This is Book eXtra. It is a long and meandering story of nearly 300,000 words, the equivalent of 3 full novels. There are 46 chapters. But if you have read the previous 10 stories, and are not yet tired of Bellamy and his doings, you may enjoy reading the eXtra book. It is to be published usually at the rate of one chapter/week.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter & his world belongs to J. K. Rowling.

Notes for the benefit of readers: *Occasional sex scenes, occasional scenes of cruelty. * 'The Great Wizard,' Henry Bellamy, was once known as Harry Potter.

Terms used: Anirage is Wizardkind, the DMT was once known as the Ministry of Magic. The Minister for Magic is called the Dachier in most countries. Deruchnia, the Aniragi word for Dementors.

Chapter 3:

Many years later:

Forty-four years after six year old cousins, Kichi and Bouchra, found themselves in trouble for overlooking the dirt-people enclosures, six-year-old Zhor, with nine-year-old Najia, tried to do the same thing. Najia didn't believe there were any people there. But Zhor was quite sure she could feel them, even though they were out of sight, and knew better than to make much noise. Najia pulled her away, hissing that they'd be whipped if they climbed over the fence. They weren't allowed!

There was not much that had changed, except that the girls never saw any dirt-people, and the breeding programme was totally in the hands of Grandmother Riza, who was now the oldest of them all, since Anzu, in Japan, had died, aged a hundred and sixty-five. She was getting good results, though her tactic of sometimes using close inbreeding occasionally resulted in dead or deformed babies. She thought it worth the risk.

Grandmother Riza made a visit to the schoolroom that day, with Ishi, who held a sensor device to the foreheads of the eleven children in the group, and then made a quick note. It was only a very rough indicator of magical power, and didn't show telepathy at all. In any case, telepathic talent rarely showed itself before a child was adolescent. Zhor risked punishment, and asked, "What are you doing, Grandmother?" But the old woman merely told her briskly not to be insolent.

The children were left for the time being. It was just an interim assessment.

The little girl, Zhor, slept more and more restlessly. She could feel someone, and it upset her, even though she didn't understand the grief and despair of the slave. She was a determined child, and when she went exploring the next time, she didn't tell Najia, or anyone else, who would have tried to stop her. She scaled the fence, ignoring the crio-magic that was supposed to tell her that children and women were not allowed near.

Quietly, secretively, she crept closer to where she could feel it. From the bushes, she peered at a high wire fence, listening, trying to feel, trying to understand what she was too young to understand.

The gardener, Abimael, spoke sternly, "Girl? What are you doing here?"

Zhor spun around, but instead of backing away, she stood erect, raised her chin, and said, "Why shouldn't I be here? I want to know who's here."

Abimael glanced in the direction of the enclosure, and said severely, "It's none of your concern. You'll have to come with me now, and we'll talk to your teacher."

Zhor asked, "Who is he?"

Abimael replied briskly, "None of your concern."

Zhor put her nose in the air, and said, "I am Zhor, and you're only Khatabi-Richi. You should treat me with respect."

Abimael laughed, and said, "You're not Khatabi until after the Sorting. Right now, you're just a child, and under my orders."

Zhor glowered at him, but he was right, and she walked with him obediently.

Her teacher listened closely to Zhor, when she explained that she'd had to go and see the people she didn't know. The conclusion was obvious - that Zhor had telepathy, and showing itself very early. She must have an unusually strong talent. She requested Ishi Khatabi to talk to the child.

Zhor did not appear overawed by the meeting with the senior member of her family, Ishi Khatabi-Vrie, highly respected for her own telepathic talent. Instead, she looked at her frankly, and said, "He wants to be dead, but doesn't know how."

Ishi looked in the direction of the dirt-people enclosures, and she, too, felt the uttermost despair of a young man. It would be the sex slave, Valencio. How often had she heard the men thinking about Valencio? More Khatabi men than usual were in Morocco, and she suspected that he might even be the reason that both Yiko and Narzu-Han had apparently shifted homes from Japan to Morocco.

