Legends of Amacia Heart of Darkness

Two and a half hours later, Selina awoke with a throbbing headache and several women tending to her wounds. At first, she could only see blurred shapes and light. Voices echoed softly through her pounding skull as she stirred, moaning softly. “She’s waking up,” one of the voices said.

“Go and fetch some water; quickly now,” another voice ordered.

Selina’s eyes blinked, trying to clear, but they remained blurry. Selina rubbed her face with her hand and heard chains rattling, weighing her arms down. “Where am I?” she asked weakly.

“Be still,” the voice who ordered the water said softly. “You’re still not well. The Emperor’s goons worked you over pretty good. It’s a wonder they didn’t violate you before bringing you in here.”

Selina blinked and managed to rub her eyes with her hand, clearing them slowly. As her eyes cleared, she saw an older woman leaning over her from the right side with two younger women surrounding her. The older woman stood roughly six feet in height with a lean, well-built athletic form and moderately large voluptuous breasts that fit her build. She had smooth, bronzed skin and long red hair faintly streaked with gray that spilled over her shoulders and down her back almost to her waist. The older woman also had strange tattoos on her face and her emerald green eyes shined of great intelligence and compassion. As the woman mopped her face with a damp cloth, Selina noticed the woman wore an outfit that caused her to blink in amazement and embarrassment. The red-haired older woman sported a halter-top cup-less crotchless tan leather teddy with high-cut legs reaching a third the way up her sides along with a leather collar around her neck that had a metal leash loop on it. The halter straps on the teddy framed the breasts, confining them slightly while connecting with the leather collar on each side and in the center. On the woman’s wrists were leather manacles and on her ankles leather shackles, both with metal loops where chains or ropes could be fastened, just like the collar. Her legs were clad in tan thigh-high leather leggings with stiletto high heels. Selina couldn’t help but notice the numerous prominent scars on her bare skin.

The older red-haired woman’s first helper knelt down beside Selina on the left, resting a gentle caring hand on her shoulder. Selina noted the woman’s waist-length auburn hair that shined in the light, framing her five-foot-eight inch height. Her hazel eyes blazed with care and compassion mixed with fascination and awe. Selina abruptly noticed the outfit this woman wore: a strap teddy playsuit made of leather with assorted connecting metal rings that framed her features without covering anything, leaving her breasts and intimate parts uncovered while accenting them. The woman’s incredibly long hair did, however cover her chest somewhat as some of it spilled over the front of her shoulders and over her breasts. Moreover, like the red-haired woman, she too had a collar, shackles, and manacles on her that could be used as restraints. Just like the red-haired woman, Selina saw numerous scars all over the girl’s lean, athletic form. Selina felt the blush rise in her face as she noticed the woman seemed completely at ease with her humiliating state of undress. This ease in the woman puzzled Selina as she tried to sit up futilely, her strength practically non-existent as pain wracked her wounded body.

“Do you want to sit up?” the red-haired woman asked, softly seeing Selina’s effort to rise.

“Yes,” Selina whispered. “Please help me sit up some so I can see where I am.”

The red-haired woman and her auburn-haired helper gently ran their arms under Selina’s back while grasping her arms. “Bring our feline sister some more pillows,” the red head ordered. Instantly, the red-haired woman’s other helper…a small petite woman of five-foot-five with blazing blue eyes and honey-blond hair that reached to her shoulders gathered some extra pillows from close by. Selina caught a glimpse of her, seeing her dressed in a two-piece black leather outfit consisting of a narrow bandeau bra and crotchless thong along with thigh-length leather leggings, two-inch stiletto knee boots, and the same restraints she saw on the other two women. She too had numerous scars that told the tale of physical and sexual abuse and torture.

When the honey-blond woman came back with the extra pillows, the red-haired woman ordered, “Put the pillows under her when we sit her up.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the honey-blond woman replied, kneeling down with the pillows piled in her arms.

