Curiosity Caught the Bat : Act I On the Waterfront

Curiosity Caught the Bat

Act I

On the Waterfront

Batgirl stayed in the shadows of the roof top as she stood close enough to the edge to look over. Below her was one of Cross World Transit’s dockside warehouses. A large metal shipping container with what appeared to be a refrigerator unit on the roof was placed so the doors that were open faced inside the open warehouse doors. She had counted at least two dozen men all dressed in black were busy moving about in and out of the warehouse. A crane was set up with a second container identical to the first ready to set it down at the doorway and pick up the first container when it was ready.

          I semi tractor trailer was parked alongside of the warehouse from which wooden shipping containers that appeared to be roughly 4 feet by 4 feet were being unloaded by a forklift and moved inside the warehouse. Besides the men working she had spotted at the very least another dozen men posted as perimeter security around the area as well as a small boat in the water. Whatever they were handling they were taking no chances with security. It was clearly very valuable to them. But what was it? It had to be something illegal. But again what?

          The scope of the operations seem too large for this to have been a drug smuggling operation. Weapons perhaps? This was her second midnight visit to this roof top since her dinner with Rudkar Cross.  And her third overall having attempted to use a drone during the day to look things over. Security had looked just as tight during the day as it had at night up till she lost the drone. Whatever it was that was being smuggled and going on down there, it was too big for Rudkar Cross not to know what was going on. This encompassed storage, manpower, plus just from what she has seen shipping by land and sea. More than likely by air as well. Sighing to herself as any doubts that Rudkar Cross was not directly involved in this smuggling operation vanished when she saw him walking out of the warehouse below.

          A surge of anger swept through her as she watched him below. He had been toying with her, getting her to lower her guard and trust him. But to what end? Surely there was no way even with having her checked out that he knew that Barbra Gordon was Batgirl. There was no possible way for him to have made that connection unless he had been on his radar far longer that he had been on her radar. Had Batgirl’s true identity been compromised? Not even her own father knew who she was. The only ones that knew outside of Wayne Manor were a couple members of this Justice League that Bruce and some others were working on starting some other for lack of a better term, Heroes, who worked to fight the criminal element and protect the innocent in other cities as they did here in Gotham. In fact, that was where Bruce and Dick were right now.

 

          Her mind went back to the dinner at Cross World Transit. There had to be something that she missed that would have given her a clue. She has let herself be distracted that night. She should not have had the wine or at least not more than one glass. It had dulled her wits. But every time that her glass was lower that half full, either Cross was signaling the waitress to refill it, or she came on her own to refill the glass. And speaking of the waitress, never in her life had she ever came across a woman so docile and utterly submissive in her like. It was almost as if she were a slave.  And with how he had her dressed she might as well been or a waitress in a strip club. She had only seen it for an instant, but it looked like the girl had a tattoo or birth mark on her left thigh just below the hip. It had kept peaking out of the slit in the side of her cocktail dress if you could call it that.

          Then the hairs on the back of her neck were standing up. There had been the faint sound of a boot scraping on the roof top behind her. Someone was behind her. She cursed herself for being so careless again.  It was not like her to be so distracted. She listened and waited pretending to be focused on what was going on down below them on the dock at the entrance to the warehouse. There were three, perhaps four men behind her. Yes they were all men judging by the heavier foot falls of the boots they wore.

          The important question now was were these men sentries that had been moving about and stumbled upon her. Or had she been spotted and these were the men sent up to secure her. The main difference being that if they were sentries then she might have a better than slim chance of neutralizing them and getting away before more arrived from below. If she had been spotted then it was very likely that there would be more men waiting for her should these fail.

          “It’s not polite to sneak up on a lady. Didn’t your mother teach you boys that.” She said with a smile without turning.

          “Neither is sticking your little nose where it doesn’t belong. Batbitch.” Came a gravely male voice from behind her. “Now be a good girl and put your hands behind your back and don’t move.”

          “Now I know that your mother had to have taught you better that to insult a lady by calling her nasty names.” Batgirl sighed in exasperation. “I guess I am just going to have to teach you all again.” Spinning about she reached out and grabbed the night vision goggles of the man closest to her, pulling them away from his face then letting go so that the elastic bands of the head harness strained and cause the goggles to snap back against his face when she let them go. Not a disabling blow but it would disorient him for a few seconds to give her time to go after the other two she now saw.

          As the man stepped back away she swung the back of her hand around to strike at the side of one’s neck as she shifted her balance to high kick to the upper chest or face. Then might actually work out she thought for a split second until she felt three stabbing pricks in her left butt cheek as three darts penetrated the skin of her batsuit and sank into her flesh.

 

          Barbra cursed herself. Did she miscount her attackers, or did the first one recover quicker than expected? Either way she was in a bad place now. Spinning away from them, she swept one hand behind her to knock the darts from her for all the good it would do. They had already bitten into her flesh and delivered their drug to her system. She stumbled and her knees felt weak. Whatever they had just used on her was fast acting. She slowly backed away from them towards a small retaining wall that led to a higher level of the building’s roof.

          She shook her head attempting to clear it, but they slowly walked towards her knowing she was not going anywhere. She threw a weak punch that not only missed but propelled her away from the wall forward and into their waiting arms. Their hand groped and touched her as her cape and utility belt were taken.

          “Shall we take the mask off too?” Asked one of them as she was lowered to the rooftop onto her belly. Helpless to stop them as her wrists were pulled to the small of her back and locked in cuffs.

          “No, I am sure that the Boss would be pissed if we deprived him of the honor of unwrapping Batgirl.” As she felt her feet being pulled back towards her butt, she heard one radioing in that they had captured her. At the same time, she felt a cuff locked about one ankle and held as a chain was looped through the connecting chain of the handcuffs then another cuff locked about her other ankle. She was hog-tied and helpless. The drugs they had used on her would prove to be a blessing as she slipped into unconsciousness before what was to come next. 

There was little chance of the sedatives wearing off before they would have their prize better secured in the warehouse below. But to be safe, a piece of cloth was wadded up and pushed into her mouth then bound in place with a strip of duct tape. It was still unclear if she was alone or not yet. Batman and Robin had not reportedly been seen in the last 48 hours. But that did not mean they were not close by or that one of the other costumed do-gooders. The other sentries and lookouts had been alerted.

          “I have heard that this one is tricky and prone to escape.” One of her captors stated as he knelt on one knee beside her. “I wonder if she is a real fire crotch. I guess we will find out soon enough.” He laughed as he rolled her to her side and started running his hands over her body. Even unconscious, a whimpered moan escaped her as his hands checked around her the plate of her suit.

          “Stop playing with her, damnit!” cursed one of the others.

          “I am not playing with the slut. I am checking her for weapons and lock pick tools.” Then running his hand lower so that he was pressing against the outside of her suit where it covered her pelvic area. This cause the drugged heroine to whimper and squirm more. “She is juicing already, I bet she test paga hot when she is processed.”

          “What makes you think that we won’t just cut her throat?”

          “Have you ever known the Boss,” taking hold of her and pulling her up with him as he rose to his feet. Effortlessly, rotating and placing her over his shoulder with her head to the rear and ass facing forward. Then he continued, “to waste a prime piece of merchandise like this one.”

          With that he turned and carried her to the door leading back into the building.

 

          Rudkar Cross was not pleased when his limo pulled up at the warehouse once more. He had left instructions for Christa to be silked, perfumed, and chained to his bed when he returned from the docks. So, his mood soured when the call came in that something had happened as he was leaving that required him to return to the loading of the cargo for shipment. All that was said was the code for unwanted guest over the radio, so the details were sketchy at best as to what had happened. The radios were scrambled and coded on a secure radio frequency, but he didn’t like to leave anything to chance. No matter how new or good your equipment was, soon as it was out the company that marketed it was working on a way to counter it for your competitors as well as an update to fix what they just sold or something new and better. Whatever it was, had to be important for them to call him, asking for his return, he had good solid lieutenants that didn’t need to be micromanaged.

