All characters in this story are at least 18 year of age.
*
It was the silence that struck Marius first. In the week he had been there, the dank interior of the prison had always been abuzz with the chatter of the inmates, the taunting of the guards and the singing of Mad Pedro in the cell next to his. The dread seeped in ahead of them, long before they were seen or heard.
The sound of the captain of the guard fumbling with his keys at the outer door was the next warning. The captain was a brute of a man, known to his prisoners only as Killer. Usually any sighting of him was met with terror, meeting or avoiding his gaze was equally likely to earn a beating.
Today however, Killer was cowering in front of two statuesque women as they strolled, carefree, after him, heels clicking on the stone floor.
They both wore black strapless dresses that clung tightly to their sculpted figures. Long silky hair framed their features, gleaming an impossible white in the darkness of the prison.
Marius looked on in confusion as the other prisoners scurried into the far corners of their cells and turned their back on the new arrivals.
They stopped outside his cell and Killer stepped forward, fumbling with his ring of keys. After two false starts he got the door opened and stepped back with his head lowered in uncharacteristic respect.
"You may leave us," said the taller of the women.
"Begging your pardon Lady," Killer stammered. "I should not leave a cell unlocked."
"Oh don't worry," the other replied. "He wont be going anywhere."
She was younger than her tall companion, Marius judged her to only recently have come of age, and her figure was softer and curvier although she shared the same healthy, slender build.
They entered his cell slowly, not bothering to close the door. The only noise for several seconds was Killer shuffling away as quickly as he could as they stared at Marius intently.
When Marius glanced at the cells on either side of him he again noticed the men in the adjacent cells were getting as far away from his visitors as their bars would allow.
"They're afraid to look," said the younger woman. "It doesn't matter though, they'll still hear everything."
Marius looked into her youthful, smiling face and a shiver ran down his spine.
"You're going to terrify him Mia," the other said. "We're here to be nice to Marius."
"Oh! I'm sorry," she chirped. "Let me make it up to you."
Before he could react, Mia had crossed the space between them and pressed him against the wall in a passionate kiss. Her lithe body was warm against his and the scent of her filled his nostrils and set off explosions of lust in his head as she writhed against him.
A slim hand with midnight black fingernails landed on Mia's shoulder. Marius noticed she wore an elegant gold ring set with sapphire as Mia obediently stepped back.
"
Slowly
," her companion urged. "Don't they teach you seduction or subtlety in the academy?"
A sheepish smile crossed Mia's face. "Mostly I skipped the sessions and had fun in the barracks."
"Yes, I know you did," she replied. "Why do you think they assigned you to me? Regardless, if you'd been paying attention you would know that Marius is from another land and does not know who we are."
"Oooh!" Mia exclaimed. "This
will
be fun."
"I am Nicole. Mia here is my apprentice."
Mia grinned bashfully and nodded.
"I do not understand," said Marius, finding his voice at last.
"Don't worry, said Nicole, reaching up to trace his cheek with her black nails. "We'll take care of everything. We were sent to carry out your sentence."
"My what?"
"You're guilty of facilitating heresy," Mia chimed in. "The penalty is death."
A confused grin crossed his face. "You two are going to kill me?"
"Yes, we are," said Nicole.
Marius decided he'd had enough of this and took a step towards the open door of his cell. Mia raised a dainty hand and he was forced back against the wall.
"Leaving so soon?" she purred. "Try that again and I'll hurt you."
"Mia!" Nicole scolded. "That is no way to talk."
Nicole walked over to where he stood, pinned against the stone wall, and began stroking his chest through the rough prison rags.
"Why not?" she challenged. "He's our victim, we're here to kill him. Why bother being nice to him?"
"I am so sorry," said Nicole. "My young colleague has a lot to learn. He is
not
our victim Mia, he's our partner in a sacred duty. Show respect or I'll have you flogged."
"Promises, promises," she said, smirking naughtily but she relented all the same.
Marius continued to stand helplessly, fastened to the wall by unseen bonds as Nicole's hands roamed his threadbare garments. Her hot breath tickled at his neck as she moulded her shapely body against his side.
"Show us you're sorry."
Mia gave a coquettish grin and spun away.
She began to dance in front of them, swaying to an unheard rhythm. Marius's eyes were drawn to her shapely hips and toned legs as she moved.
"She's got great promise," Nicole whispered in his ear. "But like many gifted youngsters she does not see the benefit of working hard to be the best when natural skill makes her very good."
"I don't understand," he said. "I don't know who you are or why you're here."