“On three,” the red-haired woman ordered, “One, two…three.” She and the auburn-haired woman gently sat Selina up and the honey-blond instantly piled the pillows behind Selina’s back. Selina groaned, her back and ribs on fire as they sat her up. “Just a moment more,” the red-haired woman murmured in Selina’s ear, seeing Selina’s grimace and groans of pain as they eased her back down onto the pillows. A sigh of deep relief hissed from Selina’s lips as the women let go of her when she was settled. With the added pillows, Selina sat propped up at a sixty-degree angle so she could get a better look around. The red-haired woman knelt at her right hand, holding her hand while the auburn-haired woman knelt at her left, resting her hand on Selina’s bare furry leg, which was badly bruised and cut from their capture. The honey-blond woman moved and knelt down in front of Selina just to the left, resting her hands in her lap. The woman stared in wonder at Selina.

“There,” the red-haired woman asked. “Is that better?”

“Yes,” Selina murmured weakly. “Thank you.” As Selina looked around, she saw approximately fifty other women clad in incredibly scanty, humiliating outfits just like the ones the women who helped her wore; some with two-piece outfits and others one-piece outfits: leather teddies, strap teddy playsuits, and all manner of very revealing, even scandalous leather, satin, and lace lingerie. The teddies inevitably had very high cuts on the legs and extremely low cuts on the chest with some having thong backs or open rears. All teddies were skin-tight regardless of their form. Some women wore ropes only that tied around them in a similar manner as the strap teddy playsuits, many with the ropes tied in such a manner as to create pain and heightened sexual tension in the wearer. Some went without clothes entirely except for the restraints that Selina instantly noticed on everyone she saw. Still others looked to be wrapped in bandages that barely covered their nudity. Every one of them showed the ample scars of vicious physical and sexual abuse…their bodies being portraits of the abuse through their scars. Blush crawled across Selina’s face when she saw the humiliating state of dress of everyone; a state of dress the women seemingly ignored.

A black-haired woman with long lean legs and ample breasts wearing a strapless, crotchless blue leather teddy with buckles that barely covered her breasts while showing all her cleavage brought water as more women gathered around. They were fascinated with the fact that Selina was a humanoid cat. The black-haired woman handed the red-haired woman the cup of water and promptly knelt at Selina’s feet with the honey-blond haired woman, sitting her hands in her lap. The red-haired woman gently put the cup of water in Selina’s hand, helping her lift it to her lips. Selina tasted it carefully and once satisfied that it wasn’t drugged or poisoned, greedily drank it, surprised that she was so thirsty.

“Drink it slowly, sister; slowly,” the red-haired woman said gently, “You’re still not healed from your wounds yet.”

Selina suddenly coughed, spitting some of the water out with some blood. The cough set her ribs and back on fire again. She moaned deeply, clenching her chest with her left hand until the pain subsided. The auburn-haired woman took the damp washcloth used by the red-haired woman and wiped the blood and water off Selina’s chest, being very gentle as she cleaned her. While looking down at her hand, Selina saw the same leather shackles on her wrists and ankles as the other women. The only difference was she was chained hand and foot to one of several giant freestanding pillars in the chamber...the locks on the chains plainly evident. She even noticed the chain on her neck restraint. Her eyes grew wide and she blushed deeply. A hoarse gasp escaped Selina’s lips as she then saw the auburn-haired woman cleaning her apparently bare chest. At that moment, Selina realized she wore the same type of leather teddy that the red-haired woman speaking to her wore. The only differences were Selina’s teddy was black and she didn’t have the leggings the red-haired woman wore. The humiliation she felt overflowed like water over a dam.

Selina stared at her attire and then at those around her; seeing them completely at ease in their humiliating state of dress or undress. “What happened? Why am I dressed like this? Where am I and who are you?” she asked in intense humiliation. Those around her became quiet.

The red-haired woman smiled pleasantly at Selina, which caused her humiliation to lift slightly. “Please don’t be alarmed. I’m Myra,” the red-haired woman declared, “...and you’re in the Emperor’s Harem. To your left with her beautiful auburn hair is Jasmine. The honey-blond in front of you is Hitomi and the black-haired girl beside her is Sakura.” Selina took another sip from her cup of water, and then sighed deeply, holding the knot on the side of her head with her hand as she looked at her chains and her new mortifying wardrobe with a downcast countenance. Myra saw the dejected look and comforted her, sitting down next to her on the cushion that Selina sat on. Placing her hand on Selina’s knee, Myra asked, “What is wrong, sister? Is the way you’re dressed bothering you?”