She said to the little girl, "We'll arrange special lessons for you soon, especially in how to shut your mind to other people, which is very important. For now, you're to stay right away from the area." She touched the child, quite gently, and said, "It is not for you to worry about whatever you feel from this area."

Zhor inclined her head, in the customary gesture of respect.

The following day, she found that she and several other children were to go to Japan. Zhor could sleep better in Japan. There were prisoners there as well, quite often badly abused. But the enclosures there were further away from the women and children's quarters, and maybe their emotions were not as strong as that young man's. Zhor slept better in Japan.

**x**

Zhor didn't return to Morocco until she was nine. She could no longer feel the desperation of the young man, but was still disturbed by the thoughts and feelings of those in the enclosures. Ishi strongly recommended that the enclosures be moved, right to the far end of the Compound, and, if possible, Enclosure 3 should be moved even further, maybe even outside the Compound. Ishi had long learned to shield herself from the distress of the dirt people, but she, too, would feel a relief if they were further away. She could always sense it when Enclosure 3 was used, and disliked it intensely.

Two days later, Zhor was sent to Italy for a while, with a group of others. By the time she returned, the enclosures were further away, Enclosure 3 even outside the Compound proper, in a new area. She forgot her unease caused by the captive dirt-people. They were only dirt-people after all, and when Anirage had a use for them, they were used. It had always been that way.

With her telepathy, Zhor was certain to be designated Khatabi. She was treated with a respect that no other child was ever given. Determined, and somewhat arrogant, at the age of ten, she was given her wand, and started to learn magic. There was soon more to make her pleased with herself. She learned very quickly, and was already thought to have more power than average.

At twelve, she was confirmed as Khatabi. Najia, three years older, had already been accepted as Khatabi. She, too, had more power than most. She was also exceptionally pretty, which could be useful when they wanted an outside mate.

**x**

The women always enjoyed their trips to New York, and when Sagireh and Lileah suggested it, Riza agreed that a permanent home in New York was feasible. It was wise to keep the women happy. They were less likely to leave before she was ready, if they were happy.

She ensured they had plenty of money to spend, and they lived in luxury. But there were always Khatabi men with them, for 'protection.' And those ones knew which of the younger women should definitely not be allowed to leave. Riza had lost several some years before, and had no intention of allowing it to happen again. They were a little short of women now, but Riza decided to maintain her standards regardless, even make them higher. Only the best could be Khatabi.

A suitable property was purchased and remodelled to the requirements of the Khatabis. In the middle of the enormous city, they couldn't have as much space as they were accustomed to, but it was large and it was luxurious. If it was to be a permanent home, the men would want a collection of dirt-girls. Only twelve though, Riza said. And as the older children would be taught in either Japan or Morocco, there would be no need for an Enclosure 2 or 3.

The Enclosure Overseer in Morocco was called Abensur. He was not yet thirty, slightly built, and had a subtle intelligence. He was experienced, skilled at his job, and Yiko asked him to take charge of the new enclosure for the first weeks. Abensur gave it some thought, and made some extra specifications when girls were chosen this time. The new girls would not have the support of experienced slaves to make it easier for them at the start, and Pervez, who was 'Spotter,' should therefore select them in pairs, or small groups, so they could rely on each other.

Pervez approved, though it meant that a few might not measure up to his usual very high standards of appearance and personality. It was better if the slaves were not too much traumatised, better if they didn't hate too much. Pervez bore a small scar on his neck, legacy of a slave who didn't like being a slave.

Abensur selected the site, a block away from the mansion that was the new Khatabi home, far enough that the Khatabi women could pretend they did not exist. A little magical persuasion meant that it came onto the market, and the old owners would never understand just why they had suddenly decided to move home. He arranged for the physical barriers of the prison, bedrooms for the girls, as well as the 'working bedrooms,' and that the necessary crio-magic be done. It had to be totally impossible for the slaves to escape. Once taken, they could never be freed - not knowing about magic.

