Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 54

They pulled the rope. It came in measure, with only a little discernable resistance. Shen returned shivering. Loxy embraced him, manifesting a blanket coat. She kissed him, and in his head ‘your suit has a heater, you know.’ ‘I didn’t think I would be there that long.’ “Thank you,” Shen said.

“Where were you?”

“Antarctica?” Shen said, teeth popping. “Ice everywhere. Fuck, you think your place is cold? Even Santa wouldn’t stay where I was.”

“Your suit is still operational,” TL said, relieved. “Did you see the orb?”

“It must have followed protocol,” Shen said. “Probably should modify them to linger longer. Also, we should consider putting satellites in orbit.”

Loxy nodded. Next time they logged into the Shangri-La, she would put in the work order. Jerica handed her staff to Torny and joined Loxy in the blanket, a ruse of offering her heat. She undid the rope and secured it around her waist.

“Alright, so, let’s explore the next one,” Shen said.

“My turn,” Jerica said, not wanting to be shown up by the new guy. “They would have gone in that one.” She said, pointing to the monolithic stature that had jewels imbedded in it. Arne agreed with that. She saw Shen was mad and patted his face, even kissed him. “Oh, do you care, or do you just want all the fun?” And with that, she went through the gate.

Unlike before, the rope did not remain slack. There was a calm, Tane was counting. The rope went tighter, snapping, singing like a guitar string. Shen dropped the blanket and rushed the gate. Not to be undone, Arne and Erico followed. They emerged on the other side. They were in a circular arena. There was no apparent way out, as each of the ‘arches’ led to a brick wall, except for the one with a rope, coming out of nowhere. In the center of the arena was a large plant. The light where the rope intersected nothing and disappeared seemed irritated, based on flares of lights and sparks. The central feature of the large plant was a lotus. It had large leafy pieces and vines. The vines were alive and one of them had Jerica by the legs, pulling her towards the lotus. The rope had slipped up to her underarms and she was clinging to it tightly with her hands, trying to just hold her position.

Arne and Erico immediately fell to fighting off more vines. The vines were not impenetrable to swords, but it required hacking. Even Shen’s knife wasn’t working well on the vine that had Jerica. Erico screamed when his sword was ripped from his hands, and his wrist caught. Arne dropped his sword to grab his friend.

“Fuck,” Shen said. He manifested a Torch. The golden beam of his sword flared, igniting with a loud retort. The energy sword cut through the vine like tissues paper. He brought his sword up and around, cutting the vine and dropping Jerrica. The plant sent vines towards him, but they all fell- the hurt end withdrawing, and the loose ends writhing blindly. One of the loose ends caught Erico’s legs and blindly tried to entwine him, revealing it was still a threat.

A woman emerged out of thin air- her feet lighting down like a ballerina that was being slowly set down by invisible hands. She was mesmerizing. High cheekbones, rosy cheeks, hourglass figure, and a sultry walk that would have made Jessica Rabbit seem like a nun in a robe. Her hair was comprised of dread locks that moved like snakes.

“Finally, a real man,” the woman said. “Make love to me. Give me children, and I will raise you to be a king.”

“Identify yourself,” Shen said.

“No, wait,” Jerica yelled. She was pulled back. Erico went with her, holding her hand. Arne stayed with Shen.

“Kill her,” Arne said.

“Silence!” She did something with her hand, and Arne went to his knees. A plethora of vines and tentacles were growing towards them. She smiled at Shen. “Lower your Light. I will not harm you. I promise.”

Shen lowered his weapon. The blade of light retracted.

“See. Nothing to be afraid of my dear,” she said, coming closer.

“Don’t listen to her!” Arne said.

She kicked Arne, knocking him to the ground.

“Hand me your Light,” she said, grasping it. “Shhh,” she said, kissing him. “I have you my pet. Relax.” She admired the Torch. “Oh, I have not seen a psychic amplifier like this in ages.” She shivered as if orgasmic. “It’s tuned to you. That’s super smart of you.”

“Who are you?” Shen asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Yes! Know me. Explore me. Smell me, deeply. Naming me solidifies me in you. You want to be solid in me? Call me Jazmyne,” she said.

“Close your mind to her!” Arne said.

“You are difficult to penetrate,” Jazmine said, hugging him, and giving him butterfly kisses with her eye lids. She looked at Arne, pointed the torch at him. “You, on the other hand, you are a part of this world. I will not raise you, but if you wish to join your men, I would be happy to invite you inside me.” She petted Shen, pushing her breast against him. They were oily, and smelled of coconut oil.

“You killed them?! All of them?!” Arne demanded.

“They wanted ecstasy,” Jazmyne said. “I gave them that. But their seed is useless. You, on the other hand, Shen. Your seed is precious. Share it with me. I need it.” She licked his face and hugged his neck. “Day dream with me. Look around you. They used to come from thousands of miles to watch me feast in my glory days. Feasts, and orgasms for everyone. That was a brutal regime. It could be different with you, Shen. Man of peace. Bring me your criminals, your unwanted, the homeless, the drug addicts. I will keep your city pure. Your people will love you and I will be your queen. I will keep you young, forever…” She licked his ear and whispered. “How is it you resist? Ahh. I am competing with another of my kind…”