To Royalbk: No, this story is not too "wild." Though, of course, that depends on your definition of the word. There's sex. Probably lots of sex. But nothing too crazy. Just answering your question.

CAPTIVE AND CAPTIVATED

Chapter Two

That afternoon, Hikaru was placed in the slave hall with the rest of the unused slaves. She, like those around her, was stretched out on luxurious satin pillows, being cared for by their Pages. Her own Page was brushing her long hair. When she asked him to rebraid it, he refused, saying that no slave went about with bound hair. She didn't know what was to become of her or what would happen to her that night, so she allowed the Page to tend to her, staring idly into space and thinking.

Lantis. The Prince. The other Prince, rather. So there were two Princes in this world. There was a Queen, Emeraude. Hikaru felt herself blush as she remembered the Queen's gentle hands and kind smile. And Zagato, the King… he looked so fierce, so solemn… Lantis actually looked exactly like him, though perhaps smaller of stature and with shorter hair. When Hikaru tried, she found she couldn't recall specifically what Lantis' face looked like. He had dark eyes and a strong jaw, but that was all she remembered. He was handsome, she supposed, but so very big. So tall, so imposing… she was almost frightened to think about what he had for her.

She looked down at the Page rubbing scented oils into her calves and willed herself not to tremble. Yes—she was a virgin. She was only fourteen, for Heaven's sake! Well, nearly fifteen. What did she know of physical pleasure? She'd only just discovered within the last year or so that she was actually capable of pleasuring herself. All young girls begin to explore their bodies at a certain age, but… Prince Lantis would surely find little pleasure in such an inexperienced girl as she!

But his face… he looked like he had little interest in her at all. He looked positively annoyed at being forced to choose a little pleasure slave for himself. What kind of man did that make him? Was it nobility that kept him from desiring such things, or was it something else? It helped her to think of him as too noble for such acts, if only a little.

She leaned back into her pillow and sighed. She took to studying the high windows of the room, marking that each were far too high to be reached, and there was nothing on the smooth walls on which to climb. Every entrance to every room was guarded. There were no windows in the halls, but perhaps there were some in the hallways upstairs… or in whatever room to which she'd be taken soon…

There must be some escape, she thought desperately. I've just gotta find a way out of here, no matter what! She remembered the two girls who'd been captured with her. Fuu and Umi were their names. It went without saying that she would have to help them escape, too. Of course she would have to help them. But how?

The sounds of a squabble reached her ears and she turned to the doorway. Umi was being carried in, kicking and crying, by a Page. Hikaru watched her, feeling that familiar pang in her heart. Yes, definitely. I'll help both of them no matter the cost.


Fuu felt very much like a mongrel pup being led by its master. Prince Ferio had the silken rope that bound her wrists in his hand, and he led her down the hallway with a handful of soldiers following behind. Her dress, which was woefully low cut, was in danger of falling too low and exposing her bare bosom beneath. And if such a thing were to happen, she wouldn't be able to fix it, as her hands were bound together. How ashamed she felt, bare of foot and dressed as if she were prepared for some great feast. As she'd done in the entrance of the castle, she closely observed the hallways around her. No one had passed them in a while, so she was free to keep her eyes ahead. And Ferio never turned once to look at her, anyway. These hallways were very bright; their walls appeared to be solid windows. Though, when she speculated, she thought it very likely that they were simply the outer walls of the castle, transparent from inside but opaque from outside. Probably solid crystal; impenetrable.

No means of escape yet detected, she thought. Though highly unlikely, the Prince may leave me alone for a small time, and if he does, I shall think of a plan of escape.

She gave a small gasp when she realized that the Prince had turned to look at her. She immediately dropped her eyes, but he chuckled and said, "It's all right. You may look at me, if you wish; especially if I first look at you."

She chanced an upward glance, noting the scars scattered across his cheeks. She supposed, in some alternate universe, she would find him handsome, for he had magnificent golden eyes; eyes like those of a lion.