Selina put her hand on Myra’s hand and looked her in the eye, saying with troubled sigh, “Yes, it is, but that’s not what’s I’m really worried about. I fear for my husband. I don’t know what the Emperor will do with him. I have to get to him. He needs me.”

Myra looked Selina in the eye as everyone in the Harem gathered around, nearly fifty of the most beautiful women in all the caverns. Myra sighed and said grimly, “There we cannot help you. You see, we’re all prisoners here...slaves to the Emperor’s vile wicked appetites. Most of us were taken in slave raids with everyone we ever loved and knew slaughtered before our eyes so we would have no hope of ever escaping. I sincerely wish I could help you get to your man, but it’s beyond our capability. All we can do is pray for your man, whoever he may be. Tell us, what is your name, and how did you get to this limbo of the damned?”

“My name is Selina. My husband is called Hannibal,” Selina declared, wincing through the pain of her throbbing headache. “The last time I saw him, he was being dragged away unconscious after enraging the Emperor in his throne room. The Emperor said something about a lab and having something special in mind for him.”

“Is he a cat like you?” one of the women in front asked, kneeling down beside the black-haired girl and resting her hands in her lap. She was a beautiful petite woman with piercing sea-blue eyes and silvery-white hair wearing a silver strap monokini that barely covered her groin while the straps framed her large well-developed breasts, but didn’t cover them leaving her bare-chested. A blue tattoo consisting of a stripe that ran from the girl’s hairline down over her right eye and terminating in a point on her right cheek decorated the silver-haired girl’s face. The numerous scars on her body were impossible to miss given what she wore.

“No,” Selina replied softly. “He’s a human man, not a Lynxian like me.”

Gasps of amazement raced through the crowd. “You’re mated with a man? How?” the silver-haired woman asked.

Selina thought for a moment through the pain, reliving her most precious memories of the man who had brought her so much joy and peace. She smiled and looked the silver-haired woman in the face, saying, “By the grace and mercy of the Almighty God is how. The Lord mated us from before He made the universe. Hannibal and I are soul mates and more than that, we’re telepathically bound to one another to such a point that we can experience each other’s joys and agonies, even sharing physical pain.”

“Where are you and your man from?” Myra asked bluntly.

Selina hesitated, and then replied with a sigh, “We’re from the surface. I followed him here because I love him more than anything, even my own life. He is my life.”

More gasps of astonishment raced through the crowd. Murmurs and whispers began to echo throughout the Harem. “The Promised One…the Last Caverias: he’s really come,” the crowd whispered.

Myra got over her initial shock and called out, “Hush girls; give her room to speak. I know she has much to tell us. Go ahead; tell us, Selina. What’s he like, your human man?”

Selina smiled, briefly forgetting about her predicament, saying, “Well, how do I put this? He’s the kindest, noblest, most gentle man I have ever met. He has a sensitivity that’s unparalleled in any male I have ever encountered anywhere. He knows just what to say to make me feel good when I’m down, and knows just what to do to make things right. The Lord our God is with him. But he’s also strong and sure. He detests bloodshed and is moved by the loss of a single individual. For example, we were captured helping a man named Corso get his people to safety. What we didn’t know was that there was a trap waiting there for us. Before the trap was sprung, we went in search for his wife, Jennifer.”

Just then, a voice cried out of the crowd as a woman nearly six-foot-two with snow-white hair pushed forward to Selina. The woman wore an almond-colored leather teddy of identical make to the one Selina and Myra wore. “Corso lives?” she asked intensely as she reached them, falling to her knees at Selina’s feet.

Selina looked into the woman’s face, which was badly bruised and battered with heavy bruising on her neck, arms, legs, sides, and chest. She had strange tattoos like Myra and the silver-haired woman. Her skin was bronzed in color and she was very well endowed physically like Myra, appearing to be very strong physically and mentally. She sat there with a pleading look on her face as Selina recognized her. “I remember you,” Selina replied. “You’re Corso’s wife, Jennifer, whom that spider creature had as its captive in the great hall.” Jennifer nodded and Selina said, “Be of good cheer, he and those people whom you and the council hid in the secret room made it to Arionath through the portal. They’re alive and safe. I saw them go through myself.”