Then Pervez started the collection with a pair of friends of seventeen and eighteen. Models. Then four girls of twelve and thirteen, from the New York Institute of Sport. Gymnasts, who looked smaller than their age. The ruling that they had to be aged twelve as a minimum, was a source of regret for quite a few of the Khatabis, who liked them young. The non-virgins were used from the start, but the virgins were marked with a white wristband - reserved for Khatabis, who would be coming as soon as the servants had made everything ready.

Abensur had his own very definite ideas of the way to run an enclosure. The slaves had to understand the necessity of total obedience, but they should not be hurt if at all possible. He sometimes committed the heresy of wishing he could initiate the virgins himself, very gently. But that was a privilege of Khatabis, and they were seldom considerate. Abensur hated to see a potentially good sex slave damaged, sometimes for life, by being hurt too much that vital first time. If he could have his way, the girls would enjoy the first time, discover that the life of a sex slave was a desirable one, and settle down contentedly. It was an easy life, after all. They were well fed and well sheltered, and all they had to do was to please their clients. No more than five a night, either. The previous overseer had allowed up to six appointments.

Abensur's home was in Morocco, and when he had it organised, he left Zhang in charge. Zhang was not a particularly cruel man, but didn't have either the experience or the intelligence of Abensur.

When the Khatabis arrived, and the waiting girls, six virgins, aged between twelve and fourteen, were chosen and dragged off, there were screams and struggles, which Abensur almost always avoided. Nevertheless, the girls learned their jobs, and, in general, tried to make the best of it. There was no escape, after all. No choice. The twelve-year-old chosen by Ahjmed, was quite badly hurt, hated sex, and regarded the wizards with a violent hatred, which she prudently tried to hide. It was standard. Very few of Ahjmed's girls learned to enjoy sex. Young Iyad was almost as bad.

Of the Khatabis, Grandmother Riza was the leader, her first son, Yiko, was second. Then there was Ahjmed, very powerful, a feared Fighter, and cruel. He was an Elder, greatly respected by the Family, and known as Khatabi-Vrie. Ahjmed figured in the ancestry of most of the younger members of the family, and was both the sire, and the grand-sire, of Zhor, and the grand-sire of Najia, though the girls didn't know that. Any question of particular parentage was always dismissed with the rebuke that it was the whole Family that was important, and that was where they owed their loyalty. Ahjmed had the characteristic of the very powerful wizard, that of ageing more slowly than normal, and was still vigorous, still very powerful. There were only ever a few in the world like that, and nearly all of them were Khatabi.

Two of the women were also Elders. There was no barrier to stop a woman becoming influential, but she had to overcome the disadvantage of a more limited education. There was also the humiliating requirement to submit to the ordered matings. The men were under orders as well, but never seemed to perceive it as a burden.

There was more talk of Henry Bellamy, the English wizard. Riza very much wanted him to sire a Khatabi child, several if possible. He'd sunk out of sight for nearly a quarter of a century, but was again active. They called him the great wizard. He was a hundred and sixty-four years old, and still looked young. Surely he was something different! Riza groomed Annilie, who was especially beautiful, for the job of seduction.

It was a total failure, to Riza's irritation. Maybe when he was away from his wife. And maybe if it was a younger girl, a virgin. The men always liked virgins, though Riza had never understood their reasons, and it was not something that she would ask. The breeding programme was Riza's obsession.

The men had other things in mind. They had as much wealth as they could spend, and life was boring. They must not bring themselves to the notice of the dirt-people, of course, but they could bully the ordinary wizards, if they wanted. They had what they called 'aurors,' in America, who were supposed to uphold a law for Anirage, laid down by their governing body, the 'DMT.' It was like that in many of the Western countries. It might be amusing to have the conceited aurors of this conceited country in terror of the Khatabis, even if they didn't know who was doing the curses.

They started fairly mildly, Hicham inflicting the Semnor Curse on three, who guarded the American DMT building. They wore bright red capes, marking them as targets. It amused the Khatabi men, and Hicham, Ahjmed and Adil, especially, found a challenge in taking on the aurors, one to one, in a duel. If they cursed a few ordinary wizards, and then waited, the red caped ones would usually appear.