"My sister will be busying herself with the affairs of the castle today," he said. "This is the festival season, and there's much merriment both inside and outside the castle walls. I'd really rather not participate in all the activities; they're mostly games, mock-duels, fairs, markets… always the same every year." He smirked. "The only thing I really like to do is the mock-dueling. Tournaments are held and prizes are given to the winners. It's just that… no one but Lantis ever fights me seriously. Most let me win, since I'm the Prince."

He stopped at the end of the hall in front of a massive set of oaken doors. He nodded to his soldiers. "You need not follow me in," he said to them. "Stand outside if you want, or go back to Lafarga."

One of the soldiers fidgeted nervously. "Highness, it's our duty to ensure your protection—"

"Protection? Please. Leave me be. Go do whatever you like, I don't care. Catch a butterfly or something." He pulled Fuu by the leash into his room and slammed the doors shut behind them.

Later that afternoon:

"Come," said Umi's Page. "The Madoshi will see you now."

Umi felt along her body with shaking hands. They'd taken a lot of time preparing her for this man-boy wizard. Her hair had been left flowing over her shoulders, but they'd adorned her neck with a vulgar, very lavish glittering diamond necklace. To her ears, they affixed equally lavish and vulgar diamond earrings and had also clipped a sparkling bracelet around her wrist. They had refused to dress her, which made her flesh burn bright with shame. She was glad to have been left unbound. She huddled against the dark wood of the headboard on his enormous bed and tried her best to cover what mattered. She was doing it quite poorly.

And he was just sitting there, staring out the window with that glass of wine in his hand. Sadistic bastard, did he enjoy tormenting her like this?

The sun filtered through the open windows, dappling the lush carpet and dancing across his fine hair. He'd decided to dress down for the occasion, discarding his robes and lounging about in a pair of white cotton pants. The ornate headdress was gone and the ever-present staff was leaning against the far wall. He was far less intimidating now. Umi was surprised with herself at the thought. Had she ever thought him intimidating?

God, this was getting boring… she'd peered around his room enough times to map it thoroughly in her mind. He was spare, that was certain. There were few decorations on the walls and only a bit of carved furniture. Her eyes returned to his small frame, seemingly like a statue for the way he just stared and stared out the window… goodness, he really looked like such a boy…

She gave a loud sigh and was immediately sorry for it. His pale eyes flickered onto her. He raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Umi bit her lip and looked into her lap. Her face flamed a bright pink.

The Madoshi swirled his wine around in his glass. "You may speak."

"I—don't know what to say."

"Then say nothing."

She looked at him and he saw that she looked quite anxious. She was trembling, and her young body was flushed all over. He took to looking out of the window again and sighed. "Don't worry. I have no desire to have intercourse with you."

Umi blinked. "So then, why am I here?"

He looked at her and winked. "Yet."

"You know, I don't want to have sex with you," she began rather timidly. "So that means you'll be taking me against my will. I—wouldn't have pinned you for being into rape."

To her shock, he laughed. "It won't be rape, I assure you," he said.

She bristled. "Oh? And what makes you think that?"

He merely shrugged. "I'm the Master Mage of Cephiro. Such magic can be worked on you as to make you feel however I want you to feel."

Umi spluttered in outrage. "Well that's not any better! It would still be a form of rape! You can't just put spells on people to make them do what you want! You'd still be taking me against my will!"

Now he was smiling, which infuriated her even more. "Did I say I would put a spell on you? I don't have to do anything." He rose, then, and with his wine glass in tow, made his way to the bed. She shrank away from him when he reached out a hand to touch her. It fell against her naked thigh, which still sported red welts from the spanking she'd received. "Does it hurt?" he asked.

She only stared at him with wide eyes.

From the drawer next to the bed, Clef produced a small vial of cream. He set down his wine glass and dabbed a bit of the cream onto her legs. She hissed in pain. It stung!

"Stop that!"

"It will help the welts," he said calmly. "I think you have pretty skin, and so I don't like to see it marred so."

"Well, just tell them to stop taking that switch to me! It hurts!"

"It isn't meant to hurt, really. I mean, of course it does hurt a little, but it's for degradation, not pain. It's meant to make you submissive."

"Ha!" she scoffed, stretching out her legs so that he could continue his ministrations. He had been right; once the initial stinging wore off, the cream was actually quite soothing. "What did you mean earlier?" He raised an eyebrow at her again. "You mentioned magic, but then said you wouldn't use any. What's that supposed to mean?"

