“Your boss is a dick.” Alexis announced.
“Tell me about it.” Calvin sighed. “Wait, who said that?”
“I did.”
He looked up from the ground and tilted his head. “A sword?”
“A magic sword!” she chirped. “Why don’t you tell your old buddy Alexis what’s going on? Maybe we could help each other out.”
“Do you know where the dragon’s wife is?” He asked, perking up.
“Yes!” she answered brightly. Then fell silent.
“Will…Will you tell me?”
“No. I ain’t no snitch.”
I let out a breath. Relieved that Alexis wasn’t willing to sell us out. For now, anyway.
The sword’s tone remained light as she spoke. “What do you want with her and these girls, anyway? I’ve heard of bondage before, but this is extreme. You into some sick shit, Calvin?”
“No!” He shouted, causing a few of the women to stir from their slumber. He stood and waved an arm around the room widely. “These vessels will restore the god Omus to his former glory! With Myva dead and a god on our side, we can establish a new world order.” His hood fell back and my stomach lurched at the wild-eyed look on his face.
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow.”
“Don’t you get it?” he rasped. “Myva is dead, and so is her influence. Demons have been freed and are running loose in the streets. People will look for a new church to guide them. With the masses scared and compliant, the Order of The Claw can raise up and set the world right. No longer will men wither away in the shadow of a goddess and her priestesses. We can take our place as true rulers of this world and the women who once scorned us will fall at our feet!”
A dust covered pause filled the air. “You’re doing this because you couldn’t get bitches?” Alexis asked.
At my side, the redheaded woman laughed. “I should have known it was a bunch of weak-willed idiots. How pathetic.”
His lip curled back in a sneer. “You won’t be laughing when-”
“Oh my god, chip my steal, you’re so annoying.” Alexis snapped. “Maybe if you fixed your attitude and took a bath once in a while, women would talk to you. You smell like old cheese and a mother’s regret.”
Giggling filled the room as more women woke up. Calvin snapped his head around the room. “Who’s laughing?” He roared. “None of you will get any sympathy from me if this is how you behave. We’re trying to return you to your natural state as mothers and caregivers.”
The redhead shrugged. “We get it, my guy. Mommy said you were special and the girl you liked disagreed. You don’t have to join a cult. Maybe get some therapy and aim more in your…you know, looks range.”
“You’re a bitch.” He snapped.
“Mm-mm, tough talk from a guy that just got the shit smacked out of him by a man small enough to fit in my purse.” She said, grinning.
Calvin was seething. The bottom half of his face, that was visible, turned several shades of red. “I’ll make personally sure you regret-”
Alexis cut him off. “My, you sure love to talk. Ever wonder what it would be like if you stopped?”
He opened his mouth, but the only thing that came out was a sputtering snarl. He turned and trudged out of the room without another word.
“Phew. I thought he’d never leave. OK Brie, try to pick me up again. I might be a little dull, but I should be able to slice through those vines.”
“Oh, right.” I reached out until my boot brushed against her handle. Carefully, I tried lifting her to my waist, but slipped and the sword clattered to the floor. “Fuck.” I hissed.
“Don’t get discouraged.” The redhead remarked in a cool voice. “That was only the first try. You can do it.”
I pursed my lips and tried again. Slowly working the sword up my boots until I could trap the handle in between my ankles. “What’s your name?” I asked her, looking to fill the silence before I panicked again. Alexis slipped from me and clattered to the floor. “Fuck, fuck!” I grit through clenched teeth and tried again.
“Usha.” She replied. “I’m the captain of the Banshee. Are you the same Brie that’s now mated to Felix?”
