Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lila
“You can find any form of entertainment imaginable here, from gambling and fighting to food and fucking,” Xavier explains, keeping a tight grip on my arm as we enter an arena that we need to traverse to get to the private accommodation rooms he temporarily booked for us.
I think they are intended for other use, but it’s a private place for him to bring creatures to for me to mimic, so we’ll make use of it the best we can.
I feel like a child in a candy store, all wide-eyed with excitement as I take in the sights and dubious smells of the station.
The arena seats are filled with cheering and jeering creatures as we try to make our way around to the other side through the aisle, but I can’t help but stop and check out what is keeping them so entertained.
My mouth drops open, and I step closer to get a better look, leaning on one of the rails that’s there to prevent the crowd from falling into the pit.
“Holy fuck, what the hell is that?” I ask, mesmerized by what is happening down on ground level.
Xavier peers over my shoulder and starts to chuckle.
“Well, this is entertaining. We managed to get to see the annual Flobberstum mating challenge.” He slides in next to me as I watch in amazement.
Silac and Tirrian crowd in behind us. Both of them still wear their human glamour out of respect for my mimic abilities and not wanting to share them.
I suggested they should stay behind, but Xavier wanted them with us for the intimidation factor.
Despite being in their human glamour, both are formidable-looking men.
The crowd jeers and cheers, and I see exchanges between people. “What are they doing?” I ask, pointing to someone farther around in the crowd.
“Placing bets on the outcome,” Tirrian replies gruffly. He’s closer to me than I expected, his words brushing against my ear, and I almost jump in shock.
“On what outcome?” I’m actually not a hundred percent sure I want to know. Are these death matches like the Romans used to have to entertain the masses? But as I turn my attention to the arena, it becomes achingly clear that a death match is not what we are about to witness.
The creatures entertaining us have no human-like features whatsoever.
If I could describe them, I would say they are similar to something in a David Attenborough documentary about sea creatures.
They are a large, flat and wide worm-like creature, with brilliant colors and patterns covering the backs of their bodies while their fronts are a smooth black.
There are no discernible features, but as one of them stands upright, something seems to grow out of its body.
“Please, Lord, tell me that is not what I think it is,” I say to Xavier, who just chuckles again.
“Flobberstums are neither male nor female, but both, and they cock fight to see who will bear their young each year. What you see are their mating swords, I guess for want of a better term. The first one to pierce their opponent, implanting their seed into the other, is the winner, and the loser is responsible for carrying their clutch to term.”
I’m sure I look like a slack-jawed fool as I watch with complete fascination as the two creatures grow not one, not two, but a three-pronged cock much like a trident, and then they go for it.
Writhing and twirling, each tries to stop the other from trying to pierce their skin.
It’s actually a magical, hypnotizing dance, their spectacular colors making them look like two Latin dancers doing some sensual tango of love.
“Would you like to find one of them for you to mimic?” Xavier asks as we watch one of them finally overpowers the other, stabbing its trident deep into its opponent.
There is no sound, I’m not sure if they even have vocal cords, but as it pulls free, a trail of clear slime flows out of its trident and, well, I’m done.
“Fuck no. I don’t see that form as having any benefit to me whatsoever,” I reply as we start on our way again, leaving behind the cheering crowd. Money exchanges hands as people who bet on the outcome collect their winnings.
“Okay, so I have a list in my mind of potential beings that would be a big asset. The naga and dragon of course, but I thought if we could find a Barcoa, and all four kinds of Elementi, then that would be a good start,” Xavier says, though I have no clue what any of those are.
“That’s a good range, but I think we should see if there is a necro on the station too,” Silac suggests, and I see Xavier mulling it over in his head.
“Yes, their ability to move through solid objects is a good skill to have, and who knows when she will need to communicate with or control the dead.”
My eyes just about cross at the thought of three more alien races I know nothing about, but I trust Xavier and, to some extent, Silac to know what is best for me. It’s just more research I need to do, and this time I will be vigilant.
We’ve made it to the other side of the arena, and we enter a causeway that has different venues on either side of it, all with bright neon flashing signs.
Xavier points out the different establishments.
There are casinos and gambling halls, restaurants, bars, clubs, and even a suva drug den, which is the drug that Caspian’s family are the sole suppliers of.
I can see people gathered around tables, sharing big, multi-hosed hookahs with a thick, red smoke floating out of the door.
The next establishment has me stopping dead—not from amazement, but complete curiosity.
The big sign reads, “Pleasure Bot Industries sex robots for hire and sale,” and in the doorway are a couple of giggling girls in lingerie and a ripped dude wearing just a pair of boxer briefs.
They aren’t interacting with the crowd so much as performing the same movements over and over again.
I watch with fascination as a large, skeletal-like being walks up to one of the girls, and another person appears out of the doorway.
This one has the same metallic sheen that Link has, so I’m assuming this one is a cyborg as opposed to the robot sex dolls that are there to entice the crowd.
The skeletal being has a conversation with the cyborg who taps a tablet in his hand before one of the girls peels away from the others and sashays up to the skeletal being, grabbing his hand and disappearing behind the door with him.
Right, a sex robot brothel, and it seems like they are happy to service anyone or anything.
“Come on, stop dawdling, we are on a tight timeline,” Tirrian growls and gives me a little nudge in the back. I glare at him but don’t bother arguing since he’s not wrong.
We keep walking, and a few doors down, there is another sign for a brothel, but this one says it has live girls and boys for sex. And what do you know? Standing in the doorway, trying to entice clients, are two of Xavier’s former harem members.