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. He motioned for her to turn over, which she initially refused. "Stop resisting me or I'll have you chained to the wall. Turn over."

The wall? Umi glanced up and saw silken padded shackles adorning the far wall. She gulped and rolled over, doing her best to hide her nakedness. With her face in the pillow, she waited for Clef's next move. To her relief, he continued applying cream to the backs of her smarting thighs and sore buttocks.

"I don't have to put a spell on you," he said. "I could, of course, and it would be powerful—you'd crawl at my feet. And oh, the things I could make you do if I really wanted to." She blushed darkly and he continued. "Magic is complex. In this world, magic is the undercurrent of everything. Everyone has magic inside them, flowing through them, knit into the fiber of their being in the womb. But you, who were born in the sterile, powerless world of Earth, have no such magic within you. You're an empty vessel, if you will. Magic will creep into you after time and it will influence you."

Umi closed her eyes. "I don't understand what that has to do with making me want you."

He chuckled low in his throat. "The air in this castle is fraught with desire. Soon, you'll feel it too." He had long finished applying ointment to her welts and was now merely massaging her muscles. "It will be my desire for you as well that does it. I may not like you much, but you are quite attractive. I desire you, and that magic that permeates my being and the air around me will soon influence you."

"You couldn't make me desire you," she said nastily. "I'd rather be anywhere else but here at this moment!"

He only laughed. "Like I said, I don't have to make you do anything. And if you'd rather be anywhere but here, I'll have you sent back to the slave hall."

Umi trembled. "No, I—"

"Oh, but you said…" He smiled and crawled over her, straddling the back of her legs.

"No, please…"

"Quiet," he whispered, lowering himself over her back. "I'll not defile you today."

She tensed as his hands spread along her outstretched arms. The bare flesh of his chest pressed against that of her back and when his face found the crook of her neck, she shuddered. No chains, no walls, no slave hall… not that…

His mouth opened near her ear. "Just for this moment, and then I will send you back."

"Please don't… I'd rather stay—"

"You may, if you like," he whispered. He formed himself against her back. "For this day, anyway, you may rest here." His lips teased the flesh of her neck. It was a repulsive feeling, very alien to her. She'd never known the touch of a man.

She trembled and quaked, but his hands were very gentle; soft and small, like a child's. Though, his touch was anything but child-like.

"What was your name again?" he asked.

"Umi."

"Umi. The Sea… lovely."

"How did you know that?"

"When you live as long as I have, you accrue much knowledge. Umi means 'sea' in your native tongue."

"Oh, well, bra-vo."

He flicked her in the back of her head. "Shut it."

Umi craned her neck to utter a filthy retort, but she caught sight of the chains on the walls and she bit her tongue. She was naked; how ashamed she would be to hang so exposed on the wall, all for this sick little man's pleasure!

"What's your deal, anyway? You look like you're twelve years old! And yet you say you're old? What do you know about having p-pleasure slaves?" She struggled with the word, atrocious as it was to her ears.

He scoffed, annoyed. "Things are not always what they seem in Cephiro. But I don't wish to answer your questions now. If you want to know things, ask your Page; I don't have the patience to educate you."

"Well excuse me for being a little curious about this world that I've just been imprisoned in this morning."

The man, Clef, she recalled, sat up and away from her. "I'm growing weary of your petulant mouth! Be silent, or I'll have you punished!" He pinched the back of her leg and she gasped.

"That hurt! And where's this magic you talked about? Isn't it supposed to be flooding into me, making me think you're oh-so-dreamy and wonderful? I still don't like you!"

Clef vaulted from the bed. "Nor do I like you! You will lie there and be silent!" He pointed to the wall. "Do you want to hang there as my decoration for the rest of the day? And for the night if I feel so inclined?"