          Soon as the limo came to a stop two security men flanked and opened the door. Stepping out, Cross paused to scan the area to see if he could spot what the problem was. The forklift was bringing the last wooden shipping crate from the semi that was already having the doors secured and ready to pull away. His eyes followed the forklift to where it lowered the crates before backing away. Soon as it was clear two men stepped up with crowbars and pried open the crate. Once the side panel was removed and taken to the side with the others. A medic was kneeling inside to check the condition of the merchandise within.

          There didn’t seem to be any problem there as the medic stepped back and two handlers took her place and exited the crate with two Latin beauty’s, both nude and still deeply sedated from there trip. There olive skin and black hair they could almost pass for Turian slaves till they spoke. Despite, all the technology and toys available to them, something so simple as being able to deliver the merchandise to the markets already able to speak and understand standard Gorean was still not possible. But then there was always the psychological factor of the slaves not only learning that they were now slaves but also forced to learn the native language of their masters to be considered. That tool in itself could be enough to stop any work on subliminal training for the slaves while still in hibernation chambers for shipment. He had to admit that he preferred the hands on training and breaking of a new slave to her collar himself.

          The two newly uncrated slaves were carried over and laid out on the floor of the warehouse with the eighteen other new slaves already laid out and waiting to have their anklets scanned and checked in and then sedated again if needed before being loaded into the transport chambers. Once in the chambers a mixture of oxygen and sedative would be pumped into the chamber for their trip ensuring that they did not wake up till their masters wished them too. The chambers would then be loaded into specially constructed steel shipping containers that would carry six chambers each. The containers would be loaded onto the deck of ship with others like it listed as carrying farming equipment for a distant country.

          Cross World Transit was a legitimate shipping cooperation and very successful. But it was also a great cover for the movement of slaves around the world and other places. This particular shipment of slaves was part of a larger consignment. This part was going to the markets of Cos. While the rest was destined for the Steel Worlds, which he did not wish to think about.

          “Everything seems to be going as it should.” Turning to one of his lieutenants.

          “The intruder our sentries caught is secure over there away from the others, Mr. Cross.” The man pointed to a group of men standing in a group a short distance away. Cross had noticed them and was about to ask about them next. The lieutenant motioning the way, Cross followed him over. When they reached to group of men, they parted like the Red Sea for Moses for him. In the center of circle of men was a lone figure. A woman. Chained in a hogtie configuration on her belly still wearing her form fitted latex body suit, was the flame haired crime fighter that he had been hearing about known as Batgirl.

Seeing their boss one of the men watching knelt down the sedated heroine and broke a smelling salts capsule under her nose. Almost instantly the chains of the restraints with tight as the cuffs locked on her wrists and ankles pulled to the limits allowed and muffled muted cries erupted from her taped mouth as she wiggled and squirmed on the concert floor for their entertainment. Cross himself thought that the batsuit she wore for the moment showed off the sweetness of her assets very nicely. The laughter and comments of those watching only infuriated their guest even more.

 

          Cross knew that now she had seen their operations that she would have to be neutralized. Meaning that she needed to vanish without a trace as they would start looking for her. The sooner the better, given that there was no way of knowing if others were with her or knew of her location and activities. He was standing behind her, so she was not aware of his presence yet. The most human thing to do to such a talented heroine would be to simply slit her throat and the dump her body in the ocean from one of the ships scheduled to sail in the next hour. The cruelest being to ship her to one of the Steel Worlds to be added to the herd of human cows, there her best hope would be to found pleasing enough to become the pet of one of the Kurii masters or slave one of their human mercenaries. It that didn’t happen she would eventually find herself in the slaughter pens as food for the Beasts. Looking at the promise hidden by her clothing, he decided that it would be a waste of a flame hair. He stepped around so that she could see him and noted that she had involuntarily gasped as she recognized him. Interesting he thought.

          “You didn’t need to go through all this trouble Batgirl. I would have been more than happy to give you the deluxe tour and arranged passage for you.” Cross smiled as he squatted down and placed a finger under her chin lifting and holding it so that she had to look at him. “Now there are two ways for this to go, pretty one. You answer my questions immediately and honestly and I will not have to use methods that you will not enjoy to get the answers. Either way you will tell me what I need to know. You may whimper once for yes and twice for no. Do you understand?” He smiled. Batgirl only glared back at him. At least till she felt the sharp painful bite of leather strap striking her left buttock. Which caused her to scream into her gag. “Now, let’s try this again, Do you understand?”

          Batgirl refused to respond after two more bites of the leather upon her body. Tears were rolling down her face as she breathed heavily through her nose determined not to whimper for Cross even though she knew she was on her own and at his mercy. Cross eyed her with admiration and a little respect, many would have submitted and obeyed after the first taste of the leather. But then did he really expect anything less from the masked heroine that had found herself at the mercy of some of the most vindictive and vicious criminal masterminds in the world. He glanced at his Rolex, a little over an hour had passed since she was captured. If others were present then they would have attempted to rescue her by now. Intelligence had her male counterparts out of the city for the next two day. Leaving her the sole caped crusader in Gotham at the moment.

          His information could be wrong. But his instincts told him that it wasn’t. She was enduring the punishment and humiliation while she bought time hoping for a weakness she could exploit to escape. One of his lieutenants leaned in to inform him that her Batgirl cycle had been located not far from the front gate to the docks. Everything pointed to she came in alone not knowing what she was getting herself into. Shame, shame Batgirl he thought.

          “One thing that I have never understood,” Cross said as he squatted down and lifted her chin once more looking at her. “I know that you and your two male counterparts have been captured many times in the past. Yet no one has unmasked any of you as of yet. It seems to me that once your true identity is known that your career is over.” Now the fear showed in her jade eyes as she cried no into her gag pleading for him not to as a booted foot held her in place as the cowl was peeled off her head revealing her to all present. Cross laughed and grinned. “Well, hello, Barbra.”

Brabra’s heart sank and she was sick to her stomach. In a instant she had went from being helplessly chained in a hogtie that she couldn’t get out of as long as she was watched. To having her identity exposed to the world or soon would be. Her career as Batgirl was done. She looked up at Rudkar Cross and wondered if he would be content with exposing her to the world or if he would have her killed as well. Who was she kidding, he was a smuggler kingpin, even with her identity exposed she could still testify against him and put him behind bars for a long time if she was allowed to live.

          “I must say that this is a pleasant surprise, Barbra.” Cross smiled in satisfaction. “But I think that it is safe to say that your cavalry is not going to ride in to save you. So, I think we can remove your muzzle.” He chuckled as he carefully pealed back the tape that covered her mouth. Then he pulled the cloth from her mouth as well.

          “Don’t count on that, Cross!” she snapped back.

          “I think I am fairly confident that the money I am paying to those criminal lunatics the Joker and the Riddler to stay out of this part of town as well to report on the movements of your friend Batman are accurate. You were the wild card that I underestimated. I didn’t think that you were even on to my operations yet. Nor that you would be come after me on your own if you did.” Looking over to one of his men. “Sedate her just enough to take the fight out of her. Then strip her and resecure her in the chains. I will be back in thirty minutes. I have something to arrange, I don’t want her or that batsuit damaged.” Barbra started to say something but a cloth soaked with something was placed over her mouth and nose and fight as she might her resistance quickly gave way to feeling like she was moving through water or living in slow motion.

