Taimet
#3 of Kaido and Taimet
The sound of splintering bone echoed through the War Ring, almost unheard over the roar of the crowd. Kaus slammed blow after blow into his lizard-opponent, his massive paws hitting like hammers. Each impact drove the victim backwards, and the final uppercut smashed teeth from his jaw, sending him flying off the Fight Deck and into the crowd.
Kaus raised his fists, and roared in victory. He was a snow-tiger, easily seven feet tall, his naked body rippling with bulging muscle, caked in blood and sweat... almost all of the former belonged to other people. His face bore three distinctive scars, earned from a red-fight back when he was a pit-slave. He scanned the crowd, hunting a new opponent amongst those chanting his name in the dark.
"Is there no-one who will challenge me!?" Kaus bellowed into the hall, causing a heavy silence to fall. All eyes fell upon the warrior, unwilling to step up and accept after seeing the pounding he gave to the Reptile, now being helped to the apothecary halls by his companions. Not a single sound could be heard...
...except the clink of a glass on the bar.
Valkys knocked back the shot, and asked the barman for another. He was an Evacian; a draconic species. His scales were the colour of polished steel, naked to the waist to allow his leathery wings freedom of movement. His jeans were a faded blue, the left leg of which was torn off at the knee. His hands and feet ended in talon digits, complimenting the dagger-teeth that filled his mouth. He was a fierce character by anyone's standards.
"Hey! Lizard!" Kaus boomed, "Fancy getting your teeth knocked out!?"
Valkys downed the shot, rising with deliberate slowness. He turned with almost feminine grace, locking his emerald eyes on the snow-tiger, and flashing him a razor-smile. "I'm game."
The crowd parted, allowing the Evacian to approach the stage. Most jeered him, placing bets in anticipation of his failure. Only a handful, a female Renamon amongst them, seemed willing to support him.
He stepped up, unheeding of the noise of the crowd, and stood casually, facing his opponent. It is clear to all that Kaus is at least a head taller, and much larger in build.
Kaus grinned, flexing his muscles and taking up a fighting stance, "Good thing you aren't pretty," he purred with silken arrogance, "because you sure won't be after this!"
A meaty fist slammed into the Evacian's skull, and two more hits pounded his ribs. Valkys staggered, then straightened up again, fixing the puzzled tiger with an emotionless stare.
"Is it my turn to hit you now?" Valkys asked, his voice crystal clear in the silence. Those who knew about the Evacian race were laughing to each other, many of which having placed considerable bets the moment Kaus set the challenge.
The draconic fighter lunged forward, fist pulled back to strike. His muscles were far stronger than his lithe frame would suggest, and the first blow landed with rib-cracking force. His left hook followed a heartbeat later, fracturing the tiger's skull and toppling him. Valkys planted a brutal kick into the tiger's spine, and turned his back on the ruined tiger. The crowd began to roar, their bloodlust briefly slated by the display.
Valkys dropped off the deck, and was welcomed by Taimet's warm smile, "You let him live? You're going soft in your old age," she grinned, falling into step beside him.
"He is a loud, brash, moronic sack of meat... but that's no reason to kill him. How much did you win?"
"Two thousand," she purred, rolling the words around her mouth like a fine wine.
"We'd best not gamble here again,"
"It's getting hard anywhere," she shrugged as the pair approached the door to the street, "word of your people is spreading fast amongst the blood-hungry."
"Shame, it's a good way to earn money."
Taimet handed him a bag of coins, "here's your share."
The two wandered together in silence for a few minutes, their footsteps taking them from the dark, autumn-coloured buildings of the Battle District and down towards the Cirque. Happy, flowing music echoed from behind a row of brightly coloured tents, and the smell of sweetmeats teased them from nearby stalls. One or two performers wandered the quiet street, performing their simple routines for passers by. Neither Taimet nor Valkys paid them any mind.