Umi looked desperately out the window, and the infernal man-boy smirked. "I wouldn't recommend it, you know. Firstly, we're several stories up. Secondly, there are many powerful protective spells laced around these crystal walls. Unnamed horrors would descend upon you the moment you set foot into the sunlight, I'm sure…"

Umi sighed loudly into the thick coverlet of his bed. No, she did not want that. He might have been tiny and irritating, but at least he was willing to let her rest here instead of in that vast hall surrounded by other half-naked slaves…

He muttered angrily under his breath and moved about the room, busying himself with whatever people of that world busied themselves with. Umi watched him for a time, curled in a fetal position and turning her exposed body away from him. He never looked at her, only resumed sitting in that chair and looking thoughtfully out the window. As she observed his behavior, she thought that perhaps he was older than he looked. He certainly didn't act like a child. No child looked as wise and pensive as he did.

The thought of escape didn't really occur to her again. It was enough for the moment to close her eyes and pray that sleep would find her. She couldn't bear the thought of just lying there and contemplating her fate, trapped for what could be forever in that strange and frightening world…

Before restless, dreamless sleep found her, she rolled over and curled into a large pillow, and when she cracked open an eye, Clef was looking at her. His expression was unreadable.

"Sit," the Prince said to her.

Fuu stood nervously against the wall, looking down at the carpet. Tears were leaking steadily from her eyes.

"Sit down, ah, Fuu, was it? Don't worry—I won't bite you." He smiled

Tentatively, she slid herself into a nearby chair and continued to stare at the carpet.

The Prince nodded, seeming content, and ambled about the room. He removed his heavy cloaks and some light armor and untied his sword from his waist. "Good to relax," he said.

Fuu shook quietly. There she was, and there he was, and there was his bed… just there… She curled her arms around herself and willed herself not to weep openly. How terrifying, the idea of being taken against her will by a man she didn't even know! She had always planned to save herself for marriage, or at least for that one man who she was absolutely sure she would love forever… The marriage condition, she realized, was only an idea drilled into her from birth, and she found that she didn't so much for the contract as she did the feeling of love.

And she did not love that man. He was frightening. Handsome, maybe, but… He looked at her the way a starving man would eye a slab of beef. She could almost see the horrible things he was doing to her inside his head. Then again, he was a young man; wouldn't any young man do the same? Sex-driven beasts, the lot of them…

Eventually, Prince Ferio sighed. "Come then," he said after he'd taken a sip of water from a nearby chalice. "Lay with me. I'm weary."

Fuu went rigid. "H-highness…"

"It's been a hectic morning, and I desire a nap," he explained. "I'd love nothing more than for you to lay with me, beautiful thing like you…"

Inwardly, Fuu wept. This was it. There went her virginity, right out that window. She was a slave now. His slave. His pleasure slave.

She rose to her feet and said not a word. Well then, to the bed…

The Prince circled the bed and took her wrist, pulled her roughly with him down to the blankets. She gave the faintest of cries, shaking with terror.

"Oh," he yawned, "This is nice. I do hope nobody comes to disturb us."

Fuu closed her eyes, trying desperately not to recoil from him as he laced an arm around her waist. He reached down to fold a thin sheet over them, the sprawled back against the pillows and yawned again. "Are you comfortable?" he asked her. "Would you like another blanket? I know it gets chilly in here sometimes…"

Fuu shook her head. Help me, she prayed desperately. Please. Somebody, anybody…

Prince Ferio reached out to touch her face and she shrank away from him. He looked hurt. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"F-forgive me."

"Come now, Fuu. I only want to sample your loveliness. Here, get out of that white dress; I'd like to see all of you."

She shook violently. "Please…"

He rolled his eyes, looking very amused, and slipped the strap of her gown down her shoulder. Then, with a finger, he removed the other one. Fuu made no move to further discard the dress, so the Prince did it himself. The cold air of the room touched her naked bosom and she began to weep.

"Oh, Fuu, Fuu, you're lovely." He smiled at her and pressed himself against her. "I like you here like this, with me. Come, talk with me. Tell me your thoughts."

She whimpered. "My thoughts?"

"Yes. Tell me about this world you came from. What was your home like? Do you have a family? Any special interests?" He grinned. "Another lover, perhaps?"

"No," Fuu replied quietly. "No lovers."

"You are untouched then."

She nodded.

