Mated (The Sandaki Book 1) (2 page)

Isha settled the tray on a small table and pulled it over in front of Laira. “The brown liquid is hot and very reviving. It has many proteins and nutrients your body needs. The blue liquid is cool and quite refreshing.”

Laira nodded and tried a bit of each. The brown liquid was fairly close to chicken noodle soup, but not quite. She wondered at the idea that the soup might be universal for people who were sick or recovering from an illness. The stuff in the blue cup was a bit sweet and tasted good. She finished both and actually felt better, more alert.

She pushed the table aside and tried to stand, but failed and collapsed. Her legs shook as if she had been bedridden for a very long time. She ached everywhere, down to her very bones. She wondered what they’d done to her while she was out. Not even wanting to contemplate the thought, she shoved it into a dark place in her mind. Better not to think too hard about that right now.

“I’m naked,” Laira said, finally noticing. “Is there something I can wear?”

Isha rose to walk across the room and Laira noted that the girl’s hands and feet were long and elegant…and webbed. She closed her eyes, opened them, and looked again. Yep, the webbing was still there.

Isha opened an almost invisible cabinet in the gray wall to pull out a bit of gray fabric. Laira’s first thought was she hadn’t asked for a handkerchief, the next was she hoped this wasn’t something to wear.

“Put this on.” The girl handed the scrap to her.

Laira burst out laughing as she held it between two fingers. “What, on my head? I need some clothes.”

“It will conform to the shape of your body,” she said. “Here, let me have it, and stand up.”

Laira stood again with Isha’s help, feeling a little steadier as the other woman shook the tissue out and wrapped it around Laira’s body. She looked down to watch and realized her breasts looked bigger. Substantially bigger. And she seemed farther away from the ground, as if she were taller. What the fuck?

“What happened to my body? What happened to my boobs?” she touched them.

“I told you, you have gone through indoctrination,” the patient voice explained.

“I don’t know what the hell that means.”

Isha tilted her head to study Laira with huge eyes. “It is easier to show you.” Turning, she pushed a button in the wall and a mirror slowly lowered so Laira could see herself full length. The person she saw was not Laira Marshall.

The woman in the mirror was tall and lithe with deep, rich, red hair pulled back in a simple tail. Startlingly vivid, violet eyes stared out from a face that a model would envy. The body carried lush breasts and was long, languid, and built for the express purpose of pleasure. It looked nothing like Laira Marshall full-time employee and part time student. Not even if she could pay for all the plastic surgery in the world.

Isha stepped up to stand beside the redhead in the mirror. “The Silarin here on the ship have a process they call indoctrination. It is where the slave is adjusted on the cellular level so the optimum effect can be achieved. They tapped into your DNA and created the best product they could. You are that product.”

“Who gives them the right to play God with my cells? I was born the way I was, and it might not have been perfect, but I was me.”

“The Silarin create a profit. That is what their world revolves around. Their stock must be perfect to bring in the prices they ask.”

“I am not stock!” she yelled. “And neither are you. We are people with rights and feelings and needs. And I feel the need to kick someone’s ass.”

Isha’s lips turned down. “I do not understand your words.”

“Doesn’t anyone here get mad that this happens?”

The girl shrugged. “Why? There is nothing we can do about it. I can never go home, so I must go where the Silarin tell me.”

“Why can’t you go home?” Laira asked.

“My planet is water, and I was a water dweller. The Silarin have made me an air breather and have taken my beautiful fins away…” she trailed off. “It is done,” Isha finally said. “We cannot go back. From what I understand, once the process is finished, it is permanent.”

Tears once again gathered in Laira’s eyes, but not for herself. This girl had gotten far worse treatment. “I am so sorry.” Laira hesitantly took one of Isha’s hands. “If I can figure out a way, I’m gonna make these jerks pay for everything they’ve done to us. They are going to be so sorry they ever kidnapped Laira Marshall.” She huffed out a breath and rubbed the tears from her checks. “So, we’re stuck looking like this? No matter what happens, we’ll never be ourselves again?”

“I am sorry. Come, let us go and you can meet the other people here.”

Laira nodded. No sense sitting alone. Isha was right, there wasn’t anything she could do right now. Ever. The two of them left the room, Isha helping Laira walk. Damn, she ached. She likened the pain to shin splints, but it was bone deep and everywhere. Her body felt unnatural, gangly, and hard to control. The longer she struggled to walk, the angrier she got. It wasn’t like she’d been a raving beauty or anything, but it was her body, her face, and she liked them both the way they’d been. Now, a stranger stared out at her from the mirror, and she hated it.

A few short steps and around a corner was a large room filled with women of every size, color, and style. At least, Laira assumed they were all women. Whatever they were, there were a lot of them.

Isha led her to a small gathering of couches to sit with two other people, one a burnished copper and the other with flowing tentacles for hair. Laira tried not to stare but couldn’t help herself. It was better than the cantina scene from
Star Wars
.

“Who is this?” copper girl asked, cocking her head in a bird-like way.

“Laira,” Isha replied. “Chal”— she pointed to copper—“and Tarin,” went to tentacles.

Laira gave a brief smile. “Hello.”

Both women studied her then Tarin spoke, “So you are the new stock the Silarin are so excited about? I do not see why.”

“I do,” Chal replied. “The Silarin have offered nothing like her before.”

“Yes, but she is so pale and uncovered,” Tarin shuddered.

“And I so don’t like being talked about as if I can’t hear.” Laira cut them both off. “I may be new, but I’m not dumb. So either talk
to
me, or change the subject.”

Isha smiled when both women turned to look at her. “Normally, Laira, the young ones are still overwhelmed by indoctrination. They are unable to speak or respond in any way.”

