it. He could see the look of fear and disgust on her face as realization sunk in. He decided to press his point. His other hand encircled her waist. Allura struggled against him, her eyes wide and fearful.
He said, "Ah, you know my meaning then, my slave?" He chuckled, "A slave must anticipate her master's needs!"
He knew this would get a rise out of her.
She spat, "You're a fiend!"
He brought his face close to hers and said, "Before I am though with you, you will change your mind about me, Princess!"
He kissed her ruthlessly and was gratified to see her fear.He was tempted to just simply take her now, but he would let her think awhile - let her fear magnify. By the time he returned, she would surrender to him. Of course it wouldn't matter if she did or not. He would still have pleasure out of it. Why not? He flung her away from him, causing her to stumble back.
He said, "I have some business to attend to, my dear. You will await my return and then we shall pick up where we left off."
He had to leave her with one parting shot. "Perhaps if you please me, I will give you to Lotor anyway. He won't mind if I teach you some things first.."
Zarkon saw the look of fear, loathing and indignation on her face and laughed. He was in a good mood now for he had the Voltron Force and the Alliance where he wanted them! He left and locked the door behind without another word to his captive..
Lotor was in the small palace that his father was in. Avoiding the guards, he made it inside. Neither he nor his father came here often, but he knew where their chambers were. Lotor's mind was in torment, just imagining her in his father's arms, her face terrified. He knew she loathed his father. He hoped he got there before it was too late.
He rounded a corner when suddenly, he saw his father! Ducking behind a niche in the wall, Lotor waited unitl his father passed by. He noticed that his father still wore his royal attire, which encouraged him. Perhaps he hadn't ! Lotor frowned. There was no telling what his father had done to her. Lotor knew that if his father had harmed her in any way, he would personally kill him. Lotor made his way to where his father's chambers was. He tried the door, locked, of course - but Lotor had copies of the keys made. He placed the key in the lock and unlocked the door...
When Zarkon finally left, Allura nearly collasped. Her nerves were raw, on edge. She had to get out of here! She would go mad if he attempted to touch her intimately! She shuddered. She tried the doors, locked, of course. Allura looked about the room for some other escape route - there was none.Suddenly she heard the sound of a key in the door, and her heart leaped in fear. Perhaps he changed his mind! No! She would die first! Allura searched for a weapon to use against him. She would fight before giving in to his desires! She grabbed a vase and poised herself by the door. As the door opened, her hands came down with the vase. Her eyes were closed as she concentrated. Her aim was suddenly blocked by two strong hands gripping her wrists painfully. She dropped the vase on the floor and screamed as two lips came down on hers and muffled her scream. She was forced back into the room and she heard the door being kicked shut. The momentum of her being forced backwards caused her to stumble onto a soft couch. A hard body fell upon her and she gasped as she was kissed again. There was something familar about that kiss..She opened her eyes - it was Lotor!
Allura said, "Let me go!"
Lotor's eyes were blazing with anger. He said, "Did my father hurt you?" He saw her cut lip. He shook her angrily.
"Did that bastard touch you? Did he?"
Allura had never seen him so angry!
She said, "No! Now let go of me!" Lotor let go of her wrists and got up off of her. Before she could get up herself, he scooped her up in his arms.
Allura said, "Lotor! Put me down!" He ignored her, walking towards the door. Allura said again, "Put me down!"
Lotor's face was still angry as he said, "No! I won't! I'm getting you out of here!" He looked down at her and said, "Or maybe you'd rather wait for my father's return!"
Allura was silent. He knew that that would quiet her. He walked out the door with her in his arms without protest.They had made it to his ship without incident.
As they were in the ship, Lotor carried Allura to the back where a small cot lay. Sensing his intent, she snapped, "No! I'm grateful that you rescued me - but not that grateful! Put me down!"
Lotor smirked. "Well, we certainly are suspious, aren't we, my beloved? No although I would not mind a show of gratitude from you, I wish to show you something.."
Still not releasing her, he carried her to the other side of a partition where another cot was.
She saw the small figure upon the cot and said, "Pidge!" She turned to Lotor and said, "You - "
Lotor smirked, "Yes, I rescued him - for your sake, my beloved.." Allura's eyes narrowed. Somehow that didn't ring true.
She said, "I don't believe you, Lotor!" Lotor laughed and said, "But I did, my sweet! He is here to ensure your compliance!"
He set her down and she went to Pidge without another word to him, obviously angry at him. Lotor shugged. She would get over it. For now, he would have to get them out of here before his father found out and before the rebels attacked the compound again. He went to the cockpit and fired up his engines. As the ship became airborne, Lotor chuckled. Surely now she had to see that only he could protect her from his father. Surely now she would be grateful to him once she got over her mood. He would check on her in awhile. Lotor smiled in anticipation. Soon she would be his!!
King Zarkon strolled back to his chambers. He was more calm now than he was when he left. He smiled, his eyes glinting with anticipation. Surely by now, the princess was quaking with fear. If she wasn't, then he would retify the situitation very quickly. All in all, it would be a very pleasant evening for him. It wasn't often he had the company of a beautiful woman in his chambers as of late. His obsession with defeating Voltron had taken all his time, and if one had to look at Hagar all the time - well, it was to be as expected that a man wouldn't feel much in the way of his carnal nature. Yes, he had to admit, he anticipated this evening. It would be good for him and she would learn obedience by his hand...he would break that rebellious spirit of hers.
He unlocked the doors and went inside. He scanned the room. Where was she? He smirked. No doubt she was hiding from him. Well it didn't matter where she hid. He would simply take her there and she would know better than to thwart him again. He went into all the rooms in his suite, and when he came out into the main room again, his face was dark with anger! She escaped! The audacity of the girl! How dare she? He grimaced. He was sure she hadn't gotten very far! Zarkon was just about to contact the guards, when claxxons about the compound blared.
Zarkon yelled, "What the hell -- ?"
He banged the comm console in the room. "What is the meaning of this?"
A obviously frightened voice said, "Sire! The Voltron Force is here! And the new slaves are revolting!"
Zarkon snarled, "Damn them!" He yelled into the comm, "Princess Allura's escaped! You have her description! When she is found, bring her to me and inform the Voltron Force when you do!"
As an afterthought, he said, "And the pilot of Green Lion! Bring him from the slave quarters!"
The voice on the other end said, "Sire, he is not there! He is - uh- missing!!"
Zarkon roared with complete and utter rage. "What!! Someone's going to suffer today for this - I promise! Activate the defense systems! Blast those lions out of the sky!! And it better be done or I will see your head on a pike!!"
The voice on the other end said, "Yes, sire!!" And Zarkon cut the comm out.
He had better take precautions and get out of here back to Doom. The Voltron Force as of late, seemed to have extrordinarily good luck in defeating his forces. Perhaps they had magic behind them. Zarkon cursed the fact that he had no roebeast here to attack the Lions and the princess escaping was worse luck! More than likely, her friends had her now. It didn't matter. This planet was a dustball, anyway. He would go back to Doom and go on with his plans to disrupt the Alliance conference on Arus. One day - one day he would be the victor - and the ones who lost to him would pay dearly...