"Perfect," he smiled. "I'd hoped I'd be the first to have you. I'm wildly jealous at the thought of another man laying his hands on you, and we've only just met! How strange." His hand smoothed her cheek and slipped down her neck. "I'm glad you're not like your friend, that loud blue-haired girl. You're much more agreeable. And much more beautiful, I think." He seemed to be talking more to himself than anyone else, and Fuu decided that he was the type of man who liked to hear himself speak. "Oh, she's tall and lean... lovely eyes, but you, my pet, are an angel. I do love yellow hair, you know, and you have eyes like emeralds. Very beautiful. Much more womanly, I'd say. I would have had hells own time with a hellcat like that other girl."

"And who said I was agreeable?" she said, and was instantly sorry for it. She covered her mouth.

The Prince's eyes went wide and he laughed loudly. "Ah, you do have some fire to you, don't you? I like that."

"And yet you didn't like her."

"No," he said, "Far too loud." He dipped his face into the curve of her neck and kissed the tender flesh there, making Fuu go rigid with shame and revulsion. "So, go on. Tell me about yourself." His voice was low and husky against her ear, and she shivered.

"I—I live in Tokyo."

"Tokyo… where is this place, Tokyo?"

She bit her lip when his hand slid across her breast. "In Japan."

"Ah. I must admit I know little of your world. Go on."

"I have… one sister. And my parents, they… They send me to school."

"Oh? What do you learn in your school?"

"History," she blurted out, trying to hold tight to her sanity. "Mathematics—Art—English…"

"I know a little of mathematics, and something of art, but none of this English…" He pulled her closer to him and tasted her collarbone. "What else?"

"I—" Fuu was growing hysterical. "I practice archery! And I—oh please, don't—"

"Fuu…" he whispered to her. "Don't be afraid… I'll be good to you…" And he proceeded to ravish her. He kissed her naked breast and slid his hand down her thigh, bring her leg around him. "Do you not find me handsome?"

"Well, yes, I find you handsome." But she couldn't really bring herself to look into his eyes.

"Good," he replied. "Lucky for you, being pledged to a young, wealthy man, rather than some aging old baron. This kingdom's rife with them."

Fuu bit her lip to stifle the cries of terror that strained her throat. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. No, no, no, please, no…

"I—"she gasped, "I thought you were weary…"

He smiled against her shoulder. "I will be when I'm finished with you."

At this, Fuu broke into sobs. She clenched her fists together and begged him, begged him please not to do this to her. He pulled away. "Am I that bad?" he asked.

She only shook her head violently and continued to plead with him. She covered her face with her hands and wept piteously into her palms.

The Prince took his arm from around her and sat up. He was looking at her, clearly confused as to why anyone would deny him. He was a Prince, after all. He'd probably never been said 'no' to in his life.

"No," Fuu cried, "Please—I can't." When he reached out a hand to touch her face, she took it in hers and kissed his knuckled imploringly. "I'm too young, so young! Please, I'm afraid!"

"Too young?" he said. "Surely you're over fifteen years."

"Nearly," she gasped.

"Well, that's plenty old enough. Women in our world marry at your age, didn't you know?"

"Of course I didn't know!" she cried, tearing her hands way from his. "I was kidnapped and forced to come to this world! I didn't even know it existed until this morning! Why have you done this to me? How dare you interrupt my happy life and force me to be yours! I hate you! I hate this entire world! Return me home, please!"

Ferio looked as if he'd just been slapped in the face. He frowned. "I've never done anything to you. Why would you hate me?"

Fuu just turned away from him and curled into a tight ball, weeping loudly into her hands. She said nothing to him.

After a time, she heard the Prince say, "But aren't you curious?"

She shook her head. "Curious about what?"

He didn't reply. She felt the bed shift as he rose and she heard him open a drawer and fumble through objects. She didn't care; a whip? Chains? Let him do what he would to her. Any punishment was better than this, anything but stealing her virtue all for pleasure…

Suddenly, she felt his hand against her naked genitals and she shrieked in terror. She rolled away from him with wide eyes. "How dare you! Keep your hands away from me you filthy lech!"

He was smiling and holding a small, silver bottle in his hand. She looked at it in horror. "Wait."

