Lost Empire (17 page)

The armored beings rose back up into their clumsy humanoid forms and waited patiently in front of the plain-looking, rusty iron double doors. The doors seemed odd and out of place given the sheer sparkling beauty of the rest of the temple. The wait was not very long—it never was—before the thick doors began to grind open with a shrill, high-pitched screeching. In sets of three they lumbered inside the chamber where they would collapse down once more and remain still as death until the morning came. Then they would return to the rice fields, set on getting the most out of their fleshy labor, taking a life or two if that meant making the others work harder.

Taking the life of a flesh being was just a means to an end and nothing personal. These were their orders, and if it meant staying in this realm for yet another day, away from the constant pain and suffering they were otherwise accustomed to, then the decision was really quite easy, for pleasing their masters was more important than anything else.

The inside of the shimmering architectural wonder was no less elaborate than the outside, if not in a much different way. Long silver halls shimmered and glistened while reflecting images cast off the dark red tile floors. Various oil paintings decorated the mirror-like walls with images of mystical creatures portrayed with a sense of nobility and honor. Sturdy winged horses covered with white feathers held their heads high, their gleaming green eyes appearing far too lifelike to be nothing more than paintings. Dark, scaly, lizard-like creatures with forked blue tongues hanging out grotesquely seemed to follow one’s gaze when passing by the black steel-framed images. In fact, all the paintings were absent of traditional wooden frames, replaced with iron or steel borders that twisted about in dizzying ornate designs.

The occasional oil lantern hung from a steel hook, flickering away as its subtle light cascaded off the silvery walls, but the vast majority of light was provided by clear globes hanging on thin black chains from both the walls and ceilings. The clear glass spheres proved to be tiny prisons for the blue glowing creatures held captive within each one. The delicate, passive beings slowly bounced around their captive orbs, instinctively searching for a way to free themselves, yet never making any adjustment to their predictable patterns. They lit the halls and rooms with a soft blue light that was more than easy on the eyes. The elegant little beings proved to be an endless source of light that never needed nourishment or care of any sort.

Filthy servants scrambled about here and there as they wiped the silver walls with worn rags that were far cleaner than them. Each dressed in dirty, tattered, yellowed garments that were once white, they swept and polished as they roamed about whether the items needed it or not, wiping down wooden tables with no lacquer or finish to them, carefully lifting porcelain vases and making a pass or two over the already spotless area before slowly placing them back on the exact same space. Not unlike the servants in the rice fields, to stop moving for any reason at all simply was not an option.

Two servants, a dark-haired male with a scruffy beard and a thin woman with sharp green eyes and small pointed nose, each turned suddenly from their incessant scrubbing and dropped down low to the floor. With noses pressed against the cold tile and arms stretched out before them, they were simply doing the only thing that would ever excuse them from working. To not show great respect to their lord and master was far worse than any other action they could possibly perform.

The tall figure clad in flowing white gracefully glided past the two servants, not paying any attention to either of them. Of course, had they not dropped down to the ground before he appeared around the corner, the encounter would have been far different. They each held their muscles tight as he passed, trying hard not to tremble or shake in his presence. The effort was extreme, but drawing any unnecessary attention to themselves was never a good idea. Not unlike the boachards, the young man was unpredictable at best, but at worst...

In his flowing white robe with low drooping hood, Zhou drifted past with all the grace of a king, which was more than fitting, considering he viewed himself as such. His diamond-studded black leather belt with glittery golden buckle hugged his slim waist, while the normally loose-fitting robe clung to his massive shoulders. Long, drooping sleeves covered the many silver and gold bracelets riding up each of his muscular arms. Thick, black leather boots that should have clopped noisily against the tile floor stepped in total silence as he moved gracefully through the hall. Unseen under a low-hanging hood, his chiseled features and gleaming blue eyes held an expression of concern, an emotion that was seldom seen in the confident twenty-five-year-old.

