Princess of Everdale

Talia shivered in the cold, damp of the tunnel. It had been days since Zeedra, the boss of the Red Hand Crime Syndicate, had chained her down there in the dark. Her arms ached where they were chained above her head and her knees were on fire. Even if she had been able to get comfortable, sleep would have been impossible thanks to the vast, open chasm in front of her into which roared over a dozen different waterfalls of dark, murky water.

A noise behind her stirred her from her stupor. A few days ago she might have thought it was Alec coming to rescue her at last, but after spending so long alone and deprived of sleep, her hope of being rescued had all but vanished.

"Wake up!" a figure barked as she ducked under the chains that secured Talia's arms to the roof of the tunnel.

Talia blinked in the light of the torch that the woman carried. She knew her. Her name was Tori. She was one of Zeedra's lieutenants she thought, or at least someone the boss trusted.

Tori set her torch in a bracket on the wall and crouched in front of the Princess. She had long brown hair and eyes and her smooth skin was tanned a healthy colour. She wore tight fitting leather pants and a roll necked top. a pair of daggers were strapped to her waist and the hilt of a third glinted from out of the top of her knee high boots.

"Tori," Talia whispered weakly.

The Red Hand took the Princess' chin in her hand and turned her head from side to side, inspecting her face in the light of the torch.

"You need to eat more," Tori muttered. "You know what she's like. You're going to need your strength."

Talia sighed, too exhausted to reply. Tori wasn't like Zeedra. She was kind and gentle and had even let her out of her shackles once or twice to stretch her legs. She didn't seem like any of the other Red Hands that the Princess had encountered so far, and Talia could not help but wonder how she had come to be mixed up in the Syndicate's affairs.

Tori pickled up a bowl from where she had set it beside the torch and held a spoon up to the Princess' lips. She opened her mouth and allowed Tori to slowly spoon the lukewarm broth down her throat.

"You have to let me go," Talia whispered weakly once she had finished most of the bowl.

Tori laughed quietly. "You know that's not my call," she replied.

"It doesn't have to be. Let me go, and I'll make sure my father lets you go free."

Tori stiffened suddenly, her eyes darting to something behind Talia's head. "And why would I do that for you, Princess?" she said, her tone cold.

"Because you don't have to live like this," Talia insisted. "You don't have to be part of this gang!"

"You don't understand, Princess," Tori sneered, rising to her feet and pouring the remains of the gruel over the edge of the chasm. "The Red Hands are my family. I would never betray them!"

"Well said, Tori!" declared a voice from the shadows that made Talia's blood run cold. "We are family. And family looks after its own."

Tori bowed her head as Zeedra appeared from behind the Princess, her boots echoing loudly off the walls of the tunnel. She wore a deep purple cloak fastened tightly around her body and her black and green hair was pinned against the side of her half shaven head. She paused next to Talia and placed a hand on the side of her face. Talia flinched away, her nostrils flaring as she looked up into the Crime Lord's cold, pitiless eyes. It was about as much defiance as she could muster in her current state.

"What are we going to do with you, Princess?" Zeedra asked softly. "I offer you my hospitality and a place at my side and yet you still try to stab me in the back by turning my people against me. I told my lieutenants they were wrong to suggest I just kill you and dump your body in the river, but maybe they were right after all."

"Do it then if that's what you want!" Talia rasped. "But just remember that if you do, there is no place that you will be able to hide."

Zeedra cackled. "Oh I wouldn't be so sure," she cooed. "Your father's guards might have worked themselves into a frenzy trying to find you, but they are looking in completely the wrong direction, aren't they Tori?"

"They widened the search beyond the city walls today," she replied, glancing at Talia. "The latest gossip is that you were loaded onto a ship and sent to Arridia to be sold into slavery."

"Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing either," Zeedra said with a cruel smirk. She jerked her chin at Tori. "You may go, Tori."

Tori's eyes danced in the light of the torch as she glanced again at Talia before she bowed and retreated into the tunnel back towards the gang's headquarters. Zeedra watched her go before turning her dark eyes on Talia.

"Now then," she whispered, pushing aside her cloak to reveal the studded leather corset, stockings and black thong that she wore beneath it and the riding crop that hung from her waist like a sword. "Where shall we begin?"

