Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
Bri
These guys hold my survival in their creepy little hands. Today, I’m going to sneak a little food here and there to set aside. That way, when the time is right, I can grab my pack and go.
There has got to be a way off this planet, or at least a way to signal for help. My strategy is to lull them into thinking I have accepted the role as goddess, and I’m going to turn them all against Boss and find my way out of here.
Unfortunately, it also means cozying up to them. It would be less off-putting if they were all each other’s boyfriends, but from the lingering looks up and down my body—I don’t think that is the case.
The telltale sound of a bell alerts me to approaching brethren. Boss sits down next to me at the low table where I’m currently picking at my breakfast.
“Good morning, Goddess. Today is an auspicious day! As the prophecy foretold, it rained again last night. Your arrival has heralded the return of the lifesaving water we have been waiting for!”
“Rain. Great,” I say with a forced smile. Obviously, it’s a big deal here, but that’s a brethren problem. I’m grumpy and don’t feel like playing along with Boss’s little games today.
“We are planning a celebration in your honor. We have gathered our finest food and wine for your enjoyment tonight,” Boss says. He picks up on my lack of enthusiasm and his smile fades.
I’m not trying to be a jerk. I just don’t trust him.
I look over at him and conjure up a more sincere smile. “Thank you. That will be nice.”
He smiles back, seemingly satisfied for now. I’m well aware he’s manipulating me along with everyone else.
“We have a whole day planned. If you follow me, I will take you to your first experience.” He stands up from the ground and offers me his hand. I stare at it. His skin is pale and sickly with long and sharp fingernails. I ignore the offer and push myself up off the ground without his help.
“What’s on the agenda for today?” I ask, trying to seem interested in where he’s taking me as we wind our way through the tunnels. Their insistence that they take me everywhere doesn’t feel like a nice gesture anymore. It feels like they are hovering over me, and the walls are closing in.
There’s got to be someone else on this forsaken planet who can help me get home.
“It is a ceremony meant to impart satisfaction and to release all of your burdens. Tonight, we culminate and feast. The first phase is right this way,” he says and pulls aside a heavy tapestry from a doorway.
I shudder at his odd phrasing. His words are all nice, but the way he says them creeps me out.
I look around the room, trying to discern what this is all about. The thick pile of pillows in the corner looks suspiciously out of place on the hard stone floor. This room lacks any distinguishable purpose. It’s not a bedroom and lacks the religious iconography present in the many prayer rooms.
Boss stands there, watching me take in the room.
“So, where are the females?” I feign nonchalance, but I’m feeling pretty fucking chalant. It feels extremely weird that I haven’t seen another woman here, human or otherwise.
“Don’t concern yourself with other females. The goddess is the only female who matters,” he says.
I want to vomit.
I bet all the women on this planet got the ick and got the fuck out. Good for them. Now I need to as well.
He bows at the waist and steps backward out of the room. “Brethren will be with you shortly.”
I plop down on the soft pile of cushions. Startled by a throat clearing from behind, I spin to see who it is. One of the brethren stands awkwardly in the doorway. This one wasn’t wearing a bell.
“Oh hi, you scared me,” I say with a shaky voice. Over the last two days, I’ve gotten used to the sound of the bell warning me of their presence.
“Glorious One, I am here to give you pleasure to completion through touch,” he says and steps forward. I scramble up and take a few steps back to maintain the distance between us.
“What?” There is no way he’s saying what I think he’s saying.
“Please, make yourself comfortable and I will stroke your cunt until you have achieved orgasm.”
“Um, no thanks, I’m good,” I say through laughter.
This is not how I thought today was going to go. Back the fuck off, Brethren Hand Job.
“It is my duty, nay honor, to satisfy the goddess,” he says sounding a little confused by my refusal and takes another step forward.
I dart around him, so he isn’t standing between me and the exit.
“No, really, I’m fine. Thanks for the offer,” I say and move toward the door. There is no way on this planet I am letting him come near me. I push aside the curtain and stumble into the tunnel right in front of Boss.
“Radiant Mistress, is there a problem?” he asks quizzically, “Has Brethren done something wrong?”
“Oh no, nothing like that. I’m good. I guess we should do that ceremony, huh?”
“It has already begun,” he says and walks away without waiting for a reply. Reluctantly, I follow behind, equally curious and concerned by what he could mean.
I pay close attention this time to where he is leading me.
We take two lefts then a right. He leads me to another room, sweeps aside the curtain, and motions for me to enter.
I step in hesitantly and look around for any creeps offering me an orgasm.
This room is identical to the last, the same questionable pile of pillows.
