Chapter Six
Allura was only out for a few seconds. As she came to, she looked up and saw Zarkon's face looking down upon her.
I....I think I will be sick!..
Evidently, she had not fallen down, for Zarkon still held her up. She was incredulous. Zarkon's wife? She must have heard wrong! His next words shook her to her very core.
"I am glad you have revived, Allura.I was worried! I do not want my wife to be unable to fulfill the rest of our marriage ceremony! It is an old Drule custom which I am sure you have heard about-it is a very pleasant and diverting pasttime, I assure you." he leered."It will be one which we shall partake of very soon, my dear."
Allura remembered - much to her horror, what a Drule Wedding was. It was known as the Claiming or the M'aarisyaut in the Drule language. In her studies on Arus, she had to study the myriad of cultures in the Denubian Galaxy -especially the Drules, since they were the prevailing culture in the galaxy.
A Drule wedding was the capture of a bride usually in a raid by Drules seeking mates. The braver and more beautiful the bride, the more valuled she would be. Drules would capture the bride and place a rope around her neck as a claim, and then rape her to seal their "marriage". Although it was not practiced as much as it had been a century ago, it still happened and it was still legal - at least in the Doom Empire. The choker she wore was a symbol of the rope of ownership used a century or so ago.
Zarkon smiled with glee at her as if she were a prize won. Allura said bravely."I will not submit to you, Zarkon. I will fight you!"
Zarkon actually laughed as if she were a child making an idle threat and reached out to caress her chin lightly. "Oh, Allura! Such spirit! You should save that for when we are alone - I do so enjoy a woman of spirit-as long as her energies are channeled in the right direction, of course!"
Then he frowned. "I will make sure you cooperate fully with me, Allura. I have the means to make you willing. And remember the daring Captain Akira-I can make his life extremely unbearable here.Do you wish a demonstration, love?"
She nodded no mutely. Zarkon smiled again-the happy bridegroom gloating.
"Good, Allura, I can tell we shall be very close-yes? When I fully claim you as my wife, Arus will be mine to do as I please, and the Alliance will fall like dominoes to me. There is no more Voltron to defend the Denubian Galaxy, for I, Zarkon, have killed him!"
Zarkon didn't notice Hagar's eyes narrow as she left the room in a hurry.
Allura's eyes widened. .then they're all dead!
Zarkon noted her look and said, "You don't know, Allura? Well, I will tell you. Two of your pilots have been burned-rather severely I am afraid. They are not expected to live. Their lions? Severely damaged, I believe. And of course, you and Akira are here. Unfortunately, we could not get your lions here before your security forces came to the area-but that doesn't matter. The best news I save for last, sweet.Red Lion..you do know Red Lion, don't you? The pilot and his lion were destroyed-utterly! Four lions do not equal Voltron, my dear!"
He laughed. Allura's heart went to the pit of her stomach. Lance! Funny, sarcastic Lance dead! Pidge and Hunk hurt-maybe dead by now! She wanted to cry, but couldn't.
Zarkon reached out again to stroke her cheek, much to Allura's disgust and said, almost tenderly. "Do not mourn for your friends, Allura.I will take your mind off your sorrow."
With this, he grabbed her hair roughly and kissed her hard and possessively. She could hear Lotor struggling below, struggling against the guards.
For once, I wish he would come and get me..oh god..I wish he would stop.
Zarkon saw to his delight, his son struggling with his guards below.
...good, my son sees! He is jealous!..ahh, Lotor, I will make you pay for your failures and your defiance and I will enjoy it most readily.You will suffer and you will have no women or liquor to dull your pain!
Zarkon broke the kiss and raised his head to look at her. "As much as I hate to part with you, Allura, I have pressing business to take care of. It is only a small matter of mobilizing my army to occupy Arus, then I will be back in a few days to attend to our--ah-unfinished business! I'm sure you will anticipate it as much as I will."
He looked down and summoned some more guards. "Guards! Take our guest, Captain Akira, to the infirmary. I want him kept alive! He will be very useful in dealing with the Garrison fools."
Keith was then carried away. Suddenly, an older female slave appeared like magic from out of nowhere upon the platform where Zarkon's throne was. Zarkon ordered this slave to take Allura to his suite of rooms to wait upon his return.
"Remember, Maggia, dress her as I've instructed and make sure there is plenty of food and wine - especially the wine - before my return. Make sure it is right, or your son will fed to my robeast, do you understand?"
The slave nodded. Turning to Allura, Zarkon said. "The slaves will attend to your needs, Allura. You will await my return. I am eager for your embrace. Eat and drink well, for you will need your strength!" he added with a leer, "We Drules can be rather-as the Terrans say- amourous! My son is an example of that." he suddenly frowned. "Till we meet again, Allura." he nodded at the slave to take her away.
Zarkon yelled down at his son, "As for you, my foolish son, I will deal with you next-so don't move!"
As Allura was escorted down the hall by the slave, she thought in despair, ..Nothing will clean his touch from me...oh god..I am lost!