Chapter 30 Noelle
NOELLE
The alien with the floating silver robes and flickering headdress swept ahead of them, her fingertips trailing sparkling motes of light through the air as she pushed open a tall arched door. It was definitely more female than male, Noelle thought—though maybe it was some other sex, who knew?
“Come along, you three. Chop-chop! Time is money.”
Noelle swallowed hard as she walked between Bright and Burn, both warriors staying close enough that their heat radiated against her arms. The moment they crossed the threshold, she realized they’d entered a dressing room — or something like it.
The chamber was bright and chilly. Shiny white tiles gleamed underfoot, polished so clean they looked almost wet.
Against one wall stood a long row of 3-D viewers, each with a cushioned bench and a visor hanging from an articulated metal arm.
The opposite wall was lined with racks of clothing, shimmering with fabrics of every color — silks, satins, leathers, laces—in all shapes and cuts.
The alien hummed to herself, browsing the clothing racks with an air of theatrical importance.
“Now let me see, the three of you must match. We’re looking for aesthetic unity…buyer appeal…visual drama…” She flicked through hangers rapidly. “You’ll need a theme. Yes…oh, oh, yes. I’ve got it!”
She turned abruptly, triumphant, and pulled a long, shimmering gown made of green fabric from the rack. It glowed like iridescent beetle wings, catching the cold light as she draped it over one arm.
“For the female,” she declared.
Noelle’s stomach tightened.
“Uh…” she began.
But the alien wasn’t listening. She whirled again, grabbing two small pieces of dark leather from a lower rack — leather scraps, really, more like loincloths than clothing.
“Ah! And these are for you two.” She thrust the garments into Bright’s and Burn’s hands.
Burn stared down at the leather hanging from his fingers, his lip curling.
“What the fuck is this?”
Bright looked equally horrified.
“There’s not enough fabric here to cover much of anything,” he pointed out.
Noelle felt bad for both of them. The two warriors were still dressed in their black flight leathers and heavy black boots — a look of power and presence — but the alien was apparently eager to strip that away.
“The theme,” the alien announced, as though unveiling a masterpiece, “is the beautiful princess and her two barbarian bodyguards!” She clapped her hands delightedly. “Isn’t it marvelous?”
“No,” Burn snarled. “It’s fucking ridiculous.”
The alien’s voice sharpened like a blade.
“It’s required. Now get dressed — we are on a deadline.” She lifted the pain-collar remote, her thumb hovering just a little too casually near the glowing green buttons. “Don’t make me remind you of the consequences.”
Noelle swallowed hard. She didn’t need this right now—she really didn’t.
Her breasts were feeling tender again — painfully so — and the ache between her thighs hadn’t fully faded since morning.
Every breath brushed her chest against the inside of the red silk negligee Lupin had forced her into yesterday, and each tiny movement sent a tingling ache through her nipples.
Madre de Dios… was Lupin right? Is this because I didn’t go back and get the second treatment? Is something happening to me?
But she couldn’t think about that now. Not with the threat of the pain collars hanging over all their heads.
Hands trembling, she reached for the straps of the red negligee and began to pull it over her head while making absolutely sure she didn’t let her fingers brush her bare skin. One accidental touch, and the collar would shock her again—she didn’t want that.
She shivered violently as the cool air struck her skin, goosebumps rising across her breasts and belly. Bright and Burn immediately shifted their bodies to shield her from view, but the alien tsked sharply.
“Oh no, no, don’t hide her. I must see what the buyers will be bidding on.”
Burn growled, low and savage.
“Touch her and I’ll—”
“You’ll do nothing unless you want a full collar discharge,” the alien said sweetly, waving the remote.
Noelle slipped quickly into the shimmering green gown… and gasped.
“Blessed Virgin, no! I can’t wear this in public!”
The dress didn’t cover her at all.
Two perfectly round openings were cut in the top, leaving her breasts and nipples exposed. Below, the long skirt of the gown had a deep slit up in the center that opened right over her pussy, baring her completely.
Heat rushed to Noelle’s cheeks as she tried instinctively to cover herself…
Only to feel a sharp jolt that snapped through her fingers and down her arms.
“Ouch!” she gasped, snatching her hands back. “That hurts!”
“None of that now—no covering the goods,” the alien chided. “You must wear it as designed. Or…” she wiggled the controller again, “You’ll wear pain.”
Noelle forced her hands to her sides, her fingers squeezing into helpless fists. She’d never felt so naked…so vulnerable…so violated.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
Bright stood stiffly at her left side, his jaw clenched so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek. Burn looked ready to tear the entire dressing room apart with his bare hands, his massive body coiled with fury, eyes flaring red at every exposed inch of her.
But they couldn’t touch the alien. She—if it was a she, Noelle still wasn’t quite sure—had the remote to all their collars in her webbed hand.
So all three of them were stuck and unable to do anything but follow orders.
“Get dressed,” she said to Bright and Burn. “Hurry now—we need to get moving!”
The two exchanged a glance and then, reluctantly, began pulling off their flight leathers and putting on the tiny leather loincloths instead. At least they got to keep their boots—Noelle was still barefoot.
“Now then,” the alien said briskly, circling the three of them, the better to examine their outfits, “do any of you have special skills?”
“Special skills?” Burn echoed, incredulous. “What the fuck do you mean?”
“Oh, you know — useful talents.” She gestured idly with one elegantly webbed hand. “Culinary expertise…gardening knowledge…mechanical aptitude…household service…things like that. Rich patrons like to know what they’re buying. It helps with pricing.”
“I’m a teacher,” Noelle said hesitantly, arms held stiffly at her sides because she could not risk touching her own body again. “I…I tutor kids. I’m bilingual.”
Bright shrugged.
“I’m good with numbers. Accounting and logistics.”
Burn just grunted, massive arms folded across his chest. Clearly, he didn’t feel the need to share any “special skills.” Not that Noelle blamed him.
The alien nodded grandly.
“Very well. Let’s see—an accountant…” She pointed at Bright. “A heavy laborer…” She pointed at Burn. “And a maid.” She pointed at Noelle.
“What?” Noelle blinked. “A maid? No — I just told you, I teach. I could help someone homeschool their kids, or—”
“My dear,” the alien said with gentle condescension, “Do you honestly think anyone here wants to buy you for your academic prowess? They’re far more likely to want you dusting their fireplace in a skimpy uniform with no panties on.”
Burn’s growl shook the air and Bright’s hands curled into fists at his sides. But the alien just smiled, unfazed.
“Come! Now that you’re dressed, we mustn’t waste another moment.”
With a flourish, she spun toward the far end of the dressing room, where a tall curtain hung from an arched metal frame. She grasped a corner of the fabric and swept it aside dramatically.
A stage lay beyond the curtain — broad, circular, and blindingly bright with harsh overhead lights. Noelle could hear the low murmur of a crowd. Alien voices were speaking and people were rustling and shifting impatiently in their seats.
Waiting for the auction to begin, she thought dismally.
“Hurry,” the alien hissed over her shoulder. “You’re up next. Let’s go!”
Bright leaned close to Noelle.
“Stay between us, my lady.”
Burn stood at her other side, his huge frame radiating heat and fury.
And with nowhere else to go, Noelle took a shaky breath.
“Madre de Dios,” she whispered.
And stepped toward the stage.