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The door chimes optimistically as I enter the premises. The front area for customers is draped in heavy red fabrics with strategic lighting. There is a comfortable-looking seating area facing a small, raised stage, presumably where the flesh-peddler parades her poor slaves for her customers to view. I march straight past, and head for the counter where there should be a staff member to help me take my female away from this wretched place. Although I loathe to give these people any of my money, it is the quickest way to ensure my female’s safety.
But… There is no one here.
The counter houses a small plaque stating ‘customer service desk’, a small bowl of fifth galaxy candies, and a metal bell. I slap my hand down to make the thing ring and wait for assistance.
Ding!
When that does not come as quickly as I would like, I ring it again.
Ding!
And again.
Ding-ding!
And again, in quick succession this time.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!
It is Za
“It is still early,” he reminds me, casually taking a handful of candies and shoving them in his mouth. “Someone will be along soon, I’m sure.”
“If they are not ready to serve me, they should not be open at this hour,” I growl, just as a bony-looking Sectarix male appears from behind a draped-off area.
“Good morning, gentlemales,” he greets, his ante
“I need the female who was working at Star Pleasures last night,” I demand, my finger tapping on the counter.
I ignore the scoff I hear coming from my brother behind me.
This ‘Yix’ blinks his huge eyes at me and his mandibles open a little before closing again. “The-… uh… did you happen to know her name, sir?” he asks, picking up a tablet screen before he starts tapping away at it.
Her name?
No, much to my chagrin, I did not learn her name.
The Sectarix looks up at me from over the top of his screen. “Sir, we have lots of human females in stock currently, if you do not know her name-”
“You know who I am speaking of,” I tell him, feeling a prickly heat rise up my body. “There was only one human working in that place last night, and she was branded by this trading company. Get. Me. My. Female.”
Yix pales and starts frantically tapping at his screen while I wait, my jaw clenching so tightly, I think I may shatter some teeth if I don’t get her to safety soon.
“Ah, yes,” he chirps, still tapping away. “Here we are.”
The relief I feel is palpable. She is here, and she will soon be walking away from this level and all its dangers.
And walking straight into the jaws of new ones, a little voice murmurs at the back of my head. I shush the voice, vowing that I will not touch this human - she will simply be under my protection. I activate my wrist comm, readying it to transfer whatever amount of money they deem to charge for that little Goddess of a female.
Yix looks up at me, and I go cold as he says, “I fear she has already been purchased, sir.”