The Khatabi men did not always win easily. The American aurors were selected from the best of their wizardry, were often quicker than the Khatabis, and had a great deal of courage. A Khatabi was killed, and two arrested.

After some thought, Riza sent for Narzu-Han, currently in Morocco. Narzu-Han had telepathy, and he also had a considerable intelligence, much more so than most of the powerful wizards. He put his mind to the problem, and Iyad and Faheem Khatabi were neatly rescued, without any need for casualties. No need, but Iyad and Faheem wanted revenge. Five prison guards were inflicted with dreadful curses, and dozens of aurors were hit in the back, using some very nasty curses that left them crippled.

America's Chief Auror had some information, and two very nearly managed to arrest Ahjmed, who decided not to be soft, paralysed them, then asked if they knew what the Cha Keeyo Curse was. They didn't know, although the second had a good idea after he watched the foreign wizard do it to his colleague. He didn't have much time to worry about it, as his mind, too, became a clean slate.

Narzu-Han thought his 'cousins' often foolish, though he quite liked Faheem and Brahim, and was close to Yiko. Their telepathy gave them something in common, and for a while, they'd also shared their enjoyment of the boy slave, Valencio. Valencio had been in Enclosure 2 for years now, though Narzu-Han still insisted on monthly reports from Abensur, and immediate contact if the boy was ever in trouble.

Two of the Khatabi men had an argument, and one was killed by the other - a fairly common occurrence in the Family. Khatabi men were expected to be fierce, and duelling was common.

A servant was insolent to Adil, and was left limping around with a wasted leg. Sagireh complained, and Riza reversed the spell and rebuked Adil. Adil apologised, and next time, he was displeased with the servant, challenged him to a 'fair duel' instead, and the man was killed. There was a burial ceremony. He may have been a servant, but he was a part of the Family, not like a dead dirt-person whose body would simply be vanished.

A couple more dirt-children were taken for Enclosure 1, and one of the little girls died. It hadn't happened for years, since Riza ruled that none under the age of twelve be taken. But Ahjmed had demanded, and Zhang had complied. Khatabi-Richi did not take risks with Khatabi, and especially not Ahjmed, who would probably one day be leader.

Narzu-Han was disgusted, and decided to return to Japan, or maybe do some travelling. He didn't show his disgust. He wanted to be leader one day, but would not make his move until Riza died. But then Meera, who was Khatabi, made overtures, and he started visiting her bedroom regularly. And then he was ordered to 'mate' Sagireh. It was a job he'd done more often since he'd defeated Ahjmed in a duel, Riza having apparently decided she'd underestimated him.

He was now sixty, and looked more like forty. Sagireh was a little surprised, but resigned. She'd thought Riza didn't want any more children from her. But she was pleased with Narzu-Han, who was a far less selfish lover than any other of the Khatabi men she'd tried, and suggested that the meetings continue, even after her pregnancy was confirmed.

**x**

The Compound in Morocco was still in use, as was the one in Japan. Counting the Khatabi-Richi, it was a very large family. Zhor spent time in both places, but wanted to go to New York. She was just turned thirteen, still in Morocco, and was having regular individual lessons in using and controlling her telepathy. Her teacher was old Ishi. Zhor was very much valued, and Riza was thrilled with the girl, who would be an enormous asset to the Family - power and telepathy both!

Zhor had a high opinion of herself, and was apt to boast to Najia, still her best friend, though she sometimes thought the older girl not very bright.

Najia said, "I'm Khatabi, too, prettier than you, and I'm getting special lessons too." Nearly every day, Najia was taken into town, and given lessons in what was known in Western countries as belly dancing. It was a dirt-woman who taught her, but Najia had been warned that she must not treat her like one.

Najia was nearly sixteen, and was looking forward to being mated. She knew all about it. The dolls were still in use to teach the girls, and now there were carefully vetted romantic magazines and books that the girls read, as well. Outside sources of knowledge were strictly limited.

