D'antayan:'Planet of the Witches'...
Lotor lay upon the narrow bed, his wrists and ankles bound by chains, the slavemark still burned where it had been implanted. His face was filled with hate and anger, but sorrow as well haunted his eyes. He had come out of his sedation just before landing at this cursed planet of D'antayan - a slave now, not a prince.
He could not believe this was happening to him. His own father sold him, like he was nothing! And Allura! He didn't want to think about her...it hurt too much.
He thought about her when they placed the mark upon him,sending pain throughout his body.He thought about her when they had lashed him with the painwhip. He thought about his father being with her and it made him sick to his very soul. He didn't want to picture her and his father,but it came up in his mind again and again, just as his father wanted it to.
He looked down at himself and thought what a difference a few hours made.Only a while ago, he was in the arms of his beloved one, dancing with her, and now, he was wearing nothing but some flat boots and a brief pair of shorts - the clothes of a pleasure-slave. The marks from the painwhip were already fading. He shuddered to think about his new mistress.
When he was taken out of the ship, a dozen or so Sisters, all old....touched him everywhere, cackling in delight, calling out ribald remarks about his body. Lotor had never realized how humiliating it was to be a slave, chained, unable to do or say anything to anyone. He knew better than to attack them, for these were witches, and witches could do anything! They kept manhandling him as he was led onto a block. Then he heard the ribald catcalls contiunue until one of the Sisters bark out "Silence!" The Sister grinned, and walked around him, touching him as she spoke loudly in some language he didn't understand. Then the yells begain again! Lotor shuddered. They were bidding for him! All of them were yelling their bids out until one Sister, who pushed through, said stop. She looked like someone in authority and she looked like the oldest there! She yelled out somthing which made all the others scowl. Evidently, the bidding was closed.
She stepped up to him, her face hidden by her cowl...Lotor thought she reminded him of Hagar.Lotor had actually cringed when she ran her gnarled hand across his chest. The old one laughed, and led him along on a rope which had been placed on his neck. The other ones had followed, again catcalling and making remarks. One old one patted his rear end and laughed when he hurried along faster. It was totally humilating. Now he understood how truly degrading slavery was. No control over anything...and he had once aspired to be in control of everything in this galaxy. What a fool he was! He was led through the whole damn town, it seemed, and every Sister around had to see him, like it was a great event, or something!
Finally, he was led to a small home and the old one leading him yelled something to the other Sisters, and grumbling, they finally went off. She jerked his rope, sending him sprawling and jerked it again to make him go inside. He picked himself up and stumbled along, the chains hindering him. Then the old one closed the door, let go of the rope, and pointed to the bed. Lotor had obeyed her, afraid that she was going to ask him to perform his duties right then and there. The old one laughed as if she read his mind, and went back outside. Lotor knew better than to move, for the old ones who followed him had said if he was out alone, they would get him - and he didn't want to forced by some old crones! Dear god, when he thought of the many times he had tried to force Allura to --! And not to mention the other women he had encountered. He only cared about his own immediate needs. He never thought about their fathers, their husbands, or their loved ones, he just took them, and then threw them away. He felt like he had strayed very far away from what he learned when he was young.
Allura had awakened the memories in him, and coming to Aden had brought them back fully. And now, for what? He was a slave now, to a witch and Allura was mated with his father. His heart was filled with sorrow. He had felt the same when he saw his mother die. No control. No anything. Just blown about by the winds.
The door opened again. It was his mistress. She came towards him, her face, thank goodness, was in shadow.
She said, "Ah, my young slave, you are truly as handsome as they had said! Your name is D'aavid Lotor, is it not?"
Lotor winced at his name being used so. The old one snapped at him, "Answer me, slave! Or perhaps I will change my mind and give you to old Chessie after all!"
Lotor thought wildly, ....how old are these Sisters?....
He answered. "Yes, it is."
The old one snapped again, "Yes it is what..slave?"
Lotor gulped, "Yes, mistress."
The old one cackled, "Good, good, I can see we shall get along well,D'aavid.."
She cackled again. For some reason, Lotor thought that cackle sounded kind of familar. It reminded him of Hagar's.