“Please wait here. I will notify Brethren you are ready,” he says and disappears without giving me a chance to ask any follow-up questions. Questions like, “What the fuck is going on around here?”
The curtain is pulled aside and another brethren steps in.
“Ethereal Goddess, I am honored to taste your essence until you quiver with release,” he says and steps forward.
I belt out a laugh. This is absurd. No one is going to believe me when I tell them about this place.
My mind races to find a way out of this. Isn’t it every woman’s fantasy to be worshiped like a goddess, with their pleasure being the top priority?
Call me shallow, but there is no getting past their appearance. The slitted noses, the tiny teeth, not to mention the height…
I’ve never been precious about sex. Consenting adults should explore their sexuality without antiquated perceptions, but this doesn’t feel hot. It’s weird. In these situations—not that this has ever happened to me before—straightforward communication is best.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to back the fuck up and never, ever say those words to another living thing for the rest of your life.”
Brethren Cunnilingus stands rooted to the spot. “Am I not pleasing to you? I would be honored to find another brethren to lick your cunt,” he says so matter-of-factly.
“It’s not you. I, uh…” My voice fades out. I don’t want to offend these guys, but I’m not going to do anything I don’t want to do. I’m the goddess here. I am the decider.
“Then allow me to escort you to the next room.” His head hangs low as I reluctantly follow him straight through an intersection, right, then left. I repeat the directions in my head as we walk.
I almost feel bad for this weirdo. He’s taken my rejection personally. Not my intention, but come on—this is fucking weird!
The next room is well lit, for once. A wave of relief goes through me. Hopefully that awkward part of the ceremony is over and we can move onto something a little less sexual.
A dozen brethren file into the room and sit in tidy rows behind me. They bow their heads and hum a low tune until Boss steps in carrying a weathered tome. I sit down on the ground and wait.
This is fine. It’s still super uncomfortable, but at least they aren’t coming onto me.
Boss reads from the heavy book.
“The advent of the Sublime Goddess of the Holy Water will signal the arrival of the life-sustaining essence. Upon her satisfaction, the water will flow freely,” he reads, dragging his finger across the page.
Oh fuck. This is bad. The word “satisfaction” hangs heavily in the air.
They think getting me off is going to literally keep them alive.
Boss looks up at me. “Follow me to the next station, m’lady,” he says, setting the book down on the small table to his side.
“There has been a misunderstanding,” I say, trying to soften the blow I’m about to deliver.
“There has been no mistake. The prophecy is quite clear,” he says firmly without looking back at me. I hurry to catch up with him. I tug on his sleeve to get him to stop. He looks back at me wide-eyed and gasps.
“You honor me with your touch,” he says and deeply bows again.
“Please listen. I am not who you think I am,” I blurt out. I don’t want to play along anymore.
He brings the sleeve I touched to his mouth. He kisses the spot and rubs it over his face. I school my face into something neutral, but that might have been one of the most repulsive things I’ve ever seen in my life.
“This robe will forever bear your blessing upon me. Today truly is a special day,” he says and continues down the hallway.
Dammit.
The next room is the biggest one of the day, and the entire floor is covered with blankets and pillows.
I don’t like the look of this at all. I carefully step between the blankets.
Before I can turn and try to talk my way out of this, three brethren step in, completely naked except for the thin cord around their waists with bells hanging to the side of their dicks.
They are in varying states of arousal, and I force my eyes to stay up.
“Okay. I need to get back to my room.” I sidestep my way toward the door, but they are still standing between me and my escape.
“It is our honor to bring you pleasure. You must receive our seed,” one of them says.
“Uh, you guys have fun without me.” I pause at the door and turn back. “And no one calls it ‘seed’! At least call it ‘cum’ or ‘jizz’ like normal people!”
Boss steps in front of me and blocks my path.
Great. Now I’m stuck between the horny triplets and the boss.
“What seems to be the problem, Shimmering Brook?” he says.
I don’t know why he looks confused. I’ve been very clear from the beginning. This is not happening. Of all the bizarre cultures and religious fanatics I could’ve encountered, it seems I found the one with a breeding kink.
“As your deity, I am telling you that I do not wish to receive any…pleasure or seed.”
The word feels gross on my tongue, and I gag on it. Invoking their goddess and taking advantage of their misunderstanding feels even worse. But at this point I’m desperate to get back to my room and away from these weirdos.
“But the prophecy requires—”
My final thread of patience snaps.
“Am I the goddess or not? I want to go back to my room. Now.”
“Yes, Magnificent One.” His gaze sharpens, pinning me in place. Sizing me up.
I narrow my eyes right back.
That’s it. My mind is made up. Before I get the fuck out of this terrible place, I am going to turn every single one of these brethren against Boss.