Riza visited, spoke to Zhor, spoke to Najia, and ordered Najia to perform her dances for her. She nodded in approval. If that didn't arouse a reluctant man, nothing would. "Organise your costumes, have your music so that it can play either magically, or by electricity, and pay attention to your lessons."

She left again, and the girls were given lessons in Family History, their duty to the Family, their value to the Family, and again in Reproduction, the second time for Najia. Zhor looked at the male doll as displayed by Suma, and then stared at Suma. An image came to her mind, and she looked again at the male doll. Why were they being lied to?

But Najia was listening with shining eyes and quick breath, excited. Zhor's first impulse, to loudly challenge the teacher, in spite of probable punishment, was suppressed. Instead, she listened to the mind of Suma, rather than to her words. Suma Khatabi very much enjoyed sex, and she now regularly met one of the male servants, Driss. Zhor decided that even if she lied, probably so that they would not be frightened, it appeared that sex was all right. She said nothing to Najia, to warn her that a man ready for sex, was not very much like the doll.

**x**

The American Aniragi community felt themselves under siege. Their force of aurors was decimated, some crippled with unpleasant curses, some dead. Additional aurors were recruited, qualified ones from Britain, who were currently overstaffed, some from Canada, and several from Europe.

The American governing body, their 'DMT,' had more wealth than almost any other, but their current problems were beginning to defeat them. So many were living under curses that the healers could not break, not just Vidi-Curses such as donkey ears, or stripes, or pig snouts, but things like the Grasshopper Curse, which meant they were not only grotesque, but crippled, unable even to speak. They needed the spell-breaker, Henry Bellamy, who was reputed never to have failures.

A four week long visit was arranged, two weeks in California, and two weeks in New York. There were a great many patients for him. They didn't tell him about their problems. Surely America was the best. They were shamed, and they'd find and defeat the troublemakers soon, they were sure. Besides, their Chief Auror didn't trust Bellamy. No-one should have that much power. He seemed to be law-abiding, but what could he do if he tried? And sometimes the word 'Monster' crept into his thoughts. Bellamy was not an ordinary wizard.

The local newspaper for Anirage reported that a visit from the great wizard was imminent. Riza was pleased. It was time for another attempt to have him sire a child. Narzu-Han was happy to do some investigating for her, and it wasn't long before she knew his schedule, as well as where he would be staying, which was supposed to be secret. "A large team of aurors," he reported to Riza. "He always has bodyguards, but they've sent over a lot more than usual, because America has become very short-staffed."

Riza said casually, "Hicham and Ahjmed have been busy."

Narzu-Han said, "They're asking for trouble. You should stop them."

Riza shrugged indifferently. What did she care how the men amused themselves?

Narzu-Han wondered when she would die. Then if he killed Ahjmed, he doubted if Hicham or Brahim would even argue when he took over leadership. That night he gave some serious consideration to the things he would change. Sterilisation of three-quarters of their family for a start. That would go. And the idea that Khatabis had no choice about who they mated with. He'd put an end to that, as well.

It didn't occur to him to end their exploitation of the dirt-people, not even those in Enclosure 3. It might not be nice, but Khatabis had to be strong, and some sacrifices were needed. And those in Enclosure 2 hardly suffered at all. The Spell of Pain sometimes, but never for very long. The wizards themselves almost never suffered the Spell of Pain. It was hardly ever used in battle, and when discipline was required, a whipping was standard. Not that Narzu-Han had ever suffered that, either.

**x**

A package arrived for Najia, still in Morocco. It was from Grandmother Riza, but was routinely checked in case of interference. The children and young girls never received uncensored mail. Najia seldom received any mail, and opened the package eagerly, to find a large poster of Henry Bellamy. There were several smaller images, as well. She looked at them avidly. It appeared as if she might have been chosen to make another attempt to add his child to the Family.