 

          Barbra was not sure how much time had passed when she shook off the groggy feeling that had came over her. However, when she did she was slumped as far forward as she could given the way she was restrained, looking down at her own naked body that was kneeling on the cold concrete floor. A wooden dowel had been placed between her teeth and held in place by what felt like a leather thong against the sides of her face. She saw that leather cuffs had been fastened about her lower thighs just above the knees to which a metal spreader bar had been attached forcing her to keep her thighs painfully wide and open exposing her more intimate region for all to see. Her ankles had been crossed and bound by some sort of cord. Finally, she found that she was held upright by her arms being passed over a metal bar placed against her back. Her wrists had then been pulled back forward and locked in leather cuffs held before her body by a light metal chain that pressed into her stomach. The metal bar was sit in brackets on post placed to her left and right.

          Barbra marveled and cursed the system that held her at the same time. She marveled at how efficient the system was as she was helpless to do anything. While cursing that there was literally nothing that she could do to free herself. She couldn’t stand to lift herself off the brackets. She couldn’t reach the cuffs that held her to work the locks even if she wasn’t stripped and had nothing to pick a lock with.

          A sudden chill ran down her spine as something that she had not considered before came to mind. She has assumed that Cross and his people were snuggling something of value such as drugs, weapons, even bootlegged merchandise. But given the effectiveness and expertise they had used to secure her. They very well could be dealing in a softer, more fragile, and perishable form of goods. She remember the woman that had been serving their dinner that night in his private dining room. She had been extremely subservient almost, slave like.

          “My Barbra you are even more lovely than I imagined.” Cross smiled as he walked back to where she was restrained on her knees. “I will not lie. When you left the dining room that night your name was placed on a target of opportunity acquisition list. Given your father’s position just abducting you would cause problems.” He smiled and paused. “But then you served yourself up to me on a silver platter.”

          Barbra growled and mumbled something into the bit gag in her mouth that could not be understood. At a nod from Cross one of the men stepped up and loosened the thong holding the dowel rod in her mouth and removed it.

          “What are you going to do with me!” Barbra demanded.

          “Do you remember at dinner when I mentioned an old saying where I come from?” Cross smiled.

          “Yes, What does that have to do with anything?”

          “Curiosity is not becoming in a kajira.” Taking two items from one of the men at his side. He walked to the restrained girl before him. Squatting down with some sort of red grease pencil, he made a couple marks on her left breast. The adjusting himself snapped and locked a steel anklet on her left ankle. Her eyes went wide as she recalled the girl that had served them had a steel anklet on her left ankle as well.

          “What is a kajira?” she asked not sure she wanted to know.

          “See still curious, but we will break you of that at my villa.” At that moment, the bar she was bound to was lifted from it’s brackets and she was lowered to her belly on the floor. She felt a stabbing pain in her left buttock as she saw several of the men carrying a clear plastic tube across the warehouse towards a shipping container. Inside was a naked sleeping woman. Then she saw another as her eyes grew heavy.

          Barbra Gordon was in no condition to resist as she was freed of her restraints and then loaded into a transport chamber of her own. She saw everything that was happening, but the drug had robbed her of the ability to speak or control her own body as she laid inside the tube and watched herself being loaded with the others. Inside the container hoses were attached to her tube and a mixture of oxygen and sedative were pumped in as she drifted off.

          “What about her stuff?” asked a Lieutenant.

          “You strip now!” Cross pointed to one of the female operatives with blondish red hair.

          “But..” she started to protest.

          “Do you want to join them?” He pointed to the shipment of slaves. The woman shook her head no. “Good them get naked and put on the Batgirl costume now!”

          “What do you have in mind?” the same lieutenant asked.

          “From a distance, it’s possible that none will suspect that she is not Batgirl. Have her ride the Bat-cycle around for at least 30 minutes. Dump it in one of the known crime bosses areas where it will be found. Take the wench to a different bosses area and leave the outfit there to be found. I want Batman and the Police Commissioner to think they killed their precious Batgirl and did something to Barbra Gordon.”

          “What about her?” he pointed to the woman putting on the Batgirl suit.

          “She has not been with us long enough to be properly vetted. She’s a liability and lose end. So, once she is naked in the van, process her like a new capture. She can wake up in the slave pens too.” Rudkar Cross thought for a moment. “Male or female, anyone that has not been vetted gets shipped. One wrong word and our house of cards will crumble. I want nothing that will tie Barbra Gordon or Batgirl to us.” He let out a long sigh. “Much as I would love to keep her cowl and belt as trophies. It’s best that they end up as evidence against the Riddler or Joker that drawing questions here or in Cos.”

          Beside, Rudkar thought to himself, why do I need them when I will have her as my slave.

 

 

Curiosity Caught the Bat

 

 

Curiosity Caught the Bat

A stand alone Batgirl on Gor Fanfiction. It is a blending of the DC Batgirl canon as well as the Gor series of John Norman. 

Prologue

 

          The server leaned over the table filling her glass once more. Barbra could not remember the last time that she had more than one glass of wine with dinner let alone three. She glanced at the server, the woman was average height and slender with a good figure. Something that couldn’t be missed as she was wearing only a form fitting black cocktail dress that reveal most of her as it had a low revealing neckline and the hem fell high on her thighs, with slits on both sides. Her brown hair was wore loose and the only jewelry that she wore was a metal anklet on her left ankle and a necklace with a letter ‘k’ pendant.

          It struck Barbra strange when she noticed that as well as that the woman wore no rings and no wristwatch. But she did have gold hoop earrings. The woman also didn’t say any more than was needed and then it was short and to the point always ending with “Yes, Sir” or “Yes, Miss”. It was almost like she dared not say anything more that needed to be said else she would be in trouble. But then this wasn’t a public restaurant. She was seated across from Rudkar Cross in his private dining room in Cross World Transit building overlooking Gotham Harbor. As a rule, she didn’t accept invitations to private dinners from men that she didn’t know. That was more that the Batgirl side of her being very cautious. She had been around most of the wealthy playboys of Gotham society as the close friend of billionaire Bruce Wayne and daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon. They had both been very helpful in pointing out the ones to be weary of.

          But it wasn’t a date, she was attempting to learn anything she could as Barbra instead of Batgirl concerning a group of smugglers that had moved into Gotham and working out of Gotham Harbor. They had been operating for months before she even had a hint of their presences. Then it was only when she detected a pattern that had formed. There had been a drastic drop off in criminal activity in the Harbor District. The small time operators were still active. But the larger organizations and criminal masterminds had avoided that district. She had mentioned it in passing to her father, who had laughed and told her not to look a gift horse in the mouth as it allowed the Department to shift resources to other areas that had been stretched thin. She had mentioned it to Bruce and Dick as well, but neither of them seemed overly concerned either. Bruce saying to observe and monitor the area but not to spend a lot of time on it. That there were too many other crises to deal with.

          However, Barbra could not just let it go as something told her that there was something that they all were missing. What had happened that even the Joker was avoiding that area. The Clown Prince of Crime was notorious for running them all over Gotham. Only now everywhere but the harbor and docks. She has spent several late nights on the web looking for anything. The only thing she had found was that the trend started to form a couple months after Cross World Transit had established their hub in Gotham.

          Cross World Transit was huge and a rising giant in the shipping industry. They had established offices in every major seaport and shipping hub in the United States as well as most of the rest of the world. While they had their fingers in overland and air shipping, they predominately specialized in cargo ships.

          One thing that Barbra had noticed in her research on the corporation was that they were not only not bothered by the criminal elements in Gotham. But their ships were not harassed on the seas in areas known for pirate activities. One possible reason could be the rumors that CWT ships carried extra crew and weapons to ensure that they were only attacked once. There was legality about this, however no weapons had been found when any of the searches had been conducted. Nor had there been any witness’s come forward to make formal charges. Although, there had also been some unrest in the regions where the pirate activity was the worse. Several new leaders amongst the warlords had come to power suddenly.

          Very thing that Barbra could find said that Rudkar Cross and Cross World Transit was a clean as a whistle and everything they claimed to be. So why could she not just leave it at that? Why did she feel the need to dig deeper? On the surface, Rudkar Cross was no different from Bruce Wayne. Maybe he was a new and yet unseen crime fighting superhero she laughed to herself.

