Chapter 23
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Lyra
The metallic door slid open, and my stomach tightened with fear. Standing before me was Mesothraxus, a towering figure exuding an aura of malice and destruction. His presence alone weighed heavily on the air, filling the room with tension.
My gaze locked with his bulging yellow eyes, which gleamed with a sinister intelligence, like a predator sizing up its prey. His stare bore into my soul, stripping away any glimmer of courage I attempted to muster.
Mesothraxus”s reptile-like skin, rough and scaly, reflected the dim light of the room in an unsettling manner as if his exterior mirrored the darkness within him, an ominous reminder of the danger he posed.
A chill ran down my spine as he scanned my body, his eyes lingering on my legs and breasts.
”I see you”ve been keeping yourself in shape,” he said as he stepped inside.
”So what if I have? What”s it to you?”
”It”s everything to me,” he said, his voice a sinister whisper that sent shivers across my shoulders. He turned and nodded to Bulging Eyes, who shut the door.
When Mesothraxus faced me again, I noticed a lump growing between his legs. His cock was hardening. Oh fuck, no, this was not going to plan.
He remained silent and edged forward, his strength terrifying. Every movement he made seemed as if he was toying with the laws of physics. The muscles beneath his skin rippled with power, a testament to the raw force he could unleash at any moment.
Despite the fear that threatened to consume me, I stood my ground, fueled by a desire to stay alive and fight for my life. Facing Mesothraxus would test not only my physical strength but also my inner tenacity. Now that I was sober, I had more courage to face my problems.
He towered high, casting a shadow that left me feeling small and vulnerable in the presence of his sheer dominance.
”Leave me alone,” I cried.
”No chance.”
With a flick of his hand, he extended his wrist, revealing a claw of an ancient predator. As his lizard-like digits wrapped around my forearm, a chill ran through me, as if his touch was an icy grip from which there was no escape.
He yanked me forward, pulling me close to his robust frame.
”Get off,” I said, turning my head away in disgust.
”Maybe I”ll enjoy your body before I extract that final trace of alcohol from you. I see you are almost free from the disease. Zalantha has done well with you. I guess he makes you wet and slippery?”
”Fuck off,” I said, spitting in his face.
He smirked as he licked my saliva from his cheek.
”I love a fresh bit of lube,” he said, pushing me against the wall.
His weight was too much. I tried to slide away, but he was so strong, so powerful.
Flashes of my arrival to Mesoterra came to mind - Mom, Duncan, and Charlie in the pods. I had to distract Mesothraxus and escape. But how was I supposed to fool him? I glanced down as his hardening cock pressed on my thigh, and an idea came to mind.
”Not like this.”
”Like what?” he asked, frowning. ”What do you mean?”
”Here, in this cell,” I said, looking around. ”Don”t you have somewhere else you can take me?”
His eyes filled with hope, and his crown pulsed.
”You mean, like a honeymoon suite?”
”If you have one.”
I forced a smile, trying to trick him into thinking I wanted him. But when he tensed up, I could tell he could see straight through me.
”Sorry, Lyra, this isn”t Las Vegas. It”s Mesoterra, and you”re a prisoner in my fortress. What I say goes.”
He stared into my eyes as he grabbed my hip and pushed me harder against the wall. Fear escalated up my throat. I had to get away.
”Please, at least tell me what you”ll do with me.”
”The same as I do with every other alcohol-ridden person on Earth: dip you in our solution, extract the alcohol to feed our crops, and then slowly turn you into one of my purple slaves to help me. It”s a simple system that has been going on for years.” A wicked smirk appeared on his lips. ”I thought you would have worked that out by now, especially after chatting with lover boy.”
”He”s not my lover.”
”Oh, is that because I am now?”
His tongue slipped out of his mouth, almost touching my face. A foul stench wafted up my nose, making me want to gag.
”How about a kiss before we get down to the hard stuff?”
”No, I”ll never kiss you.”
As the leader of Mesoterra pressed me harder against the wall, I dug deep for extra strength. I had to fight. I brought back my thigh and unleashed my anger, kneeing him straight in the balls.