The old one said, "D'aavid, my slave, you are on D'antayan - the planet of witches, and I am Sonenya, your owner. You cannot escape from here, for we sense all beings here, both Sisters and outworlders such as yourself. You are my pleasure-slave! You will do everything I ask, and if I loan you out to the other Sisters, you will obey them as well."
Lotor thought, .....loan out to the other Sisters! No wonder they pawed him so!
Sonenya continued, "I will only tell you something once, and you will do it too, else I will punish you.We witches are good at that, you know!" she cackled again. "But I don't think that'll be a problem, sweetheart,you look very promising!' She laughed out loud, noting the stricken look on his face.
Sonenya thought....I had better give him a break....he looks like he will pass out! Joke's over, Sonenya!Sonenya came closer to Lotor and said, "Well, D'aavid, don't you want to see me?"
Lotor tried to supress a shudder and said, "Yes, mistress Sonenya, if it pleases you to do so."
Sonenya said, "Good!" and walked into the light and uncovered the cowl from her face.
Lotor gasped. This was no old one! Or maybe it was an illusion she fixed up. She was pretty, not young, but mature. She was tall and stately, her chestnut hair threaded with silver was bound up in a thick braid hanging down her back. She looked vaguely familar to Lotor, but he couldn't place where he had seen the face before.
Sonenya smiled and said, "Of course, I look familar to you, D'aavid Lotor! I am the twin of Ch'enuya....or as you knew her, Hagar the Witch."
Lotor sat there, astounded. Hagar's sister? He couldn't believe it - surely he was losing his mind!
Sonenya looked at him and said, "No, son of Z'aale, you have not lost your mind....I knew of your coming here, so I bought you to save you.I know you have questions, D'aavid, you may ask me."
Lotor had a million questions in his mind, but he asked the one that was most in his mind. "Why?" he asked.
Sonenya sighed and said, "Why? Because I know Z'aale of old -- he killed my sibling and caused her great pain, and he continues to cause great pain. I do not know how he killed my sibling, the One Above will not let me see. But at least I can save you and Alfor's daughter from him."
Lotor's mouth twisted in pain and he said, "You are too late to save Allura, Soneyna.She is my father's now."
Soneyna walked around the bed and said quietly, "Yes, I could not prevent him from taking her, because I had to be here to buy you. If I had not, old Chessie would have - and believe me, if she did, you wouldn't be sitting here talking to me! Old Chessie was the Sister who touched you on your delectable buns." Sonenya smirked as Lotor visibly shuddered.
Sonenya continued, "But, Allura can still be separated from your father- he has claimed her, but the claim can still be broken, if the spell cast on the choker can be broken."
Lotor looked like he was going to say something, but Sonenya said, "Yes, I know you two were coming here to seek a Sister to break that cursed claim. Only a strong Sister such as myself can break it, for a warlock placed a spell upon the choker as it was being created. Allura herself could break it, for she is of a strong line, but she is unknowledgable."
Lotor cried out, "Wait! You said a strong Sister! Allura is not a Sister."
Sonenya smiled as if she had a secret. "Oh yes, she is, D'aavid Lotor, a lost one...her great-grandmother Allurea was a strong Sister who married an outworlder when her ship crashed on the world of Arus. That man was Alfor's grandfather. Allurea never told her husband or her children that she was of the Sisters. Her line was strong, even the males had the power of the Sisters. Tell me, son of Z'aale, how do you think Alfor withstood your father so long, or built the marvelous and sentient Voltron, hmmm? And Allura....she withstood you too, despite her attraction to you.Yes she is strong willed and carries the blood of the Sisters within her. She, however, has the misfortune of being a be'wt'cha - or a bewitcher." Sonenya frowned.
Lotor had never heard of such a thing. Sonenya explained, "A bewitcher is a Sister who is unusually beautiful and spirited. It is the women who are born with this power - her great-grand was such a one. They are usually charming and good hearted. They dazzle the eyes and the senses with their light. Evil ones who posess this power, however, use it for their own dark purposes and twist it into terrible things, perverting it. The ones with the light, however, attract both good and evil people to them. The evil ones desire the light for themselves - hence your father.....and the good wish to nuture the light, such as you, D'aavid Lotor."