“Fucking hell,” he grumbles as they catch sight of him, the light in their eyes turning hopeful as they call to him.
“Xavier, have you forgiven us? Have you come to return our powers and status to us?” one of them calls.
She’s the voluptuous redhead, but I can’t remember either of their names.
They leave the doorway and hurry over, shoving me out of the way, each desperately grabbing hold of one of his arms. I can’t be annoyed in the face of this much desperation. It’s really kind of pathetic.
“Please, oh please, at least return our healing powers so we can service more customers,” the dark-haired one begs, and I can’t stand the absurdness anymore.
“Just do it, Xavier. Look at them, they are a mess.” Both girls look disheveled, and there are bruises all over their bodies, which I can see a lot of because neither are wearing more than panties and a scrap of see-through material.
Xavier sighs. “No, Nambra, I haven’t forgiven you nor am I likely to.
” Their hopeful expressions fall. “But my intimate is too kind and wishes for me to return your healing ability, Lexus, so it will be done. It is linked with your warlock powers, so I will return both, but you will both remain banished. If either of you show your face on Westalin again, it will be the death penalty.”
They exchange a glance and fall to their knees. “Oh, thank you. You are so merciful,” Lexus grovels, kissing Xavier’s feet despite the fact that I was the one who facilitated the return of their power.
“We hope that one day you will find it in your heart to allow us to return.” Nambra pushes her luck, but Xavier just snorts and mutters, “Unlikely,” under his breath.
I feel his power activate and watch as a sort of peacefulness settles over their faces. Both of them seem to age backwards slightly, as if having their power returned made them younger somehow.
They scramble to their feet again, thanking him profusely before returning to the doorway of the brothel. They seem more confident and cocky now, and I don’t think that bodes well for them if the other girls glaring at them have anything to do with it, but that is their problem, not ours.
“Come on,” Tirrian growls again, and this time he takes me by the arm and drags me along. I guess he doesn’t trust me not to get distracted again—not that it was my fault this time.
Again, I find myself grinding to a halt a little farther down the breezeway.
Off to one side in a rough-looking dive bar, I spot a Madovian.
It’s the same Madovian we killed on the ship, with her blue snake appendages coming out of her head and her blue skin on display, though thankfully the outfit she’s wearing covers that horrible stomach.
Her small, bat-like wings are tucked in behind her, and her fangs are hidden behind a thin pair of lips beneath those terrifying nose slits.
My heart starts to race, and anxiety goosebumps break out across my skin.
Tirrian growls and turns to see what I’m looking at and freezes.
“Didn’t we kill her?” I hiss at him, not sure what to do and hoping she doesn’t recognize us as I look around for somewhere to hide, not even ashamed of my terrified reaction.
“Easy, tián xīn,” he coos, his voice the gentlest I’ve ever heard it, and his grip on my arm tightens.
“That is not who you think it is. She was well and truly dead. I made sure of it before we stuck her out the rubbish hatch. The Madovians are all very similar. There will be a slight difference to her scale pattern when she’s shifted, but their coloring is mostly the same. Breathe easy.”
My heart rate begins to slow again with his calm and gentle reassurance as Silac and Xavier catch up to us, and I start to make calculated plans. My previous idea may be able to come to fruition eventually, so I may as well prepare for it.
“That one,” I say to Xavier, who frowns at me with confusion.
“What one?” he asks, looking around, so I point discreetly in the direction of the bar and snake woman.
“I want you to bring me that one to mimic,” I tell my warlock fiancé, who finally catches on to whom I mean.
He starts to shake his head violently. “Absolutely not. No way. I know what you are planning, Lila, and I will not have it.”
I whirl and place my hand on my hips, glaring at my warlock. “Are you seriously trying to be the boss of me right now? Because I don’t believe I gave you permission.”
“I don’t need permission. You are my intimate, and your safety is my utmost priority.”
“Isn’t that why we are here? To find me creatures to mimic to give me every possible trick in my arsenal?
” I counter, and he continues to argue. I can’t see him due to that blasted mist he insists on wearing in public for intimidation, which has worked wonders for crowd control but also means I can’t see the expression on his face.
I bet he’s wearing that condescending, all-knowing, cocky prick smile that makes me want to kick him in the nuts.
“Yes, but that is one trick you don’t need in your arsenal. They are nasty creatures, and your idea of going undercover is asinine.”
I growl at my fiancé. “We still have that communicator from when her room was tossed after we disposed of her. All we need to do is wait until they try to contact her, and we have an in with the Syndicate.” I am determined to find out who else is a part of this group making a play for the orb and how they know the circus has it.
I think that’s even more important, as well as disposing of everyone who has that knowledge.
I will do whatever it takes to protect my family.
“You know the girl’s idea is solid, though it would probably be better for you to use your ability to glamour to infiltrate the Syndicate as opposed to sending her. She’d probably mate someone by accident.”
I turn my glare on the stupid dragon. “Fuck you, Tirrian. I’ve just about had it with your aggressive as fuck comments.
We’ve explained about Dylan, and you know I had no control over any of my matings except for Link.
Why did you even come on this mission? You don’t like me, so why even spend any more time with me than you have to?
You could have just let Silac come on his own, but instead, you’re hanging around like a bad smell. ”
Smoke starts to drift out of Tirrian’s nose, and his skin flickers back and forth from his glamour to his half form as scales ripple across his arms.
“Ah, that’s enough. How about you take a walk and cool down?” Silac steps between us, but before either of us can respond, something in the dingy dive bar draws my attention.
“Holy shit, no fucking way,” I mutter, and everyone turns to look at what I’m staring at. “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”