****

Alec prowled through the sewers beneath Everdale as silently and as swiftly as a fox. He had been searching all the previous day and night for the entrance to the Red Hand Gang's lair. He was tired and hungry but he knew he could not stop. Talia was close by and nothing would prevent him from reaching her.

He rounded a corner and hissed as a foul smell filled his nostrils. Something large was lurking in the tunnel up ahead, hissing a squeaking as it splashed in the muck and filth that flowed through the middle of the sewers. The creature turned, its black eyes glinting in the darkness as it met Alec's gaze. It was unmistakably a rat but it had grown to the size of large dog. Sharp incisors protruded from its grey snout and dagger like claws tapped against the stone as it crept out of the mucky water towards him.

Alec hissed, his own fangs lengthening as he abandoned all pretence of hiding his true nature. The rat paused before perhaps sensing how weak the vampire was. How long had it been since Alec had fed? He had been so preoccupied with finding Talia that he had neglected his own needs and now, he realised with an uncharacteristic flicker of fear, they could both pay the price for his negligence.

The giant rat sprung at him, its claws raking the air as Alec twisted awkwardly out of the way and drove his fist into the creature's side. Even tired as he was, his punch was still powerful enough to launch the rat across the sewer into the far wall with a bone crushing crunch. The creature squealed weakly before laying still and Alec fell back against the wall with a groan of exhaustion.

It took him several moments to register the patter of feet that followed. Black eyes stared out at him from the darkness and he felt his mouth go dry as he stared at three more of the rat's brood-mates. They sniffed the air, squeaking and hissing at him as they prowled closer. He pushed himself away from the wall, raising his fists as he prepared to fight once again.

****

The leather crop landed on the top of Talia's breast with a loud crack that made her cry out in pain. She gritted her teeth, glaring up at Zeedra through her tears as the crime boss cackled loudly into the tunnel.

"What's the matter, Princess?" she teased. "I thought you enjoyed a bit of discipline?"

"Fuck you, Zeedra!" Talia hissed, her body trembling with pain and rage.

Zeedra put a hand over her mouth, feigning shock at Talia's words. "Well, I never!" she exclaimed. "I didn't think a Princess knew such words!"

"I swear you will not get away with this," Talia whimpered.

Zeedra's grin was wicked and full of malice. "Look around, Princess," she hissed. "I already have!"

She landed a flurry of blows of Talia's breasts, each one making her flinch and cry out in pain. Her tits were on fire, the skin red and covered in welts and her nipples were throbbing painfully. Had Alec been holding the crop, she might have enjoyed the pain that she was feeling. Zeedra, however, was being cruel for cruelty's sake. She did not give Talia a chance to recover between strikes and every blow that she landed was delivered with as much force as she could muster.

"Beg me to stop, Princess," she laughed as the crop slammed against Talia's left nipple again. "I might listen to you if you ask me nicely."

"Please!" Talia wept. "Please stop!"

Zeedra smirked, lowering the crop and tilting her head to the side. "And what will you do for me if I do stop?" she asked softly.

"Anything!" Talia gasped, her shoulders shaking. "I'll do anything that you want."

"Anything?" Zeedra repeated.

"Yes," Talia gasped. "Just please stop."

The crop smacked against the floor with a crack as Zeedra tossed it aside and stepped closer to Talia. She placed her hand in the Princess' hair, weaving her fingers through Talia's long blonde locks and pulling her head back.

"Show me how badly you want me to stop," she whispered, pushing Talia's face into her crotch.

Talia moaned as she breathed in Zeedra's scent through her panties. Her lips worked almost mechanically, her tongue searching for her slit through the satin fabric of her thong. She could hear Zeedra laughing above her, but she was in too much pain to care about how humiliated she was being made to feel.

Zeedra tugged on her hair, pulling her head back long enough to push aside her thong to reveal her soft, dark, hairless pussy. Talia moaned again as she was pushed back into place, and she could now taste Zeedra's sweet juices as she ran her tongue over and around her clit.

"Good girl," Zeedra growled.

She twisted Talia's hair in her hands as she grunted in pleasure. The pain made Talia feel dizzy but she kept her tongue firmly in place, knowing that to do otherwise would likely see the return of the crop as punishment. She felt Zeedra tense and then heard her squeal above her as she finally came.

"Who knew Everdale's Princess would be so good at eating pussy?" she laughed as she slumped back against the wall, panting slightly as she recovered from her orgasm.

