Domina is a novelette in the Bloom Chronicles setting. It takes place after Tara and after The Exception Clause. With that said, Domina is entirely self-contained and can be read without having read either of those two. Reading future Bloom Chronicles stories without this one might be a little confusing though.
There is some hardcore fun to be had here, as well as more than a little violence. Readers beware -- but know that everything is consensual. Oh, and everyone's of legal age -- on this planet or any other.
The warrior's roar was still echoing through the small arena when she charged with her long haired arms spread out to either side. Her opponent, a smaller woman with skin the color of a shallow sea, judged her approach and then picked the best time to leap. She didn't leap to the side or attempt to vault over the Voluminarian, she chose to leap at her.
Stunned and uncertain whether to step over the dangerous Likchan or kick her, the simian combatant did neither in time. Her legs were swept out from under by her the Likchan and she crashed face first into the cold metal deck of the ship's arena. Instinct made her start to rise as soon as the colors faded from her eyes. She tasted blood and her jaw burned, telling her it had been broken.
Before she could do more than lift her head and chest a few centimeters the Likchan was on top of her. The smaller woman's knee on her spine drove her back down. Her head rang with the second impact against the deck. The Likchan twisted and dropped her other knee onto the Voluminarian's head, twisting it and knocking her senseless a third time in nearly as many seconds.
Satisfied that she'd stunned the simian woman, the Likchan repositioned herself again. One hand pressed the Voluminarian's head to the deck while her leg slid between the woman's hairy thighs. She wedged her foot tight between her thighs and pressed her ankle against the woman's fur covered slit. Her finishing move was to open her mouth and expose her sharp teeth before placing them on her defeated opponent's neck.
The victor looked up, her large round eyes seeking out the Fight Master and her ears rotated to minimize the raucous crowd so she could hear his decision. Beneath her the Voluminarian felt the prick of the Likchan's teeth through the hair on her neck as she regained her senses. She huffed, the movement alone swelling her throat and making the teeth dig deeper. She moved one arm out slowly and slapped the deck in submission.
The Fight Master, a Dextan wearing a harness that displayed his muscular torso and arms as well as the scars he'd earned along the way, raised his arms to quiet the crowd. "Domina the Demon wins again to become the Gortoko's champion!"
The Likchan rose and stepped away from her fallen opponent. She raised her arms in the air, knowing what was expected of her in spite of the pain in her ribs. She'd learned early on to play to the crowd. They loved her now. Considered her fearless and cunning. Vicious, but calculating.
There were jeers and boos as well. The fans of Morgos picked at anything they could, from her breasts not being as large as they wanted to the growth of dark fur under her arms and above her crotch. There was even a shadow of hair growing on the sides of her head on either side of her strip of hair that she braided and gathered behind her head. She hadn't had time to shave before the bout and she knew she'd be docked for that. Her masters would find any reason they could to diminish her victory.
Domina turned and spat the blood our of her mouth. It was a mix of hers and Morgos's. She smiled, baring her teeth and inciting a fresh chorus of cheers and catcalls from the crowd.
Domina turned and walked out of the pit in the ship's belly. She focused to hide the limp from her battered muscles and cracked ribs. Cracked or broken, she wasn't sure, but she exited the living arena knowing there was someone waiting who would.
Domina kept her lips together when she smiled at the tall Zendarian that waited for her. "Jahn," Domina greeted the doctor.
"Congratulations," the Zendarian said. "I won't say good fight though."
Domina let out a small sigh to avoid as much burning in her side as she could. "Voluminarian's are stubborn but not stupid. She needed confidence to become cocky."
"I wish you didn't give her confidence through sacrifice."
Domina stifled a chuckle. "I knew I had the best healer on the ship to fix me up."
Jahn snorted. "Only healer, you mean?"
"I wouldn't spend my money on any other."
"Because you don't have any!" Jahn'kar said and pointed at one of the two beds she'd brought in.
Domina bared her bloody teeth in a smile and climbed onto the cot. Jahn positioned the scanner over her and turned it on before turning to the Voluminarian woman that trudged into the room.
"You get that one, Morgos," Jahn'kar said.
Morgos grunted and lay down on the opposite bed a little harder than she needed to. Jahn activated the scanner and spent a moment studying the blood on her neck. She grabbed a spray and activated it over the bite mark, dousing the area with disinfectant before swapping out the tube and waiting several seconds for the disinfectant to work into a slurry that made Morgos snarl at the mild burning. As soon as it ended Jahn applied the new spray and then glanced at the results from the scanner.
"You've got some bruising in your legs and back, and head. You lost the fight so I can't give youβ"
"I need nothing, Dr. Peletiss," Morgos snapped.
"Hold on a damn minute, I still need to do something about the knocks to your head," Jahn snapped right back. She tucked the tool back into her belt and pulled out another one. She loaded a medicine ampoule into it and pressed it against the unwounded side of Morgos's neck. She pressed the button and the hypo discharged the medicine into Morgos's artery. "I'm only restricted from aiding minor injuries for the loser. This will help the concussion and swelling so you can fight again."
Morgos snorted and swung her legs off the bed. She sat up, rolled her neck and then glared at Domina. "You fought well."
Domina nodded. "As did you."
"I will offer tribute later, when you are feeling better."
"I accept your tribute," Domina told her.
Morgos snorted and walked out of the room stiffly.
Jahn shook her head. "The spoils of war. So... barbaric."
"We are slaves, we have no possessions. This is all they have."
Jahn studied the scan and sighed. "It's not all you have."
Domina smiled and then winced as Jahn touched her battered side. "They need this. It keeps some order in their lives. Gives them something to struggle for, something they own."
"Not you?"
"I don't need that, I have you."
"Oh do you, now?" Jahn asked.
"You were my greatest hunt," Domina said. "A prize trophy."