          “Was something funny, Miss Gordon?” Rudkar Cross smiled a very charming and dashing smile at her.

          “No, not really I suppose. Just a thought about how similar you seem to be to Bruce Wayne.” She answered mostly honestly.

          “Then I will take that as a compliment, Miss Gordon. I have met Mr. Wayne a few times and he seems to be a decent sort if not a little reserved at time.” He motioned to the girl that the glasses needed refilled once more. Instantly, the server appeared and topped off both of their wine glasses. Again, she was struck by how beautiful and graceful the woman served their wine. But more than that she was utterly submissive and obedient to her employers wishes. Rudkar smiled as he watched her watching the girl as she walked away from the table. “She is lovely isn’t she, Barbra.”

          “Yes, she is very beautiful,” she answered without thinking. She hadn’t noticed that this time he had not addressed her as formally as he had before.

          “I am sure that with the proper training and conditioning I have no doubt that you can be just as skilled and beautiful as Christa.” Rudkar leaned back in his chair and smiled.

          “What?” she asked not sure that she had heard him right.

          “I was saying,” leaning in and sliding her glass of wine to her for her to drink. “What can Cross Worlds Transit do for you, Barbra. “I may call you Barbra can’t I” He smiled.

          “What? Of course you may.” Shaking it off.

          “You will have to forgive me. English is not my native tongue.” He let his eyes linger over the curvature of her toned and trim body with an knowing and appraising look. Then before she could pursue the subject, he moved on cutting her off. “When I received your message I was curious as to what I could do for the Gotham Municipal Library. Specifically, the Research and Documentation division of the Library.” She must have failed to conceal her surprise with the expression on her face that he knew exactly which part of the Library that Barbra Gordon worked in. She has only given her name and that she was with the Library and wished to speak with him.

          “In my line of work, Barbra is pays to know with whom one is talking to and dealing with.” He went on, “Barbra Jean Gordon, only daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon and the late Barbra Kean Gordon. You have an Eidetic Memory, graduated with a PhD in Library Sciences and a minor in Computer Science from an Ivy League College, top of your class. You run the Research and Documentation division of the Gotham Municipal Library. You live lone and have no pets. Did I miss anything?” He smiled adding to himself her physical attributes that made her very stunning and desirable. She would indeed look very nice assisting Christa serving in the dining room as she normally did when there was no outside guest.

          “You seem to have done your homework on me, Mr. Cross.” She said carefully so as not to betray anything. She thought for an instant then ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. “I thought it would be a good idea to get with you as form time to time, the Library needs to have valuable and historic items shipped to and from Gotham. They require special handling as well as very strict security.”

          “As I said before, I like to know who I am dealing with.” He smiled his best disarming smiles. His eyes still continued to roam over her curves appraising her. This one was a definitely a prime candidate for his list. But the fact that she was the daughter of the Police Commissioner made for a messy complication. If he was only here to collect and move on, then he would seriously consider her. But he had spend a great deal of time and expense sitting up operations here so the last thing he wished was unwanted attention. “You checked out very well. And your credentials are most impressive. If you ever get bored with the library. I am sure that I can find something for you to do around here.” He smiled.

          “That is very flattering, but I am very happy with my work.” She smiled in return.

          “Then I will just have to settle for these informal working diners. And I can assure you that CWT takes great pride in the most valuable and fragile cargo arrived safely and undamaged.” He motioned to the server once more who approached and refilled the wine glasses. “So, what do you think of the wine?”

          “It is very good,” Barbra sipped at her glass. It was extremely good wine. And she had way too much of it. She forgot when the last time she had allowed herself to have more than one or two glasses. “I don’t believe that I know the vintage.”

          “I am not surprised. I am sure that you have never tasted anything like it before. This bottle was made from grapes grown on villa and prepared a special way.”

          “Where is you villa?” She was asking out curiosity more than anything else.

          “Aw, we have a saying where I come from that curiosity in pretty girls such as you.” Rudkar smiled. Then continued, “It is on a island far from here that is so remote and small you have never heard of it. But it a place of great beauty.”

          “The way you talk of it, I think that I would like to see it sometime.” She smiled, not sure if that was her being polite, or the wine talking.

          “Oh, trust me, my dear. If you were to be there and see it for yourself. You would find it very difficult to leave.” Glancing over her shoulder to someone behind her. “But if you will excuse me, I have to tend to something. Until next time, Barbra.”

          “It was a pleasure to meet you, Rudkar. Thank you for diner and the excellent wine. I look forward to working with you in the future.” Barbra stood just a little off balance. But instantly she regained her composure and balance as the adrenaline rush from her training kicked in to counter the effects of the wine. She will definitely need to watch herself with the wine on future visits. She could tell that her senses were dulled enough that she may walk with grace and composure, but melee fighting would be out of the question.

          “Yes, I look forward very much to working with you, Barbra. My aid will get you a cab. Good evening.” Rudkar smiled. As the aid appeared by her side to escort her from the building. Barbra almost felt as if she had been just dismissed in the same manner as he had the server in the dining room. As she exited the room, out of the corner of her eyes she noticed the server Christa returning to the table.

 

          “She was very pretty, Master.” Christa said softly as she knelt by the table. Then softly giggled. “I thought Master was going to tell her that curiosity is not becoming in a kajira.”

          “Yes,” Rudkar laughed, “I almost did.”

          “I am surprised that she was taken to the taxi stand downstairs and not to the special ‘guest’ quarters to start her stay, Master. Is she to be added to the list for the next shipment?”

          “Christa,” giving the kneeling girl a stern look. “What was just said about curiosity and kajira?” Noting the girl’s instant dropping of her eyes and loss of her smile after being corrected. “But you are right, she would make a beautiful slave. And only her status as daughter of the Police Commissioner keeps her from starting a new life right away.” He paused as he imagined Barbra Gordon stripped in a slave collar serving his dinner and Kalana. “But if the right circumstances present themselves, she will be.”

Happy New Year

 From the desk of Paladin

This is a little late, but I would like to wish everyone a safe and prosperous 2026

God Bless and Godspeed

Paladin

From the Desk of Paladin December 26, 2025

 From the Desk of Paladin

I hope that everyone had a safe and Merry Christmas.

Updates:

Ragenta: I hope that everyone has enjoyed the final Act of No Good Deed. On reflection, this will be the last story with her as Lady Ragenta, Slaver of Victoria. I have taken her back to fill in as much of what led up to her Move to Ar as I feel is possible. The next adventure with feature the slave girl Genta{Atilas} an the events with her and her Master in his new Slave house in Ar.

All that I will say at the moment is that as we saw at the end of Moves to Ar, Atilas was true to his word that if he found Ragenta playing slave girl again, she would be branded and remain a slave. Now Genta is personally owned slave assigned with the training of the slaves of her master's house. she may remain behind when he travels as his eyes and ears in the house, or she may travel with him opening up all sorts of new windows. Who knows Atilas may have dealings at some point with the Slaver Scipio Metellus. 

And I will confirm that we have not seen the last of Leta and Sena/Invidia.

Darterra: I am still fishing out plans and ideas for Book IV in this series. It is taking longer because the story will be splitting up some with different characters following different path as well as new characters joining the parties. It is safe to say that Rafe and his people are working to start a resistance to the Cristo Corporation and be a major thorn in their side.

I like to play things out in my mind before writing them out so they flow better. But trust me you will love it.

Barataria is in much the same boat as Darterra, no pun intended. The basic story line is there, just a matter of sitting down and ironing out the characters 

Curiosity Caught the Bat

With all the time that I have been putting into my artwork on DA, I have been doing a lot with Batgirl. And anyone that follows me there knows that Batgirl and Harley are two of my favorites. Sorry no, Harley will not be going on this trip.