Jennifer wept with joy at the news. She leaned forward and threw her arms around Selina, hugging her from the left side once Jasmine moved aside. “Oh, thank you, thank you!” Jennifer cried gratefully. “You’ve given hope to my wounded heart. They told me he was dead along with all those we tried to save!”

Selina groaned painfully from the pressure Jennifer used in her embrace. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Jennifer apologized, immediately backing off. “I forgot about your injuries.”

Selina took Jennifer by the hand and said, “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it, but our God is so good. I’m beginning to see why Hannibal and I were allowed to be caught. We were supposed to be caught so hope could be brought to those who have none. Be at peace. Our God is not done with us just yet. We just have to be patient.” Jennifer wept as she knelt beside Selina, who briefly put her chained hand on Jennifer’s head to comfort her. When Jennifer’s sobs subsided, she put her hands in her lap and waited like a little girl for the rest of Selina’s story. “Where was I?” Selina asked.

“You were talking about your capture,” the silver-haired woman replied.

Therefore, Selina went on with the tale of their capture, particularly the events around the finding of Anna. She told them of how Hannibal dealt with the passing of Anna and the women marveled. For about an hour, she shared with them about Hannibal and the things he and she had accomplished together. She explained their marriage, including their vows, and some of her origin. They all sat there listening intently, like children fascinated with a good story.

As the hour ended, Myra could see Selina fatiguing because of her injuries and said, “All right, that’s enough for now. There will be time for more tales later. Let’s give her time to rest.” The women began to disperse with the exception of Myra, Jasmine, Jennifer, Hitomi, and Sakura.

As the silver-haired woman started to get up, Selina restrained her, asking, “What’s your name, sister? I feel that I know you somehow.”

The silver-haired woman looked Selina in the eye and said, “My name is Tasha. My father was once king of Kadishar. The Emperor overran and destroyed our kingdom many cycles ago. My parents were murdered and I was taken. I had a twin brother, whom I never saw again. I know not whether he escaped or even if he’s alive or dead.”

Selina noticed Tasha’s deeply stressed voice and apologized, saying, “I’m so sorry, but I know I’ve seen someone that resembles you to a T. You said you had a twin brother.” Tasha nodded and Selina continued, asking, “His name wouldn’t happen to be Joel, would it?”

Tasha’s eyes got round as saucers as she began to grasp what Selina was telling her. “What? He’s alive? My brother lives?” she breathed, trembling with excitement and joy.

Selina interpreted Tasha’s reaction to mean that Joel was indeed her brother. “Yes,” Selina replied with a smile as she leaned back on her pillows. “Joel was one of those who actually made it through to Arionath: he, Corso, and a man named Liu from the land of Zin. All three of them were part of the team that rescued those people from the secret room. He too, made it back to Arionath. I saw them go through myself before our capture.”

Tasha sat there, completely stunned and trembling, saying softly, “He lives. My brother lives. How strange can the Fates be at certain times; Kadishar was overrun when I was thirteen. I thought him dead for twenty-five cycles.” She suddenly closed her eyes and shook her head as a dreadful thought entered her head. “No…this can’t be true. It has to be a cruel joke by the Emperor. He’s using you to torment me with this lie. Please, don’t fill my head full of such fabrications!”

“I have no reason to lie about it,” Selina murmured, “Why would I do that? I’m not a sadistic pig like the Emperor who delights in tormenting others.”

An elderly woman with snow-white hair that reached to her waist wearing nothing but a very revealing high-cut fishnet teddy that showed everything approached as the other women moved away from those directly helping Selina. Selina saw the old woman approach and marveled at her beauty in her advanced age in spite of all the scars she bore. She also saw a deep sadness and weariness in the woman’s gray eyes as she knelt down beside Tasha, putting her arms around her.

“Who are you, wise grandmother?” Selina asked softly and with respect.

“I am Izanami, my feline sister,” the old woman replied, noticing Selina’s respectful tone. “You didn’t say what you did about Tasha’s brother to hurt her, did you?”

“No, ma’am,” Selina replied, sensing a potent telepathic ability within the old woman. “Lying is something that’s not in my nature. I can do it, but I despise it and myself when I’m forced to lie. I saw Joel with my own eyes in Arionath and in Cush helping Corso get his people to safety. If you doubt my words, please use your telepathic prowess to find out. I’ll not hide it from you. Tasha, you must believe what I say. This is not some cruel joke by the Emperor to mess with your mind.”