When he approached the door he had been seeking his hand rose up in a fist, but at the last moment he turned the knob instead of knocking. The strong aroma of burning incense assaulted him immediately, a combination of sweet berry and roses. The thick, dark red carpet spread across the small room stood out boldly against the jet-black walls. Red and green crystal statues of majestic creatures stood proudly in each corner: a large cat with three heads, a sea serpent resembling a giant squid, a winged lizard with multiple horns across its head, and a particularly detailed version of a thin man with the body of a snake. Each held the same glistening white pearls in place of eyes. He gazed up at the mirrored ceiling reflecting the large blue bed with thin, light blue silk curtains hung on silver rods surrounding the frame. However, the bed itself was not what caught his attention, as the image in the mirror held his eyes.
I suppose my message can wait a minute or two
.

The beautiful red-haired girl lay sideways across the bed, her head propped up on one hand as she gazed down upon the black-haired, tan-skinned girl who lay flat on her back next to her. Wearing only a green thong, she slowly ran her fingertips across the girl’s navel, then up between her breasts before gently working them back down again. Although her soft touch was as light as an angel’s, the naked dark- haired girl began to whimper and tremble.

Zhou leaned against the entryway as he gazed up at the mirrored ceiling. With deep breaths coming in labored bursts, his hand unconsciously fell low as he began rubbing himself. His head fell back against the wall as he closed his eyes for a moment before taking another deep breath and gazing back to the mirrored ceiling.

The redhead ran a single finger around the dark-haired girl’s nipple in a series of tight circles, ending with a soft pinch before firmly palming her breast. She then ran her tongue slowly across the girl’s neck, stopping at her ear only to whisper, “Don’t be so afraid. After all, this is hardly your first time.” The girl’s trembling only worsened as she felt the other woman’s hand move softly down her flat stomach, cross her navel, and rest gently between her legs.

The girl let out a sharp gasp as she sat up off the white-laced red pillow. The sudden penetration was not harsh or forced, but still... Light kisses up and down her neck soon became the long strokes of an impossibly long, wet tongue. The redheaded girl suddenly reared up with a hiss and clicked her tongue against the top of her mouth. A small blade appeared between her teeth as she gazed back down at the terrified girl, eyeing the white puckered scars that intertwined across her neck. They stood out boldly against her tan skin.

Zhou’s hand abruptly stopped its motion as his face crinkled up with disdain. He knew this would happen, although hoped it wouldn’t. With his erotic pleasures suddenly ruined, he turned to leave. “Leaving so soon, brother?” the girl called out with her eyes never leaving her toy, her teeth still clamped firmly on the blade as she leaned down ever so slowly. “I find your jealousy amusing.” The other girl whimpered softly while turning her head to the side, allowing access to the white scars. She had been “asked” to do this many times and knew the routine.

Zhou scoffed, waving away the absurd notion. If he didn’t want to be seen, he wouldn’t have been. “You mistake curiosity for jealousy, dear sister. I find it odd we have similar tastes in the fairer sex.” His lighthearted voice suddenly hardened. “When you are finished playing your game, come speak with me. I
may
have some important news.”

Suddenly distracted by her brother’s words, she looked back up at the mirrored ceiling, blood already running from the corner of her mouth, her eyes both calm and questioning. Retracting the blade into her mouth for a second, she replied, “You
may
have important news? What does that mean?”

He shrugged innocently. “I’m not sure. After all, you can communicate with that
thing
better than I. Best you ask it yourself.” He then turned and left. His sister mirrored his shrug before turning her eyes downward once more. With a wide grin, the blade popped back between her teeth.

****

Morita stretched up lazily before drifting across the soft, thick carpet. Her long, messy red hair flared out while spilling down over her lightly muscled shoulders. With a quick flick of her tongue, the blade popped out from her mouth once more. She held it between her teeth while tying her hair back in a thick yellow ribbon. Once her hair felt secure, she pulled the blade free and licked it clean of any remaining blood, then flicked it across the room.