Years ago I used to follow a writer when Yahoo had their groups you could follow and join, who had a character called Kate Starbuck. Kate was a barbie doll daredevil that was an investigator for a large insurance company if I remember correctly. Kate had a talent for finding herself in one or more Perils of Pauline type dangers once per investigation. Lots of tied to a log in a sawmill and things like that. One that stuck out was when another writer barrowed her for something different. This was a series of stories about a wealthy Don who lived on his private island in the Med. Where he had many lovely slaves that he purchased off the black market. Curious Kate was caught checking up on thefts on the docks and found herself not in a sawmill, but a slave of the Don's.

I saw one of the old saved files and it hit me! Why not have Batgirl thinking she is just taking down black market smugglers find that they are actually Kurii slavers and she just walked into the middle of a shipment with no back up. 

I think it has a lot of potential and hope that you all enjoy it

 

Lady Ragenta: No Good Deed Act 5 the finale Bitter Reunion

 Lady Ragenta

in

No Good Deed

Act 5 the finale

"Bitter Reunion"

        Ragenta made her way through the streets of Victoria as Genta the slave of the House of Chains. As before no one paid her any attention as they saw her as just another pretty slave out on a errant for her owner. She did not like having to do this, but circumstances has left her with no choice. After returning to the House of Chains from the Victoria auction house with Atilas, they had spent the evening together talking. He had once again told her that he did not want to hear of her playing slave girl in public again. It was too dangerous for her to dance so close to the line she was sure to fall over.

          Ragenta had assured him over and over that she was only doing it to accomplish things she couldn’t do as Ragenta. That she had no burning need or desire to become a kajira. She wasn’t sure how convincing she had been as at the time she was attempting to reassure him of this, she was straddling his lap wearing pleasure silks. Definitely not proper attire for a proper free woman to wear. But there had been no collar on her neck at the time, and she was in private with the man she has rekindled a old flame with. She had heard the barbarians use a term that went the ‘genie was out of the bottle’ she thought it went. The slave had to explain what a genie was and why it was in a bottle. But it was an amusing tale that had entertained her at the time.

          It was uncertain, how the relationship between her and Atilas would develop. But she was sure that they were be more that casual business partners from now on. So, she had promised him that she would not disguise herself as a slave again.  Only then Atilas had to leave for Ar to finalize the deal for the new Slave House. Spectus, who was usually more of a hindrance that help, was still out of town. So, the daily running of the house had fallen to her. Nothing unusual in that other than the inquiries to purchasing the slave called Ginger from the Fowled Anchor had went very well. Sirus had made out very nicely and not gotten too greedy knowing the interest in the slave.

          Arrangements were made for the slave to be delivered to Dantor’s laboratory. The handler would lock her in a kennel and leave. Sena would stay there secured in the cage until Ragenta arrived and released her. The plan was simple enough but did not go as it should have. Ragenta had not been able to leave the house to let her out. The caretaker that Ragenta had hired did however check on the building and the slave once a day. Not being told otherwise, the woman let the slave out of the cage, fed and water her, let her clean herself and her cage, as well as the house before she was put back into the cage for the night.

It was highly unlikely that Sena had even known where she was until she was let out of her cage. She had been wearing a slave hood when she was delivered to the laboratory. It would not have been removed until she was knelt at the door of the kennel, removed, and told to enter the grill locked behind her. There always was the chance Sena might have seen something from the grill door of her kennel that she recognized. She had been in this dwelling many times Ragenta was sure over the years. Dantor had been the only master that had owned her until the raid.

But if Sena knew where she was at or not was moot, Ragenta had found and bought her sister. Soon as she reached the laboratory, she would release Sena from her cage. She would remove the collar from her sister’s neck and set her free. The papers had been drawn up and she had signed them. They were in the documents to be filed with the city Administrator’s office. There were papers showing the slave in question had been sold to local river captain, who had then sold her to a merchant, who sold her to the Lady Andraus. Lady Andraus had then freed the slave on paper. Papers had also been drawn up for Lady Invidia as well as a purse heavy enough that her sister need not worry about anything for some time.

At the moment, if it were not for concern on how Atilas would take the news of her slipping out as a slave after he had forbid her to do so again. The day would be perfect. Soon her sister would be free, they would get to know one another. Ragenta still wasn’t sure it would be safe for Sena, or soon to be Invidia to remain close to her after the villa attack. But she would let her decided if she wanted to stay or move on. They might search for their mother together. Or Ragenta could finance Invidia’s search for that matter About the only thing that Ragenta didn’t think she had covered was if Sena wanted to remain a slave. But somehow after their encounter in the Fowled Anchor, she was pretty sure that would not be a consideration.

It was taking longer that she had planned on. When Ragenta arrived at the knot string was pulled in so the woman she had hired to be check on the laboratory and living area was still in the building. They had met only once and then Ragenta had been wearing her hood and veils, so the woman had never seen her face and hair. But she might find something familiar about her voice. Not to mention how closely she resembled the slave in the kennel. Ragenta didn’t think that the woman would put her the kennels as well. But it’s better not to take unnecessary risks at this point. And giving the hired woman reason to question why two slaves looked so much alike was unnecessary.

Ragenta, or the slave Genta had taken up a place at the entrance to one of the side allies where she could watch the main entrance to the building. She hoped that this would not take too long. Because while this part of the city was safe enough, it was not wise for a slave girl to dally too long in one place. She had heard stories over the years of girls that were pulled into side alley’s and forced to yield and serve groups of adolescent males looking for fun. If that happened, she would have to obey and do as they said. The girls once they were done were usually sent home with their garments tied about their necks and hands bound behind them. Ragenta had no desire to return to the House of Chains like that and give anyone any reason to do more than check her collar number off the list.

There was a slight chance that she could be captured to be sold. But the theft of slaves was seriously frowned upon and carried heavy penalties. But it was also a river port so females free and slave were known to vanish only to be sold in a market in another port. No, her biggest risk was being detained and question why she was lingering in this area. Again, this would mean her being returned by Guardsmen to the House of Chains on their leash and turned over to sentry and scribe at the door. Because there had been an issue, she would not allowed to simply go to her assigned housing or work area. No, she would remain on a leash and taken to one of the slave Masters to look into the matter and punish her if needed. Which there would be punishment if a house slave was brought back by the Victorian Guard. Soon, as she was stripped at the whipping post, the lack of brand would be noted and someone would remember that there had been a slave without a brand at the sale house recently, And she was a red head too wasn’t she. Before Atilas could return to enforce his promise not to release her again. She would marked and likely moved to the common slave pens. It was very likely that she would be back at the auction house before anyone knew what happened to Lady Ragenta.

Then the she saw the woman leaving the building and sitting the signature knot on the door. Ragenta waited for a few ehn before moving. She wanted to back sure that the woman didn’t come right back for something she had forgotten. Thinking that it was safe, Ragenta left the alley and moved to the door, her finger deftly work the knots. The door open she moves in and quickly closes and bars the door to prevent anyone from entering.

Standing the side of the kennel out of sight and opening the lock, Ragenta tries to deepen her voice and calls out, “Out of the kennel slave!” trying hard not to giggle.

Sena crawled from her kennel quickly as a conditioned response knowing only that the door had opened and someone had ordered her out. Once she was out of the small kennel, out of reflex she knelt back on her heels, as she heard a female voice she kept her thighs closes but her hand resting atop them, her hair was pulled back, and she wore a red house tunic with her slave collar. Ragenta stepped around her and smiled with her hands on her hips.

“You do clean up pretty good, little sister.” She smiled at the kneeling girl.

“What? You!” Sena twisting and looking at the speaker. Seeing her sister standing their smiling wearing a white house slave tunic and a collar.

“Just me, Sena,” Ragenta smiled and holding her hand out to help her sister off her knees. “I said that I would make arrangements for you to be bought from that place.”