Talia hung her head, both ashamed of what she had done and relieved that she had seemingly escaped any further punishment. She didn't dare make a sound, or even look at the Crime Boss, well aware that Zeedra's mood could change as readily as the wind changed direction. She had done a good job. SHe had satisfied her mistress. SHe hoped that would be the end of it.

****

Alec grunted in the darkness as he woke up. His vision was blurred, he felt sick and it felt like a marching band was playing inside his head. The bodies of the giant rats lay sprawled on the floor all around him. He had crushed two of their skulls. The other he had more or less torn in two. Normally the effort of slaying the creatures would not have taxed him so greatly, but starved of blood as he was, the fight had almost cost him his life.

He heard movement from farther down the tunnel, his eyes flinching as the glow of torchlight appeared amongst the gloom. Voices echoed off the stones towards him and based on their raucous laughs, he guessed it had to be members of the gang doing a patrol of the tunnels around their base.

He pushed himself to his feet, wincing as he felt a dozen bruises and scratches cry out in protest all over his body. His eyes darted to the pools of blood within which lay the bodies of the rats. Their blood was thin and weak, and no doubt contaminated with all sorts of vile diseases. It might have saved him, but he knew there was a much higher chance of it killing him or making him sick and then he really would be no use to anyone and Talia would never be found.

The torches were getting closer now and he could make out three figures by their orange glow. They paused as they stumbled across the body of the first rat, their hands dropping to their swords and as they stepped cautiously forwards, Alec felt the light of the torches fall upon him.

"Shit," one of the men muttered. "What the hell is this?"

"Nevermind that!" barked a short woman with pale skin and short brown hair. "Who the hell are you?"

Alec raised his hands, having hastily withdrawn his fangs and claws before the gang members arrived. "Please," he gasped, not having to feign his exhaustion. "I bring a message from Mel Dunn."

A flicker of confusion crossed the woman's face, but Alec knew she recognised the name at least. Dunn was the local Red Hand enforcer down by the docks whom Melissa had tricked into revealing the location of the gang's headquarters. His name had just enough weight that it might allow Alec to enter the gang's hideout without him having to kick the door down himself.

"Don't you know we're supposed to be on lockdown, you fucking idiot?" the woman snapped. "If anyone saw you come here..."

"They didn't!" Alec growled with enough venom to sound as though the suggestion had offended him. "I'm Dunn's best spy. That's why he sent me. I didn't expect to have to fight a pack of these bastards though!"

One of the men laughed. "Bog-rats," he grunted. "Been a pet project of Zeedra's for years. They scare off any unwanted guests. Pretty impressive that you managed to kill four of 'em."

"Maybe too impressive," the third figure, a dwarf with red hair and a missing ear, muttered darkly.

"I told you, I'm Dunn's best," Alec replied, not caring if he sounded arrogant. The Red Hands respected strength above everything else and they all thought themselves budding criminal masterminds. To act any differently would have been suspicious.

"What's your message?" the woman asked. "We'll see that Zeedra gets it."

"My message is for Zeedra's ears only," Alec snapped. "Take me to her, and I shall deliver it as promised."

"Are you deaf?" the woman snapped. "No one gets into the lair now!"

"Then maybe you want to be the one to explain to Zeedra why you ignored a legitimate warning when the Royal Guards come knocking at your doors?"

She hesitated. "They don't know where we are," she muttered.

"Not yet," Alec hissed. "But someone talked, and I know who. Give it a day or too and the whole of Everdale's armies will be marching through these shit-holes!"

"You're lying. Why would the army come here?"

He snorted and shook his head. "You idiots don't even know why you're having to hide, do you? Fine, maybe I won't deliver my message. I'll just make sure Zeedra knows it was you three that stopped me. She should have enough time to gut you all before she ends up swinging from the gallows..."

He turned and stalked away, having to use every ounce of strength to keep from swaying as he walked. He had only gone a couple of paces when he heard the woman call out to him.

"Wait!" she said. "We'll take you to Zeedra. But you gotta give us any weapons that you have."

He suppressed his smile as he turned and nodded. "Good choice," he said. He drew the two daggers he kept strapped to his belt and passed them to the woman, hopeful that she was too stupid to notice that he hadn't used either of the blades to kill the rats. She stowed them on her belt without looking and jerked her chin back in the direction they had appeared from.

"Alright, spy," she grunted. "This way."