She marched over to her closet and grabbed a thin green robe with a glittery yellow neckline and white ruffled sleeves. She threw it on rather hurriedly, remembering what her brother had said about possibly having some kind of news. Morita started to head toward the door but then turned back, deciding she could spare a minute to say goodbye to her less than willing partner. Her tongue turned red as she slid it lightly between the girl’s breasts and up across her chin, ending in a soft kiss. “Until I return, my dear,” she said with a sparkle in her odd yellow eyes. The girl lethargically rolled her head to the side across a red wet pillow and mumbled incoherently. Whether her weak response was from shock setting in or simply due to loss of blood was unclear.

It was of no concern to Morita as she wondered out in search of Zhou. At a tad under six feet tall, her lightly muscled frame was hard to miss even at a distance. She floated down the hall gracefully as servants dropped down with faces pressed to the cold floor long before she passed them by, and remained there long afterward. With high cheekbones, flowing red hair, and full red lips, Morita was truly stunning in almost every way. Her green robe hugged her curves as her hips swayed with every step, yet her head never bobbed an inch as she drifted along like a wondering ghost.

“
Are you finished with your little toy?” came the irritated voice from behind her.

She turned slowly with all the grace of a dancer. “For now, I suppose. Tell me, dear bother, what is it that has you troubled? If one of the servants is causing a problem, I will be sure to—”

“
If it were a servant, I would be wearing their skin!” he barked, clearly irritated with how lightly she was taking him. “I’ll let you decide for yourself. After all, I can hardly communicate with that thing.” He abruptly spun and started down the hallway. She followed behind, matching him step for step, although not appearing to be in the same hurry he was.

They marched down the shimmering silver halls as wandering servants dropped to the floor the moment the two of them came into view. Morita reached out and flicked one of the lucid glass orbs as they passed by, making it sing a soft hum as it vibrated. The tiny blue being inside stopped its constant movement for a moment, as if confused by the sudden vibration of its prison, then promptly continued its never-ending path to nowhere, bouncing mindlessly around the globe.

The siblings finally approached the long, steep flight of dark, lacquered wooden steps leading up through a narrow hallway. Bright torches flickered away in sets of two all the way up the golden stone walls, dripping tiny droplets of fire that hissed loudly against the glossy polished steps. Up they went through the uncomfortably narrow hall, bending and twisting to avoid being burned by the extended torches. At the top of the steps was a circular black stone door with random hieroglyphics painted in red and white, ancient designs whose meanings and general translations had been lost for centuries.

“
After you, sister,” Zhou said while gesturing an open hand toward the door. “I fear he likes you better than me anyway.”

Morita sneered, but went ahead and placed her hands on the door. As large and heavy as it clearly was, it should not be an easy thing to open. But after few nonsensical mutterings, her hands began to glow a light green color while her yellowed eyes took on a faint glow themselves before rolling back up into her head. A few seconds later, the massive, thick stone door rolled to the side with a grinding sound before disappearing into the sidewall. The sickly dank air rushed into the hall as a pungent, sour odor filled their noses.

The two of them strolled into the massive tomb with gritty stone walls that were constantly dark with mildew and moisture. Thick, blackened cobwebs hung from every corner, attached to silver-colored pillars no thicker than a man’s waist. Holding a hand over their mouths to help repel at least some of the stench, they cautiously approached the grotesque figure submerged in the wall just ahead.

There before them hung the slimy brown glob of a being—one who was not pleasurable on the eyes at all, but who had proven to be most useful nonetheless. The rectangular-shaped metal frame attached to the wall looked to be filled with brown, wet mud. Bubbles swelled up from the gooey tar, to the point where it seemed they would burst, before receding back down in a sickening gurgle. Clear flexible tubes coiled around the monstrosity, pumping a clear liquid in a pulsing fashion. It gurgled and belched as the bubbles inflated then deflated, releasing a nearly unbearable stench into the air with each disgusting sound.