“When you said that you would ask your Master to buy me. I didn’t believe you.” Sena still wrapping her mind around her and the sister she has despised for so long being owned by the same Master. She would definitely have to learn to get along with her as while Master seldom bother with the squabbles of slaves, they would not tolerate drama or foolishness as they saw it disrupting their house. If the slave whip didn’t take care of it, then slaves are bought and sold all the time. She has just changed owners. And her sister had been the slave of their Master long enough to influence him to buy another slave that was her sister. “So, we both belong to Atilas the Slaver?”

   

“Well, not exactly,” Ragenta fidgeted a little. “For the moment, you belong to me.”

“What?” taken back by that, looking at her older sister. “How can that be? You are a slave too, you wear a collar and slave tunic. You are owned. You fell slave at the villa when mother and I were taken.”

“But I didn’t fall slave that day. I almost did. But I didn’t” Ragenta said softly.

“You wear a collar, you are a slave!” Sena insisted.

“I am not a slave. I wear this collar that I put on to move about sometime. It is the collar of the House of Chains that I part own. I arranged for you to be purchased and brought here. Dantor left his possessions to me and dying breath was for me to find you and mother and free you.”

“But I saw you wearing only a collar in the Fowled Anchor. You had just pleasures your Master?” Sena looked at her in disbelief. She had to be a slave. Surely she could not still be playing her games after they had resulted in the theft of her and mother and Master Dantor’s death. She hadn’t known for sure that he was dead till just now. But from where she knelt in the slave coffle, she had watched him fall with a wound that could have only been mortal.

“I had to find you and the only way for me to see if you or mother were there was to enter the tavern as if I were a slave.” She sighed. “I begged Atilas for help, to take me there. His did not approve and kept me under complete slave discipline the entire time. He held nothing back and I was treated as if I were his slave in all ways.” Blushing and lowering her eyes. “Even to serving his pleasure in the furs.”

The little slut! Sena thought, she had been forced to submit and yield to the lust and pleasures of any man who paid for a cup of paga. While her sister had been playing slave girl and squirming in the furs of her business partner. She had heard Master and mother talking about the dangerous game that Ragenta had been playing. The whole reason for her trip to the villa was in the hopes that she would get a taste of the collar she courted. Master was dead, mother and her had been sold in separate sales so who knew where she was. And the little Tatrix was still playing slave girl.

“I have seen Master Atilas, and that must have been so hard for you to serve his pleasures.” Sena said dryly. “So now what happens? How does one in a collar arrange to buy another slave or does as I suspect this collar comes off when you wish it?”

“The collar of house slave 74586 known as Genta is assigned to Lady Ragenta as a personal slave. I wear the collar to move about unnoticed when Lady Ragenta cannot leave the house for whatever reason. Usually because someone has to be in the house and the other partners are away. Like this morning.”

“So, you have the key on you and can remove the collar yourself any time you wish?” Sena had worn a collar locked on her since she started puberty. The only time in her life after that one was not worn was when she was pretending to be this little slut. Even then she wore an anklet that identified her as slave.

“Not on me,” Genta laughed. “That would be foolish and risky. It might be lost. But I kept one here, one at another location,” No need to tell her about her alias Lady Andraus just yet, “and back in my chambers at the House of Chains.” As she spoke Genta moved to a false panel in a cabinet and removed a key moving back to stand in front of her sister.

“So, you can remove your collar if you wish right now?” Sena asked curiously.

“No,” Genta thought as she reach to move Sena’s hair out of the way to insert the key. “I had to give the one I had here to Atilas prior to going to the tavern that day. I can’t remove the collar right now till I am able to return to my chambers in the house and alone.” The key turned, the lock opened on Sena’s collar.

“So,” Sena choosing her words carefully as a plan formed in her mind. “Then till you return to the house and retrieve the key. You are unable to remove it.” She felt the slave collar being removed from her neck. The first time her neck had not worn a slave collar in many years. “It is like you are a slave yourself while wearing it.”

“I pretty much am as far as anyone who sees me like this is concerned.” Ragenta laughed as she turn to lay the discarded slave collar on a shelf. “I have to admit. That between learning about you and mother being slaves. And how I am seen and treated while I am wearing this collar. I have a different outlook on slaves that I used to have. I have some papers drawn up for you with a new name. Just in case someone was trying to get me that day.”

“I happen to like the name Sena, but I suppose that it is a slaves name isn’t it, Genta” Smiling as she addressed her older sister by her slave name. “In a way you are lucky”

“How is that?” Ragenta turned an walked back to her sister.

“I have never been a free woman before, where you already have insight into being a slave” Sena smiled wickedly.

“What?” Ragenta puzzled.

“You are not too bright, you will have to get smarter.” Sena laughed. “Did you not just free me and those papers on the table state that I am a free woman now?”

“Well, yes those are your papers and there is a wallet with ten gold tarns. With that much you can pretty much go and do as you please for a while as long as you don’t get to extravagant with your spending. I know having your own coins will be strange at first, but I am sure you will get used to it. And I am sure that I can help you get more if and when you need it.” Ragenta softly laughed.

“You are very casual in how you speak to me, Genta” Sena said coldly.

“Excuse me?”

“You just acknowledged that I am free did you not?” she asked snuggly.

“Yes, you are free and no longer a slave, Sena.” Ragenta answered, not sure what was happening.

“Sena?” her sister quirked an eyebrow. “I will get back to that. What is that you have on your neck?”

“A slave collar,” Ragenta responded as a cold chill ran down her spine.

“Can you remove it?” Sena smiled.

“No, I don’t have the key with me.” Not liking where this was going.

“What does the collar say on it’s inscription?” Sena could read it herself but wanted to hear the words said aloud. She might have been born a slave, but she had been given a better education that many free children.

“Slave 74586, Property of the House of Chains, Victoria” Ragenta said barely above a whisper.

“Then if you are not able to remove it and it proclaims the wearer as a slave and Property of the House of Chains. Then that makes you a slave now doesn’t it, girl” Sena’s words are hard and cold. Ragenta start to speak but the back of Sena’s hand sent her to the floor. “Kneel and address me property, slave.”

Ragenta paused for a moment taken back at this. The tone of Sena's voice was deadly serious. Was her sister really commanding her as if she were a slave? She was her older sister and the Slaver Lady Ragenta one of the owners of the House of Chains. But there was no mirth in her sister’s gaze.

“That is not amusing, Sena. Who do you think you are to talk to me like that and give me commands like I am a simple slave girl.” Ragenta’s temper flared.

“I am now a free woman of Victoria. And I am talking to a collared slave girl, a pretty one that is not too bright, but a collared slave, nonetheless. Now unless you can remove that collar, you have half a heartbeat to get on your knees and beg my forgiveness. Or I shall take that slave goad off the wall and correct a stupid slave.” The tone was low and even with almost a hint of a dare as Sena answered.

Ragenta eyed the hanging slave goad. She had never felt the receiving end of one of the devices but was very familiar with it’s effects.  Thoughts and plans raced through her mind. Sena was right she was locked in a slave collar that she could not remove. It proclaimed her as a slave of the House of Chains. She wanted to fight but locked in the collar on her neck made those evaporate into the air around her. She felt that she had a better that average chance of winning. But winning would require either restraining Sena to one of the slave rings mounted in the wall or getting her back inside the kennel and locking the grill door. It would also require that the same things didn’t happen to her. That or Sena did not get to the slave goad or whip that were hanging ready from wall pegs. Worse case was that some heard them fighting and thinking that vandals were inside called for guardsmen. That would not go well, as she wore a collar and while Sena didn’t she was branded and still in a slave tunic. Both of them would be seen as slaves, and either locked in separate slave kennels or leashed and braceleted before being returned to the House of Chains. Sena’s freedom would be very short lived and Ragenta’s would be over.