She showed Zhor, and they studied the images together. The large poster showed him as a great wizard, prepared to fight. He was surrounded by the swirling dark figures of Deruchnia, though they had to look up a textbook to remind themselves what Deruchnia had been. There was a note saying that the photographs had been taken that week, where he was working at spell-breaking, in California. One showed him standing next to a black man, and Najia said, in surprise, "He's really small!" And when she looked at another, Bellamy and wife, it seemed to be confirmed. His wife was inches taller than he was.

Zhor pointed to another. This time he wore only swimmers, and she remarked, "He looks well built, though."

Riza was well satisfied when it was reported to her that the poster now decorated a wall in Najia's bedroom, and that the teacher had ordered new books about Henry Bellamy, as the two girls were full of questions.

Riza arrived in a hurry, ordered Najia to pack, especially those items used for dancing, and vanished with her. Ishi went too, and Zhor's lessons in telepathy ceased for a time.

Zhor was lonely, as there was no-one left of anywhere near her own age, most of them in America, a few still in Japan. There were several Khatabi-Richi, but Zhor had far too high an opinion of herself to take notice of Khatabi-Richi.

Najia wrote, and Zhor read that she was in a New York hotel, with Grandmother Riza next door. They were just waiting an appropriate opportunity. 'It's convenient that his wife and daughter have gone home, as that should make it easier.' And then she spoke of watching him cross the square where he did his work, and said that he was not as small as they'd thought - just that his bodyguards were all very big. 'I've got to practise my dancing every day, and Grandmother Riza is telling me all the time, what I need to know, and what I have to do. I can't wait!'

In New York, it was obvious to the English spell-breaking team that something was very wrong. In California, they'd had so many patients, and so many had taken unusual effort to cure, so that Bellamy had become very tired. But now in New York, patients were not turning up for their appointments, though spell-bound people were always desperate for a cure. There was an atmosphere of fear - the Aniragia, the wizarding area, almost deserted. And some of the curses seen were wicked ones, that even Bellamy, for all his years, had never come across.

The Chief Auror finally conceded to the demands of his Dachier, and organised a meeting with Henry Bellamy and Dieter Roche, head of the spell-breaking team. Their problems were explained, and then Bellamy was coolly asked if he could kill the foreign wizard for them, Yiko Khatabi, whom they thought the leader of the evil family of foreign wizards. Renkin was convinced that Bellamy had the ability to somehow kill from a distance, one reason why he distrusted him.

But Bellamy denied he had any such ability, and offered only to have a duel with him if he could be brought into the open. "I'm quite good at duelling..."

The excited letter to Zhor, that told her of Najia's success in seducing Henry Bellamy, surprised the censor. 'It's wonderful! He's wonderful! So kind, and goodlooking. I was a bit frightened, but it was just like we were told, and didn't hurt a bit.' There was no information in that unsuitable for the thirteen year old, and it was passed on, unchanged.

Zhor was a bit confused as well. Maybe she'd been wrong when she'd seen an entirely different image in the mind of Suma, and she went back to look at the dolls, puzzled.

There were no more letters. Nobody told Zhor of the rumours, but she watched two servants gossiping, and could 'hear' exactly what they said, in spite of their distance from her. Najia had not done as she was told, and had been punished. And now she'd run away. The voices were lowered even further - Grandmother Riza might have been tricked, as well as the girl. And then they looked around guiltily, even though there was no-one close. It was not safe to spread rumours that the Family might not like. And had Bellamy maybe done something else? Maybe to the men? No-one knew.

Zhor soon had other things on her mind. Suma told her it was time for her mating, and told her again that she was of great value to the Family, and she was to be obedient, and do her duty. "Who?" asked Zhor.

"Hicham," replied Suma. "He came back yesterday. He's a powerful wizard, Khatabi-Vrie, and Riza ordered the mating a long time ago, just as soon as you were old enough."

Zhor said slowly, "He's very old..."

"Nonsense, he's only in his fifties, and anyway, older men are more gentle for the first time."

Zhor stared at her. It was supposed to be a gentle process anyway, according to her teacher.

