Page 5 of The Emperor's Concubine

The door burst open. Callie’s head shot up. A feeling of dread washed through her when Theki strode through the nursery doors, a fierce expression on his face, or at least she thought so.It was so hard to tell with his species. “Your time is up. Let’s go. The buyers are outside and ready to bid. We don’t have very long to prepare you.”

Callie gasped. “I’m… I’m being sold today?” She thought she had more time.

“We feel that your training is adequate. Now let go of the child and come with me.”

“No,” she whispered, her eyes blinded by tears.

Theki stepped forward. “I must have heard incorrectly because I know you didn’t say no to me. Now come along or I’ll have to use the stunner.”

Her grip tightened on London, causing the child to cry out. “Too tight!”

“No. I can’t leave her. She’s all I have left.” Even as the words tumbled from her lips she saw Theki reaching for the weapon he used to keep the slaves in line. Callie didn’t care. They’d have to pry her child out of her cold, dead arms.

“I’ll give you one more chance, human. You can come with me, or you can feel the sting of this.” He pulled out the stunner. “I will guarantee you that it will hurt.”

As though sensing her mother’s anguish, London wrapped her arms around Callie’s neck and started to cry again. “No, Mama. Don’t go!”

Callie couldn’t remember crying so hard before. She knew Theki meant business, but letting go of London was something she couldn’t do. “I’m not going to leave her. I won’t!”

“You’ve been warned.”

She was blasted on the arm, but it sent a large electric shock through her entire body. Falling to her knees, she still didn’t let go of her sobbing daughter. “I won’t leave her. You’ll have to kill me first.” Pain rocked her entire being, but all she could focus on was that this monster was trying to separate her from London.

Another blast hit her, this time temporarily paralyzing her. Theki spoke into his communicator. “I’m going to need some assistance in the nursery.”

Callie couldn’t move, but she was still aware of everything going on around her, London’s tears, Theki’s pacing, and the sense that her life was about to change forever.

When the nursery door opened again, two more Hunters stepped inside. “What would you like us to do, Commander Theki?”

“Separate her from the brat, and then send her to the women so she can be prepared for the auction,” Theki ordered.

If she could have, she would have fought the two Adieaens as they pulled London out of her grip. “Mama! I want Mama!” her daughter screamed. As one of the men carried her out of the room, her will to live slowly ebbed away.

“Two thousand kwazars!”An overzealous participant shouted.

“Two thousand and fifty!” someone else yelled.

Theki chuckled. “Two thousand fifty kwazars! Do I hear two thousand five hundred? This fine specimen hails from Earth, and she’s eager to please her new master or mistress.”

Standing naked before a crowd of leering aliens barely registered in her mind. Already the worst had been done to her. Being separated from her daughter was one of the most painful experiences she’d ever had to face. She didn’t even flinch when Theki fondled her breasts.

“Her body is nice and ripe. She’ll provide hours of pleasure for any lusty male or female, if they’re so inclined.” He then turned her body until her bare ass faced the crowd. Callie bit her bottom lip when he palmed her ass. “This backside was meantfor riding. Have you ever seen such a well put together female? And look at all this wonderful dark flesh.”

Callie had never been so degraded in her life, but all she could think about was her babies. She willed herself not to cry because she wouldn’t let these bastards know they’d won.

“Three thousand kwazars!”

“Fifty!” A hush fell over the bidding participants. She had no idea what a kwazar was worth, but judging by the look of pure delight on Theki’s face it must have been a lot.

“Mother of the stars, I knew you’d bring us a handsome sum, but I didn’t expect so much. I think I may have to find more women like you the next time we venture to Earth.” Theki turned her back to the crowd. “Fifty thousand kwazars, do I hear fifty five? Going once, going twice. Sold to the Thibian couple!”

Callie gazed out to see a man and a woman who looked human, but not quite. Their skin seemed to have a glow to it, and their hair was whitish blond. They were a tall, handsome duo; however, they both looked rather fierce. Whoever they were, she vowed they’d get no pleasure from her.

Rzxie stepped forward and led her behind the auction block, throwing a robe around her body. “You’ve done well, human. Much better than we expected. I’m… I’m sorry about the little one. I can imagine how you feel.”

Callie glared at her. “Don’t you dare offer me any of your false sympathy. You have no idea how I feel. You and Theki took me away from my other daughter, and now you’re doing it all over again. You both deserve to rot in the fiery depths of hell.”

“Please, try and understand?—”

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