Lotor hung his head slightly. He was not good....he had done much evil and harm. He sighed heavily.
Sonenya came close and raised his chin up to where he faced him. "Ah, D'aavid, how little faith you have! All of us have the potential for evil in us....and good as well. The One Above made us that way, it is the way of the universe....you have captured the heart of Alfor's daughter on the world of your mother, D'aavid - something that you could not do on your father's or her own. You both had to go to a place separate from the worlds of Doom and of Arus and learn about each other."
Lotor looked at her, pain in his eyes. "But Allura....it is too late.."
Sonenya made a face and said, "Nonsense! It is not too late! Yes, he has her, but not her heart or her being. He holds the shell of her and posesses it and thinks it love, but it is not."
Lotor winced. His father in love? No way! He didn't believe it!
Sonenya frowned and said, "Oh, but it is true, son of Z'aale, for I have briefly seen through her eyes and saw your father's love for her - it is as strong as yours! She bewitched him without her knowing, and he is in love with her. Your father has never loved anyone or anything before! He loves her as my sibling had loved him! But his love is twisting her, hurting her. I can sense her pain when he posesses her. He gives much physical pleasure, but her heart and soul cries for you, D'aavid. She thinks you dead, for he has told her with much delight in his soul. She is hurting deep within, D'aavid...I can feel her thoughts...." Sonenya trailed off, and her eyes grew wide. Then a voice came out of her, not her own...it was Allura's!
..."Z'aale.....no...no....ohgod.....hate you....stop, oh stop....want to die...oh Lotor....I wish!....ah...Z'aale....your eyes....see you....Lotor....miss...you....ohgod!! Z'aale!!....." Then Sonenya screamed, making Lotor want to rush over to her, for it was Allura's scream- the same kind she had when he had her nightmares!
Sonenya shook all over, then seemed to come around. Lotor asked, "Are you all right...?' Sonenya shook her head and said, "Yes, son of Z'aale, I am fine. She was projecting strongly that time....I did not mean to do that! Her power blazes forth when she is under duress....I am sure her glow has intensified around her, driving your father mad with desire.....poor child!"
Lotor shuddered, thinking about them together. He was still angry, feeling intense hate towards his father. Sonenya looked at him and said, "You wish to kill your father, D'aavid....I tell you if you do, you will become him...he will go in his own time..."
Lotor's eyes blazed with fury." He deserves to die!!"
Sonenya sighed, "We all deserve to die, D'aavid, for all of us have done evil - your father will meet his end...tell me, D'aavid, do you wish to get her back? Your beloved?"
Lotor looked at her like she was crazy. "Of course I do! I - I don't want to see her hurt anymore."
Sonenya smiled sadly. "You cannot prevent hurt from coming to a loved one, D'aavid. Love is not a "walk in the park" as the Terras used to say - it is a hard road, but it is worth it as you bear your burdens together....but I can help you free her from your father. I do not wish to see another Sister hurt by him. My sibling paid her price doubly so, for loving him. I do not wish to see another taken by him. Well, D'aavid Lotor, what do you say If I help you regain the one you love?"
Lotor, for the first time, had hope in his eyes. "Yes, Sonenya, I still want her. I love her - I think I have loved her ever since...."
Sonenya interrupted him. "since you dreamed of her as a child..."
Lotor was amazed, "How did you...."
Sonenya smiled, "Your mother's people had the ability to dream of their mates - a very weak power derived from a Sister from centuries past....How do i know this? I carry the history and memories of the Sisters within me. I can also sense them all from time to time...."
Lotor thought, ....these Sisters get around!
Sonenya laughed, "Yes, we do, son of Z'aale.....now I will release you from your bondage."
With a twist of her wrists, the chains fell off Lotor. He stood up and let the blood circculate to his extremities. He looked upon the slavemark on his arm and grimaced.
Sonenya nodded and said, "Yes, D'aavid, that mark will remain upon you the rest of your days. I cannot remove it, for it is embedded all the way to your bones. You are fortunate that you do not have a slavechip in your head! But I can provide you a shirt to cover you and a cloak to wear for our trip to Arus...."