It could be that Sena just wanted to make her miserable and treat her as a slave for a short time. It would not be pleasant, but resisting could ensure that she stayed in this collar or one like it. Slowly she lowered to her knees in the position of a tower slave. Sena was now a free woman after all.

“Good, girl. Leasha!” Sena commanded. Instantly Ragenta turned her head to the side and placed her wrists crossed in the small of her back. Sena left her long enough to fetch a set of slave bracelets which secured her wrists behind her. Then she snapped a leash on her collar that she tethered her to one of the slave rings. Then Sena turned to walk away laughing. “Don’t go anywhere little slave”

Ragenta watched as her sister strolled from the room leaving her secured to the wall. This was not good. It then occurred to her that she never really had met her sister until that day she ran into the slave called Ginger at the Fowled Anchor she had known about her for several hands and seen her being taken at the Villa. But not talked to her till the tavern. Mother had warned her before the Villa attack that Sena had some animosity towards her. But what she was feeling and just seen was hatred. Ragenta pulled at the slave bracelets locking her wrists behind her back. She knew it was fruitless, as they were designed to hold someone like her in prefect security. Obeying and allowing herself to be so restrained was the quickest way to avoid a physical confrontation. But it also left her at the mercy of her estranged sister. Only made worse by the damned collar that she had locked on her own neck. She had been so focused on freeing her sister and the reunion she had imagined. That she had not considered that Sena felt the same. It still might not have gone well, but it would have been much better for her if she had been wearing Slavers robed and not a slave tunic.

When Sena returned, she no longer wore the red slave tunic that she had been wearing. No now she was wearing a short light yellow house tunic that belonged to Ragenta. Ragenta felt sick in the pit of her stomach. The one thing she had forgotten to arrange for Sena was proper clothing for a freed woman. Now Sena had located and start to put on the clothing that Ragenta had left here to change into.

“Well little slave are you comfortable?” Sena laughed.

“Sena.” Ragenta started to feel the back of her sister’s hand her mouth. Correcting herself, “Mistress, why are you doing this?”

“Haven’t you heard that curiosity is not becoming of a kajira?” She laughed. Then seeing the frustration and puzzlement in the kneeling girl’s eyes. “You really don’t know. This is priceless. I loathe you Ragenta, I loathe and despise your very being.”

“But why?” Ragenta pleaded.

“Because our father and you, left mother and me to serve as slaves. While you were wearing expensive clothing and fine foods living the best life. I was wearing a collar and slave rags, eating gruel, and working from morning till I was chained for the night. Then Master went to all the trouble to try and show you how much better off you were while I was still a slave! Mother and I was taken, Master killed because of you!” Tears had formed in her eyes as she vented her rage. “I was so happy when I saw you in the tavern thinking you finally were a slave. But then to find out after all the pain you caused you were still playing your little game!”

“Se…” Ragenta started to say then caught herself, “Mistress, I swear that I didn’t know till the villa. I was told that mother had died long ago. And when Dantor was taking me back to the Villa and mother was in the wagon with her. She told me the whole story that her and Dantor kept you secret from me and from father as well. I swear!”

“Lying slave!” She spat. Then reaching for the disrobing loop, freed Ragenta’s slave tunic allowing it to fall about her hips. “Now it is time that you learn what happens to lying slaves, sister.” The leash was removed from the ring on the wall, and she was pulled to her feet forced to follow behind nearly tripping on the tunic as it fell about her feet. Ragenta struggled to get her balance and get her footing. One the bright side dressed only in the house slip, Sena couldn’t remove her from the house at this moment as a naked leashed slave. But she knew the house and in a moment, she saw the high mounted wall rings that were so placed for the purpose of securing slaves standing up. There were two reasons for that, examination, and she was sure that her sister didn’t wish to exam her body. And the other, punishment and that her sister would do to her.

Once again Ragenta had to remind herself that resisting or fighting Sena would not be good for either of them. All she could do was hope for the best even though it looked very bleak for her at the time. Sena removed the slave bracelet from one wrist lifting the still cuffed wrist up, passed the open cuff through the iron ring to be locked once more on Ragenta’s other wrists.

 “Mistress,” Ragenta, addressed Sena with reluctance but knowing that addressing her by name would on infuriate her more. “You do not need to do this. I swear that I did not know of you and neither did our father…” The plea was cut short by the bite of the five soft leather blades of the slave whip nipping at the back of her thighs causing her to cry out.

“What was that, slave?” Sena coaxed.

“Mistress,” Ragenta gasped having felt the slave whip for the first time in many years. “Please, Mistress, you do not need to do this. I am sorry for the wrongs you feel have been done to you.” Ragenta cried out again as the whip fell on her again.

“You will not be sorry enough, slave.” Hissed Sena as she brought the whip down on Ragenta’s vulnerable back. She had felt the whip many times and knew just where to place the blows so not to leave marks but be the most effective. Mother and her might have been the favored slaves to Master, but that did not mean they were spared the whip when needed. They were slaves. And so would their sister if she had her way. Soon Ragenta hung lump from the slave ring by her wrists sobbing. She wasn’t broke but the trauma of being whip had taken some of her resolve from her.

Sena returned to whip to its peg on the wall, then took a small piece of cloth from a storage cabinet and small vile that she wet the cloth with. Moving back to the dangling girl, Sena clamped her hand with the cloth over her sister’s mouth and nose. Within ihns, Ragenta succumb to the fumes of the capture scent and slipped into unconsciousness. Sena let her hang while she returned the cloth to the cabinet with the vile. Moving back, she unlocked one wrist and lowers the sleeping slave to the floor, Much as she would have just let her drop. She didn’t want to cause her to suffer any injuries that would mark her.

Knowing the girl was not going anywhere, she went back into the other room to return with the red slave tunic that she had worn before. Lifting the limp form of her sister, she dressed Ragenta in the red slave tunic, the secured her wrists once more in the small of her back with the slave bracelets. Satisfied that girl was going nowhere, Sena strolled back to the chest with her sister’s robes and veils. She had to wear the robes of a free woman while posing as her sister at the villa so she was somewhat used to putting on the cumbersome garments. Once she was fully dressed, which still felt very strange to her.

Sena searched for anything that might be of value to her. Any jewelry or coins stashed away. The little fool had left a heavy purse but that would only last so long. And where she would go and what would she do was still a mystery to her. Next question was what to do with her sister. The thought of taking her to the Fowled Anchor and selling her was so very tempting. But she was known intimately there, and they had seen the slave Genta there recently as well. Her thigh lacked a proper brand as well. That and not having the key to the collar would raise questions of Lady Ragenta tried to sell a slave with no brand and didn’t have the key to the collar on the slave. If she had the key to remove the House of Chains collar the wench would be wearing the Fowled Anchor collar that Sena had worn here. She would make a lovely Ginger, Sena laughed amused. But then perhaps there was a better option. Let her become a victim of her own flesh shop.

Moving to the cabinet, Sena took out a different vile, going back to the chained slave laying on the floor she ran the vile under her nose till she started to stir. A wicked laugh escaped her as she watched the slave stirring and in doing so covering herself and pulling on the slave bracelets that held her. Corking the vile, Sena placed it within the folds of her robes.

“Nadu, kajira!” She commanded, then laughed as she watched Ragenta struggling to rise to her knee and assume the commanded slave position. Sena walk stepped closer and tapped the kneeling girl’s inner thighs telling her to widen them. “You had best get used to kneeling like that.”

“What?” Ragenta still a little dazed as she looked up seeing herself as the female slaver.

“Yes, thank you for the clothing, dear sister. I was needing something to wear and since you will not be needing them for the foreseeable future.” Sena smiled wickedly at her kneeling sister as she snapped a leash to her collar.

“Please, Sena...Mistress,” Ragenta begged finally shaking off the grogginess. “You don’t need to do this. I have sought to find and free you not only because of the promise I make Dantor but because you are my sister!”