She blinked. "Wait for what? What have you done to me?" She reached down to her lions and touched the flesh there. When she looked at her fingers, they were smeared with a thin oil. "What is this?" she hissed. "Are you… lubricating me so as to take me by force?" She threw a small decorative pillow at him. "Filthy coward!"

He laughed. "There's that spice I like. Lay still and let me finish." He took the silken rope into his hand again. "Be still, or I'll tie you down."

"Ha!" she laughed into his face. "You only confirm my accusations! Filthy lecherous rapist!"

"I wouldn't exactly call this rape," he said, leaning over the bed and reaching out to her. She lay back on her stomach, half afraid to run and be whipped like the other girl had, yet still completely terrified. Her sharp tongue had not deterred him; what, then, would?

"No!" she protested. "Please—no!"

His fingers brushed against her nipples, hard and pointed as they were from a combination of terror and cold air. The thin oil was left behind, smearing them. She gasped and fought the urge to bite him with he traced the curve of her lips with his finger. There, too, he left smears of oil.

She ran her tongue over her lips and made a gagging noise. "It's horrid!" she said, spitting the oil off. "What have you done? What is that?"

"You'll see," he said.

She opened her mouth to hurl insults at him, but the most curious sensation spread through her loins. It was a faint burning, a tingling. She cupped her sex with her palm. "Ah, take it off me, it feels strange!"

"It can only be washed off," Ferio said, "and I don't feel like putting you into the tub just yet."

The strange cool burning, tingling feeling grew on her nipples. "No," she said, wiping her chest with her hands. When she felt her lips tingling, she began to lick and rub them. "This feels like ointment, why have you done this?"

The burning cooling in her loins intensified. It nearly made her gasp. She placed her hands back there and massaged herself tentatively. It felt almost good. It made her want to touch herself, to have those places touched.

She put her hands to her flushed cheeks, feeling dreadfully ashamed of herself. Her nipples burned, tingled, and she thought that the only way to relieve this strange sensation would be to handle them roughly, to rub them again and again and again, . She was horrified when she found that she'd been fingering and sucking her burning lips.

"How dare you!" she cried into his face.

The Prince nodded, seemingly satisfied with his work, and lowered himself next to her. "Is it uncomfortable?" he asked.

Fuu squeezed her thighs together to alleviate the growing pressure between her legs. She could almost feel herself swelling and reddening beneath the sensation. "Yes!" But it wasn't entirely true. She very strongly resisted the urge to slide her hands over her breasts, to squeeze her aching nipples and chew her tingling lips. Fuu shook her head in frustration. "No. This is as good as rape! I don't—I don't want it like this—"

Ferio casually flicked her erect nipple and Fuu gasped aloud. "Hurt?" he asked.

The brief jolt of pleasure left Fuu shaken. She shrank away from him. "I—don't!"

"Fuu," he whispered, laying his palm against her breast. Her breath hissed between her teeth, the simple feeling of his flesh laying there, just laying there, was torturous. It made the burning and pulsing of her breasts subside and grow into a hot, quivering feeling of pleasure. He pressed his body against hers. His skin felt terribly cool against her own burning skin.

"Ferio," she gasped. "What have you done to me?"

"It's only an oil," he whispered in her ear, tracing her earlobe very lightly with his tongue. "It's distilled from a special herb. An aphrodisiac." He chuckled softly. "Clearly you can see its purpose. Go on, relieve the sensations, if you'd like. Your hands will relieve it."

She pressed her hands against her aching breasts, whimpering loudly. "It's awful, it's terrible, I hate this…" But she couldn't stop. Her hand dipped between her legs and the feel of her fingertips brushing her swollen lips was maddening. She had to rub. She had to caress. She had to touch and touch, or she felt she would go mad.

"Ferio," she gasped.

He fell on her then like a vulture on carrion. His thigh slid against hers, parting her legs and forcing itself into the heat of her desire. She groaned and tried to pull away from him. "No—"

The Prince only smiled. His hands found her swollen breasts and he began to knead them, rolling her erect nipples between her fingers. Fuu squirmed uncontrollably, shutting her mouth against her shameful cries. It was too much, too intense... if he would but stroke her harder…

She gasped aloud at the thought. No! She was succumbing to desire! No! She couldn't, she--!

