Five
A few moments later, Zarkon heard the hobbling step of Hagar, and he knew his son was right behind her. He grinned and suddenly bent down and pulled Allura up in his lap. As Hagar came in, he kissed Allura full on the lips, already knowing that his son saw. Allura struggled, her gold chains rattling. She felt humiliated and she could feel Lotor and Hagar's eyes upon them. She wanted to die. Zarkon kept kissing her, his hands roaming her body. He was obviously enjoying it. He could feel the utter hate radiating from his son and the jealousy from Hagar.
After a few moments, he stopped, breathing heavily. Gods, she was exciting! He gazed down at her face - red with anger and humiliation - and laughed. Still keeping her on his lap, he faced his audience.
He said, "Ah, Hagar. I see you've brought my son!" Zarkon inclined his head mockingly and said, "Welcome home, my son.." He smiled maliciously and said, "How do you like my new slave? Is she not exquisite?"
As he said this, his hand slid up the silk of Allura's dress from her thigh to her waist. He chuckled, glancing at the rage that emanated from his son.
He said evily, "I find that I have become rather fond of her - she is..most persuasive in the arts of love..oh how callous of me! You wouldn't know that, would you?"
Lotor stood there frozen - unable to move because of Hagar's spell. He saw the stricken look on Allura's face and knew his father was lying about having been with her. However, from the way his father was touching her, his intent was clear. He would do it soon. He knew his father well.
He wanted to snatch her away from that monster and kill him outright. His father knew that. He was a fool for coming here like this, but where Allura was concerned, he would risk all. There had to be a way - there just had to be a way out of this. If there was a way, he would kill his father for all the things he had done to the ones he loved - his mother and Allura. they were the only ones he had ever loved in his life. He had lost his mother to him, he'd be damned if he lose Allura!
Zarkon continued to gaze down upon the immobile form of his son. He smirked. He was helpless under Hagar's spell.
Zarkon said benevolently, "Hagar, you have done well, witch. You shall be rewarded.."
Hagar's eyes lit up. "Then Arus is mine!"
Zarkon said, "Hmm..I did promise you that, didn't I? Be patient, Hagar. I must attend to much business before I allow you to be Queen of Arus.."
Zarkon felt Allura stiffen beside him. He chuckled, "Don't worry, my dear! Perhaps if you please me well, I will make you Queen of Doom - wouldn't that be nice?"
Zarkon caressed her shoulders with his cold hands, knowing full well all were watching. Hagar's eyes narrowed in jealousy. Queen of Doom! He promised her that long ago! How dare he! Surely he was joking..
"Allow my freakish son to speak, Hagar!"
The witch turned and gestured with her wrist. Suddenly, Lotor felt his face unfreeze. He could move his mouth now.
He ground out, "I will kill you!"
Zarkon laughed and said, "Yes, I'm sure you will, whelp! Pity you couldn't stop me, Lotor! You thought you could regain my Empire, but you lost, boy! I have always been superior to you, Lotor - in all ways. Now you are trapped - no escape! Your men have either been slaughtered or they have decided to work for me! Your planets have surrendered. You have nothing, Lotor.."
Zarkon looked at Lotor evily and said, "But you don't really care about that, do you, Lotor?" Zarkon bent Allura's head back and grasped her by the neck. He said, "She is the one you care for, isn't it? Your great love!" Zarkon caressed her neck with his cold hand and said, "Would you love her if her face were slashed to ribbons? Hmm? No. It would be a shame to mar such lovliness.."
Lotor's mouth tightened in rage and he said, "You will pay for mauling her as you freely do, you lecherous old man!"
Zarkon laughed and said, "Lecherous? Me? The philantropist of the Galaxy?" His hand went into Allura's hair and said, "Well, perhaps you are right on that part, my fool son. But as for the old man part - I think you underestimate me considerably! As for paying - she will pay quite nicely."
Allura's eyes closed. He was torturing them both. She could just imagine Lotor's face, angry, worried, murder in his eyes. For once, she understood the rage that went through him, and she could understand how he became the man he had become. It was a miracle that he could love at all.
As Zarkon continued to caress her neck with his hand, Allura whispered, "End this, Zarkon. Kill us. You'll do it anyway.."
Zarkon's eyes glittered and he said, "What? A request, my dear? You want this to end? You want me to stop?" His hand jerked her hair hard and he said, "Open your eyes, damn you!" She did and he said, "I won't stop, Allura. I won't stop until all have paid their respects to me. I won't be hasty in my killing, dear."
He kissed her - a mockingly gentle kiss. Allura couldn't repress a sob as he did so. Zarkon could feel the vibes of despair within the room. Hagar's seething jealousy. Lotor's killing rage and Allura's despair. He gloried in this. In fact, he seemed to be the only happy one in the room.
Zarkon glanced at Hagar and said, "You, Hagar, will take my son and keep him immobile for the moment. Place him in your lab.."
Hagar's brows lifted. She said, "You are not going to do as you planned, sire?" He said, "No, old witch. I think I will have some fun with my fool son before he dies a most humiliating death..."
He glanced at Lotor, who kept trying to move despite the spell. "You, my deformed son, will stay alive a while longer.." He grinned. "Don't worry about Allura, Lotor. I will take very good care of her.."
Lotor's face twisted in hate and he spat. "I will get free, father, and when I do, I will watch your face show utter fear as I choke the life out of you! And before I do that, I will geld you!"
Zarkon laughed and said, "Perhaps it will be the other way around, fool!" To hurt him further, he spat, "She didn't love you when you were hail and handsome, Lotor..she would never love you now! Take him, witch, before I change my mind.." He saw the disgruntled look on Hagar's face and added, "One word, Hagar..remember? One word and you are through!"
Hagar nodded her head and led Lotor out without another word. He could hear Lotor yelling, "I will kill you yet!"
Zarkon yelled back, "Shut him up, Hagar!"
Allura bit her lip. Except for the guards they were alone in the throne room. Zarkon removed his hand from her neck. He brought her face up to his.
He said with a smile. "Now, my dear. we're going to see some more entertainment and some new slaves I have aquired..perhaps you will see more friends of yours. Coran, perhaps."
She gasped, "No, please.." He touched her chin with his hand. "You're so amusing, Allura! I do so love it when you plead..it is like music to my ears.Consider yourself fortunate, dear that I don't subject you to the same treatment as the others I have brought in! You are going to watch and you are going to pay attention, dear. Remember, you're on Doom now!"
He laughed as a tear rolled down her cheek.
...As if he had to remind her...