Suma realised her mistake, and quickly showed her one remaining student the dolls again, emphasising the softness of the gentle bulge of the male doll. "Genitals rub gently together, and it gives pleasure." But it was Suma's smile of remembered pleasure from the previous night that really reassured the girl.

Suma was surprised that Zhor was to be mated so early. She was so small still. But Hicham said that it was on orders, and Zhor found herself in one of the bedrooms behind the Cloverleaf swimming pool, lying on a firm mattress, and waiting.

Hicham drank a potion that would ensure virility. He'd have to be careful. He'd been criticised before for being too big and too rough. He'd heard rumours of the potential power of the young girl. He'd have to be very careful. He himself had more power than an ordinary wizard, but was ageing normally.

Zhor had never taken much notice of Hicham, although someone had mentioned once he was her uncle. Riza kept careful records of specific relationships, otherwise, except for an occasional brother or sister, most referred to each other, when they thought about it, as 'cousin,' occasionally Aunt, or even 'Grandmother,' if they were especially respected.

Hicham was one of the senior members of the Family, but had spent little time in Morocco for some years. He was bigger than most of them, sired by a white man who had never known about this son, and was long dead. But Hicham was very gentle, merely lying down on the bed next to her, and stroking her softly, her breasts at first, through the silk of her robe for a while, which felt very nice indeed, rather exciting, before he opened her robes, and began to stroke more intimately.

Zhor wished that she was brave enough to ask him to show her his own genitals, but she was only thirteen, and could not quite get the words out. He started kissing then, trying to arouse her. But his deep kisses were a bad mistake. She felt suffocated, and Hicham had bad breath. Her beginning excitement died, and she started to think about revolt in spite of the lessons of obedience and respect that had been drummed into her.

Hicham was becoming more urgent now, in his own excitement. The potion was effective. Huskily, he commanded, "Open your legs," and pressed a hand against one, but still gentle, still considerate.

Reluctantly, Zhor did as she was commanded. He was an Elder, and she had to do what he said. Hicham still had his robe closed, concealing his erection.

He stroked, finding her dry. It would be easier if he could use a lubricating lotion, but that would warn the girl that it was more than a pressing together of soft flesh. Instead, he teased a nipple gently with his tongue. He used gentle words, but he breathed in her face again, and she screwed up her nose, and looked away, to Hicham's annoyance.

But he had a job to do, and he guided himself to her entrance and thrust hard. One always had to push hard the first time with a virgin. Zhor struggled against the burning pain, just as Bouchra had, long ago, in this same bed, when she, too, was mated with an uncle. But Zhor found no beginning pleasure in the act, only ceasing her struggles, and enduring. Finally, he thrust a few more times, grunting, breathed deeply and pulled himself out. Zhor could finally look, and realised exactly what had occurred. It must change, and then it was ready to hurt. Could it really bring pleasure? But Suma was not the only woman who came here voluntarily to meet a man.

"I have to do it twice tonight, and then once or twice every night for a week," Hicham said, and promised that it would never, ever hurt again.

Zhor stared at the ceiling, and didn't acknowledge his words. So that was it, she thought. There was something inside her that tore the first time. She rose, and looked at the bloodstains on the bed, and then went and washed herself.

It occurred to Hicham that she was a very unusual girl. Most were crying now, in the man's arms if he'd done it right, or sometimes getting as far away as they could. Very few ever tried the door that was always locked the first night. The girls knew they had to do what they were told.

Once more that night, and Zhor stared at the ceiling, and waited for it to be over. As he said, it didn't hurt so much the second time, but it still hurt. She thought it no wonder, if there was torn flesh inside her, and she was sure she was very bruised.

The second night. She held her head high, and showed no expression as she was escorted to the bedroom. Afterwards, she washed herself, dressed, picked up her wand, and announced, "No more."

Hicham stared at the girl. Her wand wasn't exactly raised in threat, but it was close. There were instructions recently instilled in his mind, that he wasn't aware of himself. It was something like hypnosis, but laced with magic, called a pendreiya. He could not attack the girl. He could not force anything on her. Instead, he conceded, "No more."

