Mended Hero

Chapter 19

Eclipse waves as their guests get into the chauffeurs car.

"Hey... can we talk?" Zala comes up behind her.

"What's up?" Eclipse looks at her serious expression, suddenly becoming worried.

"We had another world request aid from our army. Their king is being a tyrant and they want help. Since you're the Queen of War...." Zala breaks off with small shrug.

"Then it's on me and Anna to make the decision and handle discussions... right. So who is it and when do we meet?"

"Tomorrow morning. We have a reservation at a place near here that will be secluded. It's Sianna...."

"The succubi world?" Eclipse tilts her head in confusion.

"That's the one. I don't know all the details. I just know it has to do with the slaves and how they're being treated. An ambassador is supposed to meet with us in order to explain what's going on." Zala nods.

"Ok... we'll see you in the morning then."

The morning sun glinted in their eyes as they walked down the sidewalk.

"Alright before we get there... we gotta talk." Eclipse sighs, unable to put it off any longer as Anna looks at her confused. "The people we're going to meet today are a race of succubi. They look like humans with either pink or blue skin and a slender tail. Don't touch or let one touch you with their tail. Their pores secrete an aphrodisiac through their tails and, similar to a demon succubi, these people need sex in order to survive. However, they don't get the nutrients they need from their own race and other races look down on them. So in order to fulfill this need, they started taking in slaves."

Anna looks horrified but Eclipse holds up a hand before she can speak. "I know it sounds terrible and for a while it was. Lately, there have been reforms going through the world though. Instead of enforced slavery, slavers made contracts with the slaves and their masters. Physical punishments are looked down upon and consent is required before taking in a slave. They still have slave collars but now it's used more as a symbol of status and their control is being limited. They've even developed a mate bond similar to what Urandians have, just in slave/master form." She sighs. "Unfortunately there's a lot of resistance. The rich and their ruling class refuse to adopt the changes or put them into law. That's about as far as I know about this meeting, and the I only got this information from researching the Universal web. However, I wanted you to know since the ambassador will most likely have 1 or two slaves join them."

"I see... I don't know that I approve, especially without seeing it first hand, but I will try to understand." Anna gives a weak smile as the approach the restaurant.

"I agree and that's all I ask." Eclipse kisses her before opening the door.

Zala gives her a small smile as the young woman next to her stands and bows, her skin was a pearlescent pink and her tail was wrapped around her waist loosely like a belt. A smaller woman stood behind her with her hands folded in front of her. Her skin was an ashy grey, and a black tribal style tattoo wrapped around her neck. A brilliant red stone sat in the corner of each eye, and translucent angel wings sat between her shoulder. A Triderian, Eclipse tilts her head curiously.

Tridea was a sister world to Urandia, however the king prioritized the rich and famous over her citizens. Because of that, a pandemic broke out and spread among the citizens, wiping them out quickly. The girl must have been saved by a slaver.

"Eclipse, Anna, this is the Ambassador from Sianna, Jianna, and her slave mate, Nicona" Zala introduces the two.

Nicona bows as Jianna takes Eclipse's hand. "Thankyou so much for meeting with us."

"Ofcourse! This is my wife and mate, Anna." Eclipse smiles as she motions towards her wife.

Anna smiles and shakes her hand.

"I know the slave thing is weird, especially for someone from earth so I hope this won't sway your decision. We desperately need your help." Jianna looks worried.

"I promised Eclipse I would keep an open mind. Even if I don't understand it." Anna smiles slightly.

"I completely understand and you're welcome to ask me or my slave any questions you may have." Jianna smiles back, as they all sit down.

"I hope this doesn't come off as rude... but I'm curious about how many slaves you can or do own." Anna tilts her head as Eclipse groans, rubbing her nose.

"It's ok." Jianna laughs as she waves off Eclipse's concerned look. "You can have as many slaves as you're able to care for... though that doesn't stop many of the rich from taking on too many and not taking care of them. As for me, I have my slave mate here, 3 males and 3 females." Jianna motions to her slave. "Nicona here is the only one I depend on for nourishment unless she is unable to. I prefer to stay faithful to the one I love. I know that sounds weird considering she's a slave."

Nicona blushes as she looks at her hands, making Eclipse smile.

"It looks like she loves you as well... may I ask why the slave mark if you're in love?" Anna tilts her head.

Jianna nods her head understandingly. "While reforms are happening, it's still frowned upon to be in a relationship with outside races. In our custom, relationships are meant to reproduce and not for love. If you reproduce with a slave then it's not pure. Slave collars act as a birth control as well as a master's mark. So we build a different kind of relationship. Let me ask you something, what is it about you and your spouse that makes you good for each other?"

"Well... we respect each other and work together because we care about each other for one thing." Anna responds thoughtfully.

"And we respect each other as well. The only difference is that my word holds more weight, atleast in the outside world. However, in my home, Nicona has just as much say as to what happens in my home as I do." Jianna reaches back and pulls Nicona forward, kissing her cheek. "I will never put her in danger, just like Eclipse would never put you in danger even though she is a higher rank than you."

Anna smiles. "I think I understand. Thankyou."

"You're welcome." Jianna smiles back as she looks to Eclipse. "Now... about this meeting. I'm sure you've hear about the reforms and the resistance against them. The king is abusive to his slaves and encourages others to be the same. He doesn't take in slaves who signed contracts either. He goes to balck market slavers and buys slaves who werforced into this life. The rich are with him but the poor are suffering. Those who need slaves are denied because few slavers will do business with us anymore. You have to help us overthrow the king and stop this tyranny."

Eclipse looms thoughtfully before looking at Anna, receiving a nod. "We'll help. I want to visit your home world and talk to the others to be sure this is the solution they are wanting, and then we will talk to your king."

"Ofcourse!" Jianna bows as she stands, moving towards the door.

Nicona pauses before following her. "Thankyou for listening to my mistress. I'll be looking forward to your visit." The woman smiles.