”You bitch,” he roared, clenching his teeth.
He let me go as he cried out in pain, and I managed to slip from his grasp and run for the door.
”Leave me alone!” I screamed, pacing forward.
But no sooner had I reached the door than he lashed out, sending me crashing to the floor with a bone-jarring impact. Pain radiated through every fiber of my being, each muscle protesting as I lay sprawled and defenseless.
”You silly human drunk,” he said, towering over me, rage pouring from his eyes.
”I”m not a drunk. I”m in control.”
”You may be in control of your mind, but I control your body now.” He reached down, placed his hands on my shoulders and lifted me high. I shook my upper body as much as possible, but he squeezed harder, pressing my lungs. ”If you”re going to be this feisty, I”ll just have to tie you up. Open up,” he shouted, kicking the door.
When nothing happened, he frowned.
”Looks like your guards have left you.”
”Nonsense,” he said, his teeth seething. ”Open the blasted door.”
”As you wish,” said a familiar voice.
Hope filled my heart as I realized who was outside. The door slid open, and Mesothraxus spun me around, holding me tight against his body.
”Zalantha,” I cried as the corners of my eyes burned. ”You”re alive.”
”It would seem so,” he said, smirking as our eyes met.
”Not for long,” said Mesothraxus, his voice booming.
”Let her go,” said Zalantha as he stepped inside, aiming a gun straight at Mesothraxus” head. My pulse raced. My savior was here, alive, and with a companion by his side.
”Yeah, we”ve got you now,” said Zalantha”s muscle-bound colleague.
”Very good,” said Mesothraxus. ”You”ve done well to get past my guards and find me, but you”re forgetting one thing,” he added, squeezing me harder.
”Oh, what”s that?” asked Zalantha, edging forwards.
”This is my land, my territory, and you”ll never beat me.”
”Just put her down, and maybe we”ll save your life,” said Zalantha.
”Bullshit,” said Mesothraxus. ”You”ve had your fun with her. She”s mine. Now put those blasters down and surrender.”
”No chance,” said Zalantha. ”Ready, Malantha?” he added, holding his gun tighter.
”Very fucking ready.”
My body tensed as they aimed lower. Blue lasers fired from their blasters, and I expected Mesothraxus to fall back, but he barely flinched as the shots ricocheted off his legs.
”Drunk fools,” said Mesothraxus. ”It”s time to finish with you both.”
With a forceful shove, he sent me stumbling into the corner of the cell and then leapt forward. His movements were swift and deadly as he lashed out, knocking Zalantha and Malantha”s guns to the floor with a resounding clatter.
”You see,” said Mesothraxus, stretching his back to become taller. ”You”re both useless.”
”You don”t scare me,” shouted Zalantha, clenching his fists.
”Nor me,” said Malantha, taking a deep breath.
”We”ll see about that.”
Before Mesothraxus could move, Zalantha and Malantha rallied, launching themselves at Mesothraxus with a ferocity born of desperation. Their fists flew like lightning, aiming for any chink in his formidable armor.
Despite their valiant efforts, Mesothraxus remained unyielding, his strength seemingly boundless. With each blow, my heart clenched in despair, the realization dawning that escape seemed increasingly improbable. Mesothraxus was too powerful.
With one giant swing of his arm, he knocked them both to the floor, sending them crashing down. Then he pressed an alarm button on the wall.
”Stupid dicks,” he said, kicking the blasters out of the cell as he turned to face us. ”What did you think you would do, blast your way out of here? Now you”re under my control, and there will be no mercy.”
With a menacing grin, Mesothraxus reached out and seized me again, his grip vice-like.
”Get off me,” I cried, trying to scramble away, but it was no use.
”Shut it,” he said, slapping me around the face. ”I”ve had enough of you.”
”Leave her,” cried Zalantha, struggling to his knees.
Our eyes met, and, for the first time, I saw fear shining from his soul.
”You”re in no position to bargain with me,” said Mesothraxus. ”More guards are on their way,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice as he dragged me along the cold, hard floor and out of the cell as the door whizzed shut.