Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
But Sky noted that he was looking less at his weapon and more at her. And the more those golden eyes swept over her mostly bare body, the bigger his shaft grew. Mother of Serpents—would she really have to take all that inside herself? She certainly hoped not though, to be honest, she did get a little tingle between her thighs when she imagined how it might feel to be opened by such a large cock…
“Like what you see, Darlin’?” Torin rumbled and Sky realized she’d been staring, mesmerized, at his now-fully hard shaft.
“I, uh…I’m still looking for a place for my blaster,” she said quickly, dragging her eyes away from the sight of his erect cock which was equal parts intriguing and appalling.
“Actually, there are no weapons allowed within the Inner Shrine.”
The soft, Serpentine voice made them both jerk their heads up. Standing in the doorway was a Priestess of the Diamond-back Clan—Sky could tell by the pattern of black and brown scales displayed under her white mesh robe. She also noticed that the Priestess’s robe appeared to fit correctly—just like the robe the High Priestess had been wearing. It covered her completely and fell to her ankles, showing only her hands and face and her bare, scaly feet. Around her neck, she had a crystal that glowed with a pale blue light—it reminded Sky of the blue flame at the tip of the High Priestess’s scepter.
“I am Neen’ya, the acolyte of the High Priestess,” the soft-voiced female said. “I was sent to guide you through the Shrine. But first I must ask that you lock all weapons in the lockers provided for your clothes. For as I said earlier, no weapons are allowed within the Inner Shrine.”
“No weapons allowed?” Torin exclaimed, frowning like a thundercloud. “Did your Mistress, the High Priestess, tell you that we’re looking for a killer? How are we supposed to fight him if we find him—harsh words and hard looks?”
“The Mother of Serpents will see that all is well within her domain,” the acolyte said smoothly. “Please, put away your weapons or you can proceed no further into the Shrine.”
Sky said nothing. She didn’t like losing her blaster but she still had the dagger strapped to her calf and hidden in her boot. She put her more obvious weapon in the locker along with her uniform.
The locker shut with a small gold key on a long silver chain. Sky slipped it over her head where it lay between her mostly bare breasts like a shimmering ornament. Somehow, it made her look even more naked, she thought. And though she wasn’t ashamed of her curves, she didn’t like it that her most private areas were bare and therefore vulnerable.
“There—my clothes and weapons area locked away but I need to change to a larger robe,” she told the acolyte. “This one doesn’t provide enough coverage.”
But Neen’ya shook her head.
“You are wearing exactly the right size for you. A pilgrim’s private areas must be exposed—the better to honor the Mother of Serpents when your number is called for the sexual sacrifice before her statue.”
“So…we’re just supposed to go around with everything, uh, hanging out?” Torin growled.
The acolyte eyed his fully erect shaft and Sky thought her slitted yellow eyes widened just a bit.
“Indeed—that is the way things are done during the Day of Fertility,” she said primly. “Now if you are ready, I will take you to get your number and then we can proceed with a tour of the Shrine. Unless, of course, you get an early number and must go at once to the altar of the Great Serpent Mother,” she added.
Sky exchanged a look with the big Kindred and he shrugged. “What can you do?” the gesture said.
Since it seemed that Torin was resigned to being exposed, Sky decided she would be too. She put her chin up and threw out her chest, not minding that the gesture tugged the fabric of her robe open some more, exposing her nipples. They had to fit in as pilgrims, after all—there was no point in getting upset about it. Torin came to stand beside her, also wearing a golden key around his thick neck.
“I am glad you have decided to be compliant,” Neen’ya told them. “Come—let us get your numbers.”
They followed the acolyte out of the changing area and back into the cavernous front area of the Shrine. They didn’t stay there long, however. She led them into another side cave which had a stone counter at the back of it. Standing behind the counter was another priestess in a long white robe. There was a kind of machine in front of her—a large ball made of metal wires. Inside it were many smaller, lighter balls, all painted with different numbers.
There were several couples ahead of them—one Serpentine and one Chokan couple from Portex Two—a world even hotter and dryer than Portex Three, since it was closer to the sun. They were Reptilian in nature with hard, tough, leathery skin and elongated faces with mouths full of sharp teeth.