Izanami let go of Tasha and moved in on Selina’s right side as Myra backed away. “Please lend me your memories, sister,” she asked Selina, reaching out and touching her on the temple. Selina opened her mind to Izanami, letting her see the truth of her words and of who she really was. Izanami gasped in astonishment, letting go of Selina’s mind. “Oh, marvel of marvels,” Izanami crowed with delight. “Fate truly shines her favor on us this day for I have seen who she is and the face of our salvation.”

“Well?” Tasha asked in torn disbelief.

“She told you the truth, Tasha,” Izanami stated. “Selina saw your brother escape the trap that took her and her husband. But what’s even more important is that this cat literally is not of this world, just as she said earlier. She’s from another world far across the universe that perished when one of its suns exploded.”

Gasps escaped from every mouth who heard the declaration. “She’s truly a princess of the stars, who cherishes truth and honor in all things she does, as does her husband...the Promised One, the Last Caverias,” Izanami declared, “She’s the Celestial Mate of the Last Caverias!”

Selina nodded. “You have seen truly, sister, though I do not truly know if my husband is who you think he is,” she murmured weakly. “Still, it amazes me that you have such a powerful telepathic gift. I’ve only seen it in two other humans, one of which is my husband, who’s still just now learning how to deal with it.”

Izanami patted Selina on the knee and smiled warmly. “So I noticed,” Izanami replied. “You love your man very much. That much I can see, but you must hide it from the Emperor. He’ll use that love against you if he can.”

“There’s nothing that beast can do to separate me and Hannibal,” Selina declared. “We’re of one mind and soul.”

“And that’s your weakness,” Izanami stated. “Hide your connection to your man. Don’t let the Emperor know that you have this telepathic prowess. He’ll take advantage of you if he does, and try to corrupt that gift. It’s his way.”

“I understand,” Selina murmured. “Though at the moment, I’m so weak physically and mentally I wouldn’t be any threat to him anyway. Tasha, do you believe me now?”

“If Izanami says you’re telling the truth then I believe you,” Tasha replied, stunned that Selina’s claim was true. “For twenty-five cycles I believed that lie. Now, my soul rises from its grave and hope blossoms within my dead heart. My brother truly lives!”

“You’ve been here for twenty-five cycles?” Selina asked with wonder.

Tasha nodded and said, “Yes. Myra has been here longer than that and sister Izanami even longer.”

Selina looked at Myra, asking, “What’s your story, Myra? How long have you been here?”

Myra sighed and said, “I was taken fifty cycles ago.” Myra paused as she remembered the terrible day when the Emperor’s raiders overran her people. A tear formed in her eye as she continued, “I was once a princess. My father was king of Elar. My mother was queen of Calui. They married and united the two lands, ending a savage feud that had been going on for a hundred cycles between their parents. For nearly thirty cycles after the union, there was peace in those lands and everyone prospered. During that time, I was born. Then the Emperor’s evil eye fell upon our lush and fertile land. His raiders swept in like a plague and laid it waste. I was twenty when they came. My whole family was butchered and I was taken. At that time, it was standard procedure for the Emperor to kill the ruling family and take any royal offspring for himself. Some like me ended up here. Others were taken to the Cadre and were never seen again. I had two brothers. I know not what became of them. I can only assume they’re dead. Fifty cycles is a long time to be a prisoner and slave to the Emperor’s vile appetites.”

Selina laid back and sighed as she looked at first Myra, and then at Jennifer and Tasha, who had not left her side. “Yes, it’s a long time to be enslaved,” Selina agreed. “Let me tell you about someone else I met in Arionath. Her name was also Myra, or at least that’s what she was going by when we first met her.” Selina’s statement intrigued Myra so she paid close attention to Selina’s words. Izanami and the others listened in with great interest as Selina continued.

“We got wind that the Emperor was preparing to sack Arionath, so we had to figure out what to do,” Selina reported. “While we were trying to figure out how to handle the problem, Argus...the draken guardian of Arionath, brought four people down from the Cimmerian highlands: the chief and his wife along with two guards. The chief’s wife was named Myra. However, the moment we saw her, meaning Hannibal and I, we knew there was something different about her.” Selina then told them the details of Amelia’s awakening, including the telepathic assault they made to break down the mental walls constructed by the Cadre that imprisoned Amelia in Myra’s mind, along with the results.

