This is the last section of Transformations: Travelers. The next book will be Transformations: Latigo Key and will begin in the New Year. Comments welcome!
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Morpheus International Airport
Outside Havana, Theocratic Republic of Cuba
The airport is all sharp, crystalline spires reflecting the light of the Cuban sun in a thousand prismatic beams. This is not Cuban architecture nor is it even modern western architecture. It is something foreign, almost alien. The spires remind you of some vision of the future from the 1950s or 1960s - a future that never happened but inexplicably has sprouted from the Cuban jungle.
The Eros IV airliner designated Flight 118 drops slowly from the blue sky toward a massive concrete pad. Dozens of other Eros IVs are resting on their own circular berths nearby.
High above, dozens more circle the airport waiting their turn to come to rest.
The graceful descent of Flight 118 looks impossible. Aerodynamically it shouldn't be possible - yet, as old engineers used to say: give us a powerful enough engine with enough fuel and we can make a brick fly.
The Eros IV lands in a roar and a cloud of dust, the engines spinning down, its long voyage ended.
***
Diana smiled at Eric and Nancy. "There's a limousine waiting just outside baggage claim to take you to Hotel La Lilitu," she said. She glanced toward Don and Christine. "I took the liberty of booking Don and Christine in the same limo - I hope you don't mind?"
Nancy frowned.
"Oh, I definitely want to get better acquainted," Christine said with a smile. She reached over and touched Nancy's bare thigh. "Don't you?"
"Thank you, Diana. That will be fine," Eric said.
This was not what Nancy had in mind. She would have liked to put as much distance between herself and Christine and Don as possible.
"Wouldn't it be something if we got adjoining rooms at the La Lilitu?" Christine asked and smiled innocently.
"Oh, I think that's a great idea," Don said and looked at Nancy's thighs lecherously.
"I..." Nancy began.
"I'll take care of it as soon as we arrive," Eric said. "It'll be good to have friends here in Havana, won't it, Nancy?"
No!!!!
Nancy wanted to scream. Instead, she said, "Yes. It will."
***
Terri
Terri watched the drama playing out with Nancy, her husband, and their new
friends
. She felt like crying, which was odd for someone with her new programmed attitude.
Nancy was so upset! It wasn't right. Nancy should be happy like her. Like Baphista. If only Nancy had begun transformation into Whore Caste - she would see how little the small stuff mattered.
Hannah knelt beside her. "Nothing you can do, luv."
Terri looked into Hannah's kind eyes and nearly sobbed. "It's sooo sad, Mistress Hannah."
Hannah stroked Terri's chin. "Sometimes we care too much. You have to trust in the system. It's hard sometimes but, soon, very soon, you'll begin to see the design."
Terri nodded and wiped away a tear.
"Now, Whore Caste initiates exit the plane through the nose section. You must wait until everyone else has left. All right, dearie?"
"Yes, Mistress Hannah."
"Good girl," Hannah said gently. "From here, you'll be taken to the slave market downtown. You'll be put on the auction block - by this evening, you'll be bound to a Whoremaster or White Witch."
Terri smiled. "Me and Baphista together, right?"
Hannah's smile faded. "Terri, luv, there's no guarantee..."
Terri's eyes grew huge. "Mistress! Baphista and I are soul mates! We have to go together!" She threw her arms around Hannah's neck. "Please, Mistress?"
"I... Oh, Terri." She sounded on the verge of tears herself.
"Please, Mistress. Baphy would die of heartbreak without me. She's very innocent. She needs me to watch out for her!"
Hannah laughed. "Ah, yes. The seven foot tall succubus needs little you to protect her, is that it?"
"Yes," Terri sobbed.
"I... I'll do my best, luv. You have my word."
***
Monica and Paul
Diana knelt in front of Monica and Paul's seats as the other passengers disembarked. "I know what you're thinking, Monica. Literally. You're thinking about the two of you making a run for it. Don't."
"Get out of my fucking head," Monica said through gritted teeth.
"The entire island is wired with security cameras and microphones. A powerful AI monitors the movement of every man and woman in Cuba. There is no place you can run, no aircraft you can stow away on, no boat you can steal. If you ran, someone from Whore Caste would find you... hopefully. If not Whore Caste? Perhaps a Church Agent would find you, which still wouldn't be as bad as being found by someone from Religious Caste. They would hurt you..."
"I'd take that chance."
The color drained out of Diana's face. "No, honey, you don't want that. Don't cross them. They delight in inflicting pain. They're like psychotics tearing the wings off flies. Please, please, don't try to run."
Monica swallowed.
She had spent this entire flight being simultaneously drawn to and terrified of Diana.
Now, she saw terror in Diana's eyes.
Could there actually be something worse than mind reading witches?
Yes, she decided. There must be something worse. Something that would scare a creature like Diana.
"Stay in your seats. Hannah and I will take you to your transportation in a few minutes."
"Transportation
where
?" Paul asked as he pulled at the restraints.
Diana looked from one of them to the other. "You're going to be taken to the Cathedral of Morpheus."
***
Larry's Coven
Larry walked down the aisle toward the doors leading out of the aircraft.
Groggy orgy participants tripped and wobbled their way ahead of them.
Sometimes one would look back at the towering Whoremaster and his coven in fascination or envy.
His lovers preceded him, staying close, looking over their shoulders at him and smiling.
He smiled back. A beach house? Why not? They were available. They would spend the rest of their days working the streets and brothels of Havana, their nights together on the beach surrounded by their coven.
There were worst ways to spend eternity.
Maybe they would operate their own brothel?
He bent down as he exited the aircraft door and walked into the shaded glass skyway.
***
Hannah and Diana
Hannah stared at the cellphone in her hand. She stood with Diana in the galley as the first class cabin emptied.
She held out the cellphone. "You should call him."
Diana rolled her eyes. "I called him last time."
"Di... he likes you."
"He likes you too. He likes everybody."
"He's your countryman."
"Fuck's sake, Hannah. You have the sexier voice." She sighed knowing there was no way she was going to win this one. She took the phone. "I promised him I wouldn't ask him again."
"A promise broken for the greater good is worth breaking," Hannah said with a sly smile.
Diana looked both ways. "When did they add that to the Book of Adam?" she whispered.
"Last month. You should read more."
