Callum awoke to see a pair of lovely dark eyes staring at him. He blinked a couple of times, finally managing to focus enough to see that the face in front of his belonged to Zoriah. He tried to get up, only to find that he couldn't move. Confused, he looked around.
He was chained to the wall in a dark, dingy room. It smelled musty and stale. The chains holding him were slightly rusty, but try as he might, he could not break free; he doubted he would be able to even once he regained his full strength.
Zoriah watched his struggles with a look of guilt and concern. "I'm sorry, warrior," she whispered. "I had no choice. These men, they... they hurt us if we do not obey. We lure men into our brothel and the good ones are drugged and taken to be sold as slaves."
"Slaves!" Callum exclaimed. He renewed his struggles, but Zoriah calmed him with an urgent hush.
"Quiet," she hissed. "We don't want to attract attention. I'm not supposed to be in here."
"Where am I?"
"You're in the slavers compound. It's close to our whorehouse, that's why they decided to set up this... deal."
Callum growled, eyeing the gorgeous madame angrily. "So why are you here? Come to gloat?"
"No!" Zoriah reached forward and caressed his face. "I didn't mean for this to happen, I never did. I came here to help you."
"Can you get me out of here?"
"Yes, but you have to promise me something. Promise me you'll protect me and the girls. You're a warrior, you can handle yourself, but we're at their mercy."
Callum nodded. He wasn't sure he could trust her, but right now it was the only chance he had of getting out of this place. This certainly wasn't what he had expected from his first visit to the city!
Zoriah produced a key from the depths of her bountiful cleavage. She leaned forward to unlock his chains, then captured his mouth in a deep kiss. "For luck," she whispered. "Now come on, this way." |