Taimet enjoyed the silence Valkys carried. The draconic male had a way of speaking without words... the way he looked, the way he held himself, the way he breathed... many a time Valkys had made others cower with just a glance. Taimet found it soothing; as if his silence drove away her concerns. It gave her time to think.
The pair used the Mime's Bridge to cross into the Commerica of Evernight, winding through the vast market towards the western side of the public square. She stopped short of a large iron door, bearing the heraldic seal of the full moon, a silver rose before it in the foreground.
"We have new stock," she said casually, nodding to the door, "your welcome to join us if you need a job."
Valkys nodded, "I'd be happy to."
Taimet offered him a hand, which he accepted and shook, "Welcome aboard, now let's go see the stock."
The cages bore their own distinctive aura. The sound of pain and fear echoed throughout the chamber, and the musk of fear and waste was almost hypnotic for Taimet. Whilst she would never openly admit it, she loved the feeling of power and control being a slaver gave her. She scanned the room, and couldn't help but smile as one of the slaves, a recently-captured one by the look of things, was receiving a harsh whipping. The anthro-skunk yelped and wailed as the whip left large, bloody welts across his back, rump and legs.
All eyes were locked on the scene, every frightened slave staring in mute fear. None noticed the Renamon or her Evacian companion, as they approached the feline slaver and his victim.
"Ah, Jaex," Taimet grinned at the scarred feline, "what did the little fellow do to deserve your loving attentions?" her voice dripped like honey from her lips. The slave whimpered, crying softly from the beating, and squirming as Taimet's claw ran along his chin and neck.
"Did?" Jaex purred, "he didn't 'do' anything... I was just bored."
Taimet gave a friendly smile, and slammed a kick into Jaex's crotch. The slaver wailed, and went flat onto his back as a left jab pounded into his nose.
"This slave is my property," Taimet's voice came out in a low, menacing growl. Her heart was pounding, blood-lust swelling in her, "you damage my property, and I damage you. Understood?"
The anthro-cat wiped his bloody nose, staining his jet-black fur dark crimson, and nodded. He could feel the slaves staring at him, mocking him, but he knew better than to push his luck, or he could easily wind up amongst the stock.
Whilst Taimet dealt with the sadist slaver, Valkys hauled the skunk to his feet. The skunk was dragged back to his cage, though not unkindly, and left to sob on the straw.
With the floor show over, Taimet addressed her charges. "My name is Taimet, although it is not a name you will have the privilege of saying very often." She strolled slowly down the cages, meeting the eyes of each slave in turn. All looked away.
"I am the Slave Master here, and that makes you mine. As you are now aware, that grants you some benefits... you are entitled to my protection so long as you are mine. However, you are also mine to do with as I will... if I wish to break you, I can... and I will."
She turned, walking back along the line to view the opposite row. Her eyes met with those of a freshly caught human. He met her gaze with defiance, and the blood-lust filled her again. Time to make an example of him.
"Valkys," she purred, "beat this slave into oblivion."
The bravery vanished instantly, replaced by panic and fear as the Evacian hauled him from the cage. The captive audience winced, sobbed and whimpered as merciless blows pounded the human without mercy. Taimet watched, her desire for violence ebbing slowly with every impact. By the time the slave passed out, she felt a slight pang of guilt.
"...thank you, Valkys." She flashed him a quick smile, "now get him patched up. We can't sell him if he's dead."
Taimet let the sound of footsteps fade, before finishing her pep-talk. "Perhaps that little performance has driven home your place in life... you are here to serve, to obey, and to satisfy the every desire of your Masters... and you will learn how whilst under my care. I can teach you through pleasure, or through pain." She gave the word 'pain' extra emphasis, "which you receive shall depend on you."
Her footpaws hushed across the stone floor, nails clicking as she strode to the door she entered by earlier.
"I'll let you all sleep on that thought... lights!"
