Amber's Enslavement Ch. 02

The second male was clearly not human. He had the pointed ears and child like features Amber had seen in the dining area. Up close, Amber could also tell that his feet and hands were different. The fingers were longer, almost twice as long as the palms of his hands. His toes were also too long and looked prehensile. Like Amber and the other two, he didn't look happy to be here.

The hall was filling with more people than Amber had thought possible. She realized then that she had seen but a small portion of the complex. She could also see that people like her made up a small percentage of the slaves. While most appeared to be human at a distance, the variety of shapes and appearances were significant.

A rustle of noise form the front brought a quiet to the room. Carli was being led out in a white robe, all her features covered. Her eyes were covered and her hands bound behind her. There was a smile on her face. The man who led her out fastened a thong around his throat, a small blue stone resting over his larynx. When he spoke, Amber could hear him clearly. Later she would realize that the stone must have been enchanted, because everyone heard him as clearly as she did.

"Slaves, Overseers, others of house Grantlo, it is a captive day. Four captives are being inducted. Slave Carli has volunteered to demonstrate punishment. As is custom, and in accordance with the law, she shall receive 30 strokes of the Halrisin whip."

A gasp came from the crowd. Amber wondered what a Halrisin whip was and why everyone was so afraid of it. Carli moved between the poles and spread her arms and legs out. Cuffs were fastened to her wrists and ankles. As the man touched each with a small stone, the cuff was stretched towards the nearest ring on the poles. The result was Carli spread eagled between the poles even though nothing seemed to be holding her there.

"Captives, come forward and feel the Halrisin."

All four captives were directed by their overseer to the stage. The man held forth a whip with several strands of something that looked like leather. Tentatively, she reached out and touched the material. It was coarse and seemed to be laced with miniscule barbs. Closer inspection showed the barbs to be part of the leather itself. Jerking her hand away, Amber was horrified at the thought of anyone, let alone Carli, being whipped with such an instrument.

The other three captives reacted similarly. Looking up, Amber saw that Carli was both nervous and smiling. The speaker, still holding the vicious whip, stepped up to Carli's bound figure and ripped the robe from her with one swift motion. Amber thought she looked beautiful. Carli and Amber jumped together as the whip cracked against Carli's skin. Carli gave a cry, her head jerking up in pain.

Amber wanted to look away, but couldn't, her eyes drawn to the scene of Carli's agony. After the first stroke hit, the platform they were on began to turn, letting the observers see the whipping from every angle. Amber could see the red stripes, ugly and jagged, appear after each blow. Carli's voice cried out, signaling her pain as it grew. The lashes landed once every ten seconds. After the tenth blow, Amber noticed bits of reddish color on the ground beneath Carli. Horrified, she realized that the red was Carli's blood, though there was no blood visible on her back. Amber's stomach tried to heave as it occurred to her that Carli's collar was healing the cuts the whip was causing; the whip coming away with blood that fell to the floor, yet the wounds didn't have the chance to bleed freely.

Each time Carli turned to face Amber, Amber tried to lock her eyes on Carli's, trying to let her know she was still watching, suffering with Carli. As the twentieth stroke landed, Amber was aware of a sensation in the depths of her body, a stirring of some sort. "What's happening to me?" she thought to herself. Her scream of, "No!" echoed above Carli's cries of agony and the cracking of the whip, as she recognized the feeling as the first hints of arousal. Amber's hands tugged at the leash, trying to pull away, to not watch any more.

By the time the whipping stopped, Amber and Carli were equally in tears, though for very different reasons. The other three captives, while clearly disturbed by the whipping, were not as devastated as Amber was. Confusion or disgust showed on their faces as their overseers led them away. Garth grasped Amber's bound arms gently, leading her, recognizing that she was incapable of following the leading directions.

In the hall, Garth said, "Amber, Carli asked to see you after the demonstration. Come with me."

"No! I won't see her, I won't go!"

She jerked away, the leash slipping from the startled slaver's hands. She ran blindly, her bound arms keeping her from making much speed. At a step she didn't see, she tripped, scraping her knees on the stone floor. Garth caught up to the sobbing, incoherent woman and took the leash in hand. His confusion grew as he heard her repeated whispers, almost inaudible under the sobs.

"No, I'm evil, sick, I'm horrible. I'm a degenerate, I can't do this. I wish I were dead."

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I want to thank Dani, my new proofreader, for the good and fast work on this chapter. Remember that I covet your comments and feedback.