Page 10 of Shae’s Bounty
The cage dancing becomes part of our new routine.
Almost daily, in fact.
After breakfast, one of the orcs leads us to the showers, where there is always a new skimpy outfit waiting for us to wear. Then we’re led to the strip club, shoved into the cage, and forced to dance like puppets for Kurrahstka and his clients. After they leave, we’re led back to our room, where clean jumpsuits are waiting for us.
Over and over.
I remind myself that it could be worse. It could beso much worse!
If dancing in slutty outfits is all that’s expected of us, I’d call that a win compared to what we could be forced to do.
It’s just another day. Danielle and I are back in the cage, wearing the shimmery slip dresses again.
“You know what I miss the most?” I whisper as we wait for Kurrahstka and his clients to show up. “Cheese! Nothing we’ve been given is remotely close to cheese.”
“OMG! You’re right,” Danielle gasps, then moans. “Now you have me wanting it. Thanks, friend!”
“Sorry.” I laugh.
“You know what I miss?” Danielle sighs. “My dog. He must be so confused that I just… vanished one day. I’m sure my sister has him, so he’s safe, but… I miss coffee too.”
“Don’t even remind me of coffee,” I sigh. “I had a migraine for a week while my body detoxed from all the caffeine I was addicted to.”
“Girl, same!” Danielle giggles, only to be cut off when Kurrahstka strides into the room, followed by three slug-like aliens.
Snapping our mouths shut, we stand up straight and step as far away from the bars as we can, which isn’t very far. Then we watch as the aliens take their seats below us. As soon as lights dim and the music starts, we begin swaying in time to the beat.
“Those things look like snails but without shells!” Danielle whispers to me when she sways forward. “They even have those creepy eye stalks.”
I can’t help the shudder that goes through my body as I look down at them from the corner of my eye. Most of the aliens we’ve run into are somewhat humanoid looking. But not these things.
In a surprisingly deep voice, one of the slug-snails emits a garbled growl. We’re used to hearing strange languages, but this time, my translator changes the words to English, so I can understand.
“Where did you find such exquisite entertainment?” the alien asks Kurrahstka.
“You know how I like exotics,” Kurrahstka replies. “But I brought you here to discuss opening a trade, not my entertainment, hm?”
The alien who spoke openly stares up at us. “Trade, yes. What would you be willing to trade for that dark beauty?”
“Nothing,” Kurrahstka tells him flatly.
The alien’s eye stalks narrow and snap back to focus on Kurrahstka. “Name your price.”
“These females are not for sale.”
“Everything is for sale.”
The other slug aliens begin glancing at one another. Kurrahstka just sits there, looking across the table at the alien with a bored expression.
“I will give you twice the amount of fire crystals for the price you’re asking, but I want the dark beauty in exchange,” the slug insists while the others begin quivering wildly.
“Glurg, what are you doing?” one hisses.
“You are not authorized,” another groans.
Danielle stops swaying and instead wraps her arms tightly across her chest with her fingertips digging into the backs of her arms. The look on her face is pure panic, and I reach out, doing my best to comfort her without drawing even more attention to us.
“Enough,” Kurrahstka barks, slamming his fist on the table. “The girl is not available!”