Free Trading Teon (The Beast Masters Series) by Reagan Hawk Page B

nothing. She knew. She’d shed enough already to no avail.
The clothing she was in barely qualified, and by her people’s standards she was
nearly naked. She was a lady. Not some street walker. Even the harlots who
worked in the pleasing dens on her world dressed in more material than the
slave traders had her in. The material was sheer, allowing others to see her
nipples and her sex. They’d shaved the hair from her pussy, leaving only a
strip of it down the center. They’d cleaned the hair from her legs and armpits
as well.
    One of the
traders appeared. His head, very fish-like, was totally lacking in hair. They
always wore masks of sorts unless they had tiny metal clips over the tiny holes
where a nose should be. His eyes were slits and often his cheeks puffed out,
reminding her of puffer fishes of old from Earth. He and the others like him
sickened her. It wasn’t their appearance. She was used to non-humanoids. It was
their mentality that revolted her. The fact they made a living in the most
deplorable way—by slave trading.
    “Come,” he
said, the word drawn out in something of a hiss as he waved an electric prod at
her. She’d been poked with it and shocked more times than she could count. As
far as they were concerned, she had a bad attitude and she knew they’d be
looking to unload her cheaply. That worried her. She wasn’t a prize in their
eyes, and that meant she very well could end up in the hands of even worse
universe trolls.
    She followed
him as he led her down the long, dark corridor. She spotted several other
female prisoners and their gazes met. The women looked terrified. She was too,
but only to a point. Life on the prison planets was no life at all. She’d heard
the horror stories. She’d seen the transmission sent out when the prison
planets culled their populations—often allowing races who fed upon humanoids to
come and “enjoy the buffet”. Even being sold into the sex-slave industry was an
end more desirable than a prison planet. Everyone knew that.
    She
shuddered.
    The trader
shoved Teon out the exit-bay door and she stumbled. He caught her by the upper
arm, his grip iron-clad, sending pain radiating through her. She knew better
than to whimper or show any more signs of weakness. They’d exploit it.
    The other
women, from all over the universe, were led out as well. The traders gathered
in a group, leaving the women on their own. Teon was sure some of the women
considered running, the hint of freedom too much to resist after being held
captive for so long, but with the electronic shackles they wore, they wouldn’t
get far before enough energy was charged through them to stop their hearts for
good. She’d heard tales of limbs being blasted off during escape attempts. She
wasn’t sure how much of that was true or simply tales spun to strike fear in
the galaxy, but she wasn’t taking any chances. She liked her limbs attached as
they were and would certainly prefer her heart continue to beat.
    Teon’s
breath caught as she stared around at the sights presented to her. The planet
was unlike any she’d seen before. She’d been off-Earth a number of times but
none of the planets she’d visited were as visually stunning as the one she now
stood upon. The trees were massive with blue leaves so dark they were nearly
black in places, and oddly colored yellow tips. Everything seemed bigger here.
More grand in every way, including color.
    Sensing
the flight risk of the others, Teon motioned for the women to come closer to
her. They did. “If you run, they’ll send bolts of charge through your shackles.
It will kill you.”
    They
shared a somber look and then nodded. The ones eyeing outer areas stopped and
focused on her. She knew then their likelihood of running had just slimmed.
Good. They didn’t need to lose any women because of fear or stupidity. She
pressed a comforting smile to her face. “I’m Teon.”
    Many of
them relaxed somewhat.
    She looked
them over for signs of injuries.