“And so, you have. I am free, you on the other hand, your freedom is in serious jeopardy I’m afraid.” Smiling as she tugged the leash, so it pulled the collar against the back of her neck. “I think I make a lovely and very convincing Lady Ragenta. Don’t you? I know that there are a few that would know that I am not you. But most couldn’t tell the difference.”

“Sena, remove the slave bracelets and leash. I will not retaliate in anyway.” Now a mixture of fear of what might happen and anger at what already had happened was taking over as she spoke in a clear, even tone.

“Have you forgotten the feel of the slave whip around, little slave?” Sena tugged the leash again as a reminder. “And since I am Lady Ragenta, that mean you are the slave and had better remember that. Maybe I should just sell you and be done with this.”

“You can’t sell me because you don’t have any papers on me. And anyone that would give you a decent price will ask questions.” Ragenta knew it was a bluff, but having been a slave of one owner her whole life, she was praying that Sena didn’t know that.”

“No, that is true, but I do have the papers for the slave called Ginger that was sold to someone from the Fowled Anchor. Now those could fit you.” Sena smiled. Ragenta’s heart sank, she was right. At first glance they looked so much alike that no one might not catch that they weren’t hers until after the fact. Then another thought occurred to her but before she could speak, Sena did for her. “No, that won’t work as I will likely need those later on. Especially should the matter of my brand come into question.”

“See, now please let me go.”

“Let you go?” she laughed, “I have no intention of letting you go, sister. In fact, you are to only answer to the slave name,” forcing Ragenta’s head back to read the collar, “Genta. You are named Genta. Now what is your name?”

“Genta, Mistress.” Ragenta said bitterly.

“Good girl.” Smiled Sena, “And what is Genta?”

“Genta is a slave, Mistress.” She answered in defeat. She wanted to fight, She wanted to resists. But she was kneeling as a slave, locked in slave bracelets, wearing the garment of a slave, and most damning of all locked in the collar of a slave house which proclaimed her as a slave of that house. And most of all, she was under the control of a Mistress that would very much enjoy seeing her stay that way. “May I know what you intend to do with me,” pausing, “Mistress.”

“Me? Well, I as the Lady, what was the new name you arranged?” pulling out the papers Invidia am going to do nothing. But I do believe that Lady Ragenta is going to lead one of her slaves that requires punishment and retraining back to the house and turn her over to the slave master.”

Ragenta’s heart sank and she felt like she was going to be sick. Sena was dressed as her, and if she handed the leash over to any of the staff with those instructions. Then they would be followed as if she had given them herself. Whomever her leash was given to would take her to the slave master’s office, she was not sure who had the duty today as they had several slave masters. But soon as she was stripped for whipping, it would be discovered that she was not marked. And before the 18^th Ahn she would be branded then sent to the pens. There she would be trained as a slave and then eventually sold like the rest.

“Come along, slave,” Tugging on leash forcing Genta to rock forward and rise to follow. It was not as awkward for her this time. Not exactly a good think Genta thought, she has been spending too much time back braceleted and leashed as of late. She heard a joyful laugh from Sena who said, “Oh and until told otherwise, Genta, you are gagged by Mistress will.”

Genta groaned as that was one more touch to seal her doom. Not that anyone would listen to her thinking she was a slave. But all the pieces had fallen into place for Sena to get her revenge. As she followed behind she thought and thought of anything that might help her but ordered mute and leashed, she could not even get lost on the way to the slave master’s office finding her way to her chambers and the keys.

So, she followed her sister through the streets of Victoria like a verr to slaughter. Twice she had been slapped or groped by some passing. But she was a slave to them and they could do that. She didn’t know the level of hatred Sena had for her. Mother has said she was bitter, but this was far beyond bitter. She only could hope that now she seemed doomed to slavery that Sena would find mother and free her since she has failed. Looking up and seeing the banners of their house. She had not realized how short a distance it was or perhaps it was that she was too lost in her world crashing around her. Maybe if the Priest Kings smiled on her, she might be noticed and selected to serve Atilas again. If not then she would hold that memory of her time with him.

 “Tal Lady Ragenta,” said the man at the door. “How may I assist you?”

“While I was out tending to business. I came across one of our slaves. I found her displeasing.” Sena handed him Genta’s leash. “She has been gagged by my will as I did not wish to hear a sound from her. I wish her to be turned over to the slave master and given 20 lashes.”

“May I asked what this slave did, Lady Ragenta? I have seen her about the house, and she has always seemed to be a good slave.” That caused Genta to lift her eyes. She remember this staff member. More than once, he had stroked her flank as she passed. Now she stood in mute silence as they spoke of her as if she wasn’t there.

“I found her to be displeasing and insolent. Not only is she to receive 20 lashes from the slave master. But I want her thrown in with the next class of new slaves and trained again. Maybe then she will learn something.” It took every bit of restraint that Genta had not to say something.

“Yes, Lady. I will see that it is done.” He nodded then pulled on the leash, looking to Genta and said, “Come along, girl. Let’s get you below.”  Leading her into the house as the fake Lady Ragenta strode away from the house entrance. Genta at the end of her leash was pulled towards her fate.

Epilogue

One of the keepers lead a shapely flame haired slave through the corridors of the House of Chains. The slave had her eyes down casts as she followed the keeper on her leash. Her wrists pulled at the slave bracelets that confined her wrists in the small of her back even though she knew that it was futile to do so. They were designed to hold women like her and did their job very well. A tear formed in her eye as her life was over as she knew it. It would be slave steel and serving those that would own her from now on. As she saw no escape from this.

From one of the side rooms after they had passed stepped a stocky well-built man with long blonde hair and mustache. His name was Spectus, one third owner of the House of Chains slave house. He watched the flanks of the red haired slave as she was escorted on her leash. He enjoyed the view, he would have liked it more had he known who the slave was.

“Rolas,” Spectus called to the keeper leading the fire crotch.

“Yes, Noble Spectus?” The keeper stopping and turning, placing his hand on the slaves breast to halt her.

“A word for an ehn, Rolas,” Motioning the keeper to him.

“Yes. Spectus,” first to his employer, then to the slave, “Go to the end of the hall and wait. I will be but an ehn. I am sure your sweet ass will be grateful for a few more moment before the slave master’s whip.”

The girl proceeded as she was told and knelt to the side of the passage to the lower level as she was told with her head lower, not daring to lift her eyes or show her face. The keeper had turned and moved back to Spectus.

“Yes, Spectus?”

“I will be having guest tonight for dinner. I want you to pick some prime slave meat for servers and for our pleasures.” The blonde giant said watching the kneeling slave.

“How many do you wish?”

“Make it a dozen, sweetly curved and various pelts.” Pausing for a moment. “Make it 11 and I want that fire crotch as the 12^th” Pointing at the kneeling slave at the end of the hall. Her number 74586 temporarily named Genta.

"Lady Ragenta as order her to receive 20 lashes from the slave master then sent to the pens to be retrained.”

“The little slut must have really angered the she-sleen!” Spectus laughed.

“I will find you another, Spectus.”

“Nay, I want that one for tonight. I wager she squirms and juices well.”

“But what about Lady Ragenta?”

“I wager that she squirms and juices well also, But I said I want that one so have her bathed, perfumed, and silked for tonight. If the Lady ask, tell her it was done. If she presses then send her to me.”

“As you wish, Spectus. I will have her delivered with the others.” Nodding as he turned to collect the waiting slave. When he reached the slave. “I don’t know if you are lucky slave or not. You are to go to the bathes to serve at Spectus table tonight. Do well and the only whipping you will receive will be between your sweet thighs.”

Genta looked at the back of her keeper, Rolas as she followed. Her chances of getting out of this had not changed. She just would not be whipped right away and spend tonight in the lower slave pens tonight.