“Oh well.” She shrugged. “I guess the Silarin ran out of luck with me.”

“You have spirit,” Chal said. “You will bring much at the markets.”

Laira grimaced. “Believe me, that isn’t what I have in mind.”

“You are not thinking to do something foolish are you?” Isha widened her large eyes even more.

“I told you, I plan on making them pay for ever bringing me on board. I’m going to show them that they need to stay far away from Earth women. Because, dude, we so ain’t easy.”

Isha patted her hand. “I understand you are upset.”

“I’m not just upset; I am pissed.” Laira shook her head. “And confused. So, anyway, tell me how this place works? What do we do?”

“This is our communal space. We do everything here together—sleep, eat, relax. On the far side of the room are cleaning chambers, and over there”—she pointed—“are pallets and pillows for when you get tired. Guards come in and out, but they do not speak to us.”

“Good, because I want to observe the Silarin. I at least want to know what my kidnappers look like.”

Yeah, so I can report them to the F.B.I.
She yawned, because having a description so matters. Even if they were puny two-pound weaklings, it wouldn’t help her. Hell, she was a puny weakling right now. She’d only been up approximately twenty minutes, and already she was eager for a nap.

After sitting with the other women for a bit longer, she asked Isha where she could go to sleep. Just the small amount of time she’d spent awake made her exhausted, as if she’d run a marathon. Yeah, like she knew all about that. Still, she wasn't used to weakness. Before heading back to school, she’d actually made it a point to go to the gym at least three times a week. Of course, that had stopped once school started, but she’d hoped to go back. Eventually.

“It will take a number of days for your body to recover from all that was done.” Isha led her over to a thick mattress on the floor and helped Laira lay down.

“Thanks a lot for everything.”

Isha smiled. “You are very welcome.”

“Oh, so about the cleaning chambers. Will I know what to do when I get in there?”

“Yes, all you have to do is step inside, and it will do the rest.”

“What about towels? You know, to dry off with?” Laira mumbled as waves of sleep washed over her.

Isha cocked her head. “The chamber sends out pulses that clean. There is no need for anything. Just step in. I have found it a most… pleasant experience.” At her hesitation, Laira tried to concentrate, but failed. She was just too damn tired.

“I will leave you now.”

Laira snuggled down into the plush mat as Isha walked away.
Okay, you
just
need to close your
eyes for a moment. Because you
really do need to figure out how things work around here, since that will be the only way you’ll ever get home
. With that as a last thought, sleep claimed her.

Laira opened her eyes to gray. Confusion clouded her mind. Where the hell? Gingerly, she rolled to her back and looked at the large space. Finally, reality crashed in. Aliens, abduction, sex slavery. Right. Same old, same old. She flopped back on her bed to stare at the gray ceiling.

Maybe they make it this non-color so we’ll beg to be sold. I can’t imagine wanting to stay in this box forever.
She rubbed her eyes then pinched her arm.
Nope, I’m awake, and this is no dream. Shit
. She looked around and found she wasn’t the only one who had decided to sleep. There were plenty of people still up. Some were sitting in groups talking while others just seemed to be staring into space. She wondered if they had given up or were maybe meditating?

Knowing she couldn’t put her bladder off any longer, she rolled out of the bed and staggered to her feet. Her legs were definitely more stable than they had been, so that was a huge plus. Slowly, she headed toward the wall Isha had pointed out as the way to the bathrooms. There looked to be five doors and the one closest to her opened as she approached. Laira cautiously stuck her head in. A clear plastic looking seat greeted her. Just beyond a small doorway, a gentle blue light flickered. Laira stared, trying to figure out what to do. Nothing resembled a toilet. At all. Well, if they didn’t want her whizzing on the floor, they should have left her with a manual.

Cautiously, she crossed to the clear seat and sat. Waves of air massaged her bottom as Laira clenched her eyes shut and relieved herself. She prayed this wasn’t some kind of sex device she had just broken. Rising she checked to find the seat empty and clean. She, too, was dry and apparently clean.

She did a little fist pump.
Okay, this isn’t too hard. I didn’t electrocute myself or break anything. Like I would really care if I broke the whole damn ship. However, I don't want to accidentally get sucked out into space in the attempt.
Feeling a bit more confident, she moved toward the doorway with the blue lights and stepped in. The door whooshed shut behind her, enclosing her in the tiny cubicle. Slowly, the lights began to flash gently, and Laira shut her eyes. If it was going to vaporize her or turn her into a donkey, she didn’t want to watch while it happened.

A rippling sensation danced over her body. Guardedly, she opened her eyes and watched the blue glow play across her skin. As the beams moved over her body, they sparkled a bit and were gentle and caressing. Almost like receiving an allover massage. Laira moved this way and that making sure she got every inch clean. Maybe this wasn’t too bad. She raised her arms and laughed as the vibrations hit her under the arms, then gasped as they touched her breasts. The sensation moved around and around each nipple until they stood out like hard points.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she stepped toward the door. Instantly, the radiance stopped, and the entry slid open. Laira nearly tumbled out of the chamber. What the fuck was that thing? Then she remembered Isha’s words, about the chamber being a pleasant experience. She snorted, rolling her eyes. Whatever it was, she was not going to let it distract her. Her goal was to return home, and she was going to do whatever it took.

After a brief nap, since the shower had sucked the energy out of her, Laira decided she had to regain her strength. Without stamina, she was weak and helpless. That was not a state she found attractive. She’d never allowed anyone to take care of her, and she wasn’t about to start now. She also realized attempting to work out in the tissue wasn’t going to work, either. Hell, her breasts were large enough now that she might put out her own eye leaping around. She went back to the room she had originally woken in so she could raid the cabinet. The door swung open to show her a small stack of gray cloths. Jeez, did these people have no need for color?