"Oh," she breathed when his fingers brushed her lip. Almost against her will, she closed her mouth around his finger and sucked ever so gently. He teased her lips, allowed her to rake her teeth along him, to stroke and rub her mouth against him. "No," she said quietly. "Stop."

"I don't think you really mean that," he said. His face hovered near hers and she finally opened her eyes. His golden gaze was set intently on hers and she couldn't look away. Not with his hands fondling her that way, not with his knee rubbing so deliciously against her genitals…

I will not submit, I will not submit, I will NOT submit… this is sinful, wrong, shameful. I hate him, hate him, HATE HIM…

He rolled on top of her and she forced her mouth against his. She couldn't help it. She ached for the feeling of his teeth pulling at her lips. He sucked on her mouth, drank from her lips as if she were a perfectly aged wine. The constant mantra of her conscience was growing ever quieter, seating itself in the back of her head.

Her body took over from there. She rocked her hips against his, pleading for him to push harder against her. Her mind screamed against it, but her legs opened of their own volition and encircled his waist. If only he would… his fingers, his hands, oh, to touch her there, to caress and fondle her and enter her, oh yes enter her, rub and slide his fingers around her swollen, burning lips…

"Oh-h-h," she moaned. "I can't… no…no more…ple—"

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked, grinding his hips down into hers and eliciting a most delightful mewl of pleasure from her.

She bit her lip and turned her head away from his. She couldn't respond, wasn't capable of coherent speech…

"No," she breathed finally. "No, just… keep…"

Insaneinsaneinsaneinsaneinsane……

A loud swooping sound from the window caused Ferio to look up in annoyance. A solider mounted on a griffin was perched on the windowsill. Fuu screamed and buried herself beneath the sheets.

"Highness," said the solider, "The King has need of you. It's quite urgent."

Ferio vaulted off the bed looking as if he would tear the poor soldier's head off. "Go away."

"I cannot. I was ordered to retrieve you at once. A problem has resulted from the transportation of those Earth slaves."

"What problem?!" Ferio barked.

"I'm unsure, Highness. The Madoshi informed me that a great tear has been rent in the fabric between the worlds, but that's all I know."

The Prince looked at the soldier for several long moments. His eyebrows knit closer and closer together, and his fists became tightly balled.

"I'm kind of in the middle of something," he snarled.

"Forgive me." The soldier bowed out. "The King waits on the grounds below." Then, the young soldier disappeared from the balcony in a loud swoop of wings and disappeared.

Ferio threw his half-full chalice of water out the window and screamed, "Damn it!"

Fuu remained shaking uncontrollably beneath the sheets. Her entire body flushed a bright red, so ashamed she was of being seen lying beneath the Prince like that… She heard the Prince give a loud sigh.

"I'm sorry," he said, "But this does seem to be of some importance." He was scratching his head and cursing under his breath. With another sigh, he donned his cloak and swept from the room. "I'll be back."

The door slammed shut behind him and Fuu slowly emerged from the covers. If she could, she would scream in frustration. Her body ached to be touched, yet her heart was soaked with shame. She'd begged him with her body to touch her… she'd been so shameless and wanton.

"God," she said aloud to no one, "What has come over me?"

The burning in her loins and on her breasts would not cease. She clutched herself desperately, trying to relieve the mounting pressure and throbbing desire. But it was no use; her own hands couldn't bring herself to any kind of fruition, not with the feelings of self-loathing that haunted her. She thought of the Prince. His hands had been soft and gentle. He'd never forced her or made her feel frightened. But he'd nearly raped her using chemical agents! He made her feel desire all so he could take his pleasure from her!

She covered her mouth with her hand and fought hysteria. It hadn't been rape. She didn't tell him no. She'd told him—

"No!" she cried, holding tightly to her swollen breasts. She writhed about and felt the wetness that had condensed between her legs, soaking the fine sheets beneath her. "No, no, no, no, no…"

It was really a most wretched feeling, not knowing whether she was glad he'd gone or whether she'd wished he'd stayed.