Lotor looked startled, "Arus? But she is on Aden!" Sonenya flashed him a look and said, "Yes, she is, and if you go there, your father will slay you in front of her and take her in front of your dead body! Do you want her to go through that, D'aavid? If you do, she will surely die...for she would kill herself! She has already been tempted to, but I have calmed her and will continue to do so!
No, D'aavid, we are going to Arus - to seek the help of her loved ones!" Lotor exclaimed,
"Loved ones? You mean that Prime Minister and the Voltron Force? They will not help us, they hate me!"
Sonenya shook her head. "No, you are wrong, D'aavid. They will see the mark upon you and they will see your face, for it has changed - no arrogance in it now, only hardship and sorrow. They will help us.
I will go with you to make sure of it. We can only do this with their help!"
Lotor grimaced and said, "Why can't you.....?"
Sonenya looked at him with anger. "Why can't I what..? D'aavid? Cast a death spell upon your father? Launch a robeast and destroy him? I will tell you why! I am not as Hagar was! She was powerful, but her magic was of the Black Arts. She took what was a natural ability and twisted it into something monsterous - all for the love of your father! Your father charmed her after I refused to help him kill his warlock assistant. Z'aale seduced me with Bride's Wine, and I had a passion for him! It nearly ruined my life! I lost the man I truly loved because of him....and I lost my sibling, Ch'enuya to him. But, son of Z'aale, we Sisters are forbidden to kill unless in self-defense - by the One Above. A curse falls upon us if we do so. Oh, the curse nevers befalls one right away, but eventually...." She frowned, thinking of her twin.
"We use our ability to glorify the One Who Made All, not ourselves. I cannot kill him, D'aavid....I do not know if I can even face him. Even after all these years, he attacts me still...but I can save you two, and perhaps with the help of her loved ones, we can rid this galaxy of him."
Lotor asked, "Can you see into the future?"
Sonenya shook her head, "We are not fortune-tellers, D'aavid. I can see glimpses sometimes of events, but these can change. We Sisters are not all powerful as you may think. This is why we stay away from the Outworlders, we do not want our abilities used and corrupted. Our planet remains primitive, because it is easier that way to maintain our abilities...now, D'aavid, put on these things! I do not want Chessie seeing you like that again! She is crazy with the lustfever and she wouldn't care if she raped you on the street!"
Lotor put on the clothing and was satisfied that the cloak and cowl covered him. Lotor asked, "Where are we going? You- you don't happen to fly, do you?"
Sonenya laughed, "No, we don't fly! We're not Arodian bats, you know! I have a ship nearby."
They walked out of Sonenya's home and headed for a small hangar where there was a ship - if you could call it that! It looked like a mishmash of different ships put together. It had started life as a Drule freighter class ship, but had a lot of add ons not strictly legal.
Lotor thought that it looked like a hunk of junk! It didn't look like it could go around the planet, much less to Arus!
Sonenya looked offended and said, "It's not a hunk of junk! It's called the Sister's Folly! I won it off a drunk Terran playing Rac'hel's Hearts. It's not pretty, but it's fast! Why, I put a hyperdrive in it last year! It's got Drulian military sheids, weaponry and Garrison tracking techies..I'm the best mech on this planet!"
Lotor looked stunned - a witch mech?
Sonenya smirked, "What did you think I did all the time, D'aavid? Cast spells? No, this is my hobby! I have a done a lot of mods to this baby...'course I haven't really taken it on a long run yet, but I'm sure it'll do fine! You a decent pilot? I don't want you cracking up my ship!"
He thought, ..no one could do any worse to this ship!....He nodded and said, "I was first in my class."
Sonenya smiled and said, "Good! Now, let's go! I see Chessie coming this way! If she sees you....hurry!"
They hustled into the ship and Lotor got familar with the controls quickly, activating the takeoff sequence. Sonenya got into the copilot's seat and strapped in. The ship rattled a bit, but took off smoothly. Lotor sighed a sigh of relief and prayed the ship would make it to Arus - even though he was still tempted to go to Aden. But he knew the witch was right - his father would kill him...anyone who would sell his own flesh and blood as a slave was capable of anything.
Rise Into The Abyss: Chapter Two