“It turns out that the Cimmerian Myra is in fact Amelia Singh, a princess of Hyperborea,” Selina declared. “She’s over three hundred and fifty cycles old and apparently was one of those who were taken away to be fodder for the Cadre. By the mercy and grace of the Almighty, now she’s with those of us fighting against the Emperor.”

Everyone sat in silence for a moment, stunned by the new revelations. Finally, Myra looked Selina in the eye, searching for any sign of deception. She found none. She glanced at Izanami, who nodded yes to Selina’s account. “Princess Amelia Singh of Hyperborea is a legend among those here,” Myra said softly. “You mean she’s real and still alive?”

Selina nodded and shivered slightly from the coolness of the room and her lack of adequate clothing. “Yes,” she returned. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. She’s real and is a truly gifted telepathic healer. I’ve seen her work. Other than Hannibal, she has the most powerful human mind I’ve ever encountered thus far.”

“Are you also saying there are still drakens alive out there?” Izanami asked carefully, making sure she was hearing properly.

“Yes,” Selina replied. “Argus is the draken guardian of Arionath and a very good friend. He’s truly a noble soul.”

“My goodness,” Izanami breathed. “Fate has truly given us a beacon of light and hope in you, sister. I haven’t seen a draken since I was taken two hundred cycles ago.”

Selina’s mouth fell open. “You’re two hundred cycles?” Selina asked in astonishment.

Izanami smiled, saying, “No, I’m actually two hundred thirty-two. The Emperor’s slavers captured me two hundred cycles ago when they sacked Myria. I was the only child of King Scherazade of Myria and Queen Jillian. I watched them die as they tried to protect me.” A troubled sigh escaped from Izanami’s lips.

“Oh, please forgive me for bringing up such a painful memory,” Selina apologized. “I didn’t mean to cause you any grief.”

“It’s okay, Selina,” Izanami replied with a brave face. “That was long ago, and sadly it’s not a unique tale in this place. Every one of us here has our own version of that story. Myra’s story is just like it. We’re all orphans and slaves because of the Emperor’s evil; but that pain has given us a unique sisterhood that we draw strength from. In time, you will come to know the power of our sisterhood.”

“I’m sure I will,” Selina stated, “…since it seems I’m going to be here for the duration.” She suddenly shivered, partially from the thought but mainly from the coolness of the Harem.

“You’re chilled, aren’t you?” Myra asked, noticing Selina’s shiver while digesting what Selina had told her about the other Myra.

“Yes,” Selina replied. “I’m just a bit chilly. A blanket would be nice, if you have any.”

Tasha immediately rose to procure a blanket, saying, “I’ll be back in a second with one. They may not allow us enough clothes, but they do let us have blankets.”

“You’re a very kind woman, Myra. So are you, Izanami,” Selina said gratefully as Tasha walked away. “How do you deal with being a prisoner here and this incredibly humiliating and scandalous state of dress? Have you or any one tried to escape?”

Myra looked her in the eye and replied with a sigh, speaking in low, hushed tones, “We do what we have to. I know it’s humiliating to be in this situation; to be forced to wear these clothes, if you can call these things we have on clothes.”

“Why are we dressed like this?” Selina asked, becoming sleepy. “I know where I come from some of these outfits are usually for special encounters between husband and wife in private; never to be worn in public. Why are we forced to wear them openly like this?”

“We’re forced to wear these things openly because of the humiliation factor,” Izanami stated. “It’s all part of the Emperor’s sick twisted game to keep us in bondage without hope. By keeping us clothed in such a demeaning manner, he controls us physically and mentally. The way he keeps us dressed or undressed is designed to keep us in a constant state of physical, mental, and sexual tension, which drains our will to resist when he wants to have his way with us. Let me give you an example of this. Chizu, could you come here for a moment?”

When Izanami called for Chizu, Tasha returned with a blanket. Seeing Selina as the center of attention again, she knelt down beside Myra, sitting the blanket down next to Selina. “Here’s the blanket when you want it, sister,” Tasha said briefly to Selina.

“Thanks, Tasha,” Selina replied, flashing a weary smile and accepting the blanket.