It was unprecedented that a girl was allowed to get away with refusing the full week of mating, but it was probable that she was already pregnant. The spells were very effective. And there were no powerful Anirage left at the Compound who could compel obedience. Neither Haru, the boy's teacher, nor Suma, the girl's teacher, were willing to try, although they were Khatabi, and should have been able to. And anyway, they could hardly compel Hicham.

Zhor was left alone, although she made sure to lock her door with her own magic that few could overcome, even at her age. When the healer checked a week later, it was announced that the mating had been effective. Zhor would bear the child of her uncle.

Riza made a flying trip to Morocco, Annilie with her. She looked harassed. Almost every single Khatabi who'd been in New York, had gone, men, women and children. She was still unclear just exactly what had happened. No-one told her that Zhor had been disobedient, only that the mating had occurred as ordered, and she was pregnant. Riza hadn't really meant it to occur for a year or two yet, especially as the child was so slightly built. But she spoke briefly to the girl, and patted her on the head. "Good girl," and then hurried away again. Zhor would have to be mated again and again to rebuild the family, but by a different man each time, if possible.

Riza realised now that she'd been far too selective. If Suma, for instance, hadn't been sterilised, she would have been good for a few more babies. She didn't know why the women had all taken their children, when the mothers were usually quite content to leave them in the charge of the servants. Lileah, for instance, had children sired by the big American wizard, who'd once been seen to work magic without a wand. Young Laki was a dreadful loss. He'd demonstrated the ability just once, but had not been able to repeat the feat. And why had Museveni gone? His mother was long dead, but he'd vanished anyway.

Riza was beginning to know the full extent of the damage. Almost all the Khatabi had left, male and female, all to different places. Some had gone before she'd even realised there was anything wrong, but she thought now that seven men were affected - all the powerful Khatabis, no Khatabi-Richi, and eight Khatabi women, five of them of breeding age. Also there were eighteen children missing with their mothers, ten of them girls.

Annilie had telepathic ability, and was capable of sensing the magic that affected the men. But Riza suspected that Annilie had been affected as well, although she denied it. Annilie was pregnant. Maybe it would be best if she organise to have her detained, and confiscate her wand, as soon as they went to Japan. She couldn't afford to lose Annilie and her child, as well as the others she'd have in the future.

None of the victims affected had believed it at first, and none of them had been willing to allow Riza to try and remove the magic. Understandable, of course. Such a removal could leave their minds permanently, and badly, affected.

Riza and Annilie left for Japan, but Annilie disappeared on the way, to the fury of Grandmother Riza.

The Compound was very quiet. So many of the Family were abroad, and word was spreading that several had been interfered with. Maybe they were not coming back.

Hicham tried to vanish some rubbish, and stared in disbelief when it sat staring at him still. He tried again, and this time succeeded. But over the next days there were more failures. Surely he was not old enough for his magic to start to fail! Maybe Riza and Annilie had been right after all. Hicham thought about going to Japan, and then realised he didn't want to go anywhere, that he had to stay right here, in Morocco.

Narzu-Han was in Turkey. He was sure that he could not have been influenced as Riza said that he was. He and Yiko, together, were unbeatable, even without their wands. They'd practised combining their telepathic power, to the point that, without magic, they had made a man turn on his companions, and slaughter them. Dirt-people, of course. And that particular exercise had been the last. They hadn't needed to sacrifice any more prisoners after that. Surely he wasn't under the influence of a pendreiya. He had no memory of any encounter with Henry Bellamy, the so-called 'Great Wizard,' and Riza seemed to think that it was when there were five of them together. Five! Five of the most powerful wizards in the world, two with telepathy. Yet, there was no denying that he had a great urge to stay in Turkey.

Narzu-Han put his mind to the problem, but maybe for now, it would be prudent if he disappeared... Riza must not be allowed to take him away from Turkey. Valencio? Abensur knew he was to be looked after, and anyway, Yiko was in Japan, still with the Family, and he cared about the boy almost as much as Narzu-Han did.

***chapter end***