****

Zeedra pushed herself away from the wall and sauntered over to Talia, still smiling wickedly as she reached down to stroke the Princess' cheek. "I could make you happy, Talia," she whispered. "I could give you everything you ever wanted, right here. No more politics, no more games, no bowing to the rich fools who pretend to give a damn about this country or its people. Don't you think that sounds wonderful?"

It did sound wonderful. Talia had spent her whole life confined by the traditions and expectations of her role. She might have been a Princess, but there were times when she felt lost and trapped by who she was, unable to say what she wanted, be with who she wanted or even go where she wanted. She longed to explore the world, to walk amongst her people and simply live a normal life. Alec had shown her what that could be like but although she had loved every second of it, she knew deep down that her duty had to come first.

She raised her chin, mustering her last ounce of defiance as she glared up into Zeedra's face. "My duty is my life," she hissed. "I will never bow to you!"

Zeedra's smile faltered and her eyes burnt with fury. She drew back her hand and slapped Talia hard across the face before tearing off her own panties and crouching down in front of Talia.

"You are a spoiled brat, Princess!" Zeedra snarled as she wadded her panties into a ball and stuffed them into Talia's mouth. Talia shuddered, fighting the urge to be sick as Zeedra's fingers raked the roof of her mouth. Her panties were soaked and Talia grimaced at the now familiar taste of the other woman's wetness in her mouth.

Zeedra pinched Talia's still aching nipples, rolling and twisting them between her fingers as Talia wailed in protest, her screams muffled by the panties that filled her mouth. She saw Zeedra reach for the crop again and her resolve very nearly crumbled as she watched the woman rise up before her, the leather crop flexing in her arms as she prepared to strike her again, when suddenly a voice called out from somewhere behind her.

"Zee!"

Zeedra looked up, her face twisted with rage. Talia turned her head as well and could just see Tori standing at the edge of the torchlight deeper in the tunnel.

"What is it?" Zeedra snapped.

"One of the patrols found something," Tori said. "One of Dunn's people. Says he has a message for you."

"Dunn?" Zeedra repeated. "What the fuck is that idiot doing sending people out on the streets?"

"I don't know," Tori replied calmly. "The guy says it's important though. Says someone has talked."

"Shit!" Zeedra hissed. She looked down at Talia before snatching up her cloak and hauling it over her shoulders. "Check she's properly restrained," she muttered. "Gag her properly and blindfold her. I'll deal with her later."

Tori nodded as Zeedra plucked her torch from the wall and strode off without a word. When her footsteps finally vanished into the dark, Tori moved slowly to stand in front of Talia, frowning as she looked at the red welts on her bare breasts. She bent down, scowling as she pulled Zeedra's thong from the Princess' mouth and held a cup of water up to her lips.

"Are you alright?" she asked gruffly.

Talia managed to nod her head, though she was still shaking all over. "You came just in time I think."

Tori pursed her lips as she tipped the cup of water so Talia could drink. She was silent for several minutes before eventually saying, "Do you really think someone will come for you?"

"My father won't stop looking for me," Talia said firmly. "And Alec will come for me too, I'm sure. Neither option will end well for anyone responsible for holding me here."

Tori licked her lips thoughtfully. "There are some of us who think Zeedra's making the wrong call here," she said carefully. "You're more trouble than you're worth."

"If you let me go, I swear I will not tell anyone what happened," Talia said.

"But you know where we are," Tori muttered. "I may not agree with Zeedra, but these people are still my family, Princess."

"All I know is that your hideout is in the sewers," Talia replied urgently. "By the time my father figures out where, you and your people can be long gone. You could move your hideout, settle elsewhere under a different name. No one has to get hurt."

Tori chewed her tongue in silence. "I can't let you go, Princess," she said at last.

"Why?" Talia gasped, her shoulders slumping. She felt the urge to weep but somehow managed to keep her emotions in check.

"Because I am a Red Hand," Tori replied firmly, pushing back her hair to display the red palm tattooed behind her ear. "We protect each other and we believe in our struggle. I will not let you go myself."

She pushed Zeedra's panties back into Talia's mouth before binding an additional length of cloth over her mouth and another over her eyes. Talia slumped, feeling utterly defeated and lost as she heard her one last hope of escape stand and check the locks on her shackles. As Tori was about to leave, however, Talia felt her press something long and thin into her palm.