The room was plunged into darkness. The dungeon was windowless, filled with pure black void that could house any number of terrors for a helpless, naked slave... especially after seeing such brutality played out right before them. Taimet was sure many would not be sleeping tonight.
The cage-born chamber was much more inviting than the holding cells. Although the room was all but identical, it lacked the aura of fear that was a near-permanent feature of the cages holding captives. The slaves who met her gaze now were born and raised within the walls of the Slaver Hall. She took great pride in them, and made a point of visiting them regularly.
Of the twenty cages in the room, only a handful were currently occupied. Most of the slaves would be elsewhere, performing the day to day tasks needed to keep the Hall running smoothly. Three of the cages contained younger slaves, none older than ten years, who slept soundly on their straw bedding. The slave that caught Taimet's attention was currently resting with his back to the cage door, eyes locked on the sparking dream-mist in front of him.
He was seventeen years of age, canine in form, and covered head to toe in fire-red fur. Dream Weavers always had unusual colourings, but a red-furred wolf was rare indeed. He had been named Red, by a slaver with far less imagination, and a much weaker sense of humour than Taimet. His tail flickered back and forth across the floor like a flame, and Taimet watched its motions, letting her eyes wander up his well-built frame, his body kept in better condition than might be expected for a slave. He was a good head taller than most anthro-wolves.
Taimet squatted down behind him, staring into the sparkling mist. It took Red a moment to realise she was there. He jumped to his feet, fading his Dream quickly and turning to face the Renamon, who laughed at his start.
"Relax, I was just curious."
Red grinned, scratching behind his ear. Taimet knew him enough to know it meant he didn't want to talk about what he was up to. She sometimes wondered if he knew he did it.
"So what were you working on?"
Scratch-scratch, "nothing... it's a present... for Aya," he confessed under the gaze of his owner.
Taimet gave him an understanding smile, "you really like her."
Red glanced to the first cage on the opposite row, holding onto the bars and letting himself hang sideways to provide a better view of the empty cage. "She's all I think about..."
"Well let it stay as thinking," Taimet interrupted, a little harsher than she had intended, "being sixteen and still virgin is quite a feat for a girl as attractive as her, and I plan to keep her that way. It'll make her more valuable."
Red nodded, pulling himself upright again, then squatting down, stirring the straw beneath his footpaws, "...I know, Master, I'll leave her be..." the sadness in his voice made Taimet feel sorry for the young male, and she gently tickled under his chin, causing a pleasured murr to rise from Red's throat.
"Oh, you like that?"
He chuckled, "hate it, but I've learned to put up with it."
Taimet smiled, knowing only a cage-born would dare such a frank response. She ceased her caress, "I'll lock the young ones in. If they need anything-"
"-I'll take care of them," Red finished, nodding, "they're never much trouble, although you know what Tabs is like when he wants attention."
"He'll have to learn to stop making a fuss, or else I'll start giving him something to cry about."
Red imagined the feline boy getting his rear swatted, and couldn't help but chuckle, "I'll make sure he understands."
She met Valkys at the base of the stairs, and the draconic quickly finished his discussions to give her his full attention.
"Everything okay down here?" she asked, her footpaws instinctively following the route back to the main doors.
"Jaex wants to buy the skunk he was beating earlier. Kaido arranged to put him up for auction first thing tomorrow morning."
Taimet nodded, "is Kaido staying?"
"For a while, he has a few more things to finish up..." the male set his dragon-eyes on her quizzically, "you're still in the mood to fight?"
Taimet nodded, "I hate myself for it sometimes... I hate the way Jaex and his mob deal with the slaves. I don't have a problem with hurting them; it's doing it for no reason."
Valkys gives only silence, which makes Taimet stop, "...do me a favour, if I ever become like Jaex, lay me out."
The Evacian cracked his knuckles, making Taimet sigh, "Thanks for the vote of confidence," she said sarcastically, opening